CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Safety Committee Meeting | Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:30 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:19 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey | | Vice Chairperson Sarai Rivera | | Councilor Donna M Colorio |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey
Councilor Sarai Rivera, who arrived at 5:35 P.M. and participated in the meeting remotely
Councilor Donna M. Colorio | | | | | Also: | City Solicitor Michael Traynor
Deputy Police Chief Paul Saucier
WPD Officer Brian Green
WPD Officer Terrance Gaffney
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Safety Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91951325253
Public Safety Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Safety Committee Zoom Access Code: 919 5132 5253 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on May 2, 2022. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal.
# 18a CC April 12, 2022
In Committee April 20, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 2, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #3b, #3c, #3d and #3e.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Deputy Police Chief, who provided an overview of creating a draft policy associated with the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed the State’s roll relative to the creation of policies regarding unmanned aircraft systems, situations in which an unmanned aircraft system could be helpful to the department, the comprehensiveness of the draft policy and the accessibility of the policy and data collected from unmanned aircraft systems with the Deputy Police Chief, City Solicitor and WPD Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed past practices associated with borrowing the state’s unmanned aircraft system with the WPD Police Officer and Deputy Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed the work done by the Police Department to collaborate with the ACLU to draft an Unmanned Aircraft System policy and how the policy deals with search and rescues for missing persons with the Deputy Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the following speakers:
1. Greg Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
2. Bruce Hoffner, Milford, NH resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
3. Neal McNamara, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
4. Catherine Doherty, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
5. Terrance Doherty, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
Chairperson Councilor Rivera brought forth the following Chairman’s Resolution: That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the implementation of city’s Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Resolutions | | | | That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the implementation of city’s Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal. | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting an informational communication concerning how the city’s recently passed ordinance relative to facial recognition technology applies to the use of drones.
# 15a CC April 12, 2022
In Committee April 20, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 2, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting informational communication regarding the City Council’s role relative to the creation of departmental policies and in particular its role and authority relative to the police department’s proposed acquisition of an Unmanned Aircraft System.
# 16b CC May 10, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the use of aerial surveillance in the context of an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 14 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.
# 16a CC May 10, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3e. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report on follow up regarding Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
# 16c CC May 10, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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