City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the list city council meeting. If you can let's stand for the pledge of allegiance and the stars spangle banner. I pledge allegiance to the flags. Oh, [singing] say can you see [music] by the dawn [singing] early light what so proudly [singing] we held at the twilight lasting who brought stripes and [singing] bright stars through the Perilous [music] fight. For the [singing] we were so gallently streaming and the rockets [singing] red. The bombs were singing in air gave proof through [singing] the night [music] that our flag was still there. Oh, say does [singing] that star spangled yet? [music] For [singing and chant] the land of the free and the [singing] home of the brave. [singing] Do a roll call.

Councelor Bregman here. Councelor Bada here. Councelor Conamo here. Councelor Folo here. Councelor King here. Councilor Mitra here. Council Aa. Councelor Rivera here. Councelor Rosen here. Councelor Tumi here. And Mayor Petty here.

Okay. have a proclamation for the general Henry Knox in the noble train of the artillery day. Whereas in the winter of 1775 to 1776, Colonel Henry Knox, a 25-year-old Boston book seller turned Continental Army officer undertook one of the most most daring log logistical feats of the American Revolution, terms of 60 tons of cannons and artillery. Whereas in April 1775, Henry Knox and his wife Lucy Knox rem removed to Worester for safety. Whereas this noble train of artillery consisting of 59 cannons mortars howitzers was transported by boat, horse and oxdrawn sleds over 300 miles of frozen lakes, snow covered mountains and rugged terrain and cooling through central Massachusetts to provide General George Washington with the necessary firepower to break the siege of Boston. Whereas in January 1776, this historic procession traveled through Worcester area with local teamsters and residents providing assistance in driving the oxen and maneuvering the cannons, demonstrating the vital partnership between local communities in the Continental Army and the struggle for independence. Whereas the just the successful arrived of the artillery allowed for the fortification of this Dorchester Heights in March 1776 directly resulting in the British evacuation of Boston on March 17th, a decisive early victory for the American colonies. Whereas on January 31st, 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of historic journey through our region which is being honored by reenactors traveling from Elm Park to the Wister common to celebrate the bravery of those who risk everything for liberty. Now therefore, I Joseph M. Petty, mayor of the city of

Worester, to hereby proclaim January 31st, 2026 as General Henry Knox in the noble train of artillery day in the city of Worcester, encourage all citizens to recognize the invaluable contributions of General Henry Knox and the local residents who who ensured our nation's independence. With us today, we have uh Governor Nurse is with us and uh we have the proclamation. Councelor Bergman, do you want to give that to uh Yeah. Give us the itinerary for this weekend. Okay.

I think we need some pictures.

Oh, I get a picture. Go grab a picture. I think it's a good picture. Thank you, Mayor Penny and counselors. On behalf of the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution, I want to thank you for this proclamation. We are very excited about Saturday and the entire procession as it makes its way to Dorchester Heights on weather in a night just like this. [laughter] So, thank you again and we look forward to celebrating with all of you on Saturday. something occurring on El from Elm Park to Are you doing the walk in Worcester?

I I've been informed by the uh uh city clerk that it's going to be dependent upon snow removal and road work. Uh so we're we're keeping our options open, but regardless here at city hall, we'll have the teams come down and show up so people can take pictures and that kind of thing. And uh we'll have the reenactors here as well. And we have a two o'clock commemoration indoors at the AC Marriott which we'd love to see you at as well. Okay. Thank you. I think the lieutenant governor is coming was the last I heard. So great. Good opportunity to remind people u just how important this history is to our region. So thank you for your support. Well, thank you. [applause]

Next item is approve the minutes of January 13, 2026. Uh, roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councelor Bada, yes. Councelor Cono, yes. Councelor Vo, yes. Councelor King, yes. Councelor Mitra, yes. Council Rivera, yes. Council Rosen, yes. Councilor Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes. Now, public participation, a person may know speak no more than two minutes and it items appearing on the agenda. Mr. Clerk,

thank you, Mr. Mayor. Rule 39, items of public interest. At every meeting of the city council under public participation portion of the agenda, the chair shall recognize any person seeking such recognition for the purpose of addressing the city council on any eligible item on the agenda for the meeting both in person and remotely. Any person who wishes to speak more than one agenda item shall combine their testimony on all items to one appearance at the microphone. The time for speaking shall not exceed two minutes for any one speaker or 30 minutes for all speakers. Rule 40 petitions on the first occasion that a petition appears before the city council. The primary petition may address the city council for no more than three minutes on the subject of their petition. Thank you.

Did your name and see your residence in item number?

Yes. Uh Fred Nathan 7F uh the item about the shortterm and long-term traffic calming uh measures. You can put all the traffic calming. You can put speed bumps, speed humps, whatever you want to call them. If people going to speed, they're still going to speed. What you really need for traffic calming, you put more cops on the street. Plain and simple. Not rocket science here, people. Um 8-35 um A. So, no. Yes. Uh what exactly is [snorts] the US economic uh development administration public works in economic adjustment assistance program? What exactly is it all about that the city will receive two $2.5 million? Just curious, just food for thought. Uh I think I got two more here. Oh, yes. Absolutely. Um 9- $7 million for replacement or roof repairs on two different schools. We're just going to keep on spending money on roofs. We got to have a lot more schools uh replaced eventually. obviously burn coat. Uh just curious what is the city's liability to the point of how many billions of dollars are we deep in terms of all the different bonds that have been going out? And the last item is 10A.

Uh the issue about the tips. If there is a company that the city is doing business with, we need to make sure that companies that we give money help out on their taxes are doing the right thing. Mr. Mayor, Mr. City Manager, city council, we need to make sure they're doing the right thing. Please, did your name city residents and item number?

Abby Moralo, she her resident district 4 um 10A. No tips for big corporations. 11A rent control is important. You know, they've been raising my rent and making me pay more for rent and I don't like that. And I want to stay in Worcester. I don't want to have to pay too much to stay here, you know. So, please have some rent control. All right. 11 C. Food is also important because you know I like many other Wester residents need to eat and you know it's important to have you know a food program in place. All right 11 F office of housing stability. Yes, housing stability is important to keep, you know, people in their homes like myself and to have, you know, housing stability, you know, I think housing stability is really important, you know, for any city, you know, to have some stability, you know, like really. and 11 I the DOJ report you know let's have civilian citizen review board and accountability you know we need to have a citizen review board and drop the charges on Edel Haj and Ashley Spring you know they are good people that were helping you know people in someone in Worcester who came here from another country and you know America is nation of immigrants and we welcome

immigrants here in Worcester Massachusetts. Thank you. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Gary Hunter. First thing I'd like to mention is 10A. Um I don't know what's going on here. we got to vote or or get off the pot. This is the third week we've talking about it. Most people that have spoken about it doesn't want uh our tax to go to this company. So, please consider tonight to vote on that. The next one is 11 I police reports. Um, as we as you know, uh, we just haven't heard the people have not heard any results of the DOJ report. I don't know why it's been hidden and people shake their, "Oh, this again." No, it's got to come up until we hear some accountability. If I was a police officer, you wondered why a lot of them are leaving. It's because they get a bad reputation by not showing accountability. It looks like all the police are bad. I saw that one of the commissions um voted on um I think it was the civil rights commission that voted for civilian review board 5 to1. We're going to keep talking about this until it finally happens. You say we have pl things in place to cover that, but how has that worked? It hasn't worked. Even the head of the union seems to be running the police department and he's been charged many times with o overusing his authority. We need the civilian review board. The one thing good thing I would like to bring up is the people that were working out on the streets this weekend. This storm was were horrible. They were horrible. And I know sand doesn't work and salt doesn't work under 20 degrees. They were all working hard and I want to commend them for the job they did and the hours they

worked and next free tell and fear now. Thank you

Steve Hart District 1 10A. Uh this uh issue has given me a lot of time to get educate myself on this city how things operate. Um, and I'm a realist. I know the votes are there. Um, however, I think the people of Worcester need to learn more about how this this system works. Um, respectfully, the city manager has consistently stated that we need 8 to 10,000 new units in the next 10 years, give or take. That's a thousand a year. Well, I haven't seen evidence of where that mandate comes from specifically. Uh, also building more housing is not something I've seen stabilizes rent. Not even sets up the market to stabilize rent. I hear things about supply and demand. Uh, I don't think anyone's rent is going to stay the same or go down in this city. Regarding Maniti Group, they present themselves as a very large corporation, very well healed, very experienced. Unfortunately, when they bought that property seven years ago, they didn't ask for a handout then. They're asking for a handout now. And it's not even a handout. It's just money they don't want to leave on the table. They're in they are in the power position. They have the trump card with this city right now and it it doesn't speak well in terms of putting together a thousand units a year when any developer is going to come in and want that same deal. That's going to be business as usual in this city for any large developer to come in.

So I think that this sort of information although it's my own personal take on it is important for people particularly the voters to know. Thank you. Thank you. Names to your residents and item number

uh Darnell Dunn. I'm the director of business recruitment for the Wester Regional Chamber of Commerce. I'm here to speak about item 10A. Uh so appreciate your time. Um, this item has been held under privilege in the last two council sessions in part because of what we see is uh misperceptions that I'd like to briefly address. First, that the Miti Group has been sitting on this property. Um, the property was purchased from the former Shacks owners in 2017, initially identified as a site for a cultural center before pivoting to a mixeduse development. um when financial conditions changed um this project changed. Any office to residential conversion is going to be complicated, costly, complex um and they required more state funding to do that. Um you know um time it takes time to qualify for these things at the state level. Um and throughout the process they um stayed in good standing with the city by paying their property taxes. Secondly, regarding the uh subcontractor at 204 Main Street, they're a minorityowned contractor that's done $35 million in contracted work since 2015. Um they had an issue with the city. It was handled seriously. They paid the fine and now they continue to work on projects both private and uh state and federal projects all over Massachusetts currently. And finally, as it relates to tie agreements, uh these are not tax breaks in the way that they're being presented on the docket today um is to be approved for a reduction, not a reduction in their tax liability. They continue to pay their taxes. What you're being asked to approve is the difference between the property's current value and the value post conversion. Uh that'll be phased into their assessment over a 10-year period. Upon completion, the Mckiti

Group will have invested $73 million in the central business district of Worcester, 27 alone on this project, and we hope that you can find a way to approve it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, thank you everyone. We are going to go on to petitions 7 A to 7D. I'm I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. 7 A, C, and D, we're going to send to public works. 7B is motion to withdraw. Roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councelor Bada, yes. Councelor Econom, yes. Council Vaso, yes. Councilor King, yes. Councilor Mitra, yes. Councelor Aoa, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Council Rosen, yes. Councilor Tumi,

yes. And Mayor Petty, yes. 7E, the 7K, we're going for the traffic and parking committee. Roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councelor Bada, yes. Councelor Economo, yes. Yes. Counc. Yes. Council King. Yes. Mitra, yes. Oda, yes. Counc Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes.

Here we're on 8.2A, 2A recommending the appointments of Ping Shing Chen and Toyen Akam Bully to the Community Development Advisory Committee [snorts] and also recommending the appointments of Steve Hill and Joel Wallen to the community development advisory committee. Take those collectively on the roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councor Cona. Yes. Councelor Po. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Councelor Aita. Yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Councelor Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty,

yes. Uh, public works is next is transering information communication of the to keep Worcester clean. Any questions on keeper clean was very detailed report. Commissioner, good job over the weekend. Thank you. And uh, how are our reservoirs looking? Better this year with the snow. [laughter] Okay, thank you. We'll send that report to public works. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Econom. Yes. Councelor Baso. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Councelor Mitra. Yes. Councelor Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty.

Yes. We have finance items 8.35A through G. 8.36 A and B. 8.5 one A 57 A through C motion is to adopt on a roll 8.37 A through C. Council King uh we can just take 83 8.36B out. Give everything except 8.36B. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councor Foso. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council Aa. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Tumi. Yes.

And Mary Petty. Yes. Council King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the um Becker College SA Street property. Is that correct, Mr. Manager?

Okay. I'm through the chair to the administration. Can you just give a um explanation as to the $200,000 funding limit increase? I know that uh we had some debate here on the council floor as related to SA Street and the needs of Worcester public schools, the needs of municipality. Um and I was under the impression that that had gone out to bid. Um so like a a motion with a report back on that process. Um but in terms of this for clarification um if you could explain this item through the chair Mr. Manager.

Yes. Thank you. Through the chair through the council. So as part of the acquisition of the properties the Becker properties uh we created a revolving fund uh for the purposes of maintenance of the property. uh and those funds were actually acquired through the rental uh of those properties to Clark University and Worcester State. So that c the lease to those property created revolving revolving fund account to provide maintenance to those property. That fund has been depleted in terms of the maintenance and so we needed to add additional funding uh to continue on the anticipated costs related to the maintenance of those properties.

Thank you. And through the chair, when was that fund depleted? because I know that hasn't been occupied in in probably a year, year and a half, two years. Yeah.

Chair to I could have the our CFO. He could probably provide a little bit more context. Tim the chair. I don't have the number in front of me, but this is the remnants of that fund. What we're looking to do is spend down the remaining dollars that are in there for the um kind of outstanding maintenance and operations needs within the buildings. Once this fiscal year is done, we anticipate all funds will be depleted out of the account. So, there is still some funding in there today, but this allowance will allow us to spend it down fully. And through the chair, what's the yearly cost, annual cost?

Uh through the chair, it's varied by years. When uh Clark and uh Becker uh sorry, Clark and uh Worcester State were in the buildings, there were higher costs. There were uh HVAC needs that had to be addressed. There were operational issues that were raised by the tenants that the city took care of. Um, I would say now it's it's probably a few hundred,000 as um, you know, we look at things like utilities and maintenance and other costs within the buildings, but I'd have to get you that number in terms of an actual annual cost or an average annual cost over the last few years.

Thank you. And um do you have an idea of the amount of contribution from was the state and Clark that was made through their agreements to the chair? Uh through the chair, if you give me a minute, I could sure pull it. So, uh, through the chair, it was based on the leases that had been set up with the two institutions. Um, Clark's lease resulted in payments totaling approximately $643,000. Whereas Worcester State's payments totaled approximately $360,000. That was over the course of multiple years while they were there. Okay, thank you. Um, just wanted to make sure I had all the information, otherwise I would not be able to support this. Um, as you know, I've had um, differences with the city administration and um, a small majority of counselors as relates to this property. um that was promised at some points in times to the public schools that we were promised to have a um archives there and other city departments such as um department of

youth division. I know that it it one of the buildings served for some time as we're doing renovation here for a law department um diversity officer etc. Um so I'm very much interested in this property. Um, just want to make sure that my motion um, includes both buildings um, as it relates to this um, and uh, look forward to discussing this in my meetings with the city manager. Thank you. Thank you. So, we will adopt this from the roll call or off the two motions file by council king. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councelor Pollo. Yes. Council King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Vera. Yes. Councelor Rosen.

Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Uh 9A is a roll call. MSBA approved repair funding. Roll call. Yes. Oh, please note for the record that council has recused himself. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Vaso. Yes. Council King, yes. Councelor Mitra, yes. Council, recuse himself. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councilor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. And mayor Petty, yes. Reconsideration, councilor Bergman, no. Councilor Bada, no. Councilor Conamu,

no. Councelor Folo, no. Council King, no. Council Mitra, no. Councilor recuse himself. Councelor Rivera, no. Councelor Rosen, no. Council Tumi, no. and Mayor Petty. No. Uh city uh manage recommends the approval of the housing development certified project application tax increment exemption agreement for 401 409 Main Street which held under privilege and the motion is to send us that refer to economic development. Uh roll call you want to speak on? Yes.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um just want clarification um you know for the public persons there was no confusion about this particular matter um contrary to public uh statements to that effect. I will say that this time has given us the opportunity not just myself but the city administration office of the mayor um uh Maniti and other stakeholders unions etc um to have further dialogue as relates to the importance of a responsible development ordinance. Mr. chairman. Um in addition to that um you know we were able to express repeating concerns as related to the subcontractors. There was some difference um of opinion with respark with respect to some of the the specifics as related to um the subcontractors and the resolution of that particular issue. Um so there was a difference um with what the city was reporting what Maniti was reporting. Um but we certainly were able to um further explain um that this concern isn't simply related to the um wage theft, but that we want responsible developers and make sure that their contractors are on a consistent basis being responsible themselves. While we understand um that that subcontractor has taken on additional duties, um the most welcoming way that we can present ourselves as an elected body um is to be consistent, to be transparent with our expectations that will encourage folks um to engage with us, Mr. Chairman. So, with that, I'm certainly com comfortable um with us going to committee um with Chairman um

uh Bergman. um you know and and any additional enhanced monitoring that the city can provide would be great. Um Mr. Manager's team has been good with this discussion, the economic development team. Uh but make no mistake about it. Um this wasn't simply held. There's a lot of work that's gone on uh these last couple weeks, Mr. Chairman, and I stand by that decision. Thank you. Thank you, uh Council Bada.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um yeah, I just wanted to kind of echo what my um colleague councelor King said. We had some really good discussions with um Maniti and appreciate the information from economic development and city manager um office. I know we want to spur development downtown and you know we are doing that through through um tax breaks and and obviously that's uh a great tool that we have and I think it also provides us some leverage too to make sure that we have uh that developers are honoring the responsible development ordinance and that they're um you know taking concerns seriously because it so uh look forward to discussing this on the uh committee but I do think we you know have an opportunity as a council to to try to push for uh you know more accountability. So, thank you.

Thank you, Council Council Bergman. [clears throat]

I'm just going to be brief and say that I'm glad to hear the matters going forward. Um I've heard nothing new personally in the last week. Sounds like a couple of my colleagues may have reached Miki Group. We'll find out in subcommittee if they did. They didn't. I'm not so sure what we've accomplished holding this over the last week. I hear all sorts of explanations and how important it was to get additional information. Perhaps my colleagues did get additional information. I can tell you as the chair of the committee, I've seen nothing in addition other than an email last week which reiterated some of the same concerns which I'm not dismissing, but I've said consistently over the last three weeks. All those concerns will be addressed as they always are in the subcommittee. So the last two weeks of kicking the can down the road and holding it is privilege of every one of my colleagues. But I don't accept the explanation that it was to get additional information because if additional information was gathered, I've been kept out of the loop. Mr. Chairman.

Okay. So the motion is to send it to committee. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. No. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Councelor Mitra. Yes. Councilor Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Penny. Yes. That brings us to the end of the meeting. So motion is to adjourn. Roll call. Mr. Chairman. Council G. Yes. I'd like to um take off the table. Um minute 11 E.

Okay. 11E request stand command on public service troops station meet with the WTA administrator to provide city council the report concerning WTA's winter weather plan especially including information as to how snow removal will be removed at each the bus stops I recommend ought to be placed on file council a roll call so so in order to take it off the table you need a roll call majority vote and uh to take it off the table. No discussion can happen on the piece until we take it off. Mr. Chairman, 11E is what you said. Did I read the right one? Correct. You might be correct. I just couldn't hear you. Yeah. 11. Yeah. 11. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman.

Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Councilor Aida. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. We have a I don't know was pointed out that we have a couple more RTA. You want to take them all or just that one? I didn't see that one. Um D rel to the removal of bus routes. No, no, just E. You see? Okay, let's just do E. Yes, regardless. No. Okay, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like this to move this forward. Um Oops. With a report my cupcake. [snorts] Um we like to move this forward. This item um is about as you mentioned the WRTA's winter weather plan. Um as we have been challenged this week and beyond with snow removal, uh public safety, pedestrian safety, school safety, motor vehicle safety, public transportation safety, all those things. Um and driving through the city, we can see that there's a heightened concern at our local bus stops. Um as it relates to clearing a space for folks to congregate, we have folks standing in the street. Um there's certainly a city uh responsibility to one degree or another. And we're just like that in a formal report to go to the appropriate committee. Mr. and um you know folks that are relying on transportation to to get to and fro um for work for essential uh job uh responsibilities to programs to appointments etc. Um it's increasingly challenging and during times like we've had where the ad where the advice has been to stay in your cars, stay out of the roads if you're required to go to work. Um what better way than to use the public transportation. Mr. chair and so um would like a report that way um as soon as possible hopefully by the next meeting um so we can get an idea of that and um I'm sure that the appropriate committee would deal with it expeditiously. Thank you.

Thank you. So send that to committee public service and transportation. All those in favor I'm sorry. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Econom. Yes. Councelor Vaso. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Council Aa. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. So we have two more. Council FO followed by Council Bada. Council B. You have something on the agenda you want to do now or just want to make a motion to take 11D off the table and send it to committee. Okay. Let's do that first. Motion to take 11D off the table. Roll call.

Chairman. Just hang on. Your order may be, but there's a lot of items on here and I have memorized. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councilor Bada. Yes. Councelor Econom. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Council Aa. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty? Yes. Council Bada. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make a motion to send this to the uh Committee on Public Service and Transportation. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Economo.

Yes. Councelor Vaso. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councilor AA. Yes. Councilor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And mayor Petty. Yes. Councelor uh Fzo. [clears throat] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you, to my colleagues, the administration and the general public. Uh Thursday night, I was I'm going to have before you go on, you ask you have to ask for a motion as a suspension if you want to bring something in. Okay. So, we have motions. I'm sorry. We need a motion to suspend the rules. I'd like to make a motion to suspend rules, please. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Konamo. No. Yes.

Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Councelor Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Broen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. You have a motion that you want to Okay. Go ahead. I'm sorry.

Mr. Chairman, Thursday night, I was home and I was taking in the school committee meeting and a member of the school committee asked the superintendent if the 30 plus parking spots that were created at Roosevelt School were for dedicated for the parents to come off Grafton Street. And the superintendent's answer was no. I found that alarming. Um, Mr. Chairman, I sent I sat through two PowerPoint presentations from the school department at the Grafton Hill Neighborhood Association explaining what the money that was uh that the previous city council had came through uh for the project. And uh they gave a PowerPoint and the gentleman specifically said and told us at the neighborhood association that the money would be spent for that purpose to bring the cars off Grafton Street. So, I am only rising to inform the general public that that is the purpose as far as I'm concerned. I'd like to get an answer from the manager as well, but we are having mixed messages here. when the superintendent of schools answers in the negative that that's not what that project uh and the money was secured for. So, I'll leave it there, but uh again, I I found it alarming and I wanted to bring it up tonight to uh allow my colleagues and the uh administration uh the information that uh I uh I witnessed watching the school committee meeting. Thank you.

Okay. So, I get a report. So, you want to have a report on that from the administration? Yeah, unless he wants to comment tonight. A report would be fine. Yes,

Mr. Manager. uh through the chair to the council. Uh since the beginning of this project, the acquisition of the property and the additional funding to develop the property, the intended purposes was to try to find ways to get the vehicles from the [laughter] street into the lot so that we can be able to uh reduce the impact on the actual main street, main corridor of grass street where it was a where whether it was for additional parking for for the parents or a better way to route the the parents and also the buses. So the the entire project was in mindset to remove the vehicles from Gratton Street to be able to have a better flow of transportation and uh and spaces in in the actual car lot. So that's the intent that we've been always tried to have uh to be able to try to navigate uh some of the challenges on Grafton Street.

Councor King on this or Yeah. What's his motion? The motion is a rep. He was going I don't think he needs one now, do I? I don't need a report, Mr. Chair. It was just the question. My my reason for standing and and under suspension was to uh just relay the uh information that I uh viewed at the uh school committee meeting and uh hopefully uh we will definitely get into a conversation with the superintendent and make sure that from this point on it's drilled home that those uh added parking spots were put in for uh the relief of the traffic public safety issue on Grafton Street. Thank you, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I I would like a report on this. Um it's a safety issue, so it's very definitely very timely. Um you know, I've been out over the years to Roosevelt have a number of others. Um but in the last week or so, I've been out there three or four times, been out there with the commissioner, had some discussions, short discussions with the counselor here. Um but would like a report. I'd like that to come to the education committee if possible. I know we have traffic and parking, Mr. Chairman, and that'll be to your discretion. Um, but this is an opportunity um to intersect with the schools. We're hearing one thing um from the city manager and our counselor um district 3, who's actually also my counselor testifying as to something um that is in congruent with what's coming from us and from um our appointed official. Um so that would be particularly helpful, Mr. Chairman. In addition to that, I can testify that there has been improvement from that project. It's certainly not anywhere near what it needs to be. The safety concerns are there. They've been referenced already. Um, you know, I've been able to witness um no traffic, no parking signs that are already there um in front of Batteries Unlimited, in front of other businesses. They're already there. They're already posted. Um I know further down there's already no parking. Um, you know, and we have a a 90day pilot that we're talking about here, Mr. Chairman. Um, you know, I I I I think that u from my conversations with a number of parents and grandparents, um, that's an extremely long time to hear back from the city, Mr. Chairman. Um, so I'd also like to make an additional motion that we consider expediting our position on this um, to less than 90 days um, in perhaps 30 to 45 days. Mr. Jim and it's caused a lot of issues uh with the parents. Now, from the communication I've had with the district

counselor, the communication I spoke I met and observed with the principal last week and the commissioners and the deputy commissioner over there. Um there's a lot of challenges. I know that there's supposed to be a meeting on Monday, but I think it might have been cancelled um not sure um because of the snow, but I know that there's upcoming meetings with the city intersecting with the um with the schools, Mr. Chairman. And I don't know what that communication looks like for the district counselor um for myself as chair of education or the chair of traffic and park. I just want to make sure um and just kind of voice to the administration that whatever that appropriate committee is uh that those meetings get conveyed so those so that a member because if it's more than one member it's violation over meeting laws but a member may attend if they so choose. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. So we're going to send the reports but I think the council is asking to look at the 90day situation because the council already took a vote on 90 days. You can't really vote again on the item until another 90 days has passed under our rules. But I think the order is to ask see if you can move it if it works out. Right. Okay. Um the the other item before us was 90 days. So if I need that means I need to make a motion less than 90 days. It's not the same item. So that that would Okay. Going to send that to the administration. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Council Bada.

Yes. Sorry. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty? Yes. We have a motion to adjourn. This under suspension.

Yeah, we're under the suspension. Councelor Bergman. Just want to remind everyone, it's easy to overlook it with all the activity that's going on that tomorrow night at the cornerstone bank building across from Elm Park. We're going to have a neighborhood discussion. Everybody's invited as to the status of Elm Park and the future plans to enhance and try to bring back historic park to its former glory. um hopeful to have through the city manager and through Rob Antinelli the significant members of the pertinent um departments to have a good discussion and I know a lot of people have been asking me and my colleagues you know what's happening with Elm Park so tomorrow night's a golden opportunity to find out okay what time is that

6 o'clock 6 o'clock okay motion to adjourn roll call councelor Bergman yes councelor Bada councelor He's already gone. Yes. [snorts] Councilor econom. Yes. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Councelor Aita. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Thank you.