City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, welcome to the Wister City Council meeting. If you can please stand for the pledge of allegiance in the Star Spangle Banner. I pledge allegiance. Say you see by the dawn early light. So proudly we held at the twilight lasting who brought stripes and bright stars through the per we were so gallently streaming and The rock is red. The bombs were singing in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled yet for the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Roll call.

Councelor Bergman. Mr. Mary's trying to log in virtually. Council Bada here. Councelor Conamo here. Councelor Rosalo here. Councelor King here. Council Mitra here. Council here. Councilor Rivera here. Councelor Rosen here. Councelor Tumi here. Mary Putty

here. Uh 5 A's approval of the minutes of the January 20th meeting. Mel Burman. Those in favor? Oppose? So ordered. Okay. We have public particip public participation. The person may speak for no more than two minutes to any item appearing on the agenda. Mr. Clark, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think we also have council Bergman who joined virtually. Yeah, present. Thank you.

Um, rule 39, items of public interest at every meeting of the city council on public participation portion of the agenda. The chair shall recognize any person seeking such recognition for the purpose of addressing the council and any eligible item on the agenda for for the meeting both in person and remotely. Any person who wishes to speak on more than one agenda item shall combine the testimony to one appearance at the microphone. Um and the time for speaking shall exceed two minutes for any one speaker 30 minutes for all speakers. Rule four petitions on the first occasion that a petition appeared before the city council agenda. Brian petition may address the council for no more than three minutes on the subject of their petition. Thank you.

Thank you. Is your name to your business?

Uh friend Nathan Worester. We're going to start off with 8AB uh dealing with the MBTA. Uh Worcester is the second largest city in basically all of New England and we still get a slap in the face. Uh there should be more trains. In fact, there should even be trains going down to Rhode Island out of Wor. You shouldn't have to go to Boston to go to Rhode Island. That does not compute. And anyone who thinks it does is living in the sand. Um 9A. I don't know why it wasn't turned into housing a long time ago. The old St. Vincson Hospital are nursing dorms. Thank you, John. That's a very good thing that you proposed here about the housing. I mean, we keep on hearing about housing, but really, what does the city do? Sometime I'm going to come in here with something that's going to blow the lid off of everything. When I say it, people going to look like this doesn't exist. Well, I'm not going to say it right now because um I don't want to give it away. Um and I just like to remind people here that um 11A this is February now. So which means it is Black History Month. So act accordingly.

Thank you. She name your residence.

Hello. Um my name is Abby Morero. she her was a resident district 4. So um I'm going to start off with 11A Black History Month because February is always has been and always will be Black History Month and I think it is, you know, important that the city of Worcester recognize that. Okay. Next items. Okay. 19 A rent control. I think rent control is important for a city. Um 19 C center for food justice and agriculture. I support that. uh 19 D Office of Housing Stability. I support that. And finally, 19 GOJ report. Now, one week from today, history is going to take place. Haj and Ashley Spring are going to be going on trial for this whole crime of serving their community. Now, I'm here every week asking for that civilian review board. You know, I'm a I'm here every week and you know what side of history are you on? I want to ask that question. you know, because we need to know, you know, what side of

history are you on? I know what side of history I'm on. All right. Okay. Thank you.

Did your name see your residence item number?

Uh Diane Foni, uh a Worester resident, uh District 2. Um here in support of two items, 9G and 9T. Regarding 9G, uh, cameras at Morgan Landing, Shore Park, and Indian Lake Beach were already included in the 2014 master plans for those parks. More than a decade has passed, and because the full renovations are expensive, we've been told repeatedly that the uh, improvements have to wait until the entire plan can be enacted. In the meantime, the problems have haven't waited. Uh, elicit activity, illegal dumping, and maintenance challenges to these parks have all continued. Installing cameras now is a manageable, high impact step that doesn't require us to wait for multi-million dollar renovations. Cameras deter unwanted activity, and help the police determine the level of response needed to address a complaint. Cameras would also help the parks department track real usage patterns, identify when trash pickup is needed, and quickly detect and respond to illegal dumping. This allows the city to deploy staff more efficiently, and keep these parks clean, safe, and welcoming. Uh item 9T I support identifying locations for rain gardens and retention basins around Lake Quincigan and Indian Lake. These are lowcost environmentally effective tools that when properly maintained improve water quality by capturing storm water runoff before it enters the lakes. They can help reduce algolooms, ease the burden of storm water on the burden of storm water infrastructure and enhance the overall health and usability of two of Worers's most important recreational bodies of water. Together, items 9G and 9T offer practical, affordable actions the city can take to improve safety, operational efficiency, and environmental resilience without waiting for larger projects that may take years, possibly decades uh to happen. Uh and it is my hope that you would support these items uh and not lose them in committee forever, never to return. Thank you.

Thank you,

Andrew Marsh 212. May Street, Worcester. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I rise to give cautious support to agenda items 8A and 8B. As someone who does not drive anymore, I rely heavily on public transit to navigate the city and external municipalities. As such, I wholeheartedly approve of both establishing a working group to advocate for additional infrastructure and service improvements as well as more comprehensive data to support these investments. At least that's how I feel on paper. I am however reminded of how this administration tends to discourage volunteerism through not allowing those with the most passionate energy for improving the city to actually be in a position to do so. One need only look at the human rights and cable commissions as evidence of that. I also can't help but recall a number of prominent counselors were less than ecstatic about the WRB's report in favor of establishing a civilian review board for the police department. Yet now we consider an agenda item seeking to support them when they collect public transit data. What I'm getting at is that Worcester has a tendency to provide lip service to shared goals but rarely uses them for anything more than sound bites and tweets. Or is it Zets? I'm not sure what the lingo is anymore. What we need is a full commitment from the city council and administration. Not just to say you support these goals, but to actually put your money where your mouth is. If this council is not willing to make that commitment, then why? These orders you debate tonight are unfounded, unsubstantiated balder of the highest order. I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you. Idela Hazard, City of Worcester. I'd like to speak on 11A. I'd like to thank Councelor King and the city of Worcester. Um, what I want to say is we've come a long way and I don't want to go backwards, but I'm quite frightened these days because the Klux Clan has been given free speech and they have been growing across the country and in this city and there is an undercurrent movement in this city and not too many people feel it unless you're a person of color and if you're a person of color believe me you feel it and it's unc it's not above board but they make sure you feel it and it starts from the top down from Trump and all kinds of people have joined the clan and our prior city manager gave our police department permission to join. When I went on the police department, they wanted to know, are you a member of this group, that group? And the Ku Klux Clan was a no no. It's scary. I don't know what we're going to do, but that mega movement is not good for this country.

I don't know who or what or how we're going to hold, what kind of leader we're going to have to keep the DEI growing. Thank you.

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Joseph Petty and council. My name is Drexler Assassi representing Vernon Hill as the district. Um, one agenda that I wanted to recognize is 16X. I believe that it is important that we recognize that traffic is pretty dangerous and also can be um considered a concern when it comes to uh students crossing the streets. In addition to that, also safety must be a priority for pedestrians. With the city of Worcester being a mobile city for transportation, I believe that there is not a highlighted importance when it comes to pedestrian safety. In addition, on Lincoln Street, it is one of the most um dangerous streets in city of Worcester, mainly because there has been numerous amount of accidents, numerous amounts of um individuals who are trying to cross the street nearly being hit by cars and also um not being able to cross safely. I believe that one thing that would be really important and effective would be to have a heightened um police presence or at least um uh police presence that is um recognizing and and also being able to uh forward traffic safely for pedestrians to cross the street along with students who are trying to get onto the bus and so forth. Um then that's my conclusion.

Thank you. Hello councilors and the mayor and the city manager. I'm talking uh tonight on to start out with uh 10B and 10 C. The very important for our schools. These were adopted March 26, 2024. what happened to when the report that was coming back on that. That's my main um topic tonight is that I was here last week. Everything was done. If you're doing the people's work for the city, yet the meeting only lasted less than an hour. What type of work are you doing? You're just passing things to committee and asking for reports. this tonight's agenda almost every single item you're asking for an update or a report update for information they never got back or reports that we don't seem to come back. We need to know when these reports and uh there was a motion in the last uh how the city manager and I know he's very busy keeps track of what reports he has to come back with in the department. We need that done right away. The second thing I have is the civil review board. I know I say it every year, but when are you guys gonna actually take a vote? Grow a set, take a vote, yes or no? The the post commission has come in favor of the civil review board. So you say, okay, we already have something there. The post commission is in favor of civil review board.

So was the um commission on uh it just went out of my mind, but I voted five to one for the civil review board. We need it done. Mr. Mayor, you um when you were running, you're going to bring up with the city manager. You made a statement to bring it up. Thank you. Thank you. And I haven't heard anything yet. We don't need a report. There's already a report there. Go by. Thank you. Well, okay. But thank you. When are you going to get something done? Yep. That's what I'm saying. You You guys Thank you. I appreciate it. Please do it. The next speaker, please. Thank you.

Names to your res.

Sure thing. Good evening, Mayor, City Council. My name is Robin Kennedy. I'm a proud Worcester resident and state senator for the first Worcester district. As a resident, I want to wish you all a happy Black History Month and want to support uh item 11A for the city to officially recognize Black History Month. Uh but I'm here tonight uh to speak in favor of items 10B and 10 C and to give a legislative update uh on what's happening around strategizing to increase funding and a better funding model for the Massachusetts School Building Authority. This session, I filed Senate Bill 390, which is an act establishing a commission to study the Massachusetts School Building Authority. I think we all know that the current structure of the school building authority uh despite the efforts by the the board itself uh is not adequately funding to meet the needs of our schools, not only here in the city, but across the Commonwealth. Uh in addition, we have to consider in in this century uh how we're funding our schools and what we're allowed to fund through the school building authority funding. I'm happy to report that my bill was included with a very similar bill uh which is uh Senate Bill 403 which was filed by the chair of the the Senate chair of the education committee uh which is called an act establishing a special committee committee to review the adequacy and equity of the Massachusetts school building program. uh everything that was included in my my bill including membership of the committee as well as the specific charge of the committee uh is also included in this uh bill which uh expands the scope of the the commission and so I just want to quickly run through although I'm probably run out of time so I'll have to send it into you uh

motion to suspend the rules Mr. Okay. Okay. Go ahead.

Okay. Uh to include so the the commission would be charged with studying the capacity of the MSBA to meet the needs of current and future projects. Uh the existing grant formula and potential modifications. Construction cost reimbursement rate relative to actual cost and other policies that have impact that impact eligible project costs reimbursement. How incent how our incentive percentage points are calculated for municipalities that qualify for 80% reimbursement. Reimbursement policies for regional technical and vocational schools. Reimbursement policies to help the Commonwealth achieve its environmental and emission reduction goals. Reimbursement policies that support healthy school facilities. Whether the authority should be authorized to spend money on equipment or be limited to funding for education structures. uh we know is something that we want to be able to look at as we build new schools here in in Worcester, whether the MSBA should add incentives for vocational ed spaces, strategies for addressing facility needs of educational collaboratives, any other issues affecting the ability of all students to attend school in highquality, accessible, safe, healthy, and green school buildings. Uh the bill that my bill was added into uh includes staffing for the commission. It expands my commission had 13 members. Uh the one that's now moving forward has 23 members, but I want to note a specific representative from a gateway city. Uh so the opportunity for a city like Worcester to be at the table as we review what the structure looks like. I won't go into all the membership to save time, but uh I'm pleased to report now that this bill is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, uh which hopefully can get to the Senate floor soon for debate and passage. So now would be a wonderful time to have our communities including the city of Worcester offer testimony to the committee on Senate Ways and Means in support of the importance of having this commission. As we know there's a lot of gaps that we need to fill and having this commission will help us understand the totality of the need statewide and what we need to consider

in restructuring the MSBA uh funding mechanism. So thank you so much. Thank you for bringing this item forward and look forward to continuing partnership with the city as we try to replace uh the buildings that we have in need. So, thank you so much. Thank you.

Uh Sue Mailman, um City of Worcester. I'm here on a couple of items. Um I'll start with the MSBA items 10B and 10 C. Um I have an item on the city council calendar or the school committee calendar. I'm sorry for this Thursday about MSBA and potentially being able to fund a track and you you may or may not know that we lost an indoor track at South when South was rebuilt and we weren't able to do it because MSBA decided no more funding of indoor tracks. I think this we should make a case for a city our size with the number of kids that we have track and field and also the region the region doesn't have that much um ability to go our kids go to Northbridge for different track meets that's a little bit a ways away I got to believe we're big enough to be able to support that so MSBA made the decision in 2018 to change the funding formulas to not allow it and I think it's nonsense and I'd like you guys to join a school committee to say um to join a school committee to say let's be able to talk about some of these things. So if I get a chance to go down and speak in public testimony, I will be talking about an indoor track because Newton has one, but we don't have one at all in Worcester in any of our schools. Um the other item I wanted to say something about was the charter review. Thank you, Gary, for um putting this on. I you know and and then actually the mayor has an item about home rule petitions and for the life of me why we cannot get our districts matched. We could do that with a home rule petition. We don't have to wait for a charter rule to do that. But it is a very confusing item that our school um that our residents don't understand when they're voting and I think it's a shame that we didn't deal with it. And the

last one is 19G. It's Black History Month. Let's get a civilian review board now. Thank you. Just your name to your residence and item number. How you doing? Uh I'm Mark Chentelli. I'm Ward Five. I'm a member of the Democratic Ward Committee. Yeah. This something a little bit off key, but uh it's got to be on the agenda. Do you have it? Well, deal with Black History Month. You're dealing with a lot of things on there, so we can deal with some stuff. I see it up there.

Okay. this I was just an issue similar to this about two or three years ago in the council and you guys moved on it right away and God bless you. Um my friend here wants to talk to you right there's some things here that are public health issues in the uh city that is really significant right and you guys have to be made aware of it and I'm going to be talking to you more about it in person. Okay. Okay. Well, it's it's got to be on the agenda. Okay. Uh Alex, it's got to be on the agenda. Uh okay. Uh, my name is Alex Melendez and uh when I turned 18, right? Um, I don't know how to say this. I'm really nervous. Um, go ahead. Just put

Well, there's a huge crisis in Worcester. I don't know if you know it's um the the homeless crisis, right? I don't know if you knew, but 35% of all homeless people in Worcester are kids who age out of DCF like me. And a lot of us have no place to go because we don't want to work with DCF. We have a lot of trauma with it and it's it's hard for us to to find, you know, it's hard for us to find a place to go. And I right now I have friends who have been staying in cars and shelters and whatnot. Make it a little bit more, please.

All right. Um, my point is I'm asking this council to support Senate Bill 161 that will give um kids in DCF who age out of DCF $1,000 monthly stipen so that they will not be homeless once they turn 18 like me. Thank you. Good job. Thank you. Just as a little addendum to that, right? Yeah, there's a 19D. Yep. Go ahead.

Okay. There's a little addendum to that. if it wasn't for the, you know, God bless the Worcester police. That kid would have froze to death in the street, right? We took him in, as you know, I took in a lot of kids and stuff like that. He was out in the street and there's a whole bunch of them, hundreds of them, sleeping in abandoned cars, right? They age out of a program, right? And they just dump them on the street. Okay? And that's something I'm going to be talking to a lot of you about in person. I know this is probably not the proper venue for that, but I wanted to bring it to everyone's attention. Okay? Appreciate it. Okay.

Okay. We have two people on, three people online. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to start with Glenn P first. The resident now. Uh, yes. One second.

I want to talk about uh uh uh 9K. Yes. Uh charter review. I support city charter review. Governance should be examined periodically. However, what's mostly holding us back isn't the charter. It's execution. Starting right here in this chamber. Charter review is no substitute for the council setting smart goals. Take public tracking of report requests. The council has raised the issue but has not yet required and set standards of action to get it done. It's February and the council has not yet started providing specific measurable goals to guide the manager in developing the fiscal year 27 budget. Not even for the comprehensive zoning overhaul on which affordable housing, walkable neighborhoods, and economic growth depend. For 11 years, 11 years now, councilors have talked about expanding bulk waste drop off access, but the council hasn't made a motion requiring it with specific outcomes. Under plan E, the council's job is to set goals and the city manager executes. If the council doesn't set clear, measurable goals, then no new city charter is going to save us. As Glenda the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz said, "You've always had the power, my dear. You've had it all along. It's time the council uses the powers it has." Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The next speaker is Natalie Gibson. I'm muting the resident now. Hi, excuse me. May I ask that you go to the next person? I literally just walked in my door from at work. Okay, we'll come back to you. Thank you, Mr. May. The next speaker is Tom. Try to meet the resident now. Good evening. Can you hear me?

Yep. Go ahead. Please state your name, city of residence, and the item you're calling on. uh Tom City Worcester uh war II and it's uh 19A 19D 19G uh on 19D obviously support it. We obviously all want people that are facing a housing crisis, housing issues to be housed. The problem I have is um there's two cases, Valent Shinski and Alliance v City that are uh directly relevant to this. They have to do with the fraudulent misuse of housing funds. The problem at hand is you can create a entity that oversees housing. The problem is that's not good enough. There has to be enforcement and specifically in the form of independent enforcement with strong subpoena power. And I haven't seen that in any of the attachment documents. And so to effectively aid like the gentleman that was before you and pled his heart out which and I 100% u believe and support his cause and the plight of many others who are in the same situation. You can't just have this type of authority without any real enforcement teeth and I highly doubt the city's going to do it. And so what I would hope residents start looking into is start petitioning in state law for an independent OIG that has an independent budget that cannot be altered and has strong subpoena power and authority over these city entities that are governing things like housing fund dispersement. Because what's going to happen is like those two cases I cited, you're going to have public officials that are using that money and effectively laundering it into nonprofits that are lining the pockets of middlemen service uh nonprofits and not actually going to the people that need it. The city does have in fact such funds. The problem is the people who need are not getting them. And right now all across America, we're seeing public officials misuse these funds. And so that's the proper way in my opinion that this needs to be addressed. An

independent YG with strong subpoena power to go and actually hold these public officials accountable and make sure that people that need the money actually get it. Um so thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you. You want to say something?

My name is Stanley. I'm a proud Wister. I um I wanted to talk about 9Q. Um, specifically over by the friendly house on Wall Street, um, it's a food pantry. Uh, Bitty Basketball is back. Um, all the snow is usually proud to be even side, but all along Thorn Street, the snow is on the odd side down by the friendly house. So, and on the sidewalk is power high. So, the poor people that have to go down there to use the food bank. And I see them go around my house all the time to get their food and busy basketball. The people are trying to park next to the family house, but they're going into the residential spots that everybody shovels out. I was just hoping that the city might be able to help me out with that before we have a serious accident. the children and the parents, they need to gain access to the front house. If you're familiar with what I'm talking about, right?

Yes. Can you help me with that, please? Yes. I I would appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. Right. Okay. Hopefully tonight you'll see something there. Okay. Uh our next uh online speaker. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Our last speaker is Natalie Gibson. Can I unmute the resident now? Please state your name and stud your residence.

Uh Natalie Gibson, uh city of Worester District 5. So I'm calling on a number of things. 9H. Uh I'm not going to read them out just to try to um keep my time within the constraints. Uh if this isn't feasible, then the DPW supervisor should be out and about checking and then rechecking when multiple complaints or requests are needed for street treatment. Uh,

no.

Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. Um, they need to treat their streets like their own and um as if their family is using it. Uh, let's see. 9K. Uh, let's see. What are we waiting for in order to um in order for the city to propose? What was this about? That was about the plan E. Okay. Yes. What is the city waiting for? Uh the city is not prospering under the current uh management style 9L. Uh the building could offer Thank you um Gary Rosen for putting this on here. The Sterns Tavern uh Sterns Yes. Sterns Tavern uh could be utilized so much more than it currently is by the Seven Hills Foundation. um 9M uh include the 311 app. When you receive this information, what are you going to do with it as a council? Because we already have a lot of this information. 9Q um inspector Oh, inspectors need to enforce instead of waiting for residents to report violations. I see a lot of that going on. there. It's affecting a lot of the uh residents in the city to report a lot to them. Uh 9B, wasn't this

what uh former council? Yep. Former He GI I would like to utilize uh Andrew's um reserve time. Uh wasn't this what uh councelor GI former counselor GI was working on uh before? And lastly, 9Z. Uh this has been asked multiple times before. Private pickups shouldn't private pickups without cautious power should not be on routes that Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay.

Okay, back to the uh agenda. We have petitions se 7 A to 7E refer to traffic and packing. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Econom. Yes. Councelor Po. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Councelor Mitra, yes. Councilor, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councilor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes. 88H. Motions to adopt. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councelor Vo. Yes. Councelor King.

Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councelor Aita. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. We are on 9A. Request the city manager request the chief development officer provide council with an update concerning the former St. Vincent's Hospital Nursing Dormatory being developed converted into affordable housing for senior citizens. Council Folo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you to the administration. The St. Vincent's School of Nursing has been vacant for over three decades, probably close to 40 years. And we all know that uh the senior center is abuing that property. It would make for a great uh opportunity to have senior housing there. And when our current city manager was first appointed, he went around to each of the districts and uh had an open mic. And I went there at that time and asked him to uh pursue senior housing there. And uh I know that we have a potential developer who's interested in the property and I'd like an update to see uh how far along it is and what type of uh chances we have in fulfilling senior housing at uh the former St. Vincent School of Nursing. So I'm hoping the manager could update us.

Okay. If if possible. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. So we get a report. Are you going to do it now or do you want I' I'd like to I'd like the general public to hear something tonight. Okay. As far as where we stand on it. Thank you.

Uh through the ch of the council. Um yes, you you are correct. Uh we actually been working previously we had submitted previous administration has submitted uh RFPs to try to get biders for development. Uh we were actually able to get a developer uh Roger uh communities I believe. um most recently is the most uh recent developer who won the award. They're actually proposing 105 units uh of senior housing uh at the senior uh about 45 or so units will are going to be located um in the current building itself, the current structure. That structure it's it's tied and connected to the senior center. Um and then they are going to build a building right next door. It used to be the Anderson building. uh they're going to build about 60 or so units there as well. So, right now they're going through the due diligence process. It's actually going through uh the process pretty timely. They're doing a good job through it. Um they're going after some uh additional incentives at the state level for tax uh credits uh as well. They're they're a renowned kind of developer not only in the Boston kind of Massachusetts area. Um so, we're excited for that development that's that's making some headways in in the city. So, we'd be happy to provide a more comprehensive report, but we're really excited because this is finally we get to see some movement in that senior building. Uh, it has some good bones and to bring senior housing, it truly complements what the senior center has been able to do for so many years in that area.

So, I send that to council. Just quickly, just quickly, uh, I appreciate that update and I look forward to, uh, the continuence of of, uh, going forth with that and, uh, I'm more than happy to play a role in any way I can to help uh, uh, see that through. So, thank you again. Thank you, man. Roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Council, yes. Councilor Economo, yes. Councelor Pollo, yes. Councelor King, yes. Council Mitra, yes. Councelor Aada, yes. Council Rivera, yes. Councilor Rosen, yes. Council Chumi, yes. And may Petty, yes.

Next item is 9B. Request the manager request the commissioner of transportation mobility organize a discussion with the appropriate representatives of the mass DOT to discuss the feasibility of providing cars driving west on Route 20 the ability to turn onto Milbury Street. Council Folo,

through you, Mr. Chairman. uh out campaigning in in and around the Granite Street area. Uh one cut through to Walmart from people who are coming from uh Route 20 is uh Granite Street to Cliff Street and on to Milby Street and to the uh development uh at the plaza where um the Walmart and Worcester is. And uh it is quite busy to say the least. uh people go through there uh continuously uh seven days a week and it was brought to my attention which I'm well aware of because of the 146 uh connector that brought uh Walmart and and of course the uh mall at Blackstone to us that without the road it would have never been there. And uh there is uh maybe a quarter of a mile from Granite Street on the right hand side going west on 20 a uh Milbury Street comes out to Route 20 and meets 20 there. And the people on Milbury Street uh can take a right going west on Route 20. But uh unfortunately uh Mass DOT at the time never allowed a right-hand turn onto Milby Street which would uh take people uh right into uh the same area of the Walmart Plaza. Uh at the time I was in the legislature. I was very involved in securing the funding for the Route 146 Max Mass Mass Mass Pike interchange. And uh I have to say at the time I was against uh not allowing traffic uh to take the right-hand turn there. But uh again, engineers uh from DOT know better than we do, I guess. and and uh that's why I couldn't I couldn't uh disagree

more and I'm bringing this to uh our administration hoping that we can uh have a discussion with uh Mass DOT and those in responsible to uh change that to allow traffic uh to use that road and hopefully alleviate some of the uh cutthrough traffic that now exists going from Granite to Cliff to Mobile Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, I'll send it out to the manager. Roll call. Mr. Chairman, like to sign on. Uh, as amended. Sign on. As amended. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes.

Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councelor Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. 9C. Request to see manager request peace chief provide council an updated report concerning voluntary accreditation process and the police department is undertaken with the Massachusetts police accreditation committee which requires written directives and procedures that meet over 325 operative stands set by MPAC uh with the external review to follow. Councel Tumi.

Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Um this is certainly uh part of the chief's uh plan to uh continue to ensure that we're staying on top of policies and regulations. Um as as that said in the order, there are 325 operational standards that need to be reviewed uh by MPAC and uh they work with the police department to ensure compliance. Um and I think it's very important that um I note that uh Boston, Cambridge and Springfield have not done so yet. I missed whether or not Fall River did. Um, but I think it's really important. Um, Lel did. Uh, but it's very important that a city of our size have this uh and make sure that we're have are upholding the professional standards um that we need to uh to have as one more one more tool. So, uh I look forward to uh the report from the chief. He's already started working on it. So, I'd like to see where we are on it.

Okay. So, send that to the manager. Real quick, Mr. Chairman, can I sign off to that as well? Okay. As amended. Thank you. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councilor Belada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Yes. Councelor Rolo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosa. Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Penny. Yes. 9D. Request to see manage request. Commissioner Parks uh public works install the missing stop sign of the intersection of Salsbury Street and Ming Street as soon as possible. Council Okconom.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Pretty much as it reads, it must have been knocked over either during plow operations or during an accident. It's at a critical intersection as you know right at Mullen Salsbury. Thank you. Okay. To the manager. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Yes. Councelor Pollo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council Aita, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Council Rosen, yes. Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes.

Request me to review the feasibility to increase the amount of money allocated to each district for the purposes of conducting street and sidewalk resurfacing, said feasibility review should include whether any grant opportunities exist for such purpose, as well as the potential to use percentage of free cash, new growth, and tax revenue to help fund the increase. Council Rivera. Yeah, I'd just like to mention that this is uh to go in a direction of uh it seems like we're going backwards. Every time we take care of two or three streets, we seem to be adding like five. Um but when I was filing this petition, I I ended up learning that the city manager had allocated more money to uh to this uh to the districts as as well. So, I want to hear from the administration a little bit about um about this petition. Please disorder.

Mr. Manager.

Yeah. Through the chair to the council. Um last uh budget cycle we had heard from district counselors as well. Uh I remember council George Russell uh asking that we increase the budget allocated for um for street resurfacing for the districts. And so we went back and we analyzed our our the budget and we also looked at the pavement management program and that gave us the ability to double in terms of the amount for streets for the for the uh for for the districts. And then we also looked at the list. We had like a four-year uh backlog and we then addressed that four-year backlog of sidewalks um for the districts and then we also increase that for the council. So moving forward, budgets moving forward, the district councils will have more money for sidewalks and uh for streets uh resurfacing as we start to move forward, but we tried to also address some of the backlog we had with sidewalks. We had a roughly a four-year backlog on that.

Um through the chair to administration, is this an increase that we're going to see yearly or or that will keep progressing in that direction? Kind of help out

to the chair to the council. This is a a a an increase that you're you're going to see continuously. It's not it wasn't just a one time. We we adjusted the budget and increasing it in that allocation year-over-year. And the last question to the chair administration on this item is uh I also know is there any possible of uh grants or or stuff to uh I know the free cash and and stuff you guys worked with already but you know just to help on because I know we there's allocation of certain um streets that they can pick but then after that list you're done and and and and sometimes some streets you can only fix maybe one big street that you know what I'm saying

the manager Yeah, through the ch of the council. So the the counselors have the ability to select neighborhood sidelines. Uh the city administration working collective with the council uh we select the main arterials based on the analysis with so the but the sidelines the district councils have the ability uh to suggest and through petitions through residents etc. uh uh the the challenge becomes is we have over close to 500 miles of of road and so uh addressing that on an annual basis or resurfacing it's not something that um again we we we're trying to address that to the pavement management. So not every street is going to require to resurface. Some streets we may do some chip steel, some streets we may do some uh um uh um some preservation work. So it's not uh specifically resurfacing. The the dollars that we increase specifically for the districts are strictly only for resurfacing. And that all then comes back to capacity of not only the department but also contractors and having the number of contractors be able to take care as many streets as we could on a yearly basis. Um so yeah, there are streets that are kind of there in terms of uh the pending list. Some of them are subject because there's in a year or two we're going to do some water or sewer infrastructure. So, we got to put it on hold. Uh there's other situations that happened, but again, our efforts to try to increase that number for the districts, but also uh include a pavement management program that we introduced a few months back to the council that is going to give us a better uh a better strategy in addressing our neighborhood roads uh moving forward.

Thank you. Thank you, Council Con. What purpose of your eyes? Uh if I could add a friendly amendment to that uh please, Mr. Chairman and Council Rivera. Um, on that increase, I'd like to know if it's a net gain in dollars or if it's um just covering the added cost that has accumulated to do the work. I think that would be uh important to know if that's okay with the council. Okay. So, send that to manager council. Council K.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a point of clarification on this item. um through the chair to the administration. Um and I certainly appreciate the order. Um currently, how are we looking at the needs of each individual district in terms of priority um and number of necessary um initiations of street operations? And the reason I asked for that question, Mr. chairman is we have okay we got one two three four five get a certain amount for each district um but in addition addition to that the needs differ right the needs differ so if you can speak a little bit to that um so that I can understand um whether or not this goes far enough Mr. Chairman

uh Mr. manager uh through the chair to the council. So um when we established the department of transportation and mobility, one of the efforts that we took was to try to um do an overall analysis of our current PCI which is a pavement condition index. Um that gives us uh the ability to know what's the index of every street in our current city. We know that. Um so we try to provide our suggestions to the district counselors but the district counselors and their efforts of neighborhood meetings, petitions that come to the floor, petitions that the district council put forward or residents put forward. Um they then or at large counselors

and at large counselors on behalf of residents, all those things come uh before DTM and DPW and what they do is they provide a list of all the streets that have been petitioned and have been approved by council. If a street hasn't been petitioned, it hasn't been approved, it's not going to get on that list. Um, and so once it gets on that list, we look at the PC, there's a PCI index that's associated with every street and then the counselors have and with our administration gets to prioritize what are those streets. We at we recommend the the with the lowest PCI should be first. Uh, but uh the counselors have also the ability uh for discretion on terms of what those streets are are going to be re uh resurfaced.

Thank you. So um just from my understanding again through the chair so if it's not reported by petition by order by a district counselor it's not going on a list correct Mr. Manager

or 311 is 31 included as well? Uh just because you submitted on 311 does not mean that uh it has to be petitioned because the public work it has to go to a public works committee that has to go to a process for those for that to be adopted with then goes to the list for us to be able to include that for resurfacing. That's only for the side road sidelines in neighborhoods. The main arterials that is that is an administration uh with council decision. But the the sidelines, every district counselor has the ability uh to influence the decision of those selected streets only the ones that have been petitioned and has been approved by the council.

And so through the chair, nothing there's no evaluation of the 311 reports um pertaining to this um that sticks, I guess, is the question I'm asking. Ch. they play a role in our decision of recommendations uh to recommend say hey we're receiving x amount of complaints the PCI index is 55 uh we recommend that this street should be one of the priorities uh but that then would be at the discretion of the council thank you very much thank you Mr. Okay, I'll send that to the manager as amended. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councelor Pollo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councelor Ha. Yes.

Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Requesting Andrew install addition will be trafficles in the Tatnik Square area. Council Rivera. Uh pretty much as it reads it just because uh I know there's a stretch of uh 10 10 of those wins on Chandler Street area that's like within a half a mile radius. Some of them not even being used and if they can move some of those to like uh by the dance studio under Rise Bakery and Pleasant Street on Chandler Street by Dunk and Donuts by the bus stop at a corner of Mill and Chandler to name a few because there's none in the techn square area. Thank you. Thank you to the manager. Roll call. Councelor Bergman.

Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councor Economo. Yes. Council Vaso. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Toita. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. 9G request city manager consider installing cameras in the Morgan Landing Shore Park and Indian Lake Park Beach in the effort to deter illegal um I mean illicit activity. Council Mitra.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through chair to the uh city manager. Uh this was uh found out when I was attending a neighborhood meeting as you also heard the neighborhood meeting uh organizer was also here. Diane who also spoke about it. Uh I was given the understanding that uh in those parks there are a lot of illegal activities go on such as as Diane mentioned uh probably illegal parking uh illegal you know drug use and many unhoused people come in there. So they think that will be safety of the neighborhood will be good idea to install the u the cameras in there. So at least that these things could be controlled and detected. So that's the request that was made by the neighborhood groups and I'm just represented to see that it is activated is done because they have failed to get it done in the past. So I would highly recommend to look into it and please make this happen. Thank you.

Okay, we'll send that to the manager. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Cool. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council Aita, yes. Council Rivera, yes. Council Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. 9H, uh, request the manager request commission of public works provide council with a report concerning the feasibility of snow power drivers using a phone application to report vehicles illegally parked during winter parking uh, bands in an effort to educate vehicle owners of the proper locations to park during such winter weather events. Council Mitra,

thank you again, Mr. Chair, through you to Mr. Manager. Um this is just a request to see if this could be possible because we know that during the uh snow that we had in the past week uh many cars were illegally parked while the flowers were going and they couldn't clean the clean the roads because the cars were parked on the curb side and um many homes had very difficulties in seeing that their roads were not cleaned properly. And it is requested that if those plowers could have a device or an app in their camera that they could probably take the picture of their car and pass it on to the city quickly so that the car could be either towed away from there or it could be given to a notice to them saying that you know it's an illegal parking and you need to park properly. So it's an education at the same time it's a safety at the same time it's also keeping the you know neighborhood clean in the proper way. So that's a request of feasibility if that could be done. Uh requesting the public works department to explore the possibility of having in their pl uh maybe they have an uh iPad where they can just quickly take a picture of those parks which are par illegally and report it to the city right away.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chairman. I'd like to sign on please. Okay. As amended. Thank you. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Council econom. Yes. Council Viso. Yes. Council King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council Aita. Yes. Counc. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mary Petty.

Yes. requesting a committee on public health and human services hold one or more public hearings for fire in advance of next winter in an effort to help the city identify and to secure a sufficient number of safe and secure emergency shelter locations that serve the needs of the unhoused population during the winter of 2627. Council Rosen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as we all know, every late fall, early winter, city is always looking for emergency shelter facilities to uh house the the homeless. And uh it's difficult at times to find the right spots and certainly the right number of spots. We're fortunate that we have a shelter this winter over on Oral Drive and we have again the MLK Center and we have Smark on Queen Street. And thank goodness the last couple of days what St. John's Food for the Poor is doing, they've opened a new shelter, I believe sheltering 60 folks every night. I think they had a meeting Friday and they were open Saturday. So just amazing work that they do there and continue to do. Thank goodness we have this shelter because we really haven't had enough to serve the needs of all the the homeless folks. And the needs and the numbers seem to increase winter after winter. And I can't imagine tonight anyone sleeping outside. You could be in a tent, you could be in a sleeping bag. I just can't imagine. And we know for the last six, seven weeks, every day here in the city of Worcester, especially every night, it's been so cold, so treacherous. So, how can anyone, you know, brave that weather and sleep outside? So, I'm suggesting that the public health committee, Councelor King, Council Tumi, and I, we take a look early on, March, April, start looking and talking to folks here in the city. Where will our shelters be next year? I hope the St. John's Food for the Poor shelter does well this winter and they do bring it back, but I think that the committee starting early can maybe come

up with some adequate facilities for us to use for the homeless. So, thank you to my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Joe, you council. Thank you. I rise for clarification. I just want to let um folks know that they are looking for volunteers and people to cook and things like that. There's on their Facebook page under St. John's Food for the Poor. They do have a link called Signup Genius and a lot of the shifts have been covered except for the overnight shifts and they're looking for people. So, um we can certainly uh make sure that folks know what that link is and uh they definitely need help. I want to uh sign on to this uh as well. Thank you,

Council Bon. Yes, Chair. I'd like to sign out as well. I attended the emergency meeting that they had last Friday. Um, and Officer Lovely was there. It was great to meet the staff. Father Madden. Uh, it's really critical the work that they're doing and would love to sign on to this. So, thank you. Sure. Okay. So, is a minute to sign on? Council want So, council wants to sign on. Council just one clarification. Um I was just understanding also that uh the city manager is going to be um providing us with like a master plan on the homeless situation. Correct. Okay.

And this a friendly amendment to real quick like council was saying we should focus on how to get people to volunteer and trained to do this. That's one of the issues there that one of the challenges they have right now because it's every night we have so much cold weather. So okay. So, uh, send that. Everybody wants to sign on. So, as amended, roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councilor Bada, yes. Council Cono, yes. Council, yes. Councor King, yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty,

yes. Request stand committee on public health and human services review the city's efforts to determine why a half a square mile census track in the heart of downtown Worester borded by Lincoln Square to the north street to the east main south to the south and Crowns Hill to the west has the highest rate of stroke and dementia in Massachusetts for residents 65 and older who are on Medicare. Council Rosen.

Thank you uh Mr. Chairman. This is United States Census Track 7317. It's designated by uh national uh standards I believe and it is it includes city hall right where we are. It includes the DCU center includes the handover theater, the Worcester Police Department, the Worester Public Library, Coney Island Hot Dogs, and several other places. But there's some that are very uh recognizable to all of us. And I'm suggesting that since this small census track, 209,000 residents in the city, 3700 of them live in this small census track. Not a lot. Onethird of those residents are below the poverty line. But this deals with those who are 65 and older. More than half of those 3,700 residents are older than 65, but they too live below the poverty line. So the question is, do we just ignore this and say, well, someone some census track in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has to have these highest figures and it's this one. I don't think that's a good way to deal with it. I think we should take a look at the folks who live in this small census track which includes all those uh facilities that I mentioned and we would turn this over to councel king councelor tumi Gary Rosen your public health committee will be the sleuths we'll invite people in and we'll try to find out why is this census track so different than those in Boston those in Springfield in New Bedford. There's got to be something here that gives the folks, the residents in this area, these seniors over 65 and it's 53%

are seniors in that census track and they're below the poverty line. What is causing them to have a greater incidence of strokes and dementia than anywhere else any other census track in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We don't lead the country, but we do lead Massachusetts. And it's a not a good lead to have. We don't want to, you know, have folks in that area. And I don't know what's causing it. There's a lot of possible reasons. Obviously, poverty, education. We talked recently about how difficult it is for people to find primary care physicians. So, that's possible. A lot of folks who when they get older, they assume that their memory is going to go that when they start suffering from dementia, they assume that, oh, it's because I'm getting older and I have to put up with this. That's not the case at all. But a lot of folks don't realize maybe it's time to see the doctor and maybe a lot can be done to help you if you really are suffering from this issue. So, I would refer this to the public health committee and as I said, the three of us will be the sleuth sleuths on this and we'll see what we can come up with and report back hopefully to the council later on this year. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you. I send that to the comm uh the committee. Roll call. Clarification. Uh council king for clarification. Clarification here. Is this asking for a report to be sent to committee? So, okay. That's why I'm asking for clarification. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Okay. Roll call. Councilor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Vo. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. AJ. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And mayor Petty.

Yes. And we are on 9K. A request to stand committee on municipal uh legislative operations or a public hearing to determine the feasibility and visibility of the state council initiating andor supporting efforts to review the current modified plan E charter that is implemented in 1987 and amended in 2022. Council Rosen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we all know, Mr. Chairman, this has been discussed at length throughout the Worcester community for years. for years. It's been almost 40 years since we did come up with the charter that we have now. And five of us, five of the city council are sitting in these seats tonight because that charter was changed back in 1987 after a few years of deliberation by a charter commission, city council and so on. the folks in Worester voted it and we came up with not only at large councils but this new mix of six of us at large and the other five district councils and I'm not suggesting tonight I'm not going to make one suggestion tonight of any change in this charter we've all talked about it during this past campaign and previous campaigns we've heard people different agencies different individuals ask us are you in favor of charter change. And I'm I'm not even using the word change. If you read this carefully, I'm looking at charter review. It's been almost 40 years. Are we going to do this every 40 years? Maybe we're not going to. Maybe it's going to be every hundred years because I don't know where this is going to go. But I think it's time. Back in the late 80s when I taught at Darity High at the time when this was done, this new charter came forward. I was also running the internship program at Darity High and I had a student, one of my senior students, 60 of them who were doing internships all through the community. He said, "I want to do something in politics and government." So, we set him up in the late 80s down here at city hall with the new charter commission that was working on the charter. He worked with them. He couldn't vote on it. He wasn't part of the commission, but he came to all their

meetings right in the chambers here. And he came up with all of his ideas, too. And some of them were talked about by the charter commission. Later on, that same student grew up, of course, and he became a member of the Worcester school committee. And later on, he grew a little older and he became the mayor of Worcester, that student of mine who worked on the charter, the last charter, and that was Joe O'Brien. He was interested then and I know he's still interested now. There's nothing to be afraid of when you just take a look at the charter. Just review it. I would like to see another charter commission. And there is a group out there, a very good group, well-run, respected group that's looking at 16, 17,000 signatures so it can go on the ballot and people can vote for a charter commission and that charter commission will start looking at the charter. Nearly everyone on this city council during the years, whether you're on the council or not, you thought that maybe something should be added to this charter. it needs a change because I'm thinking of this and the chatter doesn't respond. It doesn't cover it. So, there's a lot of things that can be considered. Maybe a commission will say this is the greatest chatter since sliced bread. Don't have to make any changes. I don't think that will happen, but that certainly is a possibility. So, I would just like this to go to our municipal operations committee, Dr. Mitra, the chair. I'm a member and I believe Mo Bergamman is the third member of that committee. Let us have a public hearing where people come down can come down and speak in favor of chatter review someday or against it. Maybe some people say no. It's only been 40 years. Let's wait another 40. That's what they might say. I do not know. But I know it's finally time to start talking about it. No one on the city

council has to be afraid of this order of reviewing the charter. Do you have to be afraid of charter change? I don't know. I don't know what the changes, if any, might be. So, let's start moving forward. It's been talked about for years. Let's work together as a city council. Let's work with any groups out there. I don't know. Maybe the law department, Mr. Chairman, could answer this tonight or maybe the city clerk. Can a charter commission be appointed? I don't know by who, but can it be appointed that way? You might not get need 17,000 signatures. I know the CPA, this council was able to get on the ballot without signatures, but that's a whole different deal. I understand. But maybe through the chair of the clerk, is it possible to appoint a charter commission where you can appoint seven or eight, nine people from different walks of life who could really contribute? It's not a political process

through through the chair to the council. So my understanding is I think I've brought a report in the past and the solicitor as well.

Um you have to start an initiative petition process which we started about two years ago with a group that we actually provide them the charter commission papers to petition them to change the charter. But the way it works is that uh from my understanding is we provide the papers to the residents. the residents can collect that 15% of the signatures in the same time we put a does the city of Worester want to change its charter the members of the charter commission also running on the same election so I don't know if there's a process that I'm not aware of that the solicitor is but my understanding is it has to start from the resident's initiative petitions in order for the chartered commission to be on the ballot as well as the charter change to be on the ballot it cannot be initiated by the the body of the city council Okay. And that's fine with me. I just think getting maybe 17 16 17,000 signatures is not easy for a group of our residents. So, it certainly is going to, you know, take some effort on their part. If that's the only way it can be done, so be it in the future just coming from the city council that we're interested in reviewing our charter. when the public hears that and says, "Well, the council at least wants to review the charter even though we can initiate it." Although, I'm still not sure that a charter commission couldn't be uh set up by city council, the mayor. The mayor has ad hoc committee ability. That could be considered perhaps an ad hoc committee. I don't know for sure, but however it can be done, I think it's time to do it. So, I hope we can support this tonight. Let's send it to our MO committee. Let's have public hearings about it and see if it's going anywhere after that. I do support charter review. I think several on this council during the campaign even stated they support charter review. Here's our chance right now. Don't be afraid of it. Let's do it. Thank you,

Mr. Chair. Thank you, Council King. Great council. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. through the chair uh to the clerk. Um I know we've had this in committee. Um when I was in municipal operations, it was in uh Mobergman's committee as well. Um if you could speak a little bit to the report that you provided. I don't recall what the name of it was

to the chair to the council. So actually the report is still in committee brought back by my report was filed my understanding is but the solicitor's report is in committee as well. And I don't know if the solicit has a copy of the report if she can kind of give you guys an overview tonight if you like. But my understanding is based on the solicit's report was that um the residents can initiate it with 15% of the voters at the last municipal election. You have to have 15% of those certified signatures certified by the board of election commissioners. And then that gets the question is should the city of Worcester change its charter? At the same time, uh the charter commission members can run in the same election which will be technically at a local election and they also have to create uh collect signatures that to be on the ballot. So it's a similar process how you would get your name for the city council or a school committee on the ballot. The same process would be for the charter commission

and through the chair to um whomever. Um is there what's the other process if there is one um that does not include a commission? um through the chart to the council. My understanding there's other options but does not require uh does not trigger charter review commission. Correct. Special acts which I think this council has voted numerous times. We did that through the school committee redistricting option because of the you know the the with the settlement we had with the plaintiffs. Um there is other options where it comes to special acts. There is other amendments you can do to the charter, but it I don't believe there's amendments that can happen to the election process or the formal government through those special acts.

Right. Thank you to the chair, to the administration. We just have the solicitor speak on that. Any other um processes or avenues as relates to charter change um outside of the commission? Wow. I just want to make sure that the public um as this moves forward has an understanding. I know we've been over this before the last couple of terms. Um, and we're we're doing it again. I just want to make sure folks are informed through the chair.

Uh, through the chair to the counselor. There there are four ways that you can change the charter. And those each way depends on what you're trying to change. If you want to change the composition of the council, the form of government, um, the terms of any of the counselors or the mayor or the manager, you have to do it through a charter commission, which is by vote. Um there's other options like the clerk said which are you know like special acts or um after a public hearing at the council but those cannot affect the composition of the form of government. and through the chair um to the administration when we were talking about aligning um the school committee districts with the council districts um given that the school committee districts um I think it's A through F or something um and we have five would require a change in the composition of this body um can you just clarify again what that would have to look like um for a process to um achieve that

mam Absolutely through the chair to the councelor. So if it was a change in composition of the city council that would be initiated by uh 15% of the voters then once the charter commission was created they would review and propose that form or that structural change and then it would get adopted by the people. Thank you. We went through the chair um to the administration. Um does the council have the ability to put a ballot question on related to this a non-binding um anything uh through the chair. There have been previous non-binding ballot questions. Yes. Um that Yes. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Okay. Council commemor sign on to the item, please. Okay. Council Mitra sound. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um through the chair to uh council Rosen. Uh thank you very much for putting this um order here. I'm just kind of wondering uh is this just the time that prompts you that it is time for us to review because you're not giving any reasoning. You're just saying that it's time for us to do that. I just want to know is there any number of years that we have that we should review the charter after 20 years or 10 years is there any rule I just want a clarification that or just randomly we think that it's time for us to review

I I think it's time and uh councelor Rosen he's asking what clarification thoughts are it was time 10 years ago was time 20 years ago when it goes if it does go to your committee that I'm on with councelor Bergman too you know we could talk about about that too. We could have that discussion that maybe every 10 years we should take a look at the charter review the charter but certainly every 40 years is not often enough. Thank you. And there is there is no you asked there is no rule say we have to some cities and towns do have it in their chart that it should be review in x number of years. So

no thank you very much because I think either there is a time or there is a reason to review. So I was just trying to find out that what's the purpose that we want to review it. But if it's a you know it's been long enough that we should now look at it I I think perfectly fine. I'll definitely be looking at when it comes to my commitment. Thank you. So everybody wants to sign on as amended. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councor Paso. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Oh, yes. Councor Vera. Yes. Counc. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Penny. Yes.

Requesting a man provide council with an update concerning the utilization level of the relocated renovated historic Sterns Tavern built in 1812 having housed a tavern with a prominent stage coach stop, furniture shop, a carpet store in succession of banks. Stern's Tavern was saved and restored through a partnership among the city preservation Worcester, the Seven Hills Foundation, and many private donors of money, materials, and labor. Council Rosen and Council Rivera.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, one of one thing I'm very proud of when I was the beautiful District 5 city council several years ago was the changes we made around the Coast Beach and Coast Park down the street a little ways. And we brought the Sterns Tavern over which was the Bank of America. Brought it over from Park Avenue around the corner to its present location at Co Park and a lot of organizations participated in that move and so many people gave money gonated time. Uh Seven Hills was a great partner. Preservation Worcester, the city parks department, the city of Worcester, the city council was so supportive. I mean, so everyone was involved. It's a great, it was a great project. And you drive down Mil Street to Park Avenue, you see that beautiful building, how we restored it. Uh, it's great and it's been in the hands the management of Seven Hills and I assume they're doing a pretty good job. But at a couple of neighborhood meetings, Mill Street Neighborhood and Columbus Park, they both meet at the Sterns Tavern. It's come up a few times that it seems to be underutilized. It's a beautiful building. It holds maybe three dozen people. So, it's not huge. But should there be more things going on in that building since the state, the city, I think we got some federal money, too. A lot of money and effort and so many private donations were poured into that move in that building. So, should it be serving the public to a greater degree? I don't know the answer to that, but I hope maybe the city manager and his team can take a look at the usage of Sterns Tavern and let us know, let the public know, let the neighborhood know. Is it something that should be utilized more or is it close to maximum usage? I don't think it's close, but let's find out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Councelor River. He did a good job. Okay, we'll send that to the uh manager. Roll call. Councelor Bergman.

I think we lost. Um, he's rejoining right now. No, he's still there. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councilor Bada, yes. Councelor Conamu, yes. Councelor Bolo, yes. Councelor King, yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council Aita, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councelor Broen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes. 9M request the manager request commissioner emergency communications management provide council with a report detailing all 311 calls emails received regarding the need to address snow plowing issues uh for the same street from July 1st 2024 through January 31st 26 council Bergman.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Uh I think some of my colleagues may have experienced the same type of um constituent inquiries that I've received over the last number of years and they go something like this. It's the same streets over and over again. At least it seems that way that have issues with either snow plow operations or ice treatment or sanding or salting. So, by virtue of this order, what I'm trying to do is I'm trying to uh determine over the last couple years, are there repetitive problems on certain streets in the city? I hope not. I sense there are from the constituent inquiries I get. Uh and I say that because, and I've said this before, you know, we have three chances to do it right. We have the snowplow operators, we have the inspectors, and then we have the supervisors. So it would be incredibly frustrating for me to in all of us I think to find out that certain streets for uh year after year are not being done well despite the the significant levels of oversight that exists. So, I I really going to insist on getting this report back. And, you know, I know um sometimes reports get lost or there's other priorities, and I'm not saying this is a top priority, but before the budget discussions um this spring about funding for snow operations and other things, I'm going to insist on having this report back because if it's nothing um that I take more seriously, it's the fact that snow operations is the equivalent of public safety. And if certain streets aren't being done well, that's the problem. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Um Coun Council um O'Josy Rise. Uh clarification. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um just as uh through the chair to the administration, just a quick question. Um is there somewhere where we can um actually view these 311 calls or um feedback on what's been sent out? Um I received many many um Mr. Manager most recently and um I was able to relay some information to the residents but some residents said that they uh they didn't hear back or they can't figure out where where it's going. So if you could just help me out with that, Mr. Manager.

Yeah, through chair to the council. If you're submitting any requests through 311, you're able to see that through 311. Uh so you can see all the requests that are there um and and and and they're provided in the mapping or any kind of kind of listing. Uh it's all under the app. If it's coming through a counselor, right? If it's uh uh an email to a counselor or text message to a counselor and then that's getting relayed to the administration through an email or text. Most often than that, that's not being registered by 311. U that's just being dealt with separately and trying to just mobilize folks to get over there. Um the best way to do it is to try to utilize the app. I know that sometimes there has been challenges and there's been concerns in terms of calls being closed and not the work not being done. Uh and that's stuff that we're trying to address uh internally in terms of our operations and our processes. But the more we're able to see in 311, the better we have the data to be able to report out based on this report uh the request of this report. Um but that's typically right now uh the best way for residents to see the requests and things that are coming is the 311 app uh or you know the website which is 311 website.

Thank you. Uh through the chair when you say see the requests the resident can only see their requests or they be able to see multiple requests in throughout through the chair they can see all the requests. So, right now, if you log into the 311 app, you can see all the requests that has been submitted citywide. Thank you. No, I just want clarification. Um, hopefully some people are are watching this. Um, like I said, my phone was being blown up uh on social media. You know, Main South got hit pretty bad. Um, and they continue saying, you know, District 4, District 4, you know, the counselor and I assure them that 311 was working at the time. So, through the chair once again to the city manager, was was it was it down at any point in time throughout this snowstorm? If you can, Mr. Manager,

through here to through the council, the 311 has not been down. It has not been there has been no issues. I think sometimes what happens, it has been situations where a a uh a resident might have submitted a a a request um and that request might have been closed, but the work never been done. And the and the resident might have initiated another request or tried to ask uh the counselor or others as to, hey, I submitted a request, but it hasn't been done. I just want to follow up on it. Um, but there has been no issues or no concerns or anything of that nature related to the app. That app has been working completely fine the entire time and it's been extremely accessible to people. Uh, a lot of the requests, you know, right now we have acted we've, you know, there's over 39,000 requests have been submitted uh and dealt with. Uh, and there's constantly requests that are either active right now or pending or being closed, etc. And that's one way to engage the the customer service center and and and the uh uh the uh the call center that's dealing with all these requests that are coming to 311.

Thank you. Um city manager. Um

you know, one of the things that that that is important is is to know that the app is working. Um obviously we got hit with two almost two feet of snow or maybe even more, whatever it may be. um but that the app is working and and and that we tried our and we're doing our best, right? We continue we're still out there in the streets. Obviously, there's there's still much more work to be done, but um I think that's probably one of the the the main issues and I appreciate councelor Bergman putting this on is that's one of the main issues so we can show more transparency between the city and our residents on on what their issues are and how we're addressing them. So, um again, thank you. Um I think it's important to um continue to let residents know that this is important. there's an opportunity that they can go online and actually see these orders being uh put up and and how they're being addressed. So, thank you.

Okay, council wants to sign on. Okay, so we'll send that as amended. Roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Council Bada, yes. Councelor Conamo, yes. Councelor Rolo, yes. King, yes. Councilor Mitra, yes. Councelor Aita, yes. Council Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Uh, yes. Okay. I don't know if people mind. Uh, we have the to sit in there. There's a couple items on.

What's it? Yeah. You want to do that? Okay. Okay. Um, we are on 12A. Trisary information communication rel to the amount of funds at the Wister retirement board invest in global infrastructure partner and subsidiary signature aviation. File that sent the committee. We can follow those roll call. Council Bergman. Yes. Sorry. Chair could I have a question on that one? Yes. I'm sorry. That's okay. Okay. Council,

one question through the chair to the administration. How long is the retirement system going to be in this limited partnership with uh global infrastructure partners? Mr. Mr. Sterns. um private investments can last 10 to 15 years or even longer. Um we're about six years in with this uh with this investment. Is there is it scheduled to be 10 years or 15 years or or is it kind of does it vary as time goes on?

It does vary. We have similar to private equities, we may have some investments that last up to 30 years um as they sell off assets at an opportune time. um that they look to improve um buy a buy by buy a company and improve its efficiencies and increase its value and they may sell it. Infrastructure is a little bit different. Um they may do that but they also may keep it for cash flow um um purposes of the oper the operating of the infrastructure whether it's like pipelines toll roads or airports or in this case um an FBO a fixed uh base operator who services private airlines and um charters.

Okay.

So there's not a there's not a fixed termination date on on this investment. So to to saying that it's a long-term partnership, it seems like it's that in theory or is it because I I'm just curious if and when the city or the the the system could consider um devesting from from global infrastructure. I know or if there would be any consideration that considering that uh signature aviation is a subsidiary of it and considering that what signature aviation the role that they are playing in the ICE crackdown across this country that is no doubt going to be coming to Worester. So just curious about that if there could be any consideration in the future on this or is that that I'm sure that might just have to come up from the council again.

Mr. concerns. I think over time I mean that consideration will come up. Um um okay it's a as a private um investment. There's not a um it's considered an illquid asset. There's not a market out there to sell it. Usually if we did try to sell it our advisor tells us we would um realize a loss um if we can sell it. Okay.

It's a limited partnership. We're limited partners. the general partner is GIP for part of global infrastructures partners and and then the ones who makes the man management decisions and in terms of which investments to go to uh to make. So in this particular fund there were about a dozen dozen or more investments and this signature aviation was one of those. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Council Economo. Yes. Councelor Vaso. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes.

And Mayor Petty. Yes. Transmitting the city's annual comprehensive financial report for the year ended June 30th, 2025 is prepared by the art department in order by the certified public accounts firm of the Clifton Lawson and Allen. Send that to Mo. Roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councelor Bada, yes. Councilor Economo, yes. Councelor Pasco, yes. Councelor King, yes. Councelor Mitra, yes. Council, yes. Counc, yes. Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty,

yes. Thank you, Mr. Sterns. Okay, we are on We are on 9N. Request the manager provide council with report listing all permitted festivals in 2025 that includes the permit fees paid by each applicant where any funds are currently owed. Council Bergman as reads. Roll call. Council Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councor Economo. Yes. Counc. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Counc. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Council Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty.

Yes. Request that we're on O. Requesting manager reach out to the appropriate representatives from National Grid to provide city council report concerning how commercial electrical upgrades cost uh calculated. Council Bergman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh some of my colleagues may have uh run into a similar situation where a constituent, usually it's a commercial business owner, contacts us with really disparit estimates from national grid on what it's going to cost to upgrade the electrical system to accomplish whatever the commercial business is seeking to accomplish. when I've looked into it doesn't seem to be any set uh price because I know a number of times the businesses have significantly negotiated um the estimates downwards but at the same time there needs to be something more stable for the business community to go by and I'm not getting the answer I think it would be best if the city manager were willing to reach out to national grid and see if they have a certain list of prices to do certain things um upgrades or if it's just all negotiable. They could support know that either way. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. So, send that to the manager. Roll call. Councilor Bergman. Yes. Councor Bada. Yes. Councilor Cono. Yes. Council. Yes. Council King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. Okay. We are on P. Request manager in honor of our nation's 250th anniversary as a permanent gift to the city's residents consider funding finding funding sources for the commission of a statute of the historic reading of the declaration of dependence by Isaiah Thomas to be placed at the proper location in front of city hall. Council Bergman, if

I could get a little just a little backdrop and I'll do it quickly, Mr. Chairman. Many uh individuals who live in Worcester aren't even aware of the historic significance and the the marker that uh is was put at the location where Isaiah Thomas did the first reading on July 14th, 1776 of the Declaration of Independence, not only in Massachusetts, so certainly before Boston, but probably in all of New England. And there's a little monument maybe 18 in by 18 in on front in front of city hall where the U reading took place. Unfortunately, that monument doesn't do justice to the importance of the act for several reasons. First of all, for the winter time, it's covered by snow and ice, so you really wouldn't see it. And second of all, even in the better weather, you'd have to be walking with your head down to really recognize it. I we have the two nations anniversary coming up. I think it's time that we properly recognize um the significance of what that represents. I don't I can't recall the last time a municipal monument went up. not a private monument, but a municipal monument went up. And sure, we could spend money on fireworks and other things. And I'm not saying we shouldn't, but I think it would be a a great lasting gift future generations of Worcester. And I'm not suggesting come from taxpayers. That's why I worded it the way I did for funding sources, perhaps um individuals, corporations, and nonprofits like colleges. and we find a way to put together a life-sized figure of Isaiah Thomas actually reading the Declaration of Independence as opposed to what we have now, which again I think is part of the problem we've had in the past in Worcester is that we we ignore uh our sign historical significance when we should be doing what other cities like Boston does and making sure everybody knows about it by properly creating monuments like that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Council Carl. What purpose do you rise? I just like to sign on to it, please, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Like to sign on as well, please. I have to sign on. Okay. As amended. Thank you. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councor Econom. Yes. Counc. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Council Aa. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty.

Yes. requesting manager request uh commission of public works provide council with a report as to whether there are any time restrictions for snow removal on commercial properties especially when they but are close to residential properties council cara Bergman Mitra and Folo.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. This this came to my attention obviously this past storm where there was a lot of contractors out picking up snow from parking lots here and there and I just wanted to know if there was any guidance or any guidelines that we have detailed in this one situation they were picking up snow till 5:00 a.m. in the morning which you know all you're hearing all night long is the constant beeping of the trucks um and what have you. So if there is some guidance if we can get that guidance and possibly share it just so people and contractors are aware of uh the protocol. Okay. Thank you. Send that to the uh everyone. Send that to the administration. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes.

Economo. Yes. Rolo. Yes. King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Hey, mayor Petty. Yes. Requesting manager, mayor, and superintendent public works work together to take any steps needed to make sure that the sidewalks and streets around Gardage School of Science Technology located on 14 Richard Streets are thoroughly cleared after snowstorm and that traffic safety measures are implemented to make the drop off and the pickup of safe for students, parents, and school staff. Council Rosen Con King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Guided school science and technology and discovery. We had a great school, great program. A lot of the neighborhood kids go there. They love the school and uh it's just a great school system for the city of Worcester and our Worcester public schools. Uh and during the storm and after the storm had a couple of days off, I guess the students in Worcester and the school itself does a pretty good job. They do a good job. I'm going to compliment them tonight. Good job on the school property. It's the surrounding families and residents and owners of the homes who weren't and haven't done such a good job. And you know, I brought up guarded school because I got a long, you know, very good email from a parent who has a student at the school, I guess, in a special program there, and she's remarkably she notices all that's going on, and she noticed how many students were walking in the street and how dangerous it is. We know in the morning around all our elementary schools, the drop off can be dangerous even when it's nice weather and they're on the sidewalks. But here, students had to walk in the street. Not due to any fault of the school, but the surrounding facilities and residences and the owners of those buildings just failed to do the right shoveling and allow the students to take the path on the the sidewalks. And I know that we eventually uh charge maybe $75. We find them if they don't shovel. But uh through the chair to the city manager, Mr. manager. Do we ever maybe like we do with sometimes in the summer when they don't cut their lawn and it's about 4 feet high and the the neighbors complain, do we ever shovel the walk and bill the owner? I would sh have us shovel the walk, some company shovel the walk for us and I would bill the owner and I'd also find the owner, too. I'd do both.

But I don't think we can just find them 75 bucks and have the sidewalk still snow covered and the students walking dangerously out in the street. that doesn't seem to be a solution. So on this, it's the guarded school. You know, if you can talk to the superintendent, just make sure I'm probably it's all elementary schools you have the same type of request. But on that, do we ever shovel the walk for them and then build them? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Manager,

uh through sh to the council, we do. Um there's been situations, we actually dealt with a situation on the east side of the city, one of our councils, council Bada, uh where we had a situation where they weren't shoveling the sidewalk. And part of the work is not only do we charge them the 75 the we cite them for the for the unsho sidewalk, we then send a contractor clear the sidewalk and then we send them the bill of the contractor. Uh and if they don't then address that or pay the bill, then the property is leaned. Uh so there's protocols in place for us to be able to do that.

Is that a $75 fine every day or every week or just once? uh through the ch to the council is once and then we go in when we then uh get the contractor to clear the the the property. Then that bill gets sent to the property owner as well. Uh often sometimes property owners uh pay it and that's when they react to say, "Oh, I I didn't do what I was supposed to do." Um and there's some property owners who sometimes neglect it and then that's when we move forward to lean the property because they haven't paid the bills. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Senator to the manager. I'm sorry, Council Aita.

Thank you. Uh just a few questions to the chair to the uh Well, first of all, uh I I definitely want to state that through traffic and parking, we were able to uh agree on installing the the flashing beacon and intersection in that area. Um including the crosswalk. Um I think that's important to mention because we want to make sure there's some signage as well in that area. um because when they do snow plow, you know, a lot of the in intersections are getting built up. Uh you got four, five, six feet of snow. So, we, you know, just to make sure that we address that as well, that at those intersections, we're not going too high. It's hard for the kids to cross. 5t of snow, you're not going to see a kid crossing the street. Um my question is several questions to the city manager through the chair. Uh how has finding property owners um gone in in that area or just just in the city in general? Is that something that's pretty common with the snow? I mean, do do you see when you find them that we don't go back and find them again or they cons, you know, we consistently find them snowstorm after snowstorm or year to year, right? Last year we didn't get much snow, but year to year. Can you just answer that for me,

Mr. Manager? uh through the ch of the council. There are some properties that are habitual and not following the rules. So, they were constantly um you know following through enforcement uh with that, but they are properties who quickly uh there's a situation where they uh perhaps were on vacation and they forgot or and and they took care of the fine but you know they they they just forgot to do it that season uh or that particular snowstorm. So, it's it's kind of case by case. Um but that's something that again as part of this order we will evaluate and bring back some kind of information on that.

Okay. Thank you. And uh another question is it I'm trying to figure out how do I go about as a city council that's in my district. Um I work at the school right across uh on the back side of it. But uh I travel there all the time. The school does a really good job on removing snow. But like council b I'm sorry Rosen mentioned um that is an issue um going up and down in those neighborhoods. But is there a possible way to create some type of signage or letters to people in that in those neighborhoods to remind them when snow does come down? Um, it is their responsibility. Um, I don't mind sending messages as a counselor to them, but is that something that you've already put in play?

Mr. Manager to the council. We typically try to do that to all the advicements that we put out when we're a storm is coming, the winter ban, the clearing of the sidewalk. We try to keep that messaging consistently. Um there's no specific, you know, flyers that we're sending because it's not just this area there. There's many areas across the city that are in this same situation. Um and so we try to use all the channels that we can and communicate it whether it's through the radio, the traditional media outlets, social media, any way that we can try to get uh even business community, neighborhood associations to try to communicate as possible that the responsibility is of the owners to be able to uh uh to do that and they have 10 hours to clear the sidewalks. Um, you know, the o other thing that we do as part of DPW, we try to work with the school department to identify with the schools what are the priority schools that we need to address that oftent times have uh ch more challenging concerns and we need to address those. Um, but again, this is something that we can evaluate uh in terms of our response as part of this uh this order.

Thank you. And one last thing, I think one one probably one of the easiest way and more um successful ways would be working with the schools. Um every kid loves to bring stuff home from to their parents here read it if there's letters that can be sent home working with the schools especially when we have these notes because then the the resident actually receives it versus the building owner or property owner who probably doesn't live in the neighborhood and isn't doing a good job. At least we know the residents are receiving. I think that's the important case of making sure it gets in those homes versus it just gets sent to the property owner so we can find a way to connect with the with the whiskey hold the schools and getting this information out as well. Mr. manager

uh through the to the council. This is uh an opportunity I think you just it just sparked an idea in my mind and that's something that we'll explore. uh is potentially also the rental registry. Uh we could utilize we have contacts and we'd be able to provide information and perhaps some guidance to to the property owners itself that own these properties. Aside from the fact that I'll bring this to the superintendent and have some consideration about students carrying that. But I think it more so the property owners and the res rental registry could play a role in informing uh the property owners about that. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Listen to the manager. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Conamo. Yes. Rolo. Yes.

King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Oha. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosa. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty? Yes. Request mayor provide council with update concern previous request to report detailing efforts to utilize naming opportunities at Beaverbrook Park for Douglas J. Ham Jr. to honor him for the lifetime commitment to the Lither League in Worcester. Council Bergman Fazitra Rosen River and Oh,

yeah. I I mean, I think the number of people that signed on, Mr. Chairman, is indicative of the fact that um Mr. Hannon deserves the respect that we're trying to give him by naming recognition. I have been in contact with members of his family and certainly strong friends, friends of his that have strong feelings about this. Little League season is almost upon us. It' be wonderful if we could put something together for the start of the little league season. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Council Tumi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I rise to um ask that my name be added to this. Um I've been a very close friend of Doug and the Hannom family for over 35 years. Um I did not see this uh request. I certainly would have signed on. Um, and I know that I've also had conversations with uh family members and friends and uh had spoken at length with u the commissioner about a a solution. So I think that everybody working together will come up with a a we'll have a great uh plan apart. Thank you council.

Yeah, just a quick question. Um I don't know who to send this to, but um don't I'm not sure uh any idea why this is taking a little while. I know I've seen some go through fairly quickly. I know we've had some some changes on how do we address these type of um naming, street naming. Is it because it's going through the committee or has that changed? Can you just help me out with that? Mr. Manager.

Yeah, through the cho also has to uh on the parks commission plays a role uh in the parks of naming improvements etc. uh even overseeing festivals etc etc. Uh so they play a role in this. Uh my understanding I believe is the commissioner has been working on this. Uh so I think I don't think there's any hangup. I think it's just the the the the actual solution to to it all or the or the idea of what it is that wants to get done hasn't been presented yet. But I think there's a there's been a lot of conversations like council tumi alluded to with the commissioner in terms of creating a plan uh to address this and the hope is to have that uh in the upcoming season.

Okay. I guess that and I'm glad you said I guess it's just uh just waiting to hear back seems to you know it'd be good if we get we're working on it or we have some ideas three ideas or whatever it may be and uh yeah I know that's it'd be tough for you to answer. It's not even a question for you. So I appreciate it but I think um yeah this this gentleman uh played a major role in my life and um I I I think it's important that you know we we make sure we do this and we do it right. um and many other people throughout the city. Um a lot of people that I grew up with. Um you know, he was a father figure, he was coach, a mentor for for a lot of us and um I hold him and his family dearly to my heart. So it's something I would love to see. Um obviously like uh councelor Bergman said, you know, seasons are coming up. So it's hopefully I'm hoping we can do something soon. Thank you,

Chair. I like to sign on. Council me. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um just a friendly amendment if uh councelor Bergman is okay with it. Uh I think um Mr. Douglas de Hannon Jr. was also quite involved with the city's commissions. So I'd like to say that um to honor him for his lifetime commitment to Little League in Oster and also for his dedicated service to the city of Worster in many commissions as well. Okay. Councelor Bergman. No issue at all. Thank you councelor Mitra. Thank you. So I think everybody wants to sign on. Council Zul

uh quickly Mr. Chairman uh Doug replaced if my my memory serves me right a legend in Paul X Tibna and I remember at the time big shoes to fill and what a smooth transition Doug took the little league I think it's district four uh and just kept the same services Paul Tipman did as well. So I just want to put him in the same realm as Alex Tiffen. Doug Hannam is a Worcesterite that definitely deserves this recognition. Thank you. I think we all agreed to that. He's class act and uh did a great for the city of Worcester. So we will send that to the manager as amended with everybody signed on and uh as amended by Dr. Mitro I believe. Yeah. Roll call. Councelor Bergman.

Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Bolo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Uncle Mitra, yes. Oh, yes. Rivera, yes. Rosen, yes. Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. Quest manager request commission of sustainability and resilience identify storm water runoff locations feasible for rain gardens and retention basins along Lake Sigman and Indian Lake. Uh, councelor Balada.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. um had a great conversation today with the department of uh sustainability resilience and learned that this some of this is already happening. So, um, would be great to send this to committee to continue to have a conversation and and provide more opportunity for the community to learn about what's going on and how, uh, you know, residents and neighbors can help, um, mitigate some storm water runoff and, um, nutrient loading into the lake that really causes a lot of, you know, challenges with the lake and how residents could help with a more like holistic approach that the city is is trying to pursue. So, thank you. Okay, roll call, councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Council Kamo. Yes. Rolo. Yes. King.

Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Oh. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty.

Yes. Um we have you request mayor to provide council with the report detailing the home room petitions brought forth by the city manager approved by the council over the last 10 years. So your report should include the date each petition was filed, the status of said petitions, and whether they've been approved, denied, or still pending for the legislature. Mayor Petty,

thank you. And uh this is something new. We we've sent petitions to the state show all the time. We've had several. And what prompted this was u I was asked about the age 39 for police officers. I know some of these are hard to get through the legislature. Sometimes the delegation can't do it because the legislature has other policies or procedures they're looking at. But I think it was H39. We also have the uh was it taking it out of civil service uh one of our groups I think that's before the legislature and also the uh institutional zoning I think is before the legislature and anybody saw it there was a good article in the globe earlier this week on the institutional zoning and how helpful this Boston and Cambridge and the return on investment that uh Michelle Wool was getting so and uh so that was on Monday's I believe that was on Monday's Sunday's paper uh if people are interested so I just want to report we can send that to committee. Maybe we can get figure out um if these are never going to happen, we can eliminate them or if we do a strategy with our state delegation and how we proceed forward and uh if that's the case. So just like to send that to the manager.

Okay. Is there anyone else on this item? Okay. Item NU. All those in favor post ordered. The roll call. Oh yeah. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Conu. Yes. Council, yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council, yes. Council Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Councilor Tumi, yes. Mayor Penny, yes. Vice councelor King,

yes. Um 9V, request city manager review the main south area plan to implement improvements to its infrastructure to allow for greater walkability, stronger foot traffic to support its businesses, and it creates a healthy, more vibrant neighborhood. Mayor Petty, thank you. I think councelor O'Hada should be on here too and we talked about this. Amend that to include councelor O'Hada.

Yeah, we talked about me and him talked about this last year and uh this make this a priority. Uh that's you ever drive down that street, it's going to be one of the busiest streets in Worester between u uh Chandler and up to Main Street and it's congested. We got a lot of a lot of businesses there. There a lot of action. This would be a great investment. We focus on that uh here in the city. Uh, I think council hater can speak to that. He was u and because he's worked hard and previous councils have worked hard to really change that neighborhood and I think this will just bring it to another tier. We have a lot of people in that neighborhood who really care about it who work hard every single day uh to make it a better place for everyone. And I think they deserve uh um some investment there whether it be the lights, the streets, the sidewalks. U and just make it look better for especially now we have that new condo business that's opening in there too. U u I think there's a lot of action going there and there's a lot of private investment. So uh and I think with the city and the private we can take that neighborhood to the next level. Thank you. So, District 4 counselor.

Thank you, vice chair. Um, yeah. No, I I appreciate uh the mayor bringing this on. Um, I think it's important to to understand that, you know, Main South has had a um trying to find the word a past perception of what Main South is. Um, driving through whatever part of the city you are. Um, District 4, when you think of District 4, everybody thinks District 4 is Main South. Um, it does uh consume a lot of u resources and energy. Um, but I believe it to be a beautiful space, an opportunity for us to to to grow. Um, one thing I've said in many conversations with the city manager is, um, you know, when it's all said and done, um, we can't leave Main Street the way we found it, um, and Main South the way we found it. So, you know, I want to say thank you to the city manager for the work he's been doing along uh we've been working together on making sure we address a lot of these issues. A lot of the the the the businesses in the neighborhood as well. But, you know, when it when it comes to the infrastructure, I do have a lot of questions on what does that mean u to the city manager. Um, I I don't want it to to to just focus on the typical lighting, sidewalks, streets, and signage, but no problem. Um, like I was saying, I I I I want the the city manager to give me a a good understanding of when we say infrastructure, what are we talking about? Um, because I may have some more questions after. So, do you mind

to the chair to the councelor? Um, over the past couple of years, we've tried to submit we actually we submitted twice to the federal government for a raise grant that will help us to address um uh Main South particularly from Channel Street all the way down to like Webster Square. We want to address the entire quarter. And when we we talk about addressing the quarter, it's not just um uh simple infrastructure. It's some real infrastructure improvements, whether it's utility, uh, streetscaping, uh, sidewalks, lighting, street d, uh, street traffic lights, etc. Um, everything all the way down the corridor, all the way down to Webster Square. Uh, so we want to be able to address that. Um, we're going to start to put some efforts. Unfortunately, we've been denied at the federal level both times u to be able to move forward with this planning. It was about close to $2 million planning grant. Um, and so we're we're we're going to we're going to put forward some effort to start some work in the main area. This area needs some street improvements. It needs some um sidewalk improvements. It needs some lighting improvements, uh, signalization and some of the it needs some real attention and so we're going to put some effort. Um, we started some of that already with the Department of Transportation and Mobility uh, and DPW and coordinating their efforts and thinking through uh, long term. But we're also going to start looking at at that as as part of the FY27 budget. Uh because this is an area that is a has been of importance not only for myself but also for many of different departments for many different elements that we've been looking at uh in in terms of areas that we need to improve. We're doing some efforts on Massoya. We're doing some efforts on on I I believe on Hamilton Street or Grafton area. Uh so we're looking at multiple areas across the city, but this is one of the areas that we've been uh uh kind of prioritizing that we need to address.

Okay. Thank you. Um I also wanted to make sure that that we include um some of the basic stuff um of understanding the issues that we that always continue to rise throughout the city. you know, uh, leaf removal, like is that going to include, um, a better job with leaf removal as far as, uh, notifying residents? How would we do that? Would we use more social media in that area? Because I think that that also, um, impacts the infrastructure when it comes to parking and things like that. uh snow removal. Also, you know, a lot of the stuff that comes down to the turnaround time when there are calls to 311, calls to 911, you know, the a lot of things I'm I'm discussing now, things that come up in some of the neighborhood meetings. And I want residents to know that, you know, this infrastructure will include some of this some of the should include these items um because that that helps for a better functioning um of Maine South. Um would this also include traffic flow? I know at the intersection of May Maine and Hammond that's a really tight area when schools get out. Um that's a tight area there. So I just want to know if you you have you thought about traffic flow as well.

City manager

through chil. Absolutely. And that's actually the main um intersection that's going to be addressed as part of this effort um because we have to work with mass DOT on that. Uh this is a route nine. This is a state kind of corridor. So, there's multiple partners that's going to be at play here, but that's actually the main intersection that needs to be addressed. Um, it's a little wonky. Uh, so I I understand the challenges there. I grew up uh in that area right on Hollywood Street for for a few for a few years. Um, so we definitely know that that's an area that needs attention. When you talk about uh information of leaf pickup or snow, that's not just improvements in main. We need to do that across the entire city. And I think we talked about this system, the alert system that we're going to launch soon. Uh right now we're we're we're in the midst of waiting on execution of that contract from the vendor. Once we get that ex contract executed, we'll be able to launch that. So that's going to improve the communication to residents, but residents need to sign up to that system. So we encourage and we're going to encourage that in the neighborhood meetings for people to sign up. Um but that's going to be one way that's going to enhance our ability to engage and communicate with residents. Um there there's significant amount of work. I know that there's a previous order that we're actually currently actively working on that hopefully we'll bring to council where uh I believe yourself and uh uh councelor uh king had brought forward related to uh an audit or some information related to the dispatch times in this area. I think just in a prelip uh on the I can't think of the word either, but on just on the surface level, uh this is the area that has the lowest uh uh in terms of actually the fastest dispatch time in terms of response because there's a lot of uh uh uh support uh to this area. Um and so, you know, I I know there's a stigma of Main South and some people feel and believe that Main South is not it's overlooked or people are not paying attention. I do want to say that's incorrect. We're heavily paying

attention not only to Main South but also many quarters of the city. Um, and I think you know the work that you and I have been working with the mayor and this council body uh is is going to again eventually uh create some more uh opportunities for that area to see further infrastructure improvements.

Thank you. And and you know um there's so much more right that that that goes on with uh like I said the infrastructure right? It's not just um chaining a light bulb here or there, but it's actually using the the correct lighting, but there's also issues that are going on at the street level, right, with the unsheltered uh substance abuse, drug use, uh use of uh you know, drug sales as well. So, I want to make sure that residents understand that that's that's the full approach that that that I as a district counselor and working with the city manager and the mayor is that the approach that we need to make sure we take. Um, I want residents to know that, you know, um, again, it's just not about making the the sidewalks look nice or or new streets and new signs. It's about addressing all those issues that they face the minute they open their door. Um, for me, that's that's that includes, you know, dealing with the infrastructure. I want people to feel safe. I want people to be able to come out and talk uh to each other, go down to the 311 center, which is working really well. Um, and again, I want to say thank you to that. I appreciate that. But again, we since we're going to be in those streets in those up on up Main Street is a is to make sure we can identify what are those issues that that are going on that that I'm speaking on now to continue to, you know, again doing over Main Street, new lights and everything like that. But then you continue to see the issues that are going on. That's those are the things I want to make sure we we address as well. So um and also how do we support the businesses through through the process? Um I think it's important for them to understand that. um city manager to the chair uh to the city manager. You mentioned that it's um it's a state road. Is that correct? Can you explain what that really means as far as what we're allowed to do on our on our street versus what the state has as far as because again I'm in meetings and they want to know how come certain parts of the street or Main Street can't be done or haven't been done or similar to like

what's going to happen on Chandler Street where that's supposed to be uh a new redesign on Chandler Street as well. So I just want clarification on so people whoever was watching or I can send this to them so they understand what as a counselor when it comes to say the side streets or roads that I can address with our budget versus what you can do and what the the state should be doing. City manager Batista. Um yeah that's a it's a lot.

Yeah and it would involve a lot. Um basically the uh the state has jurisdiction on on infrastructure improvements on their on their roads. The city has the ability to play a role in design um and informing what happens in those roads. Uh but the state plays a role in infrastructure and funding of of those of those areas. Um because that's a that's a somewhat considered a yeah a state road or state uh route or state highway etc. um that happens. It's just like Belmont Street, right? State plays a big role in on Belmont Street because it's it's also um a state corridor. There's this projects for example like like Chandler Street that was a little bit nuanced because Channel Street in the area uh that they were trying to address on Channel Street um it was listed as the highest accident or fatalities in the state. Um and so we needed to address that area. I mean, we needed to address it quickly because we were seeing a lot of pedestrian accidents in that particular area. Um, and so we needed to mobilize to find and that's been, I think, probably five, if not six years in the making and it's still in the planning process to come with a full design on that effort because again, a lot of these funding is not just state I mean city alone funding this project. Oftent times we need federal dollars and oftentimes we need state and sometimes we need all three to be able to put these projects together. For example, the project that happened in front of city hall here that Main Street that happened a few years back u that again involved state resources, city resources and federal resources. You and that was an 11 million project just in about half a mile if not quarter 3/4 of a mile or so. Um so again, all these projects take time. Um we've been working with the federal government to apply for grants to give us some ability to start the planning process. But then those are efforts that we're going to have to work

with with the state. Uh um also there is a process that Mass DOT goes through. It's called the TIP projects and they allocate certain amount of funding for TIP projects and CMRPC plays a role as our our central mass regional I forgot the last um uh organization. they play a role in in in also identifying projects in the region um and in selecting those projects for for improvements and for infrastructure improvements. So it's it's a cumbersome process that takes many different kind of entities involved. Uh so it's not simply hey we we want to fix that street let's go fix it. uh that we have more ability to do that when we're when we're addressing um kind of smaller arterials uh uh like a mass soya road for example or when we're addressing neighborhood roads it it becomes a little bit more simpler or more easier for us to be able to manage that effort in that work. Uh but when you're doing full reconstruction uh of of of a road that impacts utilities that impacts sidewalks it impacts u uh lighting sometimes you have to move street poles you have to impact the neighborhoods in terms of the lighting the businesses except so it's it's a more involved than simply just addressing a residential. So it's not for the lack of effort that we're not doing anything. It's just it requires significant amount of work to be able to put these projects together and sometimes get millions and millions of dollars uh financed together to be then be able to mobilize and contract the work. So, but there's some effort happening right now to start some designs to start some movement on the city's behalf and we're going to look at the FY27 budget to start some additional funding at least on the planning uh efforts uh uh to to to begin the the changes of infrastructure in that area.

Thank you. Thank you. Um and and I appreciate the work that that that that's being done. You know, um you know, unfortunately there there was a change in in administration in Washington and that changed a lot of the things that we were hoping to get on Main Street and um I know in the meetings that you know, a lot of residents were were hoping. So again, I I I just say, you know, to the mayor, thank you so much. Um, I know this is something that I've I've been working on since I took council and um it's important to to continue doing the work even if we, you know, don't have that state funding in the meantime. So, again, to the city manager, you know, to the to the commissioner as well, I'll be reaching out with, you know, again, concerns and issues and I appreciate the support of continuing trying to get this work done um until until until this project really gets gets going. So, thank you again.

Thank you, Councelor O'Hada. Is there anyone else on this? Um, I'm going to add my name to it. Does anyone else want to add their name to this before the roll call? Council Tumi as amended. Roll call. Councilor Bergman. Yes. Bada. Yes. Conamu. Yes. Counc. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Council Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Vice Chair. Council K.

Yes. Item 9 W. request the city manager provide the city council with a report concerning how the city utilizes school district buildings, particularly properties like the Fanning Building to ensure they align with the evolving needs of the school district. Thank you, Mr. Mayor Petty.

And this is part of my these items inauguration speech. Mr. Chairman, you have an item on too. We realized the importance of this building and uh on Fanning and uh uh it's something that super previous superintendent talked about for the last three years trying to come up with a plan because the evolving needs as you know Mr. Mayor me on a regular basis the superintendent when it comes to our buildings and our student student enrollment which is only going up and population has increased dramatically over the last 10 years here in the city of Worester. Um, and I I know we're reviewing right now how we're going to reposition the districts in the future. Uh, making sure that the students allocated fairly throughout the district, but this Fanning building has been always been talked about in the last three years. I just want to make it a priority or how we look at this uh the and how we're going to integrate it with the Wister public schools and making sure that if we need to use it for a school building that we're able to do that um uh because uh we are growing especially in the downtown area. uh schools are getting full and uh we need more space. So I think this would be the perfect part of that. So I just like to send that to you Mr. Manager and you can work with the superintendent.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. You can roll call. Okay. Is there anyone else like to speak on this? Oh, you should go out for So that's councelor Lewis Louada district 4 recus himself. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Conamo. Yes. Councelor Bolo. Yes. Councelor Mitra. Yes. To recuse himself. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Vice Council K.

Yes. U. I'll get this started anyway. 9X request city manager provide city council with a report detailing the monthly maintenance cost the city is paying for the worester auditorium sever street building the former and the former registry of motor vehicles property and the denton building said report should uh include associated development timelines and updates on any related RFPs associated with said properties filed by yourself.

Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, this particular item came about as I was pondering what in the world is going on with the Worcester Auditorium. Um, we've been waiting for quite some time. Jake Sanders, who's formerly employed here at the city of Worcester, um has been a lead on that particular project. Um in addition to that, we had an item, I think it was last week, um where we appropriated an additional $200,000 from the maintenance cost of Sver Street. Um we have or the I believe has acquired the Registry of Motor Vehicles property as I understand it. Um and of course we've we now also have um the Denim building. What I'm really looking for first is to amend this um with a report detailing monthly maintenance costs not just for 2026 or 2025. I'd like to go back um maybe five years. Um so that would be the amendment. Um through the chair to the uh administration, can you speak a little bit to what is going on with their auditorium? Um, you know, part of this isn't simply the maintenance cost. I'm also interested in, um, you know, the RFPs. Uh, where are we at? Are we looking to to to do anything different, not just there, but in other locations? Um, do we have an idea, um, approximates approximations of how much we're paying for these properties for maintenance? Thank you,

Mr. Mano. Um, I don't have an an idea right now, but that's something that we'd be able to put together as part of report. The particular to the WAR auditorium that's been vacant for probably 20 plus years. The city's been fronting the bill and sustaining that building and trying to keep it up and running uh uh and at to what its current form uh for the past 20 plus years. um whether it's fixing minor things, dealing with water leaks, uh uh uh uh making sure the building is secure, dealing with the roof. I mean, you name it. There's been a lot of uh effort in trying to sustain this building. About about five or so, seven years ago, the city contracted American Heritage Foundation to take on the lead uh to be the entity to come up with designs and idea. This is what they do. They did that with Fine Hall and other uh historical buildings. They look at historical buildings. They provide a kind of design or some strategic path that the then municipality can then work uh to to help to bring that into fruition. So, they've been doing that. They've had some number of uh uh uh extensions uh contract extensions with us to be able to uh continue moving forward on their current idea. Well, the the idea that pursuing right now involves uh bringing that to its life uh by creating that an event venue um that provides about 3 to 5,000 events uh a venue the in the city. Uh they've been working with many different partners not only across the state but across the nation um in trying to find a solution for that. Uh the hardest thing about that about that building is one is finding ownership. who eventually would want to take ownership or does the city continue to take ownership? Kind similar like we do with the DCU. We own the DCU and we contract a company to operate the

DCU. Uh we owned Polaro Park and we contract uh and we lease the the park to the team to pay the lease there and and and and operate that that facility. Is that a possibility for the auditorium? um or is it a possibility that eventually uh the strategy is to sell to an operator that can operate that building and own the building as well? Um part of the efforts is trying to put together a a capital stack of financing to be able to bring that building back to life. We have a war memorial in that building that we have to preserve. Um and so that's one of the challenges. There's also a little theater in the back. So again, there's been a lot of conversation with multiple partners who have interested, who have either verbally shown their interest or have made some initial commitments. Uh the governor made a commitment to match uh uh some federal tax dollars that we would go after. We would go uh we're we are uh we have received some commitments of a $25 million federal uh tax dollars uh historical tax dollars for this property and then the state would match uh an additional $25 million. But that's not enough to be able to bring this building to life. It's a massive mammoth in the city. So, we got to address that. Uh, in addition to the other buildings that were were listed here, uh, the reg Re registry of motor vehicles, that was a stateowned building, Mass D. What we did, we went to the state and asked the state to be able to provide that building to us to give us better leverage in putting that building out to bid for developers. the state tried to do that in in getting uh residential developers as they were trying to dispose of of of stateowned land for the purposes of housing. That's been one of the governor's priorities. Um and so we asked them, could you provide the building to us, give us the building, and then we would work to get a right developer to develop that property. Uh and so that just happened in December where they transitioned that property uh to us where we would then work quickly in turning that property over and

getting a developer that could take ownership of that property. Um so there's a number of things. SA Street uh the city acquired that property as part of Becker's kind of disposition or or or SA um Becker College uh closing its doors. City acquired these two properties. There were some initial plans and ideas. When I came on, I looked at overall the assessment and the the needs of the city and identified that these are potential properties that we at this moment would would not need and we could find other ways uh to be able to to offset this property and not continue to carry the cost of these buildings. When we saw many municipalities across the nation uh go into this remote environment, it reduced their actual building footprints. And so right now, you know, we're there's a lot of moving pieces for every single property. Um, but I'd be happy to bring forward a report in terms of the status of where it was at and what are some of the costs associated with each property.

Thank you. And as we continue to to um assess the Maniti Group effort as relates to the uh TAI that went or that went into subcommittee um economic development, the Denon building um is also part of this order. Mr. Mr. Chairman, um I did watch the uh meeting that was held um regarding this project. Um that chair that chairman and a number a number of uh the folks at um on the were expressing concerns about us realizing and and kind of achieving completion of that project. There were some discussions about uh the cost overruns. There was a negotiation that you could witness in committee. Um that was resolved. Um and we know that there's been extensions. I'm aware of the some of the many challenges with that particular property. Um but I I I do would like to just make sure that's included in this report. Um Mr. chairman to the administration if you could just speak and just uh let the public know that you know your your efforts with regards to the Denon building that was a significant undertaking um for us um and it's a significant project. Um we know that the nonprofits were housed there. Um a number of them we know the situations as they were in sort of like condos um and the the the cost became too much and then they've since I think Katie Croc and those folks stepped up and met the need for the city. Um so if you can speak to that before we move on on this matter. Mr. Chairman

uh to the chair to the council. Um you referenced the D room and you kind of gave a little bit of brief overview. Um exactly exactly what you said. Uh there was a number of nonprofit organizations in the Denho building. Denhole building and then in his heyday was you know really the staple of downtown where people came and and and immediately and were able to shop there and and over the years different vendors and different organizations and different entities have occupied that building. But it came to a situation where the building was just it requires so much maintenance. They the vaults underneath the building were in really tough shape. They've lo lose power. They had water leaks. I mean, you name it, the den home building become very tough for these agencies to sustain because, as you know, when you're a condo association, the condo association becomes responsible. And when you have all these nonprofits that are having challenges and trying to put financing together that not only operate their day-to-day services to the residents and the community, uh it makes it even tougher to deal with such a building uh this magnitude. So the city came in and working with WBDC and Katy Croc to try to provide some help and some relief. So the city was able to find a way to uh to to to provide relief to to these nonprofits, move them to the and and the city came in and acquired the property uh from the condo condos. They they were they were able to decondoize the building. So then the city can come in and step in and take acquisition of that property. the RWR played a role in that. Uh which then allowed us now to then put an RFP out and get a developer. The developer right now is is a Maniti group. Um and as you stated, they've had uh some opportunities to do to do due diligence and go through that and most previously they they requested an an extension that was granted with some conditions on that extension. Um uh but again, this is a property that has been a staple in this in this community uh and is a property that's going to require some significant amount of work. um uh to be able to to

to address the needs of that building.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to amend this order to include any updates from uh pertain to the American Heritage efforts um regarding uh Denim Building. Um and also um to amend it to to request um the minutes be provided to the council um regarding the meeting that I referenced pertaining to the Denim building. Um you know, I'd like to see that to come to the council. I know it's there. I we can go find it. Um and then I'd like that to go to committee. Um if that's the will of the mayor when it comes or the chair when it comes to this body and if that's the will of this body. Um, I think the more information building, um, folks are watching. Um, I'm not sure whose responsibility is to to, um, bring that building down. Um, but I I I certainly think, um, that the communication will go a long way, uh, for the city, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. So, the manager is amended. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Lau. Yes. Councelor Cono. Yes. Council Po. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council, yes. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Uh, yes. Okay. We are on uh 9 way 9y. Requested the same mayor provide council with a report relative to the safety audit occurring at the Fanny Building along with plans for future use. Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly appreciate uh Mayor Petty's prior order uh regarding the Fandon building. Um you know, we know that there is a strategic facilities plan on the school side that at some point it's going to be the responsibility of this body um to get engaged with um on a number of different levels without getting into specifics. Um, that being said, our departments, code, inspectional services, fire, etc., um, they're part of assessing the health and overall safety of school facilities. Mr. Chairman, um, I brought this up previously. That particular building has not been safe. That particular building has had a number of issues uh, with fire, with code. It's had a number of issues over the years. Um I know firsthand from having someone there um who was not able to um mobilize on their own who had a number of challenges. The issues with the um elevator um the fire plan uh safety plan that was in place that was altered um by the folks in the school because it it would not have worked. Um you know the the conditions there are extremely concerning. I also know from having conversations uh with the prior administration led by Ed Augustus along with principles and teachers and and other folks at the Fannon building and confirmed with the prior superintendent that there was um a commitment made to those folks that they would be going to Sver Street. um you know along with the archives of the office of the clerk along with city departments um and as the manager mentioned um he made an assessment of that particular building on Sver Street um which I do not agree with for the record and I've

been on the record with that um and on Sver Street we were we weren't just paying maintenance uh we were getting income we were um generating revenue um from rentals to uh I think Clark University and WPI perhaps um what's the state I don't know um but local state college and universities then we had a period of time was was empty and it's great facilities got library in there um you know we are specialed folks etc so there's an opportunity there um to to to take a look but that being said um what are the plans for the Fanning building um how are we assessing its safety Mr. Chairman, um I'd like a report on that forth with um we have currently residents of the city in that building. Um through the chair to the administration, do we have an idea the last time that code or fire or anyone went through that building? Through the chair,

Mr. Manager.

Yeah, through the chair to council. I don't have that direct answer right now in front of me, but I'd be able to uh bring that forward. I do want to say something that's uh that's important. this council body um supported uh an allocation of funding to do a school survey um in our in a survey a survey of our municipal buildings which includes schools and municipal buildings that is a partnership and a relationship with the schools uh that we're doing this survey um and that is something that uh we're we should be putting out to bid soon or have put out to bid already. Um, but that's going to look at the overall, but in relation to an actual safety audit of this particular school, I I don't know when there has been any fire or inspectional services in the most recently. So, that'd be something I'd be able to bring forward.

Yeah. Thank you. I would ask that that be prioritized. I'd hate for something to go arry there. Um, you know, and and that harm be incurred to educators, um, to staff, um, to people, parents, or anyone coming in and out of that building. Mr. Chairman, um, thank you. Thank you. We'll send that to the manager. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Yes. Councelor Bolo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Yes. Mitraa, yes. Council Rivera, yes. Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty,

yes. Request may provide council with a report outlining the priority strategies and operations utilized during the snow events, including any updates to snow removal equipment usage. The report should um also detail how streets are classified and prioritized during a major snow event. Council King,

thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a very general report. Um there's been a number of similar items on our agenda over the past weeks and this particular new t term with this particular body. We know I sat and I watched um the kudos that were handed out in the subcommittee of public works regarding um I think it was last Tuesday regarding the snow removal. Um but I do have questions, Mr. Chairman. And while I understand that we have a committee dedicated to this, but we also have folks that are continuing to contact us and I know over the years um we've had questions and I've had questions and and this particular um ask that I'm I'm trying to get to um which will hopefully go to committee and there'll be vetted and and some oversight um that we have an understanding of what the priorities are during the the these snow events depending on what the nature is. um what the anticipation is, what the what the um forecasts are, along with what our staffing realities are. As we've heard um a lot of folks giving kudos to to um snowplow operators and other folks that are engaged in this inspection, inspectors, etc. Um who are giving of their time um for hours upon hours upon hours. Um so, yes, that's greatly appreciated. We've purchased new equipment over the years. um we've purchased equipment to help us with the brining or or whatever it's called the pre-treating that I don't know to what degree we're using it. And so as we have these conversations over the days and weeks about capacity uh about the realities of our snow operations, I would like an understanding of how we're using what we've purchased. Um, again, I'm going to amend this to also call for a staffing analysis of this department as I had in the past because when I'm

hearing on the floor, we don't have enough people. Um, it piques my interest. Um, how can we get them? What's the strategy? Um, you know, what what's the retention look like there? Is there is there a way that we can sort of um reassess and and reorganize city government in a way that we're putting people in the right places to provide the best service provision. Um again the prioritizing of streets. Um I know we have a meeting coming up regarding uh counselor's district. We have other meetings coming up. And when you hear the folks that came here a few days ago talking about having to make the same call for 20 years, and I don't know if that's an exaggeration or if it's the truth, but that was what was testified to. The question becomes, how are we prioritizing? How what is the methodology? Is it just responding? I've talked to my colle colleagues who've reported that the commissioner 311 um the inspectors everyone's been very very responsive to their concerns and their phone calls and citizens and residents phone calls. Um you know but but it ends up with us chasing our our tails in the circle. Um what is the strategy? I'd like to see it in black and white. um so we can have an understanding of snow plow removal operations um you know and where the needs are and what the plan is. Um we've had a a a change in in commissioners and what have you um but you know I I got a report just yesterday two days ago today Tuesday. Yeah I think Monday. um on my particular street, still snow covered. Um and there was an accident with uh a city vehicle um with a gentleman who lives on the street that came and spoke to me because of the conditions um on

that street. Um and while I've been to some other cities, they have similar challenges on the side streets, you know, this isn't unique to cities, but the question is um what is the plan? Um because we have to do better and I know we will do better. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Council Council Connell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For clarification, too, I just want to

I just want to let my colleagues know um since I was sworn in, I've had discussions with uh Commissioner Wesling, discussions with uh the city manager and the commissioner. Um, and I think we'll see a report coming coming out shortly that'll that'll um outline exactly the process, exactly what goes down when when when our crews are called in, when salt operations proceed, when we start snowplowing, all of that. I feel I feel our team did a great job. You know, they were out for 30 hours. They needed to get some sleep Monday night. They were back out Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, all week last week, uh, cleaning up. Um, as I've mentioned to the city manager, I think one of the issues that's probably handcuffed us a bit has been the alert system. And I know, Mr. Manager, I know that's coming forth as well soon. So, greatly appreciate that. But anywhere you look in the community, whether it's here to the east, even Holden, um, expectations needed to be set. We haven't had a storm like this in years. and it's almost like putting your training wheels back on. So, um I look forward to that report. I think our crews did a great job. Um and I continue to think that once this comes forward, everybody will have a better understanding of process. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Okay. Councelor Chair, I just would like to make an amendment to this if there could be some information on how uh contractors are paid,

what the the process is because I' I've heard just through word of mouth that like some that in the past contractors have been paid months later. I don't know if that's true or not, but I I it would be great to know that. Um and maybe that could help with recruitment. I don't know. But um it is concerning because I I mean yes this is was a very large storm and we haven't it it is challenging especially in my district in in the neighborhoods like Gage Street up on Shelby Street, Hamilton Street where where parking's tight uh people don't always cooperate with moving their cars that makes it even more difficult for DPW but definitely is um frustrating this to and I've you know had good conversations with the manager and and Commissioner Westerling on this and appreciate all the effort but yeah it's definitely concerning um and I I know a lot of residents are are remain concerned. So it would be great to just have more information. Thank you.

Thank you C councelor Fazole. Clarification on the amendment on on staffing. I just like to ask uh if uh what I what I heard is true. Uh has the CDL requirement been removed on uh the trash pickers?

Mr. Manager? appreciate the council. Uh for the drivers, they required to have CDL if they're driving, but the the ones that are running in the back, it's not. So, we've been able to uh kind of offset labor. So, there's a number of laborers that don't require CDL. Uh but and so I know that historically there was this conversation where just to get into the PW you needed a CDL. That's not true. Uh we have significant number of laborers and folks that have entered as laborers. We put them in in different positions like to run and pick up the trash and whatnot. Um, and we actually now did body actually supported the the the creation uh and supporting u a an effort to uh to start a CDL program inhouse to be able to certify our individuals that want to get a CDL so they can have that opportunity as well.

Thank you. I I appreciate that clarification because uh that was out there that you need a CDL license if you wanted to, you know, even apply for uh the trash picking. So, uh I just wanted the general public to know that in case because I'm I'm told we're short bodies there. So, we need people again this past week and unfortunately trash was not picked up on uh on time on Saturday and they had to come out on Sunday and it's due to uh you know the lack of of manpower. So, uh, I appreciate their efforts and, uh, I look forward to hopefully, uh, hiring some more help. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Appreciate it. And thank you, Councelor Alita.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I got a question, uh, through you to councelor King. Does is this going to or would you like it to include um, snow remov? I think I haven't seen there's many of them. that's just not plowed out. Is it is it on us as a city? I believe it's on WRTA. And also my other question to the to the city manager is um you know what is that process if there is a process through WRTA? And then also the fire hydrants. There are many fire hydrants right now um that are just full of snow. They're covered with snow. Um can you just let me know what the who is actually responsible for those items?

I'll answer very quickly the fire hydrants. Fire hydrants are the responsibility of the uh property owners that are abut that fire hydrants. Okay. Just similar just as they are to the sidewalk and or crosswalk that they're abuing. So if the property has sidewalks, fire hydrants and crosswalks, that property owner is responsible for clearing all of that. So businesses and individuals. Correct. That is correct. Property owners that are that are budding. So it may not be a business, but it's just the property owner uh itself.

Yep. And then as far as um I know in some areas um I've seen where there's a post um to to identify there's a there's a fire hydrant here. I know in some areas uh throughout the district there hasn't been who who puts those down. Is that on the resident to put I think it's like a yellow post to identify. Can you just tell me responsible to uh through the ch council? I'm not sure on that. Uh I would I would actually because a lot of them are there's some that are just they get plowed in because they don't realize it's it's there. Yeah, I'm not I'm not a 100% sure on that but that's something I can we can bring back as part of the report.

Okay. No, that's fine. I think um council may just clarification. I've filed a couple of orders on this previously and the it's come to public safety and uh it's actually those uh polls are uh were deemed a safety issue and so the fire department does not put those on. If there are poles there, those are put on by someone else. So they're not because I suggested for the same reason. We need to make sure. But not only so the n the other thing for clarification is yes, the property owner um that the hydrant bus is responsible, but I just want to make a point that everybody who lives on that street is going to be impacted if there's a fire and that fire hydrant doesn't get cleaned out. So people should take turns and be a good neighbor. Thank you.

Okay. So, so my question is in the meantime, right, we got four feet of snow over some fire hydrants. What are we doing to to address those? And then the the WRTA, I don't I don't think I got an answer if it's on them to do it or we're doing it. And if they're not doing it, how are we making sure they get it done? To the WRTA, I think we're as part of the WRTA. We as part of the your amendment to the report, we'd be happy to bring more detail in terms of responsibility regarding WRTA. Um, in the meantime, I think it using the app 311 residents, okay? Uh, or if you see a resident or neighbors that are in the area, they should actually take the initiative to clear it out. Okay.

Um because, um, it's going to be pretty pretty tough for our inspectors to be able to identify every single one across the entire city. So, again, just because I I I don't think I heard the the answer just yet. I know it's through the report, but is has there been any conversation? I guess I should have said that through the chair to the WRTA regarding removal of snow right now because people are literally in the streets waiting for the bus. Mr. Manager, to the chair to the council, I I I'm just not prepared to answer that question because I haven't had the conversation with the DPW to understand if that request had been made to the

All right. Thank you, K. Come to me.

Thank you. Uh I just rise to add that um maybe uh kindly add uh storm drains um that they should be shoveled out as well. Um because as the snow melts um you need to have that clear and sometimes it blocks everything up and makes things worse as this as it goes. And you can actually identify where the storm drains are just by looking on Google on your street. You know, here's a storm drain here. You can do that. And I know that on our city website uh we we do have um have some information too uh where the uh hydrants are and we've we've talked about that before. Thank you. Thank you, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple of comments um on this one is and I appreciate all of the amendments. I'll accept them. Um if they want to make them a separate motion, I'm fine with that also. Um that being said, Mr. chairman just today um conducting home visits um in my role as a social worker going to see families in our three deckers on Rodney Street, Catherine Street. I was on a street um Grafton Hill, Vernon Hill, Bell Hill um extremely difficult conditions today, not yesterday, no today from this past storm. So, um, while I don't by any stretch of the imagination feel as though, um, there wasn't great effort put in by our employees and the folks that we contracted with. Um, I want to make it clear to folks who are asking for accountability and a reasonable return on their tax dollar that we didn't do good enough, Mr. Chairman. Um, and I want to make that unequivocally clear. Um, I know that the city manager from my conversations, um, we'll make every effort to do better. Um, I know there's been proclamations that, um, we're going to handle this past storm. Oh, the facts are, um, at variance with that, um, assertion. Um, that being said, it's why I'm asking about the prioritization. I understand the arterial ways and the importance of that. I know that the city manager is working with the new commissioner. I know that city manager um on the floor stated there was some differences of opinion, I'm assuming operationally. Um and I'm sure that's going to get ironed out, but I do not want to make the folks who have repeatedly contacted us in so many different ways under any sort of um

notion that I as their atlarge counselor um you know do not understand um where we fell short, Mr. Chairman. and we did um in many ways. Um so this is something again every year um but we've we have invested we have increased the amount of money um that we're we're paying for contractors we have purchased equipment Mr. chairman through the chair to the administration. Um, and this councelor uh econom just mentioned a potential incentive. And so my question is when we're paying our our uh contracted uh snowplow operators um or sanding or whatever the case might be. Um are they paid when they leave their house? Is that is that when the clock starts or are they paid when they get to the job site that they're assigned to through the chair?

Mr. Man Mr. manager to shine my understand when they get to the site they have to report it.

Mr. Chairman, I would recommend um that we look at that as a incentive that they should be getting um perhaps compensated when they leave their home. Um I'll let councelor uh Economal make that uh motion um as it's his idea. Um if he doesn't make it, I'll make it. But um I certainly think that anything that we can do to improve operations, there's always a cost associated, it might be minimal, depends where they're coming from, right? They could be 80% from Worcester and 20% from West Brookfield. I don't know. Um but the numbers matter. Um so also taking a look at that over the past x amount of years. Um how much would that incur? um because that might be extremely helpful if you're taking you an hour and a half to get here. Um or whatever the case might be from a a far away location, they can, you know, contract with someone else. Maybe they will. Um so, um I'll make that motion if it's not made by councilor accountable.

Okay. So, take that motion while this motion the amendments and Oh, Mr. Manager,

I just want to say something really quick. There's been a lot of orders since January 1st uh when the new council body took took to place related to DPW. We've had two storms. One storm was very minimal, but it had a lot of ice impact. Um and there was a lot of discussion here on that on that. Um and so there's believe not two or three reports. It also talked about kind of the deployment and the prioritization. All of those reports are coming in for next week. I've been working closely with the with the commissioner to try to get that through uh and to provide as much detail as we can for the council so we can have a fruitful conversation with the body next week here. So, um right now we're working to make sure that all those reports are ready to go by this Friday. They'll be made available to the public and on Tuesday we can have a fruitful conversation here.

Cuz just quickly, the commissioner will be here uh to answer question. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Roll call. Dr. Bergman. Yes. Council. Yes. Counc. Yes. Councelor Solo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Yes. Council. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor P.

Yes. Request the manage request uh commissioner of transportation mobility provide council with a report detailing how the winter parking ban on Hamilton Street moving west in its approach towards Plantation Street can be improved in a way that would ensure there is enough parking for the businesses on the street. said report should especially consider allowing for parking on one side of the street. Council Tumi, Mr. Chair,

uh I was contacted by a couple of um business owners in the area and it really um uh is an area that I think uh we could improve um accessibility for uh those small businesses that are um on the other side of the street especially. Um, so I appreciate uh a report coming back um discussing this and I I don't think it's the only area in the city that that falls into this category, but it's one that um I know I was contacted by. Um so that's why I focused on that address. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Roll call. Bergman. Yes. Bada. Yes. Conamu.

Yes. Solo. Yes, Mr. King. Yes, Mitra. Yes, yes, Rivera. Yes, Mr. Rosen. Yes, Tumi. Yes, Mayor Petty. Yes. 10B. Request a man to provide council to update concern previously adopted request for a report concerning the legislative actions occurring relative to seeking additional funding from the MSBA. Council King, do you want both of these? Yeah. You want to take them to concurrently? Yeah. request that the mayor provide council with an update concerning previously adopted request on April 2nd, 2024 to engage in the city's elected officials. Now the gateway cities facing similar challenges and strategized ways to increase funding around the creation and maintenance of schools using MSBA and other state funds.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um our intersection and advocacy uh with our state legislators is part and parcel of what we do here on the city council. Um, I know that there were some challenges understanding that in the pri last term. Hopefully folks will have a clear understanding of that as we move forward. We know there's in a section with funding. Um, we heard tonight Senator Kennedy talk about a bill that she filed and the opportunities uh for a gateway city to be on a commission where we're exploring expanding the boundaries um expanding the fiscal support um of municipalities like the city of Worcester. Mr. Jim and um the first part of this order um asked for a report regarding legislative actions the city had been taking and the city meaning um the side of the city manager um regarding any additional funding because we know there are strict parameters how much the 80% um how often you know we're currently looking at burn coat and burn coat middle but we have so many needs Mr. Sherman. Um we know that um the um reasons that this is so important is that it the opportunity to have good buildings, healthy buildings, good learning environments, improve student outcomes, that the modern classrooms um with better air, better lighting, flexible spaces, boost learning and attendance. Mr. chairman, health and safety, as I mentioned, um allow us to fix hazards. The HBC HVAC improvements, ADA accessibility is improved. Um the second um order that calls for intersecting with other gateway cities. Um we are the second largest city in New

England, the second largest city in Massachusetts. It's imperative for us. This isn't just a mayor thing. It's not just a city manager thing. It's not just a city council thing. We have an opportunity in this moment to advocate for state legislation as a body, as a city manager, as the mayor, as our current mayor Petty, the mayor of the second largest city. And I suggest that we do exactly that. Um, we need to be present either with written testimony, uh, virtual testimony or in-person testimony as it relates to accessing, uh, and trying to, um, expand this funding. Um, we know that equity for gateway cities are challenging. Um we want to make sure our students have comparable facilities and we also want to make sure that um technical learning opportunities, vocational learning opportunities are increased um via spaces and equipment so that the career pathways are enhanced even further. local jobs become more of a reality and apprenticeships throughout all trades uh for state funded, city funded, federally funded projects are a reality that the workforce is there. Mr. Chairman, um there's a major economic impact here. Folks will want to move when there's new facilities. you look at what's been done already um during our time on the council through many times on the council the mayor's time on the council we've done a number of schools um burn code's up next but there's a number of needs Mr. Chairman, I know that there is a strategic plan um that exists um on the school side that again at some point

we will be asked to do things through the chair to the administration. Um what has your engagement been at Benny with the school side on their strategic planning for facilities through the chair? Mr. manager

uh through the tears of to the council like I've mentioned previously in a previous order the city and the schools have engaging in a survey to identify the priorities and the needs in the schools uh before this particular survey uh the school had done their own assessments of the buildings um and we and myself and the previous superintendent spent about a year on a monthly basis meeting with her team and my team uh identifying the needs looking at census track looking at the growth of development in certain pockets of the city. And I think that's where the conversations of redistriction came, the conversations about investment in the in the buildings that need the investments and not moving investment to other buildings that don't need it. Um and so we were identifying the buildings that prior that receive some priority. Um and then we you know then we talked about how do we how do we finance this? One of the biggest challenge that it comes to this is also the equation uh uh uh and the funding mechanism related to MSBA, right? They technically supposed to fund us 8020 but they actually fund us 50%. We've advocated significantly to the state and MSBA um uh as part of for example Dohy was an example where they where we advocated and been significant amount of time in discussions with with um with uh the the state legislature and um um uh what's Goldberg what's her

commission the treasur's office

the treasur's office uh to be able to uh uh provide additional funding uh for DHY to offset some of the uh the impacts and the overruns that we had there. Um so again, this is a significant amount of effort, but we spent quite a bit of time in discussions with the schools and trying to strategize what are their needs, how can we be able to provide those needs. Uh that's why over the past three years of me being a city manager, we've given over $20 million of funding to the school department for infrastructure, whether it was ARPA dollars for ADA improvements, whether it's dollars uh that we increase their capital allocation uh utilizing block grant dollars and part of that investment went to Roosevelt uh creating a stabilization account to be able to offset some of the debt uh in the schools. So this miss a significant amount of efforts on this on the administration with the council and trying to provide additional dollars to the schools but that is something that's continuous and it still happens every single day and making sure that we are aligned in the priorities that happens for the schools.

Thank you. Thank you. And kudos to the administration, the city manager for the work that they have done um these last couple of terms. the the council has asked a lot of you as it relates to, as you mentioned, accessing identifying different dollars to move to support the schools. Uh we know that there's always a deficit. Um we and that we should and could do more. Mr. Chairman, um as mentioned by the testimony um of of Senator Kennedy, um the the the Mass School Building Authorities funding is underfunded. um it not only fails to meet the needs of the students here in Worcester, it fails to meet the needs of the students students across Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I would like um a report back um uh regarding the Senate Bill 403 that's related to this. I'd like when it comes back to go to um the education committee um that I chair so that we can have an engagement with the city, with the school side as well um on how to best advocate for ourselves. Um as mentioned um there's an opportunity to provide testimony publicly at MSBA uh hearings. In addition to that, there's a 23 member commission which I already mentioned to study MSBA funding adequacy and equity. Mr. Chairman, we must be on that commission. We have to have a representative there. It is that important for our future. what the manager Batista was referencing as relates to his meetings with the prior superintendent and potentially the current superintendent I had put on the council for and requested a projective analysis of um our housing production um projective analysis of where these people are going to go what's the impact on traffic um what's the impact on uh

infrastructure um what's the impact on the various departments and that projective analysis is being partially done as you just heard. Mr. Chairman, um this commission will examine grant formulas, reimbursement rates, incentives for vocational and green schools. Um and we could have representation that could testify to our need. Um this is timely. Uh my question to the chair administration, this was requesting an update um from the city side on any intersection that they've had now with Senator Kennedy or others. I would like that report back. Um we do have municipal operations and legislative affairs for some of these matters. Um and that committee that used to be a separate committee um municipal operations and I was I used to have legislative affairs, but there's certainly space. Um, you know, I of course would like to see some of this in in the education committee. Mr. Chairman, um, we do get short changed. We get short changed and I don't know what the impact will be moving forward as, um, given the fear that we're having right now u with, with immigration. Um, we know that the funding gets based on the number of students. I can tell you the students some students aren't going to school any longer, Mr. Chairman. Right. How's that going to impact our bottom line? those realities will will come to bear, Mr. Chairman. Um, so I I would like this this isn't a a a big lift right here, um, 10B and 10 C. Um, I don't know what engagement has happened uh with the the delegation, but I'd like to learn about that. I think the closer we can work with them, the better it is for us as a city. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Council

King. Mayor Petty,

I'm thinking well, Mr. Chairman, I support both of these orders and the more I don't know if Tim McGrith would like the more funding we have to split it, but uh um these are good audits and uh I just want to clarify and amend a little bit, but what they weren't maybe clarify so about two years ago, the mayors got together. I was on that committee. It was led by the mayor of Lynn and we wrote a letter to the legislature and to the treasurer asking for additional funding. Then I think it was a year or two ago that senator Moore on the accelerate repair program that uh he was able to get us made sure because they were max at that time they were maxing out the number of money it was like 1.2 billion that they were going to do for schools. He was able to put in legislation working with us and me to make sure the accelerate peer program went forward that it stopped for a while. This is why Right Square is getting done and why in East Middle Wind. Yes, East Middle Winders and uh Belmont. Um the reason I need to say that is because if we can get the funding for this, it's just right now we're about 5050, you know, 50 MSBA, 50s and since became mayor, we've invested count 1.3 billion dollars in the schools and MSBA is probably 50% of that. Uh so if we can get the funding up uh that would so maybe it's supposed to be 8020 but allowed non-reimburseables uh that the MSBA won't pay for so all this has to be looked at. That's an amendment. We look at that. Also, not just expanding the uh the board was mentioned, but also they don't have enough engineers. I don't think MSBA. So, we look at people they employ to make sure they expand that to keep up because I think all the cities and towns want um investment in the public schools system and we're going to do well for it. I know we we've had a a good run working with the MSBA. I want to thank them but they uh I think we uh just

we we have another so many needs as you said because we we didn't give enough money to the schools especially since co so many priorities that they had to do during co that we saw behind on our buildings and one thing on accelerate repair program people should know this too and this is why this is a great program we've done a hundred million dollars in the last several years in the accelerate repair program and Those are those are windows, boilers, and uh and roofs. Thank you.

And uh and that makes a difference. I told the story last week in the school committee, but really when I became I asked Brian Allen to give us all the schools that were built in the PCB time frame with 27 schools that were built in that time that potential have PCBs, but uh they're not because certain reasons you don't test. And we've done 20 count Berno will be count right square will be 26 of those 27 buildings will be done because of this city council and the school committee and uh people should know that that uh we couldn't do without MSBA MSBA. This is why this audience audits are so important that councelor King has put forth is because we need to work together for the legislature. We've done it in the past. We've done over the last two years. uh we got funding uh back in 23 24 when the mayor's put something together looking for additional funding also working with Senator Moore at that time for the accelerated repair program. So these are good orders and this amended to include uh making sure that the that funding should also include additional employees at the MSBA to keep up if we're going to invest in this and uh uh because this is so it transforms the city when that burn and burnout middle is done. It's going to transform that whole neighborhood and it's welld deserved. So thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you for filing these orders

as amended. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Conamo. Yes. Councelor Bolo, yes. Mitra, yes. Council Aa, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. And vice chair, councelor K.

Yes. Okay, we are on resolution that the city council the city council see does hereby recognize and support the observance of February 2026 as Black History Month. that the CEO whisted to hereby affirm its commitment to honoring the history, culture, achievements, and ongoing contributions of black Americans. Encourage residents, institutions, and education organizations to engage in meaningful learning, reflection, and celebration throughout the month and beyond. Council King,

thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, it's an honor to to bring this resolution forward today. We know that this is a big commemoration for Black History. While it's not the hundth year Black History Month, it is the hundth year of Dr. Carter G. Wilson's Woodson's vision, his vision to organize history, black history specifically, that was overlooked. and he did that by organizing the first Negro history week. This year's Black History Month theme is a century of Black History commemorations. This year also happens to fall the same year that our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. a moment that did not include freedom for enslaved people and whose absence of liberty still carries meaning for their descendants. Mr. Chairman Carter G. Woodson's vision was bold and visionary at the time. His actions occurred when the history and contributions of black Americans were systemically excluded from the nation's narrative. February was the month that was selected. Mr. Chairman, it was later also selected in recognition of birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. That choice itself carries complexities and controversy. While pre President Lincoln did in fact believe that slavery was morally wrong and supported the preservation of the Union, he was not an abolition an abolitionist in the modern sense.

In 1858 speech, Mr. Chairman, he stated his opposition to black people voting. He stated his opposition for black folks serving on juries. President Lincoln stated his opposition to black folks holding public office, as I am doing right here tonight. He further stated his opposition to interracial marriage. Mr. Chairman, history is important. Yes, President Lincoln believed that black Americans had the right to improve their condition in society. However, his own words make it clear that he did not view us as equal. It is important that we speak honestly and fully about historical figures, acknowledging both their actions and limitations. Dr. Woodson is widely regarded as the father of black history. He dedicated his life to ensuring that black history be studied, preserved, and respected. Through the f founding of the association of the study of African-American life and history alongside Jesse Morland and through publications such as the journal of negro history, he made it unmistakably clear that the black history itself is not supplemental. It is foundational to understanding America itself. 50 years after Negro History Week began, President Ford formally recognized Black History Month in 1976 and called upon all Americans to seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor. That call continues to resonate to this day. Today, as we reflect on the generations who struggled against

racism, whose labor strengthened this nation economically, politically, culturally, scientifically, and morally. Here in Worcester, the legacy is not abstract. It lives in our streets, our institutions, our shared civic memory. Our city proud proudly recognizes the profound contributions of black Americans and Africans who came here and our descendants vessled through the diaspora. People whose leadership, resilience, and achievements have helped shape Worcester's history and character. From Major Taylor to Bethany Vinie, from Professor Thomas Dotton to countless local trail blazers whose name may not always appear in textbooks, Worcers's history is rich and documented and alive. Mr. chairman. That history is preserved and shared through initiatives such as the Black History Trail and the Worcester Black History Project, which highlight sites, stories, and individuals connected local, state, and national movements for freedom, justice, and civil rights. Worcester has also served as a powerful platform for black thought, activism, and oratory. Frederick Douglas spoke here in support of the abolitionist cause. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Clark University, reinforcing Worcester's place in the national struggle for civil rights and racial justice. These moments remind us that our city has long been a space where ideas about equality and human dignity were not only discussed, but demanded. Institutions such as Mechanics Hall still stand as cultural landmarks reflecting this engagement. H housing portraits and memorials honoring abolitionists, civil rights leaders, and figures central to black history. Worcester is also the home to Abby Kelly

Foster, a nationally recognized abolitionist and women's rights advocate whose work alongside black leaders advance the causes of emancipation, racial justice, and gender equality. Worcester has its history. Mr. chairman. It's important to also acknowledge those folks who served in a public capacity here in Worcester going back to the late 1800s, the first black male counselor, George Busby. One of the uh also Charles E. Scott, who last served in 1938, elected in 1936. Stacy Deo Luster was the first black woman elected in 1987. I filed in 2016, filed shortly thereafter by district counselor Shawn Rose. Mr. Chairman, our school committee, the history of those folks who were public servants from the black community. Betty Price, the first black woman to serve on the school committee, followed shortly thereafter by Shirley Wright and Dr. Agreta McNeel. Jermaine Johnson, first black male to serve on the school committee, and our first Liberianborn school committee member, Gemma Kamar. Mr. Chairman, representation matters. Black history calls on us to not only remember names, but to protect pathways, ensuring that future generations see public service as acceptable, welcoming, and responsive to all communities. Honoring black history in Worcester means honoring black leadership in Worcester, past, present, and future. In closing, Mr. chairman, at a time when efforts at the federal level seek to underfund, diminish, or erase the teaching of black history through weakened educational mandates and the

suppression of historical narratives. It is more important than ever for this city council, this local body, and for local governments to stand firm. Municipalities like the city of Worcester must affirm their commitment to historical truth, inclusive education, and the understanding that black history is essential to American history, not optional, not divisive, not negotiable. So tonight, we can come together and proudly recognize and support the observance of February 26 as Black History Month. and we affirm our commitment to honor the history, culture, achievements, and ongoing contributions of black Americans in the city of Worcester and beyond. We encourage our residents in this resolution, our schools, our cultural institutions, and our community organizations to engage in meaning, learning meaning, I'm sorry, to engage in uh meaningful learning, reflection, and celebration, not only during the month of February, but throughout the year. Because remembering history is not just about the past. It's about who we choose to be in the present. What we stand for and the future we are committing to building together. Mr. Chairman, this resolution um is coming at a historical time. As mentioned, um, we're in the hundth year of celebrating this history. Um, I look forward to this moving forward and sending it to the appropriate parties um that are mentioned here. um that we are further resolved that the city affirms its commitment to honoring the contributions and culture of black Americans and encourages residents, institutions, and educational

organizations to do so as well. Mr. Chairman, thank you. Everybody wants to sign on. So the through the resolution roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councilor Bada, yes. Councilor Economo, yes. Councelor Bolo, yes. Councelor King, yes. Mitro, yes. Council, yes. Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty,

yes. We are 13A, transferring information uh from the city clerk for goals and objectives referred to ML. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Viso. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Oh, yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty.

Yes. Uh 15A to 15e. Motion is acceptant to adopt. Roll call. Mayor, can we also take 14A? Oh, I missed one. Um, okay. I'm sorry. 14A first. There's motion to accept. May I just had a question on on 15D? Yeah, we're going to 14A. We'll come back in a second for that one. Council Bergman, yes. Council Bada, yes. Economo, yes. Council, yes. Councelor King, yes. Councor Mitra, yes. Councelor, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Uh 15. Council O'Hada.

Just a quick question to the committee. Um where it says request the grass area in front of 2992 Park Abby be removed and replaced with concrete. Is there is there something that they want to put there? What's can anybody just give me an idea what what's there? I know there's just grass there, but the rest of the sidewalk has the rest of the street has that opportunity for sidewalk. Is there uh a particular reason why they want to just add concrete to that area? We can get a report on that. Maybe

council. Oh, we have to get a report on that. Okay. I guess you remember. Um not really. I just just hoping somebody can just give me a quick answer. I'll get a report anyways. I don't Okay, we don't need a report. So, just provide some clarification. My understanding is this was heard in traffic, but it was not an item that councelor Ria had uh you know I think he heard it at the last meeting but it was something that was previous to council. This public works public works. I'm sorry. Yeah, public works. Yeah. Okay. So, actually service and transportation. We'll have someone call you tomorrow. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. So, we're going to do 15 A to 15e. Motion second adopt 15 F to 15 confused. Is that all? Motion is to accept. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Conamu. Yes. Bolo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Demetra. Yes. Oh, yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And mayor. Yes. 16 A to 16 N. Motion is to advertise the proposed ordinances. Roll call. Dr. Bregman. Yes. Mr. Belada. Yes. Mr. Econom. Yes. Rolo.

Yes. Mr. King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Oh, yes. Mr. Rivera. Yes. Mr. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. 16 O to 16S. Motion is accept and to adopt plus 16T to 16 Z. Motion is to accept. Both of those collected on the roll call. Roll call. Mr. Bergman. Yes. Mr. Bada. Yes. Mr. Econom. Yes. Rolo. Yes. Mr. King. Yes. Demetra. Yes. Toa. Yes. Mr. Rivera. Yes. Mr. Rosen. Yes. Mr. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Patty. Yes.

17 A 17C. Motion to accept. Roll call. Mr. Bergman, yes. Mr. Bada, yes. Mr. Economo, yes. Mr. Lo, yes. Mr. King, yes. Yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Rivera, yes. Mr. Rosen, yes. Mr. Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty, and the ordinances to be ordained 18A to 18E. Mr. Mr. Chairman, can I interrupt? Sure. Councelor Bergman, my apologies. on 18e after it's voted on. Can we do a motion for reconsideration? Sure. Thank you. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Mr. Economo. Yes. Mr. Bolo?

Yes. Dr. King? Yes. Mitra? Yes. Oh, yes. Mr. Rivera, yes. Mr. Rosen, yes. Mr. Tumi, yes. And mayor Petty. Yes. 18. Motion. Reconsider. Councelor Bergman. No. Mr. Bado, no. Mr. Economo, no. Mr. Rolo, no. Mr. King, no. Mr. Mitra, no. No. Mr. Rivera, no. Councelor Rosen, no. Tumi, no. Mayor Petty, yes. We are on tabled items. Council Rivera. Yeah. Uh, I just wanted to uh um 19 C procedure to clean it up.

Okay. 19 C is the motion is to request city manager consider and prioritize the America rescue plan act funding for the IRC listed capital project involving development of a new IRC wester headquarters and center for the uh for fund justice in urban agriculture in the western central Massachusetts in effort to support community food security as well as youth development employment. The motion is to take it off the table. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Yes. Economo. Yes. Solo. Yes. Council King. Council Ma. Yes. Oh, yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty.

Yes. Council. So the just basically we know that the ARP of funds has been maxed out. City has no more ARP of funds. So I just want to file this. Hold Mr. Chairman. What's that Mr. Manager? Yeah, we it's already been done. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, the motion is to file. Yes. Okay. Councelor uh Kane. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just uh through the chair to the administration. Um the ARPA funds. Is there any money in the piggy bank? No, we spend a lot.

That's all I want to know. Is there anything left that hasn't been expended? Um what's the deal? You got a report coming? Yes. Uh through council. Yeah. Tuesday we have a full ARPA update report. We spent over uh over $und00 million already has been gone out and spent. Um there's about I think maybe less than 30 million that is still contracted that needs to be spent by the end of 2026. But there's no there's no funding right now on everything's already that hasn't been expended. It just we need everybody that has current active contracts to spend their money and because we do not want to give a penny back to the federal government. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, you know, I appreciate you taking this off the table. I I know that if there's any opportunities um that arise um by folks not being able to to do whatever they can. I I think we're at a point now where that just goes back, right? Like we can't redirect it. Is that right? Through the chair,

Mr. Manager. through the chair to the council if there's any potential funding or unexpensive balances for current contracts that perhaps an agency was not able to to fulfill uh their entire contract and they have to uh give money back. There's going to be a time frame in the next coming months that we're going to have to call everything back. Um because we're going we're only going to have about six months or so. uh let's say you know if I if I request them to to be committed to to to be called back uh in the next couple of months we'll have maybe six to seven months to spend the dollars that is when we'll then have an assessment of do we have any monies that we able to pull back that we can then give to current existing contracts we can't do new contract so one of the things that this council body has supported is for example like rental assistance and some efforts we've been been able to give rental assistant, we've been able to give for fuel assistance, etc. So, those are areas that we've we've had previous contracts and that is funding that can easily go back to the community, back to the resident's hands.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Motion is to file. Councelor O'Hara on this item. Yeah. Yeah. Just a quick question. Um, you know, this is dated back 2021. Um, do we know what is the update? I I think the the the money the funding was for the a capital project involving the development of the new RC West Wister headquarters. Do we have an idea where they're at with this project or if they're still going forward with it? I know there's some new development on on that jacket area. So,

correct. They they are moving forward uh with it. U this is one of the projects that they need to spend their money but we all know that a capital projects take time to build the design to go through the process. Uh but they are they have the funding and they are uh moving forward on that project. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Councelor Bergman. Bergman. Yes. Council. Yes. Economo. Yes. Baso. Yes. King. Yes. Demetra. Yes. Oh, yes. Rivera. Yes. Mr. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes.

Okay, we're under suspension. Anybody want to go on the suspension? Roll call. Well, we have the roll call. Bergman, yes. Bada. Yes. Economo. Yes. Poso. Yes. King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Oh, yes. Rivera. Yes. Dr. Rosen. Yes. Dr. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I just wanted to say um I had the honor of attending a a Black History Month event um with Worester Public Schools today. This is the shirt right here for folks. I told them I'd wear it. Um this is a black student union. Um and we had representation from uh DHY North South Burn Coat Abby Kelly Charter School. Um and their their title of their event was blackout. Mr. chairman um all black everything and you know they have some great leadership over there um I'm not going to remember all the names but deser um Brian Cortez etc. Um you know there was all sorts of folks there hundreds of kids in the room um you know and they were very clear that they know that they are the current story of black history and the importance of telling their story so no one else can erase it. Um it was just really good to see leadership in that role. They did the whole program, Mr. Chairman. Um you know, you had uh Crocodile Music that came. Um but these young folks and the presidents of their associations and the the vice presidents and the associate presidents did a really really really good job. Um and it was an honor to be there. I just want to make sure I gave them a shout out as I said I would. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good job. Okay. So we have a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Roll call. Council Bergman. Mr. Bada. Yes. Mr. Econom. Yes. Mr. Bolo. Yes. Mr. King. Simitra. Yes. Yes. Mr. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. I'm a yes as well. I'm sorry.