City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Worester City Council meeting. Uh if you can please stand for the pledge of allegiance and the star spangle banner to the flag of the stands nationy andice for all. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light what so proudly we held at the twilight lasting brought stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight For the birds we watch were so gallently streaming and the rockets 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. Just ask everybody to remain standing. So we have a moment of silence for two

city councils who passed away in the last few months. First being Judge William Mcmanis passed away last month who served this community and government both as a high school teacher, a lawyer, a city council in the late 60s and early 70s and um a community person center and overall good person for this community and also for Dennis Irish who I serve for terms with on the council. Dennis was also a community person worked with St. Vincent's UMass Hospital St. Small Business Administration Bureau and also worked with the Worcester Public Library Foundation, Family Health Center of Worcester, and also was a big Worcester Rugby football fan and played played that sport. So, let's have a moment of silence for both of those gentlemen.

Thank you. Do a roll call. Councelor Bergman here. Councelor Bada here. Councelor Cono. Councelor Folo here. Councelor King here. Councelor Mitra here. Councelor here. Councelor Rivera here. Councelor Rosen here. Councelor Tumi here. And mayor Petty

here. Okay. We have a proclamation. We have a big month ahead of us here in the city of Worester. Charles, good to see you. Phil, good to see you both here today and good luck on your uh guarded um first launch centennial here in the city of Wester in time of a so thank you. Whereas March 16, 2026 marks the 100th year anniversary of Dr. Robert Nester Gard's legendary first liquid fueled rocket launch. Whereas the city of Whistler has long fostered the spirits of innovation in combination of his educational infrastructure, industrial capability and sustained institutional support during Robert God's lifetime helped create the ecosystem that is needed to become the father of modern rocketry. Whereas that innovative spirit can be seen with the Commonwealth designated a city of tech hub acknowledging its place as a center for life sciences and with whist maintaining its industrial past acting as a home to advanced manufacturing robotics precision uh machining and prototyping. Whereas the city of Worester joins the town of Auburn with the public library organizations including the Wend Mission, Ecotarium, Museum of Worcester, Clark University with the Poly Techch Institute, Discover Central Massachusetts and groups around the country to host a series of festivities in honor of the guards. Whereas the Wister Whereas the wonder mission also seeks to inspire, elevate and celebrate our own modern day today and tomorrow guardians, scientists, engineers, innovators, explorers and educators who dream big, work tirelessly to expand human knowledge and receive little public acknowledgement or noatter. Now therefore, I may Joseph M. Pey of the city of West hereby proclaim March 16, 2026 as a day to recognize Dr. Robin and Esther Glad's first launch centennial encourage all res residents to join in celebration the special occasion in the guard's legacy and vision council river you like to hand that to them

since this is your district okay Charles and a lot of events are planned We just want to go over the itinerary real quick. We got a couple events coming up. I'll give you a minute. And uh

thank you so much. It's an honor to accept this on behalf of Robert and Esther and all the countless volunteers that have been coming together to promote this great event. Um it's been a great week. We uh Governor Healey gave us a gubernatorial proclamation last week. We had two new books on Goddard just published came out today and um all these wonderful organizations around the city have really stepped up and I think it's going to be an incredible week of celebrations and just keep remembering that um this is a centennial year. So it's really not the not the end of the goddess celebration but it's a a year to really leverage his legacy for the benefit of especially our younger generation. Um, and this, uh, Sunday, uh, my colleague Phil Nidre has managed to get 176 Worcester students to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade. Oh, wow.

Wearing Robert Goddard shirts. So, um, should be a great week and um, we especially want to invite everyone to a free public event um, at the Hanover Theater next uh, Sunday, the 22nd, uh, following Sunday. And it's really shaping up to be a incredibly inspiring event with astronauts and luminaries and uh a lot of interaction especially with uh rocket clubs and astronomy clubs and the scouts etc. So thank you all. The Goddards thank you and goddard.

Now March 16th you're going to launch some rockets out of Auburn. 100 rockets uh going to be fired in honor of one one for each decade and and more especially a couple of the big aerospace organizations have promoted this national movement where rocket clubs and uh science museums all over the country are going to be firing off a rocket on March 16th and hopefully we'll have a big social media campaign of how that works out. So thank you all. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Yep. Okay, next item up is uh approve the minutes. City council city wish to hereby approve the minutes of the city council meeting February 10th, 2026. All those in favor? Oppose? So ordered. Public participation. The person may speak for no more than two minutes on any appearing on the agenda. Mr. Cir.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Rule 39, items of public interest. at every meeting of the city council under public participation portion of the agenda. The chair shall recognize any person seeking such recognition for the purpose of addressing the council on any eligible items on the agenda for the meeting both in person and remotely. Any person who wish to speak on more than one agenda item shall combine their testimony on all items to one appearance at the microphone. The time for speaking shall not exceed two minutes for anyone speaker or 30 minutes for all speakers. Rule 40 petitions. On the first occasion, any petition appears on the city council agenda. The prior petition may address the city council for no more than three minutes on the subject of their position. Thank you. There's your name, see your residence, and item number.

Yes. Our friend Nathan Worester. Um 11 uh G uh the report on traffic and parking about the mobility on on Grove Street. Here we are talking more about bike lanes. I think the city has to do a better job with the potholes before you're going to put in any more bike lanes. That's just me. Uh 12B. I mean, uh when the police station was built, it was probably already obsolete then. Uh we need a new police station. It's a no-brainer. The only question is where you going to put it? uh 12 I um about uh putting uh having people uh the residents park on Me Street uh during off hours to kind of free up making uh during the snowstorms it easier to plow those streets down there. I mean they're torture. All you have to do is just even walk and never mind drive through there. And as far as a mani that uh project a lot of people are here. I'm just curious um if they are bad uh the city needs to investigate them and do a better job of of of vetting them to make sure that they are the real deal. If there's something that's uh they're doing that's wrong, the city could be held liable at some point if somebody really wanted to uh push the right buttons.

Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker does name and say your residence. Item number

Happy Morero. Uh city of Worcester District 4. um here speak first on item 19 A. I am against giving tax breaks to the Maniti Group. The greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy Maniti group that just cares only about money, doesn't care about workers, doesn't care about people. They just care about money and they just want more tax breaks. And I say, "No, stop. Don't do not give them do not give these greedy billionaires tax breaks. You know, they don't deserve it. They they don't they they they don't they don't deserve tax breaks. All right. All right. So 20 rent control. We need I I I definitely think you know rent control is something you know that is important for a city. You know I and I speak on that every week. You know, I do I do definitely think we need some rent control. Um 20 C housing stability. We definitely also need that, you know, you know, some housing stability and also rent control. So 20D, systemic racism, you know, that is an issue, you know, and I definitely think, you know, that needs to be addressed. So yeah, please. All right. So, thank you

for your time. I'll be gone now. Thank you.

Get your name, see your res number.

I'm Gary Hunter. I live in District 5. Welcome uh back. I um I have a couple things I'd like to bring up. The first thing is 12 a.m. the the trash removal the schedule it was switched back and forth and back and forth and I'm just wondering what's going on with the uh system to um give the people notice when the changes are made. We see it on Facebook, but uh I believe the system that they used to use is not working anymore. And uh nobody knows and it's so much confusion and trash all over the place because no one knows when they're going to pick up. The next one um I would like to talk to is uh 19B. Um first I would like to say though is uh I would like to thank Mr. Rosen bringing up um items last week and not backing down. Public records are public records and I would say thank you for pushing that through. But as far as the U 19B, I don't think this company deserves tax breaks. They've already proven they were cheaters. I went to the U public I went to the meeting on this the commission and the chairman of the commission was more important. The first thing that was brought up was make sure we limit the time people can respond to this. Make sure it will be 30 minutes and that'll be it. Make sure that was the first item that was brought up at the meeting. What we need to do is um get off the pot and vote on this. If you're against it, fine if you're for it, but get on the records. I think there's a lot of times we are not standing up and want our vote counted. We have so many things on here that have not been resolved and we just hold them. We put them to next week. We put them to the next week. We send them to commission. They don't come back. This one has been talked about for a

month now. We're either going to give them the tiff or we're not. But I totally most of the people that have been there talking are against it. So please, you work for us, not for you other way around.

Thank you. Good evening everybody. I'm Haro Deep Pasquali. I'm here for item 12 Q. But before I do, I want to say I hope you do support the local carpenters. Uh they deserve it. I hope to express details of what I'm going to talk about at the next public service and transportation meeting. As you may know, there's a congressional bill HR2289 that's out there right now. It's in debate. That'll devastate municipalities as an authority over cable providers and telephone providers uh as well as devastate WCCA. So, I hope someone is looking into it on the city side uh to see what we can do to combat that. We're in a critical funding situation at WCCA. So, a realistic conversation needs to take place. 2 minutes isn't going to do it. Certainly, without knowing the intent of the city with the negotiation and the overall negotiation status, it's impossible for WCCV to move forward. We're already at a less than critical staff operation. Having to wait should is not have having to wait it out is not acceptable. This is not just a TV station we're talking about or a simple community media enterprise. It's a civic asset. An institution that places the camera, the narrative in the hands of the people and educates people how to use these tools. It defeats it helps defeat the digital media gap. It's true media equity. We've we've been doing it before it was even in fashion. It's a career pathway that empowers the disenfranchised. No one does what WCCA TV does. And if we have to close or downsize to the point where you can't recognize it, it's going to be a really sad state. If you're going to fight for a less than 10 year cable contract on the next one, you got to start negotiating now because we're already two and a half years over uh with the other expirated uh contract. So things things to think about. I appreciate the council. I appreciate all the uh support over the last 40 years that the wor city

council has given WCCA TV. So I want to say thank you to that as I end today uh this conversation. Thank you. Thank you. Your name say your residence and item number.

Good afternoon. It's David Huffman, 214 Holden Street through the chair. I'd just like to thank uh Councelor Rivera Conamoa Belada and the park and transportation committee. We had a petition that went forward about fire traffic, speed enforcement, Brad Street, Holden Street, AIT Street. It's been so gratifying watching the police over the last week um getting them one after another. As quickly as they set up, they're giving tickets out. So, it's been an incredible uh week that we've had. Just wanted to say thank you particularly to the West Police Department. They really stood up and doing a great job out there. Thank you. Thank you. Is your name your residence and item number?

Good evening. My name is Jennifer Safford and I am a Worester resident. Speaking today on behalf of uh 19A and on the behalf of the Worester NAACP, our organization has always supported development that strengthens neighborhoods and creates opportunity. But development must never come at the expense of workers rights or public trust. That is why we stand firmly against granting a tie or tiff to the Maniti Group or any developer who has not committed to hiring responsible contractors and ensuring strong oversight to prevent wage theft. We have received concerning reports about the Maniti Group's project at 204 Main Street. Barbara Drywall, a contractor that should not be working on a tax subsidized project, was reportedly on site. Additionally, workers from Martinez Drywall were placed on Barbara Drywall's payroll. These are not small administrative errors. These are red flags that point to potential wage theft, mclassification, and a lack of accountability. When public dollars are used to support private development, the public has a right to expect that every worker is treated fairly, paid legally, and protected from exploitation. Worcester residents should not be subsidizing contractors who cut corners or violate labor standards. We want to see Worcester thrive. We want investment in our downtown and in our neighborhoods, but we cannot support development that is not transparent, that does not follow the rules or that puts workers at risk. We ask this council to stand with workers uh stand with the community and stand for responsible development, do not approve a tiff or tie until the Maniti Group um and any future developer can demonstrate a real commitment to responsible contracting and meaningful oversight. Thank you for listening and thank you for your leadership on this important issue. Thank you.

Andrew Marsh, 212 Main Street in Worcester. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I rise in opposition to order 12B. Mr. Mayor, the question about construction of the future police station presents us with an opportunity to address a much more fundamental question. How much taxpayer money do we really need to be giving to the Worcester Police Department in the municipal budget? And is the police department a wise investment at all? The events of the last year or so have brought that into serious doubt for me. Displacing homeless people, assisting ICE and assaulting the people of this city, weaponizing the criminal legal process to strangle opposition. These are not what I consider a wise municipal investment. While any of us can anecdotally point to individual officers who are fundamentally good people, as a culture and institution, the WPD and their associated union wield far too much political and legal power for my liking. And I am not persuaded that they wield that power for the betterment of everyone. The city council has an opportunity and most importantly the responsibility to constrain the police department's worst excesses by controlling its funding. It needs to stop treating it as a sacred cow that we must never even entertain touching. We need a good faith honest discussion about whether the department's budget deserves to be as high as it is. And if we as a city come to a consensus that it isn't, then we cannot fear the idea of reducing to a more acceptable level and thus reallocating the difference to municipal services that address society's wos without the threat of violence as a stick. I believe in a better great society than that. I know it can seem unfathomable to a lot of people, including my own mother, but that's no excuse for us to not dream bigger. I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Margot Barnett. I've been a Wii resident of the city of Worcester for about 36 years. Um I'm here to speak on two items. The first one is uh 19A. I'd like to ditto everything that Stafford said about it. Um you this council passed a responsible development ordinance that means that companies that engage in wage theft will not get public dollars a tiff or a tie. Many of you signed a responsible development pledge about this specific company and we expect you to put your money where your mouth is and our money where your mouth is. So I am asking you, I am demanding of you that you do not approve this tiff or tie for the meniti group. The second item is 12s. I was really proud of this city when it was the first gateway city to pass specialized stretch codes. We did it in a timely manner that would allow um the the um implementation of um electrification. We we at the time I just heard about this today so I didn't make a good a a great um presentation on this. When this came up, we had lots of statistics. We were pointed to all the times that the can was kicked down the road around our climate goals. We will not m meet our climate goals if we keep kicking the the can down the road. This we this council already voted to implement the specialized stretch codes. Do not freeze them. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mr. Chair. For the record, Mark Borenstein. I'm a lifelong resident of Worcester. I'm here to speak in favor of item 12S and to a certain degree uh item 12 C requesting a TW at least a 12-month freeze on the specialized stretch energy code. Like most residents, I strongly support sustainable energy efficient policies. However, the specialized stretch energy code has become more of a burden than a benefit to our community. Currently, these requirements are so convoluted they are impeding the work of developers, architects, and contractors while creating a massive enforcement headache for our city's inspectors. I've seen residential projects stall because developers are not certain how to navigate these different compliance pathways. Compliance often requires specialized thirdparty certifiers who are in extremely short supply. Compliance doesn't cause just months of delays. It drives up the cost of every single unit we try to build in this city. The standard stretch code is a rigorous highquality efficiency standard. I'm asking the C council to implement at least a 12-month freeze on the specialized code so we can evaluate if the standard code meets our goals without these unnecessary hurdles. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening. Robera Brian, Wester Business Development Corporation, speaking tonight on two items. Uh one is 12s. I do stand here in support of the recommendation for a pause for the specialized stretch code. While WBDC is striving to implement the most sustainable development at Green Tech Park, it has come to our attention that the roll out of the specialized stretch code has created questions and conflicts conflicts within the document that are taking some time to answer confidently. Areas where we have found the code needs additional time and attention. Contractors and architects need time to develop the expertise needed to navigate the code and additionally skilled labor to construct to the code. Inspectors are already stretched thin and now adding additional inspections and compliance is resource intensive. Product manufacturers are behind in being able to supply compliant products at scale and adding time to already tight schedules. And finally, our electric grid is stretched thin and a pause to this implementation of the code will allow for our utilities to catch up to the demand that the code will bring. Allowing additional time to fully develop the code and its implementation will allow for a better environment for all of us to work within. Regarding 40149 Main Street, I again stand here in support of the application for this project. The residents of Worcester cannot be denied housing due to allegations that have not been enforced by the body that has that purview. The law is clear where enforcement lies and we should all stand together to st to strengthen the laws in Massachusetts to allow for contractors to be liable for subcontractor violations. Until that happens, it is unfair to the residents to hold court on the sidewalks and in council chambers. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker name is your residence item number.

Hi, my name is Genesis Santana. Um I am Worester resident. Um I am speaking against the uh Maniti group because I was born in Worcester. I reside in Worcester and God willing not anytime soon I possibly might even die in Worcester, right? Cuz I've lived here my whole life. And um I'm I am a carpenter here as well. and I want to I want to build my city. I'm not sure what anyone else hears when they hear the word wister, but for a very long time, I never really heard really good things about it. Um, and I do have the option to like, you know, pack up, shop, and leave. But I am not that type of person. I'm a type of person who likes to sink my teeth into the ground and stand where I stand and just make things better instead of pack up and run. So I decided to be a carpenter and I wanted to get my hands in my city and build in my city. This group Mcketti is based off of out of Washington. So they don't have that love for the city. They they're just here to do a project and they're here to go. Right. That's that's not what I see when I see high schools like Burn like potentially being built or when I see uh high schools like uh Dory being built. That's not what I see because my child goes to these schools. So this is very personal for me when I hear uh companies from many many states away coming in and uh not following the worsters responsible development ordinance that was you know they they broke that code already one time and it was fine for $5,000 which you know we all know that $5,000 is a laughable offense. If I'm going to be fined $5,000 and I'm a big company that means nothing. So there's no incentive for them to really stop.

So, um, I'm seeing here that they have a second defense. I'm not sure how much they were fined, but I I don't stand by this. I don't stand by this in this city. Thank you.

Yeah. How you doing? Um, my name is David Mane and I'm the regional manager for Carpenters Local 336. I live on 6 Old Brook Drive. I'm speaking on 19A. Um, what's before you tonight is the same deal when this whole thing first started. There's no further commitments, no new policies or or changes to it. So, I ask you please to be tough on criminal contractors and those that benefit from illegally low prices. Uh we all want housing, but we need it to be built lawfully. Uh especially when taxpayer money is is in question. Uh you are the stewards of of the taxpayer money. You will be voting on that tonight. I want to remind you of a letter that was sent to the city manager by Barbara Drywall's attorney. They worked on 204 Main Street for the Mariti Group. Uh, and they were comparing the attorney general's civil citations to parking tickets. There was $83,000 in fines. Barbara Drywall's comparisons to its citations as parking tickets is inaccurate and offensive, and the attorney general's issuance of civil citations for wage theft is actually an alternative to initiating criminal proceedings. Now on 204 Main Street, which is a Mckiti project that already had tax relief on it. Once again, there are further uh issues. The attorney general uh has complaints from workers. More of them keep coming to our office. Uh they are getting paid in personal checks and there are no tax deductions uh getting taken out. Uh so why was Martinez drywall not reported? They weren't reported on certified payrolls quite frankly. Uh because these are the kind of behaviors that we see, right? so they don't have to report what they're doing. We caught it. The city caught it. Uh I filed the complaint in early February. Uh I still have not received a response uh from the city administration on that. Now, as you decide tonight to vote, uh please recognize that by moving this item forward with no further actions and no stipulations and no changes, you uh for the shacks building,

you're consenting in agreeing to wage theft and tax fraud on taxpayer funded projects. Thank you. Thank you.

My name is Colin Novik. I'm with the Greater Worester Land Trust, resident of the city of Worcester. I'm here to speak about 104E. This ends up being a concom cleanup. It's a bureaucratic thing. There are three major parcels u that are being transferred to the conservation commission. The first of which is God's Acre. Right now, there is no managing or holding entity. No one for us to call, no one to partner with, no one to coordinate with. If we need to do a cleanup, if we need to do volunteer activities, we need to work on trails, putting it with the concom would solve this problem. The second is Crow Hill. Crow Hill was preserved because of the Conservation Commission through the Conservation Commission and has been listed as a Conservation Commission property in all of our open space and recreation plans. It turns out that we can't find the vote, so we're fixing finding the vote. We've always treated it as Concom. We just need the paperwork to show it. Uh then we have Patches Reservoir preserved in 1968, Worcester's very first conservation acquisition. Uh it was done long before the Land and Water Conservation Fund using HUD money. This was a neighborhood youthled effort with wonderful pictures of children sitting on a dam trying to protect their neighborhood open space. Um this is something which has been treated as concom for forever, but we don't have the paperwork and we need it to actually be officially technically held by the concom. If you look in the open space plan, it says Concom, we just need to fix the paperwork. The last two are two strategic moves. Belmont Street, a leftover piece from the Belmont home. It's part of the Greenhill Park corridor. It's a public access point on Belmont Street. It is not terribly developable and it is also in an environmental justice area. This makes good sense. Thank you, administration. This the last one is Sher Trail, a vibrant wetland. People are not going to be building the wetland. However, it is contiguous to the Greater Worester Land Trust and to the Conservation Commission. It is a wonderful habitat. It's tax title land. This would make a lot of sense. Thank you, administration. 104E is a wonderful project. Thank you very much.

Thank you,

Steve Hart. Steve Hart, District 1. I'm here to speak on 12S which reads request the city manager request commissioner of inspectional services and chief development officer consider freezing the implementation and regulatory enforcement of the specialized stretch energy code for a period of no less than 12 months. On the Worcester website, it reads, "On September 26, 2023, the Worcester City Council voted to adopt a specialized stretch code to go into effect on July 1, 2024. This opt-in code will help our city meet our commitments of becoming the greenest midsize city in the country and becoming a net zero city by 2045 per the green worcester plan. I'm confused. I'm very confused. I heard a previous speaker mentioned how burdened the code department is. this council has no problem uh putting additional funds into other departments. Why don't we just beef up that department to handle this? Um I I really don't understand where this this uh consideration comes from. I'm assuming it comes from uh the development in chamber of commerce element that's beholden or or some of these city councilors are beholden to. I don't hear any architects here tonight or builders complaining about their problems. And uh keep in mind if this were to go to go through in the right timing, it would make Maniti's group a more profitable project. They will probably save a fair amount of

money by eliminating the specialized stretch energy code. I wish I I I request serious consideration of this matter. Thank you.

Uh good evening. Uh Darnell Dunn with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. I'm here to speak on item 12S. Um several people have spoken about it. I just wanted to share some statements from two developers who've been very active in the market in Restrepo properties and Tmont um management. Um here's what they said. In general, the biggest issue is the additional layer of regulations increases construction cost, introduces more design and compliance complexity, and makes an already challenging project harder to finance. For most, if not all, local a and/or emerging developers, especially those working on smaller or midsize housing projects, even modest cost increases cause the difference between moving a project forward or scrapping it altogether. If you look at um the permits and property projects that are permitted currently in Worcester, there's over 3,000 projects permitted that haven't been started yet. a big factor is the added cost and compliance of um fulfilling the the specialized stretch energy code. So something that we consider um bringing to to committee uh and discussing in more detail, hearing from people who are in the market, who are have these projects permitted and really getting a good understanding and a handle of why these projects aren't happening currently and what we can do to activate more housing creation in the city of Worcester. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we got a couple two people online.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The first uh Oh, I'm sorry. I'll get one more before we go online. We got Fred. Really quickly, does your name say your residence? I

uh Fred Taylor uh was the resident. Um couple of my colleagues of the cooper spoken about the tiff, so I'm not going to speak about that. Um I do want to speak about I think it's order 12A. So many of you know that I'm a representative of the Junth Black Heritage Festival Committee and there was a lot of controversy a couple years ago because uh we were told that we can't have the flag hanging for more than flying for more than 24 hours. I see an order here with the same request and I really hope that you're not going to go against the rules that you told me that were in place regarding the flag. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you. Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The speaker, first speaker is Evelyn. I'm going to try me with the resident now. Please state your name and study your residence.

Oh, hello. I'm Evelyn Heruritz. I'm a resident of district 1 and I'm speaking in support of item 10.4C. Um, I just want to express my support to the city council and the city's executive office of economic development to do a close examination of zoning ordinances regarding preserving our urban tree canopy, particularly restricting clear cutting of trees for development projects. Um, Clark University's geography department did a study after the ALB infestation that found that we lost more tree canopy due to development projects than to the Asian Longhorn beetle. The new urban forest remaster plan includes an action step to closely review how we manage development relative to preserving and protecting our tree canopy. And as I'm sure you all know, trees help to clear the air pollution. They help to manage storm water and flooding, cool heat islands, and many more benefits to the city. I appreciate the EOED's thoughtful approach and look forward to thoughtful discussions in the appropriate council subcommittee. I also want to mention for item 12s that to speak against pausing the specialized stretch energy building code which was discussed in great detail um in previous meetings and the council fully supported. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. The next speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The next uh speaker is um Paul. Let me try mute the resident now. Um, good evening. Uh, my name is Paul Penchock. I'm a uh I live in on Midland Street and I'm a resident of Worcester and I'm want to speak on item 10 C um tree canopy protection. Um Worcester is a designated as a tree city. We um we Evelyn just very um succinctly uh summarized some of the benefits of trees. What we know is that uh some neighborhoods in Worcester lack trees that uh create these benefits and um the Department of Public Works is developing a plan to ensure that these underserved um um neighborhoods are um um a achieve the um benefits of um street trees. Um, also the urban forest um tree commission is working on uh proposed changes to permitting requirements that will help preserve uh significant trees in the city. I would also like to comment on uh 12s the request uh for delay of 12 months of um implementation of the um spe uh specialized energy stretch code. A lot of the um objections presented tonight to uh to this measure have to do with um the cost of doing a a project uh properly. The the uh the code adoption had strong citizen support as part of the green Worcester aspirations to meet our emission reduction comments um

commitments. We need um to have all new construction be highly efficient. I know we have 10 seconds. In order to um ensure that we meet our emission codes, I I do not support uh exp delay this uh implementation. Thank you. The next speaker. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The next speaker is Gemma. Please state your name. City of residence.

Gemma Kamar. Um city of residence is South Worester, 7 Porter Street. Um, so I am a firm supporter of development in Worcester. We do need housing and we need it now, but we cannot continue to hand out tax breaks to developers who engage in tax fraud or wage theft. Worcester residents aren't going to pack up and run. Um, I so I echo that um from what I heard earlier today. We are staying and fighting for a city where workers rights are taken seriously. This is exactly why the city created the respon was what's the responsible development ordinance. As we consider tax relieves or census, I urge the city council to ensure we are supporting partners who follow the law, treat workers fairly, and actually contribute to the tax base. Responsible developers have nothing to fear. In fact, this protects them from being under bid and um by bad actors. um taxpayers funded incentives must reflect Worcers's values and um benefit the people who live and work here. Um and I would also like to echo my support for um item 13b regarding the FIFA um the World Cup and the designation here in Worcester. I want to echo um the Worcester Culture Division who um they're doing some great work in terms of um not only just sign um putting a spotlight on one country um but there's going to be a series of watch parties happening here in the city of Worcester and I do ask city council to you'll be a little bit more broader in those terms of those countries that are going to be having work up here in Boston and um MoAD the Massachusetts Organization of African descendants you know we are going to be working with the Worcester Cultural Division um to partake and uh engage engage and to host some of those watch parties here um for the Haitian community, the Ghanaian community and other communities here in the city of Worcester. So, I just want to echo um all of these great things happening in Worcester and also through my support um towards this u responsible development ordinance. So, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The last speaker is Eric Stratton. I meet the resident now.

Good evening. Eric Stratton, city of Worcester. Um, regarding 12A for the new police station, um, no. Uh, just, you know, hard no on this, guys. I mean, we're we're staring down what, a $30 million, uh, fine to the city of Holden. Um, and I'm I'm assuming the city has not squirreled funds away to help cover that cost in case they had lost this case despite kicking this case, you know, kicking the can down the road for years. Um, that to me seems very financially irresponsible. um you know, especially given the fact that we pay millions in lawsuits related to poor behavior from the police and we still have yet resolved the issue of the Department of Justice report. Um this one should be a hard no. You know, read the room, guys. We we need to be acting responsibly. Um which leads me to my next two points regarding 19A the TIFF. Um again, no. Um you've heard from a number of residents, you've heard from carpenters, we need to work with responsible partners. Um and frankly it seems like the city does not have a very good track record when it comes to tiffs failing to have clawbacks related to the ballpark where we had promises from developers that never came to fruition. In this case we're dealing with issues of wage theft um and tax fraud. Uh again the city should send a strong message. If you do this we aren't going to work with you. It's that easy. Um or you know if they don't want to develop that's fine. Let someone else develop it. Um, regarding 12s, um, the stretch code, as you've heard from others, we absolutely should stick with this. You, you all, you know, acting, you know, as our elected officials and representing your constituents who had strong support for the stretch code are now looking about walking it back. Forget it. You know, what's the point then if you all are going to pass ordinances or requirements and then immediately walk them back?

You have 10 seconds. Please stick to your guns on this. show some spine. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, seeing nobody else, we'll close that part of the meeting. We will go to Mr. Chairman, may we please take 19A out of order? Let's do the petitions first. I'll come back. Thank you.

Okay, so we have hearings and the motion is to open the hearing regarding National Grid Cond location at Windsor Street and Northampton Street. Those in favor oppose so ordered. Anybody against this item? See nobody opposed. Motion to close the hearing and to adopt. All those in favor opposed. So ordered. Okay. We'll come back to first time of business. Petitions 9A to 9B refer to the planning board. All those in favor. Mr. Chairman, I just want to councelor. Yes. I just want to amend um 9F. Okay. We're not we're going to get there in a second.

Okay. Okay. Let's just do 9 A to 9B. We're going to refer to the pointing board. Those in favor? Oppose? So ordered. 9 C to 9F. Council Rivera. Yes. Thank you. Uh first I want to uh amend 9F to uh to say uh um request sidewalk installation on Clover Street between her street and Pine View. have not resurf not resurfing please. Um I also while we're at it want to file 12R 12R and also on 9C um I would like to um take that into um have the council put take into reconsideration. Okay.

Thank you. So 12 hour what you want 12 hour resend it 12R I'm going to file. You going to file that? Yeah. So 12 hours going to work with the petition here in 9 9 F. So 12 hours motions to file 12. So 9 C to 9F we have an amendment from resurfacing to installation of Thank you. And then on 9C I didn't hear what was that was that one you wanted to do. Oh reconsideration. Oh after we pass it. Yeah.

Okay. Okay. So the motion is 9 C to 9F 9 F as amended and filed uh 12R. All those in favor oppose. So a ordered and 12E since we just passed it is the motion is to uh um what was it? 12R file file and 12 9 C was 9C was reconsideration. So motion is to reconsider. Mr. Chairman discipline order that's uh reconsidering sending it to committee. Yes. So, oh no, I misunderstood that. Okay. What is it then?

So, Mr. Chairman, if I can provide some clar There's a public works committee meeting next week. Uh we want to do the agenda possibly tomorrow. So, we're asking the council to take a vote to send it to committee and just ask for reconsideration on that vote. Okay. So, we can bypass that rule of 48 hours before they send it to committee. Okay. So, basically, we already voted. And now I'm just asking for a regular reconsideration. So So nobody can So you don't have to wait to 48 hours. Correct. Correct. Procedure. Thank you. Okay. All those in favor for the reconsideration. Roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. This is a motion for reconsideration. A 9C. No. Council Bada.

No. Councelor Konamu. Councelor Bolo. Yes. No. Oh, no. Procedures. No. No. No. Apologize. Council King. No. Council Mitra. No. Council. Just sorry. Quick question. So, we did nine and we did A and B. So, did we vote on C? Yes. Yet. Yep. Okay. Sorry. I didn't I didn't hear. Okay. Um, so no. No. Councelor Rivera. No. Councelor Rosen. No. Council Tumi. No. And Mayor Petty?

No. 9G the 9T refer to traffic and parking. All those in favor of postal ordered. We have a request that we go to 19A. It's held under privilege report of the committee of economic development on the communication city manage recommend approve the housing development certified project application tax exemption agreement for 401 409 Main Street. recommend adoption of the company resolution. Council Bergman, you want to speak on this?

Happy to speak on it, Mr. Chairman. So, as as everybody here knows, uh this has been before the body several times, went out to committee, came back and there was various opportunities um that required various scenarios required to be held. We had a I think a healthy good debate at the subcommittee level. Representative McKitty was there. Certainly a number of representatives of the carpenters union were there, members of the public were there. And at the end of the day, a lot of this for me at least comes back to something I said at the very beginning, which is that the responsible development ordinance is important. Uh it should be supported, but it also should have language that's clear, not gray. And you know, I hear language tonight um from some of the people testifying uh using terms of criminal contractors, wage theft, tax fraud. If any of those were proven at the subcommittee level, I'd be the first one here to say that I wouldn't vote to support the tiff or the tie, but they weren't. And the allegations are just that. and unless and until they're proven, the fact that somebody paid um a fine doesn't necessarily mean that it's it's a recognition of guilt. People pay fines and penalties all the time. And and our ordinance needs to be tightened so that there is language that reflects the fact that when you accept some level of responsibility, um the punishment or the fine or the penalty can be what some people here are suggesting, which is cutting off the uh the tie or the tiff. But the language doesn't say that. And there's a chairman's order that came out of that committee asking that the language be tightened. Furthermore, I would say that to me at least, that language has to be pretty clear, especially when you're talking about not McKit's own um actions, but that that those actions of their subcontractors. I understand the responsible development ordinance has within it what we would call in the legal profession some sort of aarious

liability that you're responsible for the people under you. But for me, there's a world of difference between saying McKiti did something versus saying a subcontra something before McKiti hired them. Therefore, Mckiti should be denied the tiff and the tag. Let me also just mention the practical consequences of of what some people are asking which I won't support and I'll support going ahead with the uh with the funding and that is that this isn't a half empty half full glass scenario conversation where some could argue well we're giving away a lot but uh we're getting something versus if we don't do business with Mckiti we'll get the whole glass full. The numbers don't work here and Mr. done can address that. But for those who think we give out tips and ties like candy, we don't. Very few people that ask get them. And the reason why they get them is because it's not practical in most circumstances for them to get funding. So the project will just sit there. And the fact that it will just sit there means the city of Worcester's tax base will not have millions of dollars that will come in even with the tiff of the tag. So I would dispute that we can have somebody else just roll in and take over the development without giving them any assistance. The cost to develop in Worcester is pretty much the same as the cost to develop in Boston, but the return on the investment is different in Worcester than it is in Boston. Any developer will tell you that the numbers are much harder in Worcester. I'm not proposing we give tips and ties to everybody that comes along. I'm confident we don't and we won't because Mr. Dunn is great. um caretaker of making sure that those don't get handed out routinely. I understand uh some of the the passion. I understand some of the arguments, but let me just say one other thing which I think gets um overlooked at these at these somewhat heated uh meetings and that is yes, the Carpenters Union is opposed to them. I understand that. We all understand that they're not the only

union in the city. There are multiple unions in the city who have never come before the microphones to say that they have an issue with us. So when I make a decision to vote on this, I don't vote just for one union. I vote for what I believe the majority of the best interest of all the unions. There will be jobs that will come out of this. They may not all be worse jobs, but hopefully majority of them are. And there'll be work that comes out of this. And if we had language that was clear, I would support cutting off Mckiti. But from what Makiti did based on the language of our ordinance does not in my opinion justify anything further than what's already happened which is they've paid a fine. What it does do is motivate me me and I know my colleagues on the subcommittee and others I'm sure here is to try to create language that prevents in the future ducking behind the so-called gray. But you can't punish somebody for language that's unclear. And I've read the ordinance. We've heard the testimony. I've heard the allegations. I haven't seen one affidavit, and I'm not saying they don't exist, but I haven't seen it. One affidavit that says they're committing tax fraud. I haven't seen it. Where is it? We've had weeks of delays item being held. It's not here. You know, there used to be a commercial, Mr. Chairman, when I was younger. Where's the beef? If I saw the beef, I would take a different vote on this. But these are allegations. And maybe it's my legal background. Maybe it's my sense of fairness. But I'm not voting against somebody unless it's proven to me they've done something uh that I can be satisfied violates the law. And in this particular case that hasn't been proven. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Council Me.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think um I would just like to say that uh about the Maniti group, we had in our committee a very good very healthy discussion. Many residents came and they talked to us uh about Manury group. We had a good conversation with the president of the Maniri group. We also informed her that we would like them to work with the uh carpenters union so we can really come together and uh they were all you know in compliance and they they agreed to do the things that needs to be done. I think Maniri group has a good reputation. We have seen them doing lot of good work in our city. changing many uh underutilized uh uh you know properties into developed properties and given the economic development for the city but we did hear from many residents about the RDO that not being mentioned and hold them to that. So with that I I thought that it would be nice if we if I can have the council to vote for this resolution to go with it. And I'll read that. What it reads is that the city council of city of Gorster does hereby reaffirm its commitment to upholding subsection F of section 35A of chapter 2 of the revised ordinance of 2008 relative to the general requirements and assurance associated with tax increment exemption agreements granted by the city of Worcester including any agreement to the Maniri approved for 401 to 409 Main Street by declaring its intent to resend any such agreement found out of compliance with the rules and regulations set forth is said responsible development ordinance. So I would like the council to really honor this uh resolution and uh I think

uh with that resolution with that contingency I would like to vote for that. Thank you. Thank you. Councelor Tumi. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, one of the things that u is incredibly important is that we have to distinguish that we're talking about two completely different jobs. Uh this particular one that we're voting on tonight is a huge change in the original um job that was being performed there. To transfer a building to make it turn a business commercial building into residential

truly requires uh a great deal of tightening of the belt and making sure that you can uh actually afford to do this. Um there are not very many companies out there um as was mentioned tonight uh that could deal with the massive increases in steel and all that other stuff. So we have a major project up on um the old uh uh Fallon Health Building. Uh that's a project that they also have uh have support Tai um TIFF. So um I want to ask um through you Mr. Chair to Mr. done if uh he could come up and talk about um the steps that need to be taken in order for us to be able to uh go back. Uh I think there's process correct that it has to go to the if there are complaints they have to be heard by the attorney general

through you Mr. Chair

Mr. through the chair to the counselor. Uh so as part of the responsible development ordinance uh staff in my office do the monitoring uh and enforcement of that local ordinance here. Uh so we receive a substantial amount of documentation from these projects both in the pre-construction phase on uh the contractors that they're seeking to utilize on the project. making sure that those contractors are in good standing um by researching the databases that we have access to like the attorney general's um enforcement database, the department lists. Uh in the case of uh this one as an aside, I know we've talked about it before um but this particular subcontractor where there has been issues uh did not have those violations at the time of Maniti Group and their general contractor bringing that subcontractor onto that job. And then throughout uh the construction, we're receiving certified payroll forms from each of the contractors that participate. Uh we're reviewing that both in terms of uh the tabulation of some of our goals. So as the council knows, we have goals for uh workforce hours for Worcester residents, workforce hours for people of color, workforce hours for women, uh MWBE goals. So when we look at the ownership of those subcontractors, uh do any of those companies do they have ownerships uh that are either women or minorityowned companies uh and have goals around that? And then we're also getting uh daily logs. Uh so when workers arrive to the site, they sign into the site. Um that's usually pretty standard practice for companies anyways to ensure workplace safety. Uh so then we review all of that information and when there's inconsistencies or if there's gaps in information uh we go back to them and say this doesn't seem right or there's a missing link here um and ask them to either clarify that or resubmit or then identify the issue and if there's a persistent issue uh we would consider some of the uh remedies that are called for in the ordinance. Um but as it relates to if we are getting

information that is inaccurate right so like these are submitted to us um attested to by uh the appropriate representatives of those companies if that information is um perceived to be inaccurate or alleged to be inaccurate then we would have to share that information with the appropriate enforcement agencies and I think that's what you're referencing where uh somebody if there is allegations that there are people being paid under the table um but we have records of them being on payroll If there's other allegations of mclassification of those employees, uh we need to involve the appropriate enforcement um agency at the state level, which is the attorney general. If one of those uh situations comes to a resolution and there is in fact determination by the attorney general that that situation was in violation of the law, then we would take appropriate action under our local ordinance. but it wouldn't be our office's role to conduct those investigations of false information or fraudulent information that's being provided to us.

So, I think I think that we're doing due diligence. Um, and I think it's important that if there is information uh that u other uh other uh entities have that it be shared. I think I've mentioned that at the subcommittee meeting uh that there needs to be better communication. Um, and I think it's very important that based on what you've just said, I think I think we've been very thorough uh in what we're doing with what we're being given. Um, and that's uh what we need to do. And so the next step uh is with the attorney general. Um, the other the other aspect of this is that we need people keep talking about we're giving all this tax money away. Actually, you're not giving away tax money. You're giving a break, but there's no actual dollar given to the company. That's the important thing that I think people don't understand. You're basically saying, okay, uh for the next 10 years, uh you can pay $10,000 um you know, taxes and then after the 10 years it'll be worth, I don't know, 20 20,000 whatever. Um that's how it works. So it the val full value comes up after 10 years and that's what we're doing. If we don't work with these companies through you, Mr. Chair, then it's my understanding that there's not a they're not banging the door down, right? Uh there are certain companies that have the ability to be able to to to work in conjunction with the city and the town uh to enhance uh the building opportunities that are here. If we don't have Maniti Group, if we don't award this through you, Mr. Chair, uh I know you don't have a crystal ball, but what

is the likelihood uh that it will sit and and not be a finished product through you, Mr. here Mr. it done

through the chair to the council. As you noted, I wouldn't want to speculate on what may or may not occur if this doesn't move forward, but I think in looking at uh the status of the building as we've seen over the last, you know, six plus, you know, even probably closer to 10 years, uh 8 to 10 years that they've owned it, uh they would have already undertaked this investment if they were able to secure the financing, if the numbers made sense, if the project was viable. Um, so I think we're seeing that in the fact that the project had been has been stalled for that amount of time as they've been working on the financing, securing different resources like there are historic tax credits involved in this as well that take a substantial amount of time uh to assemble and so if it was you know viable and not necessary to provide this level of assistance then I think we would have already seen that project under construction at this point.

Well, thank you very much. I appreciate that. I just want to make it very clear um I I come from a union family. My father was a glazer. Uh, worked for Pittsburgh Lake Glass for a long time. Uh, so I understand how important it is that our and I knew what a scab was when I was four years old when my father was on strike. It's very important that we help to ensure that there is no wage theft and that there is no tax fraud. Those things are very important, especially for people working with the hands. So, as a city, we need to continue to do our due diligence and we'll work with the regulations and the form within the format that we have. Um, and I think I have no problem signing on uh to uh Council Me's uh resolution. Um, but I I do think that this needs to be voted. uh and I think it's again I want to remind people that this is a very different project and it needs to have these uh assisted uh financial tools to be able to get this project done. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, House of Through you, Mr. Chairman. One quick question to the administration. Uh just curious who is responsible for recording the weekly log of those working on the job site Mr. D through the chair to the counselor there's a daily log at the job site that the general contractor would be responsible for. Um it's their responsibility to keep the job site safe. Uh in terms of the weekly information we get that's the certified payroll forms are done on a weekly basis

through you Mr. Chairman. And who who collects those uh facts? Whoever's working on the job site, is it the attorney general's office? Is it the city of Worcester? Who's who's collecting this? Through the chair to the counselor. The way this works is that there is often a general contractor um the lead contractor that is hired by the developer and then there are a series of subcontractors across different trades. uh and those subcontractors provide their certified payroll forms to the general contractor who aggregates that and provides it to the city of Worcester. They're providing that because it is required and called for in our responsible development ordinance. If there was just a private job um in the city of Worcester that wasn't receiving that form of assistance, we wouldn't be getting that type of information.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Councelor Ba. What's that? Okay. Yeah. Council, I just Anybody wants to go first? That's all. Okay. Council council meet for a second time.

Uh Mr. Chair, thank you. I just wanted to bring up uh that it's important that we get this project moving. We have Mani Group. I know we have heard many residents came and talked about the RDO. We have this resolution. And I just want to make a small correction to this that where it reads by declaring its intent to resend any such agreement found out of future compliance with the rules and regulations set forth in said responsible development ordinance. I also wanted to inform everyone as uh Mr. Dun said that if we don't have this project going then we our revenue is very small tax revenue if it is improved done completed I know that the tax increment the exemption that the maniti group or any developer in in this case maniti group will get is about in 10 years about close to $600,000 if I'm not wrong but the benefit that the city is getting because of the improved value of this project is about 1.2 2 million if I'm not wrong that the city will be getting in taxes. So if we don't do it we get $200,000. So if we hold it and not you know not get it done we're losing money and any developer as councelor Bergman mentioned that the cost of doing the business here in Worcester and Boston is the same but the revenue is so low that for any developer to do it without this exemption given to them would be a losing proposition. So nobody will do it. So I think it is important that we think hard and we heard the residents and are holding them responsible to follow our RDO and hopefully it'll all be taken care of because we're going to be watching them that they follow our ordinance. So thank you. That's all I wanted to say.

Could you just read your um correction your amendment? Yeah, correction is only that out of future compliance instead of just compliance.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, adding the word future for compliance. What's that? Okay. We're adding the word future to this. So, we're clear. We're adding the word future where it says compliance at the end. Okay. Okay. Okay. Anybody else?

Yeah, Mr. Chairman. Um, thank you. Um, I still have a lot of concerns about this project.

I haven't felt that they've really been properly addressed by Maniti and their representatives. And, you know, we talk about the urgency to develop things. In fairness, Miti's been sitting on this property for for close to a decade. And that's absolutely their right to do so. Um but I when when the urgency gets thrown around I I I I doesn't quite square with me. Um and again you know this tax break is is a tax break. They we is not giving them tax dollars but by giving them a tax break they are eligible for H DIP credits and that is Massachusetts taxpayer money going to developments that uh a lot of Massachusetts residents can't afford. And that's why we're seeing there was an article recently a lot of residents are moving out of the city. Our workforce is moving out of the state that was referenced and I know that the the credo is is we need to build we need to build. I absolutely agree with that and I think you know there are certain developments that need tax breaks to work and that that that and I think it's important that we as a city do that but I think we also need to make sure that where you know local workers are are are on the job because that contributes to local economy that contributes to you know uh families being able to buy homes locally. um you know the there's I'm still don't feel comfortable voting on this and I will be voting no and a vote no on this particular project is not a vote against development in general. It's not a and I think you know as a council we are the stewards of taxpayer money and um there's too many questions around this for me and I and I don't feel comfortable with it and I think we need to be firmer. We say we need to be firmer. This is how we be firmer. And I implore other councils to join me in that with saying, "All right, enough. Maniti guaranteed. They're not

going to walk away. They've invested a lot." And um and I think that's why we have an opportunity to say, "Let's do better, Maniti. You're already invested a lot. We know you are, but we we can't just ignore uh flags." So for me, that that's where I'm coming from with this. And again, we talk about affordable housing, too. Um, you know, 60% AMI. The AMI for Worcester is based off of Worcester, but also it's based off of Holden and um uh you know, Milbury and other communities. So, the the the ceiling is a little inflated when we talk about that. Whereas, you know, the area median income for AMI for Worcester is, you know, around 100K, but the AMI for Worcester alone is closer to around, you know, high 60s. So, and and we need uh affordable housing of all kinds. We need market rate. We need luxury. Any real city that, you know, has this mix of housing, and that's what we I think has always had. uh but we we can't just uh not hold developers accountable and and so that's where I stand on that and thank you.

Thank you.

Anybody else? Council Rosen.

Thank you Mr. Mr. Chairman, I think we've heard for many months now from the administration, from many people that we need about 12,000 units maybe during the next 8 to 10 years. So I assume if we need 12,000, these 48 make some contribution. Not huge, but certainly 48 uh you know is a is a is a good is a good number. And there's two things we're looking at tonight. I'm totally in favor of the project. I do want to see the old Shacks building 401 to 409 Main Street developed. I want to see the 43 market rate units. I want to see the five affordable units. As I said, it's a, you know, tiny dent in our 12,000, but you got to start somewhere and keep adding. We get a lot of development apartments going on and we've seen that in the upcoming report from the from uh Peter Dunn and economic development. Some great stuff going on in Wister and we're all proud of that and I think we all want this project. But that's not what's on the agenda tonight. It's not do you want Maniti to build 48 more units. Yes. But that's not what the vote is tonight. The vote is do we think? Are we sure? Maybe do we even care if the menti group has followed on other projects, especially down the old Olympic building, the Garden of Fresh building if you want. Have they followed the responsible development ordinance? That's what we're talking about tonight. Not whether we want this developed. We all want it developed. 11 zip. Well, 10. There's only 10 people here. Yeah, if that were the vote. But it's not. It's not that easy. It's not that simple. It's a vote that takes a little courage. You have to

look at what's gone on in the past. Does Maniti have the right to choose contractor who will choose subcontractors that violate our responsible development ordinance. Now, the responsible development ordinance in that the buck stops with the developer with the Maniti Group. That's what it is. That's what we have. It doesn't say Barber Drywall, we're going to find you $5,000. It doesn't say M Martinez Drywall, we're going to find you $5,000 either. It says Manitini Group, we're going to find you a drop in the bucket $5,000. The owners of the Menini group are multi-millionaires. They're multi-millionaires. And the tax, the people who pay taxes in Worcester, the residents of Worcester, most of them who pay taxes, they're not multi-millionaires. They have trouble paying their rent, trouble paying their mortgage, trouble paying their health insurance, trouble paying for food, trouble paying, we know we can list 10 other things, 10 other expenses at least. their utilities. They have all that trouble. They're not multi-millionaires. I don't know what it's like to be a multi-millionaire. Probably no one this council does. More power to them. I'm not jealous of them. I say great. They must be great business folks if they're multi-millionaires. But should should the residents of the city of Worcester who aren't multi-millionaires, is it really necessary that they help finance multi-millionaires? I'm not so sure. And I listened to a couple of my colleagues and it was almost like I heard years ago years ago I heard and it was probably true 10, 15, maybe 20 years ago Worcester is desperate for development. We were so desperate. Remember the

project I was on the council then when a man from Boston bought the Worcester common outlets and promised us all these things and you know I don't know what happened to him. We know what happened to that Worester common out outlets. We were probably desperate in those days. We're not desperate any longer. Mr. Dunn says many people come to Worester with proposed projects and they get turned down for tiffs and like this tax increment uh exemption ties. They get turned down. Why are they so different than Manitini? We can't turn Manitini down. Oh my goodness. We can't turn Maniti down. But we can turn all the others down. I'm just want to remind my colleagues we are not desperate. We are not desperate. And I don't think Maniti is gonna own that property for another 10 years and say we'll teach them, we'll sit on it and just pay the taxes and we won't do anything with it. I'm not so sure. I didn't hear Mr. Dunn say uh tonight that in previous meetings that the project wouldn't be done definitely. I don't think he I don't think he knows for sure. I think it might be done anyway even if you know we don't grant this tax exemption. the responsible development ordinance. Some of us on the council, most of us knew, but some on the council voted for it. We all support it. We all support it.

You're in your second five, too. Okay.

Okay. We all support it. I not only support it, I want to enforce it. There's a huge difference between supporting it and telling people during a campaign you support it, signing a pledge you support it, and then really showing your true colors and saying, "Yeah, I support it, but no, let's not enforce it. We're desperate." Okay, we can't enforce it. We don't have to enforce it. I'm saying we should enforce it. What's wrong with doing that? So, if you're not going to enforce it tonight, we shouldn't have it. We shouldn't have an RDO. I want it. I want to enforce it. It was great. Some of you give you credit. You change your mind tonight, but you used to be in favor of enforcing it. You want You saw the need for it. The administration The administration told us there was a big need. I see one of my colleagues doing this. Yeah. Doing that. I don't know what that's about, but you don't have to do that. Okay. I listened to you and I didn't bo my head. You don't have to do that to your colleagues just because we disagree. We disagree. I see a company here owned by multi-millionaires who want the residents of Worcester with all their financial problems, we know, we know their financial problems, want tax relief from our residents. It's too bad. Too bad. I won't support it. I won't vote for it at all. And I'm tired of hearing I mentioned tired of hearing that we're desperate. We're not. I'm tired of hearing that the Worcester Chamber of Commerce supports this and really twists our arm and wants the project. Well, good. That's good. They have every right to do that.

But that doesn't make me support it because the Worcester Chamber of Commerce wants it. I'm going to look at the RDO and see if I think this company and their contractors and subcontractors, you know, will keep this RDO. I don't think so. I don't think so. And I've got an order or a resolution just like Dr. Metra. Just coincidence, I guess, cuz I didn't consult with Dr. Mitra. I'm going to read mine. Maybe we can vote on both of them. They're similar, but they're they're they're not exactly the same. $5,000 fine to Meniti Group. $5,000. My goodness. That's peanuts. That's peanuts. Should have been $50,000. Then there's an RDO. $5,000. That's no punishment. No punishment at all. If we vote down this tax increment exemption for Maniti tonight, just think of the good message that sends to future developers. The Worcester City Council supports its own ordinance. It enforces its own ordinance and you're going to have to comply with it 100%. 100% in future projects. Not that the Worcester City Council are pushovers, that Maniti was fined, which means Maniti had to admit they did something wrong. And you might say, "Oh, I heard a council say it wasn't Maniti. It was Barber Drywall. It was Martina's driveway. It was a subcontractors." That's not what the We didn't find those people. Even though they were the ones who were guilty, we didn't find them. Okay, here's the resolution order. I don't know, Nico, if you can maybe give me the right word, but here's what I came up with. Similar to Dr. Meers, but a little different, I'd say.

You got about one minute left. in the development agreement between the city and the Maniti Group for a tax increment exemption TIE for their housing project at 401 to 409 Main Street request the city council vote tonight to require that a clawback provision be added stating that any infraction of the city's responsible development ordinance by the developer, the contractor or subcontractors will automatically result in a clawback of taxes already forgiven. and an elimination of future tax benefits on the aforementioned project. If you don't support that, you're saying, "Yeah, we have a responsible development ordinance, but it's not it has no teeth. It's not meaningful." Okay? We don't have to enforce it. We just have to say we support it. And I can't do that. My last I know my last few seconds. Mr. Mayor, where is Mike? John F. Kennedy. Quote from John F. Kenny who I remember well some of you you know it's history for me John F. Kenny was current events. Not

okay. Can you wrap it up, please? Yes, I am. Here's my Here's what John F. Kennedy said. There is something immoral, something immoral about abandoning your own judgment. Tonight, I will not abandon my own judgment. I vote against this tax increment exemption for Maniti. Thank you. Thank you.

Anybody else? See, councelor Bergman for a second time.

I won't use my full five minutes, Mr. Chairman. Just want to say that uh you know, I guess uh I've seen a lot in this body over the years and usually the default position when one side doesn't have facts to disagree. The other is to try to pit one group against another. And unfortunately, you know, this whole notion that uh I'm not a millionaire. I'm not a millionaire. I don't probably nobody here is a millionaire. But the truth is the taxpayers of the city of Worcester will lose out in over a million dollars if this property is not developed by the Makita Group or someone else. And what I'm hearing from Mr. Dunn, I'm not putting words in his mouth, is that it's been sitting there a long time that doesn't inspire me confidence. What I heard from my colleague Council Rosen is he thinks is going to get developed by somebody else. Well, I'm going to put my money with the professionals who um have have a good analysis of whether or not the property will likely be developed or not and how it can get developed uh without our help through this financing. And I'm going to stick with my original vote. But the reason one of the reasons I want to stand is you know there's all this discussion about true courage and changing one's colors or seeing their true colors. It's very easy to sit in this room knowing who the audience is and what position they take on a on a particular item and plate to that. I'm going to do the opposite. I'm going to go with not necessarily people in this room, but the 200,000 plus other people, and I've said this before, who live in this city, onethird of which who own real estate and will lose out in an additional million dollars to offset their real estate tax bill if this property remains undeveloped. So, through the chair, I just have one or two really brief questions to Mr. done to the chair. Mr. Dunn, how many requests do you get a year for similar type of tax relief from projects in the city of Worcester from any developer?

Um, Mr. D, through the chair to the councelor, I really don't have those figures in front of me. I would say it could range on any given year between five and 12. Okay. And how many are usually chosen for you to for you to advocate for? I'd say we probably are averaging one to two a year. Okay. So, fair to say the vast majority you don't advocate for. Is that fair? Yes. And what would be the criteria that you would advocate for a particular entity like Mckiti tonight and asking that we support this

through the chair to the council. Um we do have some established uh goals as we look at that. um and it's actually called out right in the um responsible development ordinance. So our goals with either commercial tiffs or residential ties is to see an expansion of the city's tax base uh to see an elimination of blight or to redevelop an underutilized property. uh to create permanent full-time livable wage jobs for Worcester residents, to create new housing opportunities for Worcester residents, enhancing the diversification of the city's housing stock and economic activities, improving the livability and stabilization in the city's neighborhoods and commercial districts, encouraging sustainable and resilient building design, uh directly and indirectly spurring additional unsubsidized uh private development in Worcester, and then benefiting the long-term economic development goals of the city of Worcester. So to boil that down into some of like what we look for is is a proposed project in uh an established priority area of the city is it um necessary? So all of the review that we do in terms of the uh projects uh financing and their proforma is it really necessary in order for it to move forward? I would probably say that that is the most common cause of us maybe not providing a recommendation to the city council is our review. um and potential other sources. Uh sometimes projects depending on their characteristics might be eligible for a certain um number of tools in the toolbox so to speak at the local, state, and federal level. So sometimes we're redirecting folks to other uh programs uh that could assist. Um so that's those are some of the things that we look at. So, so through the chair, my last question, you advocating for Mckiti's tie tonight, I would assume means that you feel financially after looking at their paperwork, it's necessary.

Correct. That's very clear. Thank you.

No. Okay. Um, anybody else? Mr. Chairman, I had one of my colleagues just kind of accused me of something. May I just respond? I have a chance for finish everybody. Okay. Yeah, I just want to respond to him. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, nobody else council to me for a second time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh I stand to remind people that uh those who uh watched or were at the uh meeting that we specifically asked the administration uh to come back with uh tighter uh rules and regulations and I think that they need time uh to be able to craft those. So we did ask for that uh at the meeting and uh I think that that's something that this body needs to understand that we weren't just saying we're going to just dismiss everything. We asked specifically for tighter control and tighter um uh any any new type of uh controls that we could put in to make sure that these things don't happen in the future. That's all. Just want to say thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Nobody else. So under the rules of the council, you'd like to speak on your reputation, I take it. Go. I'd like to respond to my colleague who made an accusation. may just I'm going to be very brief. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, it's when my colleague, Councelor Bergman, basically accuses me of playing to the the crowd here. I've known my colleague and friend, Council Bergman, for years, and I can't believe he would dare say that. But he did say it. But I know him. He doesn't think that. I don't need a crowd of people here to do what I think is right. I don't need that. I never have and I never will. I'm supporting the taxpayers in the city of Worcester because I think the project is good, but I think the tie, the tax increment exemption for them is bad business for the city of Worcester. bad business by this city council. But I do not need a crowd of people, okay, to have the courage of my convictions. I don't need that, okay? And that's why I read that Kennedy quote that you have to sometimes go with your own judgment. I'm not going to go with the Chamber of Commerce because they tell me what to do. And I'm not going to go with other groups because they tell me what to do. I'm going to try to do what's right and that's what I'm doing tonight. Regardless of 20 people here or 200 people or no people here, they could all disappear now. Walk out now and I wouldn't change my mind to councelor Bergman. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Okay, see nobody else. We have a motion to uh councelor King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I just want to begin by saying, you know, I appreciate this public hearing. I appreciate the dialogue. Um, I watched the 2 and 1/2 hour subcommittee meeting. Um, you know, um, over the last few days, uh, councelor Burger ran a great meeting. Um, Satcha Mitra, counselor at large and Kate Tumi, um, had great comments. Um, and, uh, Mr. done did his thing. I'm I'm extremely perplexed tonight that as this issue comes before our body, there's not a representation from Maniti that spoke um and that represented their interests. So, I just want to state that for the record. I will also say I don't think that Bo Mani or his family are monsters. Um, I do think that this is a vote of principle and this is a vote for the people. Mr. Chairman, I've spent my entire life standing up for working folks. Um, we've fought for this on this council for many years. Um, and what I've been looking here for, Mr. Chairman, is asurances for the future. I've been looking for a corrective action plan, none of which is before us today. Nothing. Um, I am convinced that that is perhaps in the works based on my conversation with Maniti, but it's not here. It's not before us. Mr. Chairman, I want to address three comments that stood out to me tonight. One is that we need language that's not gray, that if these allegations were proven, counselors would not support this. and stating that these are just these

are allegations just that until proven guilty. In addition to that, we had a comment saying that it's unfair to hold court on the sidelines or in this council chamber when the body that enforces these citations has not done so. Mr. chairman, there was another comment around if we find that there's payroll fraud or wage theft, we should not support this. So, Mr. Chairman, I would like to enter into the record an email that I had sent out back on February 4th, and I want to speak to it. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I reached out to the office of the attorney general um in early February. As a result of that, Mr. Chairman, I had some questions because I sat here in other proceedings and heard the terms, hey, these are just allegations. They're under appeal. So, I wanted to hear from the attorney general's office a little bit more. and I was responded to by a senior policy adviser and then a response from the Fair Labor Division. Mr. Chairman, my questions were covering a number of matters. What is is there a finding of fact? How should we interpret a citation? Is it simply an allegation? What are the consequences regarding citation citations issued by the Fair Labor Division? And what is the current

appeal status referenced to the matters that came before us? Mr. Chairman, I'm going to read from that response. That response with regards to what does this all mean? It's indicated here that the citations issued, and I quote, represents this office, meaning the attorney general's final factual and legal determination regarding the prevailing wage violations uncovered. And for our attorneys here that are playing word games, I'm a bit disappointed that we continue to talk about allegations. This is from the attorney general, not from Christian King uncovered during the pendency of this matter. As such, this office does not characterize the facts underpinning the citations as quote allegations. Additionally, mass do can place a lean on real and personal property of a delinquent party, including interests. It also indicates that in the matter pertaining to Bri Barb Barber Drywall and Joseph Barber, while those have been appealed with the Division of Administrative Law Appeals, quote, "The appeal does not negate this office's explanation of enforcement sections. It does pause, as mentioned, the enforcement action." Mr. Chairman, there's a two-day hearing that will occur on April 7th to 9th of

this year, and at that time, the Division of Administrative Law and Appeals will issue a decision. These are not allegations. Any attorney worth its salt, no? No. So, let's not play with the people, Mr. Chairman. In addition to that, we know that these citations outline failure to prevail prevailing wage, failure to submit certified payroll, statement of compliance to an awarding authority, failure to furnish records, failure to make timely payments, failure to submit certified payroll records, etc. Mr. Mr. Chairman, we've also heard that there is additional concerns regarding potential fraudulent payroll records that apparently have not been responded to by the administration. So, I bring that all up to say this, Mr. Chairman, there's a lot of unanswered questions. There's a lot of unanswered questions. Um, and to vote to move this forward at this time is a concern of mine. through the chair administration as relates to accessing HDIP funds that this TAI um is required to achieve. My understanding is that there's a current phasing of that now and there's a potential additional opportunity to um perhaps present again at a later date, perhaps in the summer, perhaps in the fall. through the chair if you could explain to the public what that looks like for this round or potential rounds.

Mr. Dunn, through the chair, the councelor. That's correct. Uh the executive office of housing and livable communities at the state level that administers this program and the state tax credit element of the program has an active round right now. It is uh while they're still making those uh decisions, they're reviewing the applications submitted that were due uh in January. Um they should be announcing those maybe by the end of March, maybe early April. Um aside from that, there have been no subsequent rounds advertised, but it would be reasonable to expect, as you noted, that there could be one in the summer or fall of 2026.

Thank Thank you. And for the record, I noted that because that's what Mr. Dunn stated in the subcommittee meeting. Um I didn't make that up on my own. So that was the professional's um judgment there. Um Mr. Chairman, through the chair, as relates to the subcontractors, Martinez or or Barbara Drywall, what have you, um are you aware of whether or not there's been any consequences levied by the developer, Miti Group, to those subcontractors through the chair? Mr. done

through the chair to the counselor. Um, I guess I'm not sure how you would define consequences and if it would be my position to be commenting on a private contractual matter at this time.

Are you aware of of any uh so this is the question I don't have before me, Mr. Chairman? Okay. I don't have I don't have before me, Mr. chairman anything indicating that those subcontractors are being held accountable by the development why developer why is that important because mani has done good work in this city I expect them to continue to do good work but if we have a subcontra that's being irresponsible and though other subcontractors that they're working with are being irresponsible what assurances do we have moving forward that's not going to happen particularly if there's no consequences however we're defining it. Um, for the folks that are at the front line of this, Mr. Chairman, um, you know, there's a a lot of principal debate here for sure. Um, I cannot support moving this forward. Um, I certainly would ask to the chair administration, um, what would prevent another request to the city in 90 days or what have you for a future round of consideration for HTIP? Is there anything that would prevent that or to the solicitor? Anyone else

through the chair to the councelor? I think if we had provided a recommendation to council like what is before you and the council decided to decline that recommendation, I don't see why we would put forth the same recommendation at a subsequent time.

So there's been a number of issues outlined as it relates to this. Um so I would certainly ask you to take that under full consideration. Um there's certain things that are not happening. We have April 7th, April 9th appeals. We have a finding um from the attorney general's office. We don't have any idea what the corrective action plan is. There's no asurances moving forward. I'm not sure how we have a responsible um vote in the affirmative without those things being answered. Mr. Chairman, those are significant gaps. Um we are tasked with taking difficult votes. This is not easy. I've been a number one advocate for affordable housing and housing. We know that we need to increase the housing stock, Mr. Chairman. But we also have to send a message that when you steal from people, you're stealing from families. When you steal from families, you're stealing from the community, Mr. Chairman. And I am not alleging that Maniti is stealing anything. But they are the head of the pyramid. They're at the top of the pyramid. They are ultimately responsible. Mr. Chairman, and again, no assurances, no action plan, no representation presented to us tonight from anyone from that group. Um, I will not be voting in the affirmative on this, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, Council Tumi, you just speak twice on Pardon me. You spoke once. Twice. Third time. Motion to suspend the rules. Motion to suspend the rules. All those in favor? Post soed. Thank you. We should do a roll call on that. I think you need a roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Councelor Rolo. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Councelor Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Broen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes.

Mr. Chairman, I'm just curious. Um uh my colleague received this information on February 10th um and has had it. It's now March 10th and he's just sharing it now and I'm wondering why we didn't have any other information any of this presented to us before just I mean that's almost a month. Our meeting was March 3rd at economic development. Should this not have been presented at that time? Council, thank you. Council Bergman for us

since you to be honest. I mean, I understand where my colleague is coming from, but to me, whether it was presented March 10th, I'm sorry, February 10th when it was received or March 3rd when we had a committee meeting really doesn't matter. You know, I I can take insults of all my legal abilities. That's fine. I'm here speaking as a city councelor. This quoting, "This office does not characterize the facts underpin the citations allegations." Any prosecuting office is going to say, "We're not making it up." But where are the facts that back up the allegations? Where are the facts that were proven? They don't exist on this document, which is what I've been saying since the first time I've spoke on this issue months ago that we keep saying they're allegations. Yes, the attorney general's office says we don't consider them allegations. Okay, I expect that. Would the district attorney's office their charges somebody say, "Oh, they're only allegations." They'd say, "No, we intend to prove this." That's what this says. They intend to prove it. Of course, they intend to prove it or they wouldn't have issued a citation. But that be uh that doesn't change the question that I've had since day one. Where are the facts to prove this? If an agency says it's it's true and other people say it's true,

you can take that's fine. But I need more than somebody telling me it's true, I need proof. And this document, this two-page document, other than reaffirming that the assist that the attorney general's office thinks it's true, doesn't prove it. So, I I appreciate having it. I would appreciate having it a month ago, which would have been the courtesy I would have given a colleague, but having it now doesn't change a damn thing. There's no proof here. I wished there was because I'd said in the very beginning my position tonight would have been a lot different had I had proof. But allegation top alleg you can pile as many sandwich levels of allegations you want. It isn't going to make the sandwich any tastier to me.

Mayor Petty, thank you. Uh,

thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the committee for their report. I want to thank the discussion of the council. It's pretty much I think it's been pretty much respectful and uh it's a good dialogue and uh some learning things we need to do here, but uh I want to thank the audience for coming out. I want to thank the carpenters coming out and uh saying their peace here. You know, I've supported the committees from the beginning on this and I still think they're making the right decision on this. Um but I do have a question. I do agree with councelor Bergman and respect on the on this is always going to say it's an alleg they're going to prove this. So maybe to Mr. Don are we invi responsible board they weren't that we need to beef up the responsible employee ordinance and uh are they in violation of responsible as of today?

Mr. Dunn

through the chair to the mayor. I appreciate the question because I think some clarity is probably helpful. Um, I also think that it's just important because I just think that there could be a perception that maybe based on this email that was presented that maybe we weren't providing um, sort of accurate information, but what's being referenced is known to our staff, uh, the citations being referenced, the ones that they have made a decision on and issued citations on are not related to 204 Main Street. We've talked about this. They're related to other projects. It's not a prevailing wage job. So the citation about non-payment of prevailing wages for which they are now appealing and there is an ongoing process associated with that. 204 Main Street is not a prevailing wage job. So these are the citations that were known to the administration, known to our staff. It's what resulted in the letter of non-compliance that we referenced in the transmitt letter to council. So this is not new information. It's not. What I think is we need to bifurcate is that there's new information being shared at the podium about potential issues going on at 204 Main Street. Sounds like the folks that have referenced that have submitted information to the attorney general. They have not concluded any investigation in that matter. There are no citations from the attorneys general's office on that project here in Worcester. I just think that that's an important clarification that everybody's aware of because it seems like maybe it's being perceived like we're not providing an accurate account of what's going on here.

Mr. Mayor,

thank you. So, through the chair, um, in regards to this, then there's no first of all, this council voted for responsible employ because we believe in this. We believe in the wage theft audience that we had originally and I still believe in that. They also talking to the administration and council on this is that there is no violation of the sponsor point on as it's written today and uh so I I think I do agree with Dr. Meteor and council Rosen's uh amendments. Yeah, it's almost the same thing on both of those and that we should call it back as if there is a violation of the responsible employer ordinance. Uh this is to also about you we're talking about the taxpayer is I think it was mentioned by Dr. Meitra council me 2 million that the taxes receive from this which isn't the overall beall to this uh issue we have in front of us but it's an issue that matters. I know that if this does go down, you won't see this project present to us again the way it is here today as you have stated. Uh so in March or April, they're going to come out with the uh the state um grants on this to make sure this happens. Um so I'm I am in support of this as now and if things do come out, I think with the two parties from Dr. Demetra and councelor Rosen that we can call this back if we have to if they are in violation. So gives us more time we can proceed with this and uh and I just want to thank the administration who work his staff did work very hard on this. I want to put that out to you. I know it's not just you uh Mr. Dunn but I know there some people in your staff who uh who took this personally as far as uh making sure that this happened that we get the right facts out which they did. doesn't mean

we have to agree or disagree, but uh so I just want to compliment your staff for trying to give us all the information to make this project uh in front of us um feasible to to vote on. So again, I just want to thank the council and I believe in the responsible artist. If we have to beef it up, I think council Tumi said that from from the committee, let's beef it up so we have language in there. That's not great. So, thank you, Council Rosen.

Through the chair to Mr. Dunn. Mr. Dunn, why did the city of Worcester find the Maniti Group $5,000? through the chair to the council. I think as we've discussed at length in several settings, uh as a result of our ongoing monitoring of uh projects and the contractors participating on those projects, we learned of citations that were issued to a subcontractor uh that is participating on the 204 Main Street project uh not related to their participation on that project, but on other projects in the Commonwealth. And based on our reading of the ordinance and our interpretation uh that created a non-compliance issue uh for the developer because there is a site there's a section of the ordinance that says the developer must ensure that all contractors and subcontractors must not within the last 3 years have been found in violation of those uh related laws to their business.

So through the chair to Mr. Dunn the Manati group did did break the responsible development ordinance. if we find them. And one of the council said there's no evidence. We find them, they paid the money. I understand it was not them. It was a subcontract, some other project. But I thought our responsible development ordinance doesn't want the developers to hire contractors and subcontractors that break the rules, that engage in poor recordkeeping or tax fraud or wage theft. Any of those. I thought that was why one of the big reasons we have it besides having womenowned businesses involved, minorities involved. There's a lot of reasons we had this. But it seems to me that there was evidence if I were Maniti and there was no evidence that we broke the RDO. Even if it was a measly $5,000, I wouldn't have paid it. They paid it. Did through the chair to Mr. Dunn, did they finally say, "Okay, we agreed. Shouldn't have hired Barbara. Maybe Martinez shouldn't hired them either." Did they get rid of them then? Say, "Well, okay, Worcester, you're right. We'll give you the 5,000 even though it's peanuts. We'll give you the 5,000, but and we're also going to get rid of those two." Did we get rid of either of them through the chair? Mr. Dunn, did they get rid of them?

I'm sorry, Mr. Dunn.

Sure. uh through the chair to the council. As we've discussed before, um I think the contextualizing the timing of this is important because it is not like there was a subcontractor that Maniti Group and their general contractor were considering uh to participate on 204 Main Street that had a history of these types of issues or these uh citations um in front of them while they were being hired to work on this project. Right? So they hired this contractor. They were reviewed like we always do as the developer partners that we work with do that. There were no outstanding citations, recent citations against that subcontractor within the last 3 years. So at the time of them being engaged on the project through the eyes of the ordinance, they were in good standing. While they were participating on the project, a citation emerged. a few citations emerged based on their work on other projects in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. What is open to interpretation and I think it's being alluded to here is that our ordinance does not say if that situation arises, if you have a contractor that was in good standing and they are participating on the job and they have some issue elsewhere in the Commonwealth, how should the developer bring the project back into compliance? That is what is open to interpretation. Our ordinance does not say if that occurs they need to break that contract that obligation that they have and dismiss that subcontractor from the job. It does not say that. So the I guess actions that we are now debating about with Maniti Group and what did they do, what could they have done, what should they have done is open for interpretation. and it is not clear in the ordinance when that type of situation arises with those set of circumstances what they should do to bring the project into compliance. It would be different and I would say that they shouldn't have

even brought a contractor onto the job if prior to doing so they had multiple citations leading up to that over the last three years. But that wasn't the case here. uh at the time of them being engaged they were in good standing through the eyes of the ordinance

through the chair to my colleagues to the mayor the city manager to Mr. done. They Maniti must have been in non-compliance to the RDO. They must have been. We find them. We find them. They paid the fine. To me, that's an admission of guilt. Now, I know someone the council say, "Oh, people pay fines all the time. It's no admission of guilt." To me, it is. If they were weren't guilty of violating the IDO, they shouldn't pay the fine. But they did. So if I just asked you for a yes or no through the chair to Mr. Dunn on a yes or no, did the Maniti Group violate the RDO of the city of Worcester? Yes or no?

Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Rivera followed by Council King. No, go ahead. Go ahead.

Sorry. Uh, lots going on, a lot been said tonight. Um, and basically I think what it comes down to is uh we're going to make a decision today and and hopefully the best decision is made on what's best for the residents of the city of Worester. That's how I'm I'm looking at it and uh I think that anything that's going to bring jobs and housing to the city of Worcester is a net plus. Um, but I'm going to agree with uh because uh I've not experienced um what others have experienced and uh and obviously fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on them. But uh I will say that I would ask uh if I can amend uh councelor Rosen's uh order just to say that stating that any infraction that the McKini group is found guilty of um the city's responsible development ordinance then um we can start talking about the clawbacks um because you know stating any infraction the city's responsible ordinance is can be clear but did we want guilty of found guilty of I'm just just for clarity purposes.

I'm an attorney, Mr. Chairman, but the whole guilty thing is I mean I'm just saying they they is an infraction of the city's responsible development ordinance that that covers it. Either there is or there isn't. But guilt innocence. This is not a court of law. So what's the city? He's speaking. Go ahead. So that was it. I mean, if he doesn't uh um want the amendment, that's fine. But, you know, that that's the only thing I asked and that's that's why I'm a I'm a yes for this. Thank you, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um through the Charity Administration, can you speak to the additional concerns that have been brought forward to the city regarding Martinez drywall and is that related to Maniti through the chair? Mr. done

through the chair to the councelor. We received a a letter from the carpenters union as they reviewed uh public records that were provided relative to cross uh checking uh daily uh signin logs from the project with the certified payroll forms that we have on file. Um, and the certified payroll forms that we have on file for the drywall work have all been submitted by Barber Drywall and some of the sign-in logs. Uh, some of the employees because the employees individually do that when they arrive at the site listed their employer as Martinez drywall. And so the question and the um concern is that if there is another employer, another subcontractor on the job, why are we not seeing uh certified payroll forms from Martinez Drywall? All of the drywall payrolls we have been receiving is from Barber Drywall.

Through the chair, is that potentially fraudulent? Potentially based on your experience through the chair to the councelor. I'm not going to speculate on that.

Thank you. That's a good answer. Um Mr. Chair, I want to reiterate um I asked the attorney general to explain the legal significance of its citations and penalties that were issued in this manner. Mr. Chairman, so I want to reiterate these are not allegations. It is these are not allegations. Um they indicated that the legal significance and the clarification is that these are characterized as the facts, Mr. Chairman, not allegations. Um, and to continue to refer to it that way really does a disservice to the folks that were unfairly compromised. Um, and we heard counselors and the mayor say that there was no violation of the ordinance. I heard Mr. Dunn say that there was. With all of that, there is not enough to move this thing forward. Where is Maniti, Mr. Chairman? Why aren't they here? Why aren't they speaking to this body?

Okay. Okay. Okay. So, we have two two amendments. Um not amendments, but two um two orders. Point of order, Mr. Chairman. Just regarding the two orders, we just heard testimony um from Mr. done that they were in violation of the ordinance and these motions call for actions as it relates to that. So are we calling right now that these motions go into effect upon this roll call? That's my question for a point of order. Mr. Chairman.

Sure. What I was going to do is refer back to the pass it refer to the law department. Make sure we have the wording right and send it back to us. So couple minutes in there. This is a resolution. This one. Yeah. I don't know what the second one is. So we don't need a resolution. It's just a resolution reconfirming commitment. I don't know what Gary's is. I don't have it in front of me. Yeah. We So we're talking about the $5,000, right? Yeah. Mr. Dunn,

Mr. Mayor, I could be wrong. I don't see the language in front of me, but I thought uh councelor Rosen was saying that if this moves forward with 401 to 409 Main Street, if there is any infraction that the uh tax benefits provided, which is the item in front of you, what's in front of the council is 401 to 409 Main Street, not 204 Main Street. So, my understanding of that resolution is that if there is any infraction at all on 401 to 409 Main Street, that the tax benefits would immediately cease as well as be recaptured if any had been provided. That was my understanding, but I don't want to speak for the council. Yeah, that's right.

There would be a claw back, but uh would they lose the eight chip dip money, too? Would the state say, "Well, you took yours back, so we're taking our money away." Y Mr. D

through the chair to the counselor. Um bring up a good point actually in the sense that uh the form of agreement that we have uh the tax increment exemption contracts is a state form. uh it has to be in substantial accordance with the state contract form. Uh it gets reviewed by them, approved by them. Uh we actually requested the state the ability to put um a clause in there about our responsible development ordinance. Um so it's in the body of the contract as it res relates to um potential events of default and then it also has included all of the text of the ordinance by way of exhibit. Uh so we did have the state approval to do that. Um, as it relates to the tax credit piece of it, there is a section and it's in the packet because we provide uh copies of these contracts uh in the item that we submit to council. There is a whole section about default and as it relates to uh the default and the uh sort of remedy at the state level with the with the tax credit that is defined by the implementation regulations of the program. Um so what we do whether whatever we do is not going to affect how they will carry out the default provisions of their program regulations.

Okay. Through the chair my last question would the state have anything to do with us uh if we vote the two amendments very similar basically clawbacks. If there's an infraction would the state have anything to do with us actually doing that clawback? Could they prevent it somehow or would they it would be allowed because the city council does it, the city of Worester does it and then they could decide what they want to do with their own HD dip money. But I don't I hope that they wouldn't have a say in what we as a Worester City of Worester and the city council could do.

Sure. Through the chair of the council. It's a good question. Um so the way the linkage that occurs in this contract is that we've um added this clause about our responsible development ordinance and it says that if there is um a termination of the tie agreement then it would constitute an event of default. So they would then carry out um what's called for in their program regulations of treating the default. a little more nuanced because basically there's just two options where they look at if there's a breach or an event of default before the project is done versus after the project is done. So that would determine how they handle that. Um but to your question uh a project needs to have uh an executed active tax increment exemption to be able to receive that tax credit. So, for example, if something were to happen during the construction and we were to terminate our tie agreement, they would not receive the state investment tax credit because they would not be able to achieve that final certification which is needed once the project's done because they wouldn't have uh an active tax increment exemption at the time of trying to get that certification and that final tax credit award from the Commonwealth. So, like we do have influence and control over whether that occurs or doesn't occur.

Okay. Thank you. Good response, good answer, Mr. Chairman. And if we look at the two amendments, Dr. Meteor and Council Meer and uh my amendment, they're only to be enforced if tonight we take the vote in favor of the tax increment exemption. If we didn't, if we turned it down, then those two points are moved. We don't we don't need those because there wouldn't be. But we're basically saying if there's a violation, we vote the tie tonight. If there's a violation in the future, then that's it. We're not going to keep giving them chance after chance. We'll go in front of the economic development committee, have another meeting, say, "Don't do it again. You've done it already. Don't do it again." No, we're not going to do it that way if we take if we support the amendments. But I think the first vote we have to take is for or against the tax increment exemption. If that passes, and I can count like everyone else here, I can predict how many in favor and how many opposed. Okay. So, it's going to pass. Obviously going to pass. Uh but then we could should take the vote on uh the two amendments. Now, you mentioned the the uh the wording, Mr. Chim, we have the law department here right now. I mean, they weren't that, you know, complicated. I mean, I don't know if the law department, the city solicitor would like to say tonight, the wording is pretty good. I thought Dr. Meeches was pretty good, and I'm sure he thought mine was pretty good wording.

So, I don't know. Does Alex want to Could we combine these into one? Like, maybe add the word caught back to Dr. Yeah, but mine was a little more specific to the Maniti group, which cuz that's what we're talking about here. We're talking about the Maniti group. We'll worry about other groups. If we give Maniti the right message tonight, other developers will get the same message and they'll say, "Okay, we better do it right when we develop here in the city of Worcester."

I don't think my my wording was that that poor. I think it's basically, hey, don't do it. Do the project. Don't do it. get the right contract and the right subcontracts and do the work right and then we'll have a good project. We'll have those 48 residents, those 48 apartments, but do it right. I I just hope this council has the courage to tell Maniti, you better do the old shacks building right. Looks good so far. The outside, the facade is beautiful. Oh my god, that they restored that beautifully. So, do the project right and we'll all be happy. Thank you, Mr. Not to make it more confusing, but

Mayor Petty. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And uh shouldn't the carback also be We're going to vote on 401 409, but the accusations are made on 20 is it 204? I forget the address, but 200 Main Street. Mr. Dun. Um and shouldn't that be the car? Should we amend? So maybe have a third one discussion is not about that. Sure. But okay, M the mayor has the floor.

Um can I respond? Because my point is this is where the vertical violation could have occurred was at 204 Main Street. So in a separate motion, we should have a car back provision on that. Is that doable here tonight or Mr. Dunn

through the chair to the mayor? The tax increment exemption agreement is already executed with the Mckiti group for the 204 Main Street and I understand the intent of councelor Rosen's resolution. I will say kind of as I was describing uh there is this clause in all of our tax increment exemption agreements that talks about compliance with our responsible development ordinance. And in the ordinance itself, there is a section relative to um remedies and corrective action. And it says that um if aside from what we've talked about before with the kind of initial letter of non-compliance and the $5,000 fine, it says that failure to implement a corrective action plan may result in a revocation or a reduction of local tax benefits associated with the project in the sole determination of the city of Worcester. and the severity of the non-compliance issues will inform the city's determination on whether to revoke the tax tax benefits or the degree in which the tax benefits may be reduced. So I think contractually we're already covered both in terms of the 204 Main Street as well as uh 401 to 409 Main Street. I just think again not to summarize or or kind of um characterize the intent of the counselor but I think what's being suggested under this resolution is that it will be sort of a zero tolerance uh interpretation that it is already up to the city of Worcester to make a decision relative to any non-compliance and if that would result in a revocation or reduction of local tax benefits and I think the resolution is intending to memorialize that if there is an infraction that it will be revoked but we already have the contractual ual.

Okay. Ability to do so. Mayor Petty. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that. Councelor Satcha Mech.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through you to uh the solicitor. I would probably like to see that. I respect the resolution that was brought by councelor Rosen. I had the resolution. And I think at the end of the day they both mean the same that we want them to follow the RDO. That's our main goal to let them know that we are wanting everyone whoever comes as a developer follows our responsible development ordinance. So I think whether it's a clawback or it's a resend I think the word play you can do whatever but I would suggest that maybe we can have one resolution that will be maybe we can take the help of the city solicitor and bring the same meaning and then have that uh you know resolution and move forward. Madam sir to that.

So you suggesting we take councelor Rosen's I'm saying no you know if there is a clawback can be done then you know I have given my resolution if then if there is any way blend it together and have just one rather than having two counselors resolution and we're just not clear what should be done then I think I'll be suggesting that let's have one and have our solicitor make one out of this. Madam are validated through the chair. Uh the resolution is just really reinforcing what the ordinance already has and what's in our contracts and our um tie and tiff agreement. So the authority is there. It would be up to the body. Just it's just a expression of support.

So we could do both of them. Sure. Or you could do one. What's that? Mr. Cork. Uh Mr. Chairman, just from clarification. Um, usually with the rules is once there's a resolution forward and there's a similar one, you have to amend I think one or the other to pass one you can't pass the same for the same meaning. That's my understanding. Okay. They're a little bit different. One has clawback, the other one has Okay. So through the chair. So the clawback is already in the ordinance as Peter said. So it's more of an expression now is what you're saying. So we could do both of them. It's not really pat. Okay. Uh well I would just do one but the clawback is is in the contract and the ordinance. So

you know you get this group to agree to one but okay councelor Mitra Mcburn you're up. Yeah I think um I mean my resolution clearly says what I meant is that you know if they they have to follow the ordinance if not in future it'll be you know the they'll be taken out of all the contracts that we have given. So uh and the clawback is already there. So I'd like this resolution be voted in and we move forward. You use maybe we make yours a resolution make Okay, let's work on that. Council Tumi followed by councelor Bergman.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um the uh chairman's order that we put forward in the committee clearly covers all of this already. Um, so we had already voted to um have this addressed in subcommittee. So we were looking for a report to come back from the city solicitor, Mr. Chair, um, on this. Council, Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to say a few things that just to try to see if I can bring some point of clarification and a little bit of probably better direction in terms of the discussion that is happening. What we have in front of us is a a TAI recommendation to the council body for a new project uh of 401 409 Main Street. Nothing has happened in that project yet uh other than simply requesting a tax increment um uh for the project. However, we're taking what's happened in the previous project and trying to add it to the and I think that's creating the confusion. If there is a clawback or there's a desire to claw back a particular tax benefit that this uh developer is receiving, I think the attention of the clawback should be on 204, not on the future development that hasn't even started. There's no contractor in place. There's no subcontractors in place. Nobody is there. There's already language in the ordinance that allows us to pro to to consider the clawback and to have discussions on the potential of a clawback of other further uh uh corrective actions on 204. We were expressed tonight that the attorney general is going to be having a hearing uh later next month on 204 on the citations or allegations or whatever you want to call it in 204. So I think what we could in terms of trying to clarify is here on on 401 is a simple vote. Do we want to give a tax benefit or not? And if we do, we want to move this project forward. However, you as council still have the ability to look back at 204, the project that was already pre-approved based on what happens via your attorney general's office to make a determination whether you want to claw back that tax uh break that was provided

on 204 so that you don't stop a project but yet you and you allow uh uh or you go go back to the 204 to provide some corrective action. And I think those are the things that are being conflated here tonight. Uh but my suggestion is and and what our recommendation as an administration is let's move forward on 401 and then find a way that if there is further action that the attorney generals and other bodies take on 204 then then that then becomes the topic of conversation of discussion of this body to potentially claw back that incentive that they've received at 204. Thank you. Okay, councelor Rosen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With all due respect to the city manager, let me read the item that we're considering. Upon the communication of the city manager, recommend approval of a housing development certified project application/tax increment exemption agreement for 401 to 409 Main Street. That's what we're talking about. I'm not talking about any previous projects, okay? I'm talking about the future. I'm talking I want them to know I want them to know that this is a strong

uh RDO and if it's violated at the new project, not the old project. It's almost done, isn't it? But if it's violated the new project, I know we have the right to do it in the ordinance already, but Mr. Chairman, listen to what you've heard all these hours tonight. We might have the right to do it. Do we have the courage to do it? I would say no. We don't have the courage to do it. That's why I'd like to. Now, Dr. Mitra, council me says he wants to declare the intent to resend. Mine doesn't say anything about a intent. It says it's going to happen. It's going to automatically happen. They break the RDO. It automatically happens. We don't come back for three or four meetings of the economic development committee or three or four hours more. It happens. So, Maniti, can you handle that? Can you do it right? Can you do what you're supposed to do? I think they can, but let's tell them they better do what they have to do. So, it's not intent. One is intent. One is an automatic penalty. We're coming in here and it'll take us five minutes. Mr. D will say, "Oh, I don't believe they violated over at the Shack building 401 to 409." And we'll say, "Yeah, remember that that amendment we passed? Too bad. I wish they hadn't done it." And you know what? I predict they'll be fine. They won't do it. They won't violate it because we're telling them you can't violate it. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. So, the motion is so before just so an idea then we can talk about points of order, but the first motion would be to the item under privilege is to vote on that. The second motion would be to vote on both of these and collectively and uh but that's all fine. Council King, just a point of order. Yeah. Does this vote mean that based on the attorney general's findings that they've been out of compliance and we're going to resend what we're voting on already? No, that's not my understanding. I think she No,

that's correct. That's correct. Right. No. Okay. And Mr. Chairman, again, no corrective action plan. I would like to make a motion um that Maniti provide us a corrective action plan um prior to the next council meeting. Thank you. Okay. So, we have three motions. Okay. Okay. So, the first motion we'll take is on the item itself is the approval of the housing development certified project tax exemption agreement for 401 409 Main Street. Recommend adoption of the accompanying resolution. Roll call. Councelor Bregman. Yes. On the item itself.

Well, hang on for one second. So, this is on the item itself on the tie. So, yes or no? This is then we'll do the two three orders after that. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councilor Palada. No. Councilor Econom. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councilor King. No. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Council Ha. No. Councelor Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, no. Councelor Tumi, yes. And mayor Petty, yes. So, Mr. Mayor, that post passes six to four. Then the next item is to take these three audits together. These Dr. Council meet.

Okay. So, take council meas first and C as the presented. Council Rosen second and council king is it's asking for a corrective action plan. So, we'll take that. All those in favor opposed on council king's motion. Those in favor post awarded. So the first motion is on councelor Mitra's resolution. Roll call. Mr. Chairman, just for the record, there was also an amendment I think by council me to include the future with that amendment as well. Include what? Oh future as amended. Okay. Council me. Council me as amended. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. No. Councelor Economo. Councelor Rolo, yes. Council King, no. Councilor Mitra,

yes. Council Hayda, no. Councelor Rivera, yes. Council Rosen, no. Council Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes. Council Rosens, what's the Mr. Chair? Point of order. Is this a resolution? Point amendment. Council Rosens. Is this a resolution? It's a it's it's an order. Simple order. Okay. Sort of like Dr. Mitus, but you prefer that either way. I guess Dr. Mitri is a resolution. Yes, this is an order. There's a difference. Yep. It's an order. Is that fair? I'd like an opinion from Nico on that one. Um, to me it's semantics, but I probably agree with you on that. Yeah.

So, through the chair to the council. So, the way I'm reading, councelor Mitch had a resolution. I think councelor Rosen had a similar resolution because, you know, order directing the manager. It's in the ordinance. So it's just the body itself declaring maybe Mr. Listen can jump in. I think councelor Rosen your intent is to also declare with this vote that the developer has to hold on to you know make sure that we hold it's just going to happen. Yeah. So you're resolving tonight I'm assuming I don't want to put words in your mouth but are you ordering the manager? Are you resolving that the council will hold this developer responsible if they violate their order? That's right. But I still don't know if you call it an order or resolution. To me it doesn't matter. You decide. But okay, it's a resolution. Resolution.

Yep. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Councelor Poso. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. No. Council Aa. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. Okay. Okay, we're going back. You got council kings. Voted it. Okay, we did council kings already. Yep.

Okay, so we are on appointments. I believe that's correct. 10.1A transformation information communication the appointment of Kristen Gdor Levotei to the historic commission. I want to thank Kristen for her service for their service and uh motion is placed on file. Those in favor of post so audited recommend appointment of Walize Perez Ferryi to the affordable housing trust fund board of trustees. I confirm that on the roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bregman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councor Cono. Councelor Vo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Aa. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes.

And Mayor Petty. Yes. We are on economic development transmitting information communication economic development initiatives. Okay. Okay. I got a couple questions. We are on 10.48. Thought you would. 10.4 all of them though.

So So yes, we'll take 10.4 A through F. Okay, perfect. Mr. Mayor, um 10A is what you're speaking on.

Yeah. So to take them all collectively, I'll just try to do them all, I guess. But I said, Mr. Dunn, I just want to uh people should read these reports. I hear people come in here to council say we don't do anything. There's nothing on housing. There's nothing on this, nothing on that. Take some time to read this economic development report. Some of the stuff is upsetting that we're not moving forward. We get the hotel, but we have a new hotel that's going to go up probably in Washington Square. It seems we're on pace to do that. We have a hotel that was still waiting for it by the ballpark, but it appears to be going the way I read the report. You can tell me different. It seems to be positive moving in the right direction. Mr. Dunn, you're working with the developer there.

Yes, there's a chair to the mayor. you know, as we've seen to your point on a couple of other hotel proposals in the city. Um, one that had been proposed previously, but is moving forward because they took ownership of the property from the redevelopment authority and then another one on Providence Street off of 146 and some momentum that's kind of building for the proposed hotel in the Ballpark diff. The market conditions have certainly improved as it relates to the impact of the pandemic and we know the, you know, significant impact that the pandemic had on hotel hospitality industries. So uh that has really rebounded. Our occupancy rates have been solid over the last couple years. Our you know room uh rates have been solid. Uh there is still you know this kind of fundamental issue that we have with some projects and the economic feasibility, construction costs, interest rates and sort of the return on investment and attracting that capital whether it's uh you know lenders uh on the debt side or or equity investment. But uh we're seeing some good some good progress in that in that industry and with those uh really three hotels that we've had on our radar.

Yeah, Mr. Mayor, thank you and I appreciate that. Um let me ask you another quick question. Den homes building. It appears that we're going through a three third reation of the project. Uh the way I read this quickly that we had an amendment to the project maybe a year 2024 2025 and then now we're waiting for another amendment to it in the future.

Yes. Through the chair to the mayor, the denome, uh as we I think all know and part of the reason why the redevelopment authority was asked to get involved in that uh property is that it's extremely complicated. It's a building that uh really does not have an adaptive reuse scenario for it because of its previous use as a department store and the depth of the building. There's a lot of what we would call dead space in the middle of the building that creates challenges um for those types of adaptive reuse as you think about natural light and windows uh on a housing type of um redevelopment. And as it had been office space, a lot of common area maintenance, a lot of fees involved in maintaining those common areas. Uh it's kind of why you see a lot of interior malls um sort of going in different directions. Uh and so we expected it would be a a long road to kind of stitch together all of the necessary pieces to make the project happen. So as a quick summary, the redevelopment authority after taking title to the property did a request for proposals uh process on that. We had four proposals, two of which were uh not uh qualified. They didn't meet the minimum criteria. And then the final two propo proposals were evaluated by staff and the board. They did select the uh Maniti group proposal. I know we've talked a lot about the Maniti group tonight. Um and so their um proposal included an 11story building with 233 residential units and ground floor space. And so the redevelopment authority executed what we call a land disposition and development agreement. It's like a version of a purchase and sale agreement. And in that there's a a series of milestones uh on the project progress starting with due diligence. And so their initial due diligence uh timeline uh came to a deadline in uh 2025. And as a result of that effort and their report back to the board about that uh the estimated uh costs involved in the abatement and the demolition of

the building is is significantly more expensive than I think anybody had anticipated. Uh so as part of that they had requested an extension uh to that time frame as well as um a modification as they looked at overall project feasibility and what's currently happening in in market conditions and as we've seen with some other projects. Similarly when you think about these kind of tower type proposals that are over seven stories. When you get over seven stories you're talking about a different level of uh building typology and building code that drives a lot of costs. And so as part of their effort to really drive uh the feasibility of their proposal, they're uh they had revised the proposal to be seven stories, which is more in line with what we're seeing in the market because of those conditions. uh still at a healthy 190 unit count um estimated and as part of the board's consideration of that uh extension and that amendment uh the uh board requested and the McKiti group agreed to a uh acrewing non-refundable deposit. Um as part of that to maintain their sort of exclusivity and their their uh agreement with the moving forward into this what I would say next kind of benchmark of timeline. So that's where we're at right now. You know, things could certainly continue to evolve as we move forward. Um but particularly what we're strategizing on right now is assembling resources to um tackle the abatement and demolition of the building. So we would love to uh see that get started um before the end of the calendar year. We're actively working on various um proposals to uh state and federal sources. We've already secured a $500,000 site readiness grant from Mass Development on that. Uh we're working on some other uh programs including brown fields um that could help with some of the abatement and environmental remediation necessary at the property. So we're uh working on stitching together those uh resources to uh really get the property pad ready

because having the building standing and that you know multi-million dollar cost before you can even get started on a sort of blank canvas for new construction uh creates a lot of uh risk and uh challenges around feasibility. So, we hope to be able to accomplish that and and get it, you know, more pad ready and and prepared for the uh new construction to follow. Mr. Mayor,

I look forward to that project starting and completion. So, stay on top of that. If people want to look at the report, we talk about uh the report goes into the Rossi development, 100 Washington Street, Table Talk Properties, um which has three or four items, Union Station, which is important doing the uh the renovation there. Um and also pointed out the bid. Uh we also have the community preservation program, green deal revitalization project, Lincoln Square Boys Club, the auditorium which is important. Hopefully that comes to fruition quickly. I know it's a it's a uh very important to the administration and the council to get that done as a priority. Then we have habitat community 100 Pro Street 36 Washington Square. Then it talks about different programs that can help people out uh if they need some assistance. And uh then the next item is on the housing. People should take time to read the housing report. You know, when I go on, I talk in the community, people don't think we're doing anything on housing. In addition to the 2025 building permits represented, 546 new housing units, over 20% are deed restricted affordable housing. That's a big number. And some, if I remember in the previous report, some were under 60% AMI. A good portion of them were I think it's in the deal that you you cut, Mr. done or your team cuts with the developer. So sometimes you'll see under you'll see 30 40 50%. Which I praise you on that. You still haven't backed off on that. So those are a lot of units. Now the inclusionary zoning in total the age the inclusionary zoning with has facility pipeline of 768 housing units. 381 which are 50% are deed restricted affordable housing and 105 which is 14% of ADA accessible units. So we not only getting the affordable housing, we're also adding on which goes beyond I think the audience the ADA requires in some cases. So you get more than what we're asking for in the ordinance. So people should realize that people should take the time

to read this. The ADUs we have 50 permits and 14 have been done. Is that right number? So so and uh then we have subsidies people who are interested. We have a whole bunch of different plans. So it be um let abatement plans grants rental assistance rental assistance I know we passed Mr. Manager with the uh the opera money was able to give a couple million dollars I think twice estimated that city council relative to the opera status M has to allocate a total of $2.23 million rental assistance and $2.13 million to utility assistance which is pretty I have to say what was well needed this winter. So, uh, hopefully this weather maintains what it is today, but and, uh, so I just want to thank everyone put Jim Brooks and your department. I'm probably missing some people, but, uh, taking the time out to do this, a very thorough report and also the tree canopy, which someone came called in and spoke about how important that is. I know we're trying to get funding through the state, uh, as usually, I know it's harder to get, especially with the budget cuts. So, you can push on that. Hopefully, get some funding from the state on that. And the other report was on I think I got pretty much everything I wanted to talk about. I just want to get down and say I think we're doing a good job, Mr. Dunn, your team. It's not a big team, but uh I think uh thank you. So, uh this is a well thoughtout report and people should take the time to read it and understand what we're doing here as a city. Thank you. Councelor John Folo, District 3, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you, uh to the administration, could you give me a little ed edification on the hotel on Providence Street next to I believe uh the Vernon Hill Post. When I go there on Sundays for uh the Queen of Hearts uh tournament, they always ask me. So, I want to I want to be able to answer their question. So could you just briefly give us a little done?

Sure. Through the chair to the counselor. So that um project went through the permitting process over the course of much of 2025. It involved a number of um different approvals required for that both from the conservation commission because there's some adjacent wetlands as you're probably familiar with. So, they had to do some um sort of navigating of that as well as some I think some enhancements to that uh to avoid negative impacts as well as a site plan approval with the planning board and there might have been a zoning board approval as well. Um so, they have all of their entitlements uh from those boards and commissions. They're currently working on uh I think their building permit right now. Last time I checked a couple weeks ago, it hadn't been issued yet, but I think they're working towards that submitt right now. I know it was brought up, I'm sure it'll be discussed on impacts of the specialized stretch code and they're kind of navigating some of that as it relates to the design and the plans necessary to uh secure that uh building permit. And uh overall it's uh 122 rooms I think it is. It's an extended stay model. It's a Wood Springs suit, so a a product or a brand that we don't have in the in the city today. Um and it would be to your point right off of that junction there with 146 right by the the post there. So, I think their goal is to get uh started with construction in 2026, but subject to, you know, that that building permit ultimately being issued.

Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Um just one other thing to you, Mr. Chairman, is um the former St. Vincent's nursing home uh nursing school. Uh I just read here and I was uh notified by the manager of uh Congressman McGovern securing a $1.2 million airmark. Um that's a good thing obviously and does that progress the project uh along along uh more seriously? Obviously it does I would think but could you touch on that uh as far as what the uh process would go after that?

Yeah through Sure. through the chair to the counselor you know when you uh make attempts uh for federal ear marks especially in the current environment you never know if they're going to come through. Uh so we had submitted that gosh probably 18 months ago or so. Um so not in connection with this particular developer and we can't just pass through the earmark to the developer that's been selected to take that on. But it is going to go a long way and again preparing uh the historic building for its adaptive reuse because there is a significant amount of uh environmental uh remediation that needs to occur there particularly with asbestous. And so we'll use those dollars as a municipality to uh get uh those conditions uh remediated to improve the overall uh feasibility for the project because then if we're able to to take that on and and uh uh address that then it's something that the developer won't have to do as part of their budget. Um and they're currently working to uh assemble the historic tax credits associated with that. uh as I'm sure many are aware, it takes uh some time for those various um applications both at the state level and the federal level to get those approvals and then ultimately get those uh tax credit allocations into the project. So, they're making some progress on that, but it'll it'll be some time to put together all the pieces associated with the project.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh that this is one of my babies. This is one of the reasons why I ran for this seat when it became open. Uh I'm very interested in making sure this happens and comes to fruition. So I thank you for your due diligence and your hard work and uh those in your department. Uh Mr. Don, thank you so much. Thank you Don. Can we have councelor Mitch followed by council?

Thank you Mr. Chair. Through you to Mr. D. Um Mr. D, I'm so happy to see this report that you have presented. a lot of work, a lot of hard work for your office uh as well as the economic development uh department that uh I'm really thankful to see the city is really doing so many things which really makes our economic development program go forward. uh as I said that we are always thinking and talking about the building homes, apartments, market rate, affordable housing. Along with that, I think it is important that we do have other factors also, other items also such as good hotels, good entertainment in a place. We want to bring in some trade shows. We want to make our city to be really attractive and for businesses for people to come in here and see that this city is not just a city but it's got so many other things that people can come good colleges we are already have. So I think the development that is happening is really moving forward in positive direction. I thank you for your and also your office colleagues for doing such a great job. What really fascinated me is to see the legacy business program. I think it's a great idea. you know, we got to be business friendly. We got to show that the city cares for our businesses and does the recognition for what they do and the fabric that you have mentioned there. I really thought that was a great item. I hope that we'll continue to do this. I'm sure you have some team or the committee who will make that decisions. So overall uh to the administrator and to the uh chief development officer, Mr. Dunn, wonderful job. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Okay, council

Bada. Also important to economic development team and city manager. There's so much going on in these reports. So much good work and it speaks to really the hard work and expertise of our of our economic development team and the city manager. The affordable housing trust fund I think has done fantastic work and we're really fortunate that we've been able to build uh you know those 72 accessible affordable units. So I want to thank the affordable housing trust fund for doing that. Your team Mr. done and also uh you know Jim Brooks, Janette Toer, I want to thank the advocates from Center for Living and Working that we brought this to the affordable housing trust fund and and helped advocate for this and what us working together as a community has really made something great happen with this. The 508US is great. Um it's exciting to see the new uh you know Washington Square that building go up. The Elder home repair um I think is really something beneficial to seniors that that want to stay in their homes. So again, like Mayor Penny said, there is a lot of work going on for affordable housing in Worcester. I think there's more than we're doing more than what other communities are doing. Um, always want to see if there's ways that we could, you know, squeeze out more 30% AMI, but I know that is a case by case thing, but I think there is a lot of really great stuff in this report and things that are happening. Um, and the city is really trying to leverage everything we can. So, thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Tumi. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I certainly uh we'll talk more about this in committee, but I did want to say that I appreciated all the work that's being done on the minority women uh business enterprise initiative. If you recall, I uh started working on that several years ago. Uh making sure that um those uh members of our community uh had a connection uh with the state to be able to become certified and um help meet all of our needs too and in construction, etc. So, thank you for the great work on that. Thank you. Thank you, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, want to commend the manager and our chief development officer for um this report. I know some of these things have um we've had before us previously in reports. Um but it's good to get updates, Mr. Chairman, through the chair, as it relates to 100 Providence Street. Um I I know that I believe that that was tabled. Um this is a property that was used for emergency medical services. Prior to that, fire department. Um and there was an item submitted back in November to authorize a request for proposal. Um that was was tabled by the prior council. I've had some conversations with the manager about this. Um, and I know there were questions asked on the floor as it relates to um, EMS services and the like um, through the chair to the administration. Is there any outstanding questions that were asked of the administration pertaining to this property that have not been answered because I'm of the mind to take it off the table and move forward.

Mr. Andrew

to the ch of the council. I think one of the questions that was asked and with the previous council was the the potential impacts if we don't have an ambulance service in the area. Um we don't have that data right now. We're working with UMass on a survey on an audit of the current system the ambulance system in the city. Um that would take into consideration all those things but we don't have the ability right now to have that data. Um and again there it was all most uh regarding because of the of the interest of potentially if we lose ambulance service in the city could this be another potential ambulance service uh location uh and what that impact is to the district 3 residents of the city. Um but that's the answer that I have yet to bring back to the council because we're working through an audit kind of survey process to better understand what's happening right now in the ambulance service to bring it back. Thank you. Through the chair to the administration, can you share um about any interest that you're aware of in that property sort of dramatically? Um were folks interested in that property as it relates to public health and safety service provision and things of that nature. If you could share a little bit about um you know some of the um discussions you've had about potential use for that property.

Mr. Mr. Manager. Yeah. Through the chair to the council. There's been multiple discussions when different people related to that property. One is commercial use potentially an ambulance service uh entity that's that's interested in that property. Uh there's also a desire uh that other folks have met with me related to housing. Uh some potential uh kind of nonprofit use as well in that area. So there's been different uh interests uh related to 100 Pro Street. Thank you. Um, and do you have a an idea of when that report will come back or that that process and if you could speak a little bit on um what would happen if we did take this off the table and move it forward,

Mr. Manager?

Uh through the chair to the council. I I don't I don't know right now on top of my head in terms of when we will receive that report back from the consultant on terms of that study uh that's happening. That's something that I can, you know, relay back to the council. Um, I do think that understanding and knowing the impacts of an ambulance service there, even if we were to put an RFP process today, specifically only targeting ambulance services for that particular location. I think one of the challenges that we're having, not just here, but across uh many communities, is the the demand for ambulance services uh in in those kind of companies. Uh I don't know if that would be a fruitful uh proposal. And so that's something that we will engage uh the people that are currently interested the the the the party that generated some interest related to that. I just don't know if the market is there for ambulance services. It's part particularly to either this site uh uh uh or any other site right now currently in the city. There's been some movement of ambulance services. UMass used to lease this place and they uh terminated the lease once the lease ended. They left there and and and moved there uh to another location. there's challenges with that current site to be continue as an ambulance service uh because of certain certain conditions that that site uh uh imposes on that type of use. So again, it might be tougher to be able to get another ambulance service there. So I don't know if the data or the study that we're doing will provide any fruitful conversations or or outcomes for another ambulance service to occupy that location.

Thank you. Fair enough. Um, you know, I think at some point we should take that off the table. It may not be tonight, it sounds like, but I I I think that we we should take it off the table. Um, and and try to move this thing forward. Um, you know, that's a particular property that I had experience with going way back when it was an ambulance service. Um, and that was I'm sorry, where was the fire department and then um the ambulance service over the years. So, that's particular interest. Um, Mr. Chairman, um, in addition to that, um, I wanted to commend the administration and the chief development officer on the diverse business certification grant program as well as the legacy business program. That legacy business program recognizes local businesses that have a long-standing impact on this city. Um, as you know, Mr. chairman, I brought forward with the unanimous support of this council um in order um requesting a uh supplier diversity audit um and you know I really I'm looking forward to that. Um but if I wanted just a quick opportunity to the chair to the administration if you can just speak on um the legacy business program and how we think that will impact local business. M

Mr. done.

Sure. Through the chair to the counselor and I will start by just appreciating a lot of the acknowledgement and recognition of my staff and the team around me because a lot of the great work that you're kind of reading about through in these reports is a result of their uh hard work and effort and including this specific question with the legacy business uh program. I think our business development team was sort of reflecting on uh some of the programs that we offer, particularly some of the financial assistance programs that are um more of the traditional programs that we operate yearly under community development block grant versus some of the things that we were able to be creative with under the American Rescue Plan Act. And as we know, the American Rescue Plan Act is uh winding down at this point. Um, so just thinking about how some of those existing uh traditional programs we have under CDBG sort of lend themselves more towards new businesses that are going to occupy a vacant storefront or uh existing businesses that might be expanding um versus just trying to think about ways pro a program some sort of assistance or uh ways to support our longstanding businesses because you know with some of the stuff we do under CDBG it's got federal regulations associated with it. You have to kind of navigate that and comply with their um eligibility criteria and the outcomes that they want you to see with those federal resources. But how do we kind of do something um for our existing businesses? And I know we've talked before both from the administration perspective and the council supporting the um personal property tax exemption threshold uh for small businesses. Uh so again kind of thinking through that our business development team said well how do maybe we could launch this legacy business program which really uh seeks to honor and recognize those long-standing small businesses that have contributed to the city's cultural and economic and and social identity because you have seen some close um over the years. Sometimes it could be that uh that current ownership doesn't have maybe the next

generation to pass that business down to or maybe uh the conditions aren't right to consider like a uh an ESOP an employee ownership model where you kind of sell the business to the employees uh or one employee if it's not multiple employees. Um and so trying to make sure that uh for those long-standing businesses that we have that they're not feeling like they're um you know not uh not uh recognized and appreciated. So we launched this um a series of nomination period in December. It closed recently in February. Uh we accepted over we received over 300 nominations. Not 300 different businesses but 300 nominations which I think was a really great response rate. Um we're currently going through those uh with a committee. We're forming a committee uh right now. Uh we're looking at uh representations on that committee both internal and external. We felt like because of the nature of this program, uh, engaging the chamber of commerce, uh, as well as Preservation Worcester and the Museum of Worcester might be, you know, good perspectives to have as they kind of, uh, celebrate and try to preserve the history and tell the story of Worcester in their uh, institutions, having them participate in this effort with us. And so once uh that first cohort of uh awardees is uh determined uh some of the things that we're looking to do, we can't necessarily put uh money associated with it. Although we could consider that in the future if there's various sponsorship opportunities or municipal uh resources available, but for this cohort uh we are planning on providing uh obviously the recognition from the municipality, some promotional materials. We have a great communications team in the manager's office uh where we can maybe give them some of that content, do some you know video vignettes or some uh content that they can then use in their efforts uh to celebrate in their marketing channels and then ultimately develop this sort of Worcester legacy business list so that we can you know preserve that story um for not just now but uh for the future. And so those are some of the initial

benefits that have been contemplated with this, but appreciate sort of our business development division thinking outside the box and making sure that those long-standing existing businesses are uh are recognized for their contributions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And you know, lastly, the the um SA Street property, Denim Building, um 611 Main Street, the RMV property, um that the theRA took action on. Um you know, the auditorium, I I just think we as a body have to stay mindful of those properties. Um, I would like a more communicative process to this council. I know the does its thing. Um, there's some reports that go to the city manager, but if that could come to the council um, you know, and I'll make that by way of motion. Any any meeting minutes or anything like that um, related to those properties come before the council. Mr. Chairman, I have a prior standing order as it relates to the auditorium, which I haven't been in since I graduated high school. Um, you know, and and and there's we've been really patient with that property. Um, you know, and I know that the the governor pledged some support matching dollars and um would like a detailed update by way of a motion on where we are with that property. Are we looking at um perhaps um going in another direction? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Okay. So, take all along with the councelor King's motions and take these items. We have on 10 point on the 10.4 A through F and F. I forgot to mention that the day resource center is an F which is a great project. So I'm glad that's moving forward. So send that out the ED committee. All those items those Mr. Chairman if I may I just wanted to call attention to um item number D. It would be more proper for that to go to the planning board rather than the economic development committee. Okay. So we'll send D to the planning board and the others to economic development.

So may also 10.4E we need to adopt and we're going to recommend. Okay. So we're going to adopt E. So let's do keep E out. A, B, C, and D and F. All those in favor opposed. E is the motion to adopt the transferring jurisdiction of several properties to the conservation commission. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Council Cono. Councelor Vo. Yes. Council King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes.

Do you have to Mr. Manager? No. Mr. Manor. Go ahead.

I just be I just want to be uh I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to Peter Dunn and his team. Peter Dunn, as you can see, um we have a great chief development officer in the city. Uh he's very knowledgeable, understands the products, what we have, uh the housing market, and uh he's done an exceptional job here for us, and he continues to do that every single day. So I want to give kudos to him and the leadership of his department. Uh because the what we're able to do and produce as a city doesn't happen without them and their leadership and their expertise and also having their ears to the ground to the neighbor to the neighborhoods to the residents to the business owners and understanding their needs and how do we work in this complex nature of business to try to get these things done. So kudos to Peter and his team for always producing great results to the city of Wor. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, we are on temp. We're on the finance items 10.35A 10.36A through C 10.37A. Motion to adopt on a roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councilor Econom. Councelor Vo. Yes. Councor King. Yes. Counc. Yes. Council Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes.

Okay. We are on chairman's orders 11.8 to 11 2 through 11g. Motion is to adopt. All those in favor oppose so ported. Okay. Now come the artists. Okay. Okay. So the first one requesting man organized the Irish flag to be raised from before March 1726 to March 1826 in all the Irish American Heritage Month. Council Tumi.

Mr. chair. Uh I had called the city clerk's office and spoke with an employee and asked uh that a uh order be put on uh to rec to organize for the Irish flag. Um it was a clerical error on a staff member's part that that said before. Uh we certainly comply with all of the rules of regulations and Okay. So I just want that to be very clear. Um and uh hope that the council supports this. Okay. All those in favor oppose. So audited. We're going to follow the rules of regulations on that. Mr. Chairman, could we possibly take the uh resolution? I guess. Okay.

Well, we're in the Which item is that one? That's I got you. I got you. 13 A 13 A see council C whist here by support recognize the March 2026 as an Irish American month in the city of Worcester. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Lauder. Yes. Councor Conamu. Councelor Solo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Councilora. Yes. Councelor Aivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. So, let's just take something out of order here.

Um, communication with the city ought to go there. He's sitting there all night and he's still got a ways to go. So, I was going to speak on this on on the resolution we just passed. Yeah. Don't you usually speak before the resolution's passed? Well, you didn't give me a chance. I stood up. Okay. Go ahead. Then we'll go to the audience to suspend the rules, Mr. Chairman. Yep. All those in favor, go ahead.

So, it's an honor of following this resolution to recognize Irish Heritage and Worester. The story of the Irish and Wister is the story of our city itself. In the mid 1800s, thousands of Irish immigrants arrived here, fleeing the devastation of the great Irish famine. They came with little more than hope, faith, and determination. But they built neighborhoods and churches and communities that still define Worester today. Neighborhoods like Green Island and Vernon Hill and Grafton Hill, Webster Square, and yes, even Shrewsbury Street, shown by the name Shamrock Street became the heart of Irish life, where families supported one another and preserved traditions and of the foundation for thriving community. Faith played a vital role. Symbols like the twin spires of St. John's Catholic Church and Worcester remind us of the devotion and perseverance of these immigrant families. The Irish helped build Wister physically and socially. They dug canals led by Tobias Bolan, laid railroad tracks and worked in factories and wire mills, powering the city's industrial growth. They also played a leading role in labor unions, advocating for fair wages, safer working conditions, and the rights of all workers, a commitment to justice that shaped Whistler's neighborhoods and workforce. My own family, McDermott Brothers Construction, was one of the first union contractors and also built the first AOH headquarters on Treble Street. Irish Americans also defined public service here. For generations, Irish families, including my own great-grandfather, James Tinsley, in 1914, followed by my grandfather, Captain Jack Tinsley, and several of his brothers, filled the ranks of Wester Police Department and Wester Fire Department, taught our children, and created businesses like Bay State Savings Bank, still here today. In 1901, Philip J. O'Donnell was the first Irish Catholic mayor in Worester. And 80 odd years later, in addition to many others, my uncle Joe Tinsley was mayor. Leaders like John Jack Foley and Tim Murray carried their values of community and

leadership into city hall and further to state government. Our longest serving mayor, Joe Petty, leads our city today. Irish culture remains a vibrant part of Worester life. Organizations like the Ancient Order of Hiburnians and events like the Wister St. Patrick's Day parade honor heritage, celebrate community, and bring joy to thousands each year. In 1997, the AOH unveiled the Celtic cross on the common and was led by uh Mayor Thomas Early and the Councelor Dan Hurle. Writers chronicled our neighborhoods and stories pro preserving the voice and pride of Irish Worester as illustrated by inventing Irish America generation class and ethnic identity in a New England city from 1980 to n 1890 to 1928 by Timothy J. Maha. Yet another one of my relatives. Yes, I'm related to everybody in Worcester. Um uh so today as we celebrate Irish heritage, we recognize more than history. We honor neighborhoods built by hard work, churches grounded in faith and labor movements that shaded fus shaped fairness and dignity leaders who guided our city and traditions that bring us together. From Green Island named such by my great uncle Senior Tinsley. Lorraine Lori were here. She'd tell you that's exactly true. um to city hall from the farmhouse firehouses to police stations to the streets of our city celebrating the St. Patrick's parade. The Irish didn't just come to Worester, they helped define it. And that spirit, the Irish spirit is still alive today and family, in faith, in service, and in community. And thank you and uh to all and may the courage and pride of Worers's Irish families continue to inspire this city for generations to come. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. So, we'll go 14A transing annual report concerning the other postmployment trust fund. We refer that to MO. Um, anybody have any questions? You're closing the gap, Mr. Arthur. Keep on keep on going. Okay. So, let's send out the MLO. All those in favor opposed. Okay. We are on 12B request council. the report concerning how the future police station will be prioritized, including information related to the status of the current building where it serves the city's present needs. So, I'll be quick on it.

Item 12B, Mayor Joseph Petty.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I know this issue has been brought up several times myself when I was chair of public safety probably years ago and I know council Tumi has council Bergman has and uh and I think it's something where we build a new police station or we renovate the current police station. I know this is going to be a longterm plan. It's uh the funding is probably not right there to do it immediately uh with the some of the projects we have going on right now in the city, but something we should be ready for uh is to make sure that we have a building that meets the needs of the police department, the the community together and making sure that uh it's up to date. It's it's that building was built probably I think in the late60s or sometime in the 1960s. was built almost the same way as Boston City Hall or the old library when it was first before we renovated it is it was almost built to be as a barrier to keep people out. Um so I think a lot of work needs to go on that we have a good police force that deserves the best technology and the u in a building that's and we have issues in that building. There's no question about it. I was in there a couple weeks ago just to see it. See some of the uh the rooms uh by lack of better terms the rooms probably the facilities in certain parts of that building need to be renovated and uh especially those some of the locker rooms especially when it comes to women's locker room etc. Um and also just in general um the holding cells etc are all out of date in my mind but uh so something that needs to be looked at and so something I think it's going to be a longterm plan but something we should start planning for in the future. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. We have uh councelor at large Sakra followed by councelor Tuli.

Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh Mr. Mayor u I appreciate uh your order. I think I'd like to sign on to that because there's a good need for uh our police uh building to be renovated or redone. Uh I just wanted to bring up uh to your attention that uh in the beginning when I got sworn in uh uh chief of police invited me to take a tour of the building. I went there and u it was very nice to see the operations. At the same time, uh I think the female uh law enforcement officers requested me to come and take a look at their uh locker room and I did go and visit and it's really in a shape that needs a lot of work to be done. Their bathrooms, their the number of officers are there compared to that the room is very small. So it definitely we need a lot of work to be done. So I would like to request an amendment to the order. says, "Request city manager provide city council with a report concerning how building of a future police station will be prioritized, including information related to the status of the current building and whether it serves the city's I'd like to add and law enforcement officers present needs." So kind of those who are working there, we got to look at that it also serve their present needs, not only cities. So, I'd like to add that amendment. Cities and law enforcement officers. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, if that's okay with you.

Thank you, councelor at large Kate. Katherine Kate Tumi.

Thank you. Uh, I signed on to this because, as the mayor said, uh, it's something that I've brought up a number of times as well. Um, I think it's incredibly important that people understand that this really isn't a nice to have. This isn't just because, well, we want them to have a happy uh happy place to work. Uh this is really it's a failing building. Um the roofs leak, the every so so few months the uh either the water heaters go out or the elevators go out. It's a tired building. It's an old building and um it's not it's not really that healthy. Uh there's been a lot, as I said, there have been a lot of leaks. The ventilation system uh certainly needs to be uh uh improved or upgraded. I've spoken often about the possibility of uh taking a look at um selling that property, which is a prime property um right on 290 and perhaps building two uh stations. Um making this the police stations more accessible and more visible in parts of the country and parts of the city. Um you know, that's just one solution. Another solution would be to uh find another building that's far more um uh accommodating for the modern needs of uh our department and also um the public. Uh you know certainly all of the things are on the table. Um and I but I just think it's very important um that we present a um unified approach in moving forward with this. uh so whatever way we come up with that's that's reasonable um that can also uh you know work with our budget I think is also a critical element but I think we owe the men and women uh who work in that building um and have worked in the building uh the dignity uh to say

you matter um and take a look at uh improving those uh facilities. Thank you. Thank you. Um, District 5 councelor Jose Rivera.

Um, one I'd like to sign on as well. And mine was kind of more of a um an idea recommendation to think about. Um, hopefully for the professionals who are going to sort that out, but I I I think that property is prime. Like I would not want to move the police station from there. Um, it's close to everything's right off to 90. I mean, it's it's perfect. if maybe they can build the new building in the parking lot area, then demolish that and build like a garage space where the old police station used to be, you know, and it'll keep it right there. Just just an idea for the professionals. Thank you. Thank you. Um, council at large Morrisburgman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh I signed on because like my colleagues uh other colleagues have said it's it's an idea that's um overdue as far as deliberating how we can accomplish this. I'm mindful and I want our taxpayers to be aware of this and the and our residents. I'm mindful that there are lots of tax obligations out there and as the mayor said this isn't something that's going to get uh built overnight, but the discussion should begin at some point and there's no better time than the present. I will say that when we've had discussions about recruitment, I I think it helps. I don't think it hurts to have uh in the queue uh the idea that there'll be a new building sometime in the future, especially for new recruits. I will also say that I I I could uh make the argument both ways that the current location is a good location, but I would also say that one of the things that's always um I say troubled me, but always caused me pause, the location the building's in now. And certainly none of us here today were around when that building was built is that you know it takes 400 people more or less that are in that building on a regular basis. It kind of isolates them from the rest of the community. You have to kind of get there through a highway. Um they don't really integrate because of where they're located. And it's always been my feeling that if we could find a way to build another building, it should be built somewhere in the downtown area where those 400 or more men and women can go buy lunch in the local restaurants. um they can mingle among the patrons that visit stores and make them feel safer and certainly make the business owners feel safer as well. If we're not going to go to the model of building a brand new building, I hope we will consider something that we've all I believe at least heard and some of us have talked about before and that is the precinct model where we look at maybe a less elaborate one building but as councilor Tumian mentioned morph into other buildings one per district uh maybe renting space uh or or a modest location and size so that again the officers can

integrate well with the neighborhoods. the neighborhoods can have a sense that there are police officers. And wouldn't it be wonderful no matter what district you're in, whether it's district 1, two, three, four, or five to have foot beatats, not just in the summer, but all year round, weather permitting. So, I I think all those are in play. Uh I think the only thing I would hesitate for us not to do is to do nothing, but I'm mindful of the fact that whatever we do going forward will take its time, but I'm glad we're having this conversation. Thank you. That's it. All right. Um, so the order is 12B. Um, as amended will include that it serves the city and law enforcement's present needs. Do we need a roll call on this? Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council.

Yes. Connell. Counc. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Vice Chair. Councelor K. Yes. So, we're going to take 12 C. Request city manager conduct comprehensive review of all ordinances, permitting processes, fee structures, and all other practices that prohibit and or delay investment in the city. Mayor Petty,

I'll be quick on this. And the the governor is doing the same thing at the state level uh with uh certain uh who knows what the budget's going to look like over the next year or so. I think it's important that we look at anything and look at other small businesses and don't be nice if we have an example of some businesses. Let's make let's uh for instance we have a restaurant that wants to open up here in the city of Worester. Do what you want Mr. Manager like a 100 seat restaurant. What's the cost, you know, between the uh all the environmental issues they have, what do you call that? the trap. Do you have the grease trap um and other and other things are very very expensive the uh fire code uh I'm not saying eliminating the fire code but stuff to look at so people have an idea how expensive it is to open a business here in the city of Worester maintain a business here in the city of Worcester and uh look at some I know there's Lauron later on talking about that in particular one issue but there's a lot of fees that we can be looking at uh we council even talks about over the last year certain fees that we we look at is it is it worth it sometimes when you're only bringing in maybe 20 $30,000 is it worth the charge of small business so uh in large businesses so I think it's important that we look at this and uh and see what we can come up with

thank you councelor Rivera is a sign on yes okay roll call sign on it all right sign on sign on everybody wants to sign on everyone signed on um roll call Mr. Sorry. Uh, councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Counc. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Vice Chair. Council K. Yes.

There's one more. There's one more. So we're going to do the next item is 12D and we also have the resolution the council king and saw by myself requesting manage execute all required tasks so establish the city of Worcester as the official host city for the name and fans with the delegation community and cultural program during the 2027 FAFA World Cup from June 18th to June 27th. We have a resolution for the city council of West hereby affirm the city's intent to welcome Ghanaian fans and delegations a man consistent with public safety cultural respect city policy. This resolution is a non-binding on the Republic of Ghana. It does not create financial obligation beyond those lawfully approved by the city. Fur that the city council city of Wor does hereby call upon the city of Worester to step forward and recognize the official host city Ghanaian fans, delegations and related cultural, trade and community program during the period of June 18th 27th during the 2026 FIFA um world cup and further affirms the city's support welcoming accommodation gaining visitors and supporters during such time. Councelor King and Petty. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um before I begin, um I want to say that um it was a pleasure to work on this this um resolution for the city council. I want to thank uh Mayor Joseph Mwaame Petty uh for the order. Um he's worked hard in a long time with this population um and I know it's appreciated um throughout the city and beyond, Mr. Chairman. Um, that being said, um, for my colleagues, this resolution is about welcoming the world to Worcester through culture, through our community, and through the language of

sports. 2026, FIFA Cup comes to our region. This initiative will affirm that Worcester is ready to host Ganaian fans and delegations while also supporting opportunities for communities and fans and viewing spaces for support of supporters of World Cup teams from around the world. It's important to celebrate culture, our support our local economy and show that Worcester is a city that brings people together. Mr. Chairman, this is a global moment. The World Cup will bring international attention to our region. Worcester has the opportunity to participate in that momentum by welcoming visitors and fans from around the world, showcasing Worcester's hospitality and diversity. The resolution recognized the possibility of hosting Ganaian fans and delegations celebrating the strong cultural ties between the Ganaian community and the broader African diaspora in Massachusetts and across New England. As importantly, the concept includes community connections, fan connections and festivities and public viewing spaces again open to all supporters of all World Cup teams. Worer residents and visitors will have a place to gather, watch masses, and celebrate the energy and global spirit of the tournament together. This economic opportunity will bring opportunities for our restaurants, our hotels, our small businesses, and cultural organizations. It will help position Worcester as a welcoming destination during a global event. Community programming is a must. coordination would will involve the mayor's office, the city manager and relevant city departments and representatives connected to the Ganaian cultural and dipl diplomatic institutions. Mr. Chairman, the World Cup is the

world's game. This resolution simply says that when the world gathers to celebrate it, Worester will be able ready to welcome everyone. Mr. chairman with some specifics. I'd like to to share a thank you to Euad Dufo Kelvis Quenor for their vision. I also want to acknowledge the intersection that has occurred between stakeholders beyond the manager and the city manager in my office with local faith leaders interfaith councils ganaan religious representatives the ministry of sport and recreation the greater ACRA metropolitan the mayor of ACRA back house concepts and the honorable Alfredo koi van dup head of parliamentary committee of foreign affairs Ghana in these efforts to Identify a suitable venue and date. Mr. Chairman, this lasts over a period of days. This will require contact coordination, planning related matters. Mr. Chairman, as well, there is currently pending with the government of the Republic of Ghana a strategic host city and diaspora engagement proposal that includes the um efforts that we will can initiate here. the potential efforts by this body to designate Western, Massachusetts as the official host city for Ganaian supporters and affili affiliated delegations. Worcester is uniquely positioned as a host city due to our large and wellorganized Ganaian diaspora, the proximity to local matches in Providence, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, and beyond logistics. Worcester is a symbolic home for the Ganaian community and a powerful

platform for diaspora engagement. Mr. Chairman, we are asking that once this is approved, the government of Ghana designates Worcester as its official host city. Mr. Chairman, we know that the city of Worcester offers a unique combination of strategic advantage. We have a dense and established Ganaian population. We have the infrastructure of supporting large-scale gatherings. We have municipal, academic, and institutional environments that can be helpful. And we are a symbolic home for Ganaans abroad. We are looking at programming that's not just about arrival. It's also about business and trade and investment forum that will occur. Also, we're looking at cultural, community, and youth programming. We're looking at the end of this time period, coordinated travel to Philadelphia from Worcester. And this is for a 12-day residency period. Mr. Chairman, we will operate as an extended national hub for Ghana in the United States supporting trade and investment. We're looking at interfaith sessions, Mr. chairman where um we will be working with folks from all different religions um in programming. We have also um there's also been some contact with our local colleges and institutions to serve as host sites um as that is occurring in other parts of the country. Mr. Chairman, we are um we are also looking at cultural so showcases and again they're planning a midweek once approved interfaith unity worship service involving Christians,

Muslims, Drews and traditional faith leader faith leaders serving as a moment of reflection prayer and solidarity. Mr. Mr. Chairman, as we heard earlier, um you know, this impacts beyond Ghana. This impacts all of the folks that are currently um going to be playing in our area, Haiti, Scotland, Norway, Morocco, England, Bolivia, Iraq potentially, Mr. chairman and this is a great event that will spur economic um activities here in the city of Worcester. Um and I've met with this the city. I know that with the city manager that there are questions regarding what will this cost. There's no um this this agreement and proposal doesn't require any funding. Um no commitment to funding. um on the pass on behalf of the city um outside of normal permitting and public safety processes. Um that should occur um those are are certainly some questions. Mr. Chairman, we stand um where if we can move on this quickly um that we will have a response from the minister minister of sports um in Ghana and um let's do this for the city of Worcester and beyond. Thank you. Mayor Joseph Mwaame Petty.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Was well earned. Hard to earn. Yes, absolutely. And uh but uh this is a great

I think this was a great uh resolution with my order. uh they expect I talked to the mayor Acra they expect I know you were working on Mr. Chairman some college universities and they expect for that purpose about 500 so 5 to 600 people that would take advantage of that and they expect another 1 1500 to come into the city uh so I had discussions with Discover central Massachusetts that's why I learned about all these watches that are going on in the city of Wes which was mentioned tonight and you mentioned Mr. German and which is different to what this is but the watch is something that we should advertise too. So, we need a hand. Uh, where where's where is the watch going to be? Where is the U Gian community going to meet? Could be at a church. It could be at one of their churches or one of their um organ organizations that they have here in the city. They have a number of establishments in the city of Worcester. I know we need to meet with I know city manager's office is working on this along with central Massachusetts. Department of Transportation is offering some service if we need uh coordinate transportation with the Ghanaian community going back and forth. So this is going to be pretty big as long as Foxboro pays the bill. But uh so it's going to be a pretty big project and uh for the city of Worester. It's going to go it's going to put Worester's on the map right now. If you really think about the Ghanaian community, the African community, it probably represents per capita one of the largest in the country. Uh we're smaller than Texas, but per capita I think we have a larger population. um here in the city of Worcester. So this is pretty big. So you could get a lot of up to 2,000 visitors here in the city of Worcester, if not more from from Africa, from Ghana and uh which I think will go a long way. I think the first game, not their first game, but the game they're playing in Foxboro is going to be with England. So I think that would be um a great turnout. There's there's a good English community too here in Massachusetts. So we have some real fun with that. So, um, so I'm glad to support this with council king and city council and, um, it's

going to be a great it's going to be great project going forward and we celebrating culture here in the city of Worcester. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, councelor Rivera wants to sign on. I was going to say too, I was going to say one more. Everyone wants to sign on. Mayor Racker is supposed to hopefully come through with the city this week and I'll let you know. So, all right. Great. Sign on. Roll call. Mr. Chair, uh, Mr. Clerk. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Council econom. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Mayor Petty.

Yes. Okay. We're going back to 12E. Recuss stand command public service and transportation. to invite the central mass regional planning commission to being to discuss the ongoing Vern Street 290 exchange interchange transportation study. Council Bada.

Thanks. Um just wanted to put this on the agenda to get them uh you know to the trans to the subcommittee meeting to talk about the uh I290 interchange transportation study. It's really exciting project that they're going on to really, you know, reimagine what and and reinvest in the 290 interchange and the Vernon Street uh bridge that goes over there. There's going to be two events coming up on Thursday the 19th right across the street at the JMAC uh from 6:00 to 8 and then Wednesday uh March 25th from 6:00 to 8 at the Boys and Girls Club. And I know CMRPC is really looking for community input. Um we all know the history of 290 and how it impacted the city. you know, basically cut the city in half, separated communities, um, destroyed the Laurel Clayton neighborhood, destroyed, you know, major components of the the Polish and Lithuanian neighborhoods. Um, and, you know, we're still, uh, kind of dealing with with those impacts in the city, but I think this is an exciting project because they're trying to see how can we reconnect Vernon Street to the rest of the city, reconnect the canal district. Um, so I think it's it's a really exciting project and just wanted to get the community uh to put this on their radar. So,

thank you. All those in favor opposed. So audited. Okay. We are on the next item. F. Request a manage request chief equity officer developing Americans with disability transition plan as part of the city's ongoing effort to assess the current level ADA compliance and program services activities in city own facilities. Council Bada. Yeah. Um thank you Mr. Chair. I know we have an ADA transition plan through to through the chair to the city manager. Just was curious like is there any updates on that or would it you know through this order would it be possible to get an update maybe you know in in a month or so? Um yeah we'll see that that question through the chair to the manager. Mr. Mr. Manager.

Yeah through the chair to the council. We've had a trans transitional uh ADA plan that we've had for quite a while. I think it's good uh order now to give us an opportunity to update it review. I know there was an audit submitted as well uh for us to be able to audit our municipal properties starting with city hall. Uh so that will give it an opportunity to create a plan moving forward. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. I just want to say you know it's critical that we we we really uh do our due diligence to make sure that all our public facilities including our public schools are are uh accessible and equitable. So thank you Dr. Mitra. No council to sign on to sign on to it. Okay.

Okay. So, as amended, those in favor of postal audited 12G request to manif concerning the ping cameras to catch people who are illegally passed off school buses. Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um just like to amend this um to read a report concerning um exploring the feasibility of a pilot for deploying cameras um who are legally passing stopped school or school buses. Um Mr. Chairman, we know that stop arm enforcement, as they call it, um is extremely important. Um I know that in Brockton, they've recently started this. Um, I've witnessed, I'm sure many of us witnessed over the years, um, you know, close calls and here in the city as dense and as populated as the city of Worcester, um, with us working on, uh, school safety offices, audits and the like, um, that this could go a long way, Mr. chairman and I I I just want to know through the chair to the administration, have you had any um any um exposure to the potential of using school bus cameras um to enhance student safety um at this time or in the recent recent times through the chair?

Yeah. Through the chair, through council, there's been conversation at school committee, but also I personally have had conversations with a superintendent related to this to this program. uh the police department is uh extremely involved in it and pro in looking at kind of the the process in which we will evaluate anyone that is violates the uh the actual um uh uh camera or violates the buses. So that will give us an opportunity to to explore it. um we've provided an initial kind of uh what the cost of this program would be and that's something that we're currently exploring internally in terms of what can we do and what's the capacity of the current departments to be able to do this.

I appreciate that as a chair of uh education committee something I would also like to get before my committee. I was not aware of the work that's been going on with the city um and and the schools. I would like an updated report on that. Mr. And I know that um this was a law sponsored by State Senator Michael Moore um and that um that legislation did in fact move forward um and it allows school districts to equip buses with cameras to capture photo and video evidence of of of of schools. Um I would also like a time frame for this. No, I one of the things we know that we're facing here in the city of Worcester is some budgetary challenges. We just took a vote on exploring feasibility of a new a new um police uh station. Um you know, we need to figure out if there is funding, what's available for that. But at the same time, we're talking about burn code. The same time we have the elephant in the room of $35 million we're trying to deal with. Um so we have to be realistic here. And what I do know, Mr. chairman is that there have been identified um state support um and grants and things of that nature in other localities. So, uh Mr. Chairman, I'd also like um to amend this to also read um that if there's any grant sourcing that we can do um an exploration that that be reported back to the council, Mr. Chairman. And again, um I think the intersection of what we're hearing, we look talk about snow removal, we talk about student safety, we talk about walkability, um for our kids, we talk about traffic and parking. There's an intersection with our Wilson public schools that happens across departments. Um you know, and and there's a lot in front of our various committees. Um but I would like to get an idea of where we're at with this um in a joint

meeting. um as often occurs in the education committee, Mr. Chairman. So, I don't know if it's also able to um I guess I can wait. I don't know how long that report will take. I'd like to get in sooner than later, Mr. Chairman, to to my committee. Um thank you.

Thank you. I know the just FYI is the schools have been for the year. I've been working on the suit. I know schools have asked the chief to work on this. He's worked on it for about a year and and I think uh they have a good order to have it brought out because even though you said Brockton I'd be interested to know Brockton passed it right. You said it would be interesting to know whether Brockton's enforcing it. So I think we should get that legal perspective too on this and because I know there's some legal issues going on here. So update report was sent to the education committee for a hearing with the school department. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Okay. Councelor U wants to sign on and uh everybody else does too. Okay. As amended. Okay. Um with the U amendments. All those in favor of post. So audited. Next item is we are on 12 H. Request manager comm uh request commission of transportation mobility review Highland Street with intersects Grove and Maine for the purpose of adjusting timing of traffic lights and slowing. Do not block intersection signage at said intersection to ensure more coming down Highland Street towards Winger Street to not block traffic traversing between Main Street and Gro Street. It's so true. So true. It is so true. We all know it. You go down Main Street and I hate to say it but especially rush hour in the evening evening 2:30 on I guess rush hour at Lincoln Square is just a disaster. We're going to build what 150 new senior apartments in the area too. So it's going to be worse. Maybe we have to open up that Johnson tunnel and bring it back to life, you know, because that might be the answer. But in any case, this is I I I have occasion to to go down Main Street to Lincoln Square to get over to Grove Street on a few occasions. And that's one of the longest lights in Worcester. It's it's probably if you miss the light and you do because it's a short light. So you probably wait three minutes, but the trouble is you might wait three, three, and three because you can't move. You could be the first car waiting for the green light. What happens? They come down Highland Street and they stop and they block the main street traffic. You're sitting there looking at your green light, wishing you could go through. You can't. They come down that hill, think they go, they might go through their red light, but they block Main Street. We need at least signage saying, "Do not block Main Street." And I think we need to take that light that's right before they're coming down the hill and have them stop much sooner so when the green light on

Main Street changes to green, there'll be no one there. We can get through. So, it seems to be an easy uh thing to solve, but I know there's a lot of people who've gone down Main Street and you see this and it's just a terrible situation. I don't mind waiting. I don't mind waiting six month six minutes, but when it's 9 or 12 and you can't turn around, you can't turn around. A couple of times I noticed it and I was able to turn around and go back towards city hall and go up State Street and go around. So, but you you know if you miss that turn, you're stuck there for who knows how long. And they just don't care. They just don't care. They they stop and block Main Street. It makes no sense. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Council King of Purpose.

Mr. Chairman Mercy, um I absolutely support opening up the Ernest Johnson tunnel. Um unfortunately we lost one of our staunchest supporters and councelor Russell um on that issue. Um I think that um there's a whole host of reasons for that. I know I have a pending order as it relates to that. One of which was um securing some funding from um the developer win um towards that end towards reopening and addressing some of the issues that we have. That being said, Mr. Chairman, just through the chair to the administration, is this like a mass DOT thing? Is it city of Worcester? Um, like what is it?

Yeah, through the chair to the council. Um, any project or any redesign or any improvements that are made to this area requires Mass DOT's engagement. Uh, but we as a city have the opportunity to work with them in partnership with them uh to consider any potential improvements to the area. uh so it doesn't preclude us from uh evaluating the area and working with DOT to suggest some of the uh improvements that need to be made.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I would like to ask um if we could amend that just to include um that we're working with Mass DOT on this in this matter or continue to whichever works. Um and addition to that, Mr. gym in that particular area when you're coming down in front of the whole Lincoln Square Boys Club um where I was a proud member um best best boy club Louie in the city Lincoln Square. So um that being said, you know, coming down that hill, I filed orders in the past when they um changed near the light where it's two two turns to the left. There's often near misses. there's it's it's also compromised um you know pedestrian safety when they're not following the rules um and crossing when they shouldn't but it's an additional issue you're talking about four lanes of traffic it bottlenecks as you come down um and I would just like to make a separate motion that um that be looked at for redesign maybe report back on um any traffic challenges or um safety issues as relates to that Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Thank you. What's that sign on? Someone speak. What's that? It was a clarification. Yeah. Go ahead. I I had a gap by the Boys and Girls Club. Okay. Okay. So, okay. Okay. They didn't fix the light coming from Salsbury Street that way in front of the auditorium into downtown. It's like you get three cars through it and turns red. like 10 20 cars are backed up. Mr. Manager,

uh yeah, through the chair to the council, I just want to um I do agree that that area is a very tough congested area. Um not only McGrath Boulevard, you have sometimes not even four, you have five or six lanes. You have two lanes going left on one way, then you got to go three up front. And it's just is crazy. The the sidewalks there are very narrow. you um it's very tough to try to you know beat the crosswalk to run and try to get make sure you get to the other side. It's a very very tough area. I know historically years ago way before my time there was a massive rotary probably the biggest rotary in the city was right in front of that location. Uh there's been different solutions that has provided there. Currently right now there we are exploring a process of of evaluating that area which include the tunnel. there's uh I'm hopeful that we can come back to the council with a report that would signal kind of some ideas and suggestions of what we can do to improve the area which also include the usability uh of that tunnel as well. So more to come on that as we continue to have fruitful conversations about it.

Okay. So send that as amended. Council Bergman, quickly. Um, he threw the chair to the city manager if if uh hypothetically if a DPW worker had seen this issue before council Rosen had brought it up as far as you know, would that be something they'd be brought before the council to correct? Would that be something that' be corrected on their own? And I'm asking that for for a particular reason, Mr. Manager.

Yeah. Yeah, through the chips to the council we uh there are times where we as a city or the the department may see that there's a we need to improve we get a lot of calls complaints etc to a particular area we can initiate that any decision regarding impro improvements or resource allocation has to be brought forward before the council for discussion and approval

I'm just M Mr. Chairman, I'm just going to end by commenting and I'll put an order on sometime in the future, but you know, I think all of us drive by certain intersections. I'm sure Council Rosen noticed this and that's the impetus of this order, but street signs missing or something doesn't line up. And I'm just wondering, it shouldn't be up to us. I don't mind doing it. I'm not going to take the position. It's not my job. it is. But at the same time, I'd love to know on their own initiative, are DPW employees calling these things in themselves? Because if we're calling them in, they certainly should be calling them in. And I never see anything brought before us that said this is a recommendation of the DPW to do this or to do that on a small scale. I understand they're in charge of the big projects. I get that. Uh, but I think one of the things that frustrates myself and maybe some of my colleagues is if I'm out there and I'm noticing these things and I'm calling them in and I'm not a member of DPW. I am a city employee, but I'm not a me. I would hope that they're doing the same thing. I don't know if they are. So, we'll try to get a future order to see if they are, but boy, it would be great if they were.

Thank you. Okay. So, we're going to send that to the uh the manager as amended. Those in favor of post ordered. and custody manager exposes physically using employee parking at 25 meat street for resident packing after work hours particularly during inclement weather to help improve plowing on the side streets and ease the burden the residents impacted by the parking bands. Council O'Hada

yeah thank you Mr. Chairman, I'll be quick. Um hopefully there's no more snow. Um but going forward, I just there's something we we need to look into, especially on some of these tight streets. Uh especially around the schools as well. So hopefully we can look into this and it um to me, I think it's a no-brainer. Obviously, it's just being able to communicate with the residents and make sure that they leave in uh in a timely manner so um those that need to get to work and and park their cars back in the parking lots that they can do that with no issues. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. the manager. All those in favor opposed. requesting a committee on veteran memorial parks and recreation hosted discussion uh between the city the friends institute park was the polytech institute and other interested parties concerning making improvements to institute park located at district 2 at 82 saw street as well as 16 acres man-made Salsbury pond located inside the park said beautiful and iconic park was named recognition of WPI and donated by Steve Salsbury III in 1887 to provide green space for the school and the city such discussion should include strengthening and the partnerships between all parties associ with the park's well-being, clearing the pond's perimeter of invasive growth, restoring, replacing parks corroded restroom uh fixtures, susing up the parks branded entrance sign, and opening the never used snack bar hidden away in the restroom concession building. Council Rose and Council Folo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. gym in this beautiful historic uh institute park. It just needs some tender loving care and uh you know it's a it's a tribute to the city of Worcester and it's used by so many groups. I know we have the uh Junth Festival, the Caribbean Festival. There are three major concerts here in the summer of the Mass Symphony Orchestra. Another group that we should be very proud of in the city that they're having their 75th anniversary this summer. 75 years and it's going to be a July 4th maybe July 3rd concert with fireworks expecting a huge crowd because it's also the 250th anniversary of uh United States. Uh there's three groups primarily concerned with with Institute Park. Many others but mainly the three groups. The city of Worcester parks department which overall does a very good job there and the friends of Institute Park which does a terrific job over there. And then there's my alma mada WPI and I don't know they they tend to disappoint many of us at times WPI but they should be thrilled. So many of their students use that park. They don't understand the value of having that park right across the street. It's a great park. I mean many universities and colleges would love to have a park across the street for their students like Institute Park. It would be nice if we could get the three groups I just mentioned together and, you know, kind of nudge WPI. We're not asking for a a pilot payment as I've done in the past, but we're asking for them to, you know, take a look at the the things I mentioned there. You know, I mentioned the the overgrowth, the invasive growth. You can't even see the water. Usually when the snow melts and in another month, you'll be won't be able to see the water because all around the perimeter is this tall invasive growth. Uh the corroded restroom fixtures. We

built that so no one could kill the the bathroom. We put some stainless steel in there. Now it's all corroded. It's rusty. It's embarrassing. I expect the July I think it's July 3rd concert there with fireworks if it's nice weather. Thousands of people. Maybe not as big as East Park because that probably gets what 10,000 but they may get three or 4 thousand certainly at this. So the restroom needs some tender loving care. Maybe they can be just, you know, shined up if we keep the same, you know, uh, fixtures there. The sign needs a little bit of work at Institute Park. And then I don't think probably many of us I just found out maybe a week or two ago when I was at a Friends of the Institute Park, Friends of Yeah. Institute Park meeting, uh, that there's a snack bar there. It's never been used. No one even knows it's there. Now, you didn't know it's there, Mr. May. It's the bathrooms on one side that people use. Even though I'm saying they're corroded and embarrassing, right behind there, no one never goes behind. I never go behind that building. There's a snack bar and the some of the WPI students with I know another person I don't know who's his involvement with WPI, but they've been painting the walls, sanding them down, painting them, and I'd love to get that thing open this neckbar for the July 3rd concert. So, it needs some loving care. Uh I'm hoping that uh councelor for solo's committee can maybe call in these three groups parks department WPI friends of the institute park and maybe talk to WPI and get them WPI get them more on board there's so much they can do with this park so you know in terms of manpower in terms of some finances too they should be they should probably want that water cleaned up and the water needs some ecological work this is WPI it's engineering school. What are they thinking? Get over there. Now, the parks department doesn't hire a lot of engineers. We do some. Okay. And we have the, you know, the person who's in charge, Katie, who's in charge, I guess,

the waterways and so on, the water bodies. That's how great. But you got WPI right there. They should be helping out with this park. So, and it was built, it was turned over to the city of Worcester for the city to use and WPI to use. It's called Institute Park. Institute Park. Worcester Polytenic Institute. So come on WPI. If anyone's watching from WPI, jump on board. Let's work with them and bring back this park. You know, uh it needs some tender loving care. And I know WPI hopefully will be willing to work with us. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Send that to the manager. All those in favor ordered. Request the manager request commission public works review and repair street light at pole number three at Glenn Street, which is our service and needs to be repaired. Dr. M. Council Mitra. Yes, Mr. Chair. Uh through you to the administration. I think this uh we had the resident had called through 311. Then we had also made a call uh again to 311, but the street light is still not on. So I just thought of putting it in the order. So kind of emphasizing that it should be taken care of. Thank you.

Okay. So all those favor opposed. Okay. The next one is 12 I I mean 12 L. I request a man to review and enforce city or lenses associated with residents, business, fences, etc. obstructing visibility of vehicles turning onto roads. Said review should include uh bushes obstructing visibility on Bronco Street at the intersection of Randall Street and Abutus Road. Council Mitra,

thank you again, Mr. shared through you to the city manager that uh this came to my attention because uh some of the streets when you go from Burn um from side streets like Randall and Arbus to burn code there are bushes that the residents have which obstructs the view to turn right or left. So I just wanted to know what is the ordinance that we have how high the residents can have the bushes or the fences if I could get an idea so that these uh people those who are trying to go through the stop sign they have to go past the stop sign to look at the left or right or maybe we can have a mirror uh you know posted there so they can see the traffic but uh but the question was what should be the height that the ordinance allows us to do. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Now those to the manager, those in favor of postal ordered. M request see man provide council with a report concerning how the city notified residents of trash during the weeks beginning February 23rd to 20 2026 to March 2nd 2026 stemming from the winter weather events in light of the absence of Worester. F requested report include additional strategies government to ensure residents are being made aware of such trash pickup delays.

Thank you Mr. Sure. Once again through you to the to Mr. Manager. Uh as you recognize that in the last uh snowstorm that we had uh we didn't have the you know the trash pickup on Monday. I think it was delayed by a day but I think many residents did not know about it and they put the trashes on trash bags on Monday and uh they were all there. They didn't know it. So a lot of people are questioning that you know if we don't have the alert system working which it was not working at that time what is the way that we inform them immediately I was thinking is there any other ways that we can really inform our residents or householders uh kind of asking them to register with us giving them giving us their cell phone number and then kind of do a mass blast the information through the cell phone so they all get the information that tomorrow there will be no uh trash pickup or any other ways because uh many residents just had no idea. Even many of uh city workers had their own you know trash bags out there on Monday uh did not know that it was not to be picked up on Monday but to be picked up on Tuesday. So just wanted to know how we can really facilitate this system so all residents are aware on time and they are not uh uh under the dark that what's going to happen. So if we can really look into that. Thank you.

And to the manager, those in favor of postal order request made extending. Just real quick, council Rivera. Y yes. Um I just wanted to um ask to the chair to the administration, can you just give us an update on the new uh alert um system that's been in testing stuff like that for this purpose?

Yeah. Through the chair, through council, we're currently working on that. We've been ex we executed the contract. We're working right now trying to expedite with the company the process to try to get this uh launched to the city as soon as possible. So, I'm hopeful. I know last time I spoke to council, we were hoping in two and a half weeks we'd be ready to go. Unfortunately, that's been a little delayed by the company, but our hopeful uh our hope is to get it done as soon as possible. They've expedited, they put their efforts to expedite this process knowing that we need something right away. Uh so, they're hopeful that we can get something uh relatively soon through the chair's administration. So, it's is not in the testing phase yet, Mr. Manager.

Through the chair, through the council, we have we've tested a couple of elements internally, uh, but we're still working through those details right now. Okay. So, I just want to make sure I'm letting my the constituents know exactly that. Thank you. Thank you, Council Tumi. Mr. Chair, we we just had this report in in subcommittee public safety, so it's all explained there. Okay. Very comprehensively. Okay. So, send that to the manager. All those in favor oppose. So ordered. Uh requesting managers considering implementing a discounted rate of 20 to 25% for parking and municipal garages a parking lot watch for employees various business in the downtown area. Dr. Mitra.

Thank you Mr. Chair once again through you to uh Mr. Chair manager. Uh I was just wondering you know this council kind of reflects that we're so businessfriendly. We like to give them some opportunity to do business in downtown in order to make that happen. There are many things we can do to show that how much we want them to do the business. One of the thoughts, one of the thought that came to my mind maybe the city parking garages that we have. If we can offer a discounted rate for those who are working for the uh businesses in downtown that probably will make them feel better. it it looks back good for us that the city council or the city uh cares for them and friendly for their businesses to be here. So, anything that we can do currently, you know, everything prices are up. So, doing this small favor to all those employees who work around the downtown, there are five city garages. I would request that to consider giving them maybe 20 to 25% discounted rate to park there. That'll make the business owners feel good and that'll also reflect good on this council that we care for them.

Okay, send that to the manager. All those in favor of post so manager consider hiring a consultant to conduct a third party evaluation audit of the department of public works to evaluate the department of policies operation procedures internal communications facilities equipment manager council batada. Uh yeah, file is is you know more of an exploratory order and and requesting that we you know work on improving you know policies, internal communications uh procedures, operational procedures with the department of public works. I know uh there's many orders that have come up in the new council, countless orders in previous council council um about how how are department of public works different uh operations, how are the procedures, you know, operated, how are internal communications going, uh how are our facilities and equipment uh being managed. I know uh Commissioner Westerling is, you know, taking a look under the hood. I know we've had these conversations before. So, um, I'd like to file it because I I think, you know, and I'd like to make an amendment as well, though. Excuse me, not file, but to make an amendment that requests us to if the the DPW commissioner could come back to council with a report on what evaluations has he done to policies and procedures, what steps are he is he taking to improve these things? Cuz I think, you know, questions I have, is it work culture, is it facilities, is it technology? Um, and how could we help as a council to to to assist the commissioner and assist the people that work in DPW and customer service? Because I know obviously the last winter they've had their hands full and I know everyone's been working very hard, but um, you know, I think sometimes there's still gaps and there's still things that are get missed. So, we'd love to see how we could close those gaps. So, thank you.

Thank you. All those in favor council K wants to sign on. Nobody else. Everybody. Okay. as amended to the manager. All those in favor post order request manager request commission public works review the current road conditions on call street for the purpose of ter any emergency street repairs that should be conducted on the street. Council fo

Mr. Chairman through the admin administration um college street itself and the sidewalks. talking myself and uh council a uh who has also the other side of college street um it's in it's in deplorable condition u so much so that uh when we uh contacted uh DPW uh J Melo wrote back college street is tenatively programmed for resurfacing not until 2028 28 though prior to the resurfacing all the utilities in the both public and private must be relocated and that work is supposed to begin the fall of this year. So obviously Mr. Manager I cannot wait till uh that construction begins. So uh we have contacted Commissioner Westerlink and uh he has said that he has contacted those in the department to go and fill those uh potholes. But just to give you some uh some idea of the how bad it is, uh we have a pavement condition index, a PCI, and uh from Bdon Street, City View, Kendig, Dutton Electric, and Ellie Way that takes you from the top of College uh the Holy Cross all the way down to the Auburn line. Uh we rate in the major rehabilitation stage. that's the worst it can be. So, um, you know, I'm one that and I know probably all my colleagues feel that the College of Holy Cross is a great gem and a great institution here in the city. And uh not only for those people that live on College Hill and have to drive and use that road because we do get complaints on a frequent basis. Uh the college

itself that brings so many uh families in to the city and and uh visitors to the city. Uh, one thing I I want to stress too about Holy Cross is that uh, it's a huge employer, employs hundreds of people and a lot of them live in that area, College Hill and Quincig Village that I know and they love working at the cross. And the other point was that they have uh bought up a lot of property. But one thing I was unaware of that um from the end of 1900s, the 1999 2000 area, um every house that they have bought up or property that they have bought up on College Hill, they still continue to pay the taxes. I know I didn't know that before being elected to this body and I don't believe that many of our constituents know that. So for the general public I wanted to make that point as well that any property they have purchased they are still paying the taxes on. So that's a uh kudos to them for that. So again, uh I'd ask that we make sure that and I'll follow through obviously with the commissioner, but we need to address that as soon as possible and the sidewalks too are as bad as the street. So I'd appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

You'll send that to the manager. All those in favor of postal order audited requesting a committee on public service and transportation invite representatives from WCCATV 194 to discuss the progress, achievements, and the future of the public access TV station and community media center. Council Rosen as it reads, Mr. Chairman. Starting the president at 11:00 at night. Okay, I think people want to sign on. Get tired.

Okay. All those in favor as amended. Those in favor post. So audited. All right. We are on S. Request city manager request commissioner of inspectional services and chief development office to consider freezing the implementation regulatory enforcement of the specialized stretch zone building code for the period uh no less than 12 months. Council Bergman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make clear and I think most of my colleagues and all them know this. There is a stretch code that we we um we follow. So, the specialized stretch code was something above and beyond the uh regular stretch code that we voted to accept. The time we voted to accept it, and I've checked, I don't think it's changed much. We were one of about 35 communities out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts that opted in. Certainly not the majority. Less than 10% or about 10% have opted in. Approximately 90% have it. At the time, I think all of us had a good faith belief that it was um going to run smoothly and that it was the right thing to do at the time. Since then, we've come to learn that it conflicts in some ways with the international building code. It also creates hurdles that are unrealistic at the moment, including putting a lot more um uh pressure on the utility companies, particularly electric company, to be able to handle the services. And quite frankly, um the ability to monitor it is is a huge huge source of resources that we can't really afford to uh to spare. It it's also having a detrimental impact on the small local builder. It's not the outside national builder that people like to portray where, you know, this is about helping somebody from Washington, New York make money. No, it's about somebody in Worcester who can't get this their project done and we need housing units because of the specialized dredge code. This isn't an ask to get rid of it. This is an asked deposit and I think we'll find that the commissioner of buildings and and code would agree that this has become a very problematic issue um for their department as well as for developers and as well as interpreting whether or not people are are not in violation of the um specialized dredge code. Now, I just want to address something that some of the public had

mentioned earlier today. Yeah, we did vote for this. And I'm I'm going to say right now that there are always unintended consequences. There are a number of votes over the time I've been on the council that I wish I could take back. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with saying when I voted for something at the time, I had the best intentions of this being a good idea. And maybe in retrospect, it's not. And and I don't know if it is or isn't. So I'm not really going to write this off and say in a year from now if this was adopted, I wouldn't still support it. What I am saying is that when we supported it, we did not know the intended unintended consequences of what would happen. That's what maturity and that's what experience teaches us that sometimes we make decisions that we have to look back upon and say, you know what, maybe it wasn't the best decision to make. And maybe it was, but right now we need a pause. And I'm suggesting that uh the city manager do what he has to do, his due diligence, which I'm sure he will do, to inquire with the right and appropriate uh a department heads and report back to us within a relatively short period of time if he can on whether or not it's a good idea to pause it. I hope he comes back and says it is because I feel that from all the parties I've spoken to. We do have an existing stretch code that is environmentally friendly. And this is not saying we don't want to be environmentally friendly. This is just saying there are kinks in this specialized code uh that we have to work out before we can say whether or not we want to go back to it. So, thank you, Mr. Just be clear, asking for a report back on this on on

Yes. But I'm hoping and I'm not going to speak for the uh city manager, but I'm hoping the report back uh comes with a recommendation. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Council King, Mr. Chairman, you indicated this was a request for a report back. There's nothing in this or this order that indicates that. Are you amending it? Yeah. Well, he said it with his voice, but yeah, but we can amend that to say that. Council Bergman, they looking for a report back. This says here to consider freezing. Doesn't say a report back.

I have no issue amending it. It doesn't say that, but it does ask the commissioner uh and the city manager to consider freezing implementation. So, I would hope they would come back with report regardless. But if if it troubles my colleague, I certainly will amend it to include a report back to us with a recommendation. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not troubled. I'm not supporting it either way. Just want clarification. Um that being said, Mr. Chairman, um just a couple of questions. Through the charity administration, um to what degree is this aligned um the stretch code and the specialized stretch code with the the um the uh what is it the green Worcester plan through chair?

Uh Mr. Mr. Manager, through the chair of the council, this is one of the recommendations and is in alignment with the Green Worcester plan and that's in effect. Uh the Green Wister plan? Yeah, it's in effect. Yes. Okay. And there's a goal for net zero um status by 2045 through the chair to the council. That is correct. Okay. And through the chair to the administration, was what would a pause do to um that date the goal of net zero by 2045? Theoretically through the chair,

Mr. Major. I mean theoretically it's it's a it's a loaded question because I I I won't know what the impacts could potentially be. Um where the uh one year or 12 months um again to evaluate current the current code um like the council mentioned is not currently in the international building code. They're having complica they're having challenges uh in terms of alignment. There's conversations at the state level regarding this. Uh so there there's an indication that there that that there that um that there needs to be some correction or some better alignment related to the current existing international building trade code.

Mr. Mr. Chairman, is it correct through the chair to the administration that there's multiple pathways um there's um to towards compliance um as relates to this through the chair incentives etc to achieve this specialized in the stretch code specialized stretch code and stretch code through the chair of council that was one of the kind of incentives as part of the specialized stretch code not only at the state but also federal level that there are there were potential incentives or there could be potential incentives is for developers to utilize as part of the development strategies. Those incentives, we're starting to see a decline significantly in those especially at the federal level. There's a different strategy uh at the federal level related to incentives to sustainability.

Uh so there's a decline in those incentives and then there's also the constraints that are happening here at the state level has impacted a little bit of those incentives as well. through charity administration. Can you share a little bit about um who your administration's been engaging with in in in respect to uh freezing the specialized stretch code or is that putting words in your mouth? Like just explain what what is that manager?

Yeah. To the ch to the council. Um part of our conversations related to uh this is strictly been with the economic development team in terms of conversations and things that we've heard from developers. uh in terms of their concerns, their impact. Uh again, they have to hire high level consultants that sometimes it's tough to find to be able to have the knowledge and expertise to manage uh this code. Uh the bit the actual equipment that they're seeking uh to uh retrofit their properties are there's enough lag time, the costs are high. So, there's a little bit of everything that's happening and those are the things that we're hearing from developers as part of the Peter Dunn and my and myself's engagement with the development community.

Thank you. through the chair um to perhaps the clerk or the solicitor or the administration. Um when we adopted this, did it require a supermajority or was just a 65 majority required to move that forward when we opted in through wh to whomever? Six to five six six votes.

Thank you. Um you know, Mr. Chairman, um I appreciate the dialogue that I'm just learning about is incur that's occurring. um to some degree or another, but we took a vote on this um I think it went into effect in July of 2024. So um and it's important. I know that when I was chairing um the committee that council hate is currently chairing um you know, we had these items before us and there was concerns that we would not attain the goals in the Green Worester plan. There's news articles on it. um and to request consideration of freezing um where theoretically freezing isn't going to expedite anything towards um the goal that we're trying to reach in 2020 2045 um and the fact that there's no data supporting this. I'm hearing a little bit about conversations this that and the third um that I'm not going to support this Mr. Chairman going to um the administration. I would support this. I'm not going to support it. um there's no data. Um there's nothing here. Um we need to continue uh pushing forward and when and if um the administration gets to the point where um there's substantive conversations that should be that should enlighten the council, um I look forward to that being filed um during a a manager's agenda. But this right here, I think, is is uh premature. Um, and I'm not going to ask to freeze um the enforcement or implementation of this code. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Council O'Hara. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah. Uh, just to for clarification, this was uh voted in in 23, but it got uh signed in in 24. Is that correct to the to the chair to the city? Uh, to the chair, to the council. Correct. So, my I'm just pulling up the history right now on this item. Um my understanding was in September in 23 was voted on by council and then it was supposed to go in effect in July of 24.

Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Um so through the chair to the to the city manager um someone had mentioned and maybe you can help me with this. Someone had mentioned I can't remember who it was tonight about this is um one of the reasons why projects are being delayed. Is that is that safe to say? Is that true? And do we know if there's like actual current projects right now, Mr. Mayor?

Uh through the chips, they are actively projects right now that are delayed uh that are contemplating whether they want to pursue the project or not. Uh some of them are affordable housing projects, some of them are market rate uh projects uh even commercial projects uh uh like uh uh we had uh testimonies here today related to the green tech park. That's part of the discussions that are happening right now in conversations with developers when they're building because these costs you're talking about millions of dollars of costs related to that. And so oftent times when you see developers increasing costs in some areas oftent times they're coming in a different direction to try to get incentives from the city to offset those costs. So again these are the things that we have to explore as part of the negotiation process.

Thank you. So, so, so therefore it's also safe to say that not only is it um uh I'm trying to get the word here, but a delay on on on some of our housing, it's also um uh putting delay on jobs as well, opportunities for for jobs. Mr. Manager, uh through the Chu Council, that is correct. any project that we're not developing or there's no uh development happening, those are jobs in those sites that are not uh uh being acted upon at the time.

Okay. I know I had met with with one one developer had reached out and one of the concerns I guess it was due to the timeline of the actual filing of the of the paperwork as well. And it seemed like that that became a problem. I guess it was because of COVID or whatever and then through this process. So, it just seems like um and obviously, you know, I'll say we even though I wasn't I wasn't on at the time, but I don't think we took um a long look at this. It just seems like this came up fairly quickly and the the vote went through. Um it seems like this is happening throughout the state. So, um this is something I think we definitely need to look into. Uh if this is definitely creating problems with jobs, uh opportunities for jobs and most importantly, um um some affordable housing. Um, as you know, we we we're we're behind in a lot of housing and um this is something I I feel as though we we do need to look into and um I'm hoping, you know, we can get a report back as soon as possible.

Okay. So, the motion right now on a roll call is to send this to the manager as amended getting the report back to the council um before we um implement it. So, okay. Roll call. Councelor B. point order. Could you just read the motion, please? The motion is to Here it is. Requesting management uh request the commission inspectional services and chief development office consider freezing the implementation regulatory enforcement of the specialized stretch code building code for the period not less than 12 months which has been amended to ask for a report back regarding this item. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes.

Councelor Bada. No. Councilor Cono. Councelor Folo, yes. Councelor King, no. Councelor Mitra, yes. Councelor O'Ja, yes. Councilor Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Council Tumi, yes. Hey, Mayor Patty. Yes. request. Uh, city manager request commissioner inspectional service provide city council a report detailing recommendations as to feasibility and visibility of eliminating the four uh or more unrelated parties portion of the city zoning as it relates to tenants of the multif family buildings that were originally built for or more bedrooms.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a subject that's come up before, although it's been a kind of a pause in how long it's been since it last came up, but I think the timing is appropriate for it to come up again. We have a new relatively new commissioner of code and buildings. Uh we have a sposity of apartments. And just to kind of quickly summarize for some of my colleagues who weren't around for some of the original arguments, the state and the city both had a almost identical, if not identical, uh requirement in in their zoning ordinances that four or more people that are unrelated cannot occupy a unit. Um the state version of that was ruled unconstitutional. the city has kept their version of it. Although there have been various times we've had discussions on why are we continuing to keep that. Um so in a typical scenario you'd have let's say four people who are uh roommates but all four of them are not related to each other. Um that would be considered illegal. It's difficulty to enforce. It also doesn't make any practical sense because the original reasons came through um during the depression when people in multiple languages couldn't communicate well and there was a fear of fire safety issues which obviously are are negated to a large degree these days by smoke detectors and and otherwise. Uh I do know that some of my colleagues originally when I had brought this up were concerned that it would be a motivation for people to take a house and then start converting it into fourbedroom units. Um, that's why I was very careful to say that relating to multifiling buildings that originally built with four more bedrooms, we actually had the previous assessor provide us with information that I'm sure we could churn up again. And there weren't that many properties that had that were built with four or more bedrooms. These were traditionally triple deckers um that had four bedrooms in each unit on each floor. And if I

recall, there just weren't that many of them. And I think it regardless of how many there are, I think it would relieve some pressure on the available units. It would also eliminate a law that it's is questionably constitutional. It would also provide an opportunity uh for cheaper rent if there's four people instead of three people living in a unit. And let me just finish by saying how confusing and complicated and to me nonsensible the law is. You have to be two you have to be three related people. So, in theory, if you're a husband and a wife and an adopted child, two adopted children, you're in violation of that ordinance. I would also, which is not uncommon, and I would also say that for purposes of of following through on this, I don't know what legal authority the code would have and what time it would take to actually research the names on mailboxes, but in many cultures, the names are different. It doesn't mean they're not related. So, I I think for all those reasons, it's time for uh the Commissioner of Inspection Services to weigh in with a report and maybe we can all take a fresh look given the makeup of this council and and do away with something that I believe should have been done away with a long time ago. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chair, Council King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I think this is a great order. Um I I do have a question as it relates to this. Um, does this require a home petition? Does it require a vote? Does it require the city c like what what what is required to to actually remove this to the chair? Madam sol manager to ch to the council. It's just an amendment to the ordinance. Uh there's currently a city ordinance related to this. Uh so it's just it would be a recommendation to make an amendment to the ordinance.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll sign on. Okay. So, we'll send that to the manager. All those in favor opposed. We're on 15A. The motion is adopted on the roll call. Mr. Chairman 15A. Yeah. Thank you. I have a quick question. This is a for us to vote to authorize entering into a 5-year lease agreement on behalf of the that the school committee is recommending for a parking lot associated with the Durkin administration. Vote. There's no numbers on here. What are the numbers, Mr. Chairman, through the chair to whoever put this on the agenda? How much money are we talking about?

Not yet. I see it. Where? Where? I don't think we have that information. The whole purpose was you can enter a three I believe a three-year lease or do a fiveyear lease. You need to have a vote with the council. I know, but how much money are we voting? I'm not sure what it is. I don't have it.

It's not It's just to the council. um any lease agreements and oftent times any usual contracts that the city has where software etc only uh allows us to have a three-year contract uh if it goes beyond a three-year contract we it requires council approval.

I I recall this with the um one of the dual language schools in the past I believe um but it doesn't answer my question as to how much money are we talking about? Is that money coming out of the school committee budget? Is it coming out of our budget? What is it coming out of? Through the chair. Through the chair, to the council. This is uh Whistle Public Schools uh funding uh comes out from us whatsoever. Yeah. It comes out of their budget. It comes out of their lease agreements that they currently conduct. Thank you very much. Okay. Roll call.

Councelor Bergwin. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cona. Councelor Vo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Meitra. Yes. Conto recus himself. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. 16 A 16s. The motion advertise proposed ordinances. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Councelada. Yes. Counc. Councelor Folo. Hunter King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Dr. Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty,

yes. 16T to 16 Z and 17 A to 17 E. Motions accept and adopt. All those in favor post. So ordered. 17F to 17 Y. Motions to accept. All those in favor oppose. So ordered. Uh to be dain on a roll call. Amen. Sance uh for occupational group EM. Uh roll call. Hunter Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councelor Cona. Councelor Vo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Counc Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes.

And mayor Petty.

Yes. 19B. Held on the privilege. Request the e manager request the commission of public works and chief information officer review and provide a report to the city council concerning AR Iris the world's first automous automation vehicle that detects and seals road service cracks to prevent potholes from forming such autonomous technology could be less expensive option in comparison to conventional methods of sealing road service cracks and potholes council mitra Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, yes, I would like to make an amendment to the order adding to that saying further request city manager ensure the implementation of such a program would not adversely affect the number of union workers employed by the city. Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I just want to reiterate um autonomous vehicles um are job killers. Autonomous vehicles are people killers. Um they are not able to consistently identify uh pedestrians. They're not able to consistently identify stop signs. they are not able to um navigate as relates to school buses um their stop arms and their stop signs. Um this is um me voting for this would require a tremendous amount of irresponsibility at this point in time. Mr. Chairman, in addition to that, there's liability challenges. Who's liable if there is an issue? Um there's a public trusty issue. People don't trust vehicles without humans in them at this point in time in our community, Mr. Chairman. Um, and you know, all of those reasons and more. Um, we should not be moving towards the slippery slope of autonomous vehicles. Mr. Chairman, um, thank you.

So, Dr. Mitra,

thank you, Mr. Chair. I just would like to say that uh my order here says that um request commissioner of public works and the chief information officer review and provide a report to the city council. I'm not saying that this is something that we should adopt. I'm saying that how would that be to find out it's the same thing that councelor king uh has been saying that they may have these all these difficulties or problems but let's find out that's the order that we want to know what it does uh it's been a very successful program in in UK it is now in United States in North America and uh I think my my request here is to just to explore uh just like the civil program the company that I talked about. So it's not that is I'm saying that it should be taken but I think uh it should be explored and seen if it could be worked out and if all those difficulties are there as Mr. Coun councelor U King is mentioning then of course yeah we would not do it. However I just wanted to make sure I do the amendment so that it doesn't take the jobs from the uh city of the city of Mr.

Chairman. Thank you councel King.

Mr. Jim, and thank you for recognizing me a second time. This particular order um calls for lex expansion options in comparison to conventional methods of sealing road surface cracks and potholes. Mr. Chairman, that's called people power. This is extremely dangerous, Mr. Chairman. Um and we should not be a part of it. I appreciate and I supported the counselor's other um most other items that were before us. Um, I certainly support using new technology. Um, but as it relates to the to autonomous vehicles, um, that's going to take jobs from away from people that drive. It's going to take jobs away from our municipal employees. Um, and this council should not stand for it, Mr. Chairman.

Okay. So, this is just asking for a report, but Okay. Um, do we set roll call? Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Cono. Councelor Pollo. No. Councilor King. No. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Council. No. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. No. Councilor Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty? Yes. Okay. to vote total Mr. Chairman 6 to4. Thank you. We are

motion's to adjourn. So okay. You want to suspend the rule? No. I'd like to uh take a item off the table. Oh, okay. Hang on. Which one? 20 G, please. Okay. 20G communication city manage recommend adoption of the audit regarding the jurisdiction disposition of the realest property of 100 province street privilege. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Ha. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Councor Rosen.

Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. Uh, council. Oh, you wanted to adopt it then or Yes. Okay. So, motion was to comment on that, Mr. Chair. Council Kane. Thank you. Um, this was the item that I discussed previously. Um, and the manager indicated that there was additional information that was needing to be sought, which is why I didn't partake it off the table. Um so I would like some communication from the administration um as it relates to that through the chairman.

Mr. Manager as I stated earlier I think one of the indications of what why this was placed on and why uh we haven't been able to come forward is related to data and related to emergency services or ambulance services in the area. Again, ambulance service is an option, is an potential opportunity here or that's not being excluded as part of a a potential RFP. Um, and right now, the study that we're working on with UMass could probably give us a better indication of uh of how to best assist any area in the city that needs ambulance services.

Mr. Mr. Chairman, we just had a lengthy discussion on this property um in uh in the um item um that came from economic development, Mr. Chairman. Um and during that discussion, we had some further dialogue as relates to this 100 Providence Street. And based on the communication from the city manager, it was not apparent that the administration was in support of this. I have some further questions, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to hold it. How do you hold it? Can you hold I don't think you can hold

I think it was already held. I don't think you can hold it. So motion is to adopt holding that. Mr. Chair, I don't think you can hold We already held it a couple times. This is the next step. This was just taken off the table. I know but you can't just take you certainly can done it before. So Mr. Chair to provide some clarification. Um so this item was held on November 18th 25 and held in November 2525. So it was held twice and then it was put on the table. So what action are you holding?

It's a it's it's the order to adopt that was already held. It's in the item that was held in 2025. Yeah. 24 or whatever it was. That's been taken off the table. It's back on the table. Right. And I'm holding that vote. I don't think you can. Yeah. Madam solicitor, if you want to give some input, maybe I'll go either way, but whatever you think through the chair. Um, my interpretation is that it's already been held two times. You can't hold one measure, one item more than twice. Okay,

Mr. Chairman, I'd like a uh independent interpretation of that by way of an order. We've done this in the past. I also like some research on when we have done that. Um, and I'd like clarification because if in fact we've been doing it the wrong way, I'd like to know that. If in fact anytime you take something off the table um you're not able to procedurally do anything other than vote it up or down. I want to know that as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I get the uh report back, but this still the ruling of the chair is that uh we can not hold this and that we are going to take a vote on it and uh and go from there. Then uh yeah,

then if you want to get a special report, we can do that too. Roll call. Councelor Bregman, yes. Council Bada, no. Councilor Conno, councelor Folo, yes. Councelor King, no. Mitra, no. Council Ada, no. Answer Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Councelor Tumi, yes. And Mayor Petty, yes. Okay. And also for special report. All those in favor? Oppose? So ordered. What was the 6 to4? Suspension. Seriously?

Yeah. Just a quick one. Just remind everyone. Motion. Hang on. Motion public. Wait, wait, wait. Motion suspend. Roll call.

Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Conor Vo. Yes. Council King.

Yes. Mitra, yes. Oh, yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. Just want to, Mr. Chairman and colleagues, remind the public at large that we have the St. Patrick's Day parade coming on Sunday. Mill Street in Park. We start and it starts at 12:00 and hopefully it'll be great weather. Not much snow left out there. So, and we hope people show up. One of the best events here in the city of Worcester and we have so many of them. This is one of the best. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. You'll be walking. I'm walking. Okay.

Okay. Motion is adjourned. All those in favor? Oppose? So, a