City Council - Regular Meeting

recording in progress.

Okay, all set. Uh, good evening everyone. Welcome to the West City Council meeting. If you're able to, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Star Spangle Banner. Yeah.

Flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

By the Early light, what so proudly we held at the twilight lasting who brought stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight or the we were so gallently streaming and the rockets were in g 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. All right, let's play baseball. Okay. Roll call.

Councelor Bergman here. Councelor Bada here. Councelor Conamo here. Councelor Folo here. Councelor King here. Councelor Mitra yes here. Council Hayda here. Councelor Rivera here. Councelor Rosen here. Councelor Tumi and Mayor Petty here.

Okay. Hey, we have a couple of uh recognitions. We got four of them to be exact for poet laurate, youth poet laurate. Welcome here tonight. Much appreciated. And uh our first one is uh for Oliver de la Paz and Oliver. It uh goodness as the poet warrior for the city of WISA from 2023 to 2025. You have been an ambassador for the whist and literacy culture. You have worked to promote and transform qualities of poetry and writing throughout the community, supporting other artists, encouraging appreciation of the arts or expanding access to the arts in Worcester. You continue to inspire others through the teaching students, authoring and editing seven books and additional works and uplifting Asian-American writing throughout throughout your position as a founding member of conund. In recognition of your unwavering commitment to the city of Worester, it is only right on this occasion of this term's conclusion is only right and fitting that you received the city's highest honor. Want to congratulate you and present you the key to city were city of Worester for the multi-year term as poet warrior. Come on down with me. One minute.

There you go. Awesome. Thank you. Okay, Serenity Jackson's up next and uh youth poet warrior. As a youth po poet warrior of the city of WSA from 24 to 25, you worked as an ambassador to Wista historic literacy culture. You have used your position to promote the trans transformation qualities of poetry and writing throughout the community, supporting other artists, encouraging appreciation of poetry, following your own dreams and rap and writing while studying to become a nurse and inspiring others and has helped to raise awareness of the arts throughout the Wister and beyond. In recognition, unwavering commitment to the city of Worcester and on the occasion of your term's conclusion, it's only right and fives the city's highest honor. Congratulations and welld deserved. It's my distinct pleasure to present you the key to the city of Worester on this occasion of the conclusion of your multi-year term as youth poet laurate.

Thank you. I got two more. Okay. Is anybody here for the Arab American Heritage Month? Irish. Oh, no. That's it. We're all done. Okay.

I'm Irish. I'm gonna read it anyways. Okay. Oh, wait a minute. We got one more gift. I'm sorry, guys. We do have one more. I'm sorry. Well, Shiny and Ya. Where's Yafa? Is Yafa there still? Come on out. Yafa, we'll give Trinity has this medal here for her achievements. Sorry,

everybody. All right. Okay. Thank you. Okay, we also have a proclamation for ArabAmerican Heritages Month. Whereas Arab Arab Americans continue to make valuable contributions to the city of W's success and quality of life. Whereas a Arab-Americans deserve to be recognized for their contributions to vitality of our community, having enforced its sense of shared culture, diversity, and setting the examples of model citizens and public servants. Whereas Arab Americans, Arab Americans have been subject to misrepresentation society and often confront these issues that come with unawareness of their heritage. The celebration of which educates our fellow Americans while countering misconceptions and harmful stereotyping. Whereas communities that provide space for acceptance and appreciation to diverse populations uplift their people and ensure that everyone continues to uh feel welcomed, safe and respected equally. Now therefore, I Jose Petty, mayor of the city of Worester, do hereby proclaim the month of April as Arab American Heritage Month in the city of Worcester. Is anybody here for that tonight? No. Seeing nobody. Okay.

Okay. We also have architecture week here in the city of Vista. Oh, you guys are here for that. Okay. Okay. Whereas a church week held between April 12th and April 18th, 2026 is the annual celebration hosted by the AIA Central Mass and promote awareness and appreciation of architecture. Whereas architecture week highlights the impact of design on daily life and showcases the value architecture brings to the Worester communities. Whereas W's rich architecture history and diverse built environment reflect the city's cultural heritage and contribute to the unique visual character. And whereas architects design professionals play a vital role in creating healthy, resilient, and inspiring public and private spaces throughout Worcester. And whereas AIA central Massachusetts advances through thoughtful community design, responsible stewardship and built environments and public engagement that educates our understanding of architecture. And whereas Worcester benefits from the architecture week throughout strengthen community pride, economic development, and recognition as a hub of design excellence. Now therefore, I Joseph Petty, mayor of the city of Wester, hereby proclaim the week of April 12th to the 18th as architecture week in the city of Worcester. Councelor Bergman, do you want to present that to uh Sean?

If you want Y Thank you very much.

Excuse me. Messed the mic up. First time up here. I I just really want to say thank you for this. Mayor Petty, city manager Batista, city council. Uh, being a Worester kid myself, growing up here and being able to come back home and be an architect and the president of the American Institute of Architects for Central Mass, I don't know how important or I, as you can see, I'm lost for words right now. I love this city. I want to see us continue to do amazing things here. If you have anything you want to do with the build community, we launched the design and community partnership with the city city manager and WPI. Please reach out. Thank you very much. And uh we're doing stuff all week. We uh was reading to students at Gates Lane and Worester Dual Language yesterday and uh we have some more events going on. So stay tuned. Thank you.

That's great. Look forward to the Bronco High School design. Yeah, that too. Okay, we have the approval of the minutes March 24th, 2026. All those in favor? So ordered. We have some items that going to be held tonight. Councelor Bergman is going to hold 10J which has to do with the housing authority and also uh Council Rob is going to hold 8.4A which is the TIF. Okay. Okay. Public participation. Uh a person may speak for no more than two minutes on the item appearing on the agenda. There's your name, residence, and item number. Um Mr. Cork, you're all set.

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

Listen, I have a question. If I'm talking about seven, E, F, and K, I can only talk about one, right? You can talk all three on all three, but you only have two minutes total. Oh, I'm going to talk fast. Okay. Okay. Okay.

Okay. My name is Moren Schwab, 23 Canton Street, vice president, Green Island Resident Group Incorporated, speaking in support of petition 7Ef and K. And first of all, I want to thank city councilors Mitra Oha and administrative assistant Aiden Gleason for for their assistance in filing these petitions and to the Worcester Police Department for their ongoing enforcement and assistance. Um 7E and F are requests for the installation of speed bumps on Canton Street in Ashwantav. These petitions have already been referred to traffic and parking. The need for speed bumps has evolved out of growing occurrence of electric bicycles, motorcycles, and scooters that speed down these streets with no regard for local traffic and cars that enter and exit driveways on these streets. A second serious safety issue is the deliberate travel of motorcycle cars, bikes, and scooters that choose to go the wrong way on these one-way streets. Canton Street borders Crompton Park, where children are put at extremely high risk because of careless drivers. The playground is at the corner of Harding and Canton. 7K, which has been referred to the Veterans Memorial Parks and Recck Commission, is a request for the installation of number one, no alcohol allowed, number two, no loud music, and number three, park closes at 10 p.m. signage at Crompton Park and its entrance to Canton Street. Loud music has become another escalating and disturbing issue for our neighborhood. The most recent development is individuals who come and park on Canton Street bring large speakers which they set up on the sidewalk or in the street. Last night, an individual arrived at 9:30 with a friend in a second car and proceeded to blast music that could be heard all the way over on Ashmont Avenue, one street over from where the cars were parked. The two cars were parked in front of the tenants court and a triple speaker was set up right on Canton Street and the noise was clearly

a audible 200 ft and beyond. A local news outlet describes Can you wrap up? Okay, thank you. The end. Thank you.

Uh Fred Nathan Worester. Um, I've always been a big supporter of the police. However, 8.3 uh a with the uh dealing with the uh the gross uh payroll uh earners. I think right now the police in the city of Worcester, somebody's taking a black eye because uh the article in the paper uh yesterday uh had a a police lieutenant who's not who's I'm not going to mention his name. It mentioned his salary, but then it also mentioned that his overtime, his regular pay, his um detail, but there was one other uh mention in there and it just said other and now it's for like $70,000. Quiring reminders want to know why it's other. 8.39. Um, are we going to keep on hearing about any issues dealing with CSX? If CXX has not been um uh doing what they're supposed to do and in in the older city money, they need to get their stuff straight. Um 11A um the city council uh recognize the police department. I will recognize them and when they're doing a good job, I recognize them uh the recognition uh that they deserve. And I believe there's one more. Oh, yes. The school over on Grafton Street that's is creating such a problem uh with the parking there. The cars lining up. I realize that's gonna change in about another week or two thanks to councelor

uh Frisola's item. Um it's definitely a dangerous situation to have on all those cars lined up like that. MC residence and item number

Andrew Marsh 212 Main Street in Worcester. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I rise in opposition to resolution 11A. Mr. Mayor, it is the city council's responsibility to provide meaningful and substantive oversight to the Worcester Police Department. It is not the city council's responsibility, nor is it remotely appropriate to shower the department with pointless and unnecessary accolades when there and their associated unions id is already higher in the sky than Artemis 2's flight trajectory. The events of the past year have shown that the WPD has broken the public trust and passage of this resolution will similarly break the public's trust in its municipal legislature to exercise any measure of accountability to rein in its worst excesses. This resolution is so insensitive and tonedeaf that if its passage succeeds, we may as well hand over our World Series trophy to the Yankees in advance. I urge this council to reject this resolution and commit to meaningful oversight of the police department and its union. I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you. Is your name city residents?

Good evening. Councilors Mike Kaine um city Worester resident as well as I'm representing the Worcester regional chamber here tonight. Um I'm here to speak in support of the chief development officer's recommendation to pause the enforcement of the specialized stretch code. Since the city council initiated the order, um we've heard from a number of developers active in the Worcester market. And um they've shared that the added complexity um increased costs and tighter lending standards are making fewer housing projects financially feasible here in the city. All this happening at a time when we could least afford additional barriers to housing production. According to the city's housing production plan, Worcester needs to produce more than a thousand housing new housing units each year um for the foreseeable future to meet this demand. And you'll likely hear from a couple of our developers this evening. And from our conversations, um a consistent theme has emerged. Um the implementation of the enhanced code introduced additional layers of regulation along with new design and compliance requirements. These changes um increase both the hard and soft construction costs, making it more difficult to move projects forward. Um this enhanced stretch code adds costs to an already rigorous state energy code and is a real financial obstacle for Worcester's goal of building more housing, which also creates jobs in the construction trades and expands our city's tax base. Given the timing and the cumulative impact of these requirements on top of an already elevated interest rates, insurance costs, labor, and materials, uh the chamber supports a pause of no less than 12 months um of the implementation of the code. Thanks. And this would give developers, supply chains, and our utility infrastructure time needed to prepare and adapt. Again, thank you.

Thank you. Your name's your residents. I Oh, hi. My name is Mark Dees. Uh I'm speaking on all of the agenda items tonight. Um Mayor Petty and city councilors, I suggest that Worcester's form of representative democracy using city councilors be replaced by a form of direct democracy called sort which was used in ancient Athens which I think is a more effective form of democracy. Can you talk? Thank you. Okay. Does your name s your resident item number?

Hello. Um, my name is Alyssa Harmon and I live in Connecticut, but I work at 162 Chandler Street here in Worcester. Um, and I will be speaking about 19A. Um, I've worked at CHL for almost four years. Over the past few years, UMass has systematically dismantled vital programs at CHL with no regard for the staff of these programs nor the communities that need these services to survive. Now, they have announced that CHL will be entirely dismantled. They have shared no plan for this process, only saying that some programs will close while others will be absorbed by non-UN agencies. They say that they will do so without disrupting services or jobs, but that is simply not true. Their past actions prove that. In 2023, they abruptly shut down three detox programs, leaving 80 staff and countless clients vulnerable. Despite promises to reopen within months, the process took years. In 2025, they chose to abruptly shut down our motivating youth and recovery program, which is a detox program for teens. This violated state regulations, which require a 90-day period that allows for community stakeholders to weigh in on closures of essential services. We are here today to ask all of you to stand with us at CHL to demand that UMass share what their plan is with full transparency and to ensure that if any program is absorbed by another agency that our f full workforce is retained and our union contract is recognized. We cannot let UMass dismantle an agency that has been serving the most disadvantaged of our communities since 1977 without a clear path that prevents serious disruption to the communities we serve. We cannot let UMass destabilize an entire workforce full of experienced, dedicated, and uniquely capable service workers. Let us stand together to protect our communities.

Okay, we'll let one that one go. It's that item is not on the agenda tonight. So, uh you're not allowed to speak about it. So, okay. No, on the SEIU anyways, it's not on but we do have an item under suspension. Mr. Chairman, I think they're speaking on 19A from what I heard. Um, what's 19A? That's that's mental health and police responses. Was it mental health? Okay. Okay. Go ahead then, Mr. Chair. What? Well, I didn't realize it was on mental health 19. I thought it was a police item. We do have an item. How can we just suspend the rules? We have an item that you want to read tonight.

Public statement if you want. I'm going to do it now so they can speak on it. So motion suspend the rules to bring something under suspension. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. No. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Econom. Yes. Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councor Broen. Yes. Tumi. No.

And Mayor Petty. Yes, it says whereas mental health and substance abuse services occur with the residents of Worcester, UMass Community Health Inc. has provided mental health services since 1977 and dissolved by and CHL is being dissolved by UMass Memorial. The continuation of these services are vital to health and well-being of the wor community where CHL workers have union contracts with SEIU and a strong contract is essential to quality of services and whereas UMass hospital has brought together shareholders to discuss the plan to transfer the services to new providers that the city council lists hereby in support of the UMass Memorial Healthcare immediately convenient stakeholders state government and the community representation disclosed their physician plan from community health link. mental health and substance abuse services to provide in uninterrupted na uh names manner. Okay, good.

Thank you. Good evening everybody. I'm Thomas in Levik. I've been a community health link uh worker for 16 years, most recently working within the continuum. We are calling upon you tonight for a resolution on UMass's dismantling of CHL. We are already feeling the impact of UMass not working with us to keep our programs in full operation during this time of transition. We need to calm the chaos UMass has caused by recklessly putting forth closures of programs that CHL provides for the community for the past 50 years. CHL has been the largest provider in the Wester County area. We have done the work that others have not done. Our caregivers are skilled and full of knowledge of the intricate systems of the mental health and substance use treatment and is dedicated to keep our programs running. The community cannot afford a decrease in treatment. The city cannot afford another closure of our vital services. CHL caregivers are ready to continue their work in our com for our community and looking for you to demand UMass on what their plan is for our agency and the services that we provide to the community. Thank you.

Um good evening everyone. Uh my name is Quanlu. I'm a a worooster resident and a residential counselor from community health link. I work um at community health link over 20 years and I'm the I'm one of the worker who um impact by the recent announcement of um CHL closer of CHL. I'm here today because these closer don't just threaten our jobs. They also threaten essential mental health and recovery service for some of the most vulnerable people in our state. We're already seeing pattern of insistability and uncertainty as UMass has continued to chip away at our programs over the last several years. Now with the latest announcement of closure, we're alarmed to see that there have been no clear plan to retain staff, ensure a union contract is reci recognized at any successor agency or ensure community of care. I I have personally witnessed how transformative the service we provide can be to people while we are going through some of the toughest time of their lives. This service this service save people lives. We need all of the support we can. I urge the council and the all the community members to express their support and stand with us as we demand no disruption of service, retention of the existing workforce and union recognition moving forward at any assessor agency. Thank you.

Thank you. Just real quick, um, what's your name?

I'm Ricardo Rodriguez. Um, I currently live in Fitsburg. However, I am a born and raised in Wister and I also do work at Community Health Link. Um, and my name, image, and likeness is all over the city for for those of you guys who don't know know. So, I am prominent out here. Anyway, the point of the matter is this just real quick. We're really more into the continuity of care for these clients that we work with. I've been at CHL for 10 years. I have plenty of opportunities to go other places and do other things um city state and all that stuff. But one of the things that UMass needs to understand about CHL is that we're the direct line of contact with a lot of these people. A lot of these mental health dual diagnosis people that out here on these streets, you know what I mean? Behind City Hall, up and down Main Street, King Street, all the areas that a lot of you folks don't want to go to, don't want to deal with. And the people that you see are the ones that we actually are hand hand on with. You know, our jobs are very dangerous too at times, but we like our jobs and we still do our jobs. Um, I'm not saying that UMass is not capable of doing the work. You know what I mean? I'm not saying that the other agencies that they're looking at to do the work or take over our contracts are not capable of doing the work because I'm pretty sure they they they are. What I'm saying is those of us who have been working for CHL and choose to work for CHL, been here for years with CHL, are dealing with constituents and people in the city who really are familiar with us um through all the different changes they've been through physically, sexually, and mentally abused in the city. We're dealing with that. All the different drugs and crimes and stuff that happen to folks, we're dealing with that. And I don't know if you guys know, but it's hard for people who are in need or people who are out there to reach out and actually ask for the help. So, when they finally get it from someone who's been with them for years, they kind of get get a bond with that person and want to stay working with that person. I'm just saying I just hope that UMass and whatever other agencies or if we continue with the CHL stuff, they take that all into consideration. we take in consideration the people that we actually are we're the hands-on frontline people. So I just wanted to

put that out there. Thank you. Your name city residents and uh item number your name. Okay.

Good evening. Robera Brian Worester Business Development Corporation. I'm here tonight to support uh the chief development officer's recommendation on the pause of the specialized stretch code due in part to the difficulty in implementing the requirements to achieve a successful development for both the developer and the end users. lack of US-made materials, inconsistent supply chains, delays in securing power for all electric buildings, and the inability to layer energy sources such as solar with our current infrastructure weakens the feasibility of the code and dilutes development parcels to their lowest viable use. In addition, Worcester is the only community within 30 miles to have adopted the specialized stretch code, putting it at risk of being passed over for development and in addition pushing development to surrounding communities with only the base code in place at times, thereby negating any positive impact of potential climate benefits. While development is only one source of climate degradation and while no one is seeking to increase our climate vulnerability, we need to choose our solutions carefully so that our goals are balanced and the city continues to thrive for all of its residents. Thank you.

Thank you. Your names your residents item number

Walter Bird Worcester. Thank you Mr. Mayor, counselors, and the city manager. I'm excited to be tonight um to speak on an item that I think is pretty important and that's establishing the Worester Sports Commission and that is um item 10B. I want to specifically thank councelor Okonamu for bringing this water forward. I really appreciate his willingness and his excitement. I was already feeling good about it, but I felt even better and I believe it represents a really strong opportunity for the city of Worcester. I also want to thank uh some of the his colleagues that I understand have also signed on. So, I appreciate that. We appreciate that. We're already a sports city from the Woo Socks, the Bravehearts, the Railers to the athletic teams at our colleges and universities to soccer, boxing, little league, and a lot more. Uh, sports are woven into the very fabric of this city. And I believe that could all be enhanced by a coordinated strategy to promote, grow, and capitalize these assets. I believe Worcester needs a sports commission focused on making Worcester a sports destination, attracting sports enthusiasts who would fill our hotels, support our restaurants, and generate real economic activity. The commission would look at what's here and also look at what could be. It would create opportunities. It would position Worcester to think strategically about the future of sports in the city. Do we need additional field space, a multi-use indoor facility, opportunities to host higher level collegiate or regional events? How about a Massachusetts Boxing Hall of Fame? These are the kinds of questions a sports commission could take on in a focused and intentional way. I want to say in closing, establishing a Worcester sports commission is smart and it's a a trustic a strategic step. I apologize. It can strengthen our economy, support our residents, and elevate Worcester's profile across the region and beyond. And we have other commissions. Uh we have a ballpark commission. We have a civic commission. We have other commissions. and maybe we

can uh consolidate in some places and have a sports commission really kind of take the lead. So, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. Your name is your residence item number.

Hello. Uh my name is Gary Hunter. I'm in district five. Uh first thing quickly I'd like to talk about is 13A. I think we should uh look at that and endorse that program because people going bankrupt with health cost and this would be a very big step for the state of Massachusetts to put this through. Second one quickly I would like to talk about is um public works to consider opening for dumping and more hours. I know. Um I've been trying to get rid of some stuff and it's really hard to make an appointment to get over there and do it. Uh I think this is causing problems where people are dumping stuff on the side of the road because they can't even get in there to uh I would encourage you to extend the hours and maybe even make it free because they're not charging that much anyway. 10A I and 19 about the police department. I'm I'm in favor of of recognizing the police that have done a great job beyond and what their normal duties are. But I think the first thing we have to look at is a civil review board. The DOJ report is is sitting in limbo somewhere and we don't know if there was any accountability. I think uh I'm in favor of police getting recognition when they do their job. But I think before we do that, come up with a vote and tell us what's going on with the DOJ report. There's

Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Jennifer Guzman. Um I live in the city of Worcester, born and raised here. Um, I work for Community Health Link in the crisis stabilization unit. I am a certified peer support specialist. You know, years ago, I was a client of CHL. Yeah. I had mental health issues and I needed help. And these people were a great program and they brought me to where I am today. I'm working in this unit now where I used to be a patient. And I care a lot for the clients that we have. These people don't have anything else. We serve the homeless. We serve people who are uninsured. These people have nowhere else to go. And I know mental health doesn't concern many people if it doesn't affect you. But let me tell you, it's really it this is important and we really need people to stand with our workers because these clients don't have much trust for anybody. And when they work with us consistently, we develop that trust and and they're more likely to come to us for the help. So, like I said, I I was a client of CHL years ago and now I work for them. I've worked for the past three years. I can tell you since I've joined um first I was in Lemoner and they closed my program down. Then I moved to Worcester and they start closing other programs down. It's like they're systematically shutting our programs down and these people have nowhere else to go. We have like waiting lines. We have patients sitting in the emergency room. Three weeks at a time they're boarding because we don't have enough mental health services. And now UMass wants to shut down more services, transition them to other organizations. We've been doing this a really long time. We know what we're doing and we're

the best choice for our community. Thank you.

Hello and good evening. My name is Magdarin Jagona. I'm a clinician at CCHL. I've been working there for five years. I'm immigrant from Kenya and I came here and I went to school. I became a a social worker and I I'm proud of working at CHL for five five good years. I work at emergency services. We meet the crisis where it at like today I had a tough crisis where I went to West Boilstone and met the crisis where it was and I was able to help that client who was growing through psychosis and I was able to send the client to UMass. We are sad because our program is crossing when it was closed last 2023 it was sad. I work 7 to 3 and when I'm coming at 6:30 I have met so many people on the street where I have knock on some of them others they were normal there we met one cry and one of our client who had passed on at Chandra Street Chandra elementary you can imagine those kids coming to school in morning and find someone dead at the door we are sad because our community is not going to be safe if our program is closed we save a lot of lives And we have this connection with the worester porester police department emergency services even emaction with the community. We have the connection with all the people who save life. We are here to save life for our people. We don't want to see this happening. If there is a program that is going to take us, if they going to like another program which going to be broad, let it take us all of us and we go with our employee because we know our client, we know what they need and we meet them at where they at all the time. Thank you for your service and help and we you're

going to support us to keep this program and save our city. Thank you. Did your name see your residents? Hello, I'm Luis Contraa, a Worcester resident in district 4 park a area who loves Worcester and an SEIU local 509 union steward, a community health linked counseling center, affiliate of UMass Memorial. I'm here today to address the gross mismanagement that UMass Memorial has done these past years with CHL's programs. Currently, UMass Memorial is dismantling vital programs by giving the state's contracts to separate organizations. I implore this council to have oversight over UMass Memorial. is already mismanaged their restructuring with programs like FCT, OBAT program, MIR, our detoxes, barrels house, Orchard Street, and our hope program. Please help us keep our union together as we transition. allow us to give our clients the services they deserve with proper continuum of care from our experienced caring experts. Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, we've got a time clock here. That is that new? There it is, too. I'm burning it. Uh hello. Uh this is my name is Ted Connor, city of Worcester. Um couple things I just want to acknowledge and thank um council councelor Rivera for 10e which is uh seeking to increase hazardous waste and bulk uh waste pickup and a drop off and pickup. I think that's a good thing. and councelor Friso uh for 10i the uh request for u looking at best practices for managing invasive species both important things. I also want to speak to what I believe is 8 is it 84B the specialized uh stretch code. Um and I just I'm I'm concerned that I I've I've studied the recommendation that came back uh the report that came to the manager manager's recommendation. It does not seem to answer the question. Um I mean it seems to be kind of a a one-sided recommendation. I'm not seeing the the uh the the um the counterbalancing arguments and I'm not seeing any plan for what we're going to do to make up for what's lost if we pause the specialized stretch code. Um so I would hope that this body would um I don't know where this is going to go, but I hope this body would would not act rashly and suspend something. We're already almost two years in. We are um um on the learning curve. We're learning what to do. Pausing it is disruptive. And um instead, I would hope that you

will seek out some additional information. For example, it's been said over and over. Could I have a few more seconds? Couple seconds to wrap it up. Couple seconds. I I hear over and over that um the the uh specialized code is an obstacle to housing production, but the actual numbers we issued a lot more permits in the year and a half after we adopted the code than we did before we adopted it. So, thank you. Before you Okay, we're good. Thank you. We're good. Thanks. Okay. Appreciate it.

Does your name say your residence item number? Yep. Eric Appleton, Western Massachusetts. I'm here to talk about the stretch code as the prior person did uh two seconds ago. And essentially uh I I mean I agree with uh Mr. Batista's uh letter uh differently from the person who spoke before me. And there's a lot of reasons for that. as somebody who's been involved in recent development that involved uh qualifying for stretch code on a new construction and then extraneous uh costs associated with hitting that minion. Uh the long and the short of it is if you're going to build affordable housing in Worcester where your average rent is uh for a three-bedroom is $2,700 currently and we have new projects coming online for $3,700. Uh as we all know that it came to Mr. Batista for a tax uh burden or tax assessment reduction. The problem with that is great. Hers and Specialize, especially the new stretch codes that they're talking about are great if you're building 300 units or plus. Absolutely. Now, when you start getting into like tens and 20s, your real cost isn't an improve improvement or real cost of 3% or so or five or four. It really could round up as much to 30. And if we're talking about long-term down the road, there's going to be a problem with our whole housing stock in Worcester because we're going to have this dichotomy between very expensive, high-priced compliant and places that pay off their affordable quotient and then we're going to have a

small number of small construction companies that are locally owned that are trying to basically improve the overall product. And if I may say one more thing, I don't think we want a Robert Moses Worester. I think the best way is figuring out a way that this could be done financially uh viable viable for our three deck stock. Thank you very much.

Um my um my name is Linda Marx. I um work for Community Health Link in a residential um recovery services program. Um I've been there for 14 years and um we are being dismantled right now. Um and it I'm watching our our girls are frightened. They don't even know where they're going. some of them. Um, this we provide Community Health Link when I started 14 years ago had so many different kinds of services. Um, and I felt proud to work there. I'm still proud of what we do. Um, and I do want to say that I have watched over 14 years women put their lives together again. We serve women and um, for like six months we help them get their lives back together. Um, and uh, you know, some of them haven't been there that long. Um it's also really disruptive to the staff that work there um that have provi provided these services and understand what these women go through. Um and the continuity of care is so important. Um and I we're already we're already being and currently like I said being dismantled which um so what I would like to speak to is that we don't further continue allow you to continue to dismantle our programs.

Thank you. Thank you. We have four more speakers. Uh we need a suspension of the rules. So let the four more speakers. four or five more speakers to speak. Um motion to suspend the rules. Uh we only have one, two, three, four, two, six more speakers. Let's we'll go 20. So make sure we're all set. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Solo. Yes. Council King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Councilor Hayda. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Councelor Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Go ahead. Just your name and see your residence.

Thank you. My name is Cora Desplaines. I am not a resident of the city of Worcester. I actually live all the way out in Barry, but I work out here and I've worked out here for the last year. I'm a local 509 union member and a caregiver at CHL for Barl's House. I come before you this evening requesting your support in maintaining our community services without further disruption that the workforce is retained and that our union contract is upheld and recognized. As I said, I began working for barrels a year ago. And in this past year, I quickly realized how precious this program is for women and infants. Just this past year, I've watched a mother gain back her freedom. Oh crap, I lost myself. Through this program, we guided her on how to work her with her social worker, encouraged her to fight for her children, and through all her ups and downs, we the caregivers were there. For every happy and angry tear and every winter setback, we were there. She graduated our program with two jobs in her own apartment. And a few months after leaving, she was able to bring her baby home for the first time. Barrels and Orchard Street are the only treatment programs of its kind in Worcester County. These programs help struggling women find their lives, get back their children, and return to the workforce, many of which find careers working in the recovery community. Continuity of care is crit is a critical piece to their already fragile time in their recovery process. We ask you as stakeholders in this city to call upon UMass and demand that you along with us are a part of their planning process to ensure that our clients remain in treatment and our caregivers continue to care give them the care that they so desperately need. Thank you for your time and allowing me to speak.

Next speaker.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Uh for the record, Mark Borenstein, a lifelong resident of Worcester. I'm here to speak in support of item 8.4A. 4 A, excuse me, B, uh, the pause associated with specialized energy code. I spoke uh, when this matter first appeared before the council uh, in in support of of councelor Bergman's order. I certainly think that in terms of after reading the city manager's report, the proposed pause will allow for us to balance the really the interest that we have in the city, which is adhering to our climate goals, but also allowing for an increase in housing units. So, I I've worked with developers. I know firsthand that the specialized energy code is causing issues with respect to cost, but also most importantly to timing. I certainly think that this pause will give inspectional services the time it needs to get more inspectors, get people up to speed, and for us to make a dent in the need for additional housing. So, I would respectfully request the council to support the city manager's recommendation for the pause. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker. This is name residence item number. Uh good evening, mayor, um city councilors. Darnell Dunn, director of business recruitment for the uh Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and I'm here to speak in support of the uh chief development officer's um proposed amendment to the TAI agreement for 39 Green Island Boulevard. You know, amending this agreement would allow GFI Partners, a real estate developer and owner of 1.23 23 million square feet over seven properties here in the city of Worcester to move forward with the residential development of 197 transit oriented units that will add to um our housing stock here in the city. We'll provide financial resources to the affordable housing trust to create more incomerestricted units and help narrow the fiscal deficit within the diff. Um GFI has been, you know, a long-term um partner to the city. I think they've exemplified that through the redevelopment of the uh US Steel site that took a contaminated brownfield site and turned it into, you know, state-of-the-art um 630,000 square foot um distribution site um for um national, local, and um and regional uh distributors. It also allowed a company founded here in Worcester um Imperial develop uh distributors rather to um to bring their headquarters back to to Worcester. Um you could think of uh very few developers who um you know who are more worthy of this kind of support than them and and in and hope that the council will move forward with it. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker, she names the residence item number.

Adam Gavl. I'm a developer and uh contract in the city of Worcester. I grew up in Worcester. I've been in Worcester my whole life. I've done projects in Worcester. And I'm here to support the pausing of the stretch code. Um I'm just going to be very quick. Supply and demand. And this stretch code is good for 30 to $60 million developments. But the small guy, the small developer who's doing a $5 million project, who's doing 16 to 24 units, it really makes a dent in the design, the implementation, everything that comes to fruition. And really, increasing costs on a development project just increases rents. And the only way to bring down rents, like I said, is increasing the supply of housing. We have we need 12,000 units in the city. Um, and having more class B housing, which is really like a renovated or a new building. Maybe not a bunch of amenities. It's not luxury, but that is really what most of people who live in Worcester are looking for based on the last 15 years of leasing apartments that I've been dealing with in the city. And uh, everyone, you know, there's nice projects at 145 Front Street. There's all these nice huge developments, but just recently, uh, gentleman who came up to me looking for an apartment, he says, "I'm paying 2450 for a onebedroom at 145 Front Street. I want to pay around 18 to,900 for a one-bedroom. I don't need all these amenities. I don't need a pool. I don't need a gym. I just want a safe place to rest my head at the end of a long shift." Um, and that's one of the reasons why I'm supporting this pause. It will literally promote more housing in the city to have smaller developers come in and do projects that don't get tiffs, that don't ask for anything, that don't look for publicity, they just want to come in, build housing, and makes the city of Worcester better. Uh, I'm one of them and uh, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. And, uh, thank you guys.

Thank you. Our next speaker,

your name res. Good evening, councilors. Uh my name is Jonathan Morales. I am a Worcester resident and I'm speaking on behalf of the Worcester Affordable Housing Coalition. To summarize a statement uh the coalition has put out regarding 8.4A, uh we support building new housing in Worcester, but it must be housing that Worcester residents can actually afford. Uh the proposal would provide a significant significant public subsidies, including a 10-year tax exemption and $2.5 million in state tax credits. uh for a development where rents start at nearly $2,000 for a studio and go go up to over $3,700 for a three-bedroom. These rents are simply out of reach for the essential workers uh service workers, seniors, and families that keep our city running. To afford a one-bedroom at nearly $2,500 a month, a household would need to earn over $79,000 a year. That is far above what many Worcester residents make. We urge the council to take a stand and ensure that when public funds are used, they create housing that is accessible to all Worcester residents, not just the highest earners. And we ask you to prioritize affordability and make sure that public investment truly serves the public. Uh and then as an individual, I want to just quickly speak on uh 8:16A and just say that, you know, I urge the council um to take the planning board's recommendations regarding um the keeping of uh residential keeping of chickens. Uh I think it's it's ridiculous that you would think to kind of infringe on people's liberties to do something like this. And honestly, keeping chickens is not a crime. Repairing your vehicle in your driveway is not a crime. What is a crime is sexual harassment and domestic violence and anybody who thinks any of that is acceptable to quote the counselor is living in the wrong neighborhood. Thank you very much.

Okay, Mr. Clerk. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to start with participation online. David Webb is the first calling user. Say your name and city of residence. Yes. Hello. Are you able to hear me? Um, no, we cannot hear you. What is it? Can you speak up? Yeah. One second. Is this better? A little bit better. It's a little better, but it's still mumbled. Uh, can you come back to me after another speaker? Okay, go ahead. Mr. Mayor, the next speaker is John. Trying to meet the resident now. Please say your name and study your residence.

Mr. Mayor, this is John Weaver, uh, president, CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives. Sorry I couldn't be there with you tonight. I am uh coaching my son's soccer team. I'm a resident of Sturbridge, but I spend all my days trying to grow the biotech cluster in central Massachusetts, including Worcester, and trying to bring those good high-paying jobs uh that are accessible to Worcester residents to our community. Here to speak on the city, man, the the chief development officer's recommendation to pause the specialized stretch code and ask the council to move forward with that pause. fully agree with all the comments around affordable housing which is a key priority for the city as well as for the industry to make sure our our employees have places to live. also wanted to raise an issue that we're seeing in the biotech cluster where you know simply to provide the HVAC requirements for these really advanced facilities and ensure that it's safe for laboratory technicians you have to provide very high air exchanges and really complicated HBAC systems that frankly the technology doesn't exist currently to allow for um going all electric and meeting a lot of the requirements on the specialized code. Um, so we would ask, we think, you know, pausing sends the right signal, sends the signal that Worcester is really serious about our climate goals and that we're moving in this direction, but it gives technology developers and companies and contractors more time to understand and work towards being able to provide the technology um that's required for this type of type of shift. So, we would ask the council to consider, you know, pausing the the specialized stretch code to send the right signal that we're serious about our climate goals. We're moving in this direction and we want the industry to move along with us. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker. Next speaker. Joe. Mr. Mayor. The next speaker is Joe. Can I meet the resident now?

Hi, my name is Joe Carsha. Just speaking on 10A briefly. Um, it would be helpful if you enforce the noise ordinance on Lincoln Street. Um, the city council is currently stonewalling the North Lincoln Street neighborhood about a chronic noise nuisance um that's been going on for years. I would really appreciate it if you responded to my emails asking about policy and discrepancies between what employees are telling people and what public records show. So, I'm going to just call in every week until I get some answers here. really appreciate it. Thank you,

Mr. Mayor. Next speaker is Natalie Gibson. Sh with the resident now.

Hello, Natalie Gibson. Uh, District 5, Worcester, Mass. Uh, good to see you in the audience. Um, Councelor Rob Balada, I'm speaking on 6A u regarding um the old Big D property. I do hope that um the city the planning board or refer to the planning board so that they uh can take care of that little piece of land so that uh Mr. Samuel Adams can go ahead and build his development if it is approved. Um, also I wanted to speak I don't know a lot about the stretch codes, but I'm thinking to myself that if you all uh pretty much unanimously voted uh for these stretch codes a year ago or a little more than a year ago, you did it for a reason. So why don't we just continue to keep that in place and things will continue to the cost of things will continue to rise. We know this. Nothing's coming down. What you do need to bring down is the cost of living for people. Um the other thing that I wanted some clarification on is I see that when it comes to the speed bumps, a lot of these things are recommended to be accepted for filing. So I'm just wondering if all those speed bumps that I see listed and I'll say number 17. H which is Fourth Street. Um, does that mean that there are no no speed bumps that are going to be placed?

Okay, thank you.

Mr. May, I want to try David Webb one more time. Can you please state your name and city of residence? David Webb, Olympia, are you able to hear me now? Yes, you're all set.

Cool. Great. Thank you so much. Um, okay. David Webb Olympia. First and foremost, Community Health Link is an incredible organization, and anyone who cares about the city should support the people who spoke earlier. They actually make Worcester better and safer and save lives. Supporting continuity of care is the least you can do. 8.3A shows who is benefiting from all of the problems in Worcester. And I think everyone should review those numbers and maybe ask if a clerk deserves $200,000 while their constituents access to public participation is limited further and further. You know this assist instance aside 84 84 A and B show the city how Eric manager Eric Batista supports evil developers who are fracking Worcester for its real estate. 816A shows the public that the city doesn't listen to the people and how the city manager uses various departments to maintain a shortage of food and resources. 19A defunding CHL while commending the police is particularly tonedeaf. The examples in the recent lawsuit was the tame stuff. The Worester Police Department has caused suicides and we all know someone whose life has been ruined in a situation they escalated. 11A is absolutely brilliant, a truly great idea. Of course, we should be appreciating the police even more. They have shown that they are not racist. They are not classist. They don't harass homeless people or target activists. And they are well trained and capable of handling mental health crisises of both their own and others. I think that the armed forces of Worcester that come in from Paxton and Milbury to oppress black, brown, and trans people of Worcester are doing an excellent job. I specifically think we should recognize Carrie Hazelhurst for planting evidence, Michael Bianca Monor Jr. for tasing a pastor, Dominic Daffano for his excellence in pulling over black drivers with an honorable mention to Taylor Busher or Bouchet for harassing people downtown. So yes, ignoring the myriad of lawsuits, let's recognize them for all the good rest they've given for the city and give them a 5% raise while we're at it. Also, can we award the law department for complying with the public records law? Um, all everyone's values are on full display. I don't think your propaganda is working, Eric Batista. So, y'all should probably do better and maybe start caring about constituents.

Thanks. Moving on. Okay. We are on petition 6A to 6C. Mr. Chairman council Rosa, since we just heard so much about the uh CHL issue, is it appropriate now if I present an order dealing with that issue? Present the what? An order dealing with We have it right here. We have one already. Council King, I read it. You already has it. It doesn't deal directly, I don't think, with it. Does it says Yeah. Okay. It does.

Yeah. It says hereby go to support UMass medical concerning stakeholders the munipal and state government the community NCI union representatives to the schools their transition plan with the community health link and mental health and substance abuse service the new providers and uninterrupted manner. So he's asking for a meeting and and to support this. Okay. So I was going to have the uh public health and human services committee of the city council hold a public hearing. I can send that there if you want. Okay. for that to that committee to the public health committee. That's where I'd like to see it go. This will go on the agenda for next week under this business suspension and from there was under there. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

All those in favor? Oppose? So ordered. Okay. Petition 6 A to 6 C referred to the planning board. All those in favor of post, so audited. 6D to 6K referred to the public works committee. Those in favor of post ordered. L6L to 6Z refer to traffic and parking. Those in favor of postal ordered. 7 A to 7J refer to traffic and parking. Those in favor oppose so ordered. 7K refer to Veterans Memorials Parks and Recreation Committee. All those in favor oppose so ordered. And uh councelor Fazole, did you want to speak on was it 10H?

Yes. Could you read it please, Mr. Yeah. So just take an item out of order. Um some constituents are either here or online. I request the manager request um commissioner transportation mobility provide a notification to the parents of Roosevelt School regarding implementation of the parking on Grafton Street starting on Monday, April 27th. said notification may include mailings, social media posts, collaboration with the public schools to use any existing communication channels. Council Vizole. Thank you, Mr.

Through you to the administration, my colleagues, and the general public. Mr. Mayor, I I stand uh tonight to allow the parents of Roosevelt School the notification that when their children come back to school on Monday, April 27th, that uh the no parking and no stopping signs will be up and the length of Grafton Street from Roosevelt School to the intersection of Dalton Street. Uh, I just want to make sure that the general public, the parents, anyone that the grandparents, anyone that will be picking up their children will uh be aware of that. I don't want them to uh, you know, have an opportunity to say they weren't informed. So, Mr. Chairman, I want to provide a brief update regarding the parking situation at Roosevelt School. Uh during next week's vacation, again, these signs will be installed. No parking and no stopping. So that means that if anyone does park on the side of the road in that area, uh it is our intentions, it's the administration's intentions to have the West Police Department and the parking control officers there to ask them to uh obviously uh move move from uh that location. uh we want we want to uh notify these uh people so that no tickets are given out. That is not our intent. Um and I want to make that perfectly clear. Secondly, I just want to make sure that uh uh people know now

because we only have three days left before vacation starts that uh I'm told children have gone home with a flyer to the parents. I'm also informed that uh the Worcester public schools website uh has this on it. The Roosevelt School website has these changes on it. So, uh, I want to thank the administration and the, uh, chairman of, uh, the traffic and mobility, uh, committee as, as well as the assistant commissioner, I should say the commissioner and the assistant commissioner of those, uh, that department, traffic and mobility, uh, for their efforts uh, here. They I think they've come up with a good plan. Uh, I I also want to uh add the fact that um part of that plan is that fifth fourth, no, excuse me, fifth and sixth graders will uh leave the school at 2:00 and walk to the parents' cars, which has a dedicated uh zone of parking from the driveway of Roosevelt uh down toward Sunderland Road. We're allowing parents of fifth and sixth graders to park there and the fifth and sixth graders uh have already been um uh uh through a trial period that they uh have walked out to that area and have performed that uh exercise. So again, uh I want to thank the administration for their uh dedication in trying to alleviate this very severe and very serious uh public safety issue that happens on Grafton Street in that area from 1 to 2:00 or 2:15 every day school is in session. So uh Mr. chairman. Uh I appreciate the

time and uh I look forward to hopefully uh a smooth transition with that uh going through. Thank you. Thank you, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um this is an issue that doesn't seem to quite go away. Um, I want to commend Councelor Folo uh for the work that he's done, following up on on some of the work that was done and folks uh preceding him, including some of our atlarge counselors that are still here. Mr. Chairman, um before I I take a vote on this, I I would like to ask um through the chair to administration, what is the plan? Um counselor just referenced that there's a plan and something with the fifth sixth grade. If you could just elaborate on those details through the chair to the administration on what exactly the plan is,

Mr. Manager.

Yeah. Through chair to the council, as many people know, we've had uh some challenges in Roosevelt and the parking. We've uh the city has provided funding not only to acquire the land, but also develop the land. And so, we've had some challenges in trying to circulate the traffic within the actual uh parking lot for the pickup for the parents. And so what we did is we had a transportation mobility team meet with the school administration and think through about a possible solution and idea of how to reroute the actual parking lot in addition to providing some opportunity for pickup on the street. Um one of the biggest issues that was happening was uh the parking that was happening or the standing that was happening prior to the actual entrance of the school. So that has been shifted to after the entrance of the school and and that is one of the areas that the counselor uh uh previously had had provided some details on. So the plan basically is that grades through uh prek or kindergarten all the way until fourth grade they will be able to circulate the parents will be able to circulate within the parking lot. There's a designated cones area that will provide them an opportunity to go into the parking lot to stage there and be able to be picked up as the students are being let uh uh being dismissed. Staff will be able to assist in bringing them to the vehicles etc. Fifth and sixth grade uh the reason where we felt as though there will be a better opportunity to have a different location for pickup because it's much older. They can able to navigate some of the uh uh the area there. uh staff will also be able to provide them and and uh and direct them to the area uh for pickup. Um and so we've laid out that framework with the school administration and they've been very proactive in communicating to families, communicating to the parents, communicating to the staff, working through that uh uh plan. So that what we decided to do, we didn't want to implement it, right? We wanted to make sure that we provided enough

information, do a test run to see if that would work uh and then be able to fully implement it. What we're fully implementing is not the permanent solution. What we're implementing is the 90day uh uh uh uh uh process that was communicated here in the council. That 90day is what we're implementing here. We're going to evaluate that and then also regroup through the summer to then fully make an implementation process for the upcoming school year.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um a lot of work that's been done here. Um, you know, I I think the order I think was amended to 90 days or less from what I recall. I could be wrong, but I thought I made that amendment on the floor. Um, that being said, you know, I I do want to speak to some of the challenges that the businesses are having there, um, as it relates to blocking entrances, etc. Um, and I'd also like to speak to, Mr. Chairman, the um, angst of some of the parents. And I just want to state this again unequivocally for the record. Um, we have folks, guardians, uh, friends, family who are picking up for systemic shortcomings as it relates to afterchool programming, um, as it relates to busing, as it relates to lack of bus monitors. Um, there's a whole host of reasons why folks are picking up their kids. Some of them are are doing it to get them to an afterchool program and then be able to get back to their job, their first job, their second job, or whatever the case might be. Um, and you know, my concern that I've had, um, and I'm going to reiterate is, um, this policing effort and traffic effort, um, will be done. Clearly, that's what we're moving towards. Um, but it's also sort of a a setup in some ways for law enforcement and for uh, transportation, mobility, or whoever's uh, assisting. And the reason why, Mr. chairman. Um I don't know when the last time some of the folks here have picked up children from school. Um but it's hectic. It's fast-paced. Um and we've tried we've done we spent a lot of money in the parking situation. What was described here about folks being able to navigate better and more quickly with the the fifth and sixth grade over here um just hasn't come to any sort of realtime um impact um you know that we were looking for. Um, so we'll see. Um, through

charity administration, I I um I am interested in, you know, what increments we're going to be measuring um and how we're going to be communicating those changes. Mr. Chairman, the other concern I have um and I stated this last time as well, this is an issue at a lot of schools. There's a lot of safety issues. I've called for a safety audit of our schools um as it relates to all of these things that has yet to come back to the council. Um Mr. Chairman, you know, historically the powers that be in this city over the years have treated the east side differently than other parts of the city. And the one thing that I would ask um that we tread very carefully with is if there is any uh proliferation of ticketing um and things of that nature that is equitable that's not just on one side of the city. I don't want to see it. I don't want to see it. But I've heard rumblings about it. Um and I can tell you that the parents that I've talked to have particular angst and particular concern um about this implementation. Mr. Chairman, um I would like to to make as way of a motion that we do get um uh monthly reports, actually monthly reports on this. Um we're talking about 90 days, which is 3 months or less depending, but we should be appraised of this. Mr. Chairman, we should be able to be nimble um and not rigid. Um I'm glad to hear the that the West Public Schools is partnering with this. I know in my committee that I'm trying to get up and and have a joint meeting uh with the folks from the school side. One of the items in my committee is the safety issues at our schools. Um and hopefully we can get that going as soon as possible, Mr. Chairman. But um I certainly support um with the explanation provided related to

the plan notifying folks, but I do want to just for the record um indicate my concerns um as it relates to to all of this, Mr. Chairman. And um I thank you and I thank Councelor Folo and other folks for the work that's being done. But let's manage this with care. um you know, let's not let's make sure we're a friend a familyfriendly uh city council um and that we're also business friendly um as well. But we have to make sure that pickup time um you know folks get there an hour earlier, 35 minutes early cuz that's their lunchtime. They got to be back. Um and uh let's be as flexible as we can be and as communicative as we can be with this body. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, we'll send it out to the manager as amended with the uh additional odds on getting a report back on the month each month. See how it's going. Those in favor of postal ordered. We're on appointments 8A 81A information communication about the appointment of George Russell and George Sedaris to the Wister Ballpark Commission and also chairing information communication for the appointment of Rose Mary Dela Cruz to T tobio to constable and u so we want to thank him for their service. motions to file. All those in favor oppose. So a ordered.

Councelor Kane, did you just do 8.1A? Yes. Okay. I'd like to speak on that because I I I might um Okay. 8.1A. Councelor Kane.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This goes back to the Worcester Ballark Commission. I know we have another agenda item on tonight regarding commissions. Um and this is a commission that has not met the mark. it has not met the challenge of their mission. Uh through the chair to the administration, um I'm particularly surprised that George Russell has volunteered for this. Uh he and I have been partners over the last four years or so. Um, as it relates to this ineffective commission, um, I've met with folks from the Worester Wox, um, who are unable to, uh, validate the work of this particular commission, and we've gone back and forth with this. We had an actual, for the council members that weren't here, we had a recommendation from this sitting city manager that the ballpark commission be dissolved. That's a quote from that recommendation. Uh, this city manager had a plan. Um and that plan included intradep departmental work including the cultural development uh fire police etc. Um and making sure that uh the number of um public events that are supposed to be hosted there um actually occur. they were um developing uh parameters for that um on this particular body um and through the charity administration has there been any um marked improvement or significant improvement as it relates to the public dates there through the chair to the administration

Mr. manager.

Yeah. Through uh through the chair to the council, uh this body um the ballpark commission, one of the uh charges or one of the uh the actual uh responsibilities is to manage the 10 community days. Uh these 10 community days, what it is, it allows community partners in the city, nonprofit organizations to submit uh to the ballpark commission. The Bar Park Commission will review their application and grant them the opportunity to rent the the uh ballpark uh at no cost with no uh feat uh rental fee uh to the co uh as a cost. They are responsible for any uh type of vending or any type of concessions or any staffing related to that to that to that event but not for the purposes of rental. um their job is to go through that and then recommend and also uh approve uh those those applications. Uh I'd be happy to come back. I don't know exactly what the numbers are in terms of what their activity has been, but I'd be happy to bring back a report to the council that gives a breakdown of what those events have been, what the decisions have been, um so that the council is apprised of of of that activity within the ballpark commission.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to make a motion um reflecting uh city manager's um willingness to provide said report. In addition that to Mr. Chairman, I'd like to bring back the recommendation that was made by the city manager so that this body in this particular term can be appraised of the challenges and the interdep departmental solutions um that were put forward here. Um you know, again, I'm surprised with with former councelor Russell. I guess you can't beat him. Join him. Um maybe that's what's going on here. But um you know I I I really want to remind folks as well we had to transfer oversight um of aspects um of the agreement and that's related as well to the parking over there. Um you know and the city took responsibility because certain things weren't getting done. Um, and what I'd mentioned previously as well was, you know, uh, when the Woo Soxs were the Pucket Red Sox, when they left that facility, um, there was a million millions of dollars in lawsuits as relates to the condition of that part of the oversight of that commission um, is related to that, any work that's done, etc. So, I'd like to report back on the findings of that commission relative to the charge of their mission. Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Okay. So as the all those in favor of postal audited A and B motions to file all those in favor of postal audited recommend the reappointment of Pel Hardine to the civic senate commission roll call on this item which which one are we on? We are on 8.2A. Okay. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Councor Cono. Yes. Councelor Solo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council A. Yes. Councelor Vera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty.

Yes. Next item is 8.3A. Transmitting information communication the 2025 gross payroll earnest. Motions are placed on file. Those in favor post. So audit. Uh 8.4 A is held under the privilege. 8.4 U B recommend the adoption of the pause and enforcement of the specialized stretch code. Mr. Response to the city council order. Council Bergman. You want to speak on this one too? Councelor Bergman, follow by councelor King and the Connor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was um I was grateful for the informed report that we got back that covered a lot of the grounds. Um which makes good sense for the pause in the specialized stretch code. Um I would just note that live and learn is sometimes um a useful saying and I know previous uh participant public participant asked well if you prove this two years ago why are you changing your mind well first of all I don't think anybody's changing their mind so I'd like to get with permanency I'd like to get clarification through the chair to the city solicitor regarding whether or not the civ needs a vote of the council for this to be implemented because as I read the opt in the opt out of the specialized code. I don't even think the council needs to vote on a pause because the pause isn't an opt out. But I'm not the city solicitor. So with with chairman's permission to ask the council

through the chair to the city solicitor. Am I correct that uh the pausing of the uh specialized stretch go does not need a council endorsement or council vote per second? Uh the chair that's correct. Uh you would need a vote by the council to opt out but that's not the recommendation or the matter before the council. So you can council take a vote to support

Thank you. I'm also listener. So for those that that try to color this as as we're we're getting rid of the specialized stretch code permanently, that's not true because we're not having a vote topped out. What we are doing is pausing and it makes good sense I believe to pause and I believe the memo um states good reasons to pause and also a number of members of the development community um and attorneys who represent them also stated the reasons that also were mentioned in the memo. First of all, when we started this process, you know, we started with with a math that I think existed all too often in the last council, and I'm glad to see that it hasn't started happening in this council. The math I'm referring to was saying that, oh, well, 57 communities are doing it, so it must be the majority of things of communities believe it's the right thing to do. Well, 50% of the communities seems like a lot, but out of the cities and towns of Massachusetts, it's barely 15%. means 85% of the communities have have not jumped on board yet to the specialized stretch code. We have, but what what have we seen happen over the last year and a half? Well, first of all, the the technology doesn't exist for some of the components in new construction. U you heard testimony that air conditioning systems don't even exist today that would comply with the specialized stretch code. So, how can we expect developers to go ahead and develop properties with the technology that doesn't exist? technology that does exist. For example, our windows, but they have to be ordered in Europe because there's no American manufacturers that make windows that would satisfy the special stretch specialized stretch code. There are numerous other examples in the international building code which the city was to follows which are inconsistent with the specialized stretch code. We can ask developers to develop here when the interpretation of whether or not they're violating building code is is up in the air and it clearly is with respect to a number of elements of the specialized stretch code. So pausing it again makes sense.

I'd also say that um national grid has expressed concern about keeping up with with what would be the demand of what the specialized stretch code at this point would require. So, I mean, I think for all those reasons, it makes good sense to take a pause, 20-month pause, try to get the international building code and the specialized stretch code um in sync with each other. Hopefully, technology exists where component parts uh can be purchased and not only in Europe because we don't know what trade embargos and other things that seem to happen on a regular basis these days could happen. and also to give developers a sense of confidence that if they start a project in Worcester, it's not going to wind up uh being delayed or causing inite amount of extra cost because of the difficulties in interpretating stretch code. Let me just add one other thing. In various conversations outside of this chamber um with various developers who didn't seek me out uh to discuss this topic, but it came up in conversations. the 2 to 4% additional upfront cost. None of them agree that's anywhere near remotely near the cost of what it of what the specialized dredge code is to their projects. And as you heard from at least one speaker um at the podium, the smaller the project, the more of a percentage of cost um that specialized stretch code becomes today. Hopefully in the future the costs uh change, but Mr. Chairman, right now we're simply asking for a pause. I think it's it's well it's welld deserved and and based on good common sense. We're not doing away with the specialized code. And lastly, let me just say for those who think we're throwing throwing our nose at at u respecting the environment, we still have and still follow uh the stretch code that 70% of the communities still follow. So we're in line with overwhelming majority of cities and towns in Massachusetts in respecting our

our environmental obligations. But what we shouldn't be doing is going above and beyond what technology allows us to do at the moment and penalizing developers and ultimately the ability to create more units as a consequence. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Councelor King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I want to begin by saying um that I appreciate the efforts the economic development folks put into this report. Um, I realize the and acknowledge the uh recommendations of our chief development officer. Um, and I also want to state for the record I don't believe that all developers are evil. Um it was certainly um given me cause for consideration as relates to our small developers as was described um of projects of 5 million or less um and you know 10 to 15 units or whatever the case might be.

That being said, Mr. Chairman, I when we this came before us last um I had questions about the impact on the Green Worcester plan uh the timelines embedded in the Green Worcester plan um the impact on environmental goals and you know this particular report does indicate um and acknowledge and recognizes um that the adoption and this is a quote of the specialized stretch code is expressly aligned with the Green Worcester plan. However, this report has no data or limited data on what that impact actually is. Mr. Chairman, I expected a full report, not a partial report. Mr. Chairman, through the chair to the administration, John Odell is our chief sustainability officer. What exactly is a chief sustainability officer? Does have anything to do uh with stretch codes, environment, environmental matters, um uh environment goals, and do they have anything to do with the green Worcester plan through the charity administration?

Mr. manager

through the chair through the city council. um the office of diver of u sustainability and resiliency under the leadership of uh John Odell who's the chief sustainability officer their roles and responsibility is to drive um sustainability and resiliency in our community in our city through either policies uh through programs initiative and really work with different departments to provide in some ways some consultation some uh some opportunities where they can be able to either provide or seeks grant opportunities, provide some guidance uh etc. when it comes to uh the efforts around energy infrastructure resiliency and sustainability and so they spend quite a bit of work around that. They are also responsible uh to working with the administration um in my office and working with the schools and all our municipal buildings and making sure that we retrofit them. We provide uh uh all different types of uh sustainable efforts whether it's solar farms uh LED uh etc to try to reduce the carbon mitigation uh in the city. So they also play a role in in in working to negotiate our aggregation program where we uh where we try to uh play a role in reducing as an as an aggregate um uh the actual utility cost when it comes to electricity. So they play a big role in that. uh they him and I work uh hand in hand in trying to make sure we we drive those efforts forward uh across the city.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um based on that, Mr. Chairman, um I'm going to make an a motion uh that we get a report back from the chief sustainability officer relative to um their perspective on this the uh stretch code. Um, also, uh, as part of that report, the prior recommendations made as it relates to that, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to know the impact of, um, pausing the stretch code on the environmental goals on the Green Worester plan. Um, I'd like some data. Mr. Chairman, it was also mentioned that um permits that were sought prior to the specialized stretch code um moving forward and and and and post um perhaps we can get those numbers and take a look at that. Um I understand the anecdotal approach that we're taking here, Mr. Chairman, but I need some more data and um we can't this is clearly goes across departments. This is a quality of life matter. Um, this is an environmental matter. Um, through the charity administration, it's my understanding that the Green Worcester Advisory Committee took a unanimous vote um, this week um, opposing the pause through the chair to the administration. Are you aware of what that committee did? manager.

Uh through the chair, through the city council, we have and we established as part of the city council and the city and the city administration, we established this green worester advisory uh committee and their job is to work on the implementation of the green worester plan and also think about green infrastructure in our community. Uh they met this Monday. Uh they unanimously had discussed uh this item uh the recommendation. They discussed uh uh the impacts of it and they unanimously did vote. They submitted a letter uh to the city manager and the city and I also forwarded that letter to all the city councilors here uh prior to this meeting so that everybody is aware of their position uh as a as a uh as a body.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I'd like to to file a motion that we get that documentation in the record as well as the minutes from that particular group. Mr. chairman. Um I have significant concerns about uh smaller developers. You know, it's it's similar to the concerns we we hear across the city um that there's no relief for those folks. Uh Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we look into um is there a way for our small developers um that we can do a little bit more incentivizing as we do for large uh developers? Um, you know, we have a lot of folks that are homegrown. Uh, we had testimony today. Uh, we all know the families that do this work. Um, and if there's a way we can assist them, that would be great. Through the charity administration, if I could just get clarification of the the response from legal regarding opt out, opt in from the question that the councelor Bergman asked um because it's unclear to me um how that relates to pausing this. It made me think that um if we don't need to vote on it, why is it before us? So through the chair administrator, if you could just elaborate or restate um your answer to councelor Bergman's question and I think the question was um that there's opt out provisions already in play.

Um madam solosa through the chair to the councilors uh because this is a local optin option in order to opt out you have to take a vote by the council. That was not the recommendation before um the council today. The recommendation was to pause implementation so that the city administration can work with developers and uh stakeholders and to incentivize and find ways to make this more practical.

Thank you so much. Um and when you say opt out, does that mean opt out of the stretch code in its entirety or is that related to specific projects? In addition to that, the question through the chair to the administration is um is there also an opportunity for variances to be sought uh with respect to stretch code um regulations through the chair? Absolutely. Through the chair to the counselor. So this uh specific law does not allow exemptions of certain portions. It's a optin as is the entire statute or opt out. So it also does not allow for variances. um you have to adopt it and opt in exactly how it's presented.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We could just get a report back on the variance question as well um in writing. That'd be very much appreciated. Um this is an important decision, Mr. Chairman, to move forward without um all sides of this matter u being thoroughly discussed. Um I know it's before us for a vote. Um you know, certainly like to see it in committee for public hearing. Uh Mr. chairman, but we have an environmental piece. Councelor Louis O'Hada uh is chair of urban technology innovation environment um where uh Mr. Odell uh brings these sorts of issues forward. The green advisory group, the green Worcester plan that happens in that committee. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to see a review of that. Mr. Chairman, given the lack of um of of this partial report, um I'm going to hold this this item. Um, but I would like to see is there a way we can make some carveouts. Um, you know, we're giving folks tiffs and ties, um, etc. And I understand, um, the the challenges of housing and affordability. I also like to report back on, um, you know, how, uh, rents are increasing or decreasing and what what what that fluctuation has been pre and post. Um, and not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of increases. Um because um if we're going to do this, we're going to be probably the first in the Commonwealth to pause a stretch code um you know, who knows, maybe New England. We should have all the information, Mr. Chairman. So, I'm I'm holding this item um for another week and um in the interim, I'm going to ask that the administration bring back the requested information um in a week's time so that we can have a well-rounded decision here. Um thank you.

Thank you, Council Caro. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I echo through the chair. I echo all of uh, Council Bergman's comments, so I'm not going to repeat them all. I think they have um, they legitimize what we're trying to do here. um through the chair to the solicitor in the the opt in opt out the pause is the opt in opt out of the out of the specialized stretch code into the stretch code or is it an opt in opt out out of the whole ball of wax madam solicitor

um through the chair you would opt out of the specialized and then it would be the stretch code

would be the stretch code very good thank you uh mr chairman I wholeheartly support this pause. Uh I feel that councelor King answered some of his own questions too as it comes to costs. Um how can we ask the building community to build product that is affordable when it's going to cost them more to go overseas to get product? Just the time alone. I see how it works out just in a single family home. um getting product here, getting product from there if it's on back order, let alone trying to get National Grid out in a timely fashion to do the work that they need to do to get these projects up and underway. Um I also look at our inspectional services department. They do a great job. Um, but this will give them the opportunity to to retool their their inspectors, get them up to speeds. There's so many options available under the specialty stretch code. Um, I think it's worth the pause. I think it's worth spurring additional development if that's the case. I don't know if you could put a tangible number upon it as to how much added development this would bring in, but I know it's something that is needed here in our community and I and I welcome it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Council Tumi.

Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, listening to some of this tonight, I I'm reminded of the uh the phrase uh damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. Well, I got news for you. I'm not looking to be hit by any torpedoes. And so when anomalies arise in any project, u pausing isn't a setback. It's actually responsible sign of leadership. Uh taking the time to assess unexpected issues, assess protects public safety, prevents small problems from becoming costly failures, as mentioned, and ensures that decisions are based on accurate information. A brief pause allows us to identify root causes and reinforce accountability and move forward with confidence. In the long run, it leads to stronger, safer, and more successful outcomes. That's good leadership. That's good project management. And that's something that I think was outlined by uh Mr. Dunn and I think is uh absolutely correct. And I 100% support uh doing this. I know it's being held, but um I believe it's it makes an awful lot of sense uh to uh do this pause. Thank you.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um yeah, I know the city we This is something that the council had previously enacted. Um 57 57 communities in the state have adopted the specialized stretch code. Uh 244 communities have adopted the stretch code. Uh I echo what my colleague councelor King said about that not all uh developers are equal. We certainly have some issues with uh even some of the smaller developers. There's a polar views one under. I have a building in there's a building in district 2 over on Hooper Street that is an absolute shambles and uh it's really been unsafe for the neighborhood. So you know not all developers are equal. So, I just wanted to to say that and um a few questions through the chair to the city manager. Um could you talk about the some of the programs that like through the affordable homes act are there still monies going towards climate resiliency from the state level for example like with with the affordable homes act or did that get has that been cut? I know that was part of their, you know, funding climate resiliency goals and also the program climate ready housing through the EOHLC. Is is that you know provide some insight on that or

Mr. Mr. Manager?

Uh yeah, through chips to the council as part of the affordable homes act there was a number of programs, number of regulations, a number of opportunities more so there was also uh potential bond bills as well um that was provided to communities. a lot of these programs uh in as part of the state um require some of these regulations. Um and so that's become one of the kind of sticking points is that to achieve these types of regulations or to achieve these types of build with these regulations, there has to be significant subsidy included in it to offset the cost. And so that's where we're seeing a lot of these affordable units are taking multiple years to build, but also the cost to build those units are increasing significantly. Uh and we're seeing that across the entire state. Also, these affordable homes has a limited amount of funding. So it's not like they have, you know, an endless uh uh funding source for the entire state. So there there is an effort an aggressive effort across the state to be able to build housing. Uh but one of the challenges is that they have a limited resource and limited opportunity. For example, just the HTI program alone, you know, limits us the city to in terms of what we can be awarded in an annual basis. Um we've been very successful in working with the administration uh to be able to get uh some HDI programs move quicker. Um but sometimes uh we've been able to, you know, we've been hindered by the ability based on their allocation of funding. Um and so there's a number of program we can go try to go through each individual one. Uh but one of the biggest challenge is that a lot of these programs require uh us to the developer to meet some of these regulations. However, it requires that level of incentive. The city of Worcester does not have the level of incentive that the state has to be able to offset. And if you see some of our tie agreements that we do with some of the developers, they're very minimal. The one that was here tonight was 23% on average. That's very minimal cost that we're actually

providing an incentive. Now, we can provide a bigger one, but there's also been conversations on the floor about us giving even more incentives to the developer because again, all we can provide to a developer is tax incentives. And there's been a lot of discussion in community and on this floor of us doing that. So, when we have developers that have hard money, they have their own money. it doesn't need the city's incentives and they're willing to develop but they're telling us they're having challenges based on cost related to the specialized dress code. Um us coming in around and giving them a further incentive when if we just think about the potential and the impact of the deregulation can give them the opportunity to move forward. Those are the things that we outweigh. But again the affordable homes acts under number of funding they're limited uh in terms of what they can provide across the state. Um but there also has certain regulations and certain requirements related to those that also increase the cost.

Thank thank you.

Thank you Mr. Manager. Um yeah I you know it does give me concern just knowing that we haven't it seems like there hasn't really been a holistic conversation about pausing the stretch code. Um, you know, I know that there is sometimes, you know, even referenced in the the MIT journal article that was referenced in the report, um, you know, that says that there's, you know, resistance from some developers against transitioning from conventional detached homes to less familiar green building codes. But one thing I just want to share is that it points out that from the report in urban areas with fewer detached homes, multif family homes are more prevalent. And excuse me one second that it just mentions that these you know multif family homes actually benefit more from green technology because there's a lot of shared you know shared walls um things like that and again you know Worers's environmental justice community we're constantly battling with heat islands uh I think it's important to try to continue our green goals but I understand especially when it comes to like our biotech stuff how it could be challenging um I would appreciate more conversation on this so thank you

thank thank you councelor River.

Thank you. I I rise on it because as um first I just want to say this report I I thought it was very good informational. Um and there's just a few key points that I just want to point out why I think it's responsible of us to pause the stretch code. We're not talking about opting out or getting rid of it and none of that stuff. Um, and just just to start off real quick, um, I would just say uh to the chair to the administration is uh um you you would agree that uh um that there's really no incremental benefits from the stretch code to the specialized stretch code in this short of a time. just know shown you know anything that the city is missing out on or benefiting from at the moment in time from the stretch code the specialized stretch code

Mr. done.

Sure. Through the chair to the counselor, I think has been recognized by some other speakers tonight because the specialized stretch code is so recent to analyze both the costs as well as the benefits. It's really kind of hard to do that because you don't have a high volume of projects that have gone through the entire process and have that level of aggregate data to really draw conclusions on the overall cost uh benefit analysis. So what you're referring to, I think there's a lot of attention being paid to the upfront cost, the added upfront cost, and we do have some good primary source data for that in terms of the projects that have been attempting to get permitted over the last uh year and a half or so in Worcester. but to see again more of the long-term benefits. Uh when you think about the additional um enhancements that the specialized stretch code provides, there's often um commentary about uh the overall future savings related to lower utility bills, uh reduced maintenance costs in the long term, uh potential improved comfort for the building occupants, but we just don't have that level of data because those are more longer term benefits to really be able to try to quantify or assess that. And I think as was referenced by uh councelor Economo, we do have uh again the stretch code uh that is still uh building very environmentally friendly and and um sustainable buildings. So there are those same kinds of benefits that you would expect from just generally more efficient buildings that we have been having for the last 15 years under the stretch code and that would continue. Um it's really trying to then isolate what are those incremental benefits between that level of the stretch code and then the specialized stretch code. That's really hard to try to quantify or measure at this time.

To the chair, to the administration, um do you happen to have the numbers of how many developers are ready to swing the hammers once this stretch the specialized stretch codes is paused? Mr. done

through the chair to the counselor. It's it's a little challenging to come up with a specific number on that as was referenced in our report. What we do know is that there's over 2500 units of housing that have been proposed or permitted in the city that have been delayed from their initial timeline. Uh so I think it's um reasonable to say that a number of those units, probably hundreds if not over a thousand of those units could um potentially get unlocked, see them move forward. But as was also described in the report, there are many many variables that are affecting overall uh housing production feasibility right now. This is just one of those levers. Uh as we know, many of those other variables are just not within our control. You have a war going on. You have tariffs going on, rising cost of materials, interest rates that are outside of our control. Uh utility companies like National Grid outside of our control. So, where we do have some things within our control at the local level related to regulations like this opt-in uh specialized stretch code, our conclusion is that maybe we should try to pull on one of those levers that are within our control to see if we can see some of that production get unlocked.

Thank you very much. Councelor King for a second time, followed by Council Bergman for a second time. You got three minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I appreciate that analysis and I appreciate uh the questions by councelor Rivera um so that the administration could acknowledge the multiple um variables affecting housing and uh production um in addition to inflation, tariffs, construction pricing, etc. We heard um from our chief development officer here um that there's a potential um relief to one degree or another um if the stretch code does what it's supposed to do regarding utilities um and that's one of the major things that's been before this body for quite some time. Folks are struggling out there um you know and to kind of roll the dice um and put off um something that could have an impact down the road um of significance is concerning to Mr. chairman. Um that being said, I I I just would like to ask through the chair, uh within the specialized stretch code, uh are there options, um for appeals, um of aspects of that stretch code, um or is it stringent? Because you know, I had asked earlier about variances and the like. Um but is there an appeals process um for these folks? And in addition to that to to the charity to the chief financial off uh development officer um what are we doing for our small developments? What sort of uh developers? What sort of incentives do we have for them um as opposed to you know the folks that that get most of things um and hire um um you know tiffs and ties and that and things of that nature of our larger developments through the chair.

Um Don

Sure. through the chair to the council. I'll answer the second half of the question first and then if it's okay with the um the mayor, I'd invite our commissioner of inspectional services to comment on the appeal process that might exist for folks uh related to code interpretations. Um but as it relates to uh the smaller uh developers and what is available to them, uh the primary one I would say is uh the passive house passive house um incentive program through Mass Save. Um it does still have to be over five units. Uh so it is still in that kind of middle range. If you were doing a single family home or you know one or two or three family uh you wouldn't be eligible for that but it is eligible for the new construction passive house standards for multif family uh developments over five units. It's capped at uh $5,000 per project on the feasibility study. So, some of that initial design work um and uh pre-development costs and then related to um the actual uh incentive for the construction of the units and complying with the specialized stretch code standards, the passive house standards, it's $3,000 per unit. Uh so again, if you just use that like small uh project example of a fiveunit project, you're talking about a $15,000 incentive, which as we know that is not covering that added cost upfront. And I think that's something that we're learning again as we've had some uh time now some 18 months or so with the implementation because I think when a lot of this was discussed at the beginning I think there was some uh commentary or some hope that a lot of the incentives would either cover that additional upfront cost um and we're just not seeing that uh in in practice over the last several months. And we also know that um just recently there was a cut of a billion dollars to the massive program. So this incentive is part of the Massave program. It's not clear exactly how this uh program will be impacted. They talk a lot about some of the marketing or administration kind of costs of mass save. Um but there's been some um I think uh insight that some of the incentives will also see

cut. But also even if it was you know primarily targeted at the administration or the marketing then you're talking about more limited awareness limited efficiencies in administering the incentive even if this program doesn't get uh totally uh impacted by that billion dollar cut. But uh I guess as a as a whole, we're just not seeing uh the level of um incentives necessary to really cover those upfront costs in a predictable way. Um but at the local level, as you noted, we just uh are limited in what we have available uh the tools that we have in our toolbox. At the local level, we often rely on those state and federal programs uh for the level of um uh depth of subsidy or depth of incentive necessary to cover those costs. We do have uh some small tax relief programs as you know uh as the manager mentioned with the HDIP program we're limited to one to two per year. Uh so when we talk about 2500 uh units that are currently delayed we can't just kind of try to wave a wave a magic wand and give them all an H dip uh to cover those those costs and try to support all those projects.

Thank you. The second part Mr. Commissioner

through you Mr. Mayor to the council. Um regarding the variance process for the specialized code this is a code that is brought in by the department of energy. However, it falls underneath the building code and the BBRS. So the appeals process is the same as any type of building code appeal is that you would appeal it to the BCAB, the building code appeals board. Could you just repeat here? Uh the the appeals go to the building code appeals board or BCAP. So there are aspects that can be appealed.

Uh all all aspects in the code are able to be appealed. Um same as all the building code items. Um it's just heard by a different board. And so it would effectively pause portions and aspects of the stretch code for that particular um entity that brings it forward for the appeals request. Correct. Through the chair, commissioner.

Through through the chair. Uh no. Um, right now if the code is adopted and we have it in place, if applicants or developers want to have an exemption from this code, they would appeal it to the building code appeals board. Okay. Thank you. Um, they have one minute left,

Mr. Chairman. Um again, you know, as stated by our chief development officer, we have not been able to conduct a costbenefit analysis um due to the newness of this. Um you know, and I look forward for more information. I look forward to the motions that I put forward being honored. Um it's good to know that there is an appeals process, so there's some pausation possible um on on relative matters. Um, and again, I'm looking forward to a holistic um, comprehensive vote with all the information necessary. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you,

Council Bman for a second time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just going to be very brief. Um, you know, I I I hear uh the concerns that are being passed around regarding the our goals for environmental justice, our goals for the green energy plan. Um, you know, our goals by 2030 100% renewable energy, 2035 100% renewable electricity, 2045 100% renewable energy in all sectors. I mean, these are lofty goals. Maybe reachable, maybe not, but they're goals. Uh, I would say none of that to me uh equates with helping the average person that needs a that needs an apartment. Um, and what my concern is and I would hope my colleagues as well is that these 2500 or so units that some of which are being held up because of the confusion and the inability to comply with the specialized stretch code, um, you know, those would not be held up were we to to take this pause. I would also say that I'm a little familiar with the appeals process that our commissioner just spoke about. And although it may exist under these circumstances, it's still a lengthy process. And I'm going to suggest that developers that don't have to do business only in Worcester are going to be less likely to to be excited about appealing a decision by the uh by the board of by the building department um that they have to comply with a component of the specialized stretch code. But the real purpose I'm standing up is I don't think it's fair for the city manager and the chief economic development offer to be officer to be put in a position where they're making the decision without our taking a vote of some sort. And I should have been clear when I initially asked the city solister the question about whether we're opting in or opting out and whether we even have to take a vote. We voted to opt in and I think it's only appropriate that we vote to support the position of the chief development officer and the city manager to support their recommendation for the pause for the 20-month pause. So when this comes back after the motions um are responded

to and it's a twoe break, not a oneweek break. My motion is that we take a vote to support the report and the city manager and the chief development officer's request for the pause. Thank you, Mayor Petty.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to thank the uh Peter Dunn, the economic development office for this report. I think it's pretty much lays it out pretty good exactly some of the consequences, some of the challenges. I remember when we uh voted this this uh community uh the stretch code, the specialized stretch code, people were concerned in the community, but we figured we give it a shot, see what what came up. people came to the to the microphone, they had some concerns, some challenges that we're going to face, but we thought as a council, some councils had concerns, too. Uh, but we decided to go forth with this and and implement it. And I think Peter done done a great job trying to balance the pros and the cons of both sides because we've come a long way if the green plan. We have a ways to go. There's no question about it. But you're right, um, gentlemen, you said people are struggling out there. This is about e efforts to for housing development here in the city of Worester. It's about affordability. It's about jobs. You really think about it. The more we can get this done, the more we can bring developers in here. You heard the developers here tonight. I didn't know them, but they spoke. We're pretty honest what they're facing. And I thought it was pretty interesting some of this report that uh it says here on one of the pages here, projects have also been reported added cost and challenges in some of the buildings materials required for compliance. Mr. D, maybe you can give a more elaborate on that. I know was brought up when the speaker I thought said about the air conditioning that I think here you mentioned some people have to go to Europe to buy the supplies. So there's there's a lot of different ef a lot of different things that go into this.

Chief development officer Mr. Dunn.

Sure. Through the chair to the mayor. Um I think some of the HVAC related things um is more on the commercial side of things as was referenced by Mass Biomedical Initiatives John Weaver tonight. on the residential side of things. Again, sometimes you hear different commentary about it, but I think it's really important that we're talking about the differential between the stretch code and the specialized stretch code. Yeah. And the key piece there that we are seeing on uh materials are the windows. Uh so to your point, uh almost every I think every single project that we had uh reached out to to get input on this is that the sourcing of those windows to comply with those standards right now uh are basically just coming from Europe. I don't there could be some US manufacturers that can do it but in terms of the availability to meet you know the demands in terms of the supply when they need it what is the cost of it uh every single project we talked to said that they're sourcing those windows from Europe and what's interesting because we talk about incentives and affordable housing federal resources and the like to help uh stimulate housing production but when you're getting federal financial assistance you have to comply with the Buy America Build America Act. We have literally had some developers return commitments of funds that we have offered to projects because they cannot comply with by America build America and the specialized stretch code. So that's the conflicting nature of how some of these goals don't always align or work in the same direction. And then the other um kind of piece on the building systems uh for specialized stretch code is really uh the standards for the envelope of the building. Um so there's different level of technology for the assembly system the the wall systems uh and that can be a challenge to source those because it is a fairly new uh technology. So those are the the key things that we're seeing right now in addition to I know we didn't talk a lot about it but uh as we referenced in the report is really the uh the soft costs involved. So the sub consultants necessary often beyond just the project architect they need to bring on sub consultants that are specialized in energy efficiency to produce all of the compliance documentation and that's adding uh significant costs on the design side of things as well. I think

you said $100,000 to a million dollars depending on soft that's a soft cost. Uh total cost would be that range but we are seeing six six figure kind of cost for larger multifamilies on the consultants involved and who knows what tariff will be implemented tomorrow it could be triple it could be triple tomorrow. So you know it's not just the stretch code specialized stretch code. There's a lot of factors that go into development here in the city of Worester. A lot of costs you look at the tariff situation that's cost. You look at uh the supply chain that is costs. You look at and this is you got remember the commercial even the commercial here you got think about it we're competing with like I think we said tonight that

in a 30 mile radius we're the only city the only city town that have these uh specialized stretch in a 30 mile radius

and that was mentioned tonight I don't know if that's true but that was mentioned and uh uh if that's true then we're competing and we're competing why we get to commercial tax we talk about bringing businesses in here this is another thing why business doesn't want to come here. This is our chance to bring businesses here, bring developers here because in other parts of the state, other cities are struggling and their numbers are way down because of some of the policies they've set and uh and they're not developing in those cities anymore. And we are only two out of 26 gateway cities that have done this, Wester and Salem. And uh so because it's hard, the cost is higher in the gateway cities. It's higher than it is in other cities and towns. in the gateway cities. This is higher. So I mean this is a good report a lot of information here and uh and this is important that remember we put a this council put a lot of time into the W green plan and the administration put a lot of time into the W's green plan. We're not throwing it away. We're just asking for a pause here to see if we can get development here because this is about affordability. It's about jobs. It's about in and and we didn't even talk about national grid they and not this isn't a criticism but maybe it is but it's an impediment to a lot of businesses national grid to hook up and and and the power especially when it comes to this they don't have the equipment or the resources to do everything we want them to do is that correct um Mr. on

through the chair to the mayor. We could spend a lot of time talking about national grid experience, but no, you're right. Just generally speaking, uh what we're seeing in terms of the demands on that utility company um both mostly for the um the new construction and expanded service. In almost every case, it's requiring uh additional transformers, new transformers. The supply chains have eased a little bit. It was very challenging uh right after the pandemic uh just sourcing the transformers from the original equipment manufacturers. Um, so that's speeding up a little bit, but the cost involved is six figures. We had one example of a downtown conversion of an underutilized office building into housing that was over a million dollars to national grid. Um, so there's uh costs related to their equipment and then really the ability for them to keep up with everything going on in the city and the entire territory that they cover um for their uh folks that handle the design side uh to keep up with the design necessary uh to support these projects. and then uh mobilizing uh the work on their side is uh been a real challenge uh for development projects in the city.

Mayor Petty and uh I know energy with the highest cost in the nation's Massachusetts highest cost in the nation's energy that goes all into uh whether commercial property owners or even developers going to come here. So things that this is a balanced approach. I think it's a good report. There's a lot of information in this report and uh to make a decision on. So uh I look forward to taking the vote um or supporting the next meeting. Thank you at large councelor Satcha Mechan.

Thank you Mr. Chair, vice chair and through you to Mr. Dunn. Um I just want to let you know that um you have given us a very good report. I mean I was all clear about the aspect of enforcing the pause of uh the specialized stretch code and I think uh uh it's something that I hope this council will agree with because it's going to help us all for what we need right now. My only one question that comes to my mind that uh maybe based on the current situation maybe based on the in the pipeline that all the builders or the developers that you or Mr. manager have been talking. uh what's your your judgment like uh if you have any judgment on this that let's say if the council don't pause and not not favor this do you think that the builders maybe some of them are not going to be building anything they're going to walk walk out of this is that something you have any such feeling I mean that or you think they'll find an alternate way and still continue with this uh process that we have I know it's very important for us to give them that break. I know it will help us but do you have any any idea about what's the builders or developers gut feeling about this?

Sorry Mr. done

through the chair to the councelor. Uh I think it's as you would expect pretty unanimous support from the development community. Anything that's going to uh reduce costs, help their projects in terms of feasibility. Again, with the amount of um units that we're tracking that have been delayed from their initial timeline, there are a number of different variables that are affecting the overall feasibility of those projects moving forward. This is again is one of those levers that could be helpful in uh moving that along. I think uh when we talk about sort of the time frame and just the industry adoption, I know it was referenced by uh some previously about like just the learning curve and the ubiquitousness of this and the adoption and uh bringing folks up to speed in terms of widespread uh knowledge for those consultants that are involved in producing the compliance documentation, the supplies of um uh the equipment that's necessary and the uh trades um getting as familiar as possible as well as um other folks in the whole develop ecosystem. So I think by just letting that play out a little bit, having that more widespread adoption um will help in terms of uh just reducing the burden of it as well.

Well, thank you so much. You know, I think um I would hope that we all will understand that this is just a pause just for 12 months or 20 months and then we're going to be going back to what we think we should be the best thing for our for our city to develop. and it's a great cause for us to see that economic development goes through without any delay and this would probably make that happen. Thank you, Mr. Don, for your excellent report and explanation and everything that you always do. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Council, this will be on the calendar next time too, Council Rosen.

Thank you, Mr. Shimmy. I wish it weren't on the calendar next time. I wish we could make a decision instead of holding as often as we do important items. Okay? I mean, the councelor has that choice and he has that right. And you know, I it's fine, but it's just happens too often in this city council that we just can't make a decision. And I think we know where the votes are here. We all know where the votes are here. So, we wait two more weeks. But, you know, Worcester's become a very popular city. We ought to all be proud. the administration, the city council, the school committee, the residents in the city, renters and homeowners and everyone associated with the city of West, it's become very popular. Our population is going up. People are moving here. That's wonderful. And you know what? They need places to live. We've talked about it, you know, many times for years. They need places to live. Why would we try to This is only a pause, by the way. This is not let's throw the thing out. It's just a pause. But why would we try to slow down development here in the city of Worcester instead of doing a pause? I mean the pause okay I don't know a year 20 months whatever it is. It's a good idea. It's going to help according to the report and you know Mr. Dun and the city manager it may help. It probably will help to some degree for us to spur development here in the city of Worcester. It's a good thing to make the pause and I think if you asked all the people in Worcester because I heard some people say council say you know we have to people have to help people out who are needy and so on and I understand that and I want to do that but a lot of those needy people need a place to live here in the city of Worcester. So let's help them if we can. Let's encourage the developers not to go to other cities and towns to come to the popular city of Worester where people obviously want to be. They want to live

here which is amazing because we don't have enough housing for them to live here. But I certainly won't do anything unless it's a breaking of the responsible development ordinance. If that comes up, then I will say it would slow down. But besides that, I'm not going to do anything that's going to, you know, slow development down residential units. I think we've got to do anything we can to encourage it. So, we'll see. Maybe in 20 months, you know, we may say, "Hey, this has worked out great. Let's pause it again. Let's do away with it. Oh, bring it back because we were wrong a couple of years earlier to even pause it." But the right thing to do now is to pause the uh specialized uh stretch code. And you know what the right thing is to pause it tonight. So before we take before we take any votes and I know council king has asked for some orders and I don't know where the manager stands. You've got you've got two weeks I guess to do get all that information together.

Gary Rosen's recognized. Well he referenced Maverick to respond. I'll wait. No. Hang on. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. But I don't know if the city manager can come back with all those reports. And you know, it's really not necessary. The vote should be taken tonight. He has 2,000 requests for reports. And after I look at tonight's agenda, it's going to be 245 more, I think. So, he has enough to do. He has enough to do. We know where the votes are now. Why would you hold it? There's no need to hold it. Let's get it done. Let's get it done tonight. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Councelor Rivera. Mr. Chairman, just a point of order.

There's no real point. Just a point of order. I was referenced specifically and I have right to respond to it. Okay. I'd like to respond. All right. U just through through the chair through the um administration, I just want to clarify. I need to clarify something because I heard a lot of things tonight and stuff. Is it safe to say that pausing the uh specialized stretch code would help developers build more affordable housing, therefore offer more affordable housing to the residents of Worester? Because the other thing I'm hearing is that it's it's going to be more affordable if we don't you know

through the chair of the council I can uh elaborate on the distinction between those two uh uh perspectives. Um I think the conclusion of those perspectives is is uh open to uh further I guess data in terms of uh as we see this kind of play out over time. uh I think those who say that it could enable folks to deliver more affordability now is because the upfront costs are not incurred. So by nature of trying to make sure that you can cover your construction costs, cover the debt service involved in the development of a property, you're trying to make sure that the rents support that. So if your costs are higher, you're likely going to try to charge higher rent on the front end. And then I think the other perspective about more affordability if this continues and to have as much energy efficiency as possible is long-term um uh anticipation of potential lower utility bills for the occupants of the property. So I think that again it's up to kind of how you weigh those two different perspectives about short short-term versus long-term and the uh the order of magnitude of that uh to come to a conclusion on whether it's more affordable or not af more affordable. I mean, I'm I'm just I'm rocking my head because my my lowest bill this winter was $663. My highest was $750. So, how is that affordable for the residents of Worcester? I mean, my thing is I I we ran on bringing housing to the city of Worcester, bringing business to the city of Worester, and expanding the the tax base. And I think this checks all the boxes. Let's pause it and let's move forward, please. Thank you. Council King, want to respond to Council Rosen, but not to the

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, you know, um, I was referenced and as relates to holding this, um, unnecessarily, and I'm going to reiterate, um, as the public who views this can can see, um, the questions pertaining to the impacts on um, the environment, the the impact on the Green Worcester plan um, and the impact on timelines and goals has been unanswered. It's been unressed by the majority of the comments made here tonight. Um so yes, we should take a vote, but it's not tonight. We need a report. And if this and and again, this does not include that. We have a chief sustainability officer that's responsible for that plan and is specifically involved with the stretch code as testified today by the city manager. Um and none of that's in here and he's not here. I don't see him. Maybe he's online. I don't know. But he's not here. So, it's not the night to take the vote. The night to take the vote is when we have a full picture on something so important, particularly when you have a chief development officer that just now could not state unequivocally the impact of pausing this would be. And that's why he stated both sides of the equation um to the direct line of questioning by by um one of the one of my my fellow colleagues. So, I want to be clear, this isn't holding it for no purpose. um this is purposeful and there's questions that are asked. Um and if the city manager um you know provides that, we'll have the full information and that should actually go to committee for a public hearing like everything else. I'm not quite sure what we're doing here. Um and again um the reference that there's no cost um analysis um that can be done um is important to note but this is not being held on a whim um and for any other reason. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Okay. So we get uh on the reports are requested. All those in favor post so ordered. We're going to hold mo uh council Bergman's order on supporting the uh the report and also the report itself and uh but I guess what's in it's going to be in the council won't be in committee. So this is we're going to do the work is right here I guess all the time. So uh we are going to okay so that's all held we get the report and we're going on transmitting information communication relative to potholes conso by rivera thank you Mr. chairman. Um, number one, I I just want to say thanks to the commissioner, thanks to the city manager for bringing this forward. I appreciate it very much. Um, as recently as this morning in my meeting with the commissioner, we talked we talked about potholes and how do we get a ahead of it? And I think some of the steps that commissioners uh working on uh in public works and in uh traffic and mobility, they're they're starting to hit their stride on it. And a lot of it has to do with um maintenance upfront to help our asphalt last longer. Uh but still in my conversation this morning, I still encouraged the commissioner to look at avenues now, today, tomorrow, uh Thursday, Friday of this week, Saturday, which I was happy to see about the overtime offering. Um what can we do immediately to help alleviate this this problem? Um, and it's not that it just happened this

year. This is cumulative over many years. But some of the ideas that I brought forward was, hey, uh, I'll bring it forward again. Do we do them get rid of the 311 list cuz crews are going all over the city and are not, um, being effective as they can be. For instance, they could be doing potholes in this area here, yet there's more potholes at the other end of the building, and they're not doing those. Ineffective. ineffective. If you owned a small business and you were doing this, you'd be out of business. You'd be long gone because you're not working effectively. Um whether we do main arteries first, secondary arteries, um neighborhoods, whether we put crews with our street sweeping crews, um because then we we can work street to street. Um, and I will also go back to a conversation I had uh prior was in regards to working with our sanitation departments. Swarm everybody on the Monday route. Swarm everybody on the Tuesday route, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and so on until we get ahead of it. Um, I am encouraged to read through here, like I said, the pavement management um system, which is great. I appreciate the offering of overtime uh to our crews who are doing the work and on top of that I appreciate the line here to looking at private uh enlisting private enterprise to be part of our solution. I think everything has to be on the table. It has to be on the table now. There are areas in this city um I'll I'm just going to use a route I travel on a regular basis west street at Brook Street right up along the right travel lane there are three or four potholes. You can't travel more than one mile two miles per hour because you need

to literally come to just about a stop to dump into one pothole, come out of it, dump into the next one, come out of that and come in into the next pothole. It's that bad. and that should not be something that we should be dealing with on a main artery. Um, I appreciate the report. I appreciate the conversation this morning with the commissioner. I think we're moving in the right direction. I would just like to see it moving a little quicker. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, councelor. Councelor Rivera.

Thank you. Uh, I as well um very u happy with the report. Positive. Uh I think uh at the end of the day um next winter the the residents will decide um the outcome of this. I I do have a couple questions for the commissioner. Um very simple to the point. Um I do like uh um real quick read the conclusion. And report says Wister Paho's challenges are the result of multiple overlapping factors including climate, aging infrastructures, historic funding levels, and operational constraints. And and like I said, the direction that um that the city is going in with this, I think I'm I'm very hopeful for. But there's just a couple questions um that I like to touch on through the chair through the administration um commissioner is uh I know the a lot of the residents concern is the closing of 311 tickets that have not been attended to. Do we have uh a solution to that or something be working towards that

through the chair? uh that is something that we have been looking at that was uh primarily an issue for us during our snow operations but it's also an issue here and we need to do a better job and we have been reinforcing that with our team. And the next question would be is um does the city have a a time after a ticket's open for a pothole? Let's say the city have a time limit on when they have to have that pole fixed by

through the chair. We have had some uh 4,500 work orders for potholes and only uh just at the beginning of um March did the snow fully melt. So since then we have been going uh full force up to 10 crews a day patching those potholes as quickly and efficiently as we can.

One of the issues that we faced was that the local uh asphalt plants have not opened until the last week or so. So every morning we were going into Boston to pick up the hot mix. So that was a major constraint for us. We lost two hours every day just in picking up the materials. Uh that's why you'll see in my report I had asked for uh support for us to be able to make our own hot mix asphalt in the wintertime. Save all that trans that uh that time. So now because we are doing street sweeping it's the same crew. So we're down to one to three crews every day to be able to patch potholes. Today we had three. We were very fortunate. We did the Washington Square area and a couple of others. But yesterday for example because of the sanitation needs we didn't have any pothole crews out. So, I can't give you a specific time. Okay. We do our best to get out there.

I just didn't know if there was a time limit based on the 301 ticket being open that the city has to respond because I remember when I first started calling 311, they the response was tremendous. Like same day taking care of roads and then now it's become um it's it's on a waiting list because you guys are inated with so many calls for the potholes like you mentioned so many. So, you know, that's why I ask, you know,

through the through the chair, uh some requests we're able to respond to immediately, uh but other requests when we've got over 4,000 of them, it takes us more time to get to. And if I could, Mr. Mayor, just address uh comments that were made earlier. I appreciate the support uh by councelor Econom. Um the DPW can do a better job and we're committed to doing a better job. Um and that's through new materials uh support to make our own hotmix asphalt and continued investment in the pavement management program. Uh one of the things that we have uh realized is that following the 311 work order requests leads to some of the problems that we've seen where we would patch some of the potholes on a road and not the other potholes on that same road. It's because we prioritize the list and we're going through and hitting the oldest ones first. So, we're going to pivot and uh follow uh the sanitation routes so that we can attack certain areas of the city. And uh as was stated, the the mains are more important because that's what sees the most vehicles and the most impact to the efficient movement of our vehicles.

Mr. manager

uh through the chair to the council. I think one of the things uh just to go back to the question from council rivera related to amount of time that we have um oftent times we have a a practice of of us uh the DW having about 48 hours to repair that pothole uh or a reasonable time. But if there's no hot mix available, then it and it impacts our 48 hours. Then sometimes that prolongs our ability to even get out there. Um, and so that process happens through the claims in the law department where they evaluate that and they make that determination on something whether the city is liable for that or that's something that then the DBW can then respond to. So again, we we always want to be within the 48 hour mark. Um but sometimes it's impossible to be able but I think this approach and the conversations with the commissioner including also the conversations with uh council econom the approach to and I know it's going to be challenging right because there are going to be residents that perhaps tomorrow or the next day are going to submit a request on a pothole in in Friday's route but if we want to take in a in a in a proactive approach to really address the whole city we got to do we got to put all of our efforts on one particular route address all those streets and then work our way through the city. Uh which mean that some potholes are going to take some time for us to be able to get to that area of the city. But we feel as though that's a proactive approach to address as much as we can the entire city. And that's going to be a combination of current staff during the day overtime, but also uh utilizing some private contractors to help address some of these areas, especially starting with the main arterials. So, we're going to take a different approach, but unfortunately, it may be where as people file 311 requests, we may not get to that uh for a number of of days uh as as we go through uh the routes.

Okay. Okay. Uh Council Mitra,

thank you, Mr. Chair. To you to Commissioner U Commissioner West Ling. I think you gave a report. I read about it. I think your first line when I read it says, "Poth holes are an unavoidable byproduct of maintaining a large aging roadway network in New England, a region known for its seasonal inclement weather. I I understand that. I understand we live in an area where things are probably we're more prone to get these potholes but I think we all also know from the residents from our constituents what we hear that it is a severe issue it's an issue it's an issue that people are have causing the safety their health issues there could be you know so many things that it it could cause when you have when you go over the pothole it's not only the uh car that's doing damage but also impacts the health. I think we do have to come up with a plan. I don't I read a few weeks back in the telegram and gazette that the city's mission is to take care of all the potholes is a it's a mission. I was very happy to read that but I think we the way we read it looks like we are coming up with a with an excuse that we live in a that kind of a city where it becomes very difficult to take care of resolve this resolve this problem. That should not be in my opinion our approach. Our approach should be no matter what condition we are in, we know what condition we are in. Then we got to find a way. Every problem can be solved if we put our minds together, heads together and think of the possibilities available today. Now you have given here how many potholes are there? You're saying about

4,000. I think that's probably because of the reports coming from 311 or the residents calling saying I got a pothole in front of my my street. You're counting that. I had said some time back that let's not be reactive. Let's be proactive. There are ways the this city can find out how many potholes are there in the entire city. There's a way to find that out. I had mentioned that. I think we have to take an approach to have a have an inventory of how many potholes this city really has and then how many potholes really you can do in a week in month have have some idea based on your resources based on your workforce that how many we can do and then determine that how much how many months it will take for us to really take care of the ones that we have at our in our hands because I know it's a recurring system next winter again we'll have some But let's take care of what we have because people are thinking there is an out outside there the constituent the residents have a notion that we are neglecting it. We are not really paying enough attention to fix these because every time we go there is still potholes. So mission should be taken I think a little bit seriously. Mr. manager. I would also say to the commissioner that no matter you know you're making good efforts but I think it's not messages out there is a little bit different because we hear that we get the call saying that DPW is not doing the job that we expect it to do. We don't want to hear that. We want to say that hey we have a great DPW division and I think you you do do your best but I want to see that we have a plan the plan that tells us that yes we can solve it no matter what condition we live no matter what kind of city we live no matter what kind of weather we have we know all this knowing all these knowing our problems I think we should be able to come up with the solution I

don't think we can give an excuse that we live in a condition that we cannot really resolve it that's not the way I think we should approach. So I would like to see that you know we have a proactive approach. We have a idea about how many potholes this city has and we put our forces out there based on so many per week, so many per months really get it taken care of. I really want this city to be a city with no potholes. I mean it will arise, it will emerge but we'll attack them again with a plan. If we don't have a plan, if we cannot say council, I asked you, do you have a timeline? I know you said that no, I cannot give you the timeline because we're doing our best. I appreciate you're doing your best, but I think we should have a timeline. I think we should have an answer that hey, I think the way I'm planning by next 8 or 9 months everything will be taken care of. I'll be so happy if that happens. I'm not criticizing anything. I'm just giving what I would do, what suggestion I can offer you. Maybe it will help. Thank you.

Through through the chair. Go ahead. If I may reply, um,

you are correct. We do need a plan and the plan was approved by the city council uh last January. Well, the the report was put out last January and it was the pavement management plan. Um, potholes are not the root cause. they are a symptom of the problem and that root cause is that we've got aging roadways. Many are beyond their service life. Uh that pavement management plan that was produced last year showed that we have an existing pavement condition index or PCI of 70 when that was produced. And in order to make improvements in that pavement condition index in the overall condition of the roads, they were recommending $19 million a year, which we're going to invest this year. Uh the past seven years, we've only invested $13 million a year. And what that report showed was that if you're investing $13 million a year, you can expect that your PCI is going to degrade over time. And that degradation of the PCI is not only rougher roads, but it's more potholes in those roads. So there is a plan that we are looking to implement that and that's why uh the city this year we believe will be approaching that $19 million investment.

Okay. Thank you, Councelor Bergman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um let me start off by saying a couple complimentary things. I I I do think Commissioner Westerling is is a professional. I think he takes his job seriously. I have at times been very critical of uh of what I see as a failure in the ability to to do certain things um that I like to see done better. And I'm not going to shy away from that. But just want to be clear, it's not personal. I like I like John. Um I misspoke on a prior occasion of something. I attributed a quote to him and I apologize in person and we'll do so publicly when we come up to the budget time and I told him so but I I will say that I've seen reports like this not the same report and starting uh or following up what council me had said to me I I don't see a game plan here that I think is going to be a winning game plan I hope I'm wrong so let me just through the chair ask commissioner Westerling um do we know how many potholes in a given year we filled And let's use 2025 as an example

uh through the chair in the report uh the on the uh one second page uh in 2020 there were 1750 uh work order requests and it went to the following year 1 1700 2600 2200 3900 3700 and this year 4500 so it has been an an an increase over those past six years. So the reason why I thank you. The reason why I asked those questions seems to me more potholes get created in a given year than we're filling if if if I'm interpreting those numbers correctly. So through the chair is that correct? uh through the chair. I don't know if all of those were filled in those years, but certainly there are more potholes every year and I don't know if that's because previous years potholes weren't filled or the roads are just degrading in the

So if more potholes develop over a year that are being filled, it's a net loss of being able to fill potholes unless we uh increase the number of people uh that are able to fill the potholes in my very non uh you know engineered logic. So, let me ask another question to the chair. One of the things that I think Mr. Manager,

I just want to touch on that real quick before you go on to the next question and the next topic. Um, one of the things that we're also acknowledg uh realized um that is not spoken uh clearly in the report uh and we'd be happy to bring forward a report to analyze the impacts of it is that providing the accessibility for residents to report incidences or requests has been exponentially increased over the last three years because of the addition of 311. Historically, the only way residents could report any potholes, they would have to call 5089291300 if they knew the number, right? If they remembered to call or whatever providing and since and and that's why you see the big jump here in 22 to 23 24 and 20. Those are the years that you saw the implementation of 311. Now you implement a 311 phone number that becomes successful. you implement an application that had now not just in potholes, but we look at overall the requests that are coming through the 311 uh application and the 311 number has doubled if not tripled the number from what historically the city would ever receive related to the 3 929300 number. So I think providing that access which is exactly what we wanted to do provide access to our residents uh to be able to submit these requests has provided that increase. But now one of the things that we've realized is that we need to do better in adjusting our operations to be able to provide our services to that demand of requests that's coming in uh and we're seeing in combination with also the aging infrastructure. So, there's a combination of things that are happening, but I think one of the things that happened was that 311 shift as well.

And I appreciate that, but and I'm not suggesting um that there are double the amount of puddles in 2025 than there were 2020, but they could be. And certainly making it easier for people to report them is the right thing to do. And if they exist, they exist. Whether people couldn't report them in the past uh and are now reporting them more easily now. But clearly between 2020 uh 2010 2020 W's population grew by any more any more than any other city or town in Massachusetts and with that comes more vehicles. So we know that the trend is likely to go higher. So through the chair if I may to the commissioner my my belief is this has to be a partnership not just between the city council and and you Mr. commissioner, but but your staff and one of the things that frust and your in and your employees and one of the things that frustrates to frustrates me to no end is to the ma to the manager's comment a moment ago. People are calling this in. But but do any of the DPW workers call these in? I mean, they're driving all around the city. I never hear somebody tell me that got called in by a worker. Why Why aren't workers is my question. Why aren't your workers that are charged with filling in potholes calling in potholes that they see? And if I'm wrong and they do call them in, I'd love to know it.

So the chair, I don't have that specific specific information this evening. If they are identifying potholes, they are reporting that to their their foreman or their managers. they will not likely be using the 311 system because that just adds a layer of of uh difficulty in trying to get those filled. So I can find out if that's how they are being reported. I suspect that that that's the way that they are being reported through what I'd like through the chair the commissioner if it's possible is I I I wouldn't like just a general comment they're getting called in. I'd like to know if there's a method for them to call in and if there's a method for them to report it. how many people have actually done it. Because again, if this isn't going to be a partnership, if somebody that worked for a division of DPW just drives over a massive pothole, drives around it, and leaves it for the next sucker like me or one of my colleagues to lose a tire over it. That's not right. It just isn't. And I feel that way and I feel strongly about it. So, I hope there's a process and I hope people are actually calling that in. And if if I'm wrong and there is a process and they're calling it in, I'm glad that I asked the question. I'm glad to find that out. The other thing I I'd like to ask as well is and it kind of got glossed over and it's been a big issue for me and I think you know the question that's coming through the chair of the commissioner where in the report uh or in your thought process on moving forward is there a way to ensure that in an area where there are multiple potholes one doesn't get overlooked while the other one gets done because that also is something that I've you know probably talked more on than I want do uh and that constituents tell me all the time I've witnessed it myself and I don't see any mechanism mechanism in here to make sure that doesn't happen or any mechanism that the consequences of that happening are x y or z. So through the chair to the commissioner

commissioner through the chair um we are pivoting from prioritizing 311 work orders and going to be following sanitation routes so that uh we don't end up with a work order to fill five potholes on the street that may have 15 where their priority or their focus would be on those five potholes. in this case now they'll be able to go to a certain street and go from beginning to end and fill all the potholes there. So that's the pivot that we're making. Okay. So the second five.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So through the chair, the commissioner, I don't do well with with words like that and I I'm not faulting you for using it. I don't know what pivot really means concrete concretely. What what I'm asking is, you know, with the snowplow operations, there's an inspector and there's a supervisor. I'm not always in favor of that the number of levels of supervision, but at least I understand it that somebody's making sure that something's getting done correctly. Who's inspecting the new, you know, this pivot as you're describing of go moving away from 311 calls? Because to me, whether somebody's responding to a 311 call or they're responding to a new system of how you address potholes, they're either going to be conscientious enough to fill all the holes they're supposed to or they're not. and and I want to know if they're not, which has been in the past, even though previous commissioners in your spot have told me, council Bergman, that does not happen over and over again, and it does happen. And I and I know what happens. So, and I trust you won't say that because I think you know what happens, too. What I'm trying to find out is going forward, how are we going to prevent that from happening other than our best hopes and wishes that people are going to be conscientious? And I hope they are. commission.

So through the chair um we are abandoning the process of creating work orders for 311 and going to a process of filling potholes based on sanitation routes. Uh there will either be a foreman with a laborer on the actual pothole crew or if it's a driver and a labor then there will be a foreman following to make sure that they have completed all the all the pothole repairs on a specific specific route.

Okay. Well, I I appreciate there's going to be some some more levels of supervision because I think that's been missing in the past and and there are many many many good workers uh that that uh work for DPW. I'm not suggesting there aren't. I'm just suggesting that the skipping potholes when they're within vicinity of other potholes is something that happens more often um than it should. Um well the only other thing I would like to add is just consistent with with what my colleague coun council me had to say is you know I I know we we have had you know severe climate Worcester is known for that. We have more volume than ever. Um, and I know that your recommendation on the last page, Commissioner, is that DPW um that the the goal, the right combination of funding, policy, and operational improvements. Uh, with the right combination of funding, policy, mun operational improvements, the municipality is well positioned to reduce household frequency. I sincerely hope so. I've said this in the past. I'm I'm more than willing to support all all all of them, funding, policy, and operational improvements. I'm not convinced, however, that it's only about funding. I think there needs to be some, you know, some sort of um attitude adjustment uh or change that this is a serious serious issue and that we can't just gloss over it. And I guess my I do have one last question. I have three minutes. I hopefully only take one more minute. it. It says here that one of the past things we used to do is we used to go after uh worst roads first or worst first roads. I'm not so sure that's a problem. I mean, if if there's a road that's terrible shape, even though it may not have the traffic that a main road has, I don't know how you evaluate what's going to cause more harm to more vehicles, the the the side street that has a severe hole uh or the main road

that has less severe role. in the future going for forward how would you prioritize which streets are going to get um we get the potholes fixed first assuming there's as I described a side street um with a severe pothole versus a main road with a less severe pothole who gets who gets treated first

so uh through the chair uh the worst first refers to the fact that the city before January of last year did not have an approach for pavement preservation. So what they would do, what would happen is that roads would not be preserved. There was no crack ceiling before 2022. There were no other efforts for pavement preservation. So the roads would fall to uh PCI levels that were unacceptable. So those by worse first, that's what's meant. It's not that uh we would now do better roads than worse first. uh but it was that there was no pavement preservation and that's why thankfully last year uh the city council approved the pavement management plan because there are pavement preservation tech techniques in there so that we're not waiting for a pavement to fully degrade to the point where it needs to be full depth reconstruction but we're doing pavement preservation to extend the life of roads thereby increasing the PCI

and I and I appreciate because I would not have thought that's what that meant but but I still would like the question answered going forward post 2022 how are you going to pri prioritize those two scenarios I gave you

so uh through the chair uh the DTM and the DPW work collaboratively to select roads for both pavement preservation and for uh full depth reconstruction and other techniques. Uh there's also the city councelor or district counselor selections. So we work collaboratively. Again, we don't do roads that don't need to have uh reconstruction. Those roads would be selected for pavement preservation. Uh and the pavement reconstruction is a collaboration between those two departments looking at the pavement condition index overall. And we do have a map and it's online where you can look at the pavement condition index. But picking pavement condition index for the right treatments. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. We have council fizz over council king Rosenber and econom.

Thank you Mr. Chairman through you to the commissioner. I'm glad that you brought up the fact that you had to go to Boston east Boston pick up the asphalt. Uh I once I told a lot of the uh the constituents that would bring up potholes to me that it seemed like you know we were lagging it in in uh addressing them. And I told them that they understood it. Uh, one other point, educate the public and myself. Um, you drive from Boston, you come here, it's an hour or so. Uh, does the asphalt cool off? Is that uh, you know, does that allow for success with that asphalt to fill the pothole? Just commissioner.

So, through the chair, we do have several hot boxes and those are boxes that have a source of heat that keep the hot mix hot so when it gets here, it's at the proper temperature. uh those vehicles that we send that don't have a hot box, by the time the material gets back here, uh some of it turns to waste or it's not put into primary roads. It's used to resurface uh areas of uh you know, it's it's not put on roads, but it's it's still utilized, but going to Boston and bringing it back, you're not getting the proper working temperature for a lot of the material.

Thank you. I'm glad I'm glad you're honest and in in you know addressing that. My last question, uh, Commissioner, we have had several phone call, I have had several phone calls on the, uh, bridge over 290, under 290, I should say, at Mchuan Road. Uh, from curb to curb underneath the bridge, the road is deteriorating. So, there's many potholes and and again, the road is in dire need of repair. Is that something? And I've asked uh you know DPW and I haven't got an answer yet, but is that our responsibility or can we call Mass DOT? Do they do they help out in that area when it's uh you know under under uh the highway

uh through the chair? Uh we'd have to look at that specific situation. I'm not familiar with that road, but typically the uh Mass DOT would have a right of way for 290 uh and they would do maintenance associated with 290, whether it's the bridge, whether it's the roadway, the city streets that are uh approaching and leaving and under 290, those would typically be the responsibility of the city. Okay. All right. I'm glad to know that. But that that is um that is a a huge issue. I've I've I've you know received several phone calls from people Quincig Village, Vernon Hill that go that route every day and uh if we could look at that I'd appreciate it. Thank you

through the chair if I may. Uh one other item related to the winter availability of hot mix. Uh we are investigating uh it's a it's a batch plant which we'd be able to bring in. We have uh a a literal mountain of uh pavement millings from prior road projects. What the batch plant would allow us to do is to take those millings, put it into this batch plant, essentially a trailer, add liquid asphalt, and at the end it produces hot mix at 350°. So, we don't have to travel to Boston. We can come in in the morning, we can make tons of hot mix asphalt, thereby saving us uh at least two hours a day, and we've got a better product that will be better put onto the streets.

Thank you, Mr. Commission. And again, that's Mchuan Road. Got it. Under 290. Thank you. Thank you. On the list. Okay, we have Councelor King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Certainly a lot of questions. Um, you know, I I acknowledge this report and the work that's been put into it um from the administration department head and um the folks uh closer to the challenges um that contributed to this. That being said, Mr. Chairman, um you know, I'm hearing about 311 and doubling and tripling um the number of potholes that um are occurring. This was mentioned by a couple of my colleagues um pertaining to, you know, what is the operational strategy at play to address that? What is the operational strategy at play um to address issues when there's a pothole here and one right next to it? One's getting filled, one one isn't. I don't know that that's answered in here. And it brings me to this question, Mr. Chairman. what exactly is the rubric that the city manager um is using to evaluate performance of this department relative to this issue? Um you know what is the metrics? What's the calculus? Um you know how are we actually measuring how well we're doing through the chair to the administration because that's what's most important here. Um what we're what I'm hearing is um us you know really pursuing all these different things. I've heard comments about you know um that the performance related to this is insufficient. Um you know I I've heard you know it's been mentioned tonight that it needs to be an attitude adjustment. Those are not my l my words, but there's clearly um you know from the legislative side some concerns there and um I'm trying to figure out um as an oversight body how it is that we can measure efficacy um if we don't know what the rubric, what the standard, what

the calculus is for exactly that through the chair. Mr. manager

to the chair to the council. My job to in evaluating and working with the department head has is evaluating their outputs on a day-to-day basis. There's no current rubric. I've been very vocal in this council floor of our ability to develop evaluation plans for the workforce starting with the cabinet and the leadership. I've been very vocal about that. uh and that's something that we are working towards and we're going to be implementing in this upcoming fiscal year. Um part of that effort has also included to develop a strategic plan that has a number of of uh of goals and outcomes that we want to achieve. And so in the budget process, we developed what is called the departmental development plans that allow uh an ability for us to measure the output and the outcomes of the goals of each department. Um when you speak specifically to any calculus or any data particular to a particular issue, there's a lot of different day-to-day activities that the Department of Public Works does that right now it would be very uh cumbersome to have a specific data set for every particular area and every particular program and every particular output. uh my purpose and my goal in evaluating the department head is their overall aspect when they come into the department and the ability to understand and understand what's happening with operationally staffing uh cost uh relationships etc and then developing plans to address that. I think one of the things that's happened with with regards to what's happening here regarding potholes, it's a combination of things that we're all trying to piece together related to just the overall of DPW, right? It's not just potholes. Pothole is not just the issue. And I'm going to reiterate that pothole is not just the issue. There's some real infrastructure issues over a number of years that has created this volume of potholes uh in the department. We have a

commissioner and a and a team that has come forward uh with evaluating the operational needs. We're listening to the council. We're pivoting. We're transitioning or we're trying to figure out ways to address some of the issues that we have right now. Um in regards to our current infrastructure, this is a long-term game. Um, but I'm I I want to be cautious that I don't want people to believe that a lot of these things can be fixed exponentially and then we'll have the best streets in the entire state or entire New England. It's an a it's a long-term approach. There's immediate things that we can do and those are the things that we've discussed here with the council in uh to try to address, right? We did that as part of the summer to address some of the our clean uh uh efforts. We had conversation about the expansion of the uh the uh the drop off center. All all of these things are areas within the department of public works that this commissioner is evaluating completely and providing some ideas, some potential changes to operations that then the council will be privy to for decisions related to funding and how do we fund these things. Uh so it's a combination of things that come into play for for my ability to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the actual uh commissioner and the team. Um but again one of the ways in which we can evaluate is our strategic plan the departmental development plans um and also the future uh performance evaluations of every single uh uh employee in the city of Wer.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. You know um just want to clarify um I understand there's many aspects of service provision um that needs to be operate operationalized here in the city. There's policy, there's collective bargaining, there's all these sorts of things that are interwoven. Um, however, this particular issue with potholes is something that's come up time and time again, particularly on this particular short term that we've that this body has been together, but also prior to that. So, um, that's the spirit of this, um, is that this is the one of the pressing issues. Yes, we've talked about the cleanliness of the city. Yes, we've talked about drop offs for years and nothing's nothing's happened and I look forward um to the changes that are coming and I appreciate uh councelor econom's work with the city manager and uh Mr. Westling um as it relates to moving some of these things forward um in concert and I think you know again people want to return on their tax dollars and if we're looking at following the sanitation folks around um as councelor econom has advocated for um folks are going to actually see visually and in real time um that there's a different effort being made that there's some adjustment um I don't know what's that means if we're back loing or backlisting or backlogging 31 111 calls. Um there needs to be a real big communication on that. Um you know, if if if the priority is going to be, you know, um sanitation, things like that. So, I just think that um communication from the city to the public needs to be consistent um and um repetitive. Um but I will stand by the ask that we get some sort of rubric, some sort of operational strategy, standard calculus for this particular issue because it's taking up a whole lot of time this term. So it's not about everything, but it is about

this, Mr. Chairman. um you know and and I look forward to 8 to to 8:15A or 815A um as it relates to the report from um the solicitor on the uh claims process um because you know we're hearing from folks that you know there's extended periods of time. Um I I'll speak on that matter when it comes. I'm happy to see um the prioritization that's being occurred u by the office of the solicitor. Um, I'll speak to that at that time, but it's all kind of intersected. Um, and um, that that's my motion, Mr. Chairman. Um, thank you. Thank you. Okay. With Council Rosen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Now, we've been talking about potholes on the Worester streets for at least the last three months. And I remember when we first talked about it in February, I had mentioned that we need more money in the budget of the DPW. And we all have to remember that coming up in May, we'll be meeting with the budget and let's make sure that we fund that department uh to a level where they can do a lot more than they're able to do now. And especially with the potholes, I kind of worry that our 2026 potholes are still going to be our or become our 2027 potholes without any more snow even that some of them will be there and we might be identifying them next end of next winter, March, April and the ones that we're talking about now. So pretty concerned. You know the water has a very unusual property. It expands when it freezes and therefore it contracts when it melts when the ice freezes. And that process that process continues week after week, month after month and it's going to damage even the best of roads. I know we'd like to have better road materials and better roads in the city of Worcester, but it's going to happen and we have to get used to it. uh you know we hear that uh maybe four or five years ago with 9291300 instead of 311 there were less reports of potholes. It doesn't mean there were fewer potholes. Now they know how to report them and that's what they're doing and we can expect the next several years since we have 311 that we're going to have a lot more uh potholes being reported. What surprises me and I support the spring street sweeping that's going on now. But it's not isn't it possible through the chair to the commissioner that we could delay that just a little a week or two because it seems to me what's more

urgent and they're both urgent but what's more urgent is filling the potholes. And you said I think you said oh one day recently we had three crews and then one day we had one. I'm saying I don't know if we have 10 crews I'd postpone the street sweeping don't want to do it but may not have a choice and put those 10 crews out every day and I might do it on Saturday and Sunday too. So, have we ever thought of that? Maybe postponing the sweeping and filling these potholes, which we're going to talk about. I don't know. We'll be talking about this in May probably again someone's going to put something on. It's going to come up and uh you know, may the only way we're going to fill them all or most of them certainly is to have the crews working on them. We can talk about plans for next winter and next year and years down the road, but if you want to fill the 2026 potholes, you need crews to do it. The hot patch is there. I I love the idea of us making our hot mix. And you've mentioned a couple of ways and I don't know if other cities and towns, any of them do that. Uh but it's right now it's crews. Give us the crews. Give us the the people to fill them and they eventually most of them will get filled. So through the chair, could we delay the street sweeping a bit?

Commissioner,

uh through the chair, you mentioned several things there, counselor, which I'd just like to comment on. the uh the the plant uh the asphalt plant in Milbury has just opened up in the past week or so. I don't believe that um we'll be going to Boston any longer. Uh but those are certainly competing interests that we can evaluate if we want to delay the street sweeping. Street sweeping is historically something that's done in the spring to make the roadways safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Uh it keeps the sand and debris from getting into the catch basins. Uh it's also for the cleanliness of the city. We see a lot of requests about uh litter in the curb and after a long winter we've got a lot of litter in the curb and that's what the street sweeping is is doing. So certainly something that we can evaluate to see if uh street sweeping is a higher priority than catch basin uh than uh potholes.

Uh through the chair to the commission I didn't say stop no you did not the street sweeping. We just had a long discussion. And I said, "Pause. Pause the street sweeping. That's all for a couple of weeks. It's something I think we should do. They're both important. I agree with you 100%. But we don't talk about street sweeping every few weeks. We talk about potholes." And all that we've said tonight, we've said before, all of us. So, I just think that you've got to put the crews back on the puddles. That's the the the, you know, partial solution right now. And Milbury is going to have their own. Is that a private business or the town business?

No, there's through the chair. There's an asphalt plant in the in the Milbury area that has uh they've just recently opened and others will also be opening. When you say open, so it's not a new open, it's just open for the season. Correct. Through the chair. So, does that mean we're done with Boston at least for the rest of the season? Through the chair. Absolutely. We will not be going back and forth to Boston until next February, March. Okay. And they're open there in East Boston, but Milbury's not. through the chair. That's correct. Because the Boston area has more projects going on and more paving requirements, so it's financially feasible for them to stay open.

Okay. And uh we haven't heard this before, but I always thought that many of our plows might be damaging the street and even causing potholes. Is that possible? The plows do a lot of damage through the chair to the commissioner. Commissioner

through the chair. Uh plows certainly have uh wear and tear on the asphalt. However, uh they are not the primary cause. You mentioned it specifically that water intrusion in through the cracks. And that's why prior to 2022, there wasn't a lot of crack sealing going on in the city. Um so now we again that's part of the pavement preservation in the pavement management plan is to make sure that we're filling cracks in roads that have the appropriate PCI so that they don't degrade faster. Um, so plows certainly wear and tear on the surface, but not so much digging in and popping out pieces of asphalt.

So, Mr. Chair, we've got got speed humps everywhere and we have these craters everywhere. So, we I mean,

it's kind it's kind of ironic. I don't know which we have more of speed humps which a few years ago when I was on the council last I thought was a good idea but I see that everyone seems to want them. I go to the neighborhood groups they all seem to want them and there's a list I think on tonight and they'll be probably every week. So, I don't know if there were more potholes than speed humps, but they're kind of opposite problems. But, uh, they, you know, they both seem to be problems and I think we're overdoing it in the speed humps, and we're not doing enough to fill those potholes. But, I hope you will consider maybe delaying the street sweeping, which is important. But fill these and then get right back to the street sweeping. Thank you for all you do, Commissioner. I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Council Bada.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be quick. Um yeah, it was a great report. Really good to know that some some of the challenges that we're facing um and some of the historic, you know, um some of the historic like processes that were were changing that have led to, you know what I mean? Like you said, deteriorating allowing road conditions to deteriorate over time. Um just a couple questions. How many how many crews were out on a daily average like in the month of March? I know we saw that the announcement went out there going to be three to 10 crews. It's hard to say what the average was or could you just curious through the chair to the commissioner? Commut chair. I don't have a specific average. We can certainly find that but it was our intent to have as many out as possible which would be up to 10 a day.

Uh there were some days where we had to pull folks that uh that had to cover for sanitation or vacations and things like that, but it was our goal to have up to 10. Thank you for that. And I think it's important to for the public to understand that the workers that are managing our trash pickup are also some of the same workers that are working on puddles. Is that correct? Through the chair. That is correct.

Thank you. Um yeah, I understand the challenges and would look forward to supporting uh you know the purchasing of the mobile batching unit. Definitely would love to support that in this year's budget or the budgets of the future. Um but you know I agree with my colleagues that I think we need to move faster on certain ones there. I really, you know, want to stress prioritizing like our highly traveled roadways. Uh, you know, Washington Square was just re re, you know, those potholes were fixed. Thank you for that. Um, you know, but however, there are, you know, potholes that have been around for a long time. Uh, the corner of Franklin Graffin Street, I have a, you know, 31 ticket I put on put it put in, excuse me, on February 28th. Uh, I think that pothole was just filled in the last 48 hours. I know because I travel that road a lot. So, you know, really definitely frustrating as a counselor to have, you know, potholes that linger for for more than a month. Um, so I really appreciate this report and really hope that we can uh push do better because we we really have to and a lot of residents are are concerned and it's definitely frustrating when um residents see that we can't manage our major roadways, let alone the smaller ones. So, I I just, you know, but I I know everyone's uh we're making changes and you know, hopeful that we're going to be in a better spot next year, but I appreciate the report and look forward to supporting whatever we can do as a council to make sure that this work gets done better and quicker for our residents. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Council Tum not being heard. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, thank you, Commissioner, for this report. Um, we all know that name

everywhere you go. All of us have hear potholes. The potholes I go into work and I get inundated with my I have got hit. Can I can the city pay for my my car to be re redone? And you know, it's it's just we all hear it everywhere. Go to the supermarket. Um, you go everywhere. So, I I know it's it's a huge issue. Um, we also do live in New England. uh we have had kind of a perfect storm this year to use coin phrase uh with the freeze thaw uh temperatures and all of that stuff. That being said, um I do think that um pavement management is something that um is a science uh and it's subject to um you know uh certain uh things that are out of your control. Um so I understand that completely. Um, one of the concerns that I have is um that while we've been filling the holes during the winter, that's been coal patch, which doesn't stay very long and continues to exacerbate. Um, one of the other things that I've been concerned about that has I don't think it's been touched by anybody um potential for sinkholes uh for some of these potholes. Uh, I've noticed actually one um particular pothole uh on West Bro Street that was actually not a pothole. It was a it was a uh um uh repair for a water leak and it was filled by the city and then that sunk and that was filled and then that fill is sunk. So that's why I'm I'm concerned about water runoff underneath some of these things and we've continued to have water uh main breaks uh throughout the city. Not quite as many as during the winter, but we have had some. Um so I'm I'm just concerned about

the possibility of that. Uh do you have any uh indication uh of of any of uh any of that uh happening or uh through the chair? uh the the pothole or water mane repair that you had mentioned uh was one that was done in the winter and in the winter time it's very difficult to get dry material. It's very difficult to get compaction. Uh so that's why that one required additional attention by the DPW which we eventually uh fixed after a couple of attempts to to settle it down. I would say it's not fixed right now but take a ride. Which street? I'm sorry. West Street. Is that the same?

It's Pioneer. Okay. Um but if it's a if it's a water mane break in the winter, I'm thinking of a different one in uh in a different district. Um then same thing applies. It's very difficult to get the proper compaction during cold weather during the wintertime. Uh so sometimes they do take uh additional attempts

and I appreciate that. But um you know the whole undermining um having these sink holes uh especially where the water tables change um I know that it's been an issue on specifically on Lake AB North. Uh we had a significant issue with that over there. Um and I've noticed that there's been some uh deterioration there as well. So along with the potholes uh you need to pay attention to some of these other other things that are happening. Um but I do want to ask um uh the uh financial impact of uh current affairs um on Batuminous product. Um have we seen a huge increase or are we locked in um with a uh a contract price

uh through the chair? We were pretty well locked in when we were going to Boston and back. Uh haven't seen what the prices will be in the the nearby Milbury plant. Uh but I suspect that asphalt is a petroleum product and as the petroleum uh supplies dwindle, I suspect that we're going to see those prices increase.

Um I had uh previously asked uh to have some discussion with the WPI uh students on civil engineering students with um with us regarding the potholes and um coming up with solutions. And I know that there's a lot of new um uh research being done. So um it would be great if uh you could connect with them. Maybe they could do an uh MQP um uh project uh because I know when my daughter was there, they were talking about um some some projects that were actually uh pretty exciting. So, um I want to thank you for that and and again uh echoing my colleagues um you know the sooner we can get these potholes uh repaired um and and well done um the better off we all are. And and again, I also know that um for many of our major roads, uh there's been an excess of um of uh utility work uh that has really made major uh impact there. And I'm wondering uh if we've gotten any further with the utility companies with repairing their uh mistakes

uh through the chair. Uh at our last public works committee meeting, we invited in both Eversource and National Grid and we had a we had a a a productive conversation, I'll say, with them. A couple of other things that uh the DPW has done. Back in 2024, we changed the requirements for utility uh permanent patches on their utility cuts. In the past, if they had a two foot wide trench that ran down the the right-hand lane, that's all they would be required to patch. But in 2024, we changed that so that they have to now patch from the curb to the center line. So that provides for a much better uh finished product. The other thing that you'll see from uh from the DPW very soon. Right now, the the warranty for utility patches is only two years. We're going to come forward with a proposal for consideration by the city council uh to change that warranty period to five years so that if they do a repair and it doesn't hold up then we've got an ordinance that we can go back and ask them or require them to make those improvements.

Is that is that being done in other municipalities uh through the chair? I don't think that they're uh that their warranty periods are that that long. However, I also don't think that those other municipalities have the utility cuts that we do. Uh, witness Eversource Gas, you'll find them out on any given street, any given day. Uh, same with uh same with National Grid.

I I I was uh basically uh pointing toward other uh urban centers, you know, older urban centers like Boston, Lawrence, Lel, Springfield, etc. uh through the chair. We can certainly look into that. But I think that what's most important is the effects of the utility cuts on our streets. And we're seeing that they are uh changing uh the roadway conditions very rapidly. And as was mentioned earlier, the water gets in through to the subbase and freezes and thaws through those cracks and those utility cracks. the more utility trenches we have, the more that there's the need for us to have a better warranty period and better better repair requirements.

So, when those repairs are done, and we did the ceiling a few years ago, I remember people going out doing that, the crack ceiling, why don't they do crack sealing over the repair that's being that they just put in? Commissioner uh through the chair. If you have a specific street, we can go back and look, but typically uh what they do is they put down a liquid asphalt emulsion. Uh they don't do the crack on top. What they do is they they do the point where the new asphalt meets the old asphalt. So they will have a cut line and there'll be a thickness of asphalt. They'll paint that with an emulsion and then they will So it's a vertical. Correct. As opposed to

correct. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Just trying to get mechanics of it. Thank you. Okay, I guess one round wasn't enough. So, let's go a second round. Council Cono, follow by Council King. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. What can we add?

I want to thank the city manager. I want to thank Commissioner Wesling for sitting here and and listening to us. Um, but the one thing I want to say too, I appreciate the plan. I think I think a plan such as that in one week in one in one time span every part of the city will be touched and the people will see that and they will see action right and I think that alone will will significantly drop the calls for repair because we're doing it. Um I commend you on that. I commend the manager on that um for getting that done. I also want to say the mobile batching, there's a a company out of Danbury, Connecticut. They have a mobile batch uh system that they use there, too. And they were able to pave um streets in the middle of winter. So, it is a value and I can see that being a great part of our awesomel uh going forward. So, again, thank you both. Thank you for the time. I I do appreciate it.

Through the chair briefly, uh we did go out to the city of Newton today. They have one of the the similar batch plants. They absolutely love it and they said that it paid for itself very quickly because they weren't traveling to get mixed and they had the appropriate material to put under the streets. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I'll try to be as as brief as it as it takes. Um Mr. Mr. Chairman, um this is just with respect to the potential of pausing the street sweeping. Um you know, and I I just wanted to have a question for the administration as well. But, you know, my concern as it relates to that is we have a lot of folks traversing the city. We have folks in wheelchairs. We have folks on scooters, skateboards, motorized scooters, pedestrians. Um I'm a motorcycle rider. Um, I have a victory hammer, eightball, muscle cruiser, Tony. Um, and Tony used to ride and you know, it's extremely dangerous when we have um that sort of um sand and and what have you on the surface. Um, it could cost a life. It's extreme. I can't, as a motorcyclist, I can't tell you how important that is. Um, for folks, as I mentioned, who are vulnerable road users, significantly important. Um, and you know, I hope folks don't get excited about this, but we're once again vision zero, right? We're talking about um, you know, uh, street sweeping and safety. Um, and don't get excited. Cars are vulnerable, too. Absolutely. Um but complete streets vision zero um really focuses on focusing on u maintenance of our roads, cleanliness of our roads, safety of our roads, lighting, infrastructure etc. Um, so if there is due consideration to be made, um, and I think that it everything should be on the table, um, um, for, uh, consideration. Not saying not to consider, I'm just emphasizing, um, there's a significant safety component as it relates to street sweeping um, and we cannot, um, disclude vulnerable road

users, motorcyclists, um, etc. Um, so, um, you know, I I just want to make sure that that's there and and and I don't want anyone thinking that, um, you know, that, uh, this council wasn't willing to speak on it. Thank you. Thank you. So, the Senate to public works. Those in favor of postal ordered. We have uh, next time up is 2026 Arba Day communication. Motion is to file. Those in favor of postal audited. Okay. Do we want to do 8.14A or save that for later?

So we have chis information communication of the study analysis police response data 2024 and 2025. Councelor Tumi.

Thank you Mr. Chair. Um this was an excellent excellent report. Um, as chair of public safety, I've reviewed the, uh, report um, the analysis uh, for 2024 and 25. Um, this data-driven study um, uh, basically showed 157,993 calls showing an average citywide response time of 9.65 minutes, which was outstanding. Um the report highlights that police service demand is heavily concentrated in Worcester Central Corps with particularly strong performance in the main south corridor. Uh that high demand area also benefits from statistically faster than average response times demonstrating that the Worester Police Department is effectively aligning resources with the need. Um the analysis further notes that critical co-response personnel added uh handled 56.7% of crisis intervention incidents within the main south corridor and that reflected important progress regarding mental health support with policing. Um those findings affirm the Wester Police Department's operational effectiveness in high demand zones and we'll continue to use the data to guide resource designs decisions and strengthen accountability and expand effective co-response models. To that end, um I' I'd like to um uh find out uh what uh we're going to do moving forward um to try to increase um response times in those areas that were not as um uh quick.

Commissioner,

excellent report. I apologize. Uh could you just repeat the question? Sure. No, I'm just we we've identified that we're uh providing the quickest response in the areas where the the highest demand. Um and we are going to continue to use the data to guide resource decisions. And so one of the questions I have is now that we have this information, how do we um uh increase response times in other areas

uh through the chair to the counselor? So, one thing that the police department potentially could do as they, you know, do from time to time is they could take this data and look at their patrol routes and determine if they need to realign any of them or staff them differently um based off the call volume in those areas and the response times in those areas. So, that that is a possibility. Um we may also have to look at how we're responding to calls. Um, and that data can be used by the police department to determine if uh, you know, if they're responding to calls effectively, if they need more officers or less at certain call types based off the call volume in that area. Okay. Council.

Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, again, I'd like to go back and highlight the um the, uh, the co-response personnel uh, with crisis intervention. And could you please uh give us more information about that

uh through the chair to the counselor? So this is analyzing two years of uh co-response uh clinical co-response uh data for calls in the city. Specifically, these are the uh three clinicians that are attached to the CIT team uh that the CIT team works closely with. Uh so specifically to their responses across the city uh both as direct and indirect responses. So the indirect being a followup or uh you know uh assisting in other matters at certain calls. um their highest call volume as well is you know in in that central core area but uh they're are utilized you know as a contrast uh quite a bit across the city but 86% of uh of their overall call call volume does occur in the uh central core area of the city. So, uh, based on that, um, I'm I'm just wondering, you know, if if, uh, we can, uh, take a look at, uh, possibly expanding, um, the personnel that that's something that we can discuss and certainly this data will help us. Um, I'm just also curious, um, uh, I'm not sure if I had that chart or not, but, what the, um, type of call was. Um incident you have incident density. What was that? Sorry I know just heard someone screaming. So

uh through the chair to the counselor. So the only call types I identified in the report are the ones that we've removed. Um and the from the study we removed anything that was uh an officer initiated type of call. Okay. Because that would have skewed the results for a response time. Okay. Um but for the clinical co-response, it's all uh crisis intervention CIT um or diversion type calls that they respond to with police or um do follow-ups with uh calls after the fact when they need to. Is there a plan for you, Mr. Chair, um to uh take this uh information now and and start planning for next year? Um are the next steps? Commissioner

uh through the chair to the council. I can't speak for the police department. On our end, we're uh using this data to also evaluate how effectively we are responding to those 911 calls. Are we making sure that we're getting the the right resources there and in a timely manner? Um and that uh areas of those uh higher clusters of call volumes that uh we make sure that we have the right responders in those areas so they can effectively respond quickly. Chief Chief, thank you.

So the chair, in reference to that question, we will be analyzing um our patrol methods once we get our new technology. Our police service system is going to be going away. We're getting a new RMS system and we can also coordinate as far as our root structure. So the study has to be done so we can figure out if we have 57.6% of calls occurring in two districts,

then why would we have people in other areas that we could shorten that up or we could use all double cars in that one area? That would be my hope. It would be safer for the officers and it would be more efficient if we run it like that.

Well, thank you. I I look forward to um to hearing uh how uh we're going to move forward with this. And I just I do want to say that this speaks very uh very well um of what's happening right now with all a lot of the changes that you've put in um and working collaboratively with each departments. Um, and I know that there's an order on uh my councelor Bergman has filed an order to recognize some of the officers, but I want to say that every week we could have a recognition uh the amazing amount of work that's being done by the officers and also uh our 911 uh uh uh responders as well. Um the emergency communication folks um uh doing you guys are doing a great job. And I think um I'd like to one thing I I have heard out in the community is sometimes um and and I think anecdotally from from other people uh is that sometimes how people call in uh impacts the responses as well. And so I'm wondering if there's some sort of training program uh that we can come up with to uh educate an educational program I should say uh to educate people on what to say and what type of an emergency make to make it more efficient or or you know commission

uh through the chair to the counselor. Uh that is something that uh the state 911 department does offer. um they offer uh a number of different uh handouts and educational material for the public. Uh but uh going back to the average responses and uh the utilization of the police, one thing I did want to highlight is uh through this study, we were able to also identify that on average every call they go to takes about 40.7 uh minutes. Mhm. So that's a significant amount of time, you know, going through your your shift where an officer could be tied up for that amount of time on average. And that takes away from officers that are available throughout the city to respond to the next call.

So I assume I assume that all of this information will be very valuable too in in identifying what our needs are for as we continue to go into this uh period of time where we're going to be having retirements. uh what we need to do to really push uh to get more recruits. Mr. Chair, Commissioner Chief Chief. Yes. Daily we look at our um resources as far as how we're going to structure them within the areas of the city. There are times that we have to shut down routes which could cause longer response times,

but usually that would be those outer perimeter routes that have a longer response time because there's less calls. So, we put our assets most likely where we think we're going to put them or need them at the time. Well, I want I want to say thank you. I don't have any further questions at this time. And I look forward to discussing this more in depth um at the subcommittee uh which is where uh we do our business. So uh I look forward to um talking to you both about uh about this and moving forward and coming up with uh some great stuff. Um very impressed. Thank you both. Thank you, Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um do have some questions. This is a extensive report um and extremely helpful. That being said, Mr. Chairman, I just want to begin by acknowledging um the executive summary um that indicates that there are many variables at play here. Um one of them is response time. Um that is not the the beginning and end all due to what we've heard this morning from um the chief and the commissioner here. Um there's a number of variables. Um but this information is absolutely helpful. Um it does not define overall performance is what this particular um analysis of response times indicates. Um but it does allow us to access and identify areas of improvement. I have a couple of questions. one is as on page uh five it talks about um the scope of this review it reference references eligible calls um I'm wondering what exactly that means um in addition to that the second question related to that perhaps for dispatch um it talks about um routine dispatch calls for service that are suitable um I'm not quite sure what that means I know what the words Um, so those are my first two questions. I have some follow-ups as it relates to that

through the chair and counselor. So th those uh are both referring to the same thing and it's um the calls for service that we included in the study were all ones that were not officer initiated. So they came from telephone calls, uh, in-person requests, um, 911 calls and so on. If it was an officer initiated call, we didn't include that because the it would skew the response time because it would show that it was initiated and they arrived on scene at the same time. Uh the same for any reports or calls for service that occurred within the lobby of the police department because oftent times somebody at the records area or an officer in the building will take that call whereas it'll show that they arrived on scene much quicker than a normal response. So, we removed those in order to not skew the results of of what the actual average response to a call was.

Thank you. And I apologize if that's a redundant um answer if I asked in repetition. Um my my my additional question is as it relates to response time calculation. Um so in this document indicates that the date and time of dispatch and the date and time of arrival on the scene um was part of that equation. Um, and I'm wondering if what exactly that means, if you could share that to the public. Um, dispatch, does that mean when the call comes in or is that when the officer is dispatched? And if in fact there's a differentiation, it may be one in the same in instances, maybe not. I'm not sure. Um, is there a timestamp for the call-in? I bring this up in the spirit of I've been at a number of uh meetings over um at uh the um YMCA. um those folks over there regarding response times. They've been reporting and I'm sure the council of district 4 can speak to I think um the chief may have been at some of those meetings as well. Um they're reporting instances of no response. Um and I don't know if that's a category here um because it also me mentions an excluding incident instance which the police response was cancelled. So, I'm wondering um if there's any data related to those particular variables and how do we um how's the public and how's the council or the subcommittee understand dispatch um you know what that means in this report versus a call in

chief through the chair council. It's going to be a two-part answer myself and then the commissioner as far as responding we respond to everything. There's never no response unless somebody calls and cancels the call. If the call comes in to dispatch, there may be a call somewhere else that takes priority. Officers will be there. Once they clear, then they're dispatched to that other call. If the person calls back and says cancel, there was a call today for a uh autistic kid left the house and the mother called in. Three seconds later, she calls back, says, "We found them. We're all set." So that's a a canceled call. So when people say the police did not respond, that's wrong. It's not because we didn't want to respond. It's because the call either got cancelled or some other situation came to light. We respond to every single call through the chair to the counselor. So to explain the the the timing and that mathematics. So when we take a call, the time of dispatch is a is the time that they've entered the call as we're on the phone with the caller. So from that point, which from the time we first answer the call, there still could be 30 seconds, 60 seconds while we're gathering information before we can enter a call for service. But from the second that that is entered into the computer, that is the time of dispatch. even though it may take another minute or so for an officer to be dispatched over the radio from that time to the time that they call out on scene. Um, so I did include that a little bit in the executive summary as well.

Just repeat the last four word, five words you just mentioned. I apologize. If you could just repeat the last sentence you said. I I couldn't

Oh. Um, so from the time that we take the call, we enter that. That is the time of dispatch. And then when the officer arrives on scene and calls us over the radio to tell us they're on scene, that's the time of arrival. Uh, I did include some information about that in the executive summary as another way that this could be skewed a little bit because an officer may not call off immediately. They may arrive to the scene of a call and it takes them an extra couple of minutes to tell us they're there because they immediately become involved in whatever scene they're going to. And that could change the time as well. And that's a factor that is difficult for us to actually uh quantify in here because we don't know when they've arrived. We have to base it off of when they're calling over the radio to advise the dispatcher that they've arrived on scene.

Council, thank you. Um and as far as the queueing and the prioritizing um these uh this data just for the public this data does include that queueing and prioritization um as well in the analysis of the response time. Is that accurate to the chair?

Uh through the chair to the counselor. The only uh category that it includes our priority one. So, the overall study is all calls that aren't officer initiated or occurred within the police department's lobby. However, we did highlight those priority one or urgent calls, something like a gunshot call or uh something that's extremely dangerous. I did pull those out separately and analyze those response times as well, just as a comparison. So, those are included in there. Council,

thank you. Um, I think that's most of my questions. Um I think you spoke to the variance in the call volumes. Um we have variances from you know between some routes with 12,000 over 12,000 responses some with three um and it looks like you guys are going to be looking at shifting um perhaps um and deployment I think it was referenced. So that's something that I think clearly makes sense. Um, you know, I I again, um, you know, uh, the deployment, looking at routes, um, resourcing position can improve. Um, but I want to state just for the record because I've been in those meetings, um, you know, and and I understand and acknowledge Chief Sauier, everything's responded to, but in the meetings when it's repetitive. Um, perhaps that could be from a lack of knowledge. Um, I don't know how it works. If, you know, there's a report here, someone drives by, they said we responded, people don't know. I don't know. Um, but that's certainly been an issue um, in the meetings that I've been in and um, you know, I'm sure the district counselor will speak to that if he's so inclined. Um, and it's been repetitive. That's part of the the the request and the orders that I've had is are there those instances? um years ago when I had that line of question, it was related to what was done with um calls at the end of shifts um and they were being expuned and they changed that when uh Nicole was here Valentine after that order in that budget hearing um and that process and that system was changed which is a positive um so it's just in the spirit of uh information that I'm asking um and you know perhaps we can resolve some of these things but there's no documentation

I guess of um I would ask that through the chair to um the the uh dispatch folks. Um if the if there's no um zero nonresponse um matters um is that something that you can speak to from your calculations through the chair commissioner through the chair to the counselor. So in the study if a call was cancelled it was removed and not included in the response time.

So well if a call was canceled so if a caller called in and asked for the call to be cancelled if the alarm company called and said we spoke to a building owner you know any reason for it to be cancelled we still record those. Y um but we didn't include it in the response time because there would be no official response. Uh, so we pulled that out so it wasn't included in the actual statistical study because it would have skewed the the actual response time numbers, but we do record those. So anytime that there is a canceled call, we would have a record of it.

Thank you. I I know I think there's something perhaps from the auditor we're waiting for as well. Um, you know, but um, you know, I appreciate the the information. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Connival.

Thank you, Mr. chairman. Um, thank you commissioner for the report. I I found it very interesting and very um on point. I like that it was done in various different methods and it all came up with the same conclusion. So, it tells me that uh chief that your department is working from data, actual data. Um, and there's no mistake about it. Um, I know for a fact that you, the men and women of Wester PD are out there doing their job going to the calls. Um, when a call comes in, they're they're triaged, I assume. Correct.

Uh, through the chair of the counselor, it's we don't necessarily triage it, but it is based off of the call type. So, what's being reported to us, we code whatever that call is. So, uh, shots fired call, an alarm call, and then that has a baseline, um, triage category for, you know, priority of response,

right? And it's not always if maybe the chief could better answer this. Somebody goes to report a gunshot, an officer goes to report a gunshot, they're there. They have a call waiting for u a robbery in progress. They might go there before they end up at my dog's missing, right? That would be something that would the night could go all night long before that officer finally gets to that dog is missing through the chair of the councelor. That's correct. Because everything's a priority. Yes.

Life first, then property. So, we would only go to a call not in progress once the officer's cleared of everything else.

So, also when the officer pulls up on a call that is my dog is not there, a low pri I'm going to I'm going to put it at a as a low priority. Um he'll have a conversation, figure out that okay, there's not much more we can do here. If I see it out out in the street, we'll call we'll call um animal control to deal with it. So, the officer made contact, puts it in his report, and that the call gets closed out. Correct. Through chair council. That's correct.

Yeah. might not have spoken to anybody else, but spoke to somebody, saw that there was no further attention needed here, and says, "Okay, we're good. Close it out. I'm open for the next call." Correct. I appreciate the the response, uh, Chief Commissioner. Um, I appreciate the work the men and women do of our PD. Um, it's a difficult job. I think they do a fantastic job with their job. Um, I have seen them in various situations compassionate and to the point with the work that they're doing. Um, and I think this report,

as specific as it is from various angles, is a perfect tool that we use in our department. So, I appreciate both everything that you do. Thank you so much. And through the chair of the council, I'll just add one thing. Uh this does speak to the importance when somebody's calling 911 to report something that they give us as much detail as possible because there can be a difference in priority based off of what they tell us on the phone. So that will definitely affect how quickly responders get to the scene. Of course. Again, thank you so much. Thank you, Councelor Ala.

Thank you. Uh just bear with me because uh I want to go over a few things on the report. by the way, stellar report. And and at the end, I may just have one question. Um but I did want to touch on a few things because there's a big misconception between a lot of people. I've heard it growing up, so I know perfectly. So when I saw this report, I thought it was important to point it out. Uh and it says Main South was a particular area of focus on this report based on feedback from residents and concerns around response time expressed at neighborhood meetings, emails, and calls. Uh, one of the reports key finding is that although main south has some of the highest demands for on the police department calls, the response times are faster than average. Overall, the trend is that the areas with the highest incident volumes do not experience the longest um average response times. And this key finding demonstrates that the Wister Police Department is providing the areas with the highest need for services with a timely response. Um, I think that's very important to point out. And then the other pointed is the analysis found that the council districts with the highest incident volume do not appear to have the longest response times. District 2 and district 4 are by far the highest volume districts for incidents with 46,956 and 47,155 incidents responded to respectively. Combined those two districts accounts for 94,61 incidents out of the 157,93 incidents analyzed or approximately 59.5%. Despite the significantly higher level of demand, both districts represent the shortest average response time citywide. Again, I think that's amazing and and it's important for the residents in the city of W to know that

that district or those districts are not being shunned or ignored um for better lack of words. Um the other important thing um for my district and and not this is not a negative thing but just basically on the analysis is the shorter travel distance between calls. Um the reason this says that indicates that Whisters's higher demand districts may be benefiting from operational conditions that support more efficient responses such as greater concentration of patrol activity, shorter travel distances between calls, and I guess this is where the question comes in for me for district 5, seeing that we were the longest distance. Is is street configuration an issue in district five? um for quicker access for a better word, you know, since you guys

through the chair of the council. Number one, your district is one of the largest ones, right? Therefore, there's more geography to travel to that and it's not as busy as say a route 11 or 12 or 13. So, when you have that route 14 and 15 are backing up 11 and 12. Gotcha. So that officer could have to be at Stafford Street may be coming from Oriad Street because they're backing up a call. Got it. So that would do that would be part of the All right.

So I guess my main concern is I wanted to make sure that there was nothing on the city's end that's hampering that time. It's just more so the way it's set up and the way it is. So and I appreciate that and thank you. And again, no complaints for the residents. I just I just saw the numbers and I and I figured let me find out because we talking here about potholes and there's a lot of you know up and cominging upkeep coming up in my district with you know Highland Street and Newman Square and Pleasant Street and Mill Street and and all those streets and I just want to make sure if there's nothing there that we're doing that's you know delaying you guys' job. That was it. Thank you,

Council O'Hira.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um although the report I feel as though was um I guess is is good on what what the what was asked for I guess um I think it's important for us to identify that this report is really focused on response performance. Um but that response performance is more on the response not the performance of the response. Do you understand what I'm saying? So, um I think that's this is something that I kind of think um we're not identifying. And what I mean by that is a lot of the issues I have in district 4 is the response times the number the numbers seem to be good. Um and you know numbers don't lie. The issue is one of the issues and I'm speaking for my residents is what is the actual process through the chair um through to the commission or to the chief on the phone calls and then who actually determines the level. A lot of residents have that concern. They they feel as though whatever level it is, if it's a lower level and and what's the highest level or the the level that's uh the most important one, is that correct? Is it one?

Okay, thank you. So, who determines from one to five or whatever it may be? the issues that the residents are having is it could be um residents arguing um probably phone call after phone call has been made and we know these are in areas where an argument can change very quickly and the concern for the residents is they're not showing up for those type of calls. So those type of calls that response time is it's much longer versus hey there's a gun level one boom we got to be there. But some of these lower level calls turn into a level one. But if police officers had arrived on time it would it would uh deter that from turning into a level one. So if you can through the chair to to the both of you um how is it determined when it comes in and who sends it out to say that's level one five or whatever it may be. uh through the chair to the counselor. So, it's all determined on the information that we get from the caller when they report whatever they're reporting. Um, every call type that we have has already has a predetermined priority level based off of risk to life and safety. Um, so if it's a call where, for your example, there's two people arguing and then it could escalate. Um, you know, we're going to be asking certain questions like, are there weapons involved? Do you see any weapons? you know, do they know each other? Do you know what they're fighting about? Um to identify further information to determine what call type it is. Uh but if it's reported in as two people arguing or talking loudly and it goes in as a neighbor dispute or uh or a complaint and we then respond and find out it was a domestic assault. Um not knowing that information ahead of time that they know each other, that they look like they're, you know, related or that um there's something more going on,

that will change the response. Uh but only when there's officers tied up on other calls. Um so a as the day goes on uh we may have you know other priority one calls that or priority two calls that come in that we have to divert the officer away from responding to a lower level call initially. Uh but then they should be circling back and and responding to that. Um, so it's all based off of threat to life and safety all the way from those urgent calls that somebody may have a firearm or somebody may be trying to actively harm somebody all the way down to those administrative things like uh, you know, uh, serving a notice or uh, you know, making a connection with a uh, a neighborhood group or a neighborhood um, watch group or something like that.

Thank you. Thank you. I think I think what's important also with this study is to identify and understand how effective the police officers are uh not just at arriving about dealing with the situation at hand. Um and that's something that you know that's some data that I think would help this this um this report because you know it's good to see those numbers that they're arriving at a at a at a at a good amount of time um getting there pretty fast but then how is it being dealt with? um are people being arrested? Are people um not being arrested? Is the situation being handled? Could the situation be situation be handled with a mental health provider or an agency coming in and helping out in those situations? So, I feel as though, you know, um and that's why I feel as though they they this was an opportunity to to build out this survey even more since you do have some of this information already at hand where it could show that within four minutes, five minutes, we were able to arrest someone who had a gun in his hand or whatever it may be versus just the performance. I think the word per response performance kind of um throws people off. Um, what's important is the work that's being done, not just them arriving. It's important for them to arrive, but I feel as though the most important thing is when they arrive, what type of work is being done? Um, you know, this this report also, I know we talked about the accreditation um and stuff like that. uh reports like this going to be a part of to the chair to to the to to the both of you um going to be a part of the accreditation program and and understanding how to better the the the police department.

Uh chief through the chair council. First off, I think we need to distinguish what this report was all about. It was about response time, not about what happens when we get there. Right.

And just as far as the um clinical response, we do 80 hours a week. We have a co-response 80 hours every single week, seven days a week. That's out there. For some reason, nobody reports on that, but that is part of our deployment plan. And they are out there responding in your district to these calls. This report wouldn't capture that because that's not what was asked of the commissioner. So, I just want to make sure we have it um straight about what we're talking about here. As far as the accreditation response time is not one of the parameters, it deals mostly with best practices in policy and making sure those policies are carried out. And of course, going to a car when you're supposed to go is part of accountability. And that is is another concept of it, but not it's not spelled out. You have matter of fact, the response time here is nine minutes. I think the national average is 11. So we're probably 2 minutes faster than anywhere else in the nation as far as averages. And it is important because once we get to a call, as the commissioner said, it could take 45 minutes to clear up. Part of that has to do with deescalation. We don't just get to a call and lock people up. We get there, we need to find out what's going on. We deescalate the call. If we have to go to that point and arrest somebody, that's going to take a longer time than 45 minutes to fulfill that.

Okay. Thank you. So, um I think you mentioned commissioner about um if an officer has to maybe you didn't, but I know this happens. um if there's a medical issue and the officer has to go with that uh person to the hospital, therefore the officer that's in that area or that route has to stay with that um individual. Is that correct? Through the chair, the commissioner

uh through the chair to the council. Yes. The those particular instances we uh we actually uh code in the system differently. So once they've been uh transported to the hospital, then it's what is in here called a guard prisoner. And that was removed from the study because that would have skewed how long a call takes and you know the response time and and things in between because we were looking at overall call times as well. But that is something that can take away from availability to respond to certain calls because not only are we spending an average of 40 plus minutes on a call. Um if they have officers that have to then escort uh a prisoner up to the hospital and then remain with them until they're released uh you know cleared medically and released then that's an officer that may be off the road for a period of time that is tied up doing that.

Thank you. Uh through the chair to the to the city manager. I think that's something that we we should look into. you know how many times that something like this does happen where a police officer is taken away and is at the um hospital for however long um there's an opportunity you know the fact that we are down so many police officers now we're in a situation where in some of those high call areas we're missing a a police officer that can attend to a situation and that's just one area I mean throughout the district it can happen multiple times and I'm pretty sure you know obviously you know once our numbers uh you know increase as far as police officers but in the meantime, you know, I really like to know those numbers and see, you know, or if there's things already in place, what the plan is to to fill that spot. If I can respond to that, please.

Chief,

I'll give you an example. This weekend, I believe it was Saturday or Sunday, there were five officers at the hospital got in prisons. So now, if if there's 20 officers out there on their roots, two or three of them calling sick, now you have five up the hospital. Look at what you have for a number of officers responding to these calls. Then they back up. They keep backing up. Officer runs call to call to call. And that's not something that just happened yesterday. That I've been here 32 years and that's been going on ever since I'm here. And we are trying to work on something now where we can fulfill those posts because the only reason I knew about that was because we had to call people in on overtime to cover the roots so that officers could be out there answering their calls and we do track that by the way.

Okay. Thank you. So, um, and lastly, um, unfortunately, um, the there has been a time where a police officer has not shown up. Um, and I have an email here. Um, I think it was just based on communication, unfortunately. Um, but that's something that that that just can't happen if if someone is told that a police officer is going to show up and then they get a call back and this is what they were told. Um um I received a call from WD WPD dispatcher saying that no one will be responding to my call and that would have to follow up with 311 in traffic. And that's really concerning because the issue was there was a car that drove up Richland Street. Two buses, the buses are on both side and the car drove straight up the um Richland Street. A kid, staff, anybody could have walked out and got hit. So he was really concerned with that. He had the um the person's information, took a picture of the car, had all that stuff. And to to to hear that they were told that um like I said, is really concerning. Um and then to hear tonight that they that someone always shows up. Um I don't know how you can explain that, but

Can I answer that, please? Sure.

Can I answer that? I looked into that. The officer spoke with that person prior to and then afterward dispatch called and said it's going to be cancelled because it's been transferred to traffic because they wanted to do either signs or something up in that area so that they could follow up. So it wasn't that nobody responded. A police officer actually spoke with that person. So I I'm not sure. Believe me, when somebody complains, I look into it and I'm going to come to the conclusion whether or not they did it right or they did it wrong and it will be addressed. But in this case, I don't know what else the officer had going on, but contact was made with that person. That's the information I received.

No, no. And and and I was going to I was going to continue that, you know, you you you did look into it. Um, but again, it's just I guess it was just a miscommunication on that on that person's part or maybe the person that was uh had spoke to the officer about that person showing up just didn't just probably didn't understand that. But I think it's just important to when situations uh arise like that um that someone has to still show up um regardless even if it's a follow-up the next day or whatever it may be just to confirm that you know we were there. Uh you know it's not a knock on the police. you you everyone is doing the best they can with what they have, but I think it's important that we just continue to show signs of uh transparency, show signs that, you know, there's times where miscommunication may happen, but you know, we're going to continue to get through it. So, um, like I said, I do appreciate the report. It's something I'll definitely take back to some of the neighborhood meetings I have, but I know the question is going to be more of what's what's considered performance and I'll explain to them what that is. Um, I would love it if you know if you guys can attend the one of the main South Business Association meetings because lately they've been having a uptake on some issues in the neighborhood and they're just really concerned on how to address it. Um, for some of the owners, you know, they've someone experienced someone shooting up right in front of the store. You know, people are coming in now. People don't want to go into the store. So, there's a lot of those issues that are starting to arise. You know, the weather's nice, more people are out. Um, but it's really affecting um the issues that we're dealing with on our main street. So, I'm hoping, you know, if we can attend the next meeting and get some more information so you can hear right from the the business owners, that would be great. Um, and that's all I have. I just, you know, I think it's really important to start looking into what these calls were were about and how do we address these calls and how can we, you know, as a city, as council, as city manager, uh, which I'm really big on, how do I support the the the police department? How do I support commissioner? How do I support um the quality of life team, you know, inspectional service? How do we as a

counselor, how do I get out and talk to residents, talk to business owners? Um but the more I hear, the more I know. And I have to say this, I know I've asked over and over again, you know, what are those common themes that these police officers are saying that they're coming back to the chief and talking to chief about and writing notes. I still haven't received that. It's so important for me to get that information so I can personally talk to business owners and say, "Hey, the police are saying this." Or I can say, "Listen, I know what's going on in the neighborhoods. I can know a little bit more. It can better my conversations with the city manager. It can better my conversations with the people in the neighborhood and the students and the parents and the teachers I work with. So, it's important to to know what this foot patrol is is is is doing, what conversations they're having, because us as counselors, that's important for us to know. So, then we can share that with our residents or not even have to share with them, but find ways amongst ourselves within our committee meetings to to to to enhance the work that police officers are doing, but also to support the residents and the constituents that that really care and and expect us to to be there for them. So, hopefully I can get that sometime soon, and I I I really appreciate it. But the report I would like to see um on I'm drawing a blank from earlier. Nico, can you help me out? Um one it was um the report on the the calls I guess on what they were

and when the the data that was done the study that was done here if I can get the if we can get the that information. Thank you. Okay, you all set? Yeah. Sorry. The police corp. That's what it was. The the escort, the the police officer staying at the hospitals. If we can get that number. You want to report on that? Yes, please. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Okay. We have next. Oh, good. What's that? Councelor King for a second time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I just want to reiterate um this conversation is helpful. Um again a number of concerns over a period extended period of time of no responsiveness um from law enforcement in that district. There's also been reports um in district one I think um out by burn code um by Lincoln Plaza um where these folks are telling us no response for Nor's ordinance at the we all know the issue right at the um at the church or what have you. We know um that there's incessant um concerns there. But what I'm I say that to say this, Mr. chairman. Um what's helpful for us to share um in order to um extend the fact that there is a responsiveness we need the communications and communications like this. Um and I think folks also want to understand um when we talk about response time um to dispatch for service. I am assuming that means someone's going physically to a location. Um we've heard the counselor represent um you know response back that this isn't um appropriate. This is going to go through 31 whatever the case may or may not be. Um is that considered a response? Um what does that actually mean through the chair to um the administration? commissioner

uh through the chair to the commissioner or sorry through the chair to the counselor make a lot more money that way. I'll take it. Uh so th those uh types of responses if we were not sending somebody and they had made contact of something else that may be considered a canceled call where we would note that they were contacted. been transferred over to traffic or another division or it's been uh reported on to 311 if it's uh you know a sidewalk issue or something else that somebody was calling for. Um so that's not through here just for clarification. So that's not considered a response. That's considered a canceled call.

Correct. Uh and in most we will still log a lot of those in the in our system. So, we have notes of it that we had dealt with that type of a call or we transferred it or um advised 311 about it, but it would not be considered a response by police and it was not included within the study here.

Okay, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we get that data. Um, you know, it's it's important that um we as electeds in our community meetings can convey um that information. Um, you know, and I've said this a million times and we're going to be getting into the social work piece and clinical piece in a bit. Um, you know, we ask these folks to do a lot. um AAA repair person, walk you across the street, you know, walk you through Union Station, be a clinician, be a therapist, um all those different things. Um and with that comes a hierarchy of needs um as relates to public safety. And you know, the more information we have, the more we're able to convey um you know, real time data um that can speak to these concerns and perhaps clear up um a little bit of this on behalf of the residents. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Okay. So, I'll send this to uh public safety and along with the audit and the manager. All those in favor of postal audit. Next slide is 8.15A transfer information communication regard to uh claims process. Senator M. All those in favor opposed. B trans t transformation information communication of the public records requests received in process by the law department. Senator Mo. All those in favor opposed. Which one was that Mr. Chairman? That's public records.

Okay. That wasn't the the claims, right? Then we have C recommend the adoption of a contract with Thomas Ruters Weslaw for the law department's entire legal research to subscription for up to 5 years. Adopting the roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Yes. Councelor Cona. Yes. Councelor Rolo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Counc. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. Uh, Council King has held 8.16A on a privilege. I had asked a minute ago if we had done 8.15 regarding What's that?

I had asked it um if we had done 8 Yeah, I I was very slow regarding claims. Yep, we did that. Yeah, I'd like to speak on that, Mr. Chairman. Okay, the motion is suspend the rules. Go back. Roll call. Uh 8.15A. Roll call. Councelor Bergman, yes. Councilor Bada, yes. Councelor Cono, yes. Council Po, yes. Council King, yes. Council Mitra, yes. Council, yes. Councelor Rivera, yes. Rosen, yes. Tumi, yes. Mayor Petty, yes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This particular item is pertaining to claims um um regarding that process, how they're investigated, uh the capacity of uh the law department to handle the volume of claims being received and the roles of claim specialists, etc. um from our city solicitor. And I want to say I appreciate this particular document. Um, you know, uh, the orders that I've filed, uh, preceding this particular report relate to folks who have expressed, um, delays of up, well, they call it a delay, um, but, uh, you know, having to wait 6 months um, or more longer than they think is reasonable. Um, and so, you know, I I I just had a call this past uh, two weeks ago about an incident. um with a city truck um and a claim that went in. And this gentleman was told 6 months or so when you'll get um you know the uh settlement or whatever the case might be or this matters resolved. And I'm not sure if it was communicated up to 6 months and this is the way it was interpretated. But nonetheless, this particular document right here, Mr. chairman um speaks to restructuring, speaks to policy changes um improvements by uh solicitor Kalcunis um and a rep pri a prioritization um for this um and you know it it's specifically um I think goes along with as I mentioned the pothole issue as well. Um, you know, folks, as we know, are struggling with day-to-day bills, utilities, working multiple jobs to the for the lack of housing affordability.

Um, and it's indicated here that this is a top priority of our solicitor. Um, and there's a number of tech changes and and more um that we are looking at. So through the charity administration um you know I I I do have um a question um as it relates to this. I know here that the solicitors committed to improving response time to claimants but um my question is and we had talked with this previously and I question whether or not we have the appropriate um capacity to respond to these things. we heard 311 uh more reports of things and and what have you and there's been an uptick in claims as I I I think or I could be wrong but that's what I recall. Um but I'm just wondering what's the standard um as it relates to responsiveness that's reasonable. um you know and and you know the the second question I have is as relates to these claims um is there a way that we can prioritize residence claims um folks who live within city limits um for priority for um you know uh resolution through the chair

um through the chair. So I if someone did uh tell a claimant that it's going to take up to six months to get payment or response that's not appropriate. We have some new people in our office. So I will make sure that I address that. Um that's what the statute allows is 6 months before you can file lawsuit. Uh and that's why the process requires people to file a claim against the city before they can provide uh file a lawsuit. But we have implemented new changes where we're looking at every claim. The historical practice was that the claims agent would um work on them as they came in. So there was really no risk analysis when they came in. We've now put an attorney on claims who reviews them as they come in and makes those determinations um if it should be expedited, if it's a, you know, dangerous situation, if it's a sewer backup or a pothole. So there is more analysis going on uh when the claims are first submitted. We don't actually get that many out of city claims that I think it would make a difference. But I mean I I wouldn't suggest doing that because I just it's not fair. But um we are looking at the overall process to expedite the claims. That should you know be resolved quicker.

Thank you. I'm looking to get this the the the city into any legal issues as relates to our residents or folks um who live within uh the city um limits. Um but we know um those are our constituents folks who come here as well we're responsible for and the infrastructure that's that's at play etc. Um so if you could just the last thing you could speak to the technology um that you're looking for in terms of rec record keeping um that will increase improvement um you know and if there is a a way to to um prioritize residents that'd be great you don't have to respond to that um but if you could speak to the digital piece and then I'll sit down

uh through the through the chair to the counselor so we actually have all the techn technology. It's implemented now. Um it's everything is live. So, we've been digital. You can submit a claim. We're one of the only cities in Massachusetts that you can submit digitally. A lot require you to go to um the city hall or town hall and submit a claim, but we've been accepting them digital since COVID. We now have a new software platform where it allows a claimant to go in, file, and then ask more detailed questions. It's not just a PDF that they submit. So, it gives us more information. um right off the bat where instead of waiting for someone to review it and ask for more information now you can't get to the next step if you don't provide damages or you know proof of ownership. So that has all happened in the last year and we are working with all that technology and um digit digital information that we have and it's definitely makes the process more efficient but um it's been a learning curve for the last year.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um, I appreciate the report, appreciate the good work that's going on by the office of the solicitor, uh, with the guidance of the of the city manager. Um, I do want to say that I will like to make a motion that we take a look at any internal policy. I understand there's um six months of parameters that might be statute related, but if there's a a a policy that we can establish for a standard for a goal um of responsiveness because this can become financially burdensome um for many of folks that are living check to check. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. We send that to Mo and send the odds to the manager. All those in favor oppose so ordered. 8 point on finance items 8.35A through H 8.36 A through E and 8.37A through C and adopt and collect on the roll call. Roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Yes. Economo. Yes. Councelor Folo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Council Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty.

Yes. We are 8.39A transmitting information communication rel to the 2010 memorandum of agreement with CXS. Council for Zolo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it. Uh I know it's late, but I I've been waiting for this report for over a decade. All right. I had to run for office to get my answers, and I want to thank the administration because this report answered all my questions. and I appreciate that. Let me say that uh in the report it states that well prior to uh we we as a group on Grafton Hill uh were brought together by the Patrick and Murray administration when they wanted to uh bring CSX to Worcester. And in doing so, they explained what would happen. And a couple of things that I found out in this report that were contrary to what was told to us, I'll explain right now. One was, as I've said many times, that CSX or the trucks would not be able to uh go on Grafton Street. Route 122. They were prohibited from going on at the beginning. Then about two months or three months later, they came back to us at a meeting and said because it's a state highway, a state route, excuse me, uh you can't you can't stop commerce from from uh taking place on a state route. But in the description, it states right here that the new access location will provide CSX terminal truck traffic with direct access to and from I290 eastbound and discourages CSX terminal truck traffic from using the section of Grafton Street. So it didn't say prohibited in

the initial t, it says discourages. So it it never was negotiated where they couldn't use Grafton Street initially. Okay, that point over. The other point was that there would be 50 new jobs created at the Worester location. And in the report, it states at the March 24th meeting of 2026 here at the city council, a few additional topics were requested to be addressed in the report. The first topic was whether CSX had created 50 jobs that were supposed to in connection with a tax incre increment finance agreement. The CXX project has certainly led to employment opportunities both directly and indirectly. However, CSX has never been provided any tax increment finance agreement or TIFF benefits from the municipality, nor does CSX have any contractual obligation to the municipality related to the employment levels. So, the short of it is that was never negotiated. That was never part of the contract. So, Let's get to the crux of it. Uh, and let me state also I spent a couple hours with George Kali. George was the former president of the of the Grafton Hill Business Association and was a member of the committee. Uh, four members that were were picked by then city manager O'Brien. And uh I wanted to make sure what I remember and my memory was correct. And George and I again met last night and he uh definitely saw

everything the way I did. So the committee was told the following. There would be 50 jobs created, new jobs that did not exist before the move to Worcester, and these new jobs would be in CSX new Worcester location. Two, the restriction preventing a lefthand turn on from the driveway off Grafton Street. Three, the Grafton Street route 122 from I290 to the Milbury line is maintained by the city of Worcester and is a a state route in number only. I thought I I I know I brought that up and uh obviously that doesn't matter. Uh I guess because uh we're gonna we're in this it states that um there was respons or Worcester is responsible for the overall maintenance of the road as well. Having said that, does the city have the right to prohibit truck traffic from using Grafton Street, Hamilton Street, and Lake E? And in the report, it says no, we don't we don't have that uh ability. So that is why I continue to state that type of activity that has been going on for the over the last 15 years has created enormous harm to the infrastructure of Hamilton Street and Lake AB. That is why these two streets should have immediate attention on resurfacing. There are probably no other streets in the city that have been abused by heavy truck traffic than Hamilton Street and Lake AB, especially Lake AB. If there is such a street, please inform me of where. I asked the administration if do do you have any where truck traffic uh has has hurt the infrastructure the way it's harmed the truck traffic has harmed those two streets, Hamilton Street and Lake Gap. Now, just last Friday morning, I happened to witness firsthand uh 6:00 in the morning coming back from

from the gym. I'm I'm on Route 9 taking a left on Lake A and I witnessed firsthand Friday morning a US Postal Service trailer truck turn onto Lake A from Route 9 ride the length of Lake A to Sunderland Road and on to Route 20. At the same time, I witnessed a cab, a cab, you know, the front of of the trailer, just a cab with no trailer truck behind it, which which was coming onto Lake A from Sunderland Road. I followed I turned around and I followed that cab and the cab went from Lake A to Hamilton Street onto Grafton Street to CSX. So my point is they are using those streets as a short a cutthrough and I want to see if we can if we can't do Grafton Street uh I'm I'm going to ask for the city solicitor to come up in a in a in a second in a few minutes and I'll ask at that time. But the height of insult or to add insult to injury when the trucking companies have here's here's here's a real real uh good one. Okay. When they have an extra wide load or a large load to take out of CSX property on on on Grafton Street, they the trucking companies have a state police escort that comes out out of the CSX driveway and onto Grafton Street to Hamilton Street. And then when it gets to Lake A, it goes around the medium strip on the wrong side of the road because it can't take a right a strict right and go on to the right side of the road. It where the entrance of Lake Park is. They go on to the other side of Lake A. It goes around the medium strip on the wrong side of the road and continues on Lake A to Sunderland Road and then on to Route 20 East to wherever their projected

destination is. While it is done in the early morning, no later than 6:00 am. And I've witnessed this twice when the traffic is light. This shows the mindset we are dealing with that the trucking the trucking companies, not CSX, but the trucking companies are well aware that we prohibit that type of activity and they still go forth and do it. That is the height of insult.

Disclosure. I believe meaning I believe we meaning the residents and the taxpayers of Worcester were duped meaning that we were deceived and fooled and made to do or accept something that they did not intend to do. That is exactly what happened here and it's shameful which describes actions or conditions which are deserving of strong disapproval and this is this wasn't done by CSX but those who were involved again this wasn't done by CSX but now in in reading this report you got two minutes left

okay thank you in reading this report it wasn't C uh excuse me wasn't done by CSX, but those who were involved in bringing CSX to WHISA, who negot negotiated the TIFF while again telling neighbors and neighborhood groups things that would happen and more importantly included in the TIFF and that was never done. So, uh, and I'll just I'll just tell you, um, I received an email today, uh, from a neighbor that, well, while I was at her house campaigning, I told her I would I would try to fight hard to reduce the truck traffic on the road. And what does she uh open up with uh in her email? that I am not exaggerating that starting at 400 a.m. from Monday to Friday, my house shakes at the enormous trucks turning from Sunder Road into Lake A, blasting their exhausters as they accelerate at the lights. So, okay, this is happening at 4:00 a.m. in the morning. So, uh, if I could, I'd like to have the city solicitor come up through you, Mr. Chairman.

You got about 30 seconds left, but go ahead. And after that, do I have a second five minutes or no? You get 10 right now. You only get 10. You only get 10 minutes. I already 10 minutes. Wow. Well, Mr. Chairman, I waited 10 years for this. I guess this is the last This is the last question. I You got one. Go. Go do your question and we'll wrap it up.

Okay. Through you, Mr. Chairman. I I'd like to ask the city solicitor. Uh are we able to look at creating a city ordinance prohibiting truck traffic on Hamilton Street and Lake Avenue? If so, I don't mean to before you answer. If so, enforcement is key. And I would look at paying for pay police details with the CSX funds. And I that belong to the Grafton Hill uh uh section of funds. And I'd go as far as asking CSX to pay for those details because of the enormous harm to the infrastructure of Hamilton Street and Lake A by the trailer truck traffic that never occurred until CSX located here in Wilson. But uh Madam Solicitor, if you could answer that question for me.

Uh through the chair to the councelor, we would um have to look into with with transportation and mobility to see if that is available at the local level. Also with CSX, there still might be some enforcement issues. Um, we might not be able to enforce that ordinance if we adopt it through you, Mr. Chairman. Um, the the trucks are independent trucks. They're not owned by CSX. So, so, through the chair, then that federal regulations wouldn't uh affect enforcement of that.

Okay. And then the second and last question through you, Mr. Chairman, to the city solicitor. Can the city push enforcable truck routing? And can we uh can we also um uh limit the hours of operation to CSX? Uh through the chair to the councelor. I think that depends on there's a lot of different it's our agreement with CSX, but it's also um regulations. What I would defer to transportation and mobility on that. Okay. So we can get you a report on that.

I' I'd like a report on that, Mr. Chairman, as soon as possible because people are waiting. Uh we've waited for this report. I've gotten I've received it. I thank the administration for it. But at the same time, um if if it's possible, I'd like to uh enforce um operation limits of when these trucks can come in and and uh into that facility. And um again it's a uh a question of enforcement and we'd have to work on how you would enforce that and I get that get all that but if if we could I'd appreciate that in a report.

Thank you. So we got a report on that. We'll send that out to public works ask the manager for report. Those in favor post so awarded. We got uh chairman's orders 9A to 9E. Motion was to adopt. All those in favor oppose so awarded. Oh now we get audits. Okay. First one up. Let's see. Request city manager request the commissioner of inspectional services ensure that uh landlords especially landlords who do not have do not live at their property are notified whenever the neighborhood nuisance complaint or emergency occurs at the property. Dr. uh council me.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through you to Mr. Manager. Uh Mr. Manager, I understand that the city has a system through which all those who have the rental property need to register with the city as a landlord whether they stay in that property or they don't. I think city has the information about their email about their phone number their addresses and all that. The issue that I'm bringing it up to your attention is that many residents have been finding it that those properties where the landlords don't stay then owners don't stay in that property. It's all whole building is uh rented the tenants and the tenants are not staying within the discipline that the neighborhood like to they will throw the trash in the indecent way. There's a lot of nuisance thing they do. Uh so the request is that if the commissioner of the inspectional services could inform the landlords who don't stay in that property to make sure that their tenants are acting and staying in the way that the city's compliance requires them to to keep the neighborhood and the neighbors peacefully. I've also heard that uh many landlords are actually renting their attics, renting their basement. Um I don't think that is appropriate. I don't think that is even allowed uh to rent those spaces because of the safety issues. So my request is to see that our inspectional department, our commissioner kind of take some action to let all the landlords know through the resources we have, through the information that we have that they

uh make sure that the tenants are doing the right things, keeping the neighborhood safe and uh properly. At the same time, those landlords are not renting the the property in an illegal way such as I hear this is attic or basement which are not the right things to do. So that's my request to see that the inspectional services can take care of this. Thank you.

Okay. Send that to manager. All those in favor of post ordered. Next is requesting a manager establish the support of the city council. It was a sports commission consisting of at least nine and more than uh 13 no more than 13 members to be appointed by the city manager said commission said to be changed with attracting promoting and supporting sporting events at in Worcester to drive e economic activity, community engagement and city branding uh membership which should include but not be limited to a city uh representative local businesses uh leaders, sports and venue representatives, college athletics league representatives, as well as citizen representatives. The commission shall elect a chairperson who will then be a member input establish short and long-term goals including potential fundraising and growth strategies, but further requested that the commissioner do a volunteer body be a volunteer body. Councelor Okconom.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I want to thank Mr. bird for for bringing this forward and working with me on this. And having served on the civic center commission, I think it was for five five years, uh chairperson for a couple of those five years, seeing the amount of activity that comes through the DCU center, the convention center, um whether it's NCAA, the gymnastics, um all types of sporting events that come to the DCU center. How do we parlay that going forward? We've all talked about it. We just talked about it recently on uh a couple weeks ago in regards to how do we get NCAA basketball back in town? You know, the NIT tournament, uh boxing, um there's so many different avenues that that we have access to. And it doesn't have to be a national event. It can be a regional regional finals for any of these events. Um, I think it would be a great idea, a great opportunity, whether we create a a new commission or we merge two commissions into one. Um, Mr. Manager, um, to further explore these options. I think it would be a boon to the city. I think it would help with economic development. I think it would further help with our hotel rooms, uh, all the diff different diffs that we have around the DCU center, the ballpark. um our restaurants, everything everything that has to do with economic development. I think this is a perfect avenue um for our city to get further involved in streamline the process, seek out new opportunities uh to bring these events here to Worcester. So, I'd appreciate what you what your thoughts are and whether you put it in a report or I'd really appreciate what you have to

say on that, Mr. Major. Thank you. Okay. Um, councelor Rivera.

Yeah. Uh, I I also think it's a great idea. Um, not not because of the sports aspect of it, but only because it it talks about exactly what council con talked about what we talked about before about bringing attraction to the city of Worester and having a commission focus on that aspect of it, you know, and Worester city of Worester is a sports town. Um, and we have two commissions that almost kind of do that in a separate way. You know, if if we could combine the civic center commission and uh parks commission, become a sports commission, they can deal with the business and sports entity in one, maybe add a couple people to the sports commission, however that the city manager decides to do it. But I think the end goal is that we have a commission who's going to focus solely on bringing attraction to the city of Worester, which brings revenue, tourists, and all that good stuff. So that's why I support it.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Council King, what purpose do your eyes?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. um this particular order I I I certainly um you know understand the components of it and I certainly can also say that I'm glad to hear that this was inspired by my request for an odd hawk committee specific to NCAA men's basketball come to the city uh for these very purposes. I also um you know can appreciate um the um influence that my order has had on bringing boxing to the city. Um I also know that we have a ballpark commission that has failed. Um we have a civic commission that does some of this very work. Mr. chairman. Um I certainly would support um if this was accepted as a friendly amendment looking at those bodies and determining um what aspects of this is occurring and what aspects um can be merged and again as I stated earlier that the city manager revisit the deletion of the baseball uh the ballpark commission um with his interdep departmental plan. Um Mr. chairman. Um I'm going to reiterate um as it relates to this. I'm glad that no one's standing um and talking about our shortcomings in any of these areas. um the last thing we should do is be negotiating against ourselves. But I do know that as it relates to NCAA men's basketball 2029 um regionals or first rounds or what have you. Um that application process is opening up. Sooner we get that in the better. We're talking about 2029. We're talking about uh 3 years or so from now with uh hotels and the like coming forward. We're talking about a 30 miles

30 minute standard. Um, you know, and and I think we're doing some of this. You know, Mr. the the mayor is has been working with um the Ganaian community, city manager has been working with uh the Haitian Ganaian community and and everyone else um you know who's represented in the World Cup. Um and exactly this is going on. We're talking about um interfaith sessions. We're talking about trade um discussions. We're talking about business interests and these all involve and I was happy to bring to the council that we're declaring um that we are going to be the host city for the Ganaian folks. Um we've involved these groups Discover Massachusetts to Murray and central mass uh and the commerce the Worcester Chamber of Commerce um cultural and development office Fabian is doing an amazing job. Um, so some of this stuff is occurring and um, you know, I'm really going to be taking a look at all of our boards and commissions um, and how they're functioning and whether or not um, the recommendations are coming to the floor for hearings that the city manager deems appropriate. Um, so, you know, I don't want to see a commission for the sake of a commission. I'll support this. Um, you know, and and I and I'm very uh hopeful and want to be clear to the public. the ad hoc committee that I was talking about is for a timespecific um measure and um you know in addition to that um you know it it allows us to be really focused for a short period of time. Um Mr. Chairman um I would like this to go to committee just like the ad hoc did. Um this not go to the city manager simply for um to actually establish this. Um I think it should follow the exact same paths that the ad hoc uh committee went through. Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Okay, we have Dr. Mitra. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh I'd like to support and sign on to this uh order. I think it's a very uh appropriate order and a very attractive order. You know, the people in Oster are really sports fan. We like all kinds of sports. The vivid example is the polar park and it's been a community's really past time. So I I think the sports appetite will be well catered if we have this kind of commission established. So I support this very wholeheartedly and see that this happens. Thank you.

Is that it? Council Tumi, are you on here too? Council Tumi, you're on the order. Go ahead. He already signed on. Okay. Okay. So, as amended, this is different than the ad hoc committee. This is us getting a report from the man. Mr. Chairman, just for clarification, I was making that distinction. Um, I I'd like for this to go to committee if possible. Um, so that that committee can have their input as they had on the ad hoc committee. Um,

do you want ED, Mr. Bergman, or do you want us just get a report back first? Okay, Senator Ed, all those in objection as amended. Okay, all in favor post. So ordered question city manager removed the uh the overgrowth at the side of the uh was that one drive comes river and street. Did I miss one? Oh, I missed one. I'm sorry. That's what confused me. Yeah.

Okay. I skipped over this one here. Question manager request the chief of financial officer provide the city council with a report uh concerning this the u script and uh the I can't see this getting late cause that this is councelor Badis. Is he coun here? Okay. So we'll go to yours council river

as it reads. as it reads. All those in favor of opposit request the city manager request the commission of public works and uh consider increasing the days and hours residents are uh given to the drop off of both the hazardous and the bulk waste uh materials. said the increase uh could include expanding the city's household hazardous waste days to more than the currently set four days as well as providing additional days for hours each uh week dedicated to the bulk waste disposal. Councelor Rivera,

uh, this pretty much as it reads as well, but you know, some, uh, a lot of the neighbors and residents in the district 5 itself, that's what I hear from, um, complaining that, you know, they just don't, you know, like I got an example today. I got a 31 got a call from a resident. They dropped off a couch in the Mill Street, Lake area, wooded area. I call, send it to 311. Um by 6:00 before the meeting starts, he says it's still there. Um he reached out to Friso, who was a friend of his. We reached out to u quality of life. He says it's still there. We obviously reach out tomorrow, but if they had more days, more times, maybe they wouldn't have dumped that couch, you know, in the Mil Street area. just, you know, just more like let's try to see if we can figure out uh to be convenient because a lot of residents, you know, whether it's working hours or just the weekends is better, whatever it is. Um just if they can accommodate the residents with more more days and more time. Maybe the times are the same, but just more days because maybe those days they allow doesn't work for them and stuff like that. So, okay,

that's the request for the residents. Okay. So, send that to the manager. Those in favor of post so request the manager contact collaborate with the administration at the Smark uh location at 1194 Main Street uh to review and address neighborhood concerns pertaining to regarding trash and needles being scattered in the vicinity of the property. Council River.

Yeah, this was going to speak for itself as well. I think there's a few pictures up there that uh that I that I just wanted to show just kind of give the um city manager right there. um just an idea of what the residents and are dealing with with the smok situation. Maybe if we can get them, you know, sit them sit them down at the table, come to one of the neighborhood meetings and uh and understand come up with a plan on how what we can do to kind of be they can be better neighbors.

Okay. Send to the manager. Those in favor oppose. So ordered. Request replace the pass uh trash uh barrels and along with the uh the boardwalk of co along the boardwalk coast park with the permanent metal barrels similar to those already found in the in the park. Council Rivera.

Yeah. So, uh, on the boardwalk, uh, I'm part of a a volunteer cos park group and, uh, and they have three three dumpsters, plastic ones on there, and they got to chain them up. And, uh, and we kind of the the rule is, you know, you you change the bag and then you put another bag in and, but then you add an extra bag in the back. And they're constantly stealing the bags or taking the bags out in the beginning. Um the the plastic barrels break the you know they got to chain them up. So we feel if we can get uh the black ones there are very nice. Um and only we have access to it um it'll be a cleaner and a better experience for the volunteers but also make the boardwalk look nicer as well instead of having chained up plastic barrels. Thank you.

Okay the manager. All those in favor post. So ordered. Next item question. This is on I request the city manager of the commission of pox and rex to provide council with a report concerning the the best practices for the management of invasive plant species. report should include best practices for the management of invasive plant species that uh be located at the city properties as well as feasibility of developing a public awareness campaign that um that informs private property owners of how to identify and manage invasive plant species on their properties. Council for Zolo,

as it reads, Mr. Chairman, but I'd like it sent to the pox uh committee, veterans and pox committee as well. You get one of each other. Want to get a report back? What? We should get a report back for us and send it to Parks. Okay. I I'm trying to avoid a report, but Oh, you need one to to send it to comms if you want. Is that what you want to do? I'll send it to Parks. Yeah, let's send it to Parks. Uh Council Tumi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. um uh in I've been working with the um uh city manager on establishing a task force committee uh to eradicate invasive plants um in the city. uh I had filed that in 20 uh September of 25. And then uh just recently in March um I also asked that we coordinate with mass DOT to work uh cooperatively to address invasive plant species um together so that that's economies of scale etc. So if we could include those uh moving forward it would be help.

Okay. Those in favor post that to proc the request for the council to me. Those in favor of post so audited request may provide the council to report concerning the city's allocation of opioid settlement funds. Said report should include information concerning any uh pending allocations as well as how the city has engaged the community throughout its allocation processes. Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um this particular order hits on uh three points or more. Um, you know, we have, as I understand it, used these monies for homeless outreach, recovery service, uh, servicing, um, as well as funding positions in HHS, um, out, uh, I mentioned homeless outreach workers and crisis response workers through CHL, um, which we discussed earlier. Um, and you know, we're expected to receive around 10 million dollars or so, um, in total funding um, at the end of all this. I believe would like to get another report on this. This is a new council, a new body um and particularly want to know um the city engagement with community um throughout the allocation process, what it has been, what it's going to be um and what the allocation um uh regimen looks like, Mr. Chairman. Um thank you.

Send that to the manager. All those in favor of postal ordered. We are on uh request city manage request the city solic work with the commission public works provide city council with a legal opinion regarding whether the city has the authority to report in or completely uh repave private streets in the city in certain emergency situations. Uh emergency vehicles un because emergency vehicles unable to pass and or school bus is unable to pass through road. Um councelor Rivera. Yeah, I mean this I I understand the ordinance and I understand the rules and I but I just got to figure we got to figure something out. Um I sent a couple pictures to uh to Nico. I don't know if you got it. Um I just show you one street in particular in District 5. It's a private road that leads to a um a park, a hiking trail. And um I mean I I I don't understand how these residents live

with on this street. I mean the way they live it's uh but the street in particular that's uh terrible is uh is why so we have public private public um why would have oh why yeah that's been it's been a friend of this for 10 years 20 years. Well, unfortunately, I'm the city council now and I got to deal with it. So, they got they got to we got to figure out with something. Please help me out. Okay,

send that to the manager. Those in favor of post awarded question manager work with the chief financial office uh to resume the use of uh decals as a method of identifying vehicles that are properly registered at the residential parking program. Council bro,

thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be brief. Uh the city manager I'm I believe probably knows more about this than I do. But what I've been told by some residents is that when they contact police department in the evening, particularly uh because there's no more decals associated with the residential parking program, police officers unable to tell whether or not the car is there legally or illegally and there's no computer mechanism, especially in the evenings and weekends to be able to contact uh the necessary city department to confirm. So the default position has been of late just not to ticket because they're not sure which if that's accurate kind of defeats the purpose of the whole program. So I don't know if there's a if there's a alternative to the decals but the decals used to work. So I'm asking the administration to consider something better than what exists now.

Thank you. Okay man. All those in favor of postal order. We have a resolution at the city council city of Worester does hereby recognize the Worester Police Department's uh excellent work in several recent situations where uh potentially serious dangers to the general public's safety and well-being were uh were averted. Councelor Bergman.

Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chairman. I I am sure that work on a regular basis by the Worester Police Department results in excellent um prevention of crime and certainly uh protection of public safety. Uh these two were brought to my attention these two incidents, one uh of which a uh somebody was allegedly robbed uh at gunpoint and police department was eventually able to find the person. was a juvenile. And not only were they able to apprehend the juvenile, but the gun that was used in the attempted armed robbery and an additional gun were both found in the vehicle. And in a separate incident almost few days apart, um there was uh good investigation investigative work ahead of time in which um takeovers which I I believe are almost like swerving with that exists with bikes but takeovers exist with cars which often times cause um dangerous traffic situations. uh was averted entirely and uh as a result a number of people were arrested for planning um the takeovers. So I mean these are just two examples that were brought to my attention but they are excellent in the sense particularly in the sense that they were preventative deescalative and resulted in arrest and no one was harmed including our police officers and I think you know we listen on a regular basis to a lot of narratives that I personally often times don't think are accurate and I think it's helpful from time to time to be able to recognize really good police work and let the police department know that we appreciate appiate that work. That's why I felt it was important um to have the resolution to recognize these particular incidents. Thank you.

Resolution council sign sign on. Council King Mr. Chairman um I rise just for clarification. Um as it relates to the takeovers, I'm not quite sure what that means. I did read about it um through the chair to administration. We had a report on that. was that takeovers are and and what have you. Have we do we have has that been provided to the council

through to the council? We have not provided any reports to the council related to street togo. There was a situation that was happening across the state. Uh there was indication that there was a potential one uh to occur in the city of Worcester. Uh and there was a collaboration between state police, the towns and communities around us, our police department. And so our police and department was able to kind of navigate that uh address the issues uh and anticipate any potential uh street takeover. That's something that has happened across the state and we were able to address that but no particular report has come before the council

and that's through the chair just so I I I was not in support of this but I don't know what I'm voting on. So through chair to administration is that related to swerving as was referenced or is that was that related to takeover um or is that not information you can share? Yeah. Through the chase of guns. I would ask the chief. The chief can give a more detailed explanation. Just want to know what I'm voting on, Mr. Chairman, before I What's that? Just want to know what I'm voting on before I vote. Chief,

through the chair of the council, we received information that a street takeover was going to happen. What that is is they call different cars in, they block off whole intersections, and they do donuts in the street. Often these people are armed. If you saw in Boston about a month ago, they lit police cars on fire. So, it was a big deal. I called in about 25 people on overtime. So, we had enough people to make sure if anybody came, we would mitigate any type of damage to the city or to people. Thank you. And did they come?

They did. We had, I believe, 12 arrests, multiple citations. State police gave out 76 citations during this process. I was in contact with Lemonster and Fitsburg giving them information. They would shoe them away and then finally the end of the night it was over.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, um there's some been some comments made about um acknowledging this work. Um and I happen to to come from a place of athletics as a former college coach, college basketball player, um etc. And with that comes when there's a good job being done. good job. As similarly, um when there's a place that needs to be coached up, um and there's areas of improvement um or evaluations that have occurred, um that's also a time to roll our sleeves up, Mr. Chairman. So, I just want to state for the record um this these are um worthy of commendations and kudos. Um you know, and um I hope we can apply sort of the coach mentality um as we move forward. um on any issues pertaining to any department here in the city. But um you know, this is important to hear that the chief kind of describe for the public exactly what we're talking about. Um I happen to work in um social work. I deal with juveniles and status offenders and serious offenses. Um you know, and uh it's good to to to get some of these reports, Mr. chairman, but I really hope we we take a good look at what this body's mentality will be um holistically. But I I definitely support this. Want to sign on Mr. Chairman,

Mr. Mayor. Okay. So, uh I just want to thank council Bman for the resolution and uh I just want this probably happens more than once or twice probably several times a week if not a month uh where the police go out and do some special things. And this I just got a question to the chief. I know you had I think you said you had state police district 76 citations. You made 12 arrests. What's the consequences? Because this happened in Boston. You you fed Le and Fitsburg because probably the same thing could happen there. Now it goes to court. Is there any repercussions like real repercussions because of what happened in Boston? Is the court system aware what's going on? You know what's what's the penalty? Chief, this should be a big penalty

to the chair. You you how much you pay in overtime this stuff to do this because how many how many police How many police officers did you call in? Uh to the chair probably 25. And how many state troopers did you call? There are multiple state troopers. We had a meeting two days prior and laid out our plan on how we were going to handle it and then we just used all our uh I remember talking to you resources. Yeah. So what's the consequences? Can they pass reimburse us for the overtime? No. Can they go to jail? Put life's in danger is what they did.

Correct. The whole idea is to stop these things from happening. So, we did make arrests mostly for minor offenses so that we could stop the issue from occurring. Make the arrest, get that person out of there. that everything goes through social media where they they communicate, they know it's hot, they go to another community. That's why I was in contact with my brother officers in Lemonster and Fitsburg. So, what would have happened if you didn't pick up on this? It would have been chaos. Correct. So, there's going to be some consequences here. Is this the same is the same group of people that go to every city in town or is the same?

We're not sure. They were coming from uh all over, you know, Rhode Island, Connecticut. We were we were I can't really get into how the investigation unreal, but uh you know, we our intelligence, they were coming from everywhere. Mr. Mayor, so they basically put your life's in danger, the citizens life in danger, especially if you didn't know what if you didn't pick up on this with your intelligence and paying attention to what you usually do. And uh I don't I just think, Mr. Manager, I think we should write letter to the courts. I don't know where it goes, but there should be some penalty here. I'd like to get You probably don't know the overtime. Probably don't want to hear it, but uh how much that cost us and uh you're taking people's because this is at night, right? So, what time was it?

It was It was supposed to be 7 at night to I believe 9 in the morning and then we had something else this weekend. 7 at night to 9:00 in the morning. Correct. Seriously,

they went out I was getting information from Fitsburg. They were going to uh like a a Lowe's parking lot. They were destroying that. Then they were coming back and wherever they weren't getting picked off, they were going. So it was basically police everywhere waiting for them to come so that we could actually stop them from, you know, damaging or causing harm. cuz once they block they block off the whole intersection and it's like everybody's inside just doing donuts and and whatever they want to do. So an innocent person at 7:00 coming home, they're going to get caught up in that.

You can see it right in front of here's a right in the crosswalk there's a tire mark in the circle. Something probably similar. It could have been one of them coming in. Correct. Yeah. Okay. I don't know what the consequ I mean this is I don't know if there's anything we can do advertise who did this as long as you can with other police departments in other communities that there's got to be a common thread somewhere.

Well, something should go through legislation because now it's getting warm out. You have the people on the motorcycles doing wheelies in the middle of the road. Obviously, we're not going to chase them, but the penalty should fit the crime. They're out there terrorizing people and they should pay the price. They should go to prison. It should be a felony to do that, not just some slap. They should do some time and get them off the street. And we can ask the MO committee to look at some legislation they can file uh to enforce that. So, thank you, Chief. I'll thank the men and women was was the police department, the state and for the other for the other not just this issue, but other issues that uh they work pretty hard to keep this community safe. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor Petty. Is there a motion there or no? Yeah, I asked the motion mo could uh look at some legislation that could be filed regarding the penalties on people who who uh do this type of activity. Is that include is that as part of that motion to to make it a felony or no? Excuse me. It's part of the motion to make it a felony or no. Well, see what did you come up with? Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Make it a felony if you want to add that. Yeah. Make it a felony. That's up to you. Yeah. Okay. So, the motion is from the mayor to make this a felony. um to uh uh councelor at large Kate Tumi.

Uh thank you uh Mr. Chair. Uh so as I said before uh there are a number of uh uh days of the week that we could be citing many of these things. As a matter of fact, tonight there were two shootings and our police department has been on top of everything. um every day you're doing things like this. Um and so um I'm grateful to those officers who were involved um for these incidences, but I'm also grateful to the other officers who have been involved uh all along too. And I think that's really important to recognize that um it's the entire department working together, not only within the department, but also um with other cities and towns. And I think that that's a critical element of um what we've been seeing. Uh you mentioned uh chief uh about the crime gun unit and working with other agencies uh federal and state agencies and other cities and towns on trying to reduce the gun violence here. And I think that that's really important and this all speaks to how you're utilizing uh the connections and the and the intelligence that you have at your disposal. And so I'm I'm very grateful. um and happy to uh sign on to this as well. Um and uh you know I I support also uh the mayor's uh the mayor's uh order because we have to have consequences to people's actions and we've not been seeing consequences in the in the judicial system. That that's not happening. And this really we need to take a look at this and and as as the mayor said, there could have been incredible injuries to people. Um we've got people

putting their lives at risk uh dealing with this every day. So, excuse me. Must be too late for me to be talking. Um, but I just wanted to say thank you uh to the men and women of the department and to the mayor and council Bergman for filing this and uh I look forward to recognizing wants to sign on send to the Oh, we got a resolution um the reports resolution roll call. Mr. Chairman, if um are we taking these separately?

What's that? the the um we're are we taking what are we taking up right now? Is it the resolution to make this a felony or is it something else? The resolution to consider them making a felony. It doesn't have to be that, but Okay. But that's what we're voting on right now. Yeah. I'm going to do the resolution first. Okay. Resolution first. Okay. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Council Cona. Yes. Councelor Fazolo. Yes. Councelor King. Yes. Council Mitra, yes. Oh, yes. Rivera, yes. Councelor Rosen, yes. Tumi, yes. Mayor P. Yes.

Next is ask the MO committee to come up with a report on how we could um file legislation with the state behind this this these incidents from what happened in Boston and uh consider whether or not it should be a felony or not. Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um just want to speak on this. Um I certainly understand and appreciate as I stated um law enforcement's work um not just here in the city of Worcester but with um some of the cities and surrounding towns. Um and clearly those efforts made sense. Mr. Chairman, I just want to explain my position on this vote. Um I I think that um it's probably um common sense that if um police officer cars are being burned or um you know uh police are being um attacked in in that sort of a way um that there that that is potentially felonious behavior. However, um what we talked about what happened here and that's what we're basing this on um is the fact that um there were things that were done um that as was stated there's discretion on whether or not folks would be detained or not. Um they result in traffic infractions and the like. Um and to um treat that as felonious behavior is not something that I'm going to support, Mr. Chairman. um if in fact um you know and and I don't want the public misperception or headline that we're that I'm part of supporting um and and um escalating and and widening um sort of this this uh prison pipeline um when in fact there motor vehicle infractions and the like. Um I I also certainly would like to hear back um Mr. chairman. Um once this comes back from committee, um whether or not um Boston was referenced, not Worcester, and what happened in Boston, if that wants to be a part of this, I certainly welcome that when it comes back. And you

know, what was felonious as relates to um the conduct towards law enforcement um is fair play. Um however this particular motion um I will not be voting for um based on u my statement. Thank you. Councelor Bergwin, go ahead.

Just commend you, Mr. Chairman, on the motion which I will support to characterize this as a motor vehicle infraction to me severely undermines or or misrepresents the potential seriousness of what could have been caused. There are many felonies that don't involve just uh assaults on police officers. Um, anybody could have been assaulted with a car and anybody could have been harmed. I would remind all my colleagues that there is jail time for motor vehicle homicide. And um, and I think the analogy is not lost on me that people could be killed whether they're in vehicles or walking across the street with a child or in a wheelchair uh, when these types of incidents happen. So whether the committee comes up with a recommendation for being a proposing legislation for being a felony or not, we shall see. But to characterize this as a motor vehicle infraction like a speeding ticket to me is I think grossly underestimating the potential of harm that could have happened. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman,

Council River, um I just want to also note that just I got to hear about that one of the spots that were going to be hit was Newton Square area and uh just picture the each street being blocked and they're just doing donuts around the circle there and causing all kinds of havoc and accidents, pedestrians, whatever it is. But um so I'm also going to support your motion. Okay. Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I'm not aware of any reports of uh vehicular manslaughter or or uh motor vehicle homicide as relates to the Worcester incident. I do recognize um what could occur um versus what did occur. And certainly um when we talk about motor vehicle infractions, we know speeding can result in the loss of life. We reduced our speed limit here to 25 miles per hour. Um doesn't mean if you're speeding it's necessarily felonious. And again, nothing that has been reported to date that I'm aware of indicates that sort of behavior. Um it's not a mischaracterization. It's based on what was reported in this particular incident, Mr. Chairman. um and um we we we me referenced Boston as I said look forward to hearing um what occurred there um as well but again this is there's no mischaracterization here Mr. Jim and it's based on what was reported from the chief.

Okay. I think there's a lot of good points made and uh but I'm more interested in the Boston thing and how that could have happened here in Worcester and it's very clear that could have happened. So we'll send the roll call. Councelor Bergman. Yes. Councelor Bada. Councelor Economo. Yes. Councelor Fazolo. Yes. Council King. No. Councelor Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Councelor Rivera. Yes. Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. Yes. And mayor Petty. Yes. And we're going to hold uh council's item went over privilege to the next meeting.

And uh the resolution. Okay. We are on 12A. Refer to M O. All those in favor both. So ordered 13A. Motion to accept and adopt. Mr. Chairman, just a point of order. I know we're not 12. By our rules, it's 11:58. By rule, we're not allowed to go past midnight. Saying it for the public purposes. So if you just a point of order, what are we going to do in a minute and a half? Go do it. So I'm going through the agenda. Accept and adopt 13A. Mr. Chairman, I've got to say a couple of words on 13A. It's that important. You don't have to read it. You don't have to read it. Okay. We're going to do the motion to I was trying to get through the agenda, but uh do a motion to suspend the rules. Could we suspend the rules to finish the agenda? Yes.

Okay. So the motion suspend the rules. You need eight votes to suspend the rules. Otherwise, it's the first time of business. the first time of business at the next meeting. Point of order, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, I have I have I have a an issue. No, the chief's been waiting, Mr. Chair. The chief's been waiting for like Okay, it's 12:00. We're going to do a motion to suspend the rules. Suspend the rules. Yeah. Could I just point, Mr. Chairman? Um, could you just explain what the rule is? The rule is basically saying the meeting starts at midnight. Must stop. So, you have to spend a and if you want to go past midnight, if you don't want to go past midnight, it's the first item of business at the next city council meeting, anything that's left over.

So, we probably would have been through the whole agenda if I didn't have to do this, but uh and uh but so point of order, Mr. Chair, I wasn't done with the question. Just Mr. Chairman, I wasn't done with my point of order. So, just for clarification, um the rule is that we must stop at midnight unless we take a vote not to something you said four times. Yes, we will send it. Yes. I couldn't understand you. I'm sorry. Yep. Okay. So, the first is a roll call, then we'll go into You have one roll call, council. I'm just going to I just wanted to give my explanation why I'll be voting no on this, but that's fine. No, you can vote no if you know it's the first time. My explanation, if I might. Okay. Okay,

since you asked is that we spent 20 minutes on an item earlier that I opposed, Mr. Chairman, is this non debatable? What's that? Motion to suspend the rules. Is that not non-debatable? No, I don't think so. Ask the clerk. I don't I don't know the answer. I thought we had to just vote it without an explanation. I don't know. It's midnight. Roll call. Fine. So, Mr. Mayor, just for clarifications, uh this is rule 54 the midnight to suspend it. Council Bergman, no. Council Bada. Council Economo. Yes. Council for Solo. Yes. Council King. No. Conor Mitra. Yes. Council Aa. No. Council Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. No. Council Tumi.

Yes. And Mayor Petty? Yes. So, Mr. Mayor, that failed. So, meeting technically is over. It's over. But I want to provide some clarification. Mr. Mayor, where did you leave off? Which item? 13A. 13A. So, we left out 13A. Okay. 18A, 13A, and 18A. I think we have 13A, 14A, and all the other that'll be first item of business at the next meeting. Well, we needed one item passed tonight. 18A. There's a loan order. 18A. Yeah, that's the loan order. We need a roll call on that. That's for the sewer line. So, we got to do

So, Mr. Mayor, I think we got to do that before we adjourn. We got to do one more item before Y 18A is the loan order. We need that approved tonight. Oh yeah. Okay. Roll call. Council Bergman. Yes. Council Bada. Councilor Economo. 188. Yes. Councor Fzolo. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council. Yes. Counc Rivera. Yes. Councelor Rosen. Yes. Tumi. Yes. And Mayor Petty. Yes. Motion to adjurnn. All those in favor post