City Council - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Transcript
Video
Agenda

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Worcester, MA
Meeting Date
May 19, 2026

Transcript

274 sections

0:00 – 0:2015

good evening my name is christian king vice chairman of the worcester city council i'm calling to order this evening's meeting and to my left sits the city clerk and city manager eric batista to my right and if you could read the calling information before we do the roll call

0:21 – 0:5824

UM THANK YOU MR. CHAIR SO THE VIRTUAL CALL-IN INFORMATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING UH THE LINK IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA THE PHONE NUMBER IS 646-828-7666 CITY COUNCIL ACCESS CODE IS ONE SIX ONE THREE SIX THREE ONE NINE ONE THREE WE DO ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE UH COUNCIL BERGMAN HERE COUNCIL BALADA HERE COUNCIL ACONOMO HERE COUNCIL RIZZOLO HERE COUNCIL MITRA Yeah, so you know, yeah, country there are a lot of bros in here up to me here. We should come to King. If we could stand for the pledge of allegiance.

1:15 – 2:4029

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

3:05 – 3:1615

OK we're going to go to approval minutes item 5, a city Council of the city was approved the minutes of the City Council meeting of April 2820 26 roll call.

3:17 – 3:3124

That's a burden. Yes, that's a lot of yes, that's a common. Yes, that's for solo. Yes, that's a major. Yes, that's a leader. Yes, that's a very yes, that's a rose and yes to me yes, but sure comes to.

3:32 – 4:1015

YES. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, WHERE A PERSON MAY SPEAK FOR MORE THAN TWO MINUTES ON ANY ITEMS PAIRING ON THE AGENDA. THIS IS ITEM 6A. PURSUANT TO THE CHAPTER 20 OF THE ACTS OF 2021, IN ORDER TO ENSURE ACTIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THE CITY OF WOOSTER ALLOWS FOR IN PERSON AND REMOTE PARTICIPATION AT ALL COUNCIL AND STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. to participate in public participation section of the meeting you may attend in person or you may join via zoom. Mr. Kirk if you can share the zoom information and any related directions.

4:11 – 5:0824

THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THE ZOOM PHONE NUMBER IS 646-828-766. THE ZOOM PHONE NUMBER IS 646-828-766. THE ZOOM PHONE NUMBER IS 646-828-766. THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON THE AGENDA UNDER 6A. THE AGENDA UNDER 6A. THE AGENDA UNDER 6A. THE ACCESS CODE IS 161-363-1913. THE ACCESS CODE IS 161-363-1913. IN TERMS OF THE RULES OF THE CITY COUNCIL RULE 39 ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST AT EVERY MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE AGENDA THE CHAIR SHALL RECOGNIZE ANY PERSON SEEKING SUCH RECOGNITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL ON ANY ELIGIBLE ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING BOTH IN PERSON OR REMOTELY ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON MORE THAN ONE AGENDA ITEM SHALL COMBINE THEIR TESTIMONY ON ALL ITEMS AT ONE APPEARANCE AT THE MICROPHONE. THE TIME FOR SPEAKING SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO MINUTES FOR ONE SPEAKER OR 30 MINUTES FOR ALL SPEAKERS. RULE 40 PETITIONS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION ANY PETITION APPEARS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA THE PRIME PETITIONER SHOULD ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON NO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES ON THE SUBJECT OF THEIR PETITION.

5:09 – 5:3115

Thank you. Before we go to our first public participant, if anyone has any sort of disability that will impact their communication to the council as it relates to the time constraints, if you inform us of that, we will take that into consideration as far as extending your time. Please state your name and city of residence and the items you're here to speak upon.

5:32 – 7:0325

yes uh fred nathan worcester items number uh 935 a and c a is a resolution to file and accept and expand the grant in the amount of four million four million eight hundred thousand absolutely no background as to what it's going to go for and then c is AGAIN, A GRANT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT OF $324,000. ABSOLUTELY NO BACKGROUND AS TO WHAT IT'S GOING FOR. WHO KNOWS? MAYBE IT'S GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER PARK. MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND POLAR PARK, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY IT. AND AGAIN, ANOTHER ITEM HERE. ACTUALLY, 936. C. SO, ACCORDING TO THIS, THEY WANT TO TRANSFER $1,600,000, AND THIS IS NOT TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR PARKING-RELATED EXPENSES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY ON, BUT TO, FOR BASICALLY SIX WEEKS? I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK THE TAXPAYERS WANT TO KNOW. OH, YES. 10.

7:0315

30 SECONDS.

7:04 – 7:3525

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. 10M, YOUR ITEM, VICE CHAIR. SO I'M NOT SURE IF I'M INTERPRETING THIS RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE ASKING FOR HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED FOR UNFILLED POSITIONS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THAT'S REALLY GOING TO READ.

7:3815

THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON UP, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME TO THE MIC AND STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON.

7:48 – 9:3235

Good evening. My name is Melinda Martin. I'm a registered voter in the city of Worcester. I also work for the Worcester public schools. I am speaking on 19 a, it had gone to committee. There were several of us there that were against the street becoming public. Um, we have since, Banded together and we have gotten a bigger group that is against this. My reason for being against this, it'll be a huge financial hardship for me. I'm a single mom. I support my child 100%. I work for the city of Worcester making less than 40,000 a year. So I'm a paraeducator. We're negotiating contracts. And I think many of you know how much paraeducators make working in the city. This would be a huge financial hardship. I bought the house eight years ago because it was a private street. It was a quiet road. The neighbors are friendly. The neighbors look out for each other. Again, making it a public street and making it would make it a cut through, adding a lot of traffic. But the biggest thing is a financial hardship. I worked hard to buy my daughter, to buy a house so my daughter can grow up in a neighborhood with kids her own age that go to her school. She dances at Burncoat Middle School. She's a wonderful kid. And this would just be to the point where I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO. I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE EXTRA PENNIES TO RUB TOGETHER TO PAY $14,000, WHICH IS MY ESTIMATE. SO I'M IMPLORING, PLEASE RECONSIDER AND DON'T MAKE OUR STREET PUBLIC. THANK YOU.

9:33 – 9:4415

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPROACH THE MIC, STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON, PLEASE.

9:48 – 11:507

Good evening. Good evening. My name is John LaMacchia. I live on 25 Boyd Street. In the city and I'm here to speak in support of items 7 C and 7 D first speaking about 7 D it refers to Taking care of the gaps in the sidewalk on Boyd Street from Huntington Avenue to scrimgeour Road now I live there are three blocks of of Boyd Street between Huntington Avenue and Scrimgeour Road. I live on the the block nearest to Huntington Avenue. And I made a little check before I came to the meeting, and I found that there are 16 house lots on my section of Boyd Street from Huntington Avenue to Hastings Avenue. And of those 16 house lots, seven of these house lots had no sidewalk. No sidewalk at all. And the ones that do exist are not in very good shape. For that matter, the sidewalk in front of my house, for years out of my own pocket, I have purchased patch filler and sealer to take care of the city sidewalk just to keep it from deteriorating further. But I have to do it after every winter because the cracks open up again. SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF BOTH 7C AND 70. HASTINGS AVENUE IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE, ESPECIALLY FROM PROCTA UP TO BOYD STREET. TERRIBLE SHAPE. THANK YOU.

11:50 – 12:0115

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP, IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPROACH THE MIC, TAKE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON, PLEASE.

12:02 – 12:131

Hi, my name is Janice Saint-Amand, I live on Vealy Avenue. Hello. And I'm here for item 19A. I did provide a copy of what I wanted to say, because I know it's going to go over the two minutes.

12:1415

Mr. Clerk, were they distributed?

12:16 – 14:071

So I want to thank everybody throughout this process that assisted me. One of the things that was mentioned by the assistant commissioner at the DPW meeting was, quote, that the city is compelled to have the obstruction removed in the name of public safety because we need to be able to pass plows and fire trucks through there. To not allow that is against the nature of public safety and in the greater interest to have the road open. That's codified in state law. End quote. That was from the assistant commissioner. As far as emergency services, I've addressed that numerous times with different councils. And emergency services having access, time being of the essence, I mean, I would hope that nothing would happen to anybody on the street when services were not able to reach them in time. I understand that some of the residents have concerns about opening the road. The logistics show that if the road is open, the vehicle is only going to pass through once, not having to turn around and go back again. So it's actually going to reduce traffic. And then also, Sacha Mitra was very kind enough and very thoughtful, thoughtfully wrote a letter to all the residents on Vili Avenue stating that he was going to be TRYING TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO TRYING TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO TRYING TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PAYMENTS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PAYMENTS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PAYMENTS TO 35 YEARS POTENTIALLY. 35 YEARS POTENTIALLY. 35 YEARS POTENTIALLY. AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THE CITY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THE CITY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THE CITY EXPLORING LONG-TERM PAYMENTS EXPLORING LONG-TERM PAYMENTS EXPLORING LONG-TERM PAYMENTS OPTIONS TO HELP EASE THAT OPTIONS TO HELP EASE THAT OPTIONS TO HELP EASE THAT BURDEN FOR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS BURDEN FOR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS BURDEN FOR SOME OF AND ALSO CAUTION, CHILDREN AT PLAY SIGN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

14:08 – 14:2815

THANK YOU. AND THE CLERK DID HAND OUT YOUR TESTIMONY TO THE COUNCIL, SO WE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT. IF THE NEXT PERSON COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED, STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM YOU CAME TO SPEAK UPON.

14:29 – 16:3534

Yes, good evening. My name is Jason Quintel. I'm a resident of Vila Ave. Good evening. I am here to speak on item 19A. I am against this agenda item. If I could hand these to the clerk, I did submit these via email to counsel and the clerk. We did have one more abutter who wished to sign this morning. Thank you so I have spoken with and a team 11 signatures from residents and or butters who are against this proposal and this movement going forward. My wife and I 23 years ago bought the House on the love because it was a private Street. The street was in disrepair when we bought it we knew that and we were willing to deal with that. Two to three years after we bought the house, we were approached at a time where the petitioners wanted to get the group together and pave the street. All residents on the street paved the street. About six years ago, we then got — we were then approached again. Not all residents wanted to pay for patching and repairs. And I understand that. Some of them don't use the areas that needed to be repaired. So, for me, I see that this is something that could still be continued on as a private road. I think that there are better resources for the city to be spending their money on and taxing and assessing residents who don't want it and don't have the money to pay. And with respect to Councilman Mitra, 35 years is ridiculous. We pay back double at 5% on a 35-year term for that amount of money. At 5%, $15,000 over 10 years is $19,500. And it goes up to $23,000 after 20 years. Most people will be retired after 35 years and will still be paying off. And if we can't, there'll be a lien on our home and we'll lose the rest out of the sale of our home. Thank you for your consideration.

16:36 – 16:4915

Thank you very much. IF ANYONE IS INCLINED, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STEP FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM YOU CAME TO SPEAK UPON. THANK YOU.

16:52 – 17:370

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS FERDOSO MOHAMMOUD. I LIVE AT 15 VIALA AVENUE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 19A. MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS HOUSE SIX YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE PRIVATE AREA. I respectfully ask that our street to remain private. My biggest concern is because of our children who ride their bikes and play outside every day. If this street becomes public, increased traffic could put them at risk. Many families, including us, might also face financial burdens because of this change. I respectfully ask you to reconsider our concern and keep our street private. Thank you.

17:39 – 17:5015

THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE MATTER YOU WISH TO SPEAK UPON.

17:5118

HI, MY NAME IS WILSON.

17:53 – 18:1618

FROM WISTER. AND I WANT TO SPEAK ON 7-0, SPEED HUMPS. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POTHOLES? THIS IS OFFICER JACK. SUSPECT SPOTTED. This is Officer Hoth. I'm on the suspect. Officer Jack, look out for the path.

18:176

Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo.

18:42 – 19:4418

Counsel, I was born at a very young age and ever since then I've lived in my house for about 20 plus years with my parents who have lived in the same house for 25 plus years. If I could, I want to show you guys some pictures of the potholes on my street and what could happen if someone stepped on them. I've staged a few photos for you. Thank God they were staged, but if I could show the council. This is me after coming home, maybe from the bar. And as you can see, the pothole above my head is over two feet long. Big, big pothole. This is another one I took. Look at my legs. They've been on my street for 25 plus years. I have long legs.

19:4415

10 seconds.

19:4518

I will now make my...

19:5615

THANK YOU. THE NEXT PERSON WOULD STEP UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, THE MATTER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK UPON.

20:07 – 22:0719

I'M SPEAKING ON 19A. MY NAME IS PETER STANLEY. I'M AT 22 DARLING STREET. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 41 YEARS. I have to say that that area is a very special place. If you take Darling, Viley, Tiley, and Lorenz and all those streets up there, it's a very special place in the Beverly neighborhood. I like to think of it as a nook in the Beverly neighborhood. And everybody, I think almost everybody on our street doesn't want change because it is such a nice place. 41 years and never a problem. I've never made an insurance claim ever in 41 years. So, you know, it's hard for me to say let's, with a broad brush, let's make it public. So I think more detail is needed. I think a workup has to be done. to show the residents of Viley what it's going to look like. Is it going to impact their yard? Where's the water going to run off? The water runs off of Viley, Darling, and Tiley, runs down in front of my house, goes down a hill about two football fields long, INTO RETAINING AREA RIGHT NEXT TO THE GOLD WAVE APARTMENTS? HOW IS IT GOING TO IMPACT THAT? SO I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE MUCH MORE DETAIL, AND I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF AN IMPACT STATEMENT AS TO WHAT IT MIGHT DO TO THE WOODED AREA, WHICH THERE'S FOUR ACRES OF WOODLAND THERE, BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING, BEFORE WE EVEN CONSIDER IT, AND THEN MAYBE TAKE ANOTHER VOTE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

22:0815

THANK YOU. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE AND THE MATTER IN WHICH YOU WILL SPEAK UPON.

22:19 – 23:3638

Hi, my name is Margo Crawford and I live in Worcester and I'm also speaking on 19A. I bought my house in 1987 and part of the reason I decided to buy that house is because it was on a private way. I raised my son there. It was very safe for he and some of the other neighborhood children to go to each other's homes. I am a registered voter. I vote in every primary and every election. I also speak to my friends about issues that are important to me who live in other parts of the city. I am very much opposed to our private way becoming a public street. Also, one of the concerns of the lump, whatever, at the end of the road It was there and well established in 1987. It has been there all of this time. What I was told at the time was it was put there by a man who lived on the other half of Vili. And how was he allowed to do that if it's not legal? And how now, more than 40 years later, is it finally being addressed? Thank you very much for your time. And I will repeat, I am very much opposed to being public. I vote, as do my friends.

23:37 – 23:4915

THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON.

23:49 – 25:5426

I'M JOHN COMEAU, SPEAKING AGAIN ON 19A, WHICH EVERYONE HAS BEEN SPEAKING OF. EVERYONE HERE KIND OF KNOWS ME. I WAS A LOT OF THEIR PAPER BOYS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK WHEN WE HAD MORNING AND EVENING DELIVERY OF THE TELEGRAM AND GAZETTE. I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT PETER WAS SAYING, THE FACT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FURTHER PLAN. WHAT MARGO SAID IS MOSTLY TRUE BECAUSE I THINK I'VE ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH A MINOR, LIVED HERE A YEAR OR TWO LONGER THAN SHE HAS. I AM FOR THE STREET GOING PUBLIC BECAUSE I CAN DISCUSS EVERYTHING LATER. PEOPLE DO SAY IT IS A QUIET STREET. SEMI-PERMANENT TERMINUSES IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND ALL OF THE PROBLEMS END UP IN MY FRONT YARD. On two occasions, criminals come down the street and wreck into the hump, resulting in cars in my front yard. One was a drunk driver. The other one happened when I was away at college. My mother, who has passed away, can't address this, but I know that it did happen. During major snowstorms, 1996 being one example, that was a really bad year. And I think the last bad year was 2008. I've actually been plowed into my driveway. We get plow trucks come by. THERE'S THE DEAD END STREET AND THEN WE HAVE TO USUALLY MYSELF OR ANOTHER NEIGHBOR WILL HAVE TO CALL AND A FRONT END LOADER WILL HAVE TO COME IN, PICK UP THE SNOW, DRAG IT AWAY. IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN I TRY TO PULL OUT OF MY PARKING LOT, MY DRIVEWAY, AND I CAN'T. THERE'S NO ROOM TO TURN. IT'S JUST A STRAIGHT WALL OF ICE. OR I HAVE TO GET OUT THERE WITH MY SNOWBLOWER OR SHOVEL AND MOVE ALL THE STUFF MYSELF. I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE THE CITY COULD HELP OUT IF WE DIDN'T GO, YOU KNOW, NOT TO RUB IN ALL OF YOUR NOSES, MAYBE IF WE DIDN'T SPEND $12.5 MILLION ON THE SKY BRIDGE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

25:56 – 26:0715

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Anyone else would like to come to the mic. Please state your name, city of residence and the item you'd like to speak upon.

26:08 – 26:4912

My name is Delaney Lawson. I live in Worcester and I'm here to speak on 19A. I would like to keep the road private. Ideally, yes, it would be nice for the road to be paved and fixed, but not the cost of making it public. We're first time homebuyers and we've been in the house for less than a year. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE REGRETS IN CHOOSING THIS ROAD AS OUR HOME JUST BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND US. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE CHOSE THIS HOME WAS BECAUSE IT WAS ON A DEAD END AND HAD NO THROUGH TRAFFIC. I'M CURIOUS AS IF THE CITY COULD CHANGE OR ALTER THE NAME OF THE ROAD BEYOND THE BURM AND RECOGNIZE THIS CHANGE TO THEREFORE AVOID CONFUSION WITH EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

26:5515

ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE TAKE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE AND THE ITEM YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK UPON PLEASE.

27:06 – 29:085

MY NAME IS AND I'M HERE FOR ITEM 19A. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND I'M ONE OF THE IMPACTED PATTERNS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'm here to respectfully voice my opposition to propose the conversion of the private rail into our public street. First, I want to address the process. The majority of directly impacted partners have voted against that conversion. despite that standing committee on the public works voted to move forward anyway. This raised a serious concern about whether the voice of the president most affected by this decision was truly being considered in a meaningful way. SECOND, THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THIS CONVERSION IS SIGNIFICANT. THE COST WAS TOO HIGH AND BEING ASKED TO ABSORB ALL THE EXPENSES AND MANY OF US DID NOT PLAN FOR AND MAY NOT BE IN POSITION TO AFFORD. THIS IS NOT A MINOR UPGRADE. THIS IS A MAJOR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION PLACED ON A SMALL GROUP OF HOMEOWNERS. THE IMPACT OF THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. RIGHT NOW OUR STREET IS A QUIET DEADLINE STREET FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THAT LIMITS TRAFFIC, KEEPS SPEED LOW AND CREATES A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS, CHILDREN AND PEDESTRIANS. CONVERTING THIS ROAD INTO A PUBLIC THROUGHWAY, WE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THAT AND ADVISED INCREASED TRAFFIC AND ALTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THIS IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE ROADWAY REPAIR OR UPGRADE. IT'S A LASTING TRANSFORMATION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CONVERSION IS NOT THE BEST STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT ROADWAY CONDITION ISSUES. FOR THIS REASON, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO RECONCILIATE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS CONVERSION. THANK YOU.

29:09 – 29:2415

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME TO THE MIC AND SPEAK ON AN ITEM? Thank you, sir. Please state your name, city of residence.

29:24 – 30:1928

Colton Chassie, resident of Worcester, speaking on 19A. I wasn't planning on speaking, but I'm just emotional right now. I get the whole letter we had in the mail about making alternatives to this payment, but I just think it's ridiculous. I kind of laughed at it. The way we have to pay our money to pay this street to make it public seems a little ridiculous to me. We bought the house knowing it was private. The debt entry was amazing, everything. We saw the potholes, we didn't care about it. All the stories about everyone pitching in, keeping the road. A FLOAT OR WHATEVER. I STICK TO IT. IF YOU PUT WE'RE IN OUR SHOES LIVING IN THIS SITUATION, HAPPENING TO DEAL WITH THIS, I THINK YOU GUYS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY. I JUST HOPE YOU GUYS THINK DIFFERENTLY AND I JUST HOPE YOU GUYS CAN KEEP THIS PRIVATE. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

30:20 – 30:3515

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ANYTHING? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. IS THERE ANY VIRTUAL CALLERS, MR. CLERK?

30:36 – 31:0124

THANK YOU, MR. VICE CHAIR. THERE'S NINE VIRTUAL CALLING USERS AT THE QUEUE RIGHT NOW. SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO SPEAK DURING THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC PORTION OF THE AGENDA, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU RAISE YOUR HAND. IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, PRESS OUR FIRST CALLING USER IS THE PERSON WITH THEIR INITIALS AS. I'M TRYING TO MUTE THE RESIDENT NOW. PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND THE ITEM YOU'RE CALLING ON.

31:018

HOW ARE YOU DOING? CAN YOU HEAR ME?

31:0424

YES, WE CAN. GO AHEAD.

31:068

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

31:108

HELLO?

31:1115

YES, PLEASE CONTINUE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.

31:2135

Are you able to hear me?

31:24 – 33:068

Okay. Sorry about that. For some reason, my earbuds are not connecting. You can start my timer. This is Ashley Spring, City of Worcester. I am calling in to voice my support for 12V. I think this is an important conversation that needs to be had. You know, these THESE PAYMENTS, THIS IS A MARGINAL INCREASE IN THESE FEES THAT COULD REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY. IT'S REALLY THE BARE MINIMAL I THINK THAT WE COULD DO AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DEFINITELY THINK WE SHOULD ADDRESS AND I THANK YOU COUNCILOR BOLOTTA FOR THINKING OF THIS AND PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ON 14B. It says the city council of the city of Worcester does hereby support state auditor Diana. So, Leo. And our efforts to uphold Massachusetts ballot question 1. An authorization of the state auditor to audit the general court. Which passed on November 5th, 2024 with 71.57% of voters approving the initiative put on by counselor Rivera. I am, of course, not against the audit. I think very much that the voters should get what they voted for. However, I think this is a sore topic right now in this state. And with potential lawsuits going on between the auditor and the legislature, I don't think Worcester should be sticking its head in that right now. So I'm going to oppose 14B. And that's all I have for you. Thank you.

33:0715

Thank you very much. Next caller, Mr. Clerk.

33:1224

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The next caller is David. I'm going to try to meet the resident now. Please say your name, study of residence, and the item you're calling on.

33:2127

Yes, hello. Are you able to hear me, Nico?

33:2324

Yes, go ahead.

33:24 – 35:2327

Oh, good. I'm so glad. Hi, David Webb, Olympia. I'm here to talk about Bergman's request for 500 police officers, the deceptive and kind of trickstery way that Worcester changes private streets to public at the, you know, picky and choosy and disadvantageous to customers, sorry, constituents, however, whatever you guys call them way. And also about the $20 million slush fund, sorry, I mean, building renovations or bribes that manager Batista is giving to the police. It's understandable that a city that it doesn't maintain anything also doesn't maintain its police department, but none of the other departments that actually needed are getting the 20 million that you're putting towards them. This billion dollar budget is kind of a demonstration of your values. Oh, right, that was the other thing I wanted to speak about. The newly appointed constable. Congratulations, Eric Batista, for finally appointing a black colonizer. Thank you for diversifying the colonization systems that you have upheld and maintained and facilitated and streamlined and refused to provide any accountability for, despite it being one of your responsibilities. As far as Bergman's request for 500 new rapists, racists, or apologists, a.k.a. Worcester police officers, Because that's kind of all it is. Some of them are rapists, some of them are racists, and the rest are apologists. So the number of them isn't going to reduce the problem with them when there's zero accountability from the top down. When their union protects their bad behavior and gets rid of any... Yeah, yeah, yeah. When the union protects their bad behavior and the city manager lies on their behalf and lies about them cooperating with HUNTING IMMIGRANTS AND ILLEGAL KIDNAPPINGS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T HUNTING IMMIGRANTS AND ILLEGAL KIDNAPPINGS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. ILLEGAL KIDNAPPINGS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. ILLEGAL KIDNAPPINGS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

35:2524

WHEN THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT PROTECTS THE POLICE BY WHEN THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT PROTECTS THE POLICE BY WHEN THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT PROTECTS THE POLICE BY ILLEGALLY WIT

35:33 – 36:2822

please say your name city of residence and the item you're calling on hello my name is um lewis garden um i'm a worcester residence i'm here to speak um sorry i'm a little bit nervous i'm here to speak about the importance of after school programs and summer programs for the youth my concerns in regards to this subject is how will have an impact on the families struggling already um these decisions will also impact our youth by not providing them the proper opportunities in education along with the many life skills learned in summer programs also how it may impact many parents as well that depend on these programs so that they can provide proper time to go to work um we are asking that funding for after school and summer programs to be prioritized in the city budget thank you

36:3015

Thank you.

36:3424

So I sure the next calling users Marion from the through as a now to see your name and city residents.

36:44 – 37:4610

Good afternoon. I was there is a dent and I would like to talk about after school program and how important it is for working parents. I want to share with you my personal experience with that. Two years ago I was working as a family advocate and we started to start and I couldn't back to my work because after school program didn't have a spot for my kids. So I was working for three years, they was helping me and my kids. and was supporting my family by giving me more time to work in it, but because I couldn't find a spot for them, I couldn't back to my work. So it's really important. It was very affecting my family at this point, so I would ask with Lewis for more funding for these programs. It's very important to do that. Thank you.

37:4715

Thank you. Next up was the clerk.

37:5024

Next speaker is Ruby from the resident now.

37:5821

Can you guys hear me.

38:03 – 39:5421

Excellent. Good evening, Mr. Vice Chair, council members, and all present tonight. Thank you for the opportunity to address the council. My name is Ruby Pezzanetti. I'm the Chief Operating Officer of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center. We're located in Worcester with two clinical sites, six school-based health centers, and one administrative site. I'm here to speak in reference to item 7B to refer to the planning board, the health center's request to amend the zoning map of the city as referenced in article three of the city of Worcester zoning ordinance to wholly encompass the properties at 600 and 604 Lincoln Street and the business limited 1.0 zoning district. The Canadian Community Health Center is a federally qualified health center serving residents of Worcester. We provide primary care, dental services, behavioral health, optometry, and community-based health programs, in addition to access to two clinical pharmacies. the mission of our health center is really to help people live healthier lives we believe that everyone has a right to accessible high quality comprehensive integrated and compassionate health care as a community health center kennedy community health provides that care to the patients but more importantly to ensure the community of worcester and its residents remain healthy True to its roots, the health center has continued to grow to meet increasing community demand for access and affordable health care, which we've been doing for over 53 years. This project supports the organization's continued growth and operational expansion to really address the gaps and available access to care and disparities with primary care, specifically in the Worcester community. Thank you very much for your time.

39:5615

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP MR. CLARK. NEXT UP MR. CLARK.

39:59 – 40:1124

NEXT UP MR. CLARK. I'M TRYING TO MEET THE I'M TRYING TO MEET THE I'M TRYING TO MEET THE RESIDENT NOW. RESIDENT NOW. RESIDENT NOW. I THINK IT'S CHAKORIA. I THINK IT'S CHAKORIA. I THINK IT'S CHAKORIA. YES, HI.

40:1115

YES, HI. YES, HI. FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO SAY PLEASE EXCUSE ME.

40:15 – 42:2036

PLEASE EXCUSE ME. PLEASE EXCUSE ME. I'M UNDER THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW I'M UNDER THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW I'M UNDER THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY My name is Shakora Baldwin, and I am a Worcester resident. I'm also a paraeducator within the Worcester Public Schools. And I'm also a recent graduate of the Worcester Parent Leadership Program. And I'm here today to speak on the importance of affordable and safe afterschool and summer care for our children in our neighborhoods. As someone who works directly with students and their families every day, I see firsthand how important after-school programs are for our community. I also live within the community that I work in. And for many working families, including myself, after-school hours are one of the most important aspects of our lives, which is really difficult for us to find and maintain due to cost. Parents are also often forced to choose between missing work leaving their children unsupervised or paying for a program that's just simply too expensive to maintain. Afterschool and summer programs are not just childcare, they are an investment back into our communities. They provide children with safe environments, academic support, mentorship, Often healthy meals and physical activity and opportunities to build confidence and social skills. So they also help reduce youth violence. And I know we have a lot of public parks. We have some of the most greatest parks around, but this also can be very dangerous with the activities that go on around them. And it's just, it's not ideal for children, especially young children. So having a space that's dedicated for them to go after school or in the summer that is affordable for the families. I think it's really, really important. So I'm asking the city committee to just please prioritize this in the city budget and help make it more accessible and affordable for families because no child should be without due to where they live or due to their family's income. And I thank you for this time. I appreciate it.

42:2015

Thank you. Next up, please state your name, city of residence.

42:2524

Next speaker is Juan, sorry, June, sorry, go ahead.

42:316

Yes, hello, can you hear me?

42:3424

Yes, go ahead.

42:36 – 44:596

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ON THIS. MY NAME IS JUN YEN. I'M A RESIDENT OF WHISTER. I'M CALLING IN TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 19A, THE CONVERSION OF THE VIOLE AVENUE FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC. I'm voicing my opposition on this item. So I've sent an email about this to many councillors, but I just want to hear to speak about one main point, which is that I feel this is kind of a rushed decision on the financially quite significant issue on the abutters of the street. This essentially has the same financial impact as a betterment assessment, but it doesn't really provide the level of disclosure, review, and participation associated with projects of this kind of scale and financial impact. So we don't know how much we are going to lose our front yard and how the street is going to really look like after this is done. So one concern that I heard is about safety, but from what I heard, there is not really any like recent safety issue AND DURING THE HEARING THERE WERE NOT REALLY LIKE REPORTS FROM EMERGENCY OR HOSPITAL ABOUT TROUBLE WITH ACCESSING THE ROAD. SO I JUST DON'T SEE WHY SUDDENLY THERE IS SUCH URGENT NEED TO HAVE THIS LARGE PROJECT OVER THIS PRIVATE STREET AND THE STREET HAS BEEN SAFE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. So so so because. So one thing I also want to point out is that I mean there are some minutes are up ma'am as I heard hello yes you 10 minutes are up ma'am. Thank you.

45:0015

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE ON THE HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE ON THE HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE ON THE LINE, MR.

45:0624

CLERK? LINE, MR. CLERK? LINE, MR. CLERK? THERE'S SIX MORE CALLING THERE'S SIX MORE CALLING THERE'S SIX MORE CALLING USERS. USERS. USERS. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE BUREAU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE BUREAU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE BUREAU. TRYING TO MEET THE RESIDENT TRYING TO MEET THE RESIDENT

45:17 – 46:283

Hello, my name is Anne Bureau. I'm with Worcester Community Connections Coalition of Seven Hills. I'm also a resident of Worcester, and I'm here to speak about the importance of summer care and after-school care. We work with parents in the community to identify gaps in services. We do a community needs assessment with parents every year, and access to affordable after-school care and summer care are one of the top, top needs. So we're so grateful for REC Worcester for the work of Raquel Castro-Corzini, And we're really asking for prioritization of funding for after school and summer care. As someone mentioned, these are not just babysitting, but it's such a huge economic help to families who depend on it to go to work and keep their jobs. So thank you for your kind consideration. I also want to speak on item 12V in terms of increasing what developers have to pay into for the housing trust fund. The housing crisis is the other great, great challenge Worcester families are facing, and this is incredibly important as well. Thank you.

46:3115

Thank you. Next up, please state your name and city of residence, Mr. Clerk.

46:3924

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The next one is Natalie Gibson. Please state your name and city of residence.

46:48 – 48:2020

Good afternoon, Vice Chair. I wanted to throw my support behind 12V and also 19A. I sympathize with all the people that have spoken about having their road turned into ore. It's about to be turned into a public way. I've been on my street for 20 years when I purchased my house here. It was a dead end. I had no idea that there were huge rocks that were removed from the top of our street. And now my street is one of those streets that people are speeding up and down. And we're about to be in our third year of having speed bumps. They're going to be permanent because it's being used as an access point. for street tire up. I understand the petitioner stating that there could be issues with emergency services. I think that the woman that spoke regarding having the street name changed in a way so that it's not confusing for emergency folks. But if the majority of those people do not want that street turned to public, that is their right. They bought that house for that specific reason, especially that THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING IT A PUBLIC WAY. PUBLIC WAY. PUBLIC WAY. SO I FULLY SUPPORT THEM. SO I FULLY SUPPORT THEM. SO I FULLY SUPPORT THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, MR. CLERK. NEXT UP, MR. CLERK. NEXT UP, MR. CLERK. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DUKE. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DUKE. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DUKE.

48:2015

I'M TRYING TO GET THE RESIDENT I'M TRYING TO GET THE RESIDENT I'M TRYING TO GET THE RESIDENT NOW.

48:2924

NOW. NOW.

48:2915

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. CITY OF RESIDENCE.

48:3413

Hi, my name's.

48:3515

Hi, my name's. Sorry, can you also state the item you're talking about as well? We'll start you once you begin.

48:43 – 49:1513

Absolutely. Thank you. Hi, my name is Duke Duncan. I am a Worcester resident and I'm speaking on item 19A. I live on Darling Street. I'm a first time home buyer. I've lived here for just over a year. And one of the things that drew me to the neighborhood was it's quiet and there's not too much traffic going in and out. And I am in opposition of VL Ave turning into a public way with increased traffic. THANK YOU.

49:1515

THANK YOU, MR. CLARK.

49:1924

THANK YOU, MR. VICE CHAIR. THE NEXT ONE IS ECHO.

49:2415

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE, THE ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON.

49:29 – 51:319

Hi, my name is Echo Louisant Collins. I am a longtime City of Worcester resident, and I'm calling in to speak on two items. First of all, 12V. I would like to thank Rob Bellotta for being resourceful and intuitive and innovative in his thinking, and it's really not even innovative currently. There is the 3% that would be paid by the people building if they wanted to go ahead and avoid adding affordable housing units. That 3% cost is a drop in the dime, which is causing people who are rich to just say, We'd rather pay into the trust fund. My concerns are how is it that the city of Worcester plans to add 12,000 much needed units by 2034 if we're not doing anything proactively to make sure that happens. Increasing this from 3% to 5% will either A, increase the trust fund, or B, make it so that they're choosing or having to weigh more on building the affordable units that are much needed in the city of Worcester. And we can't have it both ways. We can't say, We don't want rent control because then it's going to prevent people from coming in and building, and it's going to actually hurt the amount of units that we can bring into the city of Worcester while also actively supporting and helping the people who are coming in to build also hurt the city of Worcester by not building those affordable units. So I thank Rob. And this is something that if you're really for our city, if you're really for the community that lives here, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY INCREASE THAT TO 5%. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

51:3115

NEXT UP MR. CLARK. NEXT UP MR. CLARK.

51:3724

THANK YOU MR. VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU MR. VICE CHAIR. THE NEXT ONE IS CALL IN USER ONE. THE NEXT ONE IS CALL IN USER ONE. TRY TO MUTE THE RESIDENT NOW. TRY TO MUTE THE RESIDENT NOW.

51:42 – 51:5515

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, CITY PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, CITY OF RESIDENCE AND THE ITEM OF RESIDENCE AND THE ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON. YOU'RE SPEAKING UPON. HELLO. HELLO. PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

52:0324

If you can if you on the phone if you press star 3. Thank you Mister vice chair, there's an audio issue maybe we can come back to the call and user after.

52:1215

We'll come back to you after the next call.

52:1724

The next call and users Michael trying to the resident now.

52:2015

Please state your name city of residence and the item you're calling upon.

52:25 – 53:462

Hello, my name is Kelly Force, and I live at 26 Villiav in Worcester. I am calling to speak on item 19A, which I am 100% in support of. I live at the very end of the street next to Mr. Como, who spoke earlier. And I don't think people are realistic about the safety issues on the street. Every vehicle that comes up has to turn around and go back, so it's double the traffic. The trash truck, the recycle truck, any large delivery truck all have to back up or down the street. And with the children in the summertime riding their bikes, being out in the yard or playing, that's going to be a safety issue. We have also had people parking at the end of the street, doing drugs, having sex, and peeing. SO AND I DON'T THINK THE RESIDENTS ARE ALL ON BOARD TO TAKE CARE OF THE STREET THERE ARE POTHOLES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STREET THAT ONE RESIDENT STATED THEY JUST GO AROUND BUT YOU'RE ON THE UH THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET WHEN YOU DO THAT UM THANK YOU FOR LISTENING HAVE A GREAT NIGHT THANK YOU MR CLARK THANK YOU MR VICE CHAIR THE NEXT ONE IS GEORGETTE I'M TRYING TO MEET THE RESIDENT NOW

53:4715

Please state your name, city of residence and the item that you're calling upon.

53:53 – 54:4214

Good evening, my name is Georgette and I am calling in to speak about the issue with the after school and summer care programs. I'm asking that the council consider the use of the city budget and resources to go towards more afterschool and summer programs. It's important to my family and also friends who have kids because, you know, it's a safe, these, I should say, entities or programs are safe for our children. We feel relaxed when we are at work, that our children are safe. And so I think that, you know, more funding should go towards making our children safe and even for their development. Thank you.

54:43 – 55:1224

THANK YOU MR. CLARK. THANK YOU MR. VICE CHAIR. WE CAN TRY THE CALLING USER ONE MORE TIME. CAN YOU PRESS STAR 3 IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE OR UNMUTE YOUR DEVICE. SO YES WE DO. SO AT THIS POINT, THIS IS OUR SECOND ATTEMPT. MR. CHAIR, MR. VICE CHAIR, WE CAN GO BACK TO ERIC STRATTON. THAT'S OUR LAST CALLING USER.

55:1215

Yes. Please state your name and city of residence.

55:18 – 58:1230

Hello, Eric Stratton, city of Worcester. I'm calling in regarding 12b, 12b, 12f. There are a number of items on tonight's agenda addressing speed and traffic in the city. And I find it very interesting that we have a number of individuals who are making these requests And yet, when we have issues that come up like focusing on Vision Zero, focusing on traffic calming measures such as adding bike infrastructure or pedestrian infrastructure, narrowing of roadways or possibly even a reduction of a travel lane, that often a lot of these same individuals speak up against those. quite frankly, to the council members, you can't have it both ways. Frankly, there are proven and data-driven ways to help reduce traffic speeds in a safe and effective way to make the city livable, and safe for all road users, pedestrian, bicycle, and motorists. Most people use all three. I was walking around this afternoon. I drove to the grocery store. I was gonna go on a bike ride, and then we had our lovely storm. I mean, quite frankly, it's very frustrating to see when we have so much pushback for so much of this infrastructure, and yet you all love to put items on the agenda because someone in your district has asked you, oh, could you put this on for me? Oh, could you do this? Please, if you're gonna actually put it on the agenda, stand by it. Stand by the work and stand by our city employees who are experts in their field, who understand transportation and the needs for our city so that we can better address speeding and traffic deaths. It's incredibly frustrating. So I hope you all can please take a look at that and consider that as we see lots of sort of unnecessary loud voices going after every single project in the city that focuses on trying to make the city livable and one where we can all safely traverse it. When you look at things like Gold Star or you look at other streets in the city where we have six lanes or four lanes, Traffic flaws. We really need to focus on ways that we can calm the traffic, slow it down some. And while I know people don't love hearing that word slow, slow means saving lives. When people are going 40 miles an hour, 50 miles an hour, or even faster on some of these roads, people die. There's no way around that. So please, I would ask you all... When you're putting these items on the agenda, please stand by it and the work that these departments do. There's a lot of people and very vocal critics, I think, amongst the city council who love to go after any of these road designs, and they think every opinion needs to be heard. Thank you.

58:1215

Your time is up, Mr. Stratton. Your time has elapsed.

58:1530

Thank you.

58:1715

Thank you. Is there anyone else, Mr. Clerk, for public participation?

58:2124

THERE'S NO ONE ONLINE AT THIS POINT. THERE'S NO ONE ONLINE AT THIS POINT. THE CALLER THAT HAD THE CALL POINT. THE CALLER THAT HAD THE CALL POINT. THE CALLER THAT HAD THE CALL INFORMATION HAS DISCONNECTED. THE CALLER THAT HAD THE CALL INFORMATION HAS DISCONNECTED.

58:29 – 1:00:1315

THE CALLER THAT HAD THE CALL INFORMATION HAS DISCONNECTED. LAST CALL FOR ANYONE IN THE INFORMATION HAS DISCONNECTED. LAST CALL FOR ANYONE IN THE INFORMATION HAS DISCONNECTED. LAST CALL FOR ANYONE IN THE GALLERY. LAST CALL FOR ANYONE IN THE GALLERY. LAST CALL FOR ANYONE IN THE GALLERY. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE GALLERY. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE GALLERY. WE In addition to that we've had a number of folks who have called in to testify on 19 a. And 12 the so we'd like to take 19 a out of order along with 12 e and I like to read those before we decide to do that. 19 a. And 12 v so 1219 a I'm sorry and 12 e. He is an Edward and we'll also take 12 the after that so it's going to second here 19 a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS UPON THE REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS UPON THE REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS UPON THE REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD UPON THE THE PLANNING BOARD UPON THE THE PLANNING BOARD UPON THE AMENDED PETITION OF COUNSELOR AMENDED PETITION OF COUNSELOR AMENDED PETITION OF COUNSELOR SATRA MITRA ON BEHALF OF JANICE SATRA MITRA ON BEHALF OF JANICE SATRA MITRA ON BEHALF OF JANICE AND MARK SAINT AMAND REQUESTING AND MARK SAINT AMAND REQUESTING FROM NORTH OF DARLING STREET TO LORENZ STREET AND DARLING STREET EAST TO PEARS AVE BE CONVERTED TO PUBLIC ROADS. RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THIS ACCOMPANING ORDER THAT WAS I'm out of the committee on public works, Mister Clark was the vote in that committee was a unanimous vote.

1:00:1424

Through the vice chair to the council believe that still is 2 to one. I'm not mistaken come to come was the chair of the committee so you can attest to the vote that was a split vote so we'd like to take that with 12 E.

1:00:27 – 1:01:0315

12E IS A REQUEST TO THE CITY MANAGER REQUESTING THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH A REPORT CONCERNING THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE 10 AND 20 YEAR PAYMENT PLAN OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS WHO FINANCE WITH THE CITY DURING PRIVATE STREET CONVERSIONS TO ALSO INCLUDE 35-year payment plan option and that's filed by Satya Mitra so we will ask councillor Mitra if you'd like to speak first on these but we'll take the roll call to suspend the rules is that right so roll call to suspend the rules to hear those out of order YES.

1:01:0324

YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES.

1:01:22 – 1:01:3515

Perhaps we'll see who's followed by. We'll give Councillor Economo and his committee the option to speak after Councillor Mitra, if they so choose. If they do not, we'll go to Councillor Bergman. Councillor at large, Mitra.

1:01:36 – 1:07:0223

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our first talk about 19A, which as we heard that many of the residents in that area came and spoke. Some were in favor. Many of them were not in favor. And we heard them all. I think it came from the committee as passed for continuing to convert it into public street. And the vote was given by me because I thought when I saw the structure of this street, Viola Street, I think it needs to be safer. I think safety was the first thing. in my mind, and if you would like to see, if I would request the city clerk, Mr. Vangeli, to show the street and situation, how it looks like, I think you will see that this street needs to be taken care of for many reasons. condition, at the same time the safety approach and the possibility of how the emergency vehicle or the fire trucks can get there. It has a time when the difficult time comes, it's a time when the medical emergency people Trucks have to go there, and they cannot get there. I think every minute counts. And if they have to turn around and come, it's life-threatening sometimes. It's very dangerous. You can see the tree that's sitting there for so long, so many years. So when this was brought to my attention by the resident there, I put it in order, and it was voted in to convert it into a a public street by the standing committee. I do hear that many residents find it very difficult because of the financial challenges and I absolutely understand that as well. I called our DPW commissioner, Commissioner Westerlund, asking that what's our payment plan, what kind of relief we can give to our residents when a situation like this comes, when they have to pay about $14,000, $15,000. He mentioned that we have a plan that they can pay it either in 10 years or in 20 years. They don't pay anything upfront. City takes care of fixing this and converting it. It's just they will be added in their tax bill to make these payments for the number of years they choose. I said, well, to make it even affordable, can we make it a little bit longer so that people can find it a little bit easier to pay? And that's what my order on number 12E is about. That's why I wanted to have it all together, that if instead of 10, 20, if it could be given an option that they can pay in 35 years, probably the monthly payment would be even lower. That could make it more affordable. You've got to realize that no one is going to pay this $14,000, $15,000 upfront. The city is going to take care of it. In the process, when it is done, the value of the property goes up because it's now a public street. It is safer. Many children who play there, they feel safe. They will be safe. We, as the city council, I think I thought my primary goal is to see everybody who lives there safer. I think people don't realize the need of this every minute that counts when there is an emergency until it happens. I hope no one goes through that, but we as council want to see that we are protecting everybody for that moment which might come, hope it doesn't. So with that consideration, I thought that I'll make it easier to make the payment a little longer and you know, so smaller amount. And that's why I put that order, which I would request the council to consider to pass. But I want it to be done a little sooner. So I request this to go to the manager so he can make it, you know, quicker and listening to, you know, so many, um, Residents who came in I do feel to discuss more many of them have said that maybe we should discuss more I do think that it's important to convert it, but with the permission of the chairperson sponsor economy if this could be sent back to the Standing Committee to discuss it more and bring it back to the council because now that we have heard we have seen what the condition of the road is and I'd like to make that amendment so that it can go back to the standing committee again to rehash the whole thing. And that's my request. I'd like to see that it is done right. And we have heard everyone. And we're trying to respond to their needs and how to make it easier for them. So I have two orders. One order is to stretch the payment plan to 35 years. And I'd like the manager to take care of it sooner so we can talk about it in the standing committee meeting. AND THE REPORT THAT HAS COME FROM THE COMMITTEE, IF THAT COULD BE, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE CHAIRPERSON, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEND IT BACK AND DISCUSS ABOUT IT FURTHER.

1:07:04 – 1:07:1615

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS MATTER WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON IT? COUNSELOR FRISOLO, DISTRICT 3, MEMBER OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS.

1:07:19 – 1:07:5931

Mr. Chairman, I didn't plan on speaking on this, but through you, as a member of the committee, I was dissenting vote and I would not vote this to go back to committee. I want the vote taken tonight. It's up to the- uh people on that street to get the majority of people in favor of making a public street or not and that night and even as we speak tonight the majority of people are against it and i would like the vote taken tonight so i'll vote against sending it back to committee and i'd like to vote on 19a tonight in a roll call thank you mr chairman

1:08:0015

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MORRIS BERGMAN AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE.

1:08:04 – 1:11:4116

THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. HAVING A SPLIT VOTE ONLY CONFIRMS FOR ME THAT OFTENTIMES THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE BALANCING PERCEIVED PUBLIC SAFETY VERSUS THE EXPECTATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT THEIR PROPERTY THAT'S GOING TO REMAIN A PRIVATE STREET. BUT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT WITH THE BENEFIT I'VE HAD BEING ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING, PUBLIC WORKS AND A RESIDENT OF THE CITY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED, AND WE ALL INTERPRET THINGS AND SEE THINGS OFTENTIMES DIFFERENTLY, WHEN A STREET IS ALMOST EQUALLY FOR OR AGAINST SOMETHING AND IT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN PRIVATE, I'M OF THE OPINION NOT TO UPSET THE APPLE CART. SO IF HALF THE PEOPLE MORE OR LESS ARE FOR, HALF THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT, THERE'S NO STRONG SHOWING TO ME THAT THERE'S A CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. THAT'S FIRST OF ALL. My experience, traffic and parking and being a resident of the city, is once you make a private street public, you know, the idea that it becomes more safe because vehicles, emergency vehicles, can get down the street quicker has to be balanced, and I'd say a lot of times outweighed by the reality that cars are now going to go zipping down there because before they couldn't go very fast, and now they can. So I think the argument about safety oftentimes isn't as... realistic as it might seem. Thirdly, I would say that taking a look at that street that was on the screen a few moments ago that my colleague, Councilor Mitra, had the clerk show, which I think is helpful. To me, that private street, and I hate to say it this way, but I have to, doesn't look that much worse than a lot of public streets. And the sat... And I hate to say it that way, because there's no guarantee that they're going to get a street that isn't going to get potholes down the road, and we're going to have the same problem with that street after having paid $14,000-plus to have the luxury of calling 311 to say they got a pothole back in the street. So $14,000 isn't something I'm going to minimize. The timing of asking somebody to pay that nowadays, when the price of gas is $5, and I don't know how people are going to come up with an extra $15,000. Even if it was spread out over time, let me also put my lawyer hat on, which I do for my day job. When a prospective buyer putting any properties up for sale sees that there's now a charge on the property for the next 15 years or even longer, it devalues the property because now they've got to buy a piece of property that has an obligation to pay. FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME. SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUE COUNSEL SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO OPPOSE 19E, LET THOSE IN CHARGE COME BACK WITH THE REPORT, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF THESE PAYMENTS ARE SPREAD OUT OVER TIME BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO ADD IF I COULD MAYBE AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHAT IS THE TOTAL PAYMENTS that a person is going to make if this is spread out over a much longer period of time. Because I agree with what one of the speakers said. This is going to double their cost, even though it's going to be spread out over a longer period of time. But I don't see any reason not to vote on it tonight. It's not going to get any better. Some of the people on the street are going to be for it. Some of the people on the street are going to be against it. I think there's been the reasons stated for those that are for it and those that are against it. And if it comes back in three weeks or a month, My own opinion, it's just going to cause more tension in the neighborhood. There should be a final vote on it tonight, whichever way that vote goes. End the discussion and end the controversy and put it to bed before the summer starts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1:11:4315

Thank you, Councilor Bergman. Is there anyone else on this item? District Councilor of One, Tony Economo and Chair of the Public Works Committee. Councilor Economo.

1:11:54 – 1:13:5617

Thank you Mister chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to speak and I appreciate every coming down. Yet again to voice their concerns on the street. As a chairperson of of the committee knowing the areas as well as I do. From my standpoint. It's it was purely had to do with public safety. Unfortunately. later in that same week i was on a fire scene of um and speaking with the chief and just how critical seconds not even a minute mattered to public safety and the way i looked at it was The chief said it here today in budget. It's like it's their call as they're coming down the street which way to go to the scene. If they come down the one side and it's on the other side, they have to come back around and come around. Nobody tells you when your house is going to be on fire. Nobody tells you when you're going to have a heart attack. that moment when that vehicle turns the corner and cannot go further if it's on the other side are minutes, not just a minute, it's minutes. So that's where my vote came from. Number one, I have no problem if it comes back to Public Works for further information as suggested. And I have no problem if the will of the council here tonight is to take a vote on it tonight. So that's where I'm coming from on it. I understand it all. And that's what I have to say is Jim. Thank you.

1:13:5615

I'm going to step down and speak council to me if you could come up and assume the chair and then we'll we'll play musical chairs after that.

1:14:2133

Council King.

1:14:23 – 1:15:5315

Thank you. Council to me. It's a question to the chair as relates to the administration's response to this. So it's very clear to me from the folks that came out this evening on both sides of the matter. The folks on the Public Works Committee. Councilor at large Mitra. The unifying theme here is public safety. regardless if you're for it or not, folks want to be safe. They don't want cut through street. They want to be able to have their friends and families navigate and be safe in their yards. We've heard folks testify that the obstructions have caused safety consequences on their properties with concerns of how that ends. We've heard the chairman today THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE ADMINISTRATION, SHORT OF A CONVERSION OF THE STREET, ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS? I SENT AND FROM WHAT I HEAR, FROM PORTIONS OF THE STREET MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON THE SAFETY PARAMETERS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED BASED ON PROXIMITY AND THE LIKE. BUT IS THERE OTHER OPTIONS SHORT OF A COMPLETE CONVERSION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME INTO THE PLAY THROUGH THE CHAIR?

1:15:58 – 1:16:4737

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT STREET CONVERSIONS AS A WHOLE, THERE'S A SPECIFIC STANDARDS IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWS THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO A PARTICULAR STREET. WHETHER THERE'S APPLICABLE SIDEWALKS NEEDS, THERE'S CATCH BASINS, WATER SOAR INFRASTRUCTURE, ET CETERA. THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THINGS AND DESIGN WORK THAT HAS TO GO IN PLAY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A FULL PUBLIC STREET AND IT ALSO MEETS THE STANDARDS. I RIGHT NOW OTHER THAN WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER KIND OF DESIGNS OR OTHER OPTIONS BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A SPECIFIC STANDARDS IN WHICH WE NEED TO BRING ANY STREET ONCE IT'S CONVERTED PUBLICLY TO THOSE STANDARDS SO I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS TONIGHT THANK YOU THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR THROUGH THE CHAIR UM

1:16:4915

IS THERE WORK THAT COULD BE DONE MAINTAINING THE PRIVATE WAY THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE ROAD?

1:17:0133

TO THE CHAIR. MR. MAYOR.

1:17:03 – 1:18:0037

YEAH, THROUGH CHAIR TO THE COUNCIL. BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE ROAD, EACH RESIDENT OR EACH PROPERTY OWNER HAS OWNERSHIP TO THE MIDDLE OF THAT ROAD. AND SO THEY'RE COLLECTIVELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ROAD AS NEIGHBORS. If there's a desire in their part to remove any barrier that provokes or prevents them from going from one side to the other, that's a decision that as neighbors and property owners would have to make and make those necessary changes. The maintenance that we provide as a city is any type of maintenance requiring potholes or ANY OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THAT ROAD IS THERE'S A PROVISION OF UTILIZING THIS ACT WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THAT BUT IT'S AT $6 PER LINEAR FEET. AND THAT WOULD BE AS A PETITION AND IT WOULD COME IN AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. BUT IT'S ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAINTENANCE, NOT FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONVERSION.

1:18:0433

If you'd like to.

1:18:05 – 1:18:1615

Does the Assistant Commissioner have anything to add? Excuse me, Council? Madam Chair, with regards to the recommendations that were made in the inspection that was completed. Through the Chair.

1:18:1733

I'm sorry, what was your question?

1:18:20 – 1:18:3115

The question is to Commissioner Melo. If he could speak on his recommendations that he's made relative to this matter, or that he's reviewed through the Chair.

1:18:3133

Assistant Commissioner?

1:18:34 – 1:21:4732

Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for having me. So when we take a look at a road like this, what we go out and do is we look at things holistically from an engineering standpoint, right? So as you saw in those pictures, The road is in very poor condition. So the number one sign that a road has really kind of approached the end of its life is the alligator cracking or fatigue cracking you see. That's kind of when the road has just decided to crack everywhere in no particular pattern, which is very apparent on this road. especially along the gutter lines, which is indicative of drainage issues. So when we looked at this road, it was in poor condition. And we actually use a matrix for how we decide whether a road is converted or not in the city. And this road received a priority one rating, which means it was the highest rating it could receive, and that was based on residents that lived there, connectivity in the neighborhood, the presence of utilities, and the presence of defects in the road, proper right-of-way. So as to the matrix that the city currently has in place, this was a good candidate for a road. And then the conditions in so much as the drainage in the roadway out there made it a good option as well from an engineering standpoint. uh speaking to some of the uh items uh if we could do something that's not a full conversion but also goes ahead and addresses public safety um you know the the big uh issue out there is non-connectivity of the road right so especially with the street having the same name that's something that pops up throughout the city and does create issues of response for ems um you know also having that data in there you can see kind of creates an area where uh traffic accidents have happened, it creates snowplow issues, maybe some vagrancy and things like that. So if we were to remove that tree and connect the road and do that as a minimum, that could address the issue. And then secondary to that, if the road was converted, DTM has a very robust speed table program and they could go ahead and put speed tables in on that street, which would go a long way to address concerns when it comes to traffic uh cutting through down there and lastly uh if this road is voted for conversion uh how the dpw moves forward with things is it is up to the uh residents of the roadway if they want sidewalks on uh in their neighborhood or on one or both sides um so if there were sidewalks added to this that would uh decrease YOU KNOW POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN RELATED INCIDENTS THERE'S NOT REALLY GREAT SIDEWALK NEIGHBORHOOD OUR NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALREADY JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE IN AND OUT AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS THANK YOU THANK YOU ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER COUNSELOR KING.

1:21:48 – 1:22:1615

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE ADDENDUM WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE ADDENDUM WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE ADDENDUM AS RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND AS RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND AS RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE CONNECTIVITY AND THE CONFUSION THE CONNECTIVITY AND THE CONFUSION THE CONNECTIVITY AND THE CONFUSION OF FIRST RESPONDERS, COULD YOU OF FIRST RESPONDERS, COULD YOU OF FIRST RESPONDERS, COULD YOU JUST REITERATE WHAT A POTENTIAL JUST REITERATE WHAT A POTENTIAL JUST REITERATE WHAT A POTENTIAL RESOL

1:22:1733

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MILLER? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

1:22:2132

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO... SO... SO... MADAM CHAIR.

1:22:2333

MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR. I'M SORRY, MADAM.

1:22:25 – 1:23:1432

I'M SORRY, MADAM. I'M SORRY, MADAM. I WAS CONFUSED IF I WAS TALKING I WAS CONFUSED IF I WAS TALKING I WAS CONFUSED IF I WAS TALKING THROUGH COUNSELOR KING OR NOT. THROUGH COUNSELOR KING OR NOT. uh with respect to the public safety we could remove the uh obstruction in the roadway and that would allow it to be connected from one end to the other the issue there right is if ems is responding to one side of the road or the other um not knowing that there's uh non-conductivity there um that could present an issue right where you'd have to stop and then go back around uh even with being off by one number you that would present an issue um so removing that tree and then connecting road uh would uh be a good way to solve what would be the biggest public safety aspect uh currently present in the neighborhood thank you madam chair uh excuse me counselor

1:23:15 – 1:24:1815

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT OPTION DELINEATED IN WRITING FOR FURTHER REVIEW. YOU KNOW, I THINK COUNCILOR ECONOMO, COUNCILOR FRIZZOLO, AND COUNCILOR MITRA ALL HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR CITY. and emergency responding at the forefront. And certainly I think all the residents do as well with various positions on what that should look like and what those risks are. I would like, by the way, of a motion that we get an outline of what that option would be IF THE CITY DID REMOVE SAID TREES BY IN THE PURSUIT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WHAT COSTS WOULD THE NEIGHBORHOOD INCUR ON THAT PRIVATE STREET, MADAM CHAIR? THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU.

1:24:1933

I THINK AFTER I SPEAK, IT'S COUNCILOR MITRA.

1:24:29 – 1:24:4015

BE CAREFUL, COUNCILOR. Down the stairs, I want to make sure she's okay. Counselor at large to me.

1:24:40 – 1:27:0633

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS IS ALWAYS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, AND I'VE BEEN ON PUBLIC WORKS AND HAVE HAD TO MAKE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POSITION. AND I HAD TO FACE THAT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IT WAS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THIS ONE TIME I HAD TO MAKE THIS DECISION, IT WAS. IT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH WATER FLOWING INTO PEOPLE'S YARDS AND big gullies being created because there was no way for the water to move. So it was truly a safety issue. See some safety issues in this but I also know that with some conversation and working together that the community could certainly come together and and understand their options as Will be presented I think if this goes back for a discussion Things that they can do and also to understand what the city has for those options I think there are some good things that potentially could come out of this. But I think it requires the cooperation of all the neighbors in that community. And I think that that's something that, you know, you still have left with a problem. Whether we voted up or down, you're still left with some issues. And people have to understand that the neighbors who reside on that road are responsible for from upgrade the upgrade upgrading and maintaining that particular road and it can be done privately and it can be done through petition through the city in varied ways I believe there's actually the summary of options with the private street conversion there's you know the cost of the property owners Etc so there's There's possibility of some assistance, but I think it requires some further discussion. And, you know, I certainly couldn't support approving it right now. I think it should have an opportunity for people to be educated about the options that are out there and helping people to work together. That's really what I think would be a good thing is to have people come together and solve solutions. Thank you.

1:27:06 – 1:27:2315

Thank you counsel to me is anyone else for the first time before we go to counselor at large meet you for a second time we're going to go to Gary Rosen counselor at large. Thank you, Mister chair just a question maybe of the law department.

1:27:2411

Can I ask for where she's please directed to her there.

1:27:3215

Before you begin, Councilor Rosen, if you could just state your title and your name for the record for the public who may not know you.

1:27:394

Alexandra Calacuna, city solicitor.

1:27:4215

And your position?

1:27:454

City solicitor in the law department.

1:27:4715

Thank you.

1:27:48 – 1:28:0111

Councilor at large, Rosen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through the chair to the city solicitor, who actually owns this street? Madam solicitor.

1:28:024

Through the chair, this is a private way on the official map, so the abutters on that way own to the center line of the street.

1:28:0911

Through the chair, does that mean taking into account all the abutters that the residents, the abutters, own the entire street or not?

1:28:184

Each one owns a percentage.

1:28:2011

Okay, so if we add it all up, do the abutters own the entire street?

1:28:264

Correct.

1:28:2711

Okay. So that means the city doesn't own, am I right, through the chair, doesn't own any of the street?

1:28:354

Through the chair, that's correct.

1:28:37 – 1:28:5611

Okay, so through the chair, what legislation or what legally gives the city the right to tell the abutters, the owners of the street, that they must do work on the street they own? What gives us that right to do that?

1:28:5615

Madam Solicitor.

1:28:58 – 1:29:274

So once a city adopts an official map, which Worcester did a long time ago, any way on that official map is considered open to the public. So even though this is a private way, it's a way that's open to the public, which gives the city the right to go in and make improvements. However, there is requirements for statutory public hearings where the committee should hear the feedback of the residents who are really the ones that have the right.

1:29:2811

Through the chair, so are you saying the final decision is really made by the city that doesn't own the street, but it's our final decision? Is that what you're suggesting?

1:29:394

Through the chair, because this way is on the official map, yes, that's correct.

1:29:4411

Okay, through the chair, do you know, city solicitor, do you know if this has ever been tested in court? Madam Solicitor.

1:29:514

Through the chair, yes, this is a long-standing legal principle regarding private ways.

1:29:56 – 1:30:1811

So through the chair, we have a lot of private streets in the city here, obviously. We do. It would be nice if we could change them all someday into, that's never going to happen. But the city, if we had the money, if we were rolling in money, we could actually have them all paved, even if every single owner on those streets did not want it paved. Is that correct?

1:30:194

Through the chair, that's correct, except for the private ways that are true private ways that are not on the official map.

1:30:2611

And through the chair, are there many of those?

1:30:294

There is quite a bit in Worcester. Worcester has 80 miles of private streets, which is a lot. We have one of the highest numbers of private ways around this area.

1:30:3911

So through the chair, why would this street in particular be on the city map and the others aren't?

1:30:46 – 1:31:024

THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO WHEN THE MAP WAS ADOPTED, IT'S BASICALLY ANY WAY THAT WAS OPEN TO TWO OR THREE MORE BUTTERS. SOMETIMES THEY'RE LEFT OFF IN ERROR. SOMETIMES AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T DEVELOPMENT ON THE STREET SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ADDED. THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS WHY.

1:31:02 – 1:32:0511

OKAY. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M JUST RELUCTANT AND I KNOW THE CITY STATED THAT IT CERTAINLY IS LEGAL FOR US TO BASICALLY FORCE RESIDENTS OF ANY OF THESE STREETS AROUND THE CITY MAP, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE PRIVATE, THEY'RE OWNED BY THE RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO FORCE THEM TO PAY FOR IT. IT'S JUST I DON'T LIKE THAT. I JUST DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA. IT'S LEGISLATION THAT I CERTAINLY IF IT WAS COMING IN FRONT OF ME NOW I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH. I'M GLAD I LIVE ON A PUBLIC STREET AND I'M GLAD THE CITY OWNS IT. SURE, THE CITY CAN DECIDE TO tell people on my street, you know what we should do. I just think the people who live on a private street have a little different situation than I do. So I just, I don't think I can support this only because if the city doesn't own the street, I don't see how the city has the right to tell people who do on the street, here's what you're gonna do with your street. It's not us, it's your street, but here's what you're gonna do. I just don't like that type of a process. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1:32:064

THROUGH THE CHAIR. I'LL JUST CLARIFY THAT THAT'S WHY WITH PRIVATE WAYS THERE'S A REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT THE BODY CAN HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE STREET.

1:32:1615

THANK YOU, MADAM SOLICITOR. WAS THERE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A SECOND TIME? COUNSELOR MEACHAM?

1:32:26 – 1:37:0023

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I think everything should be well conversed, well thought of. We heard many residents came in who are in favor of converting it into public street. Many residents came in who said that they don't want to convert it because they like the way it is and some of them have the financial challenges. We as leaders of this city, I think our job is to see that the residents at the end of the day are safer, and we're doing our job to protect them. Somebody is trying to jump from the top of the roof, and if I'm there, If I'm not going to save that person, I'm not doing my job. I think I'm trying to save a life. That person may not be thinking, may not be seeing the danger that is there until it happens. We have been given the narration. We had the assistant commissioner spoke about the condition of the street. It's one thing that how our public streets look now may be full of potholes that we're trying to fix it. But that doesn't mean that this road, even if it doesn't have pothole, the way it is situated, it can bring a matter of danger in the lives that people may even find their lives go. What is more precious in our life is to have a life. I mean, money comes and goes, I understand. But I think we as a leader have the responsibility at least to say that, look, we're trying to do our best to give you the minimum that one can pay. I understand that, yes, there is interest. That's how mortgages are. People take it for 40 years. And there is, if they can pay it all off, of course they will because there is no interest attached to it. But at the end of the day, as leaders, we'll have to see that, am I trying to save somebody who may go through a dangerous situation? And at that time, if that happens, no matter who it is, I think you will feel guilty that I had the opportunity to make this road be more safer and not have someone of our own city go through that dangerous thing that we don't want to think of, don't want to hope for. So I would suggest that let us get back to discussion. That's why I wanted that. Maybe something will come out of it. We're all together in it. We're not trying to just push it. We're trying to. We are intelligent. We are deliberative. We are not trying to say that this is my way. I think it should be given an opportunity, another opportunity, rather than rushing over it tonight. give a chance to go back to the standing committee, let's discuss, let the residents come again, and maybe we'll find a media, we'll have the commissioner come in, assistant commissioner come in, and maybe they can give us a solution which could be more acceptable by everyone around there, which could be more, less expensive. rather than just taking care of it today and putting it into the bed is not the decision that leaders make. Leaders have to give its best to come up with the best opportunity and the best decision. And I don't think we're making the best decision at this point when there are residents who are saying, I want it. when there are residents who say, I don't want it, even though they have the majority. But we know those votes are non-binding votes, what the residents are giving. We know that. It's just to assess, what is the reason they are saying no? What is the reason they are saying yes? If somebody says, I have financial difficulty, that's one reason. But if somebody says, my life could be threatening, that's another reason. What do you weigh? IT DOESN'T MEAN IF THE 12 PEOPLE COME I HAVE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S THE MAJORITY WE SHOULD VOTE FOR BECAUSE WE AS LEADERS SHOULD SEE WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO THANK YOU THAT'S WHY I WOULD REQUEST THAT IT BE SENT TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE AGAIN TO THINK IT OVER THANK YOU COUNCILOR MITCHELL BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCILOR TUOMI JUST UM AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE THE QUESTION AFTER THAT UM JUST WANTED TO SHARE FOR ANYONE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING ON ALONG ONLINE

1:37:01 – 1:37:4815

OR MAYBE SITTING IN THE GALLERY. I WANT TO EXPLAIN THE THREE PHOTOS THAT WERE SHARED. THERE WAS A PHOTO OF LARGE POTHOLES WITH PRESENCE OF ALLIGATOR CRACKING. FOR THOSE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THERE'S A SECOND PICTURE OF LARGE POTHOLES WITH WIDE ALLIGATOR FATIGUE CRACKING AND SIGNIFICANT PUDDLING APPARENT. THE THIRD PHOTO FOR FOLKS WHO MAY BE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THAT SHOWS NO BURM AND ACCUMULATED SAND GRAVEL AND SEVERE ASPHALT DISTRESS IN GUTTER LINE INDICATIVE OF POOR DRAINAGE. AND THEN THE FINAL PICTURE IS PAVEMENT CONTINUITY OBSTRUCTIONS IN ROW. COUNSELOR TUOMI FOR THE LAST COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER.

1:37:48 – 1:38:2633

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M NOT FOR, AFTER HAVING HEARD EVERYONE TALK, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M NOT FOR MAKING THE ROAD PUBLIC. I'M FOR HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS CAN COME TOGETHER. CLEARLY THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT WERE OBVIOUS BY THOSE PHOTOS AND HOW DO THEY MAKE THEIR ROAD SAFER FOR EVERYBODY. THEN THERE'S THE OTHER ISSUE OF THE CONTINUITY OF THE ROAD AND So there should be some discussion for that too. But I just think it's better for people to have all of the information at their fingertips so that they can work together. Thank you.

1:38:3115

We'll go to Councilor Economo and then maybe Councilor Bergman.

1:38:3417

I'm sorry, Councilor, I don't mean to step on your toes.

1:38:3715

Go ahead, Councilor Economo.

1:38:38 – 1:39:2317

Thank you. My suggestion is to send it back to committee for further discussion to bring up the points that were made from Commissioner Melo and also from our city solicitor. I think that would be the best route to go So the people have all the information and then let it ride how it goes from there. That would be my suggestion. If it comes back to council and the council views that they don't want to take those steps, so be it. Like I said, I'm coming at it from the point of purely public safety, having witnessed some things that could have played out differently in another time, so.

1:39:2415

THANK YOU. COUNSELOR BERGMAN AT LARGE, PLEASE NOTE I'M ALLOWING YOU TO SPEAK.

1:39:30 – 1:40:4416

I APPRECIATE IT, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'LL MAKE IT LESS THAN A MINUTE. AGAIN, MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT TELLS ME THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT. IT'S A PRIVATE STREET. WE CAN'T TAKE SOMEBODY'S TREES IF THEY DON'T WANT US TO TAKE THEIR TREES. THERE'S NO SOLUTION THAT I SEE THAT CAN'T BE DECIDED LATER ON THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM VOTING TONIGHT THIS UP OR DOWN. I WOULD JUST ALSO SAY THAT I LIKE TO BE CONSISTENT. AS THE CITY SOLICITOR SAID, THERE'S 80 MILES OF PRIVATE STREET. WHY ARE WE FOCUSED ON ONE STREET WHEN WE'VE GOT 80 MILES OF OTHER STREETS WHICH WE'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO PAY $14,000 OR MORE TO CONVERT THEIR STREET? WE EITHER DO IT FOR ALL OR FOR NONE. IF THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CITY FELT THAT WAY THAT THEY WERE SAVING LIVES AND THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S FINANCIALLY IMPROBABLE FOR PEOPLE TO PAY IT, THE CITY COULD TAKE THE PROPERTY BY EMINENT DOMAIN. I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULD. THEY SHOULDN'T. But they could. And so all I'm saying is let's not make this about what the neighbors are forced to do. Let's make this about what's realistic. And what's realistic is we have half the street for it, half the street against it. It's going to be tension all summer. We're going to get reports back kicking the can down the road at the end of the day.

1:40:4517

NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE UNLESS WE RESOLVE IT TONIGHT.

1:40:4816

AGAIN, IT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL. BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN HEARD. EVERYBODY IS WELL INTENDED. I JUST DON'T THINK TIME IS GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

1:40:5715

THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COUNSELOR MITRA TO REFER THIS ACCOMPANYING ORDER. POINT OF ORDER. YES.

1:41:08 – 1:41:2131

MR. CHAIRMAN, 19A WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND WAS BEFORE US. MR. CLERK, THROUGH YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHY AREN'T WE VOTING ON 19A BEFORE ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE STREET?

1:41:21 – 1:41:4724

THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE COUNCIL, IT DEPENDS HOW THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES. IN TERMS OF RULE 27, IF YOU HAD MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, THAT WOULD BE TO ADOPT, WHICH IS NUMBER NINE. COUNSELOR METROS AND COUNSELOR O'CONNOR I THINK MADE THE SAME MOTION IS TO REFER TO COMMITTEE THAT'S NUMBER SEVEN BASED ON RULE 27. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COUNSELOR, THE CHAIR INTERPRETED THE MOTIONS.

1:41:47 – 1:42:3415

SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO REFER TO COMMITTEE MADE BY COUNSELOR MITRA. THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS TO ADOPT THE ORDER RELATIVE TO STREET CONVERSION. WE'RE TAKING THE MOTION FROM COUNSELOR MITRA TO REFER. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THIS. WE'VE DONE THIS WITH INCLUSIONARY ZONING. WE'VE DONE A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS. I'M JUST EXPLAINING TO YOU THE DECISION. SO THIS ISN'T OUT OF THE NORM. SO THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE ON THE FLOOR WAS TO TAKE THIS REPORT. WE'VE SENT BACK REPORTS BEFORE JUST LIKE THIS TO THE MANAGER. THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO REFER IT BACK TO COMMITTEE. WE'RE GOING TO ROLL CALL IT.

1:42:35 – 1:42:4831

OKAY. I DON'T WANT TO PROLONG IT, BUT IT'S NOT HALF THE STREET IS FOR IT AND HALF THE STREET IS AGAIN. IT'S A MAJOR MAJORITY ARE AGAINST IT. AND WE'RE TAKING THAT AWAY FROM THEM. AND I JUST FEEL THAT'S INCORRECT.

1:42:4815

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. SO THAT'S THE MOTION, MR. CLERK. AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON MY MOTION SUBSEQUENT TO THAT. SO ROLL CALL.

1:42:5824

MR. CHAIRMAN, CLARIFICATION. 19A IS TO RECOMMIT IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC WORKS. COUNSEL BERGMAN.

1:43:0424

COUNCIL BELOTTA?

1:43:0624

COUNCIL CONOMO? YES. COUNCIL PASOLLO? NO. COUNCIL MITRA? YES. COUNCIL AYEDA?

1:43:1224

COUNCIL RIVERA? YES. COUNCIL ROSEN? NO. COUNCIL TUOMI?

1:43:1724

AND VICE CHAIR COUNCIL KING? YES. SO MR. VICE CHAIR, THE MOTION FAILED. IT WAS FIVE TO FIVE.

1:43:27 – 1:43:4615

OKAY. THE ORDER, THERE IS NO ORDER ON THE FLOOR TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION, BUT THAT IS WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED FROM THE COMMITTEE, SO WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL ON ADOPTING THE CONVERSION TO A PRIVATE STREET OF 19A. ROLL CALL.

1:43:4631

EXCUSE ME, I WANT TO POINT ABOUT TO A PRIVATE STREET?

1:43:5015

NO, TO A PUBLIC STREET. SORRY, TO A PUBLIC STREET, YES. OKAY, THANK YOU.

1:43:56 – 1:44:0924

SO THIS IS TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION. SO THIS IS TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION. SO THIS IS TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION. COUNCIL BERGMAN? RECOMMENDATION. COUNCIL BERGMAN? RECOMMENDATION. COUNCIL BERGMAN? NO. COUNCIL BERGMAN? NO. COUNCIL BERGMAN?

1:44:1024

COUNCIL BELOTTA?

1:44:1224

COUNCIL BELOTTA? NO. COUNCIL BELOTTA? NO. COUNCIL CONOMO? NO.

1:44:1623

COUNCIL CONOMO?

1:44:1724

NO. COUNCIL CONOMO? YES. YES. YES. COUNCIL FOSOLLO? COUNCIL FOSOLLO?

1:44:2115

COUNCIL FOSOLLO? NO. NO.

1:44:2524

COUNCIL KING SO ARE WE PLACING THE ITEM ON FIRE MR. CHAIRMAN OR JUST WHAT YOU JUST VOTED IT DOWN.

1:44:3315

DO WE NEED TO RECONSIDER IT FIRST I WANT TO MAKE SURE. SURE.

1:44:36 – 1:45:0324

MOTION TO RECONSIDER. COUNCIL BERGMAN. NO. COUNCIL BELOTTA. NO. COUNCIL RECONOMO. NO. COUNCIL FOSOLO. NO. COUNCIL MITRA. TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE THAT WENT DOWN. Okay. Council Hader? No. Council Rivera? No. Council Rosen? No. Council Toomey? No.

1:45:05 – 1:45:5115

NO, AND WE HAVE OUTSTANDING MY ORDER REGARDING ASKING THE ENGINEER AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE A LOOK AT REMOVING WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS THE MOST CONCERNING PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS, WHICH IS THE, I DON'T WANT TO READ THIS CORRECTLY. which is the obstruction. Removal of the of the inch their obstruction and potential connection of the road as a minimum in the interest of public safety. And how much that may cost.

1:45:58 – 1:46:0924

Council Bregman yes, it's a lot of yes, it's economy. It's a solo. Yes, it's a metro. Yes, it's a hit up. Yes, it's Rivera. Yes, it's a rose and yes, something to me.

1:46:11 – 1:46:3815

VICE CHAIR COUNSEL CARRIE. WE'RE GOING TO RECESS OUT OF CITY COUNCIL. AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK. THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO READJOURN INTO FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING. WE WILL AFTER THAT COME BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL AFTER FINANCE COMMITTEE. DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL ON THAT?

1:46:40 – 1:46:5624

Thompson Bergman. Yeah, that's a lot of yeah, it's a common. The solo, yes, it's a major yes, and so it up to the river. Yes, it's a Rosen to me. Yes, vice chair, counsel can. Yes, meeting is in recess.

1:47:00 – 1:47:1715

We have a couple items that we have to take tonight for City Council. So we need to reconvene. City Council. Roll call. GOOD?

1:47:2016

MR. CHAIRMAN, I MISSED WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

1:47:2315

WE HAVE TO RECONVENE INTO CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT ARE TIME SENSITIVE THAT WE HAVE TO DISSOLVE OF. SO ROLL CALL TO RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL.

1:47:3524

MR. CHAIRMAN, ROLL CALL TO RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL AT 12.06 A.M. COUNCIL BERGMAN. YES. That's a lot of.

1:47:4532

I put an order to we have to re reconvene now that we've since it's gone past midnight.

1:47:50 – 1:48:0924

Probably have to spend the rules as well as will do that after every vote 3. Council accountable, yes comes up as a low, yes, it comes to meet you. Yes, it's a hitter. Yes, it's a river. Yes, it's a rose. Yes, up to me. Yes, which are coming to.

1:48:1015

Yes, motion to spend the rules roll call.

1:48:16 – 1:48:3124

Come to Bergman yes, the water. Yes, but the economy. Yes, it was all. Come to King. Yes, come to me true. Yes, come to hate them. Yes, that's right there. Yes, that's a rose. Yes of the to me yes.

1:48:36 – 1:49:0215

We're going to go to petitions need to resolve these some of these have already been testified to so we're going to take can take these concurrently 7, 8, B. Oh, no, we can't. All right, so we'll take 7A. Councilor Economo, on behalf of Paul McDonald, request street tree in front of 61 Garrison Avenue, remove interest of property preservation, refer to Department of Parks and Recs. Roll call.

1:49:03 – 1:49:1424

Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Bellotta? Yes. Councilor Economo? Yes. Councilor Prozzolo? Yes. Councilor Mitra? Yes. Councilor Hayter? Yes. Councilor Rivera? Yes. Councilor Rosen? Yes. Councilor Toomey?

1:49:16 – 1:49:2915

I sure comes with the right 7 be referred to planning board. Steve Kerrigan behalf of everyone in the Kennedy Center requesting amendment. It's article 3 of the zoning ordinance will call for the planning board.

1:49:3124

Come to Bergman yes, it's a lot of.

1:49:3524

CONSULTANT CONOMO. YES. CONSULTANT PASOLLO. YES. CONSULTANT MITRA. YES. CONSULTANT OJEDA. YES. CONSULTANT RIVERA. YES. CONSULTANT ROSEN. YES. CONSULTANT TUOMI. YES. VICE CHAIR, CONSULTANT KING.

1:49:4515

YES. 7C TO 7K REFER TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. ROLL CALL.

1:49:51 – 1:50:0624

CONSULTANT BERGMAN. YES. CONSULTANT PELOTA. Yes, it's economy. It was a low, yes, come to meet you. Yes, it's a hitter. Yes, it's Rivera. Yes, it's a broken. Yes, up to me. Yes, they're pretty is not president.

1:50:0715

Yes, I'm just a 7, 0, 2, 7, 0 for traffic and parking will call. Councilor Bergman.

1:50:15 – 1:50:2624

Yes. Councilor Pallotta. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councilor Fezzallo. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councilor Hader. Yes. Councilor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Toomey. Yes.

1:50:2715

And Vice Chair Counsel King. Yes items, a to G for traffic and parking will call.

1:50:33 – 1:50:4724

Thompson Bergman has a lot of yes concert, Connolly. But there's a lot of yes, but to meet your yes, but so it up. Yes, that's right there. Yes, that's a road. Yes, that's a to me. Yes, but your country.

1:50:47 – 1:51:1215

Yes appointments. Non City Council come appointments. Information those items 9.1, 8, B and C. Appointing Christian Gutierrez Lovato to the concert community preservation committee. Appointing Michael can a lot more to constable. Appointing Michael big to the historical commission as an alternate motion is to file a call.

1:51:13 – 1:51:2624

That's a Berman that's a lot of. Yes, I'm so kind of a as a result. Yes, that's me truck. Yes, so you know, yes, that's river. Yes, it's a rose and yes to me yes, which are coming.

1:51:26 – 1:51:5015

Yes, 9.2 a through see City Council confirmations appointing Carlos will send a to the planning board as an alternate. women of NZ on G more army to his own board of appeals and also at a 9.2 see if he wants to take anything out let me know recommend a point of Sherry picture share the was to redevelopment authority. Emotions to a full roll call.

1:51:51 – 1:52:0424

I'm to Bergman comes a lot of yes, I'm so kind of come through solo. Yes, that's me true. Yes, I'm so here. Yes, that's river. Yes, it's a rose. Yes, but the to me. Yes, we should consider.

1:52:04 – 1:52:2715

Yes, want to go to 9.1 go out of order 9.1 3, a 9.3, 1, a. We're going to postpone those I don't know if I have to take those out of order I take that back. 9.4 a to send to committee. The item is. Page is that.

1:52:2724

Page 6. It's the walk rent.

1:52:3715

And you could read that I can't find.

1:52:40 – 1:53:0724

The reads Mister chair recommend adoption of the resolution of file except and time of funding under the city was for fiscal year 2027 program year. If the 2 community development block grants emergency solution grant a home investment partnership program under the U.S. Department housing and urban development and the refer to the health and human service right so this means a public use of human services. Council Bergman. Yes. Council Bilotta.

1:53:10 – 1:53:2124

Council Economo. Yes. Council Frizzolo. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council Ojeda. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Council Rosen. Yes. Council Toomey. Yes. And Vice Chair, Council King.

1:53:2115

Yes. If you could just direct me, Mr. Clerk, to the finance transfers and grants so we can resolve those.

1:53:31 – 1:54:3024

Certainly Mister chairman, so we started one 9.35 a through F and there's 9.36 a through D which are financial items operational transfers 9.37 a through C which are prior year transfers and there's a loan order of 9.39 a which is regarding accepting a grant donation for charging free 50 free lunches from alma gaucho restaurant for police and fire department personnel on duty on memorial day may 25th 2026. thank you to alma gaucho restaurant for that donation to police and fire for memorial day on may 25 2026 motion is to adopt vocal Council Bregman. Yes. Council Bilotta. Yes. Council Economo. Yes. Council Pizzolo. Yes. Council Mitra. Yes. Council Ojeda. Yes. Council Rivera. Yes. Council Rosen. Yes. Council Toomey. Yes. Advisory Council King.

1:54:30 – 1:54:5315

Just a little clean up. I want to move 12E. request city manager request public works and cfo provider will report feasibility of extending 10 and 20-year payment plan for residents who finance the city during private street conversions to include a 35-year payment plan option roll call Motion to approve 12E.

1:54:5324

And Mr. Chairman, just some clarification. I believe Councillor Bergman also amended that, correct?

1:54:5916

Yes. Yes, only to add the . As amended, roll call.

1:55:08 – 1:55:2124

Council Bregman? Yes. Council Bilotta? Yes. Council Economo? Yes. Council Rizzolo? Yes. Council Mitra? Yes. Council Ojeda? Yes. Council Rivera? Yes. Council Rosen? Yes. Council Toomey? Yes. Vice Chair, Council King?

1:55:22 – 1:56:2015

Thank you I just want to publicly state the plan was to hold 12 are on behalf of the ward family. We're going to not hold this but simply postpone along with the rest of the items on the agenda those items as understand we taken first. um when we reconvene i'll let the city clerk explain that momentarily but 12 hours requested that the city clerk conduct the research related to historical commitments made by the worcester city council concerning the naming of parks and streets in the city after aries and ward a woman born into slavery in north carolina in 1862 who settled in worcester where she lived into her passing in 1959 at the age of 97 JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY STATE FOR THE FAMILY THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE POSTPONED THEY'RE WELCOME TO CALL IN NEXT MEETING AND WE'RE GOING TO TO MOVE TO POSTPONE BEFORE WE DO COUNCIL BERGMAN JUST

1:56:21 – 1:56:3816

A QUESTION ON THAT. IT INTERESTS ME BECAUSE IT'S A HISTORICAL. SO THE HISTORICAL COMMITMENTS, COULD YOU JUST TAKE A SECOND? I KNOW I WAS LATE. IS THIS REFERRED TO ANY PRIOR COMMITMENTS THAT WERE MADE REGARDING STREET NAMING?

1:56:3915

IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.

1:56:4116

OKAY. DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING MS. WARD?

1:56:47 – 1:57:0115

We're going to postpone that to next week. That's the motion. Roll call Mr. Chip, Mr. Clerk. Roll call and postponement and then we'll see if there's any emergency business and then we'll adjourn. So roll call and postponement.

1:57:0224

Sorry, on 12-hour particularly?

1:57:0415

No, just overall for the rest of the items.

1:57:08 – 1:57:2324

If we take them all collectively, then you might have to reconsider if you want to vote the rest of them. She said so if we take them all collectively to postpone them if you want to vote on anything later you have to reconsider that vote on that certain item.

1:57:2415

NO, I DON'T WANT TO VOTE ANYTHING TONIGHT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IF WE POSTPONE EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA THAT'S LEFT, WE HAVE TO DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER TO HEAR IT?

1:57:34 – 1:58:2024

TO HEAR THAT, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT AFTER THE VOTE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF WE POSTPONE 12R, WE CAN GO, NO, IF YOU WANT TO POSTPONE ALL OF THEM, THEN IF YOU WANT TO TAKE SOMETHING TO DISCUSS AFTER THAT VOTE, THEN YOU HAVE TO RECONSIDER THAT PARTICULAR ITEM AS A VOTE, BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING THEM ALL COLLECTIVELY. Tracking. OK so we so I think you know samples 12 hours since you discussed it postponed that first. And then if you want to take anything out of order before we conclude and postpone the rest of them. You should do that before we take a final vote. So much tracking but why do we have to take that second.

1:58:22 – 1:58:3615

SO IF WE VOTE RIGHT NOW TO POSTPONE ALL ITEMS, THEN YOU SO IF WE VOTE RIGHT NOW TO POSTPONE ALL ITEMS, THEN YOU SO IF WE VOTE RIGHT NOW TO POSTPONE ALL ITEMS, THEN YOU SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEETING AFTER POSTPONE ALL ITEMS, THEN YOU SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEETING AFTER POSTPONE ALL ITEMS, THEN YOU SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEETING AFTER THAT. SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEETING AFTER THAT. SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEETING AFTER THAT.

1:58:3624

OKAY. THAT. OKAY. THAT. OKAY. BUT I THINK YOUR STATEMENT OKAY.

1:58:3815

BUT I THINK YOUR STATEMENT OKAY. BUT I THINK YOUR STATEMENT WAS. BUT I THINK YOUR STATEMENT WAS. BUT I THINK YOUR STATEMENT WAS. WE OKAY. NOW WHAT DO WE GOT TO DO?

1:58:46 – 1:58:5824

SO AT THIS POINT IS ANY REMAINING ITEM THAT THE COUNCIL DID NOT TAKE A VOTE THE LAST 15 TO 20 MINUTES, THE MOTION SHOULD BE POSTPONED TO THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.

1:58:5815

YES, THAT'S THE MOTION. ROLL CALL.

1:59:03 – 1:59:2124

COUNCIL BERGMAN. YES. COUNCIL BELOTTA. Yes. Councilor Economo. Yes. Councilor Fezzolo. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councilor Haida. Yes. Councilor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Toomey. Yes. And Vice Chair Councilor King. Yes. City Council is adjourned.

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.