City Council 05/19/2026

Good evening. My name is Khrystian 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 Bautista to my right and if you could read the call-in information before we do the roll call.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the virtual call-in information for the City Council meeting, the link is listed on the agenda. The phone number is 646 828-7666. City Council Access Code is 161-363-1913. We do roll call and pledge. Councillor Bergman? Here. Councillor Bilotta? Here. Councillor Economou? Here. Councillor Fresolo? Here. Councillor Mitra? King. If we could stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched We're so gallantly streaming And the rocket's red glare The bombs bursting in air and many more.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave and the home of the brave.

Okay, we're going to go to approval of the minutes. Item 5A, the City Council of the City of Worcester approves the minutes of the City Council meeting of April 28, 2026. Roll call.

Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, and Vice Chair, Councilor King.

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 Worcester 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. Clerk, if you can share the Zoom information and any related directions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the Zoom phone number is 646-828-766. The link is also listed on the agenda under 6A. And 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.

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.

Yes, Fred Nathan Worcester. Items number 935A and C. A is... Resolution to file and accept and expand the grant in the amount of $4,800,000. 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 Paula 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. A million point six. I don't know what's going on, but I think the taxpayers want to know. Oh, yes. 10.

30 seconds.

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 are they 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.

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.

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 19A. It had gone to committee. There were several of us there that were against the street becoming public. 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 what mine is 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.

Thank you, and 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.

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 7C and 7D. First, speaking about 7D, 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 Boyd Street between Huntington Avenue and Scrimgeour Road. I live on the one 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 Proctor up to Boyd Street. Terrible shape. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up, if you'd like to approach the mics, take your name, city of residence, and the item that you're speaking upon, please.

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

Mr. Clerk, were they distributed?

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 Friday 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, Vehicles 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 Velie Avenue stating that he was going to be trying to work with the city to extend and to extend the period of payments to 35 years potentially. And I would appreciate the city and so on. There was one more issue brought up to me by residents as far as children on the street. Proposed to have a speed bump or two. And also caution, children at play sign. Thank you so much. Appreciate your time.

Thank you. and the Clerk did hand out your testimony to the Councilor Pacillo 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.

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 Council and the Clerk. We did have one more abutter who wished to sign this morning.

Thank you.

So I have spoken with and obtained 11 signatures from residents and or abutters who are against this proposal and this movement going forward. My wife and I 23 years ago bought the house on Villalave 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 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 percent 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.

Thank you very much. If anyone's inclined, if you could please step forward, state your name, city of residence, and the item you came to speak upon. Thank you.

Good Evening. My name is Ferdowsu Mohamud. I live at 15 Vial 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 remain private. My biggest concern is because of our children's safety. who rides 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 Patents because of this change. I respectfully ask asking you to reconsider our consent and keep our street private. Thank you.

Thank you. Next person up, if you'd like to state your name, city of residence, and the matter you wish to speak upon.

Hi, my name is Wilson.

Hello.

From Worcester. And I want to speak on 7-0, speed humps. But what about the potholes?

This is Officer Jack. Suspect spotted. This is Officer Hoff. I'm on the suspect. Officer Jack, look out for the... Oh, oh, oh.

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. Ten seconds.

and so on.

Thank you. The next person would step up if you'd like to state your name, city of residence, the matter that you'd like to speak upon.

I'm speaking on 19A. My name is Peter Stanley. I'm at 22 Darling Street. I'm on a butter to Beale Street or Viley Street, as we call it in our house, Viley. I've been there for 41 years and 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 it's hard for me to say let's, with a broad brush, let's make it public. Excuse me.

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 gonna 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 Galway Apartments. How's it gonna 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 of which there's four acres of woodland there to before we do anything or before we even consider it and then maybe take another another vote.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

please state your name, city of residence, and the matter in which you will speak upon.

Hi, my name is Marco 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 Ely. 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.

Thank you so much. Please state your name, city of residence, and the item you're speaking upon.

John Como 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. So 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, so I can discuss everything later. People do say it is a quiet street, but where the COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE SEMI-PERMANENT TERMINUS IS THE SEMI-PERMANENT TERMINUS IS THE SEMI-PERMANENT TERMINUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND ALL OF THE PROBLEMS END UP IN ALL OF THE PROBLEMS END UP IN 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 a skybridge a couple years ago, we wouldn't be having this problem. Thank you and good night.

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.

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 at 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 berm and recognize this change to therefore avoid confusion with emergency vehicles. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Anyone else? Please state your name, city of residence, and the item you'd like to speak upon, please.

My name is and I'm resident in Worcester. And I'm here for item 19A. Good evening, everyone. And I'm one of the impacted partners. 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 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 assigned to each butter was too high, and we are being asked to absorb all the expenses, and many of us did not and many more. 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 dead end street for over 50 years. That limits traffic, keeps speed low, and creates a safer environment for residents, children, and pedestrians. Converting this route into a public roadway through a, we fundamentally changed that and advised increased traffic and also 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 runway condition issues for this reason I strongly urge you to reconsider moving forward with this conversion. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Does anyone else like to come to the mic and speak on an item? Thank you, sir. Please state your name, city of residence.

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 pave 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 afloat or whatever, I'd stick to it. I just, if you put we're in our shoes living in this situation, having 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.

Thank you very much Anyone else like to speak to anything? Okay, we're gonna move on. Is there any virtual callers, Mr. Clerk?

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. There's nine virtual call-in 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 star nine. Our first calling user is the person with the 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.

How are you doing? Can you hear me?

Yes, we can. Go ahead.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Hello?

Yes, please continue. Please state your name and city of residence.

Are you able to hear me?

Yes.

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. Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Bilotta, Clerk, Economou, Fresolo, King, Manager, Worcester, Councilor

It says the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support State Auditor Diana DiSoclio in her 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 Councilor 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 the 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.

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

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

Yes, hello, are you able to hear me, Nico?

Yes, go ahead.

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. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. or bribes that Manager Bautista is giving to the police. It's understandable that a city that doesn't maintain anything also doesn't maintain its police department, but none of the other departments that actually need it 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 it despite it being one of your responsibilities. As far as Bergman's request for 500 new rapists, racists or apologists, AKA 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 the city manager lies on their behalf and lies about them cooperating with Hunting immigrants and illegal kidnappings of people who haven't done anything wrong. When the city law department protects the police by withholding, illegally withholding records by delaying, denying and charging police records. Illegal Bad Faith Practices.

Thank you.

Who's next? Next caller, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The next call is Louis. I'm going to try to meet the resident now. You please say your name, city of residence, and the item you're calling on.

Hello, my name is Lewis Darden. I'm a Worcester resident. I'm here to speak. 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 it will have an impact on the families struggling already. 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. We are asking that funding for after school and summer programs to be prioritized in the city budget. Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr. Royce, for the next call in use is Marion. Do you want to meet the resident now? Please state your name and city of residence.

Good afternoon our Worcester residents 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 really 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.

Thank you. Next up, Mr. Clerk.

Next speaker is Ruby. I'm turning with the resident now.

Good evening. Can you guys hear me?

Yes.

All right, 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 3 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 healthcare. 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.

Thank you. Next up, Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Vice Chair, the next resident, I'm trying to meet the resident now. Yes, hi.

First and foremost, I want to say please excuse me. I am under the weather right now, but I thought it was really important for me to be here. 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 after school 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. After school and summer programs are not just child care, they are and 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. Acton,

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 the family's income. And I thank you for this time. I appreciate it.

Thank you. Next up, please state your name, city residents.

Next speaker is Juwan, sorry, June. Sorry, go ahead.

Yes, hello, can you hear me?

Yes, go ahead.

Thank you for letting me speak on this. My name is Jun Yan. I'm a resident of Worcester. I'm calling in to speak about item 19A, the conversion of the Vial Avenue from private to public. So 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're 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 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 I mean why suddenly

There is such urgent need to have this large project over this private street, and this street has been safe for many, many years. So one thing I also want to point out is that, I mean, there are some issues.

Two minutes are up, ma'am.

As I heard, hello?

Yes, your two minutes are up, ma'am.

Oh, OK. Thank you.

Thank you. How many more do we have on the line, Mr. Clerk?

Mr. Vice Chair, there's six more call-in users. Okay. Next up. Speakers and Bureau. Try to meet the resident now.

Hello, my name's 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.

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

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

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 or 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 poor family that just moved there less than a year ago. If these people have to up and move, then the city should be on the hook for paying for it. Not the taxpayer, but the people who are making it a public way. So I fully support them.

Thank you. Next up, Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Vice Chair, the next speaker is Duke. I'm gonna try and get the resident now.

please state your name and city of residence.

Hi, my name's. Hi, my name's.

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

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 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, Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The next one is Echo. Chairman Thoreau is in now.

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

Hi, my name is Echo Louissant-Collins. I am a longtime City of Worcester resident, and I'm calling in to speak on two items. First of all, 12 . I would like to thank Rob Bilotta 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 five percent.

Thank you. Next up, Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The next one is call-in user one. Try to meet the resident now.

Please state your name, city of residence, and the item you're speaking upon. Hello, please unmute yourself.

If you're on the phone, if you can press star three. I think, Mr. Vice Chair, there's an audio issue. Maybe we can come back to the calling user after the next.

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

The next calling user is Michael. Try to meet the resident now.

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

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 favor 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've 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 wrong side of the street when you do that. Thank you for listening. Have a great night.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The next one is Georgette. I'm trying to meet the resident now.

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

Good evening, my name is Georgette and I am calling 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 after school and summer programs. It's important to my family and also friends who have kids because, you know, It's a safe, these 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 more funding should go towards making our children safe and even for their development. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. We can try the calling user one more time. Can you press star three if you're on the phone or unmute your device? So at this point, this is our second attempt. Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, we can go back to Eric Stratton. It's our last calling, isn't it?

Yes. please state your name and city of residence.

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 and many other 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. you know quite frankly you know to to the council members you can't have it both ways you know frankly there are have 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 or 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 going to 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 all 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 flows. 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.

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

Thank you.

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

Mr. Royster, there's no one online at this point. The caller that had the call information via phone has disconnected.

Last call for anyone in the gallery. Okay, we're gonna close out the public participation portion of this meeting. We're going to take a couple of items out of order. The intent this evening is that we have a packed agenda on our finance committee with our budget. In addition to that, we've had a number of folks who have called in to testify on 19A. and 12V. So we'd like to take 19A out of order along with 12E. And I'd like to read those before we decide to do that. 19A and 12V. So 19A, I'm sorry, and 12E. E as in Edward, and we'll also take 12V after that. So just give me a second here, 19A.

Sattramitra, on behalf of Janice, and Mark St. Amand requesting Ville Street from north of Darling Street to Lorenz Street and Darling Street east to Pearsav be converted to public roads. recommend adoption of this accompanying order that was adopted out of the Committee on Public Works. Mr. Clerk, what was the vote? Do you have a split vote in that committee? Was that a unanimous vote?

Through the vice chair to the councilor, I believe it was two to one. If I'm not mistaken, Councilor Economou was the chair of the committee, so he can attest to the vote.

So that was a split vote. So we'd like to take that with 12 E. 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 financed with the city during private street conversions to also include a 35-year payment plan option and that's filed by Satya Mitra. So we will ask Councilor Mitra if you'd like to speak first on these. 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.

Councilor Bergman, yes, Councilor Bilotta, yes, Councilor Economou, yes, Councilor Fresolo, yes, Councilor Mitra, yes, Councilor Ojeda, yes, Councilor Rivera, yes, Councilor Rosen, yes, Councilor Toomey, yes, and Vice-Chair Councilor Kerr.

Yes, Satya Michu. Councilor, would you like to speak, followed by, perhaps, we'll see who's followed by. We'll give Councilor Economou and his committee the option to speak after Councilor Mitra if they so choose. If they do not, we'll go to Councilor Bergman. Councilor at large, Mitra.

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 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. The condition, at the same time the safety approach and the 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 and 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 an order and it was voted in to convert it into a public seat 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 call 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 fourteen fifteen thousand dollars. He mentioned that we have a plan that they can pay it either in ten 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 that well to make it even affordable can we make it a little bit longer so that people can find 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. 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 a city council, I think I thought my primary goal is to see everybody who lived there are 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 Councilors 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 would make it easier to make the payment a little longer and a smaller amount. And that's why I put that order, which I would request the council to Considered 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 quicker and listening to so many 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

Economou, 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 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 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's okay with the chairperson, then I would like to send it back and discuss about it further.

Thank you. Is there anyone else on this matter who wants to speak on it? Councilor Fresolo, District 3, member of the Standing Committee on Public Works.

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 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.

Thank you. Councilor Morris-Bergman, At-Large, Representative.

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 it'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 it, 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. Second of all,

My experience in traffic and parking and being a resident of the city is once you make a private street public, 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. I think the argument about safety oftentimes isn't as... 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, Toomey, 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 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 to have the luxury of calling 311 to say they got a pothole back in the street. So if $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, Councilor Fresolo said,

and 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'd 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.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to speak and I appreciate everybody coming down yet again to voice their concerns on the street. As the chairperson of the committee, knowing the areas as well as I do, from my standpoint, it was purely had to do with public safety. Unfortunately, later in that same week, I was on a fire scene and speaking with the chief and just how critical seconds, not even a minute, mattered to public safety. 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 gonna be on fire. Nobody tells you when you're gonna 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. That's where I'm coming from on it. I understand it all. And that's what I have to say, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

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

King.

Thank you, Councilor Toomey. It's a question to the chair as it 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 speak about his public safety concerns. Through the chair of the administration, short of a conversion of this street, are there any other options?

I sense, and from what I hear, from what I sense and what I hear, portions of the street might have different thoughts on the safety parameters and risks. and so on. Is there other options short of a complete conversion that could potentially come into play?

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 streets. Whether there's applicable sidewalks needs, there's catch basins, water sewer infrastructure, et cetera. There's a significant amount of things and design work that has to go and play to make sure that it's a full public street and it also meets the standards. Right now, other than what I have in front of me, I don't have any and 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.

Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Councilor. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Is there work that could be done maintaining the private way that would address the obstructions in the road?

Mr. Manager?

Yeah, through to the council. So 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 they're 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 what the maintenance that we provide as a city is any type of chain maintenance require 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 fee. 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.

Assistant Commissioner Bellows on the phone. If you'd like to.

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

I'm sorry, what was your question?

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.

Assistant Commissioner.

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. 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 if 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 is 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. Speaking to some of the items, if we could do something that's not a full conversion, but also goes ahead and addresses public safety. You know, the big The 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. You know, also having that data in there, you can see kind of creates an area where traffic accidents have happened. It creates snowplow issues, maybe some vagrancy and things like that. 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 cutting through down there. And lastly, if this road is voted for conversion,

How the DPW moves forward with things is it is up to the residents of the roadway if they want sidewalks in their neighborhood or on one or both sides. So if there were sidewalks added to this, that would be and many more. you know potential for vehicle and pedestrian related incidents. There's not really great sidewalk neighborhood or 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, Councilor King.

Thank you, Madam Chair. When you mentioned the addendum as it relates to public safety and the connectivity and the confusion of first responders, Could you just reiterate what a potential resolution to that is short of a complete conversion and your understanding as a public safety aspect of that?

Assistant Commissioner Mello.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Madam Chair.

I'm sorry, madam. I was confused if I was talking through Councilor King or not. Thank you. With respect to the public safety, we could remove the 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, not knowing that there's non-connectivity there. that could present an issue right where you'd have to stop and then go back around even with being off by one number you that would present an issue so removing that tree and then connecting road would be a good way to solve what would be the biggest public safety aspect currently present in the neighborhood?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Excuse me, Councilor. Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to see that option delineated in writing. Econimo, Councilor Frisolo, and Councilor Mitra. I'll have the best interests of our 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 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.

Be careful, Councilor Toomey. Down the stairs, we'll make sure she's okay. Councilor Large, Toomey.

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. I 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 understand their options as will be presented. I think if this goes back for a discussion,

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 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 from 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 the cost of the property owners, et cetera.

There's possibility of some assistance, but I think it requires some further discussion. And 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.

Thank you, Councilor Toomey. Is there anyone else for the first time before we go to Councilor at-large Mitra for a second time? We're going to go to Gary Rosen, Councilor at-large. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just a question maybe of the law department. Okay, can I ask for where she's please directed to her there? Thank you.

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.

Alexandra Calacuna, City Solicitor.

And your position?

City Solicitor, and the Law Department.

Thank you.

Councilor at Large, Rosen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through the Chair to the City Solicitor, who actually owns this street? Madam Solicitor.

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.

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

Each one owns a percentage.

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

Correct.

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

Through the chair, that's correct.

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

Madam Solicitor.

through the chair. 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.

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?

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

Okay, through the Chair, do you know, City Solicitor, do you know if this has ever been tested in court? Madam Solicitor.

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

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. That's never going to happen. 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?

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

And through the chair, are there many of those?

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

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

through the chair of the other so when the map was adopted it's basically any way that was open to two or three more butters sometimes are left off in error sometimes at that time there wasn't development on the street so it wouldn't have been added there's a Councilor Irving.

Councilor Irving. Councilor Irving. Councilor Irving. Councilor Irving. Councilor Irving. Councilor Irving. basically forced 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. I mean, 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 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 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 own the street, here's what you're going to do with your street. It's not ours. It's your street, but here's what you're going to do.

I just don't like that type of process. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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.

Thank you, Madam Solicitor. Was there someone else for a second time? Councilor Mitra?

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 am 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 has a 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 the 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 are all together in it. We are not trying to just push it. We are intelligent. We are deliberative. Time 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 are 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 that if 12 people come and have financial difficulties, that doesn't mean that it's the majority we should vote for because we as leaders should see what is the right thing to do.

Thank you, Councillor.

And that's why I would request that it be sent to the Standing Committee again.

Toomey, just and then I'm going to move the question after that. Just wanted to share for anyone with visual impairments who may be following along online. or maybe sitting in the gallery. So I want to explain the three photos that were shared. There was a photo of large potholes with wide width 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 berm and accumulated sand, gravel, and severe asphalt distress and gutter line indicative of poor drainage. And then the final picture is pavement discontinuity obstructions in row.

Councilor Toomey, for the last comments on this matter.

Thank you. I just want to be clear. I'm not for after having heard everyone. I just want to be clear. I'm not for making the role 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 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.

Economou, and then maybe Councilor Bergman.

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

Go ahead, Councilor Economou.

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.

Bergman, at large, please note I'm allowing you to speak.

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 we do it for none. We've heard that. And lastly, let me say, if this is truly a safety issue and the city felt that way, that they were saving lives and this needs to be done in recognizing that it's financially improbable for people to pay it, City could take the property by eminent domain. I'm not saying they should. They shouldn't. But they could. 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, Nothing is going to change unless we resolve it tonight. Again, it's the will of the council. Both sides have been heard. Everybody's well intended. I just don't think time is going to change anything. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. There's a motion on the floor from Councilor Mitra to refer this accompanying order. Point of order. That, yes.

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?

COUNCIL. COUNCIL. COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TH that would be to adopt which is number nine. Councilor Mitra and Councilor Economou 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 Councilor, the Chair interpreted the motions.

So there's a motion on the floor to refer to committee made by Councilor Mitra. There was a recommendation from the Committee on Public Works TO ADOPT THE ORDER RELATIVE TO TO ADOPT THE ORDER RELATIVE TO TO ADOPT THE ORDER RELATIVE TO STREET CONVERSION. STREET CONVERSION. STREET CONVERSION. WE'RE TAKING THE MOTION FROM WE'RE TAKING THE MOTION FROM WE'RE TAKING THE MOTION FROM COUNCILOR 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. 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.

Okay, I don't want to prolong it, but it's not half the street is for it and half the street is against it. It's a major majority are against it. and we're taking that away from them. And I just feel that's incorrect to do.

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.

Mr. Chairman, clarification. 19A is to recommit it back to the Committee of Public Works. Councilor Bergman?

No.

Councilor Bilotta?

No.

Councilor Economou? Yes. Councilor Fresolo? No. Councilor Mitra? Yes. Councilor Ojeda?

No.

Rivera, yes, Councilor Rosen, no, Councilor Toomey, yes, and Vice Chair, Councilor King, yes. So, Mr. Vice Chair, the motion failed. It was five to five.

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.

Excuse me, one point about to a private street?

No, to a public street. That's correct, sorry, to a public street, yes. Okay, thank you. Roll call.

So this is to accept the committee's recommendation. Council Bergman?

No.

Councilor Bilotta? No. Councilor Economou?

Yes.

Councilor Fresolo? No. Councilor King? No. Councilor Mitra? Rivera? No. Councilor Rosen? No. Councilor Toomey?

No.

So that committee's recommendation has failed.

Motion to reconsider.

So So are we placing the item on file, Mr. Chairman, or you just wrote it down?

Do we need to reconsider it first? I want to make sure we come back. Sure.

Motion to reconsider. Councillor Bergman?

No.

Councillor Bilotta?

No.

Councillor Economou? Frasolo? No. Councilor Mitra? Which motion is this? To reconsider the vote that went down. King. Okay. Councilor Ojeda? No. Councilor Rivera? No. Councilor Rosen? No. Councilor Toomey? No. 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 want to read this correctly which is the obstruction, removal of the obstruction and potential connection of the road as a minimum in the interest of public safety. and how much that may cost. Roll call.

Brueggemann, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Councilor Kerr.

Yes, 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?

Bergman, yes, Councilor Bilotta, yes, Councilor Economou, yes, Councilor King. Yes, meeting is in recess.

All right, we have a couple of items that we have to take tonight for City Council. So we need to reconvene the City Council roll call. Good?

Mr. Chairman I missed what you just said.

We have to reconvene into city council. We have a couple of items that are time sensitive that we have to resolve. Thank you. Dissolve of. So roll call to reconvene city council.

Chairman, roll call to reconvene City Council at 12.06 a.m. Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Bilotta?

I report an order. Do we have to reconvene now that we've since it's gone past midnight?

We probably have to suspend the rules as well.

We'll do that after we go to reconvene.

Yes.

King.

Yes, motion to suspend the rules, roll call. Councilor Bergman?

Yes.

Councilor Bilotta?

Yes.

Economou, Fresolo, Councilor King, Councilor Mitra, Councilor Ojeda, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Rosen, Councilor Toomey,

Yes. We're going to go to petitions. We need to resolve these. Some of these have already been testified to. So we're going to take, can we take these concurrently, 7a, b? Oh, no, we can't. All right, so we'll take 7a. Economou, 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.

Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Bilotta? King.

All right, 7B, refer to Planning Board. Steve Kerrigan, behalf of Edward Newman Kennedy Center, requesting amendment to Article 3 of the Zoning Ordinance Roll Call. Refer to Planning Board.

King.

Yes, 7C to 7K, refer to Public Works Committee, roll call. Councilor Bergman?

Yes. Councilor Bilotta?

Yes.

Councilor Economou. Yes. Councilor Frizzolo. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Yes. Councilor Ojeda. Yes. Councilor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Toomey. Yes. Mayor Petty is not present. And Vice Chair, Councilor Coon.

Yes, 7L through 7Z, referred to traffic and parking, roll call.

King.

Yes, items A to G. Refer to traffic and parking, roll call. Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Bilotta?

Yes. Councilor Economou? Yes. Councilor Rosolo? Yes. Councilor Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Worcester, Councilor Kerr

Yes, appointments, non-city council appointments, informationals, items 9.18 B and C, appointing Christian Gutierrez-Lovate to the Community Preservation Committee. appointing Michael Akene Nwagbo to Constable, appointing Michael Baker to the Historical Commission as an alternate. Motion is to file, roll call.

Councillor Bergman? Yes. Councillor Bilotta? King.

yes 9.2 a through c city council confirmations appointing Carlos Rosende to the planning board as an alternate Appointment of Enzi, Anji, Maharami to the Zoning Board of Appeals and also item 9.2C. If anyone wants to take anything out, let me know. Recommend appointment of Sherry Pitcher, Chair of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. Motion is to approve roll call.

King.

Yes, we're going to go out of order, 9.13a and 9.31a. We're going to postpone those. I don't know if I have to take those out of order. I take that back. 9.4a to send to committee. That item is, where is it? Hey.

What page is that? Page six. RECOMMENDED ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION TO FILE AND ACCEPT and Tadwin funding under the City of Worcester fiscal year 2027 program year. 52 community development block grants, emergency solution grant, a home investment partnership program funded through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

and they'll refer to the Health and Human Services.

Correct, so this needs a Public Health and Human Services. Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Bilotta?

Yes.

Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, King.

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

Certainly, Mr. Chairman, so we started 9.35 through F, and then there's 9.36 through D, which are financial items, operational transfers. 9.37a through c which are prior year transfers and there's a loan order of 9.39a which is regarding accepting 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

Thank you to Amagoucha Restaurant for that donation to Police and Fire for Memorial Day on May 25, 2026. Motion is to adopt, full call.

Bergeman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, King.

Just a little cleanup. I want to move 12E, request city manager, request public works and CFO provide a report feasibility of extending 10 and 20-year payment plan for residents who financed the city during private street conversions to include a 35-year payment plan option. Roll call. IMPROVED.

IMPROVED. IMPROVED. IMPROVED. IMPROVED. IMPROVED. IMPROVED. IMPROVED.

IMPROVED. IMPROVED. IMPROVED. As amended.

Roll call. King.

Thank you. I just want to publicly state the plan was to hold 12R on behalf of the Ward family. We're going to not hold this but simply postpone it along with the rest of the items. on the agenda. Those items, as I understand, will be taken first when we reconvene. I'll let the city clerk explain that momentarily. But 12 hours request that the city clerk conduct a research related to historical commitments made by the Worcester City Council concerning the naming of parks and streets in the city after Aries Ann Ward, a woman born into slavery in North Carolina in 1862. who settled in Worcester where she lived until her passing in 1959 at the age of 97. I just want to publicly state for the family that that's going to be postponed are welcome to call in next meeting. And we're going to move to postpone before we do. Councilor Bergman.

Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. Mayor Weill. prior commitments that were made regarding street naming? Or was that just a word show?

It's all-inclusive.

Okay. And does the Clerk have any information regarding Ms. Ward?

Yeah, we're gonna postpone that till 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. Sorry, on 12R particularly? No, just overall for the rest of the items.

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

No, I don't want to vote on 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?

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. If you 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 at this hour. Okay, so I suggest we take 12 hours since you discussed it. Postpone 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.

Thank you.

So I'm not tracking, but why do we have to take that separate? So if we vote right now to postpone all items, then you should include the meeting after that.

Okay. But I think your statement was... We have to go under, we are under suspension, but if there's anything emergent someone wants to bring forward, we gotta ask that first.

Correct, before you postpone all items.

Okay, so why don't we do that first. Is there any emergency items that folks want to bring forward? Seeing none, okay. Now what do we got to do?

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 to be postponed to the next city council meeting to be the first item of business.

Yes, that's the motion. Roll call.

Bergeman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, and Vice Chair, Councilor King.

Yes, City Council is adjourned.