City Council Meeting 10/20/2026

6th, 8th, 3rd grade and 8th

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Worcester City Council meeting. If you can please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner. I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America, and to the developed world for which it stands one nation under God, free from evil, with liberty

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 were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air They proved through the night that our flag was still there.

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

and everybody remain standing as we honor two people who passed away this past week. Jack Kelly, who was an inspector who was the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, dedicated his life for safety here in the city of Worcester. Was well known, well respected and well liked and also for Michael Earlweal who was the everyday miracles, someone in the most vital sense. He was the truest, in the more vital sense a life line for our city King, and his community wasn't just a talking point. It was his life work and the foundation of everything he built. I know Councilor King has a letter he'd like to read. Councilor king?

Thank you Mr. Chairman. It's an honor to pause to honor the life and legacy of Michael Orello. Lifelong Worcester community member, respected Recovery Advocate, and the Program Director of Everyday Miracles. We know that here in the city of Worcester, Worcesters Foundation is solidified by people like Mike Imperfect, committed, recommitted but solid. And there's nothing you can ask to be remembered for than to remember being a solid man His story of transformation and redemption, an extraordinary power of recovery rings true. Mike grew up in Worcester, having once been involved in the Kilby Street Gang. And he knew firsthand the struggles that many of our city's most vulnerable residents face.

His journey included addiction, incarceration and tremendous personal challenges. But those challenges did not define his future, instead he turned that lived experience into a powerful for his powerful message and commitment, a force for good. Since he began his journey of recovery in December 2011, Mike dedicated his life to helping others find the same hope dignity, and second chances that he found. As program director of Everyday Miracles since 2016, he became a trusted voice in Worcester's recovery community His work extended beyond the center through partnerships with the Worcester Police Department. the Worcester County District Attorney's Office and many community organizations.

And in 2018, he helped advance Worcesters first adult diversion program creating opportunities for individuals to find an established and realize a better future. Most remarkable was his ability to return to the very streets he had once struggled on, not as someone defined by that past but as a leader. an example, a mentor showing what's possible when the community believes in second chances. He understood that recovery is not simply about overcoming addiction It's about rebuilding lives, restoring families, strengthening neighborhoods and giving people a reason to believe in themselves again. Never forgetting where he came from, never stopping to reach back and help someone else find their way His life reminds us that no person should be defined by their worst chapter, and one person's recovery can change the course of countless other lives.

His passing is a tremendous loss to his city, family, friends, colleagues the recovery community and the City of Worcester at large. His legacy lives on in every person he encouraged, life he helped change, individuals who found hope because Michael believed in them. on a behalf of a grateful community, on behalf of Everyday Miracles. It's an honor to share these words in honoring Michael Arello for his service, compassion and belief that recovery is possible. I want to thank the Mayor and the Council for joining in this silence in memory of Mike. Worcester's a better city because of Mike May he rest in peace. He gave back, his legacy won't be forgotten.

So do a moment of silence for both Jack and Mike Thank you. Can we do a roll call?

Brueggemann, Here. Balotta, Here, Economou, Here Fresolo, Here King, Here Mitra, Here Ojeda, Here Rivera, Here Rosen, Here Toomey, Here Petty

Here, we have a proclamation I'd like to read. Dysautonomia is a group of medical conditions that result in malfunction Autonomic Nervous System which is responsible for the automatic bodily functions as respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, temperature control and more. With dysautonomia can be very disabling and result in social isolation, stress on families of those impacted. Financial hardship and difficulty in completing simple daily tasks. As people with dysautonomia can become disabled with no treatment options available to improve their quality of life, productivity, the opportunity to make a living. Since little is understood by the medical field. Whereas some forms of dysautonomia can cause tremendous pain and suffering for those impacted and their loved ones, sometimes resulting in death.

Whereas increased awareness about dysautonomia will help patients get diagnosed and treat earlier, save lives, foster support for individuals and families. Coping with dysautonomia in our community and help promote understanding of this often invisible and misunderstood disability. Whereas dissolve dysautonomia. This to this, awareness campaign advocates on behalf of the patients living with dysautonomy Encouraging communities to celebrate Dysautonomia Awareness Month each October around the world and make visible and celebrated by using the official awareness color of turquoise to represent hope and solidarity. Whereas we seek to recognize the contributions of medical professionals, patients, family members and caregivers who are working to educate our synastry about dysautonomia in Worcester. and now therefore I, Joseph Van Petty Mayor of the City of Worcester proclaim October 2026 as this Autonomia Awareness Month.

Encourage all citizens to participate. and when you recognize, City Hall is lit up in turquoise tonight so if you go outside and take a look. Oh there you are right there. Why don't you come on in and we'll take a group picture. I wanna thank you for putting this together and your dedication to helping people.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I just want to thank the Mayor and the Council, and the City of Worcester for recognizing Dysautonomia Awareness Month. Dysautonomia is not a diagnosis but an umbrella term for an autonomic disorder or dysfunction. Your autonomic nervous system controls Essential Bodily Functions Automatically and Multiple Organ Systems. This awareness is very important as this medical condition is little known, misunderstood and delayed diagnosis. and not many treatment options. So I thank you for the recognition, and as Mayor Petty did mentioned that turquoise is the official awareness color for dysautonomia. So when you leave City Hall tonight, check it out.

It's beautiful. City Hall is illuminated turquois. Dissolve this Autonomia is the awareness campaign. We help to increase awareness, we're also known as abbreviation of words this, the dis. And like we love to say rejoice for turquoise let's increase awareness and on behalf of diagnosed and undiagnosed Dysautonomia warriors past present and future we thank you for this recognition of helping to increase awareness. Thank you

Okay, we're gonna do approval of the minutes of October 6th, 2026. All those in favor? Opposed, so ordered. Public participation. The person may speak for no more than two minutes and am appearing on your agenda, Mr. Clerk.

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

Okay, does your name say your residence and item number?

Yes, Fred Nathan Worcester. Items number nine H and nine I. So it's all about the drones that Amazon wants to have and I'm sure there are people out there who will say, hey if the police can have drones Amazon can have drone but the only one that should be having drones are the police. and other kinds of law enforcement. In fact, I'll go one step better. I see the fire department should have a drone. 10A... The resolution about the cannabis. I mean, you do realize that if you do away with this now

if somebody needs cannabis, that includes the chewables I would think because it's cannabis. It doesn't matter that it's the form I think you'll be opening up P&O's box if they do away with that. And also, on an even smaller matter, if they did away with it Worcester will be begging for money, which we already do now. That will cut down on the billions of dollars that cannabis brings into this state. Vote your conscience, but if you vote for them to do away with that, well it's not gonna be pretty.

It would just mean that the drug dealers will be selling all the cannabis to their people and as for 10B you know if a person is a worker, they're a worker and the city has to do better to make sure that workers have rights.

Okay thank you. Does your name say residence item number?

I'm Abby Mortillero, she her was president for the past five years now. I'll start by 9B Toilet seats are important. And when I go to use a woman's bathroom in Institute Park, I want to have a good toilet seat to sit on. Okay, moving along. 10A you know I think it's good that we have legal marijuana in the state of Massachusetts and I am going to be voting no on eight. And, I encourage everyone watching this in Massachusetts and Worcester to vote no. on eight. And to keep these marijuana dispensaries, these local businesses, keep them open for business. These local businesses' marijuana dispenseries

Good businesses that give people what they want. you know, all right. 10B the working people of Worcester are what makes Worcestern, Worcestershire you know It's the workers. You know, it's the teachers. It's first responders. The road maintenance workers. Construction workers, gardeners. It's the workers and workers have rights. And Worcester is a working class city. It's the working people of Worcestere Who make Worcester better? And I'm gonna go back to 10A, the marijuana. Because I think it's really important that we keep marijuana legal, really.

So please vote no on eight.

Thank you. Did your name and say your residence? Item number?

I'm here with Santos, he's gonna read us comments in Spanish and then I can translate anyway.

Okay, you're going to translate? Okay.

My name is Santos, and for many years I have worked as a cleaning staff for the city of Worcester.

Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Santos, and for many years I have worked as a custodian, nearly a decade here for the City of Worcester at this city hall

Mis compañeros y yo servimos con orgullo a nuestra comunidad garantizando la limpieza e higiene de los edificios municipales.

My coworkers and I proudly serve our community by ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of these municipal buildings.

Por eso las últimas semanas han sido tan dolorosas para nosotros, Hemos pasado de tener un contratista de limpieza que nos trataba con dignidad a uno que hasta ahora se ha negado a mantener nuestro pago y beneficio como siempre.

That is why the last few weeks have been so heartbreaking for us, as we've gone from a cleaning contractor who treated us with dignity to a contractor who has so far refused to maintain our wages and benefits.

Como sabrán, desde el principio de septiembre la empresa Pro City Facility Service se ha hecho cargo de labores de limpieza en varios

As you may know, since the beginning of September Pro City Facility Services has taken over the cleaning work for several of Worcester's municipal buildings.

Desde su llegada hemos perdido nuestra pensión y nuestros beneficios. Nuestra planilla original de 14 personas se ha reducido en dos miembros. Since their arrival, we have lost our pension and benefits, and we are even down two members from our original crew. Que la ciudad de Worcester nos trate de esta manera resulta desmoralizador y es sencillamente inaceptable. To be treated this way by the City of Worcester is demoralizing and unacceptable. Urgimos al Consejo Municipal y ayudarnos garantizar Thank you.

We urge the Council to encourage the City to ensure that Pro-City provides benefits with union standards so we can continue providing for our families. As always, thank you so much.

Thank you. Is there a next speaker or anybody else? What's your name and residence number?

Gary Hunter, District 5. The one thing I would like to mention and I'm glad 10A was put on the agenda. There's no reason to stop in turn back time where the marijuana laws has helped a lot of people that can't get prescriptions or there's certain ailments they have that will make them better by and controlled marijuana use. The quality is upheld if they keep the dispensaries open. The other thing I would like to talk through is basically everything on the agenda We come here every week, you know I'm here every weak. And when I'm finished talking if you notice I stay and I listen to what you have to say. And I hope you'll listen to that I have to

Your City Council is in charge of the city management, basically in the charter now. I think anything that goes wrong is going to be held against the city councilors.

What item are you talking about on agenda?

I think we need some action on this. on this agendas, there's really nothing here. I mean, I know that you have stuff out getting reports on which take forever. There's nothing here on this agenda that's gonna help an average person. Most of these items you could call in and just send them to the different committees. What I'm asking you for is we need some results. Bilotta, you ran on the premise that you said you wanted to get things done.

Gary, there has to be an item on your agenda

I'm talking about the whole agenda where it's missing from the agenda. No, that's not on the agenda Well I'm sorry, I'm taking on this because you guys need when you got elected, you wanted to get things done. And I don't see anything else happening. The vote is eight to three every time we come in here. Nothing is happening. You need to get and get things down. Thank you.

Next speaker? Your name, see your residence and item number.

Yes Mayor Petty members of the council my name is Ryan Dominguez and I am the chair of the stop the repeal campaign also known as question eight and we're pushing for the no side on question 8 So talking on the resolution today, we appreciate you all taking this up and considering passing this resolution that will stop the repeal of our regulated cannabis market. In 2016, voters made a clear choice to replace restrictive policies with a safe regulated cannabis market. In the decade since Massachusetts has built a system that prioritizes public health consumer safety responsible regulation and equitable opportunities. Repealing recreational cannabis laws will take us backwards in many ways, including economically and with respect to the public safety and public health of our communities. Regulation has moved purchasing towards sources that could be tested, traced, inspected, recalled and age gated.

Since legalization, Massachusetts has implemented one of the nation's most robust regulatory systems for cannabis sales ensuring products are tested for safety sold only to adults over the age of 21 and subject to strict oversight. Regulation has given Massachusetts tools to prevent youth use, identify products and sellers, require testing and warnings, monitor harms, recall products, sanction licensees and finance prevention and treatment. Repealing recreational cannabis laws will also negatively impact our communities that are already struggling with budget shortfalls. Since legalization, the cannabis industry has brought in close to two billion dollars in state and local revenue According to the local chamber, since legalization, the city of Worcester has seen a total cannabis excise revenue of $8.54 million with 1.89 million added to the city's budget last year alone. across Worcester County.

Since 2019, municipalities across the county received 22.59 million in cannabis excise including 1.6 for a few of other communities. So we appreciate the support and hope you pass this resolution.

Thank you.

Michael Caine from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce again here tonight to express our full support for voting no on ballot question number eight stopping the repeal Voting no protects the commonwealth's adult cannabis industry from being dismantled by an effort to criminalize personal business sales and homegrown cultivation. Voting No would ensure security for our local cannabis businesses as well of its workforce. Numbers-wise, as was just said by the gentleman, Worcester collected over $8.5 million in local cannabis excise tax between FY20 and FY25. However, banning legal retail does not abolish consumer demand rather it will surrender public commerce to an untaxed illicit market, eliminating consumer protection such as mandatory lab testing and childproof packaging. Overall

The Worcester Chamber stands firm for voting no on question eight and supporting the resolution here tonight. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Petty, members of the council. Thank you for the opportunity to speak in front of you this evening. My name is Alex Mazin and I'm standing here tonight representing myself three different capacities. First, as a kid who grew up in Worcester. I grew up on Tatnick Square. I graduated from Doherty Memorial and my family still lives here today. This is the city where I was raised and I place a call home Second, as a business owner. My company Bud's Goods has a cannabis dispensary at 64 West Boylston Street. This was our first location Today we employ over 120 people across the Commonwealth, of which 25% live and work in the city of Worcester. They pay rent here. They raise their families here, and they spend their paychecks locally because this is a local business. Third as a Massachusetts citizen and a person who wants to see the state continue to prosper

This November, ballot question 8 could end legal adult use sales and if passed would make Massachusetts the first state to go backward. For Worcester, it means 14 dispensaries closed. Another dozen cannabis operations close. More than 350 jobs lost and as people prior to me said millions of dollars of local cannabis tax that would no longer come in and would never be replaced. What Question 8 won't do is make demand disappear, it moves the sales from a licensed store that checks IDs and sells tested labeled products to an unlicensed seller who checks nothing and pays nothing in tax. Question 8 aims to eliminate over 20,000 jobs across the entire state and shut off $350 million dollars in annual tax revenue. Ten years ago, Worcester gave this industry a chance while also becoming home to the Cannabis Control Commission. Because of that, a kid from Worcestere got to come home

build something special for the community and hire local neighbors. Please don't let us go backwards. Thank you.

Good afternoon, everybody. I want to thank Mayor Petty, City Manager and the city councilors here as well. And I am also a business owner here in Worcester, our own Major Bloom and I come with a slightly different perspective. I went to college here, and unfortunately got thrown out of college for cannabis related offenses but through perseverance and working with the city who has embraced the cannabis industry, I stand here Today, with nearly 30 employees and we've been operating for almost five and a half years at this point. and the perspective is that Massachusetts built cannabis on equity, built a cannabis industry on equity. And the framework was to create opportunities in ownership of jobs, grant funding and community reinvestment and like I mentioned, the city has done that job by allowing my company and other equity companies to operate in this space.

as well as the state of Massachusetts. Now I know that the system isn't perfect, equity businesses as well other businesses in the cannabis space face very real barriers especially when it comes to access to capital operating cost and Long Term Sustainability. But the answer is that the imperfection in the system doesn't mean we should go away from it, it means that we should run towards improvement This also is about the people in the businesses who have invested in the city of Worcester and across the Commonwealth. It's about employees, it's about family, vendors, landlord, contractors, community and it's all connected through a legal framework which is the industry itself. For me, it's a lot bigger than cannabis. It's whether we can continue working to find equitable solutions and invest in those solutions as well

We fought to create this legal industry and again, we need to run towards repairing what's broken rather than trying to just walk away from it. So I want to say thank you to the city and for all you guys and your hard work.

Thank you. Is your name C.R. Resnitz?

My name is Peter DiCaro, I'm the founder and CEO of Resonate. I'd like to thank Mayor Petty and members of the council for these few moments to speak regarding this ballot initiative. As my peers have clearly stated, there's an enormous economic impact to what we're about to experience. Billions of tax dollars are at stake for the municipalities here in Massachusetts. Thousands of jobs are, in fact, here at stake if this initiative was to, in My company, we are a medical and an adult use operator here in the cannabis space which to many As this initiative is attempting to repeal adult use of recreational cannabis and attempting to push medical, you may assume that this would be advantageous to us as a business when in fact it isn't.

Despite the loss of jobs as well as the loss tax revenue, the improvements to municipalities what this also does for the community is it imposes a barrier onto our consumers here in the Commonwealth. it prevents or makes more difficult access to cannabis. And while many may view this as simply a recreational you know, item that one will consume to feel better. Most of the people that frequent our dispensaries are in fact there to treat all types of conditions whether or not they have a medical card or not We deal with people every day that come in who are ridden with anxiety and dealing with all types of issues that are seeking an alternative way to treat their pain or other symptoms. I am a cancer survivor.

I witnessed firsthand the impact of pain as the fifth vital sign and the impact to pharmaceutical drugs and what it would do to us as individuals. The cannabis industry despite its issues, has flourished and I urge you to continue your support to oppose this ballot initiative. Thank you.

She names the residents. Item number?

Idella Hazard, City of Worcester. I don't believe this city should be urging any residents how to vote one way or the other. Question eight will be on the ballots and it should be up to the residents of this city to choose themselves how they wanna vote, period. It makes me irate. Each person, one person, 1 vote. You should be ashamed of yourselves Now I would like to move on to 9F. For, I'm tired of seeing different streets wanting

them to be patrolled for speeding. it should be citywide while a patrolman or patrolwoman is out on their job and if they see someone speeding, pull them over. We have the same problem in all of our neighborhoods. That's 9F, thank you. Traffic signs, I think that's fantastic. That if they see signs down, write it down and replace them. If they see potholes, write them down and fill them up. Thank you.

Okay, we're gonna go online. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First calling user is David Webb, trying to meet the resident now.

I love the enthusiasm. Can you guys hear me clearly this time?

Yes.

Cool. 9HI, David Webb, Worcester, unfortunately. 9HI, Drones, good petitions, Rosen. You guys technically can control land use? but you have zero say over aerospace and I'm looking forward to Amazon making that clear to everyone. 10A, Petty supporting maintaining pot legalization. Smart move. I don't know how anyone could handle Worcester sober. We all know you guys have your vices so don't take away ours Kate. 10B, Workers' Rights Yes please, thank you Councilor King. Everyone should be behind this item and it will be a reflection of your morals if you cannot support solidarity with the workers 14F. The Department of Justice's findings differing from the account of the municipality and its departments I think that's an issue from the top down. You can see the regular frequent lies from the city manager's office and issues in the police department, but the key log to this is the law department

The reason this discrepancy between independent departments and the public exists is because the city operates to unlawfully withhold records in defiance of the Freedom of Information Act and Massachusetts Public Records Law. The city doesn't have an attorney right now because of practices like that. The last one only lasted a year under the Batista Calcunas administration, And the pay for this position, someone wants to be the attorney for the city of Worcester. You want to advise the departments and write ordinances for the City of Woricester? Qualifies you for a two-bedroom at Graper Valley! So the city has kind of backed itself into a corner where people won't work for you because not only is pay not worth it, they're putting their license to practice law at risk. So maybe it's time the city started actually doing things right instead of recovering up for itself. Just a thought.

Okay, we're gonna go to petitions first and then we'll go to the resolutions because people are here for their resolutions. If you're here for a petition can you raise your hand? What number is yours? Who's that? Okay, we'll get to that in a minute. So 7A, motions sent for the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery. All those in favor? Opposed? So ordered. 7B and D, refer to Public Works Committee. All of those in favorite? Oppose? So order. 7E to 7U, and we have a gentleman for Dominic. And if you wanna come up and speak on those? Seven IJ in K. Inquest installation of a flashing pedestrian crosswalk signage and existing crosswalks located at Cambridge, South Crystal, and St. George Road and also signs of existing crosswalks at Cambridge Street, Canterbury Street in Fremont.

And also traffic study to be conducted on Cambridge Street and Fremant Street.

Thank you. Yes, I'm the Councilor on Fremont Street right of course from where Canterbury and Cambridge meet in South Crystal and a block away Actually, Fremont Street because my address is Fremant but it's on St. Johns Road The traffic at Cambridge, you probably know it's pretty bad. People speed to school bus stops actually on South Crystal and Cambridge and the next block up across from Fremont Street. I have a prosthetic leg, a brace on my other leg. These are my props. I walk with these. Some pretty well should be visible when I walk. but yet cars still don't stop. Those intersections like at Richards, the intersection at Canterbury is very wide it takes me

and they I counted 100 steps across Richard 50 at least 50 steps to cross Canterbury. And that it needs more people need to see better. It's coming back from the walk over to the farmers market on at University Park the other Saturday. And I was starting a course at the intersection of Canterbury and Fremont and somebody's star is half way, well not quite halfway about a third of the way across. The car stops like it was supposed to All of a sudden, he blares the horn. Somebody's zooming around him. It's so wide there. Somebody is zooming around and I think it was Beeping both on him to stop and to warn me that somebody was going around him on the right because he had stopped so I could walk in a crosswalk. So I think it needs more visibility. Once it gets in the 20s, I don't wear shorts anymore.

and when I do have shorts on, people can see my leg. People do stop more frequently than when I wear very long pants and they don't see the leg or the brace. So I think we need to yield, and while you're over there if Public Works is over there with traffic Look at the sidewalks, please, on Richard and Phelan and St. John's. You can never get a motorcycle or use a wheelchair along those sidewalks let alone somebody with a stroller somebody's pushing the cart, a visibility impaired person. You couldn't do it. It's impossible. They're in such bad shape so you know that's not on my petition but I think something should be looked at and hopefully a traffic circle because it's such a ride Section, and you only have two lanes after that.

And I also have an adaptive electric tricycle that was made for me and will never ever ride on Cambridge Street. Thank you.

Thank you. So we'll take 7E to 7U, Referred Traffic and Parking. All those in favor or opposed award. Councilor Ojeda?

Can I just speak to that real quick? Sure. Do you mind? First of all, Dominic thank you so much for putting this on. I just want to let you know there's something that we've been working on with DTM to identify some of those issues and I agree with you visibility is an issue the intersections there's those two intersections with Fremont Cambridge and Canterbury, and then the one up the street with Freeland as well. I know they put The beacon flashing lights up the top of the hill, up on Cambridge. So this just so you know I want to make sure you know and we'll reach out to you and probably send you some of the information that should be coming out soon on some of stuff what we're doing in that area. Just to give your heads up okay?

Thank you. Okay, seven, Councilor King?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not privy to all the work that's being done with DTM and Councilor Ojeda but I am extremely familiar with this area. Travel it almost every morning for the past few years that being said I just would like to perhaps make a motion that we've been talking about the pedestrian hybrid Beacons, at different locations. And so at the location of Fremont, Canterbury and Cambridge I know there's a request here regarding I think Rotaries or something but It seems to me that this may be a good location, and perhaps Councilor Ojeda and DTM are already working on this. But I would like to make a motion that pedestrian hybrid beacon system be ruled out at the location of 7K.

I'd like to see it ruled out as an option, thank you Mr. Chairman if appropriate so I'm looking for it but I'm not asking the administration to say it's appropriate I like for them to say it's not. I'd like to see the data and the information in that location, thank you.

Councilor Kings report all those in favor? Opposed so ordered 7V-7X study hearing from November 10th 2026 for a condo location at Cumberma, Main Street and Newberry Streets. All those in favor or opposed so ordered. Seven Y refer to the city manager. All of those in favour post so order. and Mayor. 8A to 8E, Chairman's orders, motions to adopt. Those in favor are opposed so ordered. We go to resolutions since both resolutions we have people here. 10-8 at the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby go on record in opposition to statewide ballot. Question 8, an urgent residence of Worchester and Carmel for Massachusetts to vote no on question 8 November 3rd 2026 by myself Rivera and Bilotta and that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby affirm its support for Worcestershire rights and stands in solidarity with working people in Worceston and beyond, Councilor King.

So we'll begin this section with Mayor Petty, followed by District One City Councilor Tony Economou.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and as to why I thought this was a point it reinforces what Councilor Rosen put on back in April and this is important from really from a public safety standpoint for economic development standpoint. And this is what we're all talking about every day when we come into these chambers or in our committees, and it's only been a decade ago where the voters made a deliberate choice to take Canvas out of the shadows in place of an unregulated illicit market with strict, accountable and aggregated system. Question eight would wipe all this entire framework away. recolonize local businesses and healing the market, along with all of its profits right back to unlicensed street dealers. From a public safety and public health perspective going backwards makes absolutely no sense Right now, licensed Massachusetts retailers must check IDs not once but twice under video surveillance before a single sale is even made.

In fact, since regulation took effect youth cannabis use among Massachusetts high school students have fallen 57%. keeping the system regulated because our police departments focus on resources where they truly belong, investigating violent crime, seizing illegal firearms and fighting a deadly fentanyl crisis. Economically, this deal as has been mentioned would really put a blow to a lot of local budgets throughout the state. Massachusetts Campus Karma supports approximately 27,000 local jobs. I just can't believe how this has grown in the 10 years since it's been passed and nearly 700 licensed businesses which i think was mentioned 16 in the city of Worcester is generating nearly $2 billion in revenue, including tens of millions sent directly back to cities and towns to support our infrastructure and police and fire. Crucially it provides only 44% of the state's primary budget for substance addiction treatment and recovery.

Voting on those is not about promoting cannabis. It's about demanding accountability, keeping products tested, protecting people and preserving vital public safety funding our neighborhoods. So let's not surrender control back to the listed market and just ask people to vote no on question eight, to keep cannabis safe, tested, and regulated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We're going to go to Tony Economou District 1 followed by Morris Bergman, Councilor at Large. Councilor Economou, you have the floor.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. So first of all, I want to start off by saying I agree wholeheartedly. The vote no, the jobs, the revenue, the help that it's given people in general What I don't agree with is that this body should be telling people how to vote on something. you're bringing forward. I agree with the resolution, but I just don't feel that this body should be the body to tell people what to do and how to vote. So based on that my vote will be to abstain.

Bergman.

Yes, I'm pretty much mirror the words of Councilor Economou. I don't think it's warranted to ask number of residents, the City of Worcester are going to vote on this. that they need or even want to hear our opinions on this. They are interested in my opinion, I'm happy to share it by text email or phone but I also think The message that might get sent here today is because 11 of us or some combination of the 11 support or don't support the resolution, that the residents of City of Worcester should follow our lead. We have bright intelligent independent voters are going to decide for themselves whether or not they are, are not gonna vote for this item. I will also say when I look at some of the other items that are ballot questions.

You can make a great case for the ballot question involving primaries and having the top two winners regardless of which party they're in, of same-day registration. I mean, there's a lot of very important questions that if we're going to say this question should be resolved so that the voters know where we stand. We can make the same case for probably half of the nine questions before the voters. I just think picking and choosing any particular one is not right, and I'm going to abstain from that reason, I would like to think the voters of Worcester are not waiting for what the Worcestershire City Council is going to do on this resolution in order for them to decide which way to vote on this. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank, thank you Councillor King

Thank you Mr. Chairman, I'm just gonna refer to some of my notes here I stand in support of the mayor's leadership on this issue. This has been a common practice for us here, for the public at City Council the entire time of my tenure on the council. that we take positions on state matters as a collective body in representation moving forward. That being said, I wanted to state a few things. One is that this comes down to three things for me. Public safety, local businesses and resources that our community depends on that's what it comes down to. Public safety, where we end up with is oversight

We end up with regulation, age restrictions, product testing. And that's important It gives us tools to address any concerns as it relates to marijuana use. We know that there's concerns about youth access, concerns about impaired driving. The current system allows us to address those concerns. We should be asking how to strengthen those protections, not to remove framework that's providing said protections Let's talk about our local economy. I want to say, I appreciate the Chamber's position on this. It's happy to see them on the right side of something that I'm in support of in this city and it's economic.

Worcester businesses, we've heard about the employees. We have a couple of business owners here that I'm familiar with who are stand-up people and stand up businesses giving local folks an opportunity to work they're trying to build something in our community. They're invested in our Community and we've heard about the budget implications already from the Mayor that I'm not going to restate, however just stating that a repeal would reduce state and municipal revenue. That's not telling folks how to vote, that's outlining basic facts Our city is growing and trying to meet needs and deliver services throughout the city. And as mentioned, mental health challenges Anxiety, depression, sleeping. All sorts of treatment related options as well and we heard a little bit today about the equity issue

and how difficult it is for equity, cannabis dispensaries and the like to get up and get going and to get the appropriate fiscal investment. We know that when it comes to criminal justice reform, when it come to talking about restorative justice, expungement of records. All that comes into play in reality because of the legalization. And I'm very happy to know that our state delegation has been in lockstep with this, Mr. Chairman, we know that historically there's been a disproportionate impact of marijuana enforcement upon the black and brown communities, and we have to take that seriously. there's nothing wrong with educating the public about that.

As city councilors, we have a responsibility to look beyond wording on the ballot and consider those consequences for the folks that we serve. For those reasons I certainly say, I really want people to think and I encourage folks to think very strongly about this vote. This isn't a vote about morality. I don't use marijuana, never have. Not interested. This is about doing the right thing for a pool of people. This about equity, justice, accountability, public health and economic opportunity Mr Chairman. and again, I urge folks to take a real close look at this. I'll be voting yes.

Thank you. We have Councilor Fezzola?

Through you Mr. Chairman, I am in agreement with my two fellow councillors Economou and Bergman and I won't be repetitive on that front but I just add that I asked the residents of Worcester when I ran for office nine times, for them to consider Me to be their voice in government, and that's where I'll leave it. I'll lead up to their good judgment. So that's all I wanted to say Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.

Councilor Mitra?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairman, I understand the resolution. I was in the planning board when this industry moved into our city in 2017-2019 and wholeheartedly voted for them to come and do their business here for many different reasons. For economic reasons, for employment workforce, and also for helping the need of the health So I certainly think that it's a good industry to have in our city. but at the same time I think when it comes to advising people, educating people many things are good to advise and educate I have a little difficulty in saying that, I want you to vote for this and that's probably not the job of this council to address to anyone that please vote for it because it does this.

Our residents are pretty intelligent, pretty sharp. They can do the research they can find out the benefits of it pros and cons and others. I would certainly like them to use their own do their own votes the way they think what is right for this city, what's right for them, right for the residents. and I would not like to propose to them what they need to do. So as many of my colleagues have responded, I would also like to abstain. Thank you.

Council Rosen?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and thank you Mayor Petty for putting this resolution on tonight's agenda And yes it is It is our right Our responsibility to let the public here in the city of Worcester know when harm might be done to some of our businesses, when harm may be done when harm might be done to the revenue raising ability of this city. It is our job to speak up, that's why we're here! That's why were elected! to speak up and not be afraid. Some people think this, some people think that. That's not the way you should be. and I can't be that way. I can not be less than I am, I have to speak out on what I believe so I support this resolution and I did back in April went on a nine to nothing vote on my resolution back in april

that the City Council of the city of Worcester does hereby go on record in opposition to the November Massachusetts ballot question which seeks to roll back marijuana legalization in the Commonwealth. We've already voted it, actually. Nine to nothing. I don't know about the other two votes. I guess they were probably abstentions. Doesn't show that here but I know it was a nine to nothing vote. So we're talking about safety. There's one group in Massachusetts. There's one group here in the city of Worcester that is in favor, I'm opposed to ballot questionnaire, but there's a favorite and that's the people who are in the business of illicit drug sales here in the city of Worcester. They want this ballot question to pass so they can do their business. They don't care about the safety that we have, all the checks and balances that we now with these 14-15 marijuana businesses here in the city

they don't care about that. They don't about licenses are checked and there's so many other safety issues there that are enforced, and that there's a product that is of quality and that is safe they don't care about the 15 businesses, they would like to see them all go out. They would like us to tell the voters in the city of Worcester vote yes on this No, I'm gonna speak up and I'm speaking up right now to anyone watching this meeting. As a Worcester City Councilor, I won't be ashamed as someone from the audience said tonight, ashamed to speak up and to support your resolution Mayor Petty as I wasn't ashamed to support my own resolution back in April. We must speak up, we should speak up. And tonight all 11 of us should be saying, we don't want these businesses to close. We don't what these employees to lose their jobs

We don't want to lose the revenue that's been pouring into the city for the last several years. And we don't what the safety aspects to disappear We don't want to turn the marijuana business over to the people in the streets and the shadows who run their business very illicit business and they don't give a damn about the people in the city of Worcester, even the ones they sell the product to. So I hope my colleagues, who I do respect their opinions but I'm telling them tonight they're wrong. They're wrong for abstaining on this. It's time to speak up let the people of Worcester know what we think that we want to preserve and save these businesses and we don't want to go backwards. Let's not go backwards, let's have the courage of our convictions and let's speak up. Abstentions are not very courageous speaking up telling people how you think.

And someone said, one of the councilors said tonight we have very smart voters in this city. Okay they're gonna listen to us if they disagree with us then they won't vote no on this issue. We're not making anyone vote no. We're just saying we believe that these businesses should be allowed to stay here in the city of Worcester. We need them, the employees need them and the customers need them. Thank you Mr Chairman.

We have Councilor Rivera.

Well, how do I go after that? I guess Councilor Rosen stole my thunder. But pretty much, I don't think this is a resolution which I support. Thank you Mayor Petty. This resolution is not to tell the voters how to vote at all. I think it's important to have the conversations like other councils mentioned. Voters are very smart, there's a lot of research going on but I think its important that people understand There's a lot of safety, a lot business this provides. To me it's almost like I don't even know why it's on the ballot. I don' t know how it got here. I just know it's a no-brainer. I just think that voting on 8 is a smart path for not only the city of Winston, but the state of Massachusetts In general, it's like do we want people back into the streets? We don't want that. I think we're moving in a right direction. Why mess with that?

Thank you Mayor Petty and again I agree with my Councilor Rosen.

Thank you. Councilor Bilotta?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In agreement with Councilor Rivera and my other colleagues that are gonna be voting yes to this I think Again, this isn't the City Council telling people of Worcester how to vote. This is us just using our platform as politicians to urge them to vote in a particular way on a matter that we are supportive of. We do that all the time, whether it's local issues or state issues. We're constantly engaging with residents and encouraging them or educating them about different initiatives. And I don't think doing that is a problem. Politician, Elected Official. I've seen the last few months elected leaders from across the state taking stances on all different types of questions so i don't have an issue with that and absolutely understand that Worcester residents are you know absolutely capable and so on. So I think it's a good thing that they're making their own decisions, but I do think it doesn't make sense to go backwards with this policy. It'll hurt a lot of local businesses. And I think

Thank you. Councilor Bergman for a second time? I'm sorry, Councilor Toomey, not being heard.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I had previously abstained and I'm going to abstain again But I am going to say that I personally am probably going to vote no when I go to the ballot. I think the most important thing and I have my own personal reasons why I was concerned about this but i do believe that it's very hard to go backwards uh and I do believe there are some serious issues regarding this I do know that I have some concerns about youth. that still seem to have access to a lot of marijuana products, but I will personally

vote against it at the ballot, but I'm abstaining here on telling people what to do. Thank you I think it's better that we inform people about the issues, informing them versus saying vote this way. Giving them the information on how to vote, I think is a very different thing.

Brueggemann for a second time.

Yeah, I'll be really quick Mr. Chairman. When I read this and I always try to be careful how I read items It says that we're urging the residents of Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to vote no. So it goes back to what I said earlier, but I also think it needs to be emphasized because I think some of the speakers that are supporting the resolution seem to have missed the mark, at least when it comes to why are going to abstain. I think why some of my colleagues are, too. I don't want to be telling the residents of Worcester how to vote on this item. That doesn't necessarily mean I'm gonna vote the opposite way. I dunno know why it's assumed that we're gonna vote That's up to us personally. And I said, I would answer much like Councilor Toomey just did by phone text or email anybody that contacts me on which way I'm going to vote but To assume that we're going to vote one way or the other just because you don't want to support a resolution that tells the voters of the city of Worcester how to vote, I think is unfair. Plus, I'll also say this,

There may be others on this council that feel similarly, and I respect that. But I don't believe anybody has taken any more garbage, crap, whatever word you want to use than I have for being the lone vote on many votes So when I hear the word courage, it really bothers me. It really bothers...I don't lack courage. The easy part is to take a vote that everybody in the room applauds. The hard part is taking a vote in the Complaints about and criticizes you for. This isn't a vote for against question eight, this is a vote in favor of the voters deciding on their own. That's all it is. Read the order, read the resolution and that's all I'm saying is, I'm not telling the voters in the City of Worcester how to vote any of the nine questions including question number eight.

Councilor Economou?

Thank you Mr. Chairman Again, I'm gonna be very clear on where I stand on this. I support the initiative that's going on. I appreciate the revenue that it brings in, the jobs that it produces everything that you had stated Mr. Mayor I do not appreciate the twisting of the words by some of my colleagues and again for me it's a philosophical I just don't feel that this body should be telling people how to vote. They know what they got to do and they're going to do it so i just want to make that as clear as possible Somebody wants to ask me the question, they can roll the tape. They can watch the tape from the beginning. It says exactly where I stand on this. If they have any questions, they're more than welcome to call me and ask me any question they'd like. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Councilor Mitra?

Thank you Mr. Chair, I also agree with Councilor Moe and Councilor Economou Every one of us have the right to make a judgment. We make the judgment what our conscience tells us, It doesn't mean that we are not courageous or coward about saying things. I don't think that issue comes into the picture at all, Everybody is voting or saying things, what they think is right in their heart. And that's what we are doing. There's no reason to analyze what We are. Because we think what we're saying is it clearly says here in the resolution that Ballot Question 8 and urges the residents of the Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to vote no on question eight. We are saying that you don't vote, vote no. I mean it's very clear.

I think some of you are interpreting it as not saying don't or vote no It's just saying that we're just urging you to consider all these things. No, that's not the write-up it has. It just says very clearly, we urge you to vote no. And I, as a councilor think that we don't have the right to ask anyone. Just like I don't want anybody to tell me whether I should vote. Who should I vote for? Who should they vote yes or no? At the same time, I'm open for any residents to call me if they want to know my opinion, if they don't want to more details. But I'll still tell them that yes, you can get everything from me but I'm still not going to tell you what you should do. Think about what I said and you vote what you think is right because that's your right. That's your judgment and that's the decision you make So I think people should interpret the right of the resolution properly. I don't think we are interpreting it properly.

Clearly says do not vote, thank you.

So we can do a roll call? Councilor King?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was proud back to, I think when we were meeting beginning at 7 o'clock back in the day for final resolution and support of legalizing Marijuana. That was quite some time ago and you know while I understand some sensitivity to the word courage, so I'm gonna use the word discourage It's discouraging that we're not able, and we're going to be able to get a broader participation on this item Mr. Chairman the reason why is we've talked about going back heard folks get up and talk about they don't want to tell people how to vote but we are also telling them, we are telling them the impact on this city. We're telling them about disproportionate sentencing, disproportion application of the law.

the social and community repair that's going on because of this. We're talking about increased health risks you know and it's definitely a duty to stand up on behalf as elected officials, on behalf of our residents and say hey this is the impact. We as a council do not support this particular ballot question. And I want to be clear, just for clarification, I'm voting yes on the resolution because of exactly that. Mr. Chairman, there's some trickery going on with this particular item. There's a lot of funding behind it for various reasons that I won't get into at this time But again, my yes vote is not on the question. It's on the resolution I want to be clear that there's no misunderstanding of that.

And I'm not quite sure how it is that we're in this place. In the past, we'd have maybe one abstention regarding this particular issue. And I would just ask, remind folks the impact on all the different domains of this city have been clearly outlined and I look forward to moving the question you know in sort of the dance that we see happening about what I'd vote for personally versus what I'm going to use my elected position to advocate for him upon the whole of Worcester should be paid attention. So thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Councilor Toomey?

Mr. Chairman, would you be interested in instead of having this to be a vast no telling people what to vote doing an informational piece on why one should and the pros and cons. I think that informing people does as much good as anybody else, as anything else. And I think that way we're not forcing it down people's, we're giving them the information they need to be able to make their own decision. and for a lot of the many reasons that we all spoke about here so again like I said as much as I have gone back and forth, I personally am going to vote against that

as well, but I think it would be helpful, much more helpful for people if we list all of the positives of voting against it. Thank you.

Separate motion probably? Yeah. Okay, we'll do the resolution first just to let you know that the reason I put it on is because it has a direct impact on people in Worcester whether it be jobs or money coming to Worcestershire but okay roll call.

Brueggemann? Abstain. Councilor Bilotta? Yes. Council Economou? Abstaint. Council Rosolo? Abstained. Council King? Yes Council Mitra?

Abstent.

Council Ojeda? Yes Rivera, yes. Council Rosen? Yes. Council Toomey? Abstain. Mayor Petty? Yes any outcome of that vote? Mr. Mayor there's six yes, Councilor Bilotta, Council King, Council Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen and Mayor Petty and there's five abstained So that is passed for resolution

Yeah. Well, it's nice to get a clap once in awhile. Okay we're gonna go back to the Councilor Toomey's order if you can put some information on that. All those in favor oppose so order. Okay. Auditors, 9A. Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Council King's resolution. Councilor King? Hang on. City councilor C. Whistler is hereby affirming support for workers' rights and stands in solidarity with working people in Worcester and beyond.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. As a council, I think that every so often it's important to stand up for workers' rights. For folks who work in the city who come into our city. And this item is especially important as it relates to the folks that came and testified today, folks who are providing janitorial services here in City Hall, or providing services over at the library and beyond. and the one thing that this will do as well, if you look at the actual item which is a little bit broader than what I'm speaking about. It'll allow for the city to always be thoughtful, to always try to ensure to the best of their ability that when we're dealing with

folks that we're contracting with, when we're dealing with requests for proposals and the like. That we figure out a way that we can ensure that there's fair wages, benefits and a strong workplace protection. Why? Mr. Chairman, we know we have issues of affordability prior to this administration. We had issues across the board of retention. We've seen some improvement in some of those areas under this administration So we want folks to consider labor rights. We want them to consider contractors, and ask the city manager to recognize and make sure that there's bargaining in good faith with workers unions such as SEIU 32BJ.

and in short all workers have a safe working conditions, fair wages adequate benefits Mr. Chairman I will also say Mr. chairman that Every city job is valued. We have budgetary constraints, but when you have folks who as testified been working here for 10 years and their bottom line they're you know Compensation, not just in terms of salary but also in terms and so on. And I think the fact that it's less than it once was during these times is something we should take note of, Mr. Chairman. move forward on this particular resolution. That simply says that the City Council of the city of Worcester does hereby affirm support

for workers' rights and stands in solidarity with working people in Worcester and beyond. Mr. Chairman, very clear, very short, very succinct. Thank you.

Anybody else do a roll call? Roll call.

Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, and Petty.

Yes, we are on 9A. Request CMAs, request the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, Cemetery review and repair the driveway at the basketball courts on Corbin Ave, Councilor Bilotta.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Some residents had reached out and live in that neighborhood as well. The driveway is pretty washed out just from rain over the years So obviously probably won't be able to get to it this year, but just hoping this could be put on parks radar for next season. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll send that to the City Manager. All those in favor, a postal audit. B, request the manager identify funding to ensure toilet seats are installed on the toilets and the new bathrooms at Institute Park

Rosen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I think it even takes courage to sit on these toilets at Institute Park. For years we had these metal almost penitentiary like toilets in these new bathrooms, fairly new bathrooms. I knew maybe 10 years whatever it's been but in these bathrooms, penitentiary-like toilets metal that over the years got rusty, looked awful. So many of us advocated for new toilets in the two bathrooms men and women's bathrooms at Institute Park there is a lot of activity over there students from WPI use it I've been fortunate the last many years. I've master of ceremonies during the two summer concerts Independence Day concert, Disney Concert put on by the Mass Symphony Orchestra. And I talked to a lot of people in the audience at intermission and before and after the concerts and people really did notice the changes when we removed

the rusty metal toilets and urinals in the men's room. We removed those, and we put in brand new nice white porcelain toilets Many of us had been asking for new toilets for years. We just forgot to ask for toilet seats. We only asked for toilet, we assumed they would come with seats and they didn't. And I heard from a lot of people during the summer How can we sit on these? I don't know. Do we have any pictures? I thought I might've submitted pictures, do we have those online? Do we the before and after? Before wasn't too good, they were rusty metal. Do you have those?

if you'd like I can share them. Yeah, or can you put them on the screen?

Yeah, I don't know. It's a toilet. We talked about them last week. We need them all across the city. Maybe we could use these six. Okay that's the newest one. That's a great toilet. Where are we going? Right there, hold it right there. That's a great toilet except it needs a toilet seat. Okay, we should have a toilet set that's all I'm saying people say well why you're putting on the agenda because I couldn't get toilet seats any other way so I put it on the In the women's room, they look just like that. The girls, they're not going to sit on that. That's one of the other ones, the metal ones. It doesn't show the rust. That might be an original picture. Doesn't show all the rust that we had So, I'm gonna just ask the manager, because I know on the new toilet seats, the one you showed in the previous picture they don't make seats for that model. They don't them, that's why there are no seats. We ordered toilets

you can't have a seat. I don't know why we did that, but Mr. Manager is there any way through the chair, is there anyway we can get some toilets with toilet seats at Institute Park because there's a lot of activities going on their concerts and festivals three or four festivals other activities it's something that we need and I'm not embarrassed to bring it up. I hope we can get some good news soon about Institute Park in the bathrooms there, thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Manager?

to the council. So the Parks Department, part of their review and analyzing kind of what the toilet seats are in the market and what availability for the purposes of addressing maintenance issues in our bathrooms, especially in our toilets. they identified a toilet that actually now, they're building these toilets where it's low maintenance and they don't... They design them in a way that you don't need a toilet seat. and because there are behaviors of people where they slam the toilet seats, they kick them, they use their feet cause they don't wanna touch it with their hands et cetera. And so the industry is designing new toilet seats on new toilets that do not require or do not come with toilet seats. So this is an area where we were trying that, we've heard from residents, I've heard form the council and so we're working on finding ways to

to replace these toilets in that area because we've heard from the feedback from residents and the users that they don't like them. And so we're going to find ways, and we're working actively right now with the commissioner, to replace these and put different toilets that will have toilet seats, understanding and knowing that there will be like any other toilets that we've had. We'll have challenges with maintenance but again this is a model that in the industry they're looking into their exploring and we wanted to explore that and Presented, but we will be replacing those.

Through the Chair to the City Manager, Mr. Manager I'm a lot older than you and over the years I've seen a lot more public toilets than you obviously because of my age, certainly. I've never seen a toilet anywhere. Now that might be the coming thing but I have never seen without a toilet seat and I don't think we should expect, especially the women and the girls who go to Institute Park for the functions that we have there to sit on a non-hygienic toilet missing a toilet seat. So I'm glad you're saying that there's a good chance that we'll probably replace those. I certainly appreciate that and I know all the folks who use Institute Park for various functions, you know, use the bathrooms, use City, the toilets will be happy to see that we have a toilet with a seat as we should have. Thank you Mr. Manager.

Mr. manager?

I know that we have an age difference. We've also never seen drones, and we're about to potentially see drones So there's always a new age for different technologies and different ways to do things. But we will be replacing them, thank you.

Okay. Congressman, what reason do you rise?

Point of clarification Mr. Chairman and I'm in opposition at this time perhaps as we go through this process my and so forth. I think my comments will change, my position will change. Mr. Chairman, certainly on the face of this and other parks that need bathrooms as well. And so, that's my initial thought in opposition to this. What I will say is that My daughter plays at multiple fields, multiple sports. Crompton Park, Greenwood Park, O'Connell Field. None of those locations have at this time a facility that can be accessed. We just played Friday night in Worcester flag football Kickball goes on over there. Whole host of folks, nowhere to go and folks are actually children.

Some adults are up on the hill leaving themselves around trees And these are not the unsheltered. These are our residents, our youth and our families and some seniors, Mr. Chairman. So through chair to administration just wondering is there a plan in moving forward for making sure that our parks have accessible Public Bathrooms. Now we have some that are managed by whatever particular league is playing at that park, but they're closed the majority of the time We know in the summertime at Crompton, they can go to the pool. But that's only a short period of time through the Charity Administration. Is there any discussion in that division or that department about public bathrooms and the parks?

Mr. Manager?

To Chair, to Councilor we address the public bathrooms depending on their location and depending the need but also depending on any improvements that were making to that park so as a case-by-case scenario we don't have and overall plan to address. Every park is very different, the needs of every park are very different so we assess it based on those needs but also based on the activity in those parks

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly would like to see and I'm not going to file the order now perhaps another time but just let the administration know I would like and some data on what parks have what. And we know the parks are the most active, we have some new parks that are coming onboard that have been recently completed. And I know that those have some public facilities, but the question is are they accessible Mr. Chairman? In addition to that, I'm wondering if Councilor Rosen would accept a friendly amendment to add that this would allow me perhaps to vote for this.

to add a request the city manager provide the council with some information around public bathrooms toilet seats etc and sort of what's the latest on the horizon for municipalities. Mr. Chairman, I think it would be a great discussion folks to have in the parks departments and we could hear from some of the teams and some of folks that use it so hopefully, I don't know if that friendly amendment will be accepted Rosen, but I certainly appreciate the conversation. And it sounds a little bit like Councilor Rose might want some boudets or is that what they say? How do you say it? Boudets? Is that what you're looking for, Councilor Rosen? Thank you Mr. Chairman.

except the amendment, Councilor Rosen?

I accept the amendment.

Okay, so send that to City Manager as amended. Councilor Bilotta do you want to speak first?

We have a question, point of clarification. Through the Chair and the City Manager these toilets at Institute Park These are in District 2, correct? It could be. I think it is, yes.

Yes, I believe they're District 2.

Okay, so we do have right now public bathrooms in District 2?

Yes.

Thank you. That's all I had. Thank You. Without seats.

Okay, so moves and sends the administration as amended. All those in favor? Opposed? So ordered. request the manager, request city solicitor to work with Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and Commissioner of Parks to review the City's ordinances and regulations through a street and sidewalk resurfacing program. To amend the process to become a more administrative function within the streets and sidewalks are submitted directly to the appropriate department for immediate review and consideration as part of the city's payment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman Excuse me

I'm probably going to use all my 10 minutes, so I'm just go through the process as it works today. Any one of us gets a request from a constituent to have their street resurfaced, their already public street resurface. The item comes before us, it's on our agenda. We vote to move that item to the Public Works Subcommittee. It gets in committee. The chairperson, whoever it may be will select it from the 150 items they have on their pending agenda to be heard, to come forward I'll just use my chairmanship of that committee now. I request the clerk to send out a letter to the petitioner, just to let them know this is a formality process

that they don't need to come here to advocate to have that street resurfaced, that it'll be pretty much rubber stamped. That goes to the pending list of street resurfacing. and then it becomes incumbent upon the district councilor to when a budget comes forward approximately 1.3, 1.5 million per district Every couple of years, those dollars come forward. We get our list of resurfacing candidates and then we select the four to five streets that were able to select to be resurfaced. In district one, right now on the resurface candidate list there are 205 total streets on this list for resurfacing.

Of those candidates that are on the list, those that have a resurfacing candidate PCI of less than 50, which is major deterioration. There are 147 streets on that list. So what I'm looking to do is to move the process along a little quicker. is when an item comes forward on a public street to be resurfaced, instead of sending it to the subcommittee send it directly to the pending list. because nothing is gonna happen unless it's on that pending list. If it's not on the pending list, your street will not be resurfaced

So it's incumbent upon us to put that street on the list as quickly as possible so when a budget comes along, it's there. And when we get to that process As we have now with speed bumps, and I will say this too, Councilor Fresolo has brought this forward. Councilor Rivera has brought an item similar forward We go into our meeting with the Department of Transportation and Mobility. They give us a master list of speed bumps, they have their selections on there which all make sense every single one of them on there makes sense and you know maybe there's one an outlier that we thought of confer with DTM if it's eligible, and we say yes. And there is your list of speed bumps. I think the process should be just as similar. I think we need to stop sending these directly to Public Works Subcommittee,

It's an unneeded step. I think it should go directly to the pending list and that's what I would suggest. I would ask this solicitor, that was my question through the chair to the city manager and solicitor. I don't need an answer today if that is a process that we are allowed to do. So that's what I asked.

What if we send this directly to your committee so you have a discussion, bring everybody in? I think there's a pending item.

Sure, absolutely. Send it to Public Works of course. Why not? So yes, I agree with you 100% on that Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Okay we have Councilor Rivera

So I have a question for the administration. But first, I just want to say that this is very important work we're trying to accomplish here and I understand that people in the audience feel like none of these items on this agenda's important But I think this is going to provide the Worcester residents a more efficient way for safer streets and sidewalks. This skips a lot of process. They always say that government is slow, and here through the chair to administration how many other municipalities are already doing what we're trying to accomplish here?

Mr.

Manager? To the Chair, to the Councilor I won't be able to give you an accurate description of that but in our surface kind of analysis of what we've done This is a conversation that has been come up before when we were analyzing a complete streets model years ago on the former Commissioner Paul Mosey and also previous administration. We looked across many municipalities, across the state of Massachusetts and New England. And we're probably the only one that does this approach Every community gives the authority to the public works on the right of way to make and suggest those the roads and sidewalks that need to be done based on the conditions, and base on the PCIs of those roads. We're one that we know of, we have a process in which the council plays a role in deciding or not deciding The selection of the roles that need to be done.

Right, so through the chair to administration would you say that slows down the process getting the counselors involved?

Mr. Manager

I think what the council has alluded to in this way is that we can always be better. We can always strengthen the process. The council mentioned over 100 streets in that district or so, that need to be done. On an annual basis, the Councilor has the ability to select I believe it's like four or every two years, and every selection of every two year. And depending on the cycle of that depending on councilors coming in and out or being reelected, leaving office or coming in. you could miss an opportunity to even select those streets. And that penalty list can live there and what happens is there are residents who believe that once it gets on the list, it's gonna get done but if you can have turnovers of councillors in that district and that street never gets selected because council has had different perspectives on the streets they want to select and that street continues to deteriorate.

And those are, that's where I think our data of the PCI can play a role in saying look this street has to be done and do it in a way that again responds to the needs of that community, of that neighborhood. So there's ways we can be more efficient I think bringing this up Fresolo has brought this question up in standing committee, and I know that it's pending in public works. So that gives us the opportunity to think differently of how we're doing our processes and so on. And I think it's important for us as a municipality because, again, is also subject to the budgeting in the budget cycles. So depending on the budget Thank you for that.

Definitely the reason I want to support this is because this definitely puts people over politics. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Councilor Fezzola.

Through you Mr. Chairman I rise to clarify but to clarify to the residents of District 3 that I represent that The current process does not work and that's why you are seeing zero sidewalks this construction season has been the case in District 3. Zero sidewalks were resurfaced, and I think that is totally unacceptable and we need to address the current process which this order will do, and why I stand in support of it. These sidewalks were picked well over a year ago. that were supposed to be done this construction season, and here we are mid-October. And they're not going to start now, and they won't start until next year.

through you, Mr. Chairman I have a question to the administration because they didn't start this year through you Mr. chairman to the city manager Is it possible for them to start earlier than the fall? that we see streets and sidewalks now because of the procurement process, and because of how we currently handle these streets and side walks. We did not get, again we did not any sidewalks resurfaced in District 3. There are a list of of four that were supposed to be done this construction season, they're not. Will they be able to be started earlier than we currently do now with again You told August.

It wasn't August, it wasn't September and now you see work being done in October so through you Mr. Chairman I'd like to see if We could get these sidewalks done earlier than currently the current process allows.

The manager?

The direct answer is yes. I think one of the things that's important to understand is a lot of the work that has happened in the districts over the course of the spring and the summer is stuff that was budgeted in previous budget, not the current budget that this council, this body here approved back in May. that was from the previous budget. A lot of the selections or any other work that has happened in, oh it's happening this fall is procurement that started perhaps in July 1st when the budget was implemented. So a lot of that brings delay, so what happens is that these streets that were either selected or are being slated for this fiscal year they begin the work this fiscal year, this fall but a lot of that completion doesn't happen until the spring of the 27. to make sure that we complete it by the end of the spring, which is June 30th of that fiscal year.

And so what happened here is a lot of the sidewalk and street selections this council body did not have the ability to select at this year that was moved up by the previous council to select back in December. And so this body has not had the ability to select their roads, but again, it's all a combination of when the selection happens and also when the fiscal year budget allows for the allocation of funding for those streets or those. So a lot of the streets that have come up in the past six months requested to be done by this council. That was not previously budgeted for, that came, started to happen. That new budget July 1st is the new impact but again, that's still addressing streets that were selected by previous councils.

I appreciate that. But through you, Mr. Chairman, I'm going to reiterate. I think it's very frustrating Streets were picked well over a year ago. Not streets, excuse me, I'm talking sidewalks right here. I'll get to streets in the next item that we take up, but I'm specifically talking about four sidewalks that were picked well over a year ago and were approved. And they did not get worked on, they did not happen this construction season. So again I'll end it here. The way we do things right now does not work, and we need to address it. And I'm told we're going to. hopefully next year, 2027 is gonna see a lot of improvement. And I know as a member of the

Subcommittee of Public Works. I'd love to see this item there so we can talk firsthand to the commissioner and the assistant commission tell them exactly what we expect next year so there is no misunderstandings that these things need to get done and they need to sooner than starting them in October. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank You. We have Councilor King Okay, we have Councilor Economou. Thank you Mr. Chairman and I'm not here to- Go ahead council.

I'm sorry. I am not laying blame at anybody's feet. I want to know if we can change the way We do our process from here to get it into public works hands. and I also, I'd be remiss if I didn't also include sidewalks. I had it here on my notes for sidewalk repair not so much installing new sidewalks, which is a totally different animal altogether. But when an item comes for repairing one square or two squares of sidewalks how do we get that from here onto the pending list so the Councilors can select them. That's where I stand on that, thank you. I just wanted to make that clear. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate Councilor Economou bringing this forward. I think all of our district councilors are frustrated with what we're encountering this year and the processes. And again not pointing blame at anyone but we really need to take a better look and so forth. So I think it's important to understand how we're implementing these procedures and what can we do to make them faster and efficient because it's not fair to our residents or constituents. for this year, but they were not able to be completed because of utility work. And I don't know if that where the miscommunication was previously on those streets, but it's important that we pick streets year-to-year that can actually get done and so forth, because residents are waiting on this work. Residents on Payne Street and Franklin Street are very frustrated with the extended timelines and so forth. So, you know, I'm looking forward to really working on how we can

putting all those pieces together to really make sure every year we're getting something done because it is not fair to our residents to wait years and years for work to be done or to have not the correct context and information. So they have different expectations of what can actually happen. We all ran on wanting to work hard for our constituents in improving things, and I'm absolutely committed to that, you know especially for my constituents because it's unfair to a lot of folks that they're waiting and waiting for streets to get done. And at the same time we might be missing and other streets that are in need too. So just wanna speak in support of this, and thank you.

Yeah, through you to the council. I think it's important to one of the things that Council Bilotta brought up is the utility impact and so this is a situation that when counselors have the ability the streets for their neighborhood, oftentimes we now need to take those selections and bring them to the utilities to understand if there's any improvements that need to be made. And then when the improvement is made for the utility work, now it delays a project completely. Our ability and what Councilor Economou and others have brought up the idea of can we look at this differently? Absolutely, because if we're able to impact a change in the way the process is done then proactively work with the utilities to understand when the work is needed, what work is need so we can better inform the residents what utilities are being worked in the streets and when they expect a full resurfacing on those streets. But when we have this kind of where we allow the selection of streets, et cetera.

And then we are notified by their utility that there's a hold because we gotta get in there and do some work We now need to put a hold on the work of resurfacing because we got to get the utilities to do the work before we then have to rip it all up again. This is a great discussion. We're actually excited for it because as an administration, this is something that we feel and we felt strongly for many years that we needed to improve this process and this would allow us to be able to do that so thank you

Okay, so we'll send Council King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple of questions through the chair. One is do we have an idea to the church administration regarding how many approximately an average of how many sidewalk repairs are placed on the pending list per year.

I don't have that figure and we would have to kind of look at the actual list to understand how much.

I'm not a district councillor so I'm cherry picking streets. So I'm trying to get context and understand sort of the playing field in its entirety. I would like to state for the record I've never been a fan of district councillors having this we have a choice list only at their disposal, only because as at-large counselors, we gather votes in the districts as well. We are co-responsible for these things. And when folks are concerned about things getting done, we're all on the hook. I touched District 1, 2 or 3.

And so it has come to my attention there's some streets that have been on the pending list since 1996 and I'm not sure what to say to those folks. Let's share it to the administration. What is a response that the city can give, the administration if there's something that's been on the list since 1996? Mr. Manager

Through the Council, the response that we give is that these neighborhood streets are depending on the selection of the councilor. And so those streets deteriorate and they sit there and people get frustrated and that's where I think it gives us the opportunity to explore different ways to address these issues.

And so is this order I'm assuming this order means that this would eliminate that selection process through the chair?

Do you share it to the Councilor? No, what this order does is asking the administration to remove or not the administration asking the solicitor for guidance on whether there's a requirement to bring every petition or every order on a resurfacing project or neighborhood road to the actual committees so that there's discussion in committee, approval of committee. Then it goes back to the administration and put on the list. So the idea is to cut all that process and if there is an order or petition that's brought forward in this council body, it is automatically or supported, not automatically but it's supported by the council and automatically or directly goes right to the administration to put on the list for repairs.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's very difficult to follow the bouncing dot as it were for the general public. It is confusing and I think Taxpayers want a return on their tax dollars that they're paying. They want service responsiveness, that they can see, they can feel and they can experience Economou. And this whole, even the explanation is confusing so I appreciate Councilor Economou and his committees work on this particular matter. What I would like to also ask through the administration is, given the fact that we talked about delays on resurfacing due to utility work, due to the timing of the budget, et cetera.

When we identify when the city identifies in the budget how much money is going to be expended to various items including this Do we have an idea when there are delays, when there's things that aren't realized as it relates to this particular matter? My question to you is, are we using all of the funds that are allotted for resurfacing or repairing sidewalks each fiscal year? And if the answer is we're not using that entire pot of money, Where does it go to the chair?

Mr.

Manager To the city Councilor Pacillo it's not about having cash flow and unexpended balances that now you can move money around. What it is, if the council body approves a capital budget that we're allocating $10 million for street resurfacing in the city in capital dollars. and at the end of the day, we expend $8 million in capital dollars. That means that the city did not borrow an additional 2 million and so there's still borrowing capacity for the following fiscal year where instead of borrowing 10 we could potentially add a little bit more but again it's It's not cash available. It's just that we didn't borrow more, which means that there was additional borrowing capacity available for the city to take on whether it is at fiscal year or the following fiscal year

and when the money's borrowed, then the work doesn't get done. Does that happen? Can you explain that to the public because I'm not understanding myself through the chair.

Through the Chair to the Councilor is a good question. We are very particular in when we borrow the money because we don't want to borrow money that sits there, because then we're paying interest on those dollars. and so we borrow money when we actually, we know that we have actual contracts in hand. So that we could be able to either one authorize the contract but also get the contract moving and pay the contract as we go And so the staff and the CFO, they play a big role in identifying how much cash flow we need on a particular time within that quarter of that year. Drawdown or pull the borrowing for that purposes.

Through Chair to the administration, as it relates to the representation this evening, tonight that in District 3 for example no sidewalks were done. How does that sit with you? How do you assess the causation of that reality and what do you have to say about it through a chair?

Mr. Manager

Yeah, to the chair of the council. As the city manager right one of your biggest responsibility is that you're managing the budget according and executing on what's in front of you and what your budget for and what the departments are responsible for And so when I hear these things, for me it brings concern and I want to dig in to understand what happened. Why is there a hold? Is there utility hold? Was there an issue with the contractor? Was it a procurement issue? Was there a situation that impacted our ability to move forward in these contracts? Is their hold up right now? Are they still being able, are they still slated to be done this year but they haven't started the work yet because they're delayed. like I need to understand a little bit more. And so those are the questions that I need then find out from my commissioner to get answers, to then find ways to mobilize their work and get them to be able to execute on what was O'Reilly, and so forth. So I think that's what we need to be able to communicate it to the council or what was required as part of the budget process.

Thank you. I appreciate your candor. Those questions you know, in congruence as it relates to the parameters of this particular matter. Mr. Chairman I would also like to know you know we heard this evening that in one of the districts is 147 sidewalks I guess that are over the 50% threshold if you could just explain to the public what that means and then subsequent to that What's an acceptable percentage of those that should be completed per year through the chair?

Mr. Mayor, Joe.

to the Councilor, there's roughly an industry standard of a PCI percentage that you want to be at the city. Part of the Pavement Management Program identified where we want to be as a city. And it's relatively in the 70th percentile, we wanna be as city in terms of the conditions around for the PCI. When you have a PCI in the 50, that is extremely a sidewalk or road that is deteriorating and needs significant repairs. Now, if there's a sidewalk or road that has been approved and it goes on the list, and they could be hundreds on that list, this work will not happen until the councilor selects that road or that sidewalk. now could we look at globally in the entire city and say okay what are they number how many sidewalks do we have on the top you know, top 20 in that PCI index and could we address those top 20? Absolutely.

We can do that but again it would require from the council on those actual streets as selected. But I think it's important to note that we, as a city and I think Councilor Rivera asked this previously is the city of Worcester has a unique process in comparison to most communities, if not every community across the state and across the New England area that we've looked at. We have this process that involves council selection because at the end of the day, the person who has the authority over the roads and sidewalks in our street right away is the commissioner of DPW. The other person who and so they have the ability to make those decisions, recommend to council what streets and sidewalks needs to be done. And then the council has the authority to recommend the appropriation of the funding base in the recommendation from the administration. So I think that's where the efficiencies can be had and we can think through them and have those discussions so that we can have a better product in our streets.

Through the chair of the administration, is there a defined efficiency percentile for work on sidewalks at the 50% threshold that has been shared with you by your commissioner? So again, 147 in one particular district at 50%. What percent of that should be done? I think it's important to have that understanding. In addition to that question, I think that it goes a long way to inform us as what to expect as a council. And second to that, secondarily, One of the things I've repeatedly brought up here on the council floor is we need to be evaluating the job performance of our department heads. We're not measuring the work of the commissioner and ultimately, the folks under them but your evaluation would be of the Commissioner There's no performance evaluations at this time.

We've been talking about working on that for probably three, four years and so I asked that question in the spirit of how are you assessing and evaluating that commissioners work if the data points perhaps are unclear, and maybe they're not unclear but I think this council it might be helpful because ultimately the performance of your commissioners is your performance. So that was my two questions to the chair, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Manager?

I don't have that direct number or figure in front of me to be able to provide you that for the particular sidewalks. But again, my job is to manage their performances like you mentioned and so I evaluate their execution, their ability to listen, the ability to do their work and communication. Their ability to manage their funding right what's allotted to them are they're managing appropriate? Are they expanding the dollars? Are there managing staff dealing with personnel matters and in their ability to perform in those, I pay attention. I have discussions, my one-on-ones with them. And that's how I assess whether they're performing at the level of my standards or they're underperforming. And then we have conversations about that and so that's what I do on a day-to-day basis. We are working, our hope is done January this January to implement the performance evaluations for cabinet and some of the senior leadership in the city. This will be the first time ever the City of Worcester were engaged in that and our hopes is right now as of January to be able to launch that for nonrepresented employees, which I think will be in the step in the right direction.

I appreciate that something that I've pushed for on this council floor and prior bodies that were nationally supported and during budgetary hearings, we set that. So I appreciate and look forward to a realization of that but again it's tools for the council and I appreciate the dialogue. I look forward to what's gonna be done moving forward. Officer Mitra?

Thank you Mr. Chair, through you to the City Manager I sit on the Public Works Committee with Economou as the Chair, and I'm glad that he brought this subject matter. This is pretty obvious for many other things also to get something done. It does take time, we have noticed that, we've recognized that and for obvious reasons because you have a process to go through I think when we see the delay, like Councilor Fresolo is saying that none of these sidewalks have been done which should have at least started to see how we can really expedite the process. I like Councilor Economou's thought

on if it could be bypassed, going through the standing committee directly to the committees or the departments where the action can be taken more quickly and not losing the time. I think it's something that we should consider. But the point is, can we do that? Is that something that, I mean, we are allowed to probably city solicitor could look into it you could look into it and if it could be possibly done I think it will expedite the process for us. I'm not saying, I know for a reason we are delayed to do it because we go through the set process that we have We're just trying to see if that process could be modified. And I support Councilor Economou's view on that and just see if it would be possibly done, and that's my request to you.

Thank you. Okay, so send this, may I count Rivera?

I want a clarification, but I think we really got an excellent answer. So thank you very much.

Okay so send that to Public Works

Point of order. Is it possible to send this to Public Works and concurrently send it to the manager so that while they're doing a public hearings, they can do some preparation formally for it?

They already have everything prepared, all the public works. Okay. Senate Public Works all those in favor or opposed so record? Next item, they're through three of these. and we are going to city request the manager request Commission Public Works with the chief financial officer then if I process we're in Pomp and Wurst can accelerate the timeline associated with posting awarding bids for streets and sidewalk resourcing in an effort to ensure project timelines construction begin, and that completed in a faster and more efficient manner. Said process should include viewing best practices used in other communities. Councilor Economou?

Thank you Mr. Chairman and I'm just gonna go back and play out my scenario so we have one each district gets a word is awarded $1.5 million for street repairs, and there's another budget for sidewalk repair too, sidewalk improvements as well. The streets got selected from the prior councilors, district councilors. Come to find out two of those streets are on a utility hold. Does DPW have the ability to pivot, to select other streets or put other streets out to bid to make up that difference, that balance. In addition to that

Does DPW or the administration have the ability to, do we have to wait till the budget is set before we send out requests for bids? We do. Okay, so how do we change? Is there a way to work this like now? It's October or December, January looking towards the spring. because what I've experienced and just my, what I have seen over the last few years five six years is that the streets and sidewalks that are getting done in this city, are getting down from late August to November. How do we move that up? So we're getting the best quality work from April to August.

Because I feel we're losing a big part of the construction season in the method that we're working it. So I guess, so say in the last budget they didn't spend, they spent a million dollars and they didn'y spend half a million. Are we able to augment that? Can we put something out to bid now in preparation for the spring? I'm just trying to find a way that we get on top of this so we're moving, again quicker in our process to get the streets done. Because my personal opinion is I feel once we get into this time of year and into November, and we're still doing streets Resurfacing Streets. I don't feel we're getting the best product and I just, I feel asphalt binds better in warmer temperatures and yeah I understand trucks are heated

but going to a plant, getting filled coming back waiting to dump that load into the hopper to put it on the road. It cools off so that's what I'm trying to find out here how do we move things quicker? How do we pivot as a municipality to have things in place even for the spring instead of waiting for that July 1st date. I guess this would be part of our bigger discussion with the prior item and do you feel this would be able to be brought forward in subcommittee in December?

Mr. Mayorger

Yeah, we could definitely bring this forward. I think one of the things to understand is we cannot contract a project unless the council authorizes and votes the budget, whether it's capital or operational. So the budget gets voted on and then the budget get implemented July 1st. So now July 1st, we have the dollars that are being expended will be mobilized to start the procurement process. Scope of work, etc., etc. Then you have to advertise it, get it out, then bring in all the bids, review all the and then you have to then notify the winning bidder, and then your gonna go through a contracting processing, execute a contract. That could take 60-90 days depending on right?

but that selection, what is being contracted and what's being done it's not just for that particular fall season. It's for the entire fiscal year Right. And so the work that's it may start this fall season, right? But there's carry on work that is happening in the spring and that's where again in the spring we then try to put additional contracts if we need to. Sometime in February or March, we try to pull contracts out there execute on those contracts as well and sometimes those contracts start right you know depending on how quickly we be able to mobilized our contract, they can start right away or we have to wait until then the new fiscal year kicks in again. And so that impact is something that again has happened for so many years.

I think what's happened here in this council body is that the selection of streets and sidewalks for this council was supposed to happen in May, but it was moved up by the previous Councilor to December and when the selection happened in December, it removed the ability for this council body to select in May. And then it has created that challenge of These streets were selected. There's new ones that this council added to the mix, we're trying to pivot and move as quickly as possible to add new ones in that weren't part of the list or add new long patches that weren' t part of a list etc and so what happens is then now we're trying to look at conditions of the road, what's under the road because it wasn't previously engineered. And so when we hear and when we see that, then there's further utility work that undiscovered. And then it presents back the challenge. And I think that goes back to your situation where is inability for us to take a step back

so that the process of selection and reviewing, it's more holistic than just kind of fragmented. And I think that's where it's come to a head now in our discussions as council, as residents that we're seeing there's a better way so we can do this and I know that they are better ways to do it.

Thank you, but even with them Mr. Manager through the chair to the manager Again, I'm just trying to figure out how we got... And again, I am not laying blame. The process has been the process for so long How do we tweak it to make it better for us, the city of Worcester? And I just feel we've gotten away from starting a project in April and finishing it before the end of the season, the construction season. I feel everything now is starting later in the season hopefully it gets done before snow flies or it gets completed you know as you said they still have until next spring but your The residents and the taxpayers are the ones who have been put out on this, right? And even just as recently as today.

I got a field that did a couple calls on Cheyenne Road, right, and I had just assured them that look it's in process that should be finished this construction season. And like the constituent who called, it's like they're looking at their calendar. It's October 20th and they're just wondering is it gonna get done? That's all. I'm just trying to find a way that we expedite things a little quicker, work a little more with purpose I'm not gonna sit here and tell you, I know the rules of procurement or even what this body can do or cannot do. And that's why if we have this information prior to December I'd love to have just this one item on the Public Works Subcommittee Agenda, to have that discussion with the commissioners. Maybe the city solicitor, just so we can have answers rowing the boat in the same direction. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank You, Councilor Rivera. Calls by Councilor Zola. Councilor Toomey?

I guess clarification purposes to the Chair, to the administration. I just want to put this in context and stuff. Right now we have three orders or two orders in an amendment that's gonna go to Public Works. I heard Councilor Economou mention December Is it possible for this to go on the November Public Works agenda? I mean, I don't know. Economou, I don't know.

He's asking if you want to send this to your committee or just send it to the manager for a report back?

No, I'm saying send it to his committee. But can he be heard on November? I heard him say December. So I just want to know the reason why not November.

if I may, through the chair to my colleague. The November meeting is pretty full and I just want to make sure I have enough time in the committee to address it.

I understood. All right, basically what the whole council want to understand is between Economou's order and Fresolo's order my amendment here is we're trying to do a fast track of making sure that the residents are represented in the most efficient way possible. We're talking about is selecting streets. There's, like they mentioned earlier, I think it was Councilor King who mentioned there are streets that have been on lists since 1996 That's uncalled for. I mean, so what I think is important that we want the counselors to understand is that it's important that and that we're not roadblocks. So eliminating, so it is the point you know that we are trying to accomplish to fast track these processes, eliminating

The selection process and making sure that the residents can have a good Communication with Administration, and their streets get on the pending list right away. And it'll fast track the process on when the streets and sidewalks can get fixed. So hopefully when this gets to them in December, we're all on the same page.

Thank you, Councilor Frizzolo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you, I'd like to ask my six at-lodge counselors colleagues to listen to three examples because these are your constituents in District 3 that deserve the process to work and the current process we have does not work. I'm not being negative, I'm just being honest and we need to correct it. So I wanna give you a couple examples, so you know in case people contact you or stop you when they see you. Massasoit Road from Rice Square, which is Grafton Street to Sunderland Road where the Price Chopper is was supposed to be completed this construction season. It's not going to be complete it.

If you come back to Haywood Street, because they started at Haywood to Sunderland Road Wright Square School was there. They wanted to get that area done prior to school opening absolutely, total agreement. So they didn't start at Rice Square meaning the artery of Rice Square and from that point to the first traffic light is Haywood Street That area has not been started and it won't start until next construction season. So the area that they were supposed to complete this construction season will not be completed. Why? Late stock, late stock procurement process. This is what I'm talking about okay. You gotta wait for the budget. I hear it and I understand that but this is what happens.

And we had good weather all through the summer, we really didn't have that much bad weather so it's not gonna be completed I talked to the city manager tonight through you Mr. Chairman and I asked him Now, does that have to go through? Because again I'm new to this so and I do not claim to have this process down path. So I asked him will that section of Massachusetts road have to wait until after July 1st? Or can it start right when good weather and construction starts in 27. He said, it'll start Early 27, meaning construction season. So I want you to know that because next year if it doesn't, I'm going to be out here complaining about it and stating what I was told, and what needs to happen. I'll give you another scenario.

We talk about utilities My colleague, the Chairman of Public Works, Councilor Economou brings that up. Two streets I'll give you an example with. Vernon Street, a portion of Vernon Street is in dire need of some attention. and I asked, and the city manager said he'd look at it. And then when we come back, we're told we can't do it this construction season with Long Patch because it needs utility work Why wasn't I told that in early spring when I brought it up in April? Vernon Street needs attention. I'd like Long Patch to be considered. We'll consider it. Well, why didn't somebody get to me and tell me that now? Now we need utility work. You gotta wait for utilities to come in. When they'll do it, who knows?

But we go another year without Vernon Street having any attention. A side street called Cargill Ave off of Vernon Street When I got elected, I was told by residents of that street when I went door to door. Look at our street. dire need of resurfacing and it did. And I questioned that, and they said when I say they at the time it was Commissioner Raleigh I brought it up to him and he looked it up, and he said, It's not even on a list. And I said, Its' not even a list? They said it was on the list. They told me its been on the lists for years. Then he went back further to previous years and he found it. And somehow, it was on the list at one point but somehow fell off the list, and now I'm bringing it back up to their attention.

And he states that the PCI is as bad as it gets. It needs attention. It should be resurfaced. So we go that route and we find that utilities need to be done for us. So I tell the residents, okay, utilities, and I'm told they're gonna be done this year. They'll get the utilities to hopefully start this year. I tell the residents that utilities this year, maybe the street next year resurfacing the street when I ask about it After waiting a few weeks, I'm told it's our own SOAR department that needs to do the work. it's not utilities and you would think gas or electric, they consider SOAR utilities. So we knew this is on the list to be done and I'm told

just a couple of weeks ago that this is the scenario. When can we do this? Oh, we can't do it until next year. Okay, X utilities being done next year so this is frustration my colleagues, that people that you represent in that Vernon Hill area are dealing with. And the other only through you Mr. Chairman and the only other example I'll bring up is this We were awarded a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to pave Grafton Street from Rice Square, which is where Plantation Street and Massort Road, that artery right there come into Grafton Street. Graftin Street all the way just beyond Sunderland road it's going to end for whatever reason at Monty Ford street

and I remember being at the Democratic Convention when someone came up to me, the Assistant Commissioner of Traffic and Mobility Committee. Is that? Yeah, that's it. No, no. Traffic and Mobility, right? OK. Commissioner Raleigh is the commissioner. So his assistant came up to me and said can you call someone at DLT to get a letter so we can get the process, get it going, get a teed up. So it started, we'll get this construction season hopefully, this construction sees I did that they got their letter He told me, thank you. We should have no problem. Guess what ladies and gentlemen in the general public? It's not starting this year. It's gotta wait till next year Okay, now I get it.

You got to go through the bid process and get the bids and everything else but this is the frustration that we're going through so If we can somehow work on a way to get things going early in the construction season, as Councilor Economou said. We let May, June, July go with no work done. With the current process that we take because we're waiting for July 1st and our budget to start. And I get all of that but as he states, here we are in October through you Mr. Chairman and I'm waiting for the long patch to start on Lake Ave and today I was told it might be several weeks before before it starts. And my response back to the gentleman that sent me the email was several weeks?

We're in October, what's several weeks then he came back and said well maybe three weeks even three weeks are you kidding me We're gonna start that in November, and then what happens if we get a snowstorm? And it's possible. We had a snow storm on Halloween one year, okay? So this is the frustration, my colleagues and the general public. This is what we're dealing with. And I'm sorry but it needs to improve. It needs to prove people are paid and I, again, I'm not trying to be negative. I'm no trying to criticize but people pay good money here. They're paid good money. make right decisions here, and they have to stay on the block. And if they have stay longer in the day then stay on it, I'm sorry.

because this is unacceptable that I get an email back and says to me, it could be several weeks before we start Long Patch on Lake Av. and you wouldn't mind but I asked the administration, give me a ballpark please because I have an event coming up. And I want to be able to tell people what progress is being made. sometime in October that long patch program will stop and it's not going to stop then. And I'm sorry, that's unacceptable. Don't tell or don't, and I understand that.

Can you wrap up your comments? Your 10 minutes are up.

10 minutes they're up? I'll leave it there Mr. Chairman. I think I've made it perfectly clear that this needs to improve and I am definitely not going away. I'm definitely not goin' away, I am gonna stay on top of this and if Lake Ab does not get done this construction season please believe me I'll leave it there Mr. Chairman, but I will not be happy. Thank you so much.

Councilor Toomey?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly we've had some rough stats over past couple of construction seasons There was one year where the bids didn't get out in time, and that created a backlog as well. But I think it's really important that we talk about accelerating the projects. And one of the things We can do is take a look at also some of our major artery projects. Do we do an evening shift? when there's less traffic and get more vehicles there to be able to do the work. And you're not having the stops and delays when you're doing daytime construction. I mean, that's a pretty simple look I think also delivery and material strategies, other things that we know that we're going to need for the year.

that we can order in ahead of time. I think it's important that all of these things are considered on-call contracts and pre-approved materials. And I think that's something we should have a conversation about. I don't know, I haven't been in public works for several years. Chair at one point, and I know that it's been very frustrating to see projects stop in the middle of it. And you know, the argument Here as well, they're renting their construction vehicles and they have to use it in another job. Now, that's not good planning. That's not a good planning at all. So I think we really need to take a look at all of that. And as far as Lake Gav, I can tell you that years

We've been talking about how Lake Gav needs to be fixed because it is absolutely horrible. Absolutely horrible, I drive over it every single day. And I concur with my colleague and I think everyone of us here on this floor agrees that we need to do this better and that means by taking a look at you know what are some of the new processes that are out there I know that WPI has a great engineering school. As a matter of fact, there are some things that we're possibly doing that I brought up before that I heard from WPI about actually having Cameras on the bottom of the trucks record the road conditions, et cetera. So I think it's important that we all get it. We all understand it.

from our constituents, no matter what part of the city we're in. And I think it's important that this council sets a message We need to be more aggressive and creative and assertive, and really thinking outside the box in how we continue to do our construction projects. Like I said, even the time management thing. Changing the time of when we do it and to be able to incentivize things getting done quicker. Thank you.

Thank You Council Berman Council. Chris?

Mayor Petty, you have the floor.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. I know this is very frustrating. I'm trying to get a quote that's changed from the past Right, that's what I'm trying to get at. And I don't want to waste your time writing a report but if you have the time to write a report to understand, like Councilor Laveau is pretty frustrated, I understand his frustration. Maybe use Lake Ave for example or Grafton Street just understand what the process is. Like when was Lake Ave picked? When did the council pass it? Was it two years ago, one year ago, was it this year? Grafton Street was a state project right? Is it a state Oh, he just got the mic.

Mr. Manager? Okay, Mr.

Manager.

Mr Manager please.

I'm just trying to get a handle on this stuff, that's all.

Due to the chance of the councilor, I think there's, the frustration is real from the residents and from the councils and I get it right. but there's certain nuances to every single project. For example, Grafton Street we just got the funding from the state less than 30 days ago. How can I mobilize my team to repave all of Grafton Street when we have to redesign it, we have understand the utilities. When we just received the dollars in this council body just approved those dollars to receive those dollars less than 30 days ago? How can i mobilize my the expectations need to be altered a little bit. I think those are the challenges and so when their previous councilors will select a street, and the new councilor says well I don't want that street, I want a new street to be added to the project that also plays a role and you can't do that. So then there's challenges to try to shift those streets, right? And so when I as administration, as manager work with the councilors are saying okay how can I help the new councils based on their new needs right, understanding my budget limitations. It wasn't on the previous list.

It's a new project that was just added within the last six months. How can I mobilize quickly and shift things to be able to execute? And I think that's the challenge that we have right now in front of us

Mayor Petty.

There's going to be balance here, there's gonna be expectations, there'll be communications I think we're probably losing some of this in communications and I get the frustrations and especially the taxpayers thinking something's getting done and it's not getting done. I know maybe we started that report again, right? With the streets and sidewalks comes on every month and maybe we can just make sure everything is highlighted in there understand it Not even get a report, just understand. Did you say to me that the council, I don't think this happens though, the council votes certain streets to get done, get paved or sides to get down and now we're trying to change that? Like, we can't do that.

There has been a request to make those changes right after our street has been approved. And so again, there's processes and I think that's the challenge sometimes when we're trying to move as quickly as possible. When we're tryna move quickly, that's when we get into troubles and we set expectations that impact not only the councilors but also the residents. And I think that's where as a city manager you have to balance that and make sure that one, we're executing what were required to execute but also be conscious of things that are being added to the plate when either one it hasn't been approved yet or there's no budget appropriations for those projects. but again, the city manager in the administration what we're trying to do is work with the councilors and see what we can do. Sometimes the conversation is I'll look into that Let me see what I can do. It doesn't mean I'm going to be able to do it, it just means I have to look into it to be Mayor Pettis.

were working hard to get things done and don't understand what happened two or three years ago. We've all been around, something happened in the street selections, the sidewalk selections that would... And I know it took time to figure it all out. And the council back then was so frustrated, I thought. You know, Councilor Russell was here as chair and he's trying to figure that out. Some of the other district councillors and I think we're at a place now. I think once Tony, I'm sorry, Councilor Economou and Councilor Zola gets this all on the committee let's think of the process as all work together to get the process done and to make sure we can move forward, understand expectations on both sides. What we can do, what we can't do, with delays. If something gets delayed, we need to notify people right away in that monthly report. Now we have a utility issue. which we didn't expect, that can happen. We have a funding issue which we don't expect.

Something else infrastructure issue, which we did not expect as long as it's in those reports so people communicate it back to their constituents I think is important and I understand that this isn't easy stuff, but I think once we get through this year, this will be a year to fix all these expectations and also implementation. to make sure everybody's on the same page, understands what the administration job is, what our job is and how we all move this forward.

Mr. Mayor, was there a motion for report?

No I think that we can do it in the month of report just a detailed report on all these streets how they were selected when were they selected, why aren't they getting done? You do it now almost. So you have a reason why it's done, utility issue or some other priority comes up, we have an emergency I know we had Sagamore Road for instance that wasn't selected, we made that an emergency I think early this year. So that puts off another project right? So Sagamore, this council voted to do Sagamores.

Mr. Manager, I think he had a comment.

That's a perfect example. Sagamore Road was never part of any selection, but this council body brought that that was an important road that needed to be addressed because of the iterations So the department had to remobilize, to figure out how to address the second morbo. And then when we were going to mobilize, Eversource needed to get in there and do some work We were then able to quickly work with Eversource to address the issue. They were able to get in and get out, and we're gonna now go in there and bond that street and be able to address that street. So again these are things that just happen in the world of construction that again, it's a matter of expectations and the expectation of the residents and the council that there are things that happen that impact but Sagamore is a prime example that was not selected, but this council body made a clear decision in communication to the administration. We need to get it done and we mobilize quickly towards that.

Mayor Petty. That's a perfect example, that one is very clear so some of the projects probably get delayed I would think because of that now utility companies got delayed doing another street we're supposed to do because of them but that was our priority and we voted it That's why I think these monthly reports are important to update this all. We need all the readout to understand why things are being delayed, what the expectations The real question is, and it's why some of the councils get frustrated because the constituent's the one that doesn't understand it. And we have to explain it to them. Okay. I think going to Public Works is a great decision on that first item, and this item, I think it has to go with the Manager for us to get the report back so Tony can take it into Council Economou can take in the committee for his December meeting. and we can at least all work together to bring this all forward to understand all the issues, expectations of both sides and hopefully make the constituents happy. Thank you.

District One City Councilor Robert Bilotta, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to sign off on this 90 because I share Councilor Fresolo's frustration on certain projects and you know going into this term I've been very clear and have asked several times to both my meetings with the manager and with DPW to say, explain to me the processes so I'm not I'm not hindering things or having unrealistic expectations on how things are done. And I want to learn so I can make sure things Find out where I can improve things, but also find out where. OK, that's just not how this process works. I'm very clear about that. But what frustrates me is that we have streets like sent several emails today on Gilman Street, wherever source did a lot of because pipework or conduit work and the sidewalk is impassable. They did a horrible job with the patchwork, and that sat there and so forth for weeks.

So that fresh reads when I hear those timelines or when we get those timelines, and I know they're working on it now. Commissioner Gearhart and Commissioner Westerling are working on So I think we just need to do much better of really holding the utility companies accountable. And I know that's happening with some of the things we've passed this past year, but what again frustrates me is when we have streets like Payne Street where it's scheduled to be repaved and I find out earlier, found out yesterday that it's not going to happen this year because of utility work. So then we have to go back to our constituents. And the same thing with Franklin Street, I'll go back Councilor, you know, they're not able to do it this year because of utility work. But I asked Commissioner Westerling can we do some long patch at least? To try and solve that. I'm still waiting on an answer on that. So I definitely understand the need Result, I would say sometimes the expectations or what the reality of things

our constituents still find unacceptable. And sometimes we do too, and I think it's all about a balance of how do we meet the reality of construction? And how do work to make things better? I think that's what we're all trying to do. I appreciate the administration and commissioners working with me to figure things out. But I absolutely think we can do better, and I know that we're going in We, you know it's constituents that and again too I think yes it's about sharing information with them so it's really important that information gets shared with us sooner than later as well. So thank you.

Thank You Council King

Thank you Mr. Chairman, I certainly appreciate bringing up Sagamore Road probably three years ago, again two years ago. Perhaps last year it came up for myself and other councilors. Councilor Economou has brought that up to pivot to that, but through the Charity Administration. Help me understand. So this particular body requested that Sagamore Road be prioritized years ago was brought up again but it wasn't on a list. So my question is if the council says I want Bergman Boulevard done, right? and the whole council says we need Bergman Boulevard done, then we take a vote on it to the city manager to communicate that. Does Bergman Boulevard get done based on the will of the council or does it defer to a list?

To the Chair, to the Council. The role of the administration if the will of the council is to be able to address this role right then and there then the administration, my job is to take that and try to get the department to activate or mobilize as quickly as possible. because there is a consensus within the council body that that road is a priority. And so, that happened with Sagamore and that's something we addressed and we mobilized quickly this year.

Thank you. Again, this has come up in prior council terms particularly specifically regarding Sagamore and Upper Sagamores the differential of that work. So I'll have further discussion with you on our one-on-one meetings, very much appreciated and perhaps Bergen Boulevard's in the future for street naming.

I don't know. Economou for a second time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I just want to hop on what Councilor King had just said too and all the excitement tonight. I want to thank the city manager, Commissioner Wesseling, Assistant Commissioner Mello who truly heard the council. That bottom hill like I said in prior meetings, did not make it through last winter. And it was certainly not going to make it this winter and I'm happy to say that Eversource has completed their work on that section and that Operations in the Public Works has mobilized their team to get that bottom section at least to base coat this season, which is a vast improvement over what it was last year.

It was literally costing people thousands of dollars in repair work with all the ruts that took place on Sagamore Road so I definitely want to give credit where credit is due. It's been heard, it's been done and I appreciate that, and I know the residents do too. So thank you.

Okay so we'll send this to the manager. You have to suspend the rules your time is up. Yes.

I'm asking to suspend rules because I want to just clarify one street. And I promise, I won't take more than one.

We'll do a roll call. Bregman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King. No. Yes, Councilor Petty.

Thank you, my colleagues for giving me a brief time to explain about Kagalav. I want to explain exactly what happened. When I met for the first time with Commissioner Raleigh, I asked about Cargill Lab. That was back in April. And again, he looked and he said it's not on a list. I said they told me it's on the list. He went back years previous, and he found it. And for some reason, he didn't have the answer. I am not... holding him accountable. He said, I don't know how it fell off the list but it's not on the list anymore. Okay can we get it back on the lists? Yes okay. It needs utility work. Okay, so we're going to get utilities to do that. I talked to him on a maybe monthly basis about Cargolab.

And finally, I'm told by DPW it's not utilities ever source a national grid, it soars. We need to do SOAR work. Okay, when can that start? Can that start, it's us? Us that's gonna do the work? Yes. When can that stop? Well, it could be put out to bid. It won't start until next year. Did I say at that time to the Commissioner. By the way, Cargill Lab is in such disrepair. Can we put that on the list to be done and take another street off? And he said I don't think so. Okay? So then I asked in my one-on-ones with the manager, is that possible? We'll look at it. Okay? I didn't ask them to take that street and get it done right then and there Once I was told it couldn't be done, okay we'll wait. And now it's utilities that need to be done? Okay let's get it going boys. Let's get is going.

Okay? I want to clarify that. That's what happened. That is the scenario that happened. Mr. Manager, you're a good man and you work with me as much as you can. I'm frustrated, I'm sorry, I am frustrated. Things need to work better than they are. I get it all, I'm new to this but I get the fact that you have to go through a process okay I'm willing to wait. I've waited, I've been very patient but when I get an email, when I ask when Lake Ave Long Patch is gonna stop and I was told by the end of the month off in conversations not on Council floor, but in conversations with people. It's going to stop by the end of October.

But now I say it's getting close to the end October while I have you on this email about Master Road. How about Long Patch on Lake Gab? When is that going to start? and the response is several weeks, I'm sorry. I don't want to hear that. That is not acceptable. And then when I write back, several weeks where you know We only have several weeks left before you can finish your job. Then I'm told, well maybe three weeks. Three weeks is into November so I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you my colleagues for allowing me to explain what exactly happened, thank you.

We'll send that to the manager or those in favor of opposed so ordered Next, I'm requesting a manager to provide counsel with an update concerning the previously adopted order of March 31st, 2026. Requesting Manager and Commissioner of Inspectional Services to provide Counsel with a draft ordinance related to imposing escalated fees into undeveloped blocks that have been underdeveloped and vacant for more than five years to request the same manager by council with an updated report concerning our potential legal impediments into enacting such an ordinance. Councilor Bilotta.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If it's possible I'd like to make an amendment to add fees for just not maintaining the property. Because that's really what brought me to submit this back in March and why I'm submitting it now, we have a lot of properties In my district, other councillors have them too that are owned by folks that they're not maintaining the property. They're not securing it. Lots of vacant lots on Franklin Street that are just... and so forth. We have a lot of empty properties that are just neglected I'm talking about Wall Street, Franklin Street. Even here in downtown 5 Salem Square has sat vacant for many years and now the fence is coming down.

I've had conversations with folks from The Bid in AC Marriott downtown they're concerned about that property sitting vacant, folks are camping out on it now it's just collecting trash so I think we owe it to our constituents and our neighbors what to make sure that property owners are being good neighbors and making sure that their properties are taken care of because it's and it costs the city a lot of money. And I think we need to hold people to better expectations when it's really negatively impacting constituents in residence. So, would appreciate an update on this. Thank you.

I just want to sign on. I would like to see the report as well, so.

Okay, you wanna sign on, Councilor King?

Thank you Mr. Chairman for offering a friendly amendment. please ask everyone why they rise not just me thank you Mr. Chairman that being said I'm hoping that they'll be allowed a friendly amendment to ask that in addition to the and the draft ordinance that's authored by this office of the solicitor, that it also include in addition to that draft Ordinances from similarly populated municipalities. Mr. Chairman, this is one of the challenges that we have not having city council budget for legal. This is one of the challenges we have when our number-one priority but yet we can't come with a draft ordinance to present to this body.

Instead, we gotta convince folks one, two, three, four times perhaps due to the rules of this council. When it comes back, when it goes, if we're gonna send it to committee or not, it's gonna come out of the committee, and it's important that we have a holistic picture of these sorts of issues Mr. Chairman with our own attorney, we'd have the ability to do that. And I'm not going to belabor that point. But what I will ask is for that friendly amendment so along with the city administration's draft ordinance that we have an idea of where it's being pulled from and other contexts for consideration during a public hearing in the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman

Thank you. Mr. Manuel?

Yeah, through the chair of the council I just want to add a little bit to this because I know this has come up and we've talked about it even in my one-on-ones with the councillor This is extremely difficult for us to do. In some ways, we're not allowed to do this. We actually back in 2010 as a city were sued because we implemented or we tried to implement something like this So I think we'd be happy to bring out a report in terms of what happened back in 2020 and the impacts of that. But again, this has been talked about in the previous council, it's been talked again with this council. This is something that the city cannot do. And we've been sued in the past for trying to go down this direction. So again, sometimes not answering ordinances is not because the city administration is not choosing to is because there's real impacts of this that has been communicated as well.

Chairman, just some response to that since that's directly to me. Mr. Chairman, that communication, just do it, Chair, did that come back to the Council? I don't recall. has it come back in the form of a report? Through the Chair, has it- Through the Chairs and the Councilor.

Has it been discussed on the floor whether it's being brought forward on the report or not, it has been discussed and deliberated on this floor.

A lot of things have been discussed to happen occurred so I'm gonna ask again to the administration has it come before this body in the form of report that's gone to a committee for discussion?

Mr. Mayor, he's gonna have to come back with a report.

To the council, it has been discussed a number of times on this floor. Whether we come back with a report or not, that information is the same. So it's semantics to come back because conversation has happened. There's meeting minutes that happen so the information has been

So what I'm hearing is that this item should be filed. Mr. Chairman? No, I'd like to get a report on it. That's what I was saying. Once again, this body needs information We don't have our own legal counsel to look at it, to vet it outside of assertions regarding legal matters from the administration's counsel. Now, if we're going to go down this road, we can go down on a whole lot of items as relates to recommendations to this body from the administration regarding legal matters. And I'm not going to there. So I'm not quite sure why the heightened animation, but it's very clear that what I'm asking for makes sense. What I'm asking for makes sense, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Councilor Bergman?

Through the Chair and City Manager, I just want to make sure I understood something that was said a few moments ago. Was an earlier report whether it was presented Let me rephrase this. Was the earlier information given to us that we can't do this? Whether it was a report or whether it was just done by oral discussion.

It has been discussed, it's been provided in discussions not only on this floor but also to the councillors one-on-one about the challenge to be able to do something like this. Again, I'm not opposing to bring up a report. I was just stating the facts of what has happened in the past I think my words was mischaracterized of whether I should bring back a report or not. So, I think that's the challenge. I never said I wasn't going to bring back up a report. I just said there were discussions on this on the floor, and that these things have happened including the fact that we were sued back in 2010. So I was just stating a fact. I was not saying that I was opposed to bringing up a report.

I appreciate that. And I guess one of the reasons I rise is And I'd like to see this in economic development, because I think there's an opportunity to discuss some of the pros and cons. Then we know there are cons I would say that at first blush what concerns me, and I'm not saying I'm opposed to it but what happens if the property is in litigation? what happens if there's environmental issues that can drag up a lot much longer than five years. What if there is an estate situation where they're trying to sort out who owns the property? That can go on more than five year so I mean, I don't know what potential legal impediments to enacting an ordinance there could be. I'd like to hear what they are, and I don't think there should be the effort of making a draft ordinance before we discuss whether or not it's even worth going that route because if what i'm hearing is correct in the past perhaps the negatives outweighed the positives.

I have some concerns that may or may not be part of that conversation about the negatives that way and the positives, I have no issue taking it. And I'm not suggesting go to ED so it gets dumped there and never gets earned. I would make a commitment of hearing you know rather soon but I don't know the value of creating an ordinance without having us have the opportunity at least at the committee level to kind of sort out the unintended consequences, if there are any. I think there are some and whether or not the pluses outweigh the minuses that's my thought on it.

Okay so Council Rivera? I'm sorry, Councilor Ojeda was next.

Sorry. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's fine. No, I rise just to ask to the administration, to city manager. I know we have talked about these concerns that we've had with Underdeveloped Lobs, also Problem Properties as well. And you had mentioned the city being sued or whatever but has there through the chair to the administration. Has there been conversations? What ideas or what things have you guys been trying to come up with to address some of these issues due to the city manager?

Yeah, through the chips of the council. Sometimes what happens is we work with the property owner to either sell the property or develop the property. Right. There is significant enforcement that happens in these properties and like the council mentioned, this repetitive enforcement has to happen. because there's blight. Sometimes, it's further issues if the property owner is not maintaining, et cetera. and so we have to be consistent on that. But what we do is, we also try to sit with them and talk to those property owners and say hey Is there an opportunity to develop this property? Are you interested in selling it? Can we get you a developer or somebody that may be interested in acquiring these properties. sometimes that helps to get some interest, generate some interest.

and sometimes it's a matter of the property owner working through the process, the planning process or design process for all the concepts on what they want to build on that property. And giving them the ability to kind of navigate that and so it could be a property owner may not have the full capital to be able to invest in it but they want, they're working you know to try to acquire or I mean uh to try get some additional funds developed the property. So again, there's nuances to each individual property but that's what we do as administration in working with the property owners of these individual parcels.

All right, thank you. And another question does it make sense I guess to again push this to MLO to help with some of our policies that probably hinder us from being able to push these owners to do something with some of their lots and things like that? Or are we just in a situation where we're just going to continue to do this back-and-forth play you know, giving them a fine or having conversations and then we just again like Councilor Bergman said five years later we're still in the same spot.

Mr. Manager?

Yeah, through the Chair to the Councilor. I think again it is extremely difficult to understand... Let me take that back. we have tried to look at different ways in which we could potentially serve this purpose but it has become difficult because there has been precedence that the city has been sued when we've gone in this direction and trying to find someone for not developing the property. It's one thing to find somebody that maintaining, there's ordinances about maintenance and illegal dumping and all that other stuff But to find someone because they're choosing not to develop the property, that's a different scenario. And in some ways what this is asking for do we find somebody because that property is vacant, not because it's blighted? If it's lighted then it's our responsibility to enforce that and provide the violations.

Potentially if a developer I mean a property owner if they choose not to pay those violations sometimes or deal with the violations, then we have to go to court. And the courts try to force their arm and they'd choose not do that, then there's possibilities where we can potentially even lien the property right there's certain legal matters or legal steps that needs to happen for us to get there but again one of the challenges becomes on us finding somebody just because they're choosing not to develop that property. And I think that's what we get into We have some challenges in thinking through, even across the entire nation to find ways that we could be able to do that. And so that's where I think again based on what has happened in the past and again like I said We're not opposed to bringing a report. I actually have it slated to come to the council very soon that the commission has been working on, to respond to this I've never said I was not going to provide a report. I was just trying to communicate what has happened in the past related to this particular issue.

And I don't mean to cut you off, thank you. and I agree, right? It's important to keep those open lines of communication what has happened in the past. Obviously this is an area that we've gone back and forth with the three years I've been here, I know we've discussed this a lot. And yeah, it's obviously we have to have some of those tough conversations but we definitely have to figure out what way is gonna help our city to move on from these areas because sometimes they become and I see a lot of them in our district, in my district and throughout the city. So it's something that I feel as though we got to continue pushing and finding ways I'm not sure if finding them is the way, but we have to use that terminology to continue pushing the level of how we're going to work together to take care of this situation or address this situation. I'm all for it so thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Rivera. What purpose do you rise?

I rise just to- Clarification. Clarification but also between the conversations between Councilor Bergman and Ojeda and the city manager the reason I signed on is to get exactly what was transpired here. So, I'm satisfied that I know what's coming in the report. Okay you want a report? Thank you.

Councilor Rosen?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

There's one word in the order that was confusing to me and that's a draft ordinance related to opposing escalating fees Now I think there's a big difference between, because we have fees all through the city. Legitimate fees by ordinance. I assume that the maker of the item meant fines which is a penalty. A fee isn't necessarily a penalty a fine is a penalty. Now, a lot of these lots we have them all through the city blights on the neighborhood, the City of Worcester but a lot are mine So are we saying through an order like this that if a property owner is holding on to that vacant lot but keeping it neat and clean, no overgrowth maybe even planting a few tulips in the season.

Are we saying that we're going to find that property owner because that property hasn't given the city what we want? What we want, I guess would be many cases would be housing, residential housing and so on. So I think we have to be careful here. I think an order like this kind of assumes that any property that's been vacant for over five years is a blight. And I don't agree with that, there are many property owners in this city who are holding onto property and it's not a blight. And yeah, I wish it would be developed and I wish you would be residential but they own the property. The city of Worcester does not own the So my motion is going to be on this order, to file the order. Because I don't even think going through with this and we'll eventually, I guess hear from the large amount. I don't even think this is legal. I do not think anyone keeping maintained well-maintained property just because it's vacant?

The city can tell me five years three years 15 years The city can say to me, I know your property looks really nice and those tulips are beautiful but we don't want tulips there. I just don't see it. So, I'm gonna make the motion to file it because I just think this is going in the wrong direction here. This is penalties and if you want fines or you want penalties then change the word fees to fines as it should read because I think that's that's the intent of this order. So motion Mr. Chairman to file, thank you.

Prior to doing so Councilor King, forward Councilor Bergman. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Sorry Rob do you have your hand up? Thank you, Mr. chairman. I just want to first a question, point of order which is I made a friendly amendment so if it's filed does that amendment become a motion or what happens? Moves your amendment. I just wanted to know if there existed, if there was consideration given to similarly populated municipalities that do this sort of thing. I want a report back.

No, that would be a separate motion.

Okay, so I just want to make sure that's a separate motion. I don't disagree with a lot that's being said here regarding finding someone for property that they're taking care of, et cetera. I'm not sure if that was the spirit of this. It's not how I took it. Perhaps if it said blighted maybe folks would be more receptive to that but what I'm interested in and want to be clear is and similarly populated municipalities. Are there such ordinance? If they are, I'd like to see them. So I understand that folks are saying it's not legal. I'd a report back on that exact issue Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Councilor Bergman, on purpose to your eyes?

At this point I'm going to oppose the motion. Do you want to oppose? Well, I'm going to agree with Councilor Rosen to file. I'm gonna oppose the order, I should say If it was going to go to ED with some more broader opportunity to address the issue without it being fines or fees, I don't know why oftentimes when it comes to property owners, there's always what can we do to penalize them? We could take different tact and say maybe this is a way to incentivize. property owners that aren't developing their properties. But we're not doing that, at least with this order. I think we should with some orders. And I would also say that I'm reminded when I was listening to Council Rosen

of a situation last term or the term before where there was a property that was very controversial, very much in the minds of a lot of neighbors to take down which it was. and the tax on that property went from a tax on a large commercial building to a much smaller tax on vacant parking lot. What did that get us? City lost money on that. I don't think that's forward thinking, I think there may be situations where fines and fees are appropriate if it's blighted but I agree in thinking through now with the way it's being presented and looking closer at how its worded, listening to what other Councilors have said including Councilor Rosen I'm more of a free market kind of person if they're not doing something wrong this is kind of like an eminent domain situation. It's like, we're gonna force you to do something even though you're not doing something illegal.

I can't abide by that so I will support Councilor Rosen's motion to file.

Bilotta. Yeah, just to clarify yeah I would welcome this going to ED so we could maybe further suss out and have it be maybe you know I'd be open to amending the language to say what can we do to just enforce better for properties that are blighted? I don't know what properties Council Rosen is talking about, but I've never seen any vacant properties. They're not filled with tulips or filled with trash and broken glass and needles and tires and furniture. And they're consistently dumped on that's happening in the neighborhoods that I represent. and it's been happening for years. And so I'm trying to figure out what can we do to tighten up on property owners that are negligent, that don't care? Bergeron, and I know there's plenty of good property owners too. And I agree with Councilor Bergman what can we do to also incentivize? are there sticks and carrots, what can we do? But I think it would be great to send this to economic development or have it further discussed to see what incentives we can do. Can we change open changing the language about

you know, only going after vacant blighted properties. So that's really the intention of this. I'd be open to sending it to Economic Development having us further discuss.

So your amendment is the Senate that's going to have a development and two, which is Conrad Bergman checked just before but also regarding blighted properties. Correct.

Mr. Chairman, just a point of clarification or order. This is a request for an update. This matter was already adopted by this council in March of 2026. So this is to file the request for an update, right?

That's going to be clear. Well he's amended it to say blighted and now I'm gonna go to Councilor Rose in the office if he still wants to take the file off. You just had mentioned if you change some of the words,

As Councilor King suggested, Mr. Chairman, yeah we're dealing with this order for an update but I just don't think this is legal. I'm not even sure it's legal, I wish it were, but I'mnot even sure its legal with blighted property. I think owners of property have property rights and that comes with their ownership. And the city doesn't own these vacant lots, and I disagree with Councilor Bilotta that there are several lots in the City of Worcester owned and properly maintained so I don't want those owners of those properties to be punished. I know he's amended it to say blighted property, that's even a tough thing, that word blighting property, tough thing to decide. I don't know who's gonna make the decision that you got a few little ridges here and there, Overgrowth, or you got trash. So Blighted isn't easy. I don't know who has the wisdom of Solomon to make that decision so my motion stands to file this item. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Okay, so the first motion is to file. That takes precedence. The second motion would be as amended in Senate of Economic Development along with the word blighted properties, and that's where this would be sorted out as I would think. But first my motion is to file a roll call.

Councilor Bergman? No. Council Bilotta? No Councilor Economou? Yes. Councilor Rosolo?

No.

Council King? No, Councilor Mitra? No Councilor Ojeda? No councilor Rivera? no Councilor Rosen? yes Councilor Toomey? Mayor Petty.

No, so the second motion is to send it to committee as amended. Should we have a roll call on that or?

Roll call. Bergeman, Belotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Yes. And Mayor Petty?

Yes. Okay, next item, request the manager to request that the police chief provide increased speed and traffic enforcement on Gordon Memorial Drive in the vicinity of Beatrice Drive. Councilor Rivera. All those in favor, opposed, so awarded. Next item, requesting manager request the commission of Public Works with the permission of Parks and Recs and Cemetery to review the feasibility of including contracts associated with resurfacing and or reconfiguring of curbs and sidewalks a clause that would require contractual deployment One Tree Per Property Along Affected Area, Council Rivera.

Yes, so this came about because I have a lot of constituents believe it or not who are very much into making sure that the city is beautified with the trees. Right now, the current policy of the city is if a tree dies, the homeowner has to request a new one. No one else can request even through the normal 311 channels. So that means there are a lot of trees that die and never get replaced, So basically, this is kind of just hoping that we can move along the same guidelines as residents can. the contract, resurfacing new sidewalks, new areas and then they can contract with you know the tree part being implemented. Right now, if you look up at 311 just so the residents know.

The deadline to request a tree planting is January 1st And the request must be submitted by property owners. If you are a tenant and would like a tree planted in front of your home, please coordinate with your landlord to submit the request. All tree planting requests are reviewed in winter and most approved trees are planted during the following spring season. So we also have to know, please note that submitting a request does not guarantee a tree will be planted. And I did want to ask through the chair of administration can you give me more information on I see that there's a $500 fee for a memorial tree. Are you kind of, never heard of a memorial

To the Chancellor's Council, oftentimes residents would want to memorialize a tree by honoring a family member or friend or somebody. And so to do that there has to be a purchase of that tree and the final $500 is for the acquisition of the tree.

Gotcha, all right. And they wanna make sure that, just wanna let the residents know that that's in there as well, thank you.

Thank you, so this is a clarification. So there's two issues here. One, you're trying trees in general not associated with reconfiguring of the streets resurfacing

This is just trees in general.

Oh, it's just trees and not associated with resurfacing? We have a policy for resurfacing. Yeah no, just trees. If you could just clarify that because I'm confused. Yeah, I thought this was in regards to resurfacing a street or curb that the tree you'd like to have a tree planted.

Well normally when for example on Stafford Street they did a whole

to resurface the street.

Resurface the whole street, right?

Yeah.

No trees.

So we have a policy, we had a policy that property owners... The staff tree might be different because it's businesses so I'm not sure of that but neighborhoods They usually ask the residents what kind of trees you want to put up. At one time, this was several years ago, I'm not sure if that's changed.

So is this order kind of... Go ahead, chair through the signature.

Yeah, to the council. Our policy has shifted in a sense where we want to plant trees as much as possible of any street and any sidewalk Historically, what has happened is we would go out to the business owners or the residents and say, do you want to treat yes or no? And if so, where would you want us located within this area? And oftentimes most Business Corridors, people would say no I don't want trees because they either don't wanna maintain it or they wanna deal with perhaps any other maintenance related to the trees et cetera. and so there are scenarios where trees were asked not to be planted. Our policy is we want to make sure that we plant as much trees as possible across the city any time We do reconstruction on a sidewalk, et cetera. It's to plan as much as we can depending on the neighborhood and the situation.

but there are scenarios where people request not to and that's why we want to get away from that, where then we should be able to be putting trees because we need the tree canopies across the city. And we need to be making sure that we have an ability to add some trees across the City.

How do we get away from that? If we have a certain amount of space, let's say it is not in front Council, we are doing that in every design.

There are scenarios where their residents or the business owner is pushing back on us planting that. So what we do is, we don't offer the option now to not plant a tree. We offer the options of moving the planting of the tree but we are now moving forward where we are planting trees. It's just giving the resident or the business owner the opportunity to decide where they wanna move that tree.

In that case, if we already have a policy on this then I'm just gonna follow that item.

Okay, so file that. All those in favor, oppose? So ordered. Nine H, request the manager arrange a community forum as soon as possible for representative of Amazon to provide city residents and business owners with more information and details related to expected primary drone service, which is a program that intends to launch drones from Amazon Distribution Center in Westboro into portions of said city. Said community forum should be held in the part of the city that's expected to be served by Amazon Strong Delivery Service, Councilor Rosen.

Mr. Chairman we can take 9H and 9I together

request manager, request C solicitor by council to report detailing the addition or changes if any might be needed to address the C zoning ordinance in a way that would require the C as more control and regulation of the location where companies could propose the utilization of drone launch sites. Councilor Rosen?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Mr. chairman I know that the council recently voted to ask the city solicitor for a report on what authority we might have. to control drones being launched from Westboro in particular, but maybe any other city or town into the City of Worcester. And I know hopefully that report will be forthcoming and Nai Nai is kind of an addition to that request of a week or two ago. And I would hope that the city solicitor would you know, consider this also. This is in addition to the what we actually passed and this is asking you know what can we do if anything? If Amazon or any other company wants to launch drones from on Worcester property, within Worcest. Right now we are threatened, I think that's a good word, we're threatened by the launching of drones from Westboro and that's only a portion of our city.

So Nai Nai goes with the previous one, and I hope that the City Clerk will address that. The town has been speaking up the most and has really opposed this Amazon drone, these drone flights has been the town of Westboro. And last night it was coincidentally last night the town voted Westboro overwhelmingly to create a bylaw and I'm not sure if this is legal but they're not either, create a bylaw restricting unmanned aircrafts and unmanned air craft systems from being flown in navigable air space in the town of Westboro. Now that has to go I think Attorney General's Office, it goes to the Department of Transportation and Aeronautical Division. And I have a feeling that they're not gonna support Westboro's attempt to control the airspace with those drones. But it was a tribe and it was overwhelmingly supported by the public last night in this small town of Westboro, 13 people

didn't support it, 510 people did. Over 500 people at this meeting so Westboro was really concerned the public in Westboro is really concerned about this as they should be and that's why if we go back now to 9H, that's I filed that because on September 23rd in Westboro they invited Amazon to come and speak to the community about what they plan to do. There's a lot of questions out there, there's questions on the city council I'm sure and by the administration. None of us have all the answers but there was a lot of questions among the public and business owners in Westboro, and Amazon came and spoke to them. And it just created more questions and more conflict between Amazon and the public. I would like if we can to have a meeting scheduled but not, I didn't call it a public meeting.

I chose the words community forum because I want Amazon to present that's what I want. I don't want a public meeting like we've had all across the city over decades where the city presents, we just had one about roundabouts over at Chandler or the former Chandler Magnet School just within a few days and that, to me is a public meeting. This is more community forum where people can come and the city's not running it and the cities are not giving all the answers. Amazon's telling us you know, what they plan to do. They have a couple locations here in the city of Worcester that they plan take advantage of those locations and start launching drones here within the city, and maybe sending them out from the city to other places. So there's many, many questions I'm just asking you 9H can we please invite Amazon to speak to the residents in the City of Worcester in that area, I guess it's the area we'll say of North High maybe a meeting at North High. So the residents in the area there are going to get this drone service. It looks like like it or not

they can at least ask questions and maybe get some answers from Amazon. So we should do that, I mean they've been doing that in Westboro it seems to me that we're just waiting for a report I think we have to be a little more proactive unless this is something we want if people, if the council say hey i want this let's get them here next week don't do anything to delay it. I don't think that's what the public thinks in this city of Worcester, so I think it's incumbent upon us to try and get Amazon to come in, answer our questions and that'll help us decide where do we go from there after we hear the answers to our questions. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Councilor King, purpose to arise?

in opposition to 9i. Mr. Chairman, certainly support bringing Amazon in for a community discussion. The more informed the community is, the better.

Thank you.

regarding zoning ordinances. I know it was mentioned that this would be relative to public property, but it's not in the actual order so I'm not sure if that's an aspect of this or not. My understanding, we can do some things as relates to Public Property regarding takeoff, landing, et cetera. Trespassing things of those nature Reckless Endangement, Criminal Mischief, Issues with Wildlife, etc. But just asking the author if this is specifically about public property, nine I. I don't know if it is or not, I'm not gonna vote for it.

Okay so for clarification on that council?

Yes, just real quickly on this. Just taking a look at what the town of Westboro passed last night and again it may not be something we agree with. It may not even be legal but briefly regulations on the staging launch, landing, loading, unloading or delivery use of any unmanned aircraft which would include drones without authorization and prohibits the establishment utilization or operation of any launch point, didn't specifically say public property. It also strengthens provisions protecting public safety quality of life. I know we care about that on the city council in privacy and imposes a $300 penalty per infraction. So they mean business in Westbrook, whether this'll pass muster with the Attorney General and maybe federal authorities, I don't know. But it was at least their way to try. In 9 , all I'm asking is the

you know, recommendation or some information from the city solicitor to see if there's something we have to do without our zoning ordinances. If we don't want Amazon, Tigard Walmart, and many others. And even smaller business than people who aren't in business to use our airspace here in the city of Worcester to launch these drones so it's just informational in 99 we can really make a better decision once the city solicitor comes back with the proper information thank you

King. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if there's a... Well first of all I just want to say for the public we've been through this before regarding the drones through charity administration my understanding is that We can regulate from public, publicly owned land to a degree. Not privately-owned in terms of launch, et cetera. So through charity administration if we could have someone respond to what we're able to do as a municipality, particularly given the fact that we've had this discussion before through the chair.

Mr. Manager, City Solicitor or want to get a report? May I have some sauce with it?

through the chair to the counselor, you can regulate within parameters of the federal and state regulations. So you can enact zoning ordinances that would Regulate the area, the launch size all that of takeoff. You generally cannot regulate flying and flying operations you can't regulate airspace air travel and you could narrowly tailor an ordinance that would really go to the anti-surveillance privacy nuisance of noise of the neighborhood. So there are options. You just have to really see within the parameters of regulations.

Thank you. So, Chair, you're saying that those options can be applied outside of publicly owned land? I'm talking about specifically Launch and all those things. Clearly, as it relates to privacy, trespassing, harassment is something separate. But as relates to this specific regarding what was stated, Amazon and controlling regulation over companies from launch sites are you saying that you can do that relative to launch sites, which is specified in this order outside of public property away from public property?

through the chair to the councilor. So zoning regulates all land in this city, so you would have to get a permit that could potentially regulate the size, the dimensions, what hours take off. Again these are the possibilities I would wait to see what happens at the Attorney General's office with Westboro because they are proposing an ordinance like this but this is all in the realm of possibility. You cannot adopt an outright prohibition, but you can put reasonable regulations.

On private property to the chair?

through the chair, there could be a permit process. Zoning, that's what zoning does or you could restrict it to the business districts not in residential. That's all part of the zoning process

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Councilbergman?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise to some clarification and perhaps opposition. One of the things that I don't really understand, Maybe I'm speaking just for myself, maybe my colleagues have had been inundated with concerns from constituents about this issue. From what I read about what happened in Westboro, it looks like until the legality of that is decided, Amazon's not going to be launching from Westboro. So if they're not launching from westboro, they ain't coming to Worcester. and if they ain't coming to Worcester, it looks like we're looking for a solution for problem that isn't yet existed. Under nine I, we're talking about drone launch sites I didn't see anything about Amazon's anticipated use of airspace to drop packages in Worcester where they'd be launching from Worcestere, they'd been launching from Westboro. And again

as it stands currently, sounds like Westboro is not letting them launch from Westboro. We could start talking about all these things that might happen, might not happen. It might be ruled illegal, unconstitutional, probably will be to some aspect but we've got so much other stuff to do? Why are we focusing on what might possibly happen when we know right now it's not happening until there is a legal decision that undermines or disputes what Westboro has done. I'd rather focus on so many of the other issues we have before us. Maybe this becomes an issue if If Westboro's decision gets overturned, I do agree with Council Rosen. I've seen the videotapes. I have seen Amazon drop a package in a pool OK, damage the product. But I've also seen them drop a package in Houston, Texas on a barbecue grill and cause a fire. I understand there are potential issues but

I'm not hearing a swell of people in Worcester worried about that. I hear them worried about the bottles and the upcoming winter, and so many other things. We're spending so much time now talking about what could happen when right now there's nothing happening. Westboro has shut it down until the court orders otherwise, so I'm gonna... Unless this gets reworded in a way that doesn't have The drive or the need to be discussed so quickly and so imminently, I just think this could clearly stay on the back burner for a long time. And I don't know how that happened without either filing it or rewording it but I just can't get excited about hypotheticals when there's real problems to deal with.

Okay, so take each side separately. We have Council Rosen for the second time.

Just to respond to my friend and colleague Bergman. First of all, I'm asking for a report. I'm not asking to ban anything or stop anything. I am just asking if in the future we want you know, stop launches of these especially commercial drones. Is there any way we can do that? If there is would that mean changing zoning ordinances? So I'm asking for the solicitor's opinion She gave a short version of her opinion tonight, and that's good. And I'm sure we can get in writing a longer version and maybe have a discussion with that. I think the Councilor, my colleague here is suggesting that we shouldn't be proactive. We should wait for it to arrive wait for Amazon to announce the next day, hey in the old Greendale Mall property we're gonna start our launches. Sorry Worcester, we didn't tell you just like WPI never told us about the hotel fiasco So I mean, I'm trying to be proactive.

To say that well let's wait till there is trouble and then we'll deal with it. that's not what the public expects of the city council on any issue. We go through this all the time, we're very reactive but we wouldn't be so reactive if we were proactive and that's all I'm asking now. Maybe there'd be no problem in the future, and I'll agree with Councilor Bergman, I hope there won't be but Westboro has been proactive, they're dealing with it. They had over 500 people at a meeting last night we should invite Amazon to come in and say, what are your future plans here in the city of Worcester? We'd like to know. And maybe they'll say hey our future plans are to launch drones with packages from the City of Woricester and if that's the case then we can decide, oh maybe that's what we want. It's not what I want and I don't think it's what many people want. I don know who Councilor Bergman has heard from.

I dunno how many Since I brought it up a week or two ago, maybe that's why I've heard from more. But the people I've hear from, one was in favor of these drones coming to Worcester from Westboro with packages and by far maybe a dozen anyway who contacted me through email, phone calls. And when I bump into people in the community against this. Now they just, none of us know enough about it. Let's let Amazon explain what it's all about, answer a lot of the questions and then we can go from there, but I just wanna be proactive. I'm not trying to create a problem that doesn't exist or find the solution to a problem it doesn't exists. That type of attitude and those types of comments they're just so frustrating for me on me, okay? I'm trying to help the people of Worcester to be transparent about this whole problem. I'm sorry that maybe a councilor doesn't think it's a big problem and we should deal with other big problems.

We are dealing with other problems. Public Works tonight. We've been talking about homeless, we've been talkin' about roundabouts, we're talking about traffic and everything else. Okay this isn't eliminating topics that are more important. It's not eliminating what the council should discuss, it's just being proactive so please don't make such a big deal of it and say oh we got other things to talk about Yeah, we do. And we do that and this is one of the other things we have to talk about. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Councilor Mitra?

Thank you Mr. Chair, to you too the manager I just wanted to know that if there could be in a very simple way we find out from Amazon by engaging representatives from the city what is their plan before we do all these things. I like to be proactive, but I just want to make sure that They are having a plan to do anything in Worcester. Have they officially given us any notice or not? Or I haven't heard from anyone, anything either but I think if there is a hearsay like that it might happen then If Citi could proactively take a role to engage someone just to find out what Amazon is planning, are they going to be using the drones or not? I personally think that advancement of technology is unstoppable. It's going to happen no matter what, but it should not hurt us nor harm us. But I think it would be a good idea probably from your office if you find out where they stand.

Thank you. Okay, thank you. So we'll take them separately. H, does anybody have a problem with H? Do I need to roll call that or do I just send it to the mayor? Roll call, roll call.

On both or is this one?

No, H. H. Councilor Bergman? Yes. Council Member Bilotta? Mayor Petty. Yes, okay we have I roll call. Councilor Bergman? No. Councilor Bilotta? No Councilor Economou? Yes Councilor Rosolo? Yes, Councilor King? No, Council Mitra?

No

Ojeda? No. Councilor Rivera? Yes. Council Rosen? Yes, Council Toomey? No and Mayor Petty? Yes Mr. Mayor that fails. That's 5-6

Motion to reconsider. Motion to reconsider, roll call.

Bergeman? No. Councilor Bilotta? No Councilor Economou? No Councillor Zolo? No, Councilor King? No councilor Mitra? no Councilor Ojeda? no, Council Rivera? no. Council Rosen? Yes Councilor Toomey and Mayor Petty.

Okay, I think council... I'm sorry, Councilor King. Do you have a motion in there? You wanted the... Councilor Kings' motion was in favor of postal audit J. Recurse to the manager, request the commissioner of public works provide counsel with a report concerning feasibility for establishing a proactive annual pothole repair program We're in the Department of Public Works Systematic Reviews All Public City Streets and fills all proposals encounter them and we'll wait for 311 service request to be submitted. For requests that report all cool information concerning feasibility conducting a similar annual program We have all sidewalks located in the Highway Travel Pedestrian Area, Councilor Mitra.

Thank you Mr. Chair, to you, to Mr. Manager. Mr.Manager we this evening we heard a lot about the delay in the process, the frustration of Councilors about getting things done. And I understand that there are reasons for why it happened. Nobody does it intentionally, everybody tries to work hard to get things done and serve our residents in the city But we are here to see if we can come up with some kind of policy that will expedite, it'll help our own process and get things done on time. and help the residents to really get what they want to get. And that's why I thought of this, that you know, I have been...I like the idea of being proactive always. advocating about it from the beginning of my coming to the Council. I suggest that maybe there could be a process that you can request this

and the Commissioner of the DPW to see if it could be worked out that annually, if we have our own people go proactively find out how many potholes that we have district-wise. And come up with a plan on how we can really go Just take care of them because the roads, the sidewalks, the potholes are all features of being safe in our city for our residents. We want to provide that safety, so I wanted to see if we can come up with an annual plan that the Commissioner could come up not only for potholes but also for sidewalks. and I not only depend on the 311. The reason I'm saying is because last week, I had placed an order to 311 requesting on Strewsbury Street an uneven place to be fixed because of an incident and 311 replied back next day saying after digging everything it has to be a

A petition from the resident of that street. When I'm a councilor, I am requesting to fix but overrode my request saying there has to be a petition coming to fix that and The order that you have placed is closed. That's why I'm not so much having faith in 311, some people are quite happy with 311 in our city and some are not Everybody should be happy. But when we have this split, I like to see that we don't just depend on 311 to report something to go and fix. I want us to be proactive, I want our departments to be pro-active. I want all departments inspectional or other people to be engaged to go see cities streets public streets see how many potholes they can detect and close it and fix it Same way to the rest of these sidewalks. So I think we can bring the safety more sooner with a plan. All I'm requesting here, to come up with a policy and a plan

that will help and serve our city the best possible way. And that's my order on this particular item, thank you.

Let's send that to the manager. All those in favor or opposed so record, request manager, request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility conduct a citywide survey of damage, faded, missing, otherwise illegible street and traffic signs or places as needed Councilor Mitra

Mr. Jett, that is I would say, as it reads, is simple enough to go and see all the signs which are faded. And if those could be fixed then that's also for helping our citizens and our residents to take care of their business properly. Thank you.

Bergman, what purpose do you rise?

I guess perhaps to amend that. I certainly support it. I don't oppose it, but I would like a report through the chair if my colleague accepts the amendment. I certainly think it's a friendly one I'd like a report from the commissioner on what's the process when a city employee goes down the street to fix a pothole or to repair a sidewalk. Do they even take note of the street signs? because I can tell you driving around just to get into this building today for our meeting, I noticed more signs than I care to notice that have problems. Street signs are either missing or they're bent or they're tipped and if somebody, if an employee of the City of Worcester Department of Public Works is going down a street I'd like to know through an amendment, if there's no objection. Is there a policy for them to take note of whether or not the streets are... There's no way with 370 miles of streets

and Rose in the City of Worcester that residents can call it all in. They're not going to. First of all, a lot of people don't want to make the effort to do it. Second of all those who do, thankfully plenty do, they can't cover that many streets and signs. picking up garbage. I would think when we got garbage trucks out on their routes, they would see whether or not the street signs are crooked or bent or missing. And maybe they are and maybe they call it in. I think we've had some conversation in the past and I got the impression that there is a process but if we could get a report on that, that'd be great.

I'm okay with that.

So as recommended with Councilor Bergman, Senate City Manager, all those in favor of post-awarded. Okay we have reports of subcommittee public works 12A to 12F, motion is accepted and to adopt. All those in a favor are post awarded. 12G to 12I, motions accept. All those in favor oppose so ordered. 13A, motion is accepted and to adopt. all those in favor, oppose, so ordered. 3B and three to 3E, motions accept. All those in favour, opposed, so order. So that brings us to the end of this meeting. Mr. Chairman a motion to suspend the rules. Motion to suspend rules, roll call. Okay, the motion was to suspend the rules and do a roll call. Roll call.

Councilor Bergman? Yes. Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Mayor Petty.

Yes, Councilor King? Thank you Mr. Chairman, just briefly we're off the next two weeks is my understanding through the chair and just wondering if the clerk could speak to the elections coming up and early voting before we adjourn through the chair.

To give us a quick rundown, how many ballots have we gotten there? That's what I want to know. And I'd like for him to speak really quickly for the public.

Through you Chair and to the Council, so we've mailed about 18,000 ballots to Worcester residents in the past few weeks. We think we received as of this afternoon probably close to 6,500 of those ballots through the mail returned. Early voting started this past Saturday was voting until seven o'clock at the library tonight there will be voting tomorrow until Friday of next week at the library. So far in person, we've received close to 900 ballots as of this afternoon between Saturday, Sunday, Monday and today. So we're averaging about 200 to 300 voters a day in person. I would say, in the mail, we'll probably get another 600 to 1,000 ballots the next few days. The drop boxes are being collected daily, we pull about 200 ballots a day from those drop boxes so people are voting I think

the questions are taking a little more time we're encouraging people to vote by mail or early voting in person if you don't know if you are not um you know here on election day or don't want to participate on Election Day those options are here for residents

Mr. Chairman, if you want to know what the schedule is for early voting right?

I'm sorry. Sure but i was also going to just ask if we could just explain where do i vote tab on them

Through the Chair to the Council, correct. So there at the where do I vote tab is on the city's website as well as on the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website and folks can put their address in, their name and they can find out their polling location. With early voting as in past elections, you can just go to the library all the ballot cells are there Rivera, you don't necessarily need to go to your assigned location with early voting. The only thing that you have to go your assigned is on election day of course. Okay.

Councilor Rivera? Is this motion to suspend the rules? Yeah, we already did that.

Okay great. I know rather do it each time. I just want to make a motion see if we can take 14F off table item.

14F off the table? Yes, please. 14F. Okay so motion is not debatable. Is communication team manager transmitting information and communication relevant to how the U.S. Department of Justice report Brueggemann.

Polato, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey and Mayor Petty.

Yes, Councilor Rivera.

So basically I wanted to take this off the table Mr. Chair because I think as we all know and we've heard and we discussed this so much We've also had many meetings and many communication with Chief of Police on all of the and all the stuff they're doing with the police department in the direction the city is moving forward. So, with that said I just want to move to file this item.

What's that? Did what? I missed it.

I want to move the file this item.

Motion is to file on Councilor King,

Thank you Mr. Chairman, this is my motion that's still awaiting additional information so this particular motion requests the differentiation between the city and the DOJ report. So at the time this was filed there had been a a subcommittee meeting public safety where it was represented some of the areas that the Worcester Police Department was in agreement with the DOJ report. We requested, well I requested and the council supported getting some additional information regarding that report came back The report was incomplete, Mr. Chairman. It didn't have the places where As it's stated, I don't have it in front of me here.

Let me just hold this for a second. where there was differentiation and whether it was agreement. So the reason this was held, there was an order attached that was filed subsequent to this asking for the additional information So that's there as a placeholder until said information comes forward. And so, Mr. Chairman, This particular matter is certainly important. I'm not going to vote to file this. Mr. Chairman, I would just ask the chair if there's not a vote to fire what happens with the item? does it have to be, like what happens? What's the process? If there's not a vote to file let's say it's voted down then what? Because this is a report communication that's partial.

I never made it to where it needs to go after my order requesting for the additional information.

So through the chair of the council, so basically procedural this was held twice. It was put on the table because we couldn't hold that anymore and then you took it off the table for discussion tonight, you can file it. You can send it to a committee. You could put it back on the table

And how many votes to put on the table?

Six votes. You need six votes to take it off the table, six votes you put on a table.

The motion of file takes precedence, correct? Correct. Okay. Mr. Chairman, I would ask that either this be sent to committee or that we hold this item, I would ask that it's not be filed. It's premature to file. If it is filed, I can file additional things requesting the information in its totality moving forward that was not included as part of this communication, Mr. Chairman. This communication has not gone to Committee, from what I recall. I just want to be clear through the chair to the clerk This particular item, is this the communication that came out of committee that was held? Or is it the communication That was requested and never made it to committee through the chair.

I stand corrected. The table takes questions over the file.

Okay. through your chair to the council.

So my understanding, this is the manager's report so... Is it the one that came out of committee or just the one I requested and I said was partial? You can answer what I asked for but did that communication ever go to committee?

This particular communication, I have to do some research on it. Okay. This is the report that you asked for that was sent?

Right and they held it because it's incomplete but you're saying Mr. Mayor, you're sayin' that it was already sent to committee, that's the one or is this the one? No no, this is a report. So Mr. Chairman, I would ask that this be tabled. I don't have a problem filing a motion for the additional information that was requested. I'm going to ask that it be tabeled again. This hasn't even made it to committee. for public discussion. And I'm not sure who's on that committee currently or who's serving on that Committee, but I would ask this be tabled again if it's not tabled My next second motion would be sent to the committee and I'll pursue the additional information.

Okay, so first motion will be to table it, second motion will would be to file it, third motion is sent to committee. Councilor Bergman?

I was just going to say, I'm going to support the Councilor Rivera's motion to file. all but a few people recognize that investigation is over. I don't see how it benefits the council and the city to have a conversation about this particular item in the manner that it's being asked. Premature I would say, I disagree, I would stay at stale the investigation is over. And I think it's important for the city to move forward. Worcester Police Department has addressed many of the issues and and by all accounts what I hear when i go to neighborhood meetings and police watch meetings is that the chief is doing a good job and the department's doing a obviously many of my colleagues are free to file whatever future items orders they want regarding this issue but as far as issues, this issue that's been held for this period of time I would support Council Rivera's motion to file.

Okay, so we have a motion. The first motion is to table the item back on the table. Roll call. Councilor Bergman?

I just want to be clear, I missed what you said. This is the table.

The first motion is to send it back up to the table here.

All right, I'm all set then, thank you. Motion to table? No. Councilor Bilotta?

Councilor Economou? Councillor Rossello? No. Councillor King?

Yes.

Councillor Mitra? No Councillor Ojeda?

Yes

Councilor Rivera? No. Councilor Rosen? No Councilor Toomey? No And Mayor Petty? No Motion is to file, roll call Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty.

King. Since we're under suspension in response to this, I'd like to file a motion requesting that the information that was not provided related this particular order that was previously adopted be sent to the council and so the request is for an update. Not that it happened, already been requested an update on the request for information that was not included in this particular order Mr. Chairman, that'd be my motion and I'm going to hold that motion thank you

Let me just go on to the next agenda anyways. Because it's not an emergency, so we'll go on the next for discussion.

That's fine.

Which one is not an emergency? The one that was just said. No, I need you to put the fourth. So it goes on according to our rules. Don't worry if I'm wrong. It goes onto your next agenda because of open meeting issues.

Right, right. Okay but the other item was on emergency items so I don't know if you can explain point of order, point of clarification?

I'm just saying it goes on an extra agenda according to our rules. Otherwise, if you wanted to take a vote tonight, we'd have to show an emergency.

I understand. Yeah. So in addition to that Mr. Chairman, just like a ruling on that on removing that from the table. Do the chair to the clerk, my understanding is that to apply that during suspension of rules have to be unreasonably anticipated anything regarding that? or an emergency. So through the chance of the clerk, if you could just read the requirements of that please?

Through the chairs of the council, so basically council rules dictate that any table item we have to publish every council meeting. So the table items are on manager calendars and on council calendars. The reason they're on the calendar is that council has the ability every time there's a council meeting. So in order to have that discussion, you have to have the six votes to take that item off the table to have a discussion. That's what took place earlier and then you can take an action on it which was actually filed I think based on what your motion was, it's a motion for report and then you decided to introduce it tonight which you can always refer back to the next meeting discussion.

So the point of order was when that item came up 14E prior to the end of the meeting, there was no action taken on it. And then it was taken under suspension of rules after the conclusion of our business. They didn't take up 14E. It was a request for suspension of rules, which means it was outside of the time allotted for the council and it would have to be taken up under unreasonably anticipated or an emergency. I had no anticipation under suspension that would come up, and that's why I'm able to file my motion So to the chair, I would ask that you rule that particular motion out of order. came under suspension. One motion then, one motion.

The motion to take it off the table could have occurred when you went to item 14 if he called for 14 whatever it is, 14F during the council meeting, he never asked that. He asked for a suspension of rules after which would not be necessary unless we had concluded the business of the council and that would make it out of order, sign an emergency or unreasonably anticipated could have been spoke of if requested to speak on 14F. That's not what happened.

No, 14F we already took care of that you can take it out anytime during the meeting or after the meeting the history has been we usually do it under suspension at the end of the meeting and that's been the history of the Councilor Pacillo that will stand the way it is your item will go forth Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Go ahead, Councilor Bergeron. I'm sorry, motion for reconsideration?

The one we just voted on under suspension.

Bergman? No. Councilor Bilotta?

No. Councilor Economou? No. Councillor Zolo? No, no. Councillor King? No no. Council Mitra? No Council Ojeda? No Councillor Rivera? No! Councillor Rosen? No

Basically, a motion that my colleague just put forward is pretty much the same thing we just filed. So I'm going to put a motion to vote it down.

Mr. Chairman, that's not the same motion.

He asked for an update I believe so I don't know if we can actually have that debate until next week. Okay, we'll have it next week then. Is that true, Madam Solicitor? I just... Yes. That's true? Okay. She said she has this for next week's agenda. Economou. The next meeting. Okay, so motions to adjourn. I'm sorry Councilor Economou? Just real quick, Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Sunday we had a cleanup the city manager his clean team. We cleaned up around Kendrick Park, some of the side streets off of that, West Boylston Street from New Bond up to Fail Street and I just want to give thank you with thank-yous ado City Manager's Clean Team the Department of Sustainability and Resilience, The Quality of Life Team, The Neighborhood Response Team, Worcester Jobs Corps. And of course, the kids from South High Honor Society. We had over 70 over 70 people there. They did a great job around Kendrick Park and again the side streets off then along with Boylston Street, and we filled up I think it was close to 100 bags of litter from that area. So, I just wanna say thank you and thank you to all those who have helped, thank you.

Thank you, motion is to adjourn. All those in favor? Opposed, so moved.