City Council 06/02/2026

Vice Chairman Khrystian King called the meeting to order. A roll call was conducted to establish a quorum.

• Present: Councilor Morris Bergman, Councilor Robert Bilotta, Councilor Tony Economou, Councilor John Fresolo, Councilor Satya Mitra, Councilor Luis Ojeda, Councilor Jose Rivera, Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Kathleen Toomey, and Vice Chair Khrystian King.
• Absent at Start: Mayor Joseph Petty (arrived later in the meeting).

The Council considered Item 3A, the approval of the minutes for the City Council meeting held on May 5, 2026.

• Action: The minutes were approved.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 6-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, King voting Yes).

The following individuals provided testimony on various agenda items:

• Fred Nathan (Worcester): Spoke on Item 7A regarding hospital guards for prisoners, Item 21F regarding grant transparency, and accessibility issues at the DCU Center.
• Idella Hazard (Worcester): Advocated for the restoration of the Aries Ann Ward plaque at its original location in Great Brook Valley, noting she appeared on the program This Is Your Life with Ms. Ward as a child.
• Gary Hunter (District 5): Supported Item 10U regarding affordable housing and advocated for rent control and police reform, specifically suggesting the hiring of mental health workers.
• Gordon Ward (Petitioner): Spoke on Item 10Q and 20A regarding his great-grandmother, Aries Ann Ward. He stated: "I strongly urge this council to refer the naming of the Park to the Parks and Recreation Commission for further research and discussion."
• Greg Migradician (Worcester): Expressed opposition to Item 26I regarding the installation of speed bumps, citing concerns for emergency vehicle access and snow plowing.
• Joe Johnson (Worcester): Supported Councilor Bilotta's order regarding Tree of Heaven management, emphasizing the need for best management practices for invasive species.
• Fred Taylor (NAACP Worcester): Supported Item 10Q to preserve the legacy of Aries Ann Ward.
• Joelle Ward (Auburn): Descendant of Aries Ann Ward; urged the council to maintain the legacy of the park name.
• Christopher Crawley (Worcester): Supported Item 10Q and maintaining the name Aries Ann Ward Park Playground.
• Wilson (Worcester): Commented on potholes and suggested reallocating City Manager salary funds to Public Works.
• John Hamilton (Worcester): Supported the Ward family and the restoration of the park's original honor.
• Chris Betancourt (Holden): Spoke on Item 10A regarding the replacement and redesign of historic street signs in the Pleasant Street area.
• Nellie Medina (Worcester): Supported the Ward plaque restoration and requested the immediate painting of a crosswalk at Beaver and Richard Streets (974 Main Street).
• David Webb: Supported Items 10I, 10Q, and 10R; criticized the police department and the billion-dollar budget (Item 5A).

The Council discussed Petition 20A by Gordon Ward to return the Great Brook Valley playground to its original name, Aries Ann Ward Playground, and Item 10Q regarding historical commitments.

• Discussion: Councilor King presented a video clip from the television show This Is Your Life featuring former Mayor James O'Brien. The clip included the following quote: "...the new playground in the Great Brook Valley Gardens will henceforth be known as the Aris Ann Ward Playground."
• Action: The Council moved to refer the items to the City Manager to bring before the Parks Commission on June 11, 2026, and to the Veterans and Parks Memorial Standing Committee. A request was made to pause any renaming efforts until research is completed.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 10-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey voting Yes).

The Council moved to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing litigation strategy.

• Action: Motion to convene in executive session.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 10-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey voting Yes).

The Council considered an order to amend Section 5 of the City's Inclusionary Zoning to increase funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

• Discussion: Councilor Bilotta noted that the Affordable Housing Trust Fund has utilized $19.5 million in ARPA and CPA funds and suggested increasing the contribution percentage to 5% to leverage more units.
• Action: Referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 11-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty voting Yes).

Councilor Fresolo raised concerns regarding the current status of pothole repairs and the 311 reporting system.

• Discussion: Councilor Fresolo questioned why the previous 24-hour repair guarantee was no longer being met. The City Manager responded that the "rule of thumb" remains 24 to 48 hours, but road deterioration and resource allocation for street sweeping have impacted response times.
• Action: The report was accepted and the administration was urged to prioritize the 24-48 hour repair goal.

The Council voted on two honorary street name designations.

• Item 17B: Order to give Lovell Street (from Columbus St. to Garland St.) the honorary name "Zella Nunez Way."
• Item 17C: Petition regarding the honorary designation of "Gordon-Hargrove Way."
• Vote Outcome: Both items approved 11-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty voting Yes).

The Council took up several financial items collectively.

• Items: 22.35A through E, 22.36A through F, and 22.37A through D.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 11-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty voting Yes).

The Council made motions to adjust the upcoming meeting schedule to accommodate budget hearings.

• Action: The meeting was recessed until June 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The regular meeting scheduled for June 9 was canceled in favor of a joint meeting on June 16, 2026. The Council voted to take up the Committee on Finance (Budget) on June 9.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 11-0 (Roll Call: Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty voting Yes).