City Council 06/30/2026

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Joseph Petty. The Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner were performed.

Attendance:

• Present: Councilor Morris Bergman, Councilor Robert Bilotta, Councilor Tony Economou, Councilor John Fresolo, Councilor Khrystian King, Councilor Satya Mitra, Councilor Luis Ojeda, Councilor Jose Rivera, Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Kathleen Toomey, and Mayor Joseph Petty.
• Absent: Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor George Russell, Councilor Donna Colorio, Councilor Jenny Pacillo, and Councilor Etel Haxhiaj.

Several residents addressed the Council regarding Item 5A, the City Manager's evaluation:

• Gary (Resident): Expressed a need for stronger leadership regarding ICE, housing, and homelessness. He called for a total charter review, stating, 'The city is desperately looking for leadership.'
• Ashley Spring (Western MA): Called for increased transparency and stronger leadership.
• Fiona Jatan Singh (District 3): Criticized the City Manager's salary relative to performance, citing issues with unpaved private roads, the lack of a Spectrum senior discount, and police use of force.
• David Webb (Call-in): Criticized the 'Quality of Life Task Force' for displacing the unhoused and noted that Polar Park is not paying for itself.
• Glenn Pape (Call-in): Argued that the city is 'flying blind' without a performance scorecard. He stated, 'Performance means achieving targeted outcomes that meet public needs.'

The Council reviewed the City Manager's self-assessment of the administration's work for FY 2026. The discussion focused on departmental performance, financial health, and strategic goals.

Key Discussion Points:

• PILOT Agreements: Multiple councilors, including Economou and Rosen, demanded more aggressive negotiations for Payment in Lieu of Taxes from colleges and universities. Councilor Economou noted the loss of nearly $2 million in tax revenue from WPI-acquired properties.
• Infrastructure and DPW: Councilors expressed frustration with the 'process' of repairs. Councilor Economou cited catch basin and streetlight repairs taking months to complete. Councilor Mitra requested a $20 million loan for road repairs, which was previously denied.
• Public Safety: Councilor Toomey noted that while crime is down, public perception of safety was impacted by a recent stabbing on the Common. She highlighted the signing of a Home Rule petition to raise the maximum age for police recruits.
• Housing: The administration was commended for having over 1,800 units currently under construction, though Councilor Bilotta urged a better balance between luxury and affordable units.

Councilors provided individual scores and qualitative feedback:

• Councilor Economou: Rated the Manager 24/25 for skills; praised the Tacoma Street Playground project.
• Councilor King: Issued a rating of 'Needs Improvement.' He criticized the 'debacle of the stretch code' and the lack of a funded mental health co-response model.
• Councilor Rosen: Assigned a 'B+' (Exceeds Expectations). He provided a 12-point list for FY 2027, including stopping the May and Chandler Street roundabouts and building a pool at Beaverbrook Park.
• Councilor Mitra: Urged the adoption of 'SMART' goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) for all departments.
• Councilor Toomey: Assigned a score of 171/200.
• Mayor Petty: Assigned a score of 165/200, praising the city's growth and the Manager's empathy.

City Manager Eric Batista thanked the Council and staff, acknowledging that municipal government is undergoing a massive technological transition. He highlighted the implementation of the 'Workday' system and new CAD/RMS systems for public safety.

Official Action:

• The City Council voted to file the City Manager's evaluation (Item 5A).
• The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of the evaluation. The next meeting is scheduled for the third week of July 2026.