City Council 11/25/2025

November 25, 2025
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City of Worcester City Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: November 25, 2025 Governing Body: Worcester City Council Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Attendees: Mayor Joseph Petty, Councilor Morris Bergman, Councilor Donna Colorio, Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, Councilor Khrystian King, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Luis Ojeda, Councilor Jenny Pacillo, Councilor George Russell, Councilor Kathleen Toomey.

Executive Summary: The City Council approved the minutes from the previous meeting and voted to hold several items for future discussion, including audit reports from the Worcester Police Department and items related to the fiscal year 2026 tax classification package. A significant portion of the meeting involved discussion and a vote to hold an item concerning the future of 100 Providence Street, a former ambulance service location, with councilors expressing concerns about emergency response times and the potential for private EMS services. The Council also placed on file the appointment of Daniel Foster to the Historical Commission and recommended the appointment of Stephen Toomey to the Planning Board. Financial updates and loan orders were also addressed. The meeting concluded with commendations for the City Clerk and election staff for their professional conduct during a recent recount.

I. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance

  • The meeting was called to order by Mayor Joseph Petty.
  • The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

II. Roll Call

  • Present: Councilor Morris Bergman, Councilor Donna Colorio, Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, Councilor Khrystian King, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Luis Ojeda, Councilor Jenny Pacillo, Councilor George Russell, Councilor Kathleen Toomey, Mayor Joseph Petty.
  • Absent: Councilor Nguyen.

III. Approval of Minutes

  • Motion: To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

IV. Holding of Agenda Items

  • Motion: To hold items 11A and 11B (audit reports from the Worcester Police Department) as requested by Councilor King.
  • Motion: To hold items 8A through 8G.
  • Motion: To accept the third version of the Fiscal Year 2026 Tax Classification Package and revised version to make necessary adjustments to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 municipal budget, and to hold all items for the reconvened tax classification hearing on December 9, 2025.
  • Vote (on all holding motions collectively):
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motions passed (11-0).

V. Public Participation

  • Rule 39: Public participation allows speakers up to two minutes on eligible agenda items, with a total of 30 minutes for all speakers.
  • Rule 40: Primary petitioners may address the City Council for up to three minutes on the subject of their petition.
  • Speaker: Fred Nathan, Worcester Resident
    • Items Addressed: 9B, 9C, and 9D (speed limit signs) and the tax classification.
    • Summary of Remarks: Mr. Nathan expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of speed limit signs and speed humps, stating, "People race from one sign to another." He also speculated that the new tax classification table was necessitated by properties, such as those owned by WPI and other colleges, being removed from the tax rolls, impacting the city's tax base. "WPI took all the property with the hotels off the tax rolls, and now you gotta figure out, oh my God, we made a mistake here. How are we gonna correct it?"
  • No other public speakers.

VI. Hearings and Orders

A. Items 7A to 7G (Tohono Location Permits)

  • Motion: To open the hearing for items 7A to 7G.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).
  • Discussion: No opposition was voiced regarding the Tohono locations at Grove Street, Lovell Street, and Mill Street.
  • Motion: To close the hearing and adopt items 7A to 7G.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

VII. Petitions

A. Item 9A

  • Motion: To refer item 9A to the Public Works Committee.
  • Outcome: Referred to Public Works.

B. Items 9B to 9J

  • Motion: To refer items 9B to 9J to the Traffic and Parking Committee.
  • Vote (collectively):
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

VIII. Manager's Calendar

A. Item 10.1A: Appointment of Daniel Foster to Historical Commission

  • Subject: Transmitting Information and Communication relevant to the appointment of Daniel Foster as an alternative member of the Historical Commission.
  • Motion: To place item 10.1A on file.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

B. Item 10.2A: Appointment of Stephen Toomey to Planning Board

  • Subject: Recommend the appointment of Stephen Toomey to the Planning Board.
  • Recusal: Councilor Kathleen Toomey recused herself from this vote.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (10-0, 1 recusal).

C. Item 10.13A: Aaron Brody Wound Camera Assistant Trial Program

  • Subject: Transmitting Information and Communication regarding the Aaron Brody Wound Camera Assistant Trial Program.
  • Motion: To send item 10.13A to the Public Safety Committee.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

D. Item 10.26A: Financial Update for Period Ending September 30, 2025

  • Subject: Transmitting Information and Communication with the financial update for the period ending September 30, 2025.
  • Motion: To send item 10.26A to the Municipal and Legislative Operations (MLO) Committee.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

E. Items 10.35A-C, 10.36A-C, 10.37A-B (Finance Items)

  • Subject: Various finance items.
  • Motion: To adopt items 10.35A-C, 10.36A-C, and 10.37A-B.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

F. Loan Order (Finance Item)

  • Subject: Recommendation for adoption of a loan order.
  • Motion: To adopt the loan order.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

G. Item 11C: 100 Providence Street (Former Ambulance Service Location)

  • Subject: Communication from the City Manager regarding 100 Providence Street.
  • Discussion:
    • Councilor Russell requested to hold the item a second time and send it to the Public Works Committee at the next meeting. He also requested information from the administration regarding the ambulance service that moved out of the location and UMass's redoing of their ambulance services, citing concerns about emergency response times in that section of the city.
    • Councilor King supported holding the item, emphasizing the community's concern about response times when the station was shut down. He inquired about the plan for the parcel and the safety of residents, particularly the aging population.
    • City Manager provided an update:
      • The city has engaged in a study on the entire network of ambulance services in partnership with UMass.
      • An outside consultant was awarded a contract about a month ago to conduct a comprehensive study to identify challenges, gaps, and solutions for ambulance services city-wide.
      • The City Manager confirmed interest from private EMS services and other organizations in the 100 Providence Street property.
      • The administration concluded it was best to issue an RFP for the property due to significant mechanical and structural needs, to explore potential EMS or other neighborhood services.
      • The City Manager stated that data requested by Councilor Russell could be provided quickly, while the comprehensive study would take longer.
    • Councilor King advocated for sending the item to committee with the requested reports rather than tabling it, to expedite the process of potentially establishing life-saving services.
    • Councilor Russell reiterated his preference to hold the item until more information is available, to avoid prematurely initiating the sale process through a committee referral.
  • Motion: To hold item 11C under privilege.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

IX. Suspension of Rules

  • Motion: To suspend the rules.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).

X. Commendations

  • Councilor Haxhiaj commended City Clerk Evangelio, Deputy Clerk Claire Robbins, AJ Pottle, the Election Commission, and all volunteers for their "amazing coordinated, professional, extremely well-organized recount." She noted that attorneys from across the state considered it "one of the best high caliber operations that they'd seen."
  • Mayor Petty echoed the commendations, expressing pride in the team's professionalism during the recount.

XI. Adjournment

  • Announcement: The City Council will not meet next week. The tax classification hearing will be held in two weeks, on December 9, 2025.
  • Motion: To adjourn the meeting.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Bergman: Yes
    • Councilor Colorio: Yes
    • Councilor Haxhiaj: Yes
    • Councilor King: Yes
    • Councilor Mero-Carlson: Yes
    • Councilor Nguyen: Yes
    • Councilor Ojeda: Yes
    • Councilor Pacillo: Yes
    • Councilor Russell: Yes
    • Councilor Toomey: Yes
    • Mayor Petty: Yes
  • Outcome: Motion passed (11-0).
  • The meeting was adjourned.

Last updated: Jan 10, 2026

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