Executive Summary
At its September 8, 2026 meeting, the Worcester City Council engaged in extensive public testimony and debate regarding police oversight and the City Manager's recommendation not to establish an independent municipal Civilian Review Board (Item 22A). Following a detailed presentation by Chief Equity Officer Kevin Levancy highlighting the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) complaint process and Worcester Police Department (WPD) internal accountability measures, the City Council voted 8-3 to file the Manager's report, while approving orders for bi-annual accountability benchmarks and data on rising arrest numbers. In addition, the Council defeated motions to reconsider orders directing the installation of signage prohibiting civil immigration enforcement (ICE) on municipal property (Items 8A and 8B), designated September as Worcester LGBTQIA+ Pride season, and requested an administration report on implementing in-road warning light crosswalk systems to enhance pedestrian safety (Item 22C).
Meeting Details and Roll Call
- Date: September 8, 2026
- Governing Body: Worcester City Council
- Meeting Type: Regular City Council Meeting
- Roll Call: 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.
Worcester LGBTQIA+ Pride Season Proclamation
- Mayor Joseph Petty presented an official proclamation recognizing 53 years of Worcester Pride activities and designating September as Worcester LGBTQIA+ Pride season.
- The proclamation affirmed the contributions, visibility, and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and acknowledged the work of the Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Affairs and the Human Rights Commission.
- John Pitsley and staff from the Woo Bar accepted the proclamation on behalf of the community, noting: "To be officially recognized as a safe space for the LGBTQ plus community is an incredible honor... It is about ensuring that hospitality means true inclusion, where safety, respect and celebration of diversity are just as fundamental as the hospitality we provide."
Public Participation
- An extended public comment period was held concerning municipal police oversight, immigration enforcement signage, and municipal services:
- Municipal Civilian Review Board (Item 22A):
- Numerous residents and community leaders spoke in favor of creating an independent Civilian Review Board (CRB) with subpoena power, emphasizing transparency, trauma-informed oversight, and accountability.
- Fred Taylor, President of the Worcester NAACP, stated: "We are not advocating for a Civilian Review Board simply because we want our community to have a seat at the table; we're advocating for a Civilian Review Board because we believe the entire city will benefit from greater transparency, accountability and public trust in policing."
- Reverend Joseph Rizzutti recounted a 2019 incident where he and his family were arrested and tased at Cornerstone Bible Baptist Church by WPD officers, noting subsequent acquittals and arguing internal reviews failed to hold officers accountable.
- Resident Donald Bork spoke against establishing a CRB, stating that board members would carry inherent anti-police bias and that oversight would make police officers' jobs more difficult.
- Other residents, including Drew Schneblin (via letter read by Sue Swanson) and Casey Panarelli, cited findings from the Department of Justice inquiry, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau report Overdue for Civilian Oversight, and the CNA Racial Equity Audit to support external oversight.
- ICE Civil Enforcement Signage (Items 8A and 8B):
- State Senator Robyn Kennedy, Frances Anthes, and Jillian Phillips (Office of New Americans) spoke in favor of installing signage prohibiting civil immigration enforcement on municipal property to protect immigrant residents and access to public spaces.
- Municipal Infrastructure and Services:
- Resident Any Thibodeau testified regarding deteriorating roadway conditions on Ardmore and Hancock Hill (Item 10T) and requested modernizing municipal trash trucks to prevent leaking fluid and debris.
- Municipal Civilian Review Board (Item 22A):
- Procedural Action: Motion to suspend the rules to extend public comment was adopted: Passed 11-0.
Public Petitions on Traffic, Parking, and Street Designations (Items 10A–10Z, 11A–11Z, 12A–12O)
- Dave Carver addressed the Council regarding his request for a handicap parking space in front of 50 Bristol Street (Item 12B) due to ongoing parking citations on abutting property; the matter was referred to the Traffic and Parking Committee.
- Lorenzo Atwood and Councilor Robert Bilotta addressed traffic concerns and visibility issues at a sharp bend on Millbrook Street, requesting traffic mirror replacements (Item 11B); the item was referred to the Traffic and Parking Committee.
- Councilor Luis Ojeda noted a petition requesting an honorary street designation on Oread Street from Main Street to Beacon Street as "Ruth Rodriguez Fay Way" (Item 10V).
- Referrals:
- Items 10A–10C were referred to the Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Committee.
- Item 10D was referred to the Public Health and Human Services Committee.
- Items 10E–10X were referred to the Public Works Committee.
- Items 10Y–10Z, 11A–11Z, and 12A–12N were referred to the Traffic and Parking Committee.
- Item 12O was referred to the Veterans Memorial, Parks, and Recreation Committee.
- Action to refer items collectively: Passed 11-0.
Municipal Civilian Review Board Report and Recommendations (Item 22A)
- Chief Equity Officer Kevin Levancy presented an administration report on the city's police oversight framework and the recommendation not to establish an independent Civilian Review Board:
- Levancy outlined the city's current "hybrid model" operating through the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in partnership with the Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS) and the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission.
- Noted that the DEI office employs five civilian investigators (three with MCAD experience and trauma-informed training) to investigate protected-class harassment, discrimination, and excessive force with bias across municipal staff and police.
- Reviewed trend data showing an 81% reduction in excessive use-of-force complaints between 2018 and 2025, with single-digit annual complaints since 2023 coinciding with the tenure of Police Chief Paul Saucier and the rollout of body-worn cameras.
- Highlighted the independent DEI complaint hotline (508-799-1995), which received 140 total contacts between December 2024 and July 2026.
- Outlined ongoing efforts toward Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) accreditation across 274 professional standards, with 49 departmental policies already revamped.
- Outlined structural challenges to establishing an outside CRB, including multi-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, lack of statutory access to confidential personnel records, and significant funding requirements.
- Council Discussion:
- Councilor Khrystian King raised a point of order objecting to the distribution of a 55-page presentation packet without prior inclusion in the public council packet and argued that qualitative data was excluded.
- Councilors Kathleen Toomey, Jose Rivera, Gary Rosen, Candy Mero-Carlson, and Mayor Joseph Petty expressed support for current administrative reforms and opposed creating a CRB, citing fear of politicized boards and duplication of the POST Commission and DEI office.
- Councilor Satya Mitra advocated balancing options with fairness to the current police leadership and proposed benchmark progress reports.
- Councilor Luis Ojeda questioned the hiring background of investigators and requested data examining the rise in overall arrests from 2,470 in 2021 to 3,885 in 2025.
- Councilors Robert Bilotta and Khrystian King spoke in favor of civilian oversight, citing findings from the 2024 CNA Racial Equity Audit indicating that 44% of surveyed department personnel agreed disciplinary action favored connected staff.
- Motions and Votes:
- Motion by Councilor Khrystian King to suspend the rules to extend speaking time to request the Research Bureau report: Failed 5-6, with Councilors Bilotta, Fresolo, King, Ojeda, and Mayor Petty voting in favor, and Councilors Bergman, Economou, Mitra, Rivera, Rosen, and Toomey voting against.
- Motion by Councilor Satya Mitra requesting the administration provide bi-annual benchmark reports on police misconduct and use-of-force allegations: Passed 11-0.
- Motion by Councilor Luis Ojeda requesting a report detailing the drivers and primary offenses behind the increase in arrests since 2021: Passed 11-0.
- Motion by Councilor Gary Rosen to place the City Manager's report on file: Passed 8-3, with Councilors Bilotta, King, and Ojeda voting against.
Department of Justice Investigation Closure Discussion (Items 22B and 23F)
- Councilor Kathleen Toomey withdrew her order (Item 22B) requesting a Standing Committee on Public Safety public discussion regarding the closure of the Department of Justice's investigation into the Worcester Police Department, and moved that tabled communication Item 23F remain on the table.
- Item 22B was placed on file: Passed 8-3, with Councilors Bilotta, King, and Ojeda voting against.
- Councilor Khrystian King raised a point of order asserting he had sought recognition to speak on Item 22B before the vote was called. Mayor Petty acknowledged a procedural oversight.
- Motion by Councilor Khrystian King to reconsider the vote on Item 22B: Failed 7-4 (eight votes required for reconsideration), with Councilors Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, and Mayor Petty voting in favor, and Councilors Bergman, Rivera, Rosen, and Toomey voting against.
Reconsideration of Signage Prohibiting ICE Civil Immigration Enforcement (Items 8A and 8B)
- Prohibition Signage and Enforcement Ordinance (Item 8A):
- Motion by Councilor Khrystian King to reconsider the vote of August 18, 2026, requesting the City Manager install signage on municipal property stating property may not be used for civil immigration enforcement and draft an enforcement ordinance.
- Reconsideration failed 5-6, with Councilors Bilotta, Fresolo, King, Ojeda, and Mayor Petty voting in favor, and Councilors Bergman, Economou, Mitra, Rivera, Rosen, and Toomey voting against.
- Multilingual Signage Requirement (Item 8B):
- Motion by Councilor Khrystian King to reconsider the vote of August 18, 2026, requesting that required municipal signage prohibiting civil immigration enforcement be posted in all appropriate languages.
- After Councilor John Fresolo requested to change his initial vote, a procedural motion to reconsider the vote was adopted: Passed 11-0.
- On the substantive vote, reconsideration failed 5-6, with Councilors Bilotta, Fresolo, King, Ojeda, and Mayor Petty voting in favor, and Councilors Bergman, Economou, Mitra, Rivera, Rosen, and Toomey voting against.
Board and Commission Appointments and Administrative Business (Items 13A, 13B, and 13.4A–13.4C)
- Appointments by the City Manager under Items 13A and 13B were placed on file: Passed 11-0.
- Confirmation of appointments to the Accessibility Advisory Commission were voted individually:
- Appointment of Lauren Tiberio: Passed 11-0.
- Appointment of Jennifer Maddox: Passed 11-0.
- Appointment of John Finn: Passed 11-0.
- Proposed amendments to the Salary Ordinance were approved for advertisement: Passed 11-0.
- Items 13.4A through 13.4C were held under privilege.
Financial Approvals, Borrowing, and Chairman's Orders (Items 13.308, 13.35A–13.37C, 14A–14R, and 21A–21W)
- Communication regarding the upcoming DCU Special Tax District Borrowing (Item 13.308) was referred to the Municipal Operations Committee: Passed 11-0.
- Financial transfers, loan orders, and grant authorizations under Items 13.35A–13.35H, 13.36A–13.36B, and 13.37A–13.37C were adopted: Passed 11-0.
- Chairman's orders under Items 14A through 14R were adopted: Passed 11-0.
- Planning Board item (Item 17.88) was referred to the Economic Development Committee: Passed 11-0.
- Reports under Items 18A–18B, 19A–19Z, and 20A–20N were accepted: Passed 11-0.
- Ordinances under Items 21A through 21W were ordained: Passed 11-0.
In-Road Warning Light Crosswalk Systems (Item 22C)
- Order by Councilors Khrystian King, Tony Economou, and Kathleen Toomey requesting the City Manager, Commissioner of Public Works, and Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility research installing in-road warning light crosswalk systems in high-pedestrian traffic corridors to enhance pedestrian and motor vehicle safety.
- Councilor King noted previous installations at Washington Square and stressed the need for timeline commitments on dangerous crossings such as Shrewsbury Street.
- City Manager Eric Batista noted that past rapid flashing beacon systems had replaced older in-ground lights at Washington Square and agreed to provide an evaluation on maintenance, impact, and power requirements.
- Councilor Economou emphasized the need for clear maintenance protocols and designated departmental responsibility.
- Order adopted and referred to the City Manager: Passed 11-0.
Joint Meeting Request with School Committee and Adjournment
- Councilor Gary Rosen held Items 15A through 15L and pending resolutions under privilege for the next council meeting.
- Motion by Councilor Khrystian King under suspension of the rules requesting that the City Council Standing Committee on Education convene jointly with the School Committee Standing Committees on Operations and Governance to review matters of public education, libraries, arts, culture, and higher education was adopted: Passed 11-0.
- Motion to adjourn the meeting: Passed 11-0.