City Council 09/22/2026

• Mayor Joseph M. Petty called the meeting to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.
• Roll call was taken by the City Clerk, recording the attendance of Councilor Bergman, Councilor Bilotta, Councilor Economou, Councilor Fresolo, Councilor King, Councilor Mitra, Councilor Ojeda, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Rosen, Councilor Toomey, and Mayor Petty.

Members of the public and representatives of community organizations addressed the City Council under Rules 39 and 40:

• Item 18B (Public Camping Ordinance and Strategic Homelessness Framework):
  • Rhiannon Snide, staff attorney with Central West Justice Center, opposed the camping ordinance, noting Worcester has over 1,100 unhoused residents but fewer than 200 shelter beds, asserting: "The proposed ordinance may state that being unhoused is not a crime, yet section E3 authorizes enforcement by criminal processes and Section F imposes a $25 daily fine for noncompliance. People will be punished simply because there's nowhere to go."
  • Mike Cain, representing the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke in strong support of the administration's framework, highlighting recurring costs incurred by business owners for biohazards, trash, and property repairs, and stated: "Treating public spaces as informal shelter alternatives serves neither this population nor the community at large."
  • Meg Coffin of Your Access Advocates highlighted that the waitlist for accessible low-income housing is roughly 30 years and argued that assessing a daily fine of $25 on individuals living in encampments creates an insurmountable barrier to stability.
  • Jonathan Morales, representing the Worcester Affordable Housing Coalition, emphasized the shortage of deeply affordable housing and urged the city to focus on preservation and shelter expansion rather than punitive measures.
  • Vincent Pedone, representing the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association, voiced support for the manager's initiative to tackle encampments and safety issues around East Park.
  • Several public commenters and individuals with lived experience urged the council to reject fines and encampment sweeps, advocating instead for low-barrier emergency beds, permanent supportive housing, and public restrooms.
• Item 10L (Optiline Enterprises and Responsible Development Ordinance Enforcement):
  • David Manejian, representing the Carpenters Union, and Fred Taylor, President of the NAACP, urged strict enforcement of the Responsible Development Ordinance (RDO), stating that Optiline Enterprises—a drywall subcontractor working on a 364-unit project at 274 Franklin Street receiving $11 million in local tax relief—had documented findings of retaliation, threats of deportation, and wage theft against immigrant workers, and should remain banned from city projects.
• Item 18A (Comprehensive Police Reform Proposal):
  • Heather Prunier Stanek addressed the Council regarding past trauma and the systemic lack of transparency in Worcester Police Department internal investigations, requesting full release of investigative records and urging the Council to adopt independent oversight mechanisms.
  • Several public commenters spoke in favor of independent civilian oversight and external investigation protocols.
• Other Agenda Items:
  • Bill Hughes spoke on Item 13A regarding neighborhood traffic impacts of rezoning 25 Chester Street.
  • Gordon Ward spoke in favor of Item 8B, supporting the honorary street designation for Arizan Ward on Laurel Street.
  • Public commenters voiced support for community midwifery expansion (Item 10E) and addressed pedestrian safety, sidewalk markers, and road conditions (Items 8A and 8C).

• Councilor Economou requested that protruding granite survey markers that stick out 6 to 9 inches above sidewalk grade in the Winter Heights neighborhood be cut down to pavement level for pedestrian and wheelchair safety.
• The item was taken out of order.
• Outcome: Referred to the Department of Public Works.

• The Council considered a report of the Planning Board on the petition of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester requesting an amendment to the zoning map to establish an adaptive reuse overlay district encompassing 25 West Street (former Mercy Center property).
• Outcome: Motion to refer the report to the Standing Committee on Economic Development passed 8-1-2 (Roll Call: Councilor Economou voting No; Councilor King and Councilor Rivera abstaining).

• Councilor King spoke in support of requesting the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to collaborate with Worcester Community Midwifery to explore municipal support, facility development, and parking/site coordination for a licensed birth center and mobile clinical midwifery van.
• Discussion highlighted that Worcester sees approximately 7,000 annual births and lacks a licensed independent birth center.
• Outcome: Referred to the City Manager.

• The Council opened and held concurrent hearings on utility and street petition items 7A and 7B.
• With no members of the public speaking in opposition, a motion was made to adopt.
• Outcome: Adopted.

• Petition by Councilor King and Councilor Bilotta requesting Laurel Street, from Summer Street to Everett Gaylord Boulevard, receive the honorary street name designation of "Arizan Ward Way" in recognition of historical contributions to the community.
• Outcome: Referred to the Department of Public Works.

• Item 8G (stop sign installation on Beacon Street): Councilor Ojeda moved to place the item on file due to an ongoing redesign project incorporating the request. Approved.
• Item 8C (traffic calming on Harrington Way): Councilor Bergman moved to place the petition on file due to planned speed hump installations. Approved.
• Item 10D (police traffic enforcement order on Harrington Way): Councilor Toomey recused herself. Motion to place the item on file was approved.
• Item 8I (truck ban weight restriction on Shore Drive): Amended by Councilor Economou to exclude trailer trucks traveling on Shore Drive from the Norton Drive intersection. Approved as amended.
• Item 8R (signal timing at Southbridge and Hammond Streets): Amended by Councilor Ojeda to include comprehensive signal timing reviews across neighboring intersections on Quinsigamond Avenue. Approved as amended.
• Remaining petitions (Items 8C–8S, minus exclusions) were referred to the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking.
• Item 8T (wildlife hazard deterrents at Institute Park/Salisbury Pond dam) was referred to the Standing Committee on Veterans' Memorials, Parks, and Recreation.

• Councilor Toomey recused herself.
• Petitioner Tom Marino presented a 30-page proposal containing 45 provisions adapted from Department of Justice consent decrees and investigations, arguing the city must adopt independent standards of evidence and eliminate the "exceptionally cleared" disposition status for internal investigations.
• Councilor King questioned City Manager Eric Batista regarding communication with the Worcester Research Bureau, and the City Manager confirmed no consultations had taken place with the Research Bureau regarding police reform reports in the preceding two years.
• Outcome: Referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety.

• The Council voted to approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on September 8, 2026.
• Outcome: Approved.

• Health and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Seema Dixit and Assistant Commissioner Alex Arriaga presented the administration's strategic framework, titled Disrupting the Cycle:
  • Key framework pillars include cross-agency data sharing, a public resource asset map, standardized multi-agency outreach, expanding winter emergency shelter capacity by a minimum of 60 beds, and identifying encampments across approximately 300 documented city locations.
  • The proposed ordinance included a ban on setting up tents or camping, semi-permanent structures, or sitting, sleeping, or lying on public rights-of-way, backed by a 72-hour notice, a proposed $25 daily fine, and potential enforcement via civil or criminal process.
• Council Discussion:
  • Councilor Rosen expressed strong opposition to assessing fines on unhoused individuals or enacting criminal penalties, moving that the entire item be recommitted to the City Manager to eliminate punitive measures and prioritize supportive housing and expanded shelter capacity.
  • Mayor Petty noted that regional homelessness is a statewide challenge, opposed the inclusion of fines, and requested updates on the planned opening of the daytime resource center (modeled after Quincy, anticipated in early spring) and winter shelter preparations.
  • Councilor King moved that the Council formally oppose and strike down the proposed camping ordinance and its criminal enforcement mechanisms, and introduced supplementary motions calling for a permanent overflow shelter, a winter shelter readiness plan within 15 days, and data regarding displacement-related mortality risks.
  • Councilor Bilotta moved to take Item 19C off the table to establish a municipal Office of Housing Stability, advocating for rent control and direct public investments in low-barrier housing.
  • Councilor Bergman argued that encampments present severe fire and health hazards, but suggested amending the ordinance to decriminalize the enforcement by maintaining solely a $25 civil penalty to encourage movement into shelter.
  • Councilor Mitra and Councilor Rivera supported sending the proposal back to the administration to remove the fines while preserving coordinated service components.
  • Councilor Economou noted fines in other Massachusetts municipalities (e.g., Brockton, Fall River, Lowell) and stressed the imperative for non-profit service providers to participate directly in data sharing.
  • Councilor Ojeda questioned the timeline of property storage and past performance under the 2018 Housing First initiative; City Manager Batista detailed that a joint Rutgers/BU study indicated a need for 150 permanent supportive housing units, with 60 created to date.
• Procedural Votes:
  • Motion by Councilor King to place Item 18B on file: Failed 1-9 (Roll Call: Councilor King voting Yes; Councilor Bergman, Councilor Bilotta, Councilor Economou, Councilor Fresolo, Councilor Mitra, Councilor Ojeda, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Rosen, and Mayor Petty voting No; Councilor Toomey recused).
  • Motion by Councilor Rosen to recommit Item 18B back to the City Manager for revision: Passed 8-1-1 (Roll Call: Councilor Bergman voting No; Councilor King abstaining; Councilor Bilotta, Councilor Economou, Councilor Fresolo, Councilor Mitra, Councilor Ojeda, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Rosen, and Mayor Petty voting Yes; Councilor Toomey recused).

• Councilor Toomey recused herself from items 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F, 9G, 9H, and 9J.
• Councilor King held items 9C, 9D, and 9G under privilege.
• Councilor Ojeda requested that item 9L be amended to ensure municipal communications are published in multiple languages.
• Outcome: Items 9A through 9O (excluding 9C, 9D, and 9G, and including 9L as amended) were adopted 10-0 (Councilor Toomey recused on applicable items).

• Items 12A through 12D (reports of the City Clerk) were referred to the Standing Committee on Legislative Operations: Passed 11-0.
• Items 13B and 13C were referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development: Passed 11-0.
• Items 14A and 14B were accepted and adopted: Passed 11-0.
• Items 15A and 15B were accepted and adopted: Passed 11-0.
• Items 16A and 16B were accepted: Passed 10-0 (Councilor Toomey recused).
• Items 17A through 17C, 17D through 17H, and 17I through 17O were accepted and adopted: Passed 11-0.

• Councilor Mitra presented three proposed additions to the Council Rules:
  • Item 10A (Proposed Rule 61): Mandating city departments submit an annual performance report in a SMART goal format with prior-year budget figures by January 1.
  • Item 10B (Proposed Rule 62): Permitting the City Council to submit formal recommended budget priorities to the City Manager by March 1.
  • Item 10C (Proposed Rule 63): Requesting the City Manager submit a preliminary primary budget to the Council for referral to the Finance Committee by March 15.
• City Manager Batista explained that departmental budget submissions are typically assembled between February and March following state budget estimates, though a March 15 preliminary presentation is feasible.
• Councilor Bergman recommended referring the items to the City Manager for an operational feasibility report prior to committee review.
• Outcome: Motion to refer Item 10A to the City Manager passed 10-1 (Councilor Bilotta voting No). Motions to refer Items 10B and 10C to the City Manager were likewise approved.

• Order by Councilor Economou requesting the Commissioner of Public Works provide a feasibility report on installing a residential recycling drop-off bin at the Clark Street yard to serve North Worcester residents.
• Outcome: Passed 11-0.

• Councilor Toomey recused herself.
• Order by Councilor Economou requesting the City Manager submit draft ordinances and regulations to license and register all types of motorized scooters and bicycles, with pedestrian safety considerations.
• It was agreed to refer the item to the Standing Committee on Public Works while awaiting pending regulatory guidance from the Commonwealth.
• Outcome: Passed 10-0 (Councilor Toomey recused).

• Councilor Bilotta exercised privilege to hold Item 10H (homeowner and tenant education summit), Item 10I, and Item 10Z.
• Councilor King held Item 10J (public restrooms) under privilege in conjunction with Item 10Z.
• Outcome: Held under privilege.

• Order by Councilor Rosen requesting the Standing Committee on Public Health and Human Services schedule a joint meeting at least once annually with the Worcester Board of Health to align common initiatives.
• Outcome: Adopted 11-0.

• Councilor Rosen introduced an order requesting an explanation from the City Manager and Chief Development Officer regarding drywall subcontractor Optiline Enterprises performing work at 274 Franklin Street—a 364-unit project receiving $11 million in local tax relief under a Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) agreement.
• The order noted Optiline had been cited by the Massachusetts Attorney General and deemed ineligible by the city in June 2025 due to unlawful retaliation and threats against immigrant workers over unpaid overtime.
• Legal and Administrative Response:
  • The City Solicitor explained that the Massachusetts Attorney General issued a citation in December 2024 for retaliation against workers, triggering a three-year disqualification under the Responsible Development Ordinance through 2027.
  • Although a subsequent settlement resolved civil penalties, the underlying findings of retaliatory conduct remain valid.
  • The Law Department issued a formal letter to the project developer reaffirming that Optiline is ineligible; failure to remove the subcontractor would place the developer in breach of the TIE agreement and jeopardize their $11 million in tax exemptions.
• Councilor King moved for a comprehensive report detailing wage theft allegations and outlining procedures for proactively notifying developers of barred contractors.
• Outcome: Councilor Rosen held Item 10L under privilege to receive a status update the following week.

• Upon reaching the 12:00 AM midnight curfew, remaining agenda items were held under privilege for the subsequent meeting.
• The City Council adjourned via roll call.