City Council 10/06/2026

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Worcester City Council meeting. If you can please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner. I pledge allegiance to the flag...

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air They proved through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

and the home of the brave.

Bergeman, here. Councilor Bilotta? Here. Council Economou? Here Councilor Rossello? Here Councilor Mitra? Here. Councilor Ojeda? Here! Councilor Rivera? Here, Councilor Rosen? Here Councilor Toomey and Mayor Petty?

Here Okay we have 5-A, the City Council is hereby approves the minutes of the city council meeting on September 22nd 2026. Those in favor oppose so ordered. Public Participation person may speak for no more than two minutes on any item appearing on the agenda. So this should name see residents in the agenda item, Mr. Clerk?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Rule 39, items of public interest at every meeting of the city council under public participation portion of the agenda, the chair shall recognize any person seeking such recognition for the purpose of addressing the council on any eligible item on the agenda for the meeting both in-person and remotely, any person who wishes to speak more than one agenda item shall combine the testimony on all items to one appearance at the microphone. Time for speaking shall not exceed two minutes for any one speaker or 30 minutes for all speakers. Rule 40 petitions on the first occasion any petition appears on the City Council agenda. The prime petition may address the city council for no more than three minutes on the subject of their petition

Thank you. So we have public participation. We should name the residents and item number?

Steve Hart, District 1. I'm going to speak on item 12B but for the record I beat Fred to the microphone tonight so I want that to be noted.

Excuse me?

Okay. In the beginning of the agenda, there's a public participation commentary pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Act of 2021 in order to ensure active Public Engagement. Item 12B seems to be, it's a surprise that it shows up and the logistics or the technicality of this order would essentially limit all public participation to a maximum of one hour. By placing a hard stop at the beginning of the council meeting at 630, 530-630 will be a hard If you're waiting in line to speak, you'd have to leave.

Also if we hit that one hour mark I would assume that virtual participation will be eliminated for that meeting and I would hope that these things were taken into consideration. It seems like a unilateral order, I don't see any other councilors signing on I've heard great stuff after the one hour when the rules were suspended. And if you send it to the municipal Legislation and Operations Committee, I know that one of the three would already vote for this based on what I've observed in these chambers. So I see this as an effort to curtail Public Involvement. It's an established time period and I'll end with that, thank you.

Name is to your attention.

Item number? Abby Mortillero, Worcester resident, District 4. I'll start with 12B. Yeah, I think limiting time can limit certain people's speech. So I do think having it an hour earlier is good though. All right. 11A, yeah Charter Review and all 14 A to F. So it's all about the charter review and you know The city manager has too much power for an appointed official. I'm just saying, there's too much powerful and appointed officials. 12Q Medicare is important, healthcare is important and 8A, public bathrooms.

Public bathrooms are also important because people need a place to pee and poo. 12 Y, we need services for the homeless. We need to help the homeless people, you know, help them get out of that situation. You know, we really, really, you know, help people and 12P, Civilian Review Board. That's free space. Civilian review board, we need a civilian review board. The Worcester Police Department have no honor. 12Z, 3101 and 911 systems. You can improve them. They could use some improvement please.

Taney, back to public bathrooms. We need new public bathrooms and photo review and yeah that's all I'll say

Should your name see a residence item number?

I double hazard. I'm speaking first on 8A, I think public baths in this city are very important whenever I've traveled to any other city along It's a path of checking Taurus Exhibits or whatever and large print. They had signs, public baths I think not just for the homeless but for everybody I think it's extremely important. I think to change the time is a hardship because people with families are having supper or dinner, whatever you want to call it at that time. And I don't think that it should be changed for the whole family

I think 12G, considering the nurses' dorms on Providence Street again once again for housing is an extremely good idea. I amend Councilor Fresolo for that. And I also had something else here. A couple other items. I think the Medicare issue definitely needs to be looked at, and I think that sweeping of the streets needs to done more often. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker is your name, see residence and item number?

Hi, my name is Gary Hunter. First thing I'd like to talk about is 12A. A lot of people... This is not just a homeless problem. When we used to have people downtown they used to public bathrooms This is a human problem. This is to take care of all the people in this city and get them moving out of the house When you guys were elected, I realized a lot of you ran because you said the city council was too divisive. It has gotten worse since you've been elected please consider this 8 and consider it seriously, please for the human people in the city. 12 about cleaning up debris I agree, you should clean up debris. But I think before we go into a lot of the homeless in the tents, we need to provide housing. You gotta do the housing before you kick people out of where they're living now.

11A, I was at the meeting of our legislature and they were talking about the city charter It's just to support us in doing the city charter and getting the signatures. That's all it is, we'd like your support and if anybody's out listening, there's not too many people here today. I would be willing to help get signatures. Probably since I've never done it before, I need help so somebody contact me to help the signatures for the 12,000 signatures that are needed. The only thing I want to say is quickly is that whoever sent letter to my house that threatened with the police department. I think, I've sent a copy out, I don't know if you all received it with City Hall as the return address. I'm telling you, come talk to me.

I am not stopping. I'm coming to the meeting every week, and it will not stop. So it's not gonna do you any good, and I'm not afraid. Thank you.

Is your name, senior residents, and item number?

Certainly, Fred Nathan Worcester. I'm gonna start off with 8A. I mean hey you know let's face it You get a lot of young mothers pushing baby strollers and then you have other kids with them. I think the fact that there's really no public bathrooms to speak of. There's City Hall, there's The Hub, there are other little places but If a child needs to go to the bathroom, you've got to do something better here and you gotta have places where there are public bathrooms. I don't know if you go to any restaurants, a lot of times they'll say it's not a public restroom. You come in, you buy something So what happens if you don't have too much money in your pocket and you want to get like a bottle of water, and then use the bathroom?

You're screwed. If you don' t have the money on you. And it can happen to anyone. Anyone in this room who thinks they are not That stuff can happen. There are things that can happen to everyone in this room and no one is exempt, and I want you to get that through your head. Mr. City Manager, you're a good man you do what you do, but you're not exempt. Nor is the Mayor, the Clerk or any of the City Council here and I shall repeat myself no one is exempt The item about WCCAT, I forget what number that is here but anyhow. If the Chamber of Commerce can get on board and help get WCCA some sponsorships, because obviously the cable company that should be given Thank you. no bones over there at all. No money.

Mr. Mayor, so we have one. Is there anybody in the public?

Should name and state residents an item number?

Mauro Di Pasquale, WCCATV, Worcester Mass. 10A, thank you guys for presenting that and it's worth pursuing. We really need help I'm here asking for help This is a civic asset, the station. We're elevating voices, educating people, we're sending out information, we are lifting up the disenfranchised and really in some way we're sort of a disenfranchised station. It costs a lot of money to run a TV station, it's not easy, it is not cheap and if you have your own public relations department you know 1.4 million dollars for Public Relations, and the city side is a lot. And that's for 10 people. We're running a TV station to serve everybody. So just give some perspective. There's a social return of investment here that to consider. We're receiving about $400,000 maybe a little bit less but I'm sure gonna get a lot less in the upcoming years.

Right now we're giving back about 15 million dollars worth of social Service Value. If you were to go into the market and do what we do for a production, each one of our shows cost about $6,800. for one show, all right? We got about 60 shows. Each one of those 60 shows produces probably on average about three shows a month. So if you add up this $6800 times 3 times 60 you're gonna get $15 million of service value. That's a return on investment that I don't think there are many, that's 3,572%. it sounds outrageous, it sounds unbelievable but that's really what it is. If I were to go and buy camera operators a video editor salaries for production people travel marketing and promotions we do all of that for every one of our shows.

And we're doing it with 400,000. I got a staff, God bless them. They work really hard. They're doing 10 things at once. 204,000 viewers in 2026 alone.

Thank you, Mark.

Not including social media. That's gonna be some civic value to somebody. Thank you.

We can start with online. The first calling user is Moira. I'm going to try and mute the resident now.

Good evening, can everyone hear me?

Yes.

Thank you. My name is Mara Daisy, I'm a resident of Worcester District 5. I'm here to speak tonight on three items. First two very briefly 12b public participation as we all know that has been extremely limited and curtailed during the past few years by the city council, further curtailing it particularly to working folks who might not even be out of work by 5.30 I'm sorry, nobody should be signing on to that. We have already had an extremely low voter turnout as to item 12 F as to tree removal, as Councilor Rivera can attest to. He and I exchanged some emails about this. There are numerous neighborhoods in the city where the taxpaying residents have already incurred significant property damage whether that is to motor vehicles or to their homes

because of the lack of funding to the DPW and specifically the Forestry Division. Maybe an update as to what we can do to expedite some of this old growth removal would be great. as to item 12W, the four-way stop at June Brownell and Hadwin. As a 49 year resident of June Street absolutely love this stop sign and everybody in our neighborhood where I currently live on Howland Terrace loves it as well. because what we have been here on Hadwin Terrace is the cut-through for everybody in the Hadwin neighborhood who cannot safely exit on to June Street from Hadwin, and instead need to use Pleasant Street which then contributes to all of the traffic coming from Tatnick Square in the delay and pick up and drop off because of Midland Street School, which is adjacent there.

As being a pedestrian walking my dogs, there were times I had to wait 20 minutes to be able to cross that crosswalk It is the only crosswalk available to pedestrians between Chandler Street and Newton Square. We need to keep that stop sign.

Mr. Mayor, the last speaker is Natalie Gibson

Hi, good evening. I'm calling on three things. First it is 8A about the public restrooms As I've said before last week and Fred also stated this week, there aren't even enough public restrooms for regular residents. So it would be nice if we can get that for us as well. 12B, I oppose the public speaking to have it just one hour. Again, it would be helpful to have the counter so that I can see it because I have no way of knowing how much time I have left except for when someone's telling me. Can you wrap it up? So if I were there, I could see it. I cannot see it right now on Zoom. I've already asked you guys this already. 12W, as I promised the woman that was at the Hadwin and June Street intersection today holding her sign.

telling us to let you guys know that we don't want the four way stop sign. Like Mara, I am all for it. It makes it safer for everyone on the road. I also want to thank Rivera, being the chair of the traffic and parking along with DTM for our Permanent speed humps that are being put in right now. This city needs to slow down all lives should matter, thank you.

Thank you anybody else?

Mr. Mayor, I have one more calling user. Chrissy, try to meet the resident now.

Does your name say residence and ID number?

Yep, Chrissy Bates, independent public policy consultant. I'm calling in for aid A. In terms of the public restrooms and in the issue, I'm just concerned about specifically the public restroom being binary centered. So male and female I would hope that there's some language, since the City Council has had some challenges with the non-binary issue. if we're gonna be putting in permanent bathrooms to include a bathroom that's gender neutral would be my only suggestion for that line item. And that's all I have to say.

Thank you. One more person. Did your name, see residence and item number?

My name is Christine Parcher, and I lived at the corner of June Street in Brownell for the past 28 years in my 100-year old Victorian home. It sits at 10 feet off the sidewalk of this corner I am without a doubt the person most affected by these additional two stop signs. For the past 20 years, I have attended these traffic meetings regarding our neighborhood It was I alone, with the help of former City Council Atel Hijaxi who had put two speed bumps added to lower Lavelle to stop people from speeding through this neighborhood and then speeding up on June Street. at that meeting three years ago we presented other options to control speeding including a plan with the permission of other two homes along and with myself to turn the small section of Brownell into excuse me, small section of Brownell between Livermore Square and June into a one-way. Lower Lavelle did not want this nor were we able to put up a sign saying no trucks over two tons from this roadway

So we settled on speed bumps, which have worked out very favorably showing to cut through traffic. I also mentioned at this meeting that there continues to be no traffic report as I've been asking for 20 plus years ever on June Street Neither were there any police patrols or any signage as to the speeds ever. We brought up adding solar signs that stated cars traveling speeds Once again, it was I who called City Hall every year to request a silent policeman sign put up on June Street to slow cars down. I have been fighting this battle for over 20 years. Never a single traffic port, never police presence. Last summer, a camera showed up on the corner of June and Hadwin across the street. I asked Attell to inquire why it was there. She asked around this city and no one knew who put it up. Then I heard about a meeting concerning the proposal by citizens who are not in our neighborhood being represented by a councilor who was not ours to install these street signs, stop signs.

I wrote a three-page letter to the council members and city stating the reasons to not add these signs, but continue looking at other measures to keep traffic moving and looking at safety measures for pedestrians. Our direct neighborhood showed up and was ignored. The man from the state showed up, and camera spied with his grand plans offering free solar signs to install at this location as well as three other sites of the city. No regard to the people with this has been affected on a 24-7 basis. It was requested that this issue remain open until further studies could be considered, again but denied. We have also not addressed these back zones

Does your name say residence and item number?

Good evening, my name is Tina Bergevin. I've been living in Worcester for 64 years. I was born in Woricester in a childhood in Great Brook Valley and now I live off of Mill Street. And I want to talk about the situation with the four-way intersection, with the stop signs. I agree with Chris. I disagree with these signs and I'll tell you why. It's total bottlenecking, traffic beeping, skidding. People coming up, skiding. I was so confused. I park at Worcester State College where I went and I do my walk three mile every day after school. I'm an assistant teacher and I was going by, and I saw Chris. And I said oh thank goodness somebody who's against this. This is crazy ladies and gentlemen. Literally bottlenecking it was so confusing, it was loud beeping People screeching up at the stop sign because they don't remember seeing it.

And I stood there and there was so much traffic that it was just crazy like Grand Central Station, just absolutely crazy I just had to walk by and it was causing me a lot of anxiety. And I thought, geez before when I went down Hadwin Street, I never had a problem taking a left because I obey the stop sign and I am a good driver. I look to my left and right, and I go left on June Street. What's so hard about that? I've been doing that for 35 years Now they put stop signs everywhere. Nobody knows when to go, where to go. Oh you go. It's just absolutely crazy ladies and gentlemen. Please consider taking this down. Thank you very much.

Back to the agenda. 7A. is held under privilege by Councilor Fresolo. Okay, so the motion's to open a hearing. All those in favor? Opposed? So ordered. 7B is Charter Communications and Conduct Location at Lincoln Street. And 7C is National Grid in Verizon for adjoining pole location at Bower Street. Anybody opposed to these items? Seeing nobody opposed, motion is closed the hearing. All those in favor, oppose so ordered. Motion is to adopt. All of those in favour, oppose, so ordered Reconsideration, or Councilor King. And according to the through theory of the rules of the City Council, Councilor Kings reconsidered the vote of the city council taken on September 29th, 2026 in regard to the following item.

Order of Khrystian King, that City Councilor Celestis hereby adopt Item 10GCC on September 29th, 2026, city council agenda as amended to read as follows. request City Manager help identify locations throughout the city and beginning in District 2 to create permanent public bathrooms. The interest of providing necessary public health measures with respect to human conditions for the while set permit public locations identified and built request city manager determined suitable occasions to install polar parties as a temporary measure while awaiting permanent Bathroom installations, further request of the City Manager by Council to report concerning the timeline associated with sub action. Further requests that sub process include community and business interfacing in feedback. Roll call.

Councillor Bergman?

Hang on for one second, this point of order.

Yeah, I'd like to speak on this.

You can't speak on it after the vote.

I believe per the rules I can if it's debatable in the prior session.

No, the ruling of the chair is that there's no reconsideration on this?

Mr. Chairman, in the rules it says that the issue was debatable that's prior to the reconsideration. It can be debated, I just read it. I'd ask the Clerk if he could read that. Don't be different with me.

Rule 30.

Mr. Mayor, it says a motion for reconsideration shall not be debatable and shall be accepted by two-thirds of the vote as a member of the city council rescinded the previous voted item placing back on the floor for discussion

Can you read the rest of that? It's non-debatable. Can you reaad the rest, please?

If computing the time for filing any motion for reconsidering on Saturday Sunday or legal holiday shall be excluded.

Okay. That's all of it to a chair?

So you want to read the whole 90 day, the whole section? No I thought there was a section about So it says section two, upon filing such a motion writing with the city clerk anytime prior to 5 p.m on Thursday next following the date in which the item was first decided, which Councilor King has done so that's why the items before you tonight a motion for reconsideration shall not be debatable and shall be if accepted by two-thirds votes of the members of the City Council rescinded to the previous vote on the item and placed back on the floor of the further discussion tonight.

Okay, so this is not debatable. So roll call.

Excuse me, Mr. Chair. I have a question. Could we make a motion to suspend the rules?

I'm sorry, I can't hear you.

I'd like to make a Motion to Suspend the Rules just to address this. I've had a lot of concerns from constituents in District 2. Could would like to Make a Motion To Suspend The Rules?

Well, we have a couple of items the same thing coming up. Are we going to vote on the motion? Okay, do you have motions to suspend the rules? Okay roll call.

So Mr. Mayor, Procedure to suspend Rule 30, that's what the motion is?

Yes.

Okay, Councilor Bergman? No. Councilor Bilotta? Yes Councilor Economou? No No. Councilor King? Yes. Councilors Mitra?

No.

councilor Ojeda? Yes Councilor Rivera? No Councilor Rosen? No, Councilor Toomey? No and Mayor Petty?

No motion for reconsideration roll call

Bergeman?

No.

Councilor Bilotta? Yes. Council Economou? No, Council Rosolo? No Council King? Yes Council Mitra? Ojeda?

Yes.

Councilor Rivera? No. Council Rosen? No, Council Toomey? No Mayor Petty?

We might as well take them 17B and C and D together next, since we're on the subject. Is that okay with everybody? 17B, what? Under suspension. I'm not in suspension. Held under privilege. We got items 12-17C. B, C and D. That the City Council see a list of those hereby adopt 10G on September 29th. The City Council is amended to read First Falls. Of course, City Manager has considered a process that to help identify locations throughout the city and begin in District 2 to create permanent public bathrooms in the interest of providing necessary public health measures with respect to human condition. Further, while it's a permanent Public Bathrooms locations are being considered, identified and built. We request the Manager to consider a process to determine suitable locations to install pool employees as temporary measures while awaiting permanent bathroom installations. Council Bergman

Bergman.

You want me to, item 17C separately? Yeah, 17C.

That's right, yes.

Thank you Mr. Chairman I mean I spoke at length about it last week and although I wasn't happy about the hold. It's my colleague's right to do so, but it certainly gave me an opportunity to reach out to key members of the District 2 business communities, including the Shrewsbury Street Business Association and the Canal Street Business Alliance. And I've got to tell you they were quite surprised You know, I had thought when I heard conversation on council floor that there was input from others. Maybe I misread what was being said or maybe I was misled depending how you want to look at it but certainly when I spoke to these folks they were not only surprised that it was before us but even more surprised that reference was made to some sort of discussions with members of the business community because they had no knowledge of it. And they're not happy about it, to be quite frank. Not necessarily not happy but the idea.

They are not happy being excluded from the conversation. And as I said last week, the reason why I find the language that was originally proposed to be problematic and I ask and you Mr. Chairman to separate it out is because when I hear asks of the city manager or suggestions that this must be done right away, what's the timetable to do it? And I don't hear any reference whatsoever Do we need to make sure that the neighborhood and the business owners are included in the conversation? It only compels me to come to the conclusion that this was on a fast track to the exclusion of the neighborhood residents and their business owners. And, to be quite frank, the week that this held only confirmed that for me Now, not to say that they hadn't been business owners.

Perhaps there were that I didn't reach that had conversations but certainly the key members of those two business communities which are the heart and soul of District 2 were surprised at my phone calls So I'm not ashamed or embarrassed or apologetic for reaching out to those folks. They needed to be reached out to, and again, I think they were quite appreciative that they were reached out to. Now, this needs a lot of thought and there's a lot potential problems. There's a potential solutions. But it can't be done on a fast track, and it can be done without the involvement of the business community in the neighborhoods and the residents of not only District 2 but the entire city. and I hope my colleagues will agree with me that the wording that I proposed, which I believe carefully suggests and only suggest that the city manager

look at a process be taken seriously because to ask the city manager to do something without there being a process and without this being input and buy-in from the neighborhood and from the business owners I think would be problematic and wrong. and I'm glad for the opportunity that we had over the last week to have those conversations. And I'm more convinced than ever, but the words I spoke of last week are more true than ever that this would be a and so forth. So I think it's a disservice to District 2 and the business community and to the neighborhoods without there being input from those constituencies. Let me just say one last thing, you know, a week has gone by couched in different terms by some, but I think it's always problematic. to assume things.

And one of the advantages in Worcester, we're blessed with this advantage is we have lots of neighborhood groups, lots of neighborhoods meetings and I think we learn a lot. And again, I've said it before, we can learn from the people that are in this room too but there's a lot of other people out there we learned from as well and this has given me and hopefully my colleagues an opportunity to hear from them as well. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for the record I want to point out that the motion to reconsider was an amendment of the prior order and the end of that amendment says that the process, as mentioned and my colleague voted this down will include community and business interfacing in feedback for the record. That being said, Mr. Chairman I stand by my prior statements myself and Councilor Bilotta have met with business folks and met again with a business person who's interested in funding some of these temporary locations. Now, as it relates to The idea of public bathrooms, something we've been discussing for years now. Some of my colleagues stood up and talked about motions they filed in 2023. I know I filed stuff a number of years ago as well. So there's no fast tracking of this, however, there is an immediate need.

We have businesses who are subjected to Feces and Public Urination in their place of business, and issues as it relates to cleanup. No one indicated that there was any discussion with Shrewsbury Street. Um, no one indicated the Canal District Alliance, they said there was business folks. There's business folks in those areas that are as important as anyone else and they don't attend some of those meetings and I also have relationships with those folks as well. Mr. Chairman, as it relates to this particular matter. I've done a lot of work on this. I met with Health and Human Services back in August, scheduled something in July where we talked and I met their Homeless Outreach Division Mr. Chairman I met with their entire staff.

In that meeting, they indicated and we discussed bathroom access and our discussion was, it would require communication. It would require community feedback and business feedback Mr. Chairman. I was very careful on how I wrote the prior order. I thought it was clear that the city manager would take a look at this particular matter. I'm trying to get the language right now, however you know we're parsing words here Mr. Chairman it says the prior order was to help identify locations throughout the city and the issue of permanent versus temporary, I don't think that's at debate. We need public bathrooms not just for the unsheltered as we talked about, as you've heard tonight, for folks with medical conditions, for children, et cetera.

Mr. Chairman, one of the things that we spoke about at our meeting was public access to bathrooms and what was explained to me in that meeting is that currently there are available bathrooms, and they listed the following from HHS. Sheriff's Office on Main Street Worcester Health Care for the Homeless, which also offers showers. Community Compass by Open Sky on Chandler Street, which offers showers, of course, the library, et cetera. So we've had a number of discussions on this. This was not fast-tracked, this is years in the making Mr. Chairman and although my colleagues voted down an item that specifically said a process to include community and business interfacing in feedback, in response to concerns that were broached here.

Mr. Chairman, this is an important issue and we certainly shouldn't let personalities get in the way of that This is for the greater good. And when it comes to the other item, I know we're taking these all at once to get them through but we're talking about the bid. They talked about this a number of years ago and they did a report, and we should have that report back all part of the process Mr. Chairman at no point in time as I will reiterate despite assertions to the contrary where we show up and drop a port-a-potty in front of a building, in front a house, in a neighborhood without any feedback. We asked the city manager to point guard this. We know he would never do that. And I can state for the record today that would not be a successful endeavor as I stated last week. Mr. Chairman, We have various areas that we have to look at.

This does need to be done in short order, particularly because we've been talking about this from the beginning of the Batista administration and before. Mr. Chairman, through the chair to the administration can you speak a little bit about any communications you've had with the bid and as well as with HHS in regards to public bathrooms? Mr. Manager?

Through the Chair to the Council, the discussions that have been pertaining to the public bathrooms with the bid was in preliminary to that report that was done a few years back The most recent conversations with HHS is I've asked HHS to provide me a proposal that would look at options and ideas, and cost for this particular endeavor. And then it would be my responsibility to bring that proposal before the council and work with the stakeholders to be able to execute, if that's the will of the council, to move forward on such initiatives. So again, there has been conversations internally with HHS pertaining to the bid. That is something I have discussed with them. Prior to that, there's been individual conversations with different bid owners, business owners in the community but as a body, the bid district has a body we haven't discussed this issue in a number of years.

Thank you Mr. Chairman in addition to that some of the communication with the work that I put in with HHS prior to this indicated that there are other bathroom solutions that other cities have implemented at the time, the HHS division hadn't completely finished their exploration of bathroom solutions in other cities. They have looked into motion detection bathrooms, which as I had discussed previously that are designed to help with overdose prevention. and other medical emergencies, Mr. Chairman. But that's been something again we've discussed for years on the council floor so we appreciate their work. One of the discussions I have had as well has been around a possible towable trailer equipped with showers and bathrooms. And we've had some of this in the past, so I don't want to continue with the back-and-forth or vote up on these orders.

certainly makes sense. A vote down on the reconsideration does not make sense. It speaks to the exact concerns that were brought here as relates to the community, the public and the business Mr. Chairman. It's my expectation that the city manager works with those business entities. And I know that Councilor Bilotta has worked with the folks in his district as well. So I look forward to these items moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank You. Chris?

Mayor Petty.

Thank you and this is an important issue, there's no doubt about it and we got to do it right. It's the only time we all can agree and disagree at the same time, I guess. And I think everybody is on the same page. And just remember one thing. The Day Center is opening up in April which will leave this area hopefully it's April. We'll say April-May. in which we have showers, which have toilets, which make a big difference. The Winter Shelter, which will be sometime in December. December 15th is usually the date. What's that? Oh, end of November. Okay, we'll open that up and So this is important, there's no question about it. I think everybody's on the same page and we need to do something but you have to do it right, make sure people are involved. You filed your item, Councilor Bergman amended it, you amended almost the same thing then

then so the idea is to let the neighborhood know, let the businesses know. I think you said it best Mr. Manager last week when you talked about how we do that the bins, the new bins we put into place We had a whole process in place for that. And so we won't do this without the process. We won't to just about anybody, and it shouldn't be just District 2. We should be working in other areas if possible, make sure it's a citywide thing if we can do it citywide I know it's expensive too so it's something we can look at but this It appears that we're all on the same page. We want a process in place, we wanna know people are notified and we're gonna put these if we ever get to it but I think you need to figure out There's so many pros and cons. You get something that other city is doing, more permanent locations, permanent buildings versus

I think someone had brought the idea last week about tipping them over what happens at that night. There's some legitimate concerns and challenges no matter what we do. So we're going to have that discussion. Looking forward to report back, Mr. Manager. Make sure it's done right and we'll go on from there. Thank you.

Councilor Bilotta or Satyamitra, who is it? Councilor Satyamatya, Councilor at-large followed by Councilor Balotic, District 2. Councilor Satchimiccia.

Thank you Mr Vice Chair. I rise to make it to understand that there are various opportunities that we have. I think the need of the bathroom, as we all agree that we need that As Mr. Mayor, you just mentioned that the resource center is coming up and there will be a lot of Bathrooms, and the facilities that will be available to all these unhoused people. But the bathroom as we recognize is not only for the unhousing people that we need, we need it for everyone in our city. And that has been recognized by everyone. until those permanent bathrooms are in place, which is going to take some time. I found when I was doing some exploration that in the city of Los Angeles, they have the mobile bathroom and the showers that they can bring. And you can rent it and they are very beautiful.

They're very nice, good looking. It's like instead of having 40 party there you know if we can have that possibility I'd like to put a motion to explore the possibility of having the rented mobile Bathroom and the shower facility that can be probably parked in one of our municipal lots where people can go. I don't think any business owner would like to have Any kind of bathroom in front of their businesses, a party or anything. It doesn't look nice for them to have that so perhaps we can install them or have them come and then we don't have to really maintain anything those people, those who are renting it they will take care of cleaning it bringing it and we just have to pay the rent. So I would like to put a motion requesting to explore the possibility of installing them in municipal lot until the permanent bathrooms are done, if that's the possibility. Thank you.

Boada.

Thank you, Mr Chairman. the really genesis of these orders was you know after since being elected and even before uh being elected frequenting businesses in the canal district you know we have heard Over and over, legitimate concerns about unfortunately individuals going to the bathroom. on our sidewalks and building doorways and alleys behind dumpsters. It's obviously terrible for unhoused individuals to do that, it's also terrible for the neighborhood. It is a public health hazard and it's something I feel strongly that we should try to work to address. I know the day center will help with that, I also know other initiatives that the city's working on to address issues of the unhoused will help but I do want to clarify at no point was there ever an intent to move forward with these things or these ideas which is what they are right now without

reaching out to the canal district businesses, residents and other businesses on Shrewsbury Street. There was never any intention of doing that it would be absolutely and that was, you know, non intent. I can understand concerns from the business community. And since this last week, I've reached out to folks in the canal district have reached out representatives of the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association explaining that this was is merely a starting point and that there's never you know never going to be any intention of putting bathrooms, just dropping them in front of someone's business or on a city street. And we would also not have any whether they're portable or permanent, I would not move forward with any proposal unless we had significant staffing and and so forth. So that's what we've done.

That's what other cities have done, they've invested in with staffing, and it works. And it reduces human waste. And again, it's for everyone, right? I think we're all in agreement that everyone needs to use the bathroom. So I do take issue with inferring that this was done in a fast track or any way to cut out Input, that's disingenuous at best. And I do take issue with that because I spend a lot of time in the canal district. all summer. We got planters in the Canal District this summer, I know the folks on Water Street are really interested in growing that flower program. Several meetings that I've attended King, and Councilor Toomey. I've been the only counselor there. and I should be because that's my district. So again, I really see this as a way to try to improve something and of course we would never do it without

including the community, and including our stakeholders in the businesses that really make District 2 and the Canal District such a special place. So I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes but again it's about having a conversation and getting community input. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Toomey.

Thank you Mr. Chair. I would ask either as an amendment or as a separate motion to come back with a report on the budget for the cost of either temporary and or permanent and so forth. And then we're also going to be looking at how much money we're talking about and identifying potential cost centers or grants that we might Thank you.

Thank you, we have Councilor Rivera

I just rise for a clarification to the chair, to the administration. These are reports on information logistics that you're going to do TUNEY MENTIONED ON THE PRICE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST FOR POSSIBLE TEMPORARY BATHROOMS OR PERMANENT BATH ROOMS BECAUSE I'M HEARING A LOT OF WHEN THE PERMANENTS ARE INSTALLED. WE HAVEN'T AGREED TO PERMANANT BATH

Mr. Mayor?

Do you share through the council, my plan is to bring forward a proposal of the council with identified costs and the options on what we can do Currently, right now we have no budget allocation for public bathrooms in the city. And so we would then need to identify what funding source and how we need to move forward. There would have to be a public process with businesses, residents et cetera. This also is gonna have to bidding process where we have to bid these products out depending on the product that we choose and so what we're going to do is put together a proposal about the needs, the cost and kind of the areas that we potentially have not identified but that will need further discussion to be able then be finalized. BUT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. I JUST KIND OF WANTED CLARIFICATION THAT THIS IS ALL NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S JUST WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT PRETTY MUCH.

Mr. Manager?

3 chairs to the council, that is correct.

Thank you. Councilor Rosen?

Thank you Mr. Chairman, I go back to my order of June of this year just a few months ago it was supported I believe by unanimously by my colleagues in the council it wasn't controversial. We had this discussion a long time last week and there was a lot of controversy at that time, and some personality issues that we all saw. And we're having kind of a similar discussion tonight. I think we're all in favor if we can do it, if we could afford it. We're all in favor of bathrooms at least around the downtown community. I certainly am and as I said my June order which dealt with the bid district what they think how we can I even mentioned, is there a neighborhood association and business association downtown? Can we get them involved? If not let's start one. So mine wasn't controversial. I wouldn't support anything

and I support bathrooms, I wouldn't support any policy that puts porter parties downtown or anywhere in the city. That's not what I ever meant, I go back several years when I first filed an order was right? I think at the beginning of COVID so five or six years ago anyway. but I do not support porta potties for any reason anywhere in the city of Worcester. I just think that would be ridiculous. Bathrooms are bathrooms, port-a-potties are not bathrooms so I hope we're talking about bathrooms. I see these orders mentioned well until we can get those bathrooms we're gonna use port-a-potties, not if I have any say in it and I hope my colleagues feel the same way. That's not what downtown needs. That is not what the business community needs that's not what anyone needs downtown, Port-au-Prince.

The trouble you're gonna have with Port-a-Price like they have everywhere they have them is going to be so problematic for the city of Worcester and before we send the manager out looking for these sites where we're gonna put them, I wouldn't start that way. I want to know what options do we have. What kind of bathrooms are we going to have? If he comes through and says, we can afford porta potties, I vote against it. but if he comes through and says we have these units that are in Portland, Portland Lua. We have them in Spokane or wherever and they work out well and we can afford them and so on, and people like them. Yeah that's what I want! I don't want him to come back and tell me we need one down at Lincoln Square. We need one in front of the mechanic near Mechanics Hall. I don' t want that now I want us to decide what we want for bathrooms and then we can decide where they go. So, why did I vote against the item last week? Because of port-a-potties

I don't want to send the manager out looking for places when i don't know what we're planning to put there same thing on this one So just to sum it up, Mr. Mayor and Mr. Manager I hope that the manager will take another look at my order for June We all supported it It supports bathrooms But I think it's the right process I tried to, I don't have the exact wording in front of me and I apologize for that. But when I came up with the order in June, I tried think of different possibilities who should be involved and certainly I was not even thinking let alone putting in my order Porter parties, are you kidding me? Porter parties? Thank you Mr. Mayor.

King, Councilor Economou.

Thank you Mr. Chairman if I may just add to I just want to expand on what the manager had brought forward there Why can't we look at what we have in place currently first? See how we can work with what we. How are we going to maintain it? publicize it, whether it's City Hall, the library in our parks. What do we have in place first? What infrastructure is already up and in place. If it were me, that's where I would start. And certainly whatever you bring forward, I would expect to see some type of long-term maintenance plan. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have a need right now we have an immediate need, Mr. Chairman for relief in our community and our neighborhoods and our business districts The genesis of this came once again from a small business owner that approached myself Bilotta was already working on this issue. We came together and asked, in seeking the assistance of the city manager. I agree with Mayor Petty that were mostly on the same page until I heard Councilor Rosen objecting to potential porter pies. And I want to be clear for the public, what we were looking at initially is temporarily providing some space for human relief.

Mr. Chairman, we know that a process for permanent bathrooms is a lengthy one We have an immediate need right now. I'm willing to vote for whatever gets the process going. We could certainly have done this outside of this body and piloted some of this temporarily. I want to also talk a little bit about what my colleague just mentioned. And I want to give kudos to Batista and his administration as it relates the discussion that I had with HHS and we talked about publicizing public bathrooms on the city website. And I don't know if that's come to the attention of the city manager or not yet, but they have every intention of doing that. And I think it speaks to some of the concerns here as well.

Mr. Chairman, we know that in our parks The bathrooms have been a challenge. We have folks engaging in our parks. Public bathrooms is a necessity to necessity. And that need is something that we must move on, and I want to reiterate the assertion that we're going to drop porta potties randomly is false that's never been the intent again for the public edification as they say. The order I filed last week, we did amend to be considerate. And it's stated in the last sentence, further requests said process include community and business interfacing and feedback. And this body voted that down. That aside, you know again I'll support this.

I'm not quite sure what was going on with that vote. I appreciate all the folks that have brought this forward over the years But the idea that this is not a matter that's imperative to the now is concerning to me. We know that's not the case, Mr. Chairman We know we have businesses, and we have communities. And we have parks and spaces where this is going on. People don't have a place to go. They don't a place relieve themselves. We have challenges picking up human waste and if folks in this body want to wait for permanent bathrooms, we might be waiting a year or two. What are we gonna do now? Mr. Chairman, and all they ask is that the city manager uses his resources, HHS, DPW, whoever it might be

And in addition to that, Councilor Bilotta can speak to it if he feels so. But I believe his order last week and some of the discussion we had was around accessing and some funds. There was a staffing component to all of this, working with the city manager to interface with the business communities, with the businesses associations. And again, the business that's ready to move forward, to temporarily provide relief is at the ready waiting on the city to determine if that's appropriate. By no stretch of the imagination are we looking to put temporary port-a-potties all across the city and the discussion that we have, we know that the districts in the areas with the least access to bathrooms are the Canal District and Lincoln Street Mr. Chairman but

we are looking to work hand in hand with this council and with District 2 Councilor to move this forward.

Council Major for a second time?

Thank you Mr. Chair, going back to my motion about exploring the possibility of renting a mobile restroom and shower I just want to say that I'm also not in favor of party-party because I think it is problematic and no business owner, not only on District 2 but any district where there is a business they won't like to see that in front of their businesses So I suggested to explore the possibility of renting the mobile restroom and showers. And I just want to have everybody, all these fellow councillors to take a look at it, just how decent they look Temporarily, at least until we get the permanent bathrooms done. This may be a solution to meet the immediate requirement So I request city clerk to see if that could be possible what I had found out how they look to see have a look at that

Mr. Chairman, I would accept that as a friendly amendment to my motion. I don't have a problem with that. This is just a separate motion but

Okay. So we take these three items, refer them to the manager as with the other additional items, motions?

Mr. Chairman, point of order, was it 17C? My motion that was held?

Yeah, so we'll take 17C and send out to the city manager. We'll take those collectively. Along with the motions that, we'll take them separately if people want to as long along with the items that were filed by other Councilors. Other motions? Councillor Bergman?

Yeah, just briefly, I'm sure my colleagues are aware of 17... King, he amended it. That vote failed. Then I had amended it and my vote was held so to me going back If we vote on 17C, there's no need to go back to 17B if the clerk agrees. I just think procedurally that's correct but I'll obviously leave it up to the Clerk and Chair to make that decision

So what's the- Mr. Chairman? What is the motion there, Councilor?

My understanding through the Chair, perhaps the Clerk can help is if we take 17C which was my motion.

That's what we're taking right now and we'll go to 17B after this.

Well I think 17B becomes moot of 17C.

It does the same thing anyway. You don't have a floor. Councilor, go ahead.

No it's just my request to the Chair procedurally agreed upon that we take... Mr. Chairman, can I withdraw my motion?

I'll just withdraw it. I'll just withdraw the deed, whatever it is. Let's withdraw it, let's give Councilor Bergman his motion. It's the same dang thing. It is the same thing. Whatever, shouldn't even be allowed.

Okay your time is up Mr. City Council, your time is up. Councillor Bergman? I thought you were finished, I'm sorry.

For the record Mr. Chairman, I'm not one that spends a lot of time on the microphone here. So if I thought it was the same thing, I would have...

Okay he's withdrawing 17B so we're gonna vote on 17C off the other motions. and all those in favor? Opposed, so ordered. 17D, all those is in favor, opposed, so order. Since we're under the privilege items, Councilor Rosen you want to do yours? Yeah. Okay. President Mayer, this is the Chief Development Officer at his September 26th meeting with the OptoLine Enterprises, a commercial drywall metal framing subcontractor that documented violations of labor and employment laws as being allowed to work on 64-unit residential complex being built on 274 Franklin Street, which is project heavily supported by $11 million in local private tax relief. Councilor Rosen? and let's be aware that this could be in litigation. We were just gonna say that. Oh, I'm sorry, I threw you a thought out, take it back.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes on this order of I guess a few weeks ago dealing with this project at 274 Franklin Street, I understand that there is pending and maybe active litigation So therefore, all I'd like to say is just a question of the manager. Is the subcontractor in question still on the job? is what I would like to know.

Mr.

Manager? If you can say what you can't say about what's happening over there, that's all I have to say on it and my motion will be after we discuss it hopefully briefly because there is litigation that's active, we can file this. That would be my motion to file it. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Thank You.

Mr. Chairman and Councilor the subcontractors not on site? They're no longer on site. And I can have the solicitor provide a little bit additional context just to give better understanding to the council, to the public.

Madam Solicitor?

Through the Chair to the Councilor, there was an emergency hearing on Monday and the developer opt lines motion was denied so they are off the job now. That part of is over there could be pending litigation more litigation, but for now The motion was denied by the judge and they're off the job Okay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the chair of city administration who are the stakeholders on the development side in this matter?

Mr. Manager

To the council, there's a number of stakeholders. You got the developer, you've got the general contractor and then the subcontractor. And the developers, do you have a partnership between the Michaels Group and GoVenture? I mean, yeah, GoVenture. And then you have DF Prey who is the general contractor and then Optiline who's the actual subcontractor.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, I have a number of concerns with this particular matter that I'll address with the city manager when we meet tomorrow it's not appropriate at this time given the pending litigation What I will say, Mr. Chairman is it's much appreciated this process. Councilor Rosen bringing this to the council floor and the Carpenters Union that is making sure that this is what it is. Mr. Chairman, I also want to speak a little bit about GoVenture and the Michaels group. I think it's clear that we as a council and as a city take our ordinance very seriously, and it's refreshing to see developer and subcontractor take it as seriously.

I don't have a problem with voting down tips or ties if there's a violation that people are being stolen from, or anything like that. But what I will say in this particular matter The developer has been responsive. and proactive. And it's my understanding that those folks are off the job, they've been demobilized, and I appreciate that. And I hope this sends a message to folks that are unionized and those folks that are non-unionized as well, is that there's people that will stick up for you. in the workplace will ensure your conditions at the work site and your compensation. And that all of those things are generally and so on.

So, that's definitely appreciated. I understand there may be some additional litigation, potentially. But what I also know is that what was represented here on this body and what was from the developer side to the city did follow suit. The process that was followed to cure maintain timelines and I think that's also sending the right message so just appreciation to the work everyone's work on all sides of this to get it right thank you Mr. Chairman

Thank you, so motion is to file. All those in favor? Opposed, so awarded. Okay let's go back to Petition, I hope nobody's here for a petition. Okay, nope. Petitions 980 and 9K refer to traffic and parking. All those in favor of postal audit? 9L to 9O, so the hearing for October 13th, 2026 at 6.30 p.m., all those in favor of a postal audit? Referred though on 9P, referred to the Department to appear and answer and respond, Those in favor, opposed so ordered. 10A to 10D, motions to adopt. All those in favor or opposed, so ordered 11A. Mr. Chairman on 11A? Council Rosen

let me read one of them A, that the City Council does hereby encourage the efforts of members of the public to get signatures of 15% of the city's registered voters to request that the city of Worcester review and revise its present charter or to adopt a new charter.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The MLO Committee of the Worcester City Council met three times to discuss charter review, I call it Charter Review, some call it charter change. This charter that we presently use modified plan E type of charter we've had for 40 years. I think a lot of people in the city of Worcester have some ideas for changes and that's fine, and a lot would just say maybe it should be reviewed by a commission, chartered commission to take a look after 40 years and update it. Are we gonna wait another 40 years? So should we maybe take a at 80 years? I think that's a little too much. I think it's time now to take look and my process would be eventually we have on the ballot, people vote. Would they like a charter commission to open the charter and take a look at it? Review it? Maybe even make some changes

and on that same ballot, maybe next year, would be a list of people running for Charter Commission. That's fine so if the public voted for charter review then they would have a chance right in the same ballot to to vote in maybe a nine-member charter commission. So that's the way it would work, and I think the only way to do that is for people in the city of Worcester who were interested in channel review to go out and get 15% of the signatures which Anna rounded off 16,000 signatures but you always need a little extra. So maybe 17,000 signatures and no one on this the three member committee chair Dr. Mitra and Bergman, and myself. Three of us. No one suggested that the city council was going to go out and get signatures. We never suggested that. I think I suggested that. I'll take my couple of sheets and I'll get some, but I'm not gonna lead the way on 17,000 signatures.

It's a pretty big task. I don't know if it can easily be done. You need maybe 100 people at least to get a couple of hundred signatures each, just see if we can get this done. So what came out of the committee after a lot of discussion and at least the second meeting we had, there were a lot people, 50 or more people from the community who spoke on this. And most of them I think did seem to want to take a review with the Charter Commission. So here's what came out of it, that the City Council tonight, I guess tonight does hereby encourage the efforts of members of the public to get the signatures needed. The 15% of the city's registered voters to request that the city was to review and to revise its present charter or to adopt a new charter could be either revised the charter, might be no changes. The Charter Commission might say this is the best thing since sliced bread let's wait another 40 years before we look at it again so we don't know what will happen but all we did was say if the public wants

to review and or change the charter, then they have to go out and get signatures with our blessing. Just with our blessings. In other words, the city council won't be getting up every week saying oh we don't want charter review We don't want any charter of change. We don' t want a Charter Commission and there are many ways that This can be reviewed and there are safe ways. And eventually, whatever the Charter Commission comes up with it goes in front of the public for a final vote. There are some major things. Some people want a new type of government, strong mayor. Others like a professional city manager leading the government on a day-to-day basis. So there could be major changes and might be small changes that might be no changes but the people have the final say, not the 11 of us.

We don't decide here's the charter yep six to five eight to three we want this new charter no it's not us it's the public that will decide at the ballot box So Mr. Chairman, that's all we're doing was saying to the public, sure you have our blessing. Some people say that's not worth much but I remember one of our few speakers tonight did say, we hope you'll support 11A because we'd like to have the blessing of the city council when we go out and get those signatures. I'm not so sure the public can do it. It's a big task, but I hope they can. I'm no sure they will. But they should at least try and we support their efforts, whatever that means. But we don't have to go out and get those 17,000 signatures. The public will and they should. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank You. So do I roll call? King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through the chair to whomever, just for the public. I know we've been through this, been through it I'm sure at the subcommittee meeting that I was not a part of or the multiple meetings in that particular committee through the chair to either the clerk or solicitor, city manager. If you could just speak for the public that has not been privy to those meetings as to what the process is for a non-binding referendum in this regard, what a non binding referendum is and also in addition to that if someone could speak too for public edification what the Councilor King do. Are we, if you could speak to taking a majority vote on the charter or Charter Commission, or whatever the case might be.

You can just explain those options to the public before we move on this item.

Madam Solicitor?

Through the Chair, to the Councilor. So any changes to the charter that would be changing the form of government term of any of the elected officials or the manager? Any major government changes would need to be done by a charter commission. The Charter Commission has to be elected and established by the people, it can't be established by city council. The City Council has the authority to make other special legislation to the Charter. Those cannot deal with terms, number of elected officials, elections all that and so forth. Non-binding referendum, it's not binding but the Councilor King vote to put any non-bind ing question on the ballot

Okay, I think so. Through the chair if you could just explain for the public what a non-binding referendum is for the average person that's watching please?

Through the Chair to the Councilor, sure. That would be a question on an election such as would you vote for a charter commission or would you favor a change in form of government? Would you favor strong mayor Those are types of questions that can be put on the ballot.

And through the chair, does that require six votes or eight votes?

To put the question on six votes.

Or to the clerk or solicitor if anyone

I would defer to the clerk, but I believe it's six votes.

How many votes for the non-binding referendum?

To the council, it's 6 votes and we'll go on a November local election ballot.

and how much time prior to that does that have to occur to get on the November ballot?

Through your chair, to the council. So basically I think it's a little over 40 days but we encourage council to give us more notice because of overseas ballots with the change in election laws we have to give out ballots electronic 45 days to military and overseas even in local election stands.

45 days is preferable?

At least 45 days, minimum.

45 to 60.

and so on. Ideally 60 but if we have 45 that again with our multiple district school committees and everything in between, we'd like more notice. So last time we had a non-binding I think council gave us an opportunity about I think they voted in April the pilot it was this it was a school that you know i think it was the college and universities uh pilots so we had notice from council on april on that

Thank you. This isn't the first go around on this issue. When I chaired municipal operations, we discussed it. I think it's been discussed under Councilor Bergman when he was chairing now and to Councilor Mitra and I've worked and engaged interface as has the mayor with folks in the community who engaged upon a signature collection. I say all that to say this. I'll support this item, sure, 11A, I'll vote yes but it's not very likely that that's going to occur I think it requires a little bit of impetus as provided by this body. I would support a non-binding referendum at the very least, I'm not counting six votes in my heads here, Mr. Chairman but I will say for the record that I would support a non-binding Referendum.

I support strong mayor form of government, Mr. Chairman and in addition to that a charter commission so I'll support this, you know. And my last question here to the administration or to whomever or to the solicitor You'd mentioned Charter Change, you'd mentioned Strong Mayor. Does a non-Biden referendum have to be ultra specific? So there's different forms of strong mayor for example and different forms of city manager government. So does it have to be that specific through the chair?

through the Chair to the Councilor. I mean, it doesn't have to be specific you can make it as general or as specific as you want.

You know again for the public there's various forms of plan E former government with a city manager, strong mayor etc. There's options but you know I hope we get to the place where we have five other folks that would support at the very least a non-binding referendum, you know as additional impetus as well Mr. Chairman so I'd support that and I'll support this but i will state for the record it's not very likely um that this will occur thank you

Okay, so do a roll call?

Councilor Bergman. Yes. Councilor Bilotta. Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty.

Yes, Councilor Hayes asks us to go back to 10A. Motion is suspend the rules to go to 10 A, roll call.

Berkman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda.

Yes.

Councilor Rivera? Yes. That's Rosa? Yes, that's Toomey? Yes and Mayor Petty?

Yes

Thank you Mr. Chairman, yes this is something that came up in our committee and the question is through the chair to the city manager Is this something that we've, just wanted to know, is there something that you've tried to have re-explored this type of option when it comes to sponsorships? and speaking on this, I'm not sure how much we can get into detail about the contract negotiations that are currently going on but is there something that we've tried to address in the past as far as sponsorship goes?

Mr. Manager

Through the Chairs of the Council, there's been conversations communicated to the leadership at WCCATV that they should seek other alternatives other than just the funding that they received through the contract. There are needs that they have, there are additional calls I might've incurred but there have been conversations requesting or asking them to seek other potential funding to augment whether it's grants, sponsorships, et cetera. that is the responsibility of that channel to be able to go out and market, get those sponsorships or grants etc. So those are the conversations we've had with the individuals there.

So it's on them. As a city side, is there any type of conversation that we have outside of that to bring those conversations to the table with them? Or is it more it's one them and this is why they do what they do?

Through the chairs of the council, we have to be very careful as a government body to solicit funds especially in sponsorships or events like that. oftentimes that happens through a kind of nonprofit body or fiscal agent that does a lot of that work. And so we can't be able, because then we have to be very are sensitive to kind of the asks to particular businesses to fund on my request for another entity that's not associated with the city. We fund it, but is not associated

OK, that's good to know. Yeah I think it's important that was stated. And lastly since this is something you've asked them before in the past Not knowing much of the history behind it, and I apologize. But have they been successful in it? Do we know if there's been issues where they just haven't been successful? And do you understand why? Again, I know we can't help out as much or we can get involved but what seems to be the hold up if it has been?

I don't have information on that. I do know that when you look at the numbers and their budgets, it doesn't indicate have been successful in getting additional funding grants, but that's something I'm not really privy to other than just looking at the financials.

In case the motion is approved, 10A. All those in favor of a postal audit? Audit is requested and Manager requests that the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility review the entrance to Flag Street from Pleasant Street for the purpose of providing counsel with a report concerning feasibility and advisability of now on the road at the intersection in an effort to slow down speeding vehicles and make drivers in the area more cautious. Councilor Rivera?

Basically, I want to take a look at that to see if we can get the same great work they did on Pleasant Street and Hadwin. Thank you.

Okay, all those in favor? Opposed? So ordered. We'll request the Senate Committee on Municipal Ownership of Operations to review the rules. The City Council will have public participation and discuss the feasibility of amending the rules of City Council have all council meetings begin at 530 with public participation occurring at a set time of 530 to 630 each meeting. Councilor Rivera?

So I strongly support having a public participation portion of our city council meeting. It is important that residents have an opportunity to be heard, share their concerns and bring issues before the Council. At the same time, I believe we need to balance public participation with our responsibility to actually govern and get the work of the city done. bringing this order forward of limiting public comment to one hour from 5.30 to 6.30 PM, which by the way is only 30 minutes right now under Rule 39. would continue to provide meaningful and predictable opportunity for residents to speak while allowing the council to move on to the business of the city. Our residents expect us not only to listen but also to make thoughtful decisions, address important issues and ensure that the city is being governed properly.

Setting a reasonable time limit for public comment would help us respect everyone's time while keeping the focus on doing the work our community elected us to do. I mean, if I read right now on Rule 39 it says the time for speaking should not exceed two minutes for any speaker and 30 minutes, 30 minutes for all speakers. I know that we always suspend the rules and everybody speaks and they feel like there's 100 people here and they're all gonna get to speak but A lot of times, we get work done. We don't get work that the same residents want us to get done. You know? We got to stop at midnight. I figure if we have a cutoff of 630 who get to city business and we can finish everything that our residents elected us to do. I mean, I don't think

giving them an extra hour, but there's an hour cut off. There's a rule that rules for reasons still gives everybody time to be heard and I just think they because we always suspend the rules it's almost like as expected you know but we also have to get work done if there's 30 people here speaking on the same item you know maybe they'll say okay we will pick two or three to speak on the item so other people who hear give them an opportunity to speak. So that's the reason for my order.

Okay, motion. The motion is sent to MO. Council King?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you know I've been a proponent of civic engagement here in the city, Mr Chairman. I have a number of questions as it relates to this. Historically, we moved from a 7 o'clock start to a 6.30. We're now talking about moving to a 5.30 start I do have concerns for in-person participation by families who are getting home, have to get their kids together etc. figuring that out. And I have a number of other questions and I'm gonna hold this item, I'm going to speak to the councilor who filed it to gather some more information before I vote on this affirmatively or negatively, but I will say just for the record that civic engagement and participation is essential to municipal government. It's a bedrock of our democratic process.

And while I understand this is moving, There are other considerations at play, Mr. Chairman. So I'm going to hold this item until next week and I will schedule a meeting if Bergman, and the Councilor that filed this is available. Thank you.

Okay so we'll hold

I mean, I'll wait to make more extensive comments next week since the item is held. But I will say Mr. Chairman one of the frustrations that happens to at least me. I'm assuming some of my other colleagues and it's not necessarily directed or resolved, I should say by Council Rivera's item but I certainly understand some of his impetus for it is that when we have meetings in which an item is going to be held and To me, that item is off the agenda if it's announced as being held before the public comment happens. But time and time again The public comment occurs only for the item to be brought up again the next week and have a public comment heard all over again. I mean, on one particular item recently there was an hour-and-a-half's worth of public comment and then two hours the week later Obviously, public comment is part of our charter and it's part of rules.

But this whole issue with holding items after the public speaks while the public knows ahead of time it's being held, at least for me is not the most efficient use of anybody's time because the folks that are speaking gonna be coming back the following week to speak again Anyway, so at some point I'm probably going to file an item I'm probably going to file an item to try and address that in MLO because I know it's to the discretion of the Chair but there is at least one occasion on one item this year in which The item was acknowledged by a speaker that it was going to be held, and it was held. Yet the conversation continued with public comment for over an hour. Let me just say why I also think it's problematic because there are other people here that are here for other reasons and they have to wait for that one item to get discussed, it's only gonna get discussed again the next week. And they have too wait here for an hour or a half. It's not fair to them.

They're on public business too. So I think we need to do, we're not efficient. Let me just put it that way. We can be efficient and still not deprive the public of their right under our charter and under our rules to speak but when we are not efficient, I think it compels some of us to try to see if there's ways to become more efficient that make other people say that we're trying to abridge the public's right to speak. And I don't think that's true at all. Let me just say one other thing. There are communities, there's nothing in our charter that says a half an hour, an hour 10 minutes five minutes. We developed that rule as a rule. I know this cold, the charter does not say how much time somebody gets to speak. It could be five minutes if we wanted to vote that way. I'm not saying we should but it could and also could be at the end of the meeting which I think would be ridiculous, but it could. The charter doesn't say that so when people speak and act as if there's an obligation under our charter for an hour, two hours, three hours of public comment.

That's just not true. It might be the right thing to do but it's not legally correct. Thank you Mr. Chair. Thank You.

Councilor King second time?

Thank you Mr. Chairman, I want to reiterate that my position is that public participation does not prevent the work it informs the work Mr. chairman in addition to that there's a number of folks that have taking pieces of public participant away over the last couple of terms. And it appears as though we might be moving in that direction, again based on some some of the comments. Mr. Chairman, as it relates to the work I'm not averse to doing the work. I have no problems rolling up my sleeves and going to work if I need to stay here till midnight with one or zero bathroom breaks, it is what it is. That's what... has been my experience for the last decade plus.

I'm sure the folks that have been here for 30 years or 20 may have similar experiences. Councilor Bergman's correct, he's brought this up and so on. So I think it's important that we give people multiple times, that we don't need to give people public participation but it is the right thing to do Mr. Chairman. And I don't think its happenstance those folks do that repetitively. Mr. Chairman, as it relates to holding items I disagree with my colleague I agree with a lot of what he said. What I disagree with is that it absolutely can be advantageous. We saw that with the stretch code debacle the holds that recently occurred for voting no on a TIF or tie, that have been resolved over time. That I initiated holdings on.

There's a number of reasons why that's important. Mr. Chairman, and there's been attempts in the past I know we have a lot of folks that are newer on the council that might not understand all the facets at play here, Mr. Chairman but it certainly is an opportunity to get and be continually informed, Mr Chairman so I don't agree with all of those sentiments thank you

Rivera, Councilor Ojeda.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. it's just tough for me to understand that I guess the ask is through to start at 5 30 for public participation, and end at 6.30. Again as we know while people are presenting for their two minutes, there are people still getting here. And most people probably get out of work at 5, 530. Traffic is really tough to get through the city around that time anyways. some of them don't even get here till about six. And by the time they're in line and get ready to speak 630, it would end. So I honestly, I don't agree with this. I think it's tough. I do think that we need to find better ways to give our residents opportunities to speak publicly and give them more time some way, somehow. But shortening the time I think is gonna be real difficult for our residents

Bergen said, be efficient. I think we could do a better job on being efficient after public participation. We need to own it. We're here longer after public Public Participation may go for two hours, sometimes 2 1⁄2. We're here till 9 and then we begin doing the work. Then we're here for another three hours so we need to take ownership on that I think It's going to make it difficult for public participation. I mean, this is why we had this here. So it's important. There's people that come in and they get cut off unfortunately because their time is up. We're gonna see less and less people here then what happens to the people that want to get online? So if we go 530 to 630 and then it ends at six, someone's finished talking at 630. What do we do with the people who are online when 630 is here? So I just have a lot of questions and concern with this because it's just going to take away from the actual participation. Thank you.

OK. This is held under privilege, and I'm sure it'll be a good discussion for next week. And I know the school committees meets around 5-530, if that works out okay? and I don't know, going into midnight, working in the midnight. It's in the best interest of the public either. So we are under 12C, request to see a manager, request Commissioner of Public Works to provide emergency repairs to rebuild required portion of the sidewalk and curb on King, Phillips Road a public way as intersects with Marion. I have a private way to ensure STEP is not 10-12 inches in height. In the interest of public safety, Councilor Economou

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is King Phillip Road at Marmion road. Marmio Nav. Marmo Nav is a private way King Phillip is a public way. King Philip Road, after speaking with Commissioner Westerling last week, is slated to be resurfaced at which time the sidewalks would be done as well if needed The problem here is it's on a utility hold for Eversource. and it could be a year, could be two years that Eversource gets there to do their work. This step off this curb is anywhere from 10 to 12 inches in height and in addition to that there was also some construction done down the street where the contractor has disturbed

You can see in the photo, there's probably about a two foot section off of King Phillip Road where that apron comes into the private street. are torn up due to that construction. So I just ask the city manager if there's a way that we can find a way to resolve this in the meantime? and maybe hold that contractor accountable on Marmion Ave to dig out that surface that was disturbed and lay a ribbon, a two-foot ribbon probably down the opening of Marmion Ave at King Phillip Road. But that sidewalk is... That's a significant step and really, honestly it's been there forever. But people are using the sidewalk more to walk up to Burncoat and it's becoming more evident that it needs to be changed. Thank you.

You know, send that to the manager. All those in favor of a postal audit. 12D, request the manager provide counsel with a report concerning Worcester Polytech Institute's notification or that will require students entering school for the first time in the fall of 2026 and later to live on campus during their first and second years. Said report should include how this decision will affect the Hampton Inn, the Marriott Hotels, University Purchase in 2024. The impact this decision may have on the property owners who have invested in student housing around the school and a decision would impact businesses in the area. Councilor Economou?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is... I don't know, when I received a couple calls on this it became more disturbing to me to hear that WPI is gonna be requiring their sophomore students to stay in campus housing. The university, not just WPI but others in the city. They do have a responsibility not just to themselves but also to the community at large whether it's an investor, property owner who have bought these three family homes in the vicinity of the college or university and are using it as rentals for the students or the professors, this application of their

requirement for sophomore students to be in student housing is gonna cause a hardship. And now we're going to see neighborhoods that could become, that are stable, that could became unstable. On top of How does this play into our businesses who are dependent upon the kids having lunch, dinner, picking up pizzas, subs? Whatever it may be. in the area. I see this as another slap of the face from a university that has not been committed to the city of Worcester, and I find it problematic. I'd like to have a discussion on this, I'd the school to have discussion on is, I ask the city manager to look further into this because its also again plays into the two hotels that they've purchased at at some point come off the tax roll.

And those hotels not only hurt us in a tax purpose, but more importantly they hurt us when it comes to marketing our city for events at the DCU Center. It's a problem and this school needs to be accountable for being a good participant here in our city. they're not, we're not getting notice on this. We don't have the ability to work with the university to see what their thoughts are on this and that's problematic in my opinion because it leaves all of us, the rest of us here holding the bag. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Okay we'll send that to the manager.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through the chair of the administration do we have any jurisdiction over WPI and what they do with their students?

Mr. Manager?

To the chair to the councilor no.

Mr. Chairman, as it relates to the hotels when do they go off? I mean, how long are they on the tax rolls? Do we have an idea? Have you had communication with the institution?

To the council. Upon their acquisition of the two hotels, we settled on an agreement where the first hotel they had slated that they would convert into a dormitory in 2026. and then the other one would be in 2030. We extended the agreement that they will continue payments at a percentage for the duration of that agreement, which it took us to I believe 2034 The recent conversation with the university is that they are not pursuing that changeover into a dormitory. Right now, they are continuing to operate as a hotel and will continue to operate as a hotel for the foreseeable future. They have no current plans right now to start shifting that over, and they are currently paying full taxes on both properties.

thinking, what does that mean for the agreement that you referenced? That they're not doing this. Does that mean that the agreement is no longer... What does it mean?

The agreement is still in place once they decide to turn over the properties to dormitory, because then technically it can become an untaxable use. And so then that agreement kicks in and they have to continue a percentage of the tax payments. Based on the decision to keep the hotels as is, based on the use they will have to continue and they continue to pay the taxes. Not only the real estate taxes but also the hotels and meals taxes.

And through the chair, you've mentioned that one hotel. I think you said 2026 and one in 2030. Is that correct? And if that is correct at 2026, you're not anticipating that or are you not anticipating them transitioning out of the hotel business before 2030. What exactly does that mean, specificity?

Mr. Mayorger?

to the council they have indicated that they have no plans right now active plans to turn those properties over into dormitories. That was the initial desire that they had when they acquired both properties, that they will overtime transition them one of them starting in 2026, and the other one I believe in 2030. They currently right now have no plans to convert that into student housing.

Thank you. Chair, do we have any authority over that other than kind of negotiations?

Mr. Mayor?

To the council, we have no authority to prevent them from doing that. I think the spirit is more so out of good partnership to be able to inform one another and work collaboratively on that.

I appreciate you characterizing the relationship that way. Through the Chair to the administration, what is a vacancy rate? Is it low, high, medium for folks seeking apartments in the city of Worcester through the chair?

Mr. Manager,

to the council. The vacancy rate for the city of Worcester has fluctuated, for the residential purposes at one point it was as low as 1.7. It is now I believe is now on the 3% or 4% range. But it has gone up over the past few years.

So it's low vacancy, 3%, 4%. Not as low as it was?

Not as low as it was. It's still a little vacancy, but is still a number that is going up which seems like a good indication.

Good so low vacancy rate. One of my thoughts is, because I'm not sure if I'm going to vote in support of this. if we're talking about low vacancy rates and if in fact this were to occur as it's described through the Charity Administration, what do they call them, property owners who have invested in student housing. Would they be allowed to rent their apartments to the general public? Who are seeking affordable apartments? Mr. Chair?

To the council, yes. The short answer is yes. They are some of those units that landlords have contracts with the institution that they extend for a period of time and some of those housing units, they would have to reconvert a single kind of apartments because what they've developed them is more so communal spaces. So they would have to do additional investments. Like suites? Yeah, like suites. They would have the reconvert them back to individual units typical of other residential units

and that would give an opportunity for perhaps Worcester residents to access those units, correct?

To the council. That is a possibility.

Mr. Chairman, I'm not gonna vote in support of this. I stand in opposition simply because there was a reference about unstable neighborhoods, and I'm quite sure where that comes from. I know from the folks that I speak to in the community they're seeking housing the idea that if in fact students aren't living in their housing, it opens up for families to continue their generational presence in the city of Worcester. I agree that we want to keep the hotels on the tax rolls for as long as possible, Rivera. But I also recognize that we need to keep our longtime Worcester families here, so I'm not going to vote in support of this. Thank you.

Arise for clarification to the chair, to the city manager. All that's being asked here is a report, correct? Correct. On this issue? Okay, thank you.

Councilor Ojeda?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes. Yeah I agree with what Councilor King was saying. I just have some questions to the Chair and to the City Manager. just so we get a better understanding. So currently there are two hotels on their campus and they are not using them for dormitory, for dorms.

The two hotels are not on the campus, they're outside at Gateway Park. They currently are not being utilized as dormitory.

They're paying full taxes on not only residential I mean real estate taxes they also playing hotels and meals tax Okay. Maybe there could be an ask to the chair, to the city manager if the concern is for the property owners if WPI can assist those property owners and how would they change those over to allow for housing, because I guess they're set up as suites or whatever it may be. So maybe that's something that WPI could work on But in reading this and understanding the issues that we're having in our city when it comes to housing, I think this is a great opportunity. It creates more housing for in our City and a need that

Thank you.

that again I just, I'm trying to get a better understanding and hopefully Councilor Economou can help me understand how this is, and I forgot the word he used but how does this hurt a neighborhood when there's opportunities right now where we're struggling to find housing I've had three people reach out to me in the past day, a couple days that need housing and there's really nothing available. These are gonna be this will put so much more housing on the market and maybe you know this will Show some other universities as well that have a lot of properties that probably can share in this venture of freeing up some housing. So thank you.

Thank you. Councilor Economou for clarification. Clarification, Mr. Chairman, thank you.

I know three to four percent sounds low When it was 1.7%, you'd have people lined up to rent any apartment. Right now, not so much. Now it's taking longer for units to rent rents are coming down. Now you have a property owner who has purchased the property near university, has agreements with the University, has made renovations to their apartments to accommodate students those students go away because now they're on campus. Now that unit is no longer open market suitable, right? Renovations need to be made at an expense You have these businesses along Highland Street, Grove Street that depend on students for their survival.

Now they're on a school food plan so it all relates That's the point. And I'm asking the city manager to have a conversation with WPI so we can have these conversations. That's like us sitting here right now and saying, hey you know what? Along Salisbury Street, we're gonna put meet at parking Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays. How's that gonna, you don't think WPI is going to want to have a discussion on that? You bet your boots that his phone will be ringing in a heartbeat. So these are the things we need to consider if we're going to be partners in this If we're going to just work in our own silos, then yes. Maybe an order will be coming down the pike in regards of that. But if we're gonna be true partners these are opportunities for discussion. Open discussion so the community is fully aware of what's coming down the pike, so they can be ready for it. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank You. Coach Boyle.

Yeah, I can understand Councilor Economou's but honestly, I'm really shocked right now. Worcester is in the middle of a housing crisis. We have families, we have seniors that are living in their cars and we're saying More vacancy is a bad thing, and affordable housing is a is a. Bad thing I am honestly just really taken aback by this because WPI, these colleges have been part of the city before any of us has really been alive. And I understand and I also agree that It's been frustrating to see some of the decisions that WPI has made, but I mean they're a strong part of that area. Look at Highland Street, Grove Village that's happening.

I mean there's so much business that's there because students are within walking distance of all these businesses and they've been there forever And again, as the manager pointed out, what jurisdiction do we have to tell WPI what they can and can't do with their own students? I mean, we need more affordable housing. This would be great for that neighborhood to put more housing units online so families, seniors, young professionals can afford to live here. That's what makes a stable neighborhood. So I'm just really, this concerns me. And you talk about being good neighbors and all of that, and that's true. I agree that the colleges should be but So should all this new development that's coming in soon. It's taxing our infrastructure, it's taxed everything. and that's really impacting our residents as well.

I know all of us sit on different sub-community meetings, we hear constantly that there's speeding, the roads are getting torn up from traffic. All of this is part of the city growing but That's why I submitted an order last week about what can we do to ask new developers that are coming in, to contribute to our city. You have a development like Alta on the road and through the chair to the city manager, how long was that property until it was sold by the developer? The original developer.

Mr. Manager.

To the Chair, to the Councilor. I believe there was just less than two or three years of ownership before sold.

And through the chair and city manager, what was the value of a tax break that we gave at developer?

I don't have that figure in front of me to be able to give you a definitive answer.

They received a tax, excuse me?

Correct they did receive a tax benefit yes.

and I mean that developer invested in here. Great, we need the housing. So a lot of houses that a lot people can afford and they made a huge profit and they cut and run Our colleges aren't doing that. I absolutely agree they could be doing more, but this is really... Again, kind of shocked by this just because I feel like it's not in line with what we all want for our community I'll just leave it at that. But I think we need to look at everyone that's in the city, what they can do for a better neighborhood. So thank you.

Thank you, Councilor King. How's that? Councilor Ojeda.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Yeah just to add to that, we're talking about partnerships and it's come up a lot in council. I think that's WPI's responsibility with the contracts they have to build, to make sure they have those contracts or those partnerships with some of those business owners or property owners to figure out what they can do to help them since this is their plan open up or have students stay on campus. It was mentioned that, you know, students need the place and they could be in the neighborhoods but students leave residents stay all year round. Those residents are gonna fill the void, they'll fill the voids that during the summertime and during the spring break time or winter break time that the students leave Those store owners, they lose a lot of money or they lose the chance of making money. People that live in those neighborhoods are going to stay there so they'll continue the money at the end of the day I'm believing that residents will be able

help out in those times of the downtimes during the year where they won't have as much downtime. I see it in the Clark neighborhood, a lot of the students leave and it slows down because there's not a lot of them living in the neighborhood. But when you have residents live in a neighborhood, a lot that stuff won't slow down and it'll help the businesses. So I think we need to take a better look at this. And again, we agree with Economou's concerns but again, I think that's our push back to the API and say hey how are you gonna help some of these landlords, these property owners? But at the same time having more residents to come into a neighborhood that at times during the summer hours, during the summary months and the winter months when they go away slows down. This will actually help out those neighborhoods, thank you.

Thank you, okay so motion is to send this to the city manager and I think it's for a report only. And to get what's going on, and then we will yes vote with Senate City Manager and no vote with not the Senate City manager. Roll call.

Mr. Bergman? Yes. Mr. Bilotta?

Yes

Economou, Fresolo, King, Mitra, Ojeda, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty.

Yes. 12E, request of City Manager to request the Commission of Public Works review and repair the entire length of sidewalks in front of 2 Biltmore Road which was recently replaced with asphalt instead of concrete and left the area wavy, uneven, damaging surrounding concrete at the location. Councilor Rivera?

As I read.

All those in favor or opposed so record request the Manager to request the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery to provide the City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of hiring outside contractors to illuminate the backlog of trees approved for removal but not have been taken down. Councilor Fezzola?

Thank you Mr. Chairman, through you I'm one of 11 but I can't believe that I have been contacted by so many, when I say so many in the last couple months at least a dozen people have contacted me about a city tree that is dead in front of their house and it's on the list to be taken down. And they're told that is at least a year away. And I spoke to the Commissioner of Parks and Forestry, Rob Antonelli tonight, and he tells me there's over 200 trees in the city that needs to be taken down. So I feel that is totally unacceptable, that people have to wait over a year and I think we should do whatever we can

Mr. Manager, through you, through the chairman to you city manager I'm hoping that we can look at privatizing this effort and to do it as soon as possible. I'd like to ask through you, Mr. Chairman for a response from the city manager regarding this.

Mr. Manager?

To the council, you bring up a good important issue. This is something that we discuss on an annual basis during the budget process the number of trees that we need to take down fluctuates year over year depending on requests that are coming to 311, city council, resident. et cetera, you name it. What we often do on an annual basis is we try to fund it through free cash and we do then get private contractors to then allow for that. And so that's something that we will evaluate as the next month or so when we present a free cash to the council, a potential allocation to address these trees that need to be taken down. Because just as much as we need to take it down, we also need to replant in our community But oftentimes on an annual basis because of the fluctuation of how many are actually under backlog, we often fund them through a free cash allocation. which again will be something that I'll bring to the council floor in the next month or so.

Okay, thank you Mr. Manager, I appreciate that. That's a bit of good news on this subject We might be able to spend some free cash. And again, I'm one of 11 but I find that a huge need and a huge issue to address right away as soon as possible. And I just, I received the email and a picture of a car on Houghton Street just last week Now, the tree came down in the storm. It's on the list to be taken down. We researched it and a limb came down and fell on the roof of her vehicle. And she asked me what to do I advise you to go to the law department and file a claim.

So just one instance of what I'm speaking of, Mr. Manager, and I appreciate your attention to this. Thank you

Thank you. Councilor Bergman?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to ask through the Chair of the Law Department something that Councilor Fresolo's last statement kind of highlighted what I was about to ask which is I know when it comes to pothole and and car damage, the standard for the city's responsibility is whether or not the city was on notice. Is that through the chair of this list? Or is that the same standard when it comes to tree damage? In other words if the trees are on a list to be cut down or trimmed and a limb or tree falls neither hurts property or God forbid, hurts the person is the standard that the city should have known because it was on a list?

Ma'am, Solicitor.

If you don't have an answer I'm happy with the report next time.

Through the Chair to the Councilor, no that's not the standard. There could be other circumstances such as wind or storm but just because this tree is on a list it could be on a lists to be trimmed or it does not automatically make the city liable

which is different through the chair than the automobile damage scenario for the city.

Is that correct? Through the chair to the City Councilor, A pothole, that's different. We have to be on notice. There's also like auto damage, property damage. There are different standards but you do have to on notice and you have to negligent in repairing or cutting or addressing the matter.

Through the Chair, one more question. If a tree is on a list it's dead and a windstorm comes in the limb falls Can the city argue that it's the wind, not the fact that the city didn't take the tree down that caused the damage? Or is that an argument that in your opinion is not likely to be a winning one?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can I just leave it end with a comment?

And I think we're all on the same page in this that leaving trees to be taken down that we know should isn't the best course of action, but we're limited by funding. So hopefully the city manager can make some magic with some of the free cash and Address, Councilor Fresolo and others have brought full which is a very legitimate concern. That is with our Nor'easters coming the way to snow, we get ice storms. We get wind damage. Certainly somebody who wakes up in the morning and finds a tree limb on a tree that they've called it to be cut down and they're waiting to be cut down is more likely than not to try to go after the city, whether they're on solid footing or not. It's really not the point. We still have to spend resources

to litigate the case, and the right thing to do would be to take the treaty out if funding allows for it. So thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Councilor Economou?

If I could Mr. Chair, I'd just like to sign on please.

Okay, sign on. Send that to the manager as amended. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. request the City Manager to provide counsel with an update concerning a previously adopted order which reads, Request the City manager to request Chief Development Officer to provide Counsel with an Update concerning the Form of St. Vincent's Hospital and Nursing Dormitory being developed and converted into affordable housing for senior citizens. Councilor Fezzola

Thank you Mr. Chairman, through you I have made it my business that I would periodically ask for an update on this property. I want to thank the city manager right up front because he has made it a priority, him and his administration. Peter Dunn the executive in charge of Development here in the city. And again, 38 years plus it's been a vacant building and we definitely have a Bonafide, developer interested in developing the property. So Mr. Manager if you could just update us where we stand right now for the general public I'd appreciate it. Mr. manager?

To the council, the developer is doing his due diligence to not only put together the funding necessary but also the due diligence in the property. I know that we received some dollars related to the abatement of that property. The developer will be in charge of doing that other than that I don't have any additional updates on the actual project but it'd be something that we can then definitely provide a report probably in the next few weeks because you should definitely have something more concrete to provide

Thank you, we'll send that to the manager. You want to send it out to the managers so we can file it? Yes. Send it to the Manager. All those in favor of a postal order. Of course, the Manager of Public Works provided counsel with a report concerning the feasibility of installing turf in lieu of grass on Massachusetts Road when configuring a new sidewalk location on the road. Fresolo, said turf should be installed at each intersection redeveloped throughout the resurfacing construction project on the road. Councilor Fezzol?

Mr. Chairman, through you Massasoit Road from Rice Square to Sunderland Road is being worked on this construction season. The road is resurfacing and at different intersections of Massachusetts Road, we are changing the curbing of a couple intersections. And in doing so, it is adding a huge amount of space where right now what I see is loom being spread, Before, it used to be a much wider street. We're narrowing the street and in place... It's not concrete, it's loom. And in all honesty, Rice Square School is an abutter to what I'm talking about.

I think the custodians have enough grass to cut. I don't know who's gonna cut the grass outside of their property that this would abut their property. And I believe the turf I'm talking about, the Parks Department uses it Quite often I'm told in some of their renovations of parks now to avoid the labor costs that it incurs when people have to cut it. And on the other side of Crown and Shield, They're narrowing that side of the street as well. And in doing that, there's a huge amount of loom there and the abutter is An elderly woman. I don't see her out going to be able to go out and cut that grass, so That's why I bring it up now while the construction is going on as we speak and I'm hoping that DPW in those instances where we have narrowed the street and put in

Again, dirt or loom instead of concrete. Not that it should be concrete I'm not saying that but There's a huge issue there and I just don't want in years to come, months to come where someone can't Cut the grass that we plant and it looks like an iso. We have too much overgrowth in this city, and I'm trying to avoid that by bringing this up now and seeing if again before we plant grass there, grass seed We can look at laying that turf that we now use as a city. So that would be my request, Mr. Chairman, through you. Thank you

I'm going to send that out to the manager. Those in favor, oppose so ordered. Requests from the Manager, requests from the Commissioner of Public Works. I count the report concerning the feasibility of utilization of City 1 patch resurfacing program to repay Vernon Street Windham, Street to 5th Ave during fiscal year 27 Councilor Fezzola.

Mr. Chairman, through you this is an item that I have spoke up at subcommittee meeting of our Public Works Committee that I'm a member of and also privately to the Commissioner of DPW, and also the City Manager. Vernon Street is in need of some attention from not all of Vernon Street but as I Thank you. as I word here in the order from Windham Street to Fifth Ave is in dire need of attention. It has needed it for several years and I made it you know an item when if and when I get elected, I would address it. And I had brought this up early on in the year when I was told about the long patch program.

I don't think that it is the answer for, you know, the total answer for this section of road of Vernon Street that I'm talking about but I know I've spoken to the manager and we're getting close to the end of the year of when we can resurface streets. And I'd like some confidence in the manager that we're going to do some type of repair to that portion of Vernon Street, Mr. Chairman, through you. I don't know if the manager is willing to comment on it. If not, all I'm looking for some work to be done on Vernon Street from Windham to Fifth Avenue. Thank you Mr. Chairman

Thank you. Send that to the manager. Those in favor, opposed, so awarded. Okay, request to manage requests of Commissioner Public Works. Contact MassDOT to assure the College University wayfinding signs from exit 190 from Belmont Street is updated to reflect that Becker College and Maria College are no longer operating. Councilor Toomey?

as it reads.

Those in favor, opposed, so ordered. 12K, request to see manager, request the commissioner of transportation and mobility, provide city council with a report detailing the potential of an on-street parking plan that will allow residents to be able to park along Bronco Street where feasible. Councilor Economou?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bernco Street came out great. Bike lanes are there too. The problem that's come up in areas is there's no on-street parking. Parking is limited along Bernco Street. And I would just ask the Department of Transportation and Mobility to look at areas along BernCo Street where it's feasible, where we can add parking on street parking It would certainly help a lot of the residents, especially down towards Bernco Prep. Down by The Triangle where there is some more space. Other sections again it's a lot more tighter So that's all. I would just ask the manager to ask Commissioner Raleigh to take a look at this. I'd love to get a neighborhood meeting on it, just so he can hear some of the concerns from the neighbors as well. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to sign on to that. Okay council as amended. All those in favor oppose so ordered. The question manager will work with the budget director to identify and apply for federal grant monies available to address environmental issues throughout the city. Councilor Rivera?

As it reads.

Those in favor, opposed so ordered. 12M requests the City Manager to review and address concerns related to the stormwater runoff from Cook's Pond into the vicinity of Jupiter Juniper, Arlenes and Cooks Pond Dam where the outflow of water has created a delta due to lack of containment or collection. Councilor Rivera?

I just want to amend that order to stay. Stormwater runoff is into Cook's Pond, The Delta is not at the dam, but from the three stormwater drains on Olean Street that dump into Cook's Park.

Okay, as amended to the manager, all those in favor oppose so ordered. Request the manager review and report to the council concerning the feasibility of installing rain guides at the vicinity of Circuit Ave West and Gates Lane. Councilor Rivera?

As it reads,

All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Requesting manager by council to report concerns whether the city has any regulatory authority to either control or prevent Amazon from watching the package delivery Mk-30 drones, which are designed to have shoebox size products weighing under five pounds from 13 feet in a and the six propeller, five by five foot machines that are capable of reaching 75 miles per hour from Westboro Distribution Center into large portions of Worcester So reports should include information concerning how the residents will be surveyed to discuss potential effects this project will have on the city's community and neighborhood, including environmental privacy and safety concerns. Councilor Rosen?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. chairman as I think we all realize that Amazon which has a couple of big facilities here in Worcester out of their Westbro facility is planning to, and very soon once they get the complete okays in Westbrook, to launch these drones with package delivery that could be there in an hour or two. So you need to order your electric drill, and in an hour I guess they're going to get it. Or your sweater or whatever you ordered from Amazon. and certainly it's been an item of controversy in Westboro where they plan to start doing these launches. I've heard from several people just the last two days when it became public that they had the item on here. Heard from several, I think maybe 10, nine were interested against the drones for various reasons.

And one, there was one right before the meeting who emailed me and said do everything you can to encourage Amazon to start as soon as possible in Worcester. I'm saying to myself doesn't he know where I stand on this? I don't think it's a good idea. I think we need a lot more information anyway, but I just don't thing it's good idea A lot of people are against it and If Amazon does this, then Walmart's coming next and then it's gonna be Target next. And it's going to be Shaw's after that. And then to send something to my mother-in-law I'm gonna take my own drone and send her something So I mean, I can see this going on and on getting bigger and bigger. And is this what we want? We always talk every meeting here Every item is about the quality of life in the city of Worcester. Does this add to the quality life? Now, I worded it so I would ask for a report from the administration and the law department whether we have any ability to regulate it. I don't know if we do, maybe we don't.

Okay, I don't know. We had trouble regulating WPI. I don' t know if we can regulate Amazon then but can we control it in any way? Can we stop it? Maybe we can. It seems like the city of Worcester should have some say in what Amazon does here and there's a lot of issues, and some are privacy issues. People have talked in Westboro I'm going to, privacy issues and others, environmental issues having these drones. And again it's not just Amazons, it starts with Amazones. And there's noise issues and there's safety issues Okay, and there's even job issues. And there's event issues if you really wanna extend it with our local businesses I mean we got Home Depot, we got other small businesses here in the city of Worcester. Maybe they can't compete to have their products delivered to your house in one hour. So, there's a lot of issues that we should start talking about. Right now the plan by Amazon is to start the launches out of Westboro

and a lot of Worcester, not all of Worce... A lot of what's there would be targeted areas for these deliveries. I don't know if the people in Worcestershire want this, I don' t know if they need this I don't see any good coming of this. Let's see what happens in Westboro because they've been complaining, okay? That's the center of attention here where it's all starting so I would just hope that the manager Reasonable Time, because this is going to start soon. In reasonable time the manager and the city solicitor take a look at this and at least let us know do we have authority to control this, to regulate this? And I'm not saying everyone on the council wants to. Maybe some of you want that electric drill in 35 minutes or something so that's good maybe vote for this. You know, I think I can wait for my electric drill Okay, so I look forward to a report soon from the administration and the law department on what authority does the city of Worcester have with something like this. Not just Amazon but Walmart and others that will be following.

Thank you Mr. Chairman Councilor Bergman?

I don't oppose what Councilor Rosen is saying. I'd absolutely be supportive of the report, I would just note that I followed the item with some interest because I thought it was an interesting item to have on the agenda this week. Some of the arguments Councilor Rosen has made are good arguments, I don't know if I'd call Home Depot a local small business and that they're pretty big. I would also say that maybe someday this technology leads to prescription medicine being dropped at somebody's house when they need it, and they don't have to get in their car and drive But at the same time, I understand that Texas package was dropped in a pool. Another package was drop on a barbecue and caused a fire So there are definitely issues. But then again, there are cars now being driven with no drivers. I don't know if we can stop the technology.

I don' t know if should because from an environmental perspective, everything I've read is that it's probably better for the environment to have electricity driven drones and cars in Worcester. We've learned through some of our neighborhood meetings that the Amazon drivers deliver up to three in the morning. There are privacy and issues related to quality of life with late night deliveries as well. So I agree, we need to know more. How much the packages weigh? What are they going to do prevent fires injury? How late in the evening or early morning hours are they gonna operate? so on and so forth. But I don't rule it out because I'm not sure that there's that much the City of Worcester can do about it, but I do welcome the report and we'll talk more about it when the report comes back. Thank you.

Rocking. Thank you Mr. Chairman, I agree with everything that's been said just about what I would say is I've always had a concern about the impact on a human workforce of technology. And we know that's been occurring for decades and years, maybe centuries but it's some major concern. I would ask to make a friendly amendment to this. If not, it's unaccepted or separate motion but I would make a Friendly Amendment that we also Getback, a report on where this has been occurring. The data, if there's any data may not be so no. But if there is any data about the impact on the human workforce

in those places, in terms of jobs and those particular businesses. In addition to that Mr. Chairman as a separate motion I'm certainly interested in workforce development in response to artificial intelligence and increased technology or improved technology. as it relates to our workforce and future workforce. I don't know, in the past we've talked about this and I know that the chamber might have been doing some work on this, but we have an obligation as well to inform ourselves through our economic development folks and to inform the council as to the specifics regarding future workforce development, as it relates to these things. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank You. So as amended in... Mr. Chair. I'm sorry, Councilor Mitra.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Advancement of technology is inevitable. It's going to happen. It is legitimate to find out some report from the City Manager about the ordinance of drones operation in our city, if that's possible. But I think we need to be ready for any such changes that's coming up. AI, as we know, might impact the workforce no matter what you do so I think we have to be ready for all kinds of things that could be happening technology wise. At the same time, I'd like to know if drone operation in our city would have some kind of ordinance that might be implemented from the managers so thank you very much

Okay, so I'll send that to the manager. One of the other motions is the amendments. All those in favor or opposed? So ordered. 12Q, request manager to write a council report concerning the impact of individual Medicare insurance plans being eliminated. Further requests from the manager include said report information concerning transition plans available to residents to ensure they are not negatively impacted by the loss at such points. Manage. Chris?

Mayor Joseph M. Petty.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, we got a 12 Q I've been informed, and I think people are getting their notices now. A couple of big plans are eliminating the Medicare plans. UMass Advantage Program and Blue Cross Blue Shields I think we'll name four out of the six. So people will get their notices saying they're gonna have to go find other avenues of getting insured and these are not group insurance plans, it doesn't really affect city personnel here in the City of Worcester or retirees but it does affect constituents. What I've learned is that, let's say there's like 25,000 maybe people impacted in Worcester County probably City of Worcester would go 3,000 to 5,000 people maybe. It could be less between both plans and I think it's important that not that we go out and have to do a tell people how to enlist into another plant.

But make sure that UMass, Blue Cross and everyone involved knows and can educate people. Because when you're an elderly person, Medicare's complicated enough in the insurance laws, insurance trying to pick a plan which is gonna be more expensive not going to be cheaper so So I think if we can, not saying we have to do it Mr. Manager but we should at least guide people that people call and be prepared to enlist the people here in the city of Worcester who are going to be impacted I know Mr. Manager, we had a meeting today which this is only the beginning With the bill coming out of Congress, hopefully directions change after the election. But come January, Medicare, Medicaid and all people impacts are gonna be dramatically impacted. I think what you can hope for is to delay this, if it depends on where Congress turns out in November.

but we met with, today we have a great group who put this report together. It's part of Worcester Together Group which is community engagement team which healthcare for all from Massachusetts and David just asked us to set up a meeting with the Congressman, Federal Delegation State Delegations which I have reached out to the Congressman. because that we can at least as a community respond. Because people are going to be educated, services are gonna be cut and there's so many nuances to these laws, they could get help in other aspects of all these bills and federal laws. And so this is gonna be a priority because there's gonna be a lot of confusion and challenges navigating all this information. So communication is going to be very important. And so what we did during COVID, we're on top of this, we were able to communicate it's going to the same impact depending on what happens over the next month.

And concerns for behavioral health access, so all these issues insurance coverage or specialty care A lot of people won't be going to these insurance plans, don't have specialty care. So they'll have access to that. So there's a lot of groups are gonna be very confused and will be losing their coverage here in the city of Worcester and I think if we all come together like we did COVID, We can help people as much as we can, which is the same thing that we did a few years back. So this is important Mr. Manager. This is trying to get us going here and making sure come January, glad this is gonna be in January depending on what happens over the next month a lot of these cuts, a lot the impact on our community and communities around Massachusetts. Thank you

King. Thank you, Mayor Petty for your leadership on this is certainly important as a frontline social worker. This is something that we're currently dealing with and I know all the various agencies as well. DDS, DMH, DCF etc and there's going to be an impact and we know that there's a trickle down that comes right into the heart of the city of Worcester. We know that folks out there are chronically unsheltered, folks that are not tied in to services will be impacted as well. And Mr. Chairman, what I would ask as a friendly amendment is that we also move to request the city administration to give us what the strategy is related to those who are unsheltered and unhoused.

And in addition to that, specifically the 60 that we've identified that are chronically unshelterd who may also lose their benefits So again, I know that the shelters are doing some work. I know the public agencies and the nonprofits are all working in conjunction as well, but what can we do if anything for those folks that are chronically unsheltered and the unshelter. as it relates to this because, you know, it's coming and it's gonna have an impact on folks inside the borders of Worcester.

Thank you. Okay, as amended to the Manager, all those in favor of a postal order request the Manager to provide counsel with a report concerning Department Street Sweeping Operations, Councilor Bilotta?

Thank you, I'll be brief. Just hoping to get a better idea of how the city DPW manages street sweeping operations it would be great to have some additional sweeping on I've had conversations with Commissioner Westling about adding additional street sweeping to Lincoln Street, Harding Street. Again, I think we can do a better job. I would like to have a better idea of how I can go about asking for or when to go about making requests on Street Sweeping and just get a better

and Manager. All those in favor, opposed? So ordered. Question made is requested by Commissioner Parks, Records and Cemetery to conduct monthly cleanings of the medium on Hamilton Street, Councilor Bilotta. As it reads. All those in favor, post so ordered. 11-12T. Request that you may consider creating and installing Welcome to Worcester, Heart of the Commonwealth and Leaving Worcestershire Come Back Soon signs at all major entries and exits points along Worcester City's border and Auburn, Holden, Weston, Millbury, Shrewsbury, West Boylston. Dr. Mitra, Councilor Mitra?

Thank you Mr. Chair, I would like to say as it reads but just want to say that I'd like to amend it instead of going to the city manager if we could go to the traffic and parking traffic department subcommittee

Senator Trafford and Parker?

Yes.

Okay, you want it in Traffford and Parker.

Yeah, I think putting this kind of sign in every city and town that we have.

This probably should go to the manager first and report back because he's gonna have to contact MassDOT

I'm fine with that, but I thought probably it is more of a standing committee's role. But that's okay too. Going to the manager.

Okay.

Say that again? I think it will be okay to go to the

Okay, Councilor Toomey.

Just a clarification at some point in the past Ten years we've done, the administration has provided a report on street signage and plans for the type of signs that we have. and there might be something there in those past reports on what it looks like and all that so if we could look at either separately or as an and the Board of Trustees. I'm going to take a look at that last amendment, take a

Metra. Through you, Mr Chair to Councilor Toomey that yes I did look but there were some but there was no action taken as well given an attachment which places King. Councilor King. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to 12T and I'm gonna make this statement for the public so they can understand my vote We just had an item that was brought forward here for a few signs in the city as it relates to immigration, ICE enforcement, safety and fear. and this council voted it down, said there wasn't any money for signs. and now we're here talking about welcome to Worcester, leaving Worcestercomeback soon signs. So I'm gonna vote no. I'm in opposition to that for those principles and those principle reasons, Mr. Chairman so I just wanna explain that to the public thank you.

Thank you okay. Okay, yes vote would be yes. No vote will be no. Roll call Mr. Chairman. Okay roll call.

Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Economou? Yes. Councilor Rosolo? Yes Councilor King? No Councilor Mitra? Yes, Councilor Ojeda? Yes councilor Rivera? yes Councilor Rosen? yes, Council Toomey? yes Mayor Petty

Yes. 12U requests the City Manager to provide counsel with a report concerning the impact of separating the various functions of the Department of Public Works into the Department and the Department of Parks, Recreation, Cemetery as well as subdivisions within the DPW including Streets Division, Water and Solar Operations Division. Engineering division has had a delivery of city services for requests to sub-report include and Inventory of Assets, Equipment, Vehicles, Facilities, Staffing Functions and Maintenance Responsibilities that were previously shared with TPW. How those resources and responsibilities have been allocated among each respective department in each division since each section of the department will separate and when additional equipment, staffing facilities and other operational resources may be needed to resolve with the resources no longer being shared Councilor Mitra.

Thank you Mr. Chair, I think my order is pretty clear I think in the past DPW had all these different departments under their umbrella now that we have divided it DTM, Parks and Recreation, Water Division. So I just was curious to have a report saying that how the assets and amenities has been now owned by each department if you can know that is there anything more that other department needs because of this separation so if a report could be given then we have a better idea of how we can really do the Allotment of the portioning, budgeting for that purpose and it gives us a good idea how they are working with this separation. Thank you.

We'll send that to the manager. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Request the manager of a vice council with an update concerning the status or the overgrowth at Elm Park's Pond, including an explanation of the environmental concerns involved. Timelines for addressing those concerns and information action being taken regarding the pond's water level Councilor Ojeda.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, yes this is something that's come up pretty often in conversations I've had in the neighborhood people have reached out to me through emails and online as well so through the chair to the city manager maybe you can give me just a little brief insight on what we're dealing with when it comes to Ellen Park.

Mr. Manager?

To the chance of the council, this ongoing work there especially on the vegetation end. There are some additional dollars that we receive through state dollars and even grants so there's ongoing work but we I'd be happy to bring back a report. I know that not only you, but also Council Bergman has been asking about some of the improvements and updates in Umpark so The Commissioner is fully aware, so we'll be prepared to provide a better detailed response. But I know that there's some ongoing work that needs to happen around the vegetation and the impacts of, because one of the challenges to the vegetation in one of their areas is the impact to the soil which impacts on the conservation commission plays a role in that. and so we need to be mindful of that, so we'll have a report that outlines all those details.

OK, thank you. I think what also needs to be mentioned is the work that is being done in the park. I drive by there regularly. and they do a good job keeping up with everything else but those issues that we have. They do a job trimming right up to the pond as far as they can go. It seems like they're doing a great job keeping it clean, obviously we did the ground area of the playground so the grounds crew is doing a good job over there but it's tough to know that when you're driving by, people walk by and they see what they see. But people still frequent the park. There's a lot of people every time I drive by there's people using the park You know, we just really need to put a real concerned effort or find a way to really start addressing those issues. And it could be in sections and parts of whatever maybe but again people aren't seeing that unfortunately from a distance the work that's really being done in that area so I'd really look forward to this report hopefully we can get this report sooner

to get the word out, to see what we can do. Obviously, the summer is gone. We're in the fall and maybe something that we can have a better plan on what's going to happen come springtime. Thank you

Thank you. I'm gonna send that to the manager, all those in favor oppose so ordered. Councilor King wants to sign on. Probably everybody else does too as amended. All those in a favor opposed so ordered? Okay. W. Request to manage, request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility to provide City Council with a report detailing the 90-day trial period for installation over four-way stop signs at several locations in Western, including the intersection on June Street, Brunel Street Hatham Street, Sutterport, Fortune Club and I'll limit it to information pertaining to when the 90-day trial will occur what residence input will be used to measure this success of the stop sign controls More criteria will be used to determine if the stop signs are warranted on a permanent basis. Councilor Bergman, Rivera.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. What precipitated the order is some of the feedback I got from particularly one of the speakers that's still here, spoke earlier. That's directly impacted given the proximity of her older Victorian home to where this took place. Years ago when I was on traffic and parking subcommittee, and I don't know how much has changed but judging from the placard that was shown during the public speaking portion of the four-way stop sign was always like the last resort. I don't know what the numbers were for accidents over in that intersection, I have lived over on that neighborhood to various degrees for the better part of 60 years in my life, which is vast majority of my life.

I know there were challenges over there, but I also know there was speed bumps that were put in or speed humps not that long ago on Lovell Street. I do cut through that intersection a lot and I do see what's going on there. The one challenge, I certainly think it's worth noting is when four people come to a four-way stop like that you still have to depend Thank you for watching. having said that, I know there was some money put aside to do three or four separate four-way intersections throughout the city. My reading of it and my recollection of it, it was a 90 day trial period simply asking through the chair of city manager what does that mean? What does a 90-day trial period mean is there opportunity for people to weigh in if not to change anything, perhaps to tweak things to make it better for their quality of life. If it's directly affecting them and if there is an overwhelming amount

Unhappiness. And I'm not saying there is, but if there is what does that mean during the 90 day trial period? So there's questions and I'm just wondering through the chair If we can get some answers back before that 90-day window Ends, if the manager knows or perhaps a report in a later future date will be forthcoming through the chair of the manager.

Mr. Manager?

Due to the council, based on my understanding is that 90 day period has ended and the actual order of the petition of putting those stop signs was ordained already it was unanimously approved by the committee as well. We will be prepared to provide a memo with all the data related to it but unfortunately, the 90-day period has ended and the work has been already ordained.

So if I may, through the chair to the city manager that tells me that that 90 day period must have started before the four stop signs were fully implemented because I think it was probably August when they were fully in implemented so i don't think it's been 90 days since then but if we get a report on that period, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Rivera, you all set? Okay so I'll get a report back when the 90 day started. As said it might have been Labor Day. So we will send that to the manager. Those in favor opposed to audit. Okay. 12X, request the manager consider installing two Worcester Police Department police academy classes are completed and ready for work before the end of the calendar year 2027. Bergman. Considerations should include using funds from fiscal year 27 for one class, fiscal year 28 for the other. Councilor Bergman? Okay we'll come back to Councilor Okay, 12Y. Request City Manager consultation with the relevant city departments, outreach providers and people with lived experiences to develop a plan to clean designated hotspots I also respond to the needs of unsheltered residents and housing crisis for request to see a manager calling up with respect to outreach, advanced communication. Practical Connections to Shelter Services and Housing.

For request of the manager, track the following, the number of cleanups, 311 responses, debris in overflow, repeat cleanups continuous scores King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This particular item is really looking for the city to develop some key performance indicators

as it relates to our responsiveness to the various hotspot locations related to debris, trash, et cetera. This pertains to the general public and the unsheltered population who's part of the general public. Mr. Chairman, this came out of some discussions with the city manager over the last few days and weeks as relates to our response to folks within the city of Worcester. And in my travelings throughout the city, there are locations that repeatedly appear that they need attention. Mr. Chairman in spaces where folks gather if it's for a ball game, if it is for recreation, if its for folks coming together after leaving St Johns or the shelter

that those places, it commonly occurs that there's trash and debris and whatnot Mr. Chairman In my conversation with the city manager, I asked how often there's sort of cleaning sweeps of these locations. And in some instances there are and in some cases there aren't. So what we're really looking for here, Mr. Chairman is a plan and that plan may intersect with involving people with lived experience who maybe we can do something productive with those folks or help them have a productive outlet. Our small businesses, our nonprofit partners and our city departments, Mr. Chairman. I'm interested to see some of the response times to 311 initiated responses, the number of cleanups

how many times we have to go back to those hotspot locations. And again, for folks who are coming to the city, to events but also to folks who are unsheltered in the midst of housing crises. When you continually walk by various parts of the city and they're continually a challenge I had asked some questions about the Polar Park area, what's the role of the ballpark in some of those areas and it led to this particular report Mr. Chairman but outside of that core, there's been complaints for years. For example behind South Plaza and one of the streets there with my old athletic director over at Holy Name where there's constant debris behind that particular business facility over at South Plaza.

So we know these hotspots, we know obviously the bridge over Green Street some of the places on Lincoln Street, some places in Maine South and it caused you to wonder, we have ambassadors. We have these different things but what does the intersections look like? What are those key performance indicators and what is the response time as relates to those particular places, Mr. Chairman? Thank you.

Thank you, I'll send that to the manager. Who's in favor of proposal awarded? 12C. Z, request the manager develop a clear guidance related to the business should contact 311 or 911 that includes information related to how businesses can Request outreach related to emergencies involved unsheltered individuals. Further request is that guidance ensures not emergency concerns involving unshelter people be routed to trained outreach teams with 9-1-1 being reserved for emergencies. Federal request to manage and consult business outreach providers, relevant city departments and people who have lived the experience involving city guidance. Federal requests that the following information be tracked as part of such guidance King, Business Reach, Routing Times, Mr. Director, Non-Emergency Calls, First Resolutions, Connections to Services, Shelter or Housing when available. Councilor King.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to amend this to just say at the request of city manager develop clear evidence-based guidance and Best Practices, and provide that to the council via report related to when businesses should contact 311 or 911 et cetera Mr. Chairman. I'd also like to amend this, to emphasize that this is in response to folks that are dysregulated. who appear to be in need of a public health response. Mr. Chairman, I've met with folks again, I have spoken to folks in businesses, including the Canal District. And we'll specify they may or may not be on the Canal Business District Associate. But I've spoken to folks there who I know who own businesses. and some mixed bag.

Who do you call? You have someone there, they're nodding off. They are the influence. they appear to need some help. Who do you call? We're supposed to have a co-response element We have Quality of Life. We have the Crisis Team as well, and then we have private partners through the various agencies that provide homeless outreach, et cetera. We had mobile crisis I don't know what the status of that is right now but we had all these things. We have BHN coming in with an expertise and co-response model with police, social workers, clinicians who really want to attract T-R-A-C-T, Attract where there's a clear response that

perhaps a differential response, and perhaps a response where folks are rooted to outreach teams. including a clinical response. So would also like to understand that when those are called in to 911 or 311, what is the response routing times or response times were the folks or the businesses that made those were calls reached? Were they engaged with? Was any of these calls misdirected to non-emergency calls? What were the resolutions on the first contacts? Were there connections to services, shelter or housing if possible Mr. Chairman and you know we had a meeting I met today with the delegation

and again, one of the elected officials in their part of the city had indicated that they help out with some of these calls. They call 311. We have other folks right to 911. And so it's a mixed bag, I don't know what the answer is but would like a report back on that with some key performance metrics as part of our response to the challenges we're here in the city. and also the gaps as it relates to shifts where folks would be available, what's the current status of our co-response model. is it even in effect at this time? And if so, how often are they deployed? Our police officers as I mentioned are being asked to do a lot. And I've said this before, you know, help people cross the street.

They've been asked to be AAA social workers, youth counselors, et cetera and it's a lot and responding repeatedly with to these folks is part of the job, but it's also a part of I really want to see something like this move forward. Through the chair of city administration, I would ask this question currently what is the guidance provided to businesses and residents as it relates to 311, 911. Who do you call? I know in some... And I have an order coming for the next Agenda as it relates to a little bit of this that's a little different, but who are they advised to call through the chair?

Mr. Manager

Two shits to the council. When there are matters related to the unhoused population that are either impacting a business or local residents, et cetera, oftentimes whether it's someone sleeping in the vestibule or someone just enters my place, et cetera. Oftentimes what we tell all of us are the individuals or the business owners it depends on the situation if it is something that is violent for Crime, then we immediately tell them to call 911. If it is something where you feel as though someone just needs attention or someone needs to just respond without an emergency, then reach out to 311. The challenge becomes when it's after hours or after 5 o'clock or what have you where our 311 department is not available for the evening hours. So most of these calls are generated to 911 to respond

address any of those matters. They do, the department has clinicians that responds with them when needed regarding a mental health situation but right now that is something that we are evaluating, that's something that were in discussions as part of the resource center to have a centralized location for any of these types of calls related to individuals that are unhoused in our community. and so there's further discussion that's happening around this but currently right now, that's the current practice of the city.

Thank you, I appreciate that. You know, I'd like to get this some communication to the council forthwith and Mr. Chairman, I would like to amend this as well to include a public education campaign once this has been solidified. And Mr. Chairman, the last amendment is at the beginning of this request clear guidance related to when businesses that should also include residents and people who come within city borders for this information. Mr. Chairman, I think response and scale and scope of response is extremely important right now as we deal with these challenges thank you

and as the manager, all those in favor of Postal Hood. Go back to X. Request City Manager to consider insuring two of the Police Department police academy classes are completed and ready for work before the end of the calendar year 2027. Second consideration should include using funds from the fiscal year 27 for one class and 28 for the other, Councilor Bergman.

Thank you Mr. Chairman we had a long discussion last week about the needs and concerns of staffing in the Worcester Police Department, the number we've always been focused on doesn't take into consideration of late. The growth of this city, the students we have in the city on our at least nine month basis and the fact that Worcester continues to grow. Since I've been on the council, some of my colleagues will say the same thing. The goal has always been to keep the amount that we have but realistically we need to be beyond that amount and I know funding is always going to be an issue. The recruiting is gonna be an issues although that's not necessarily in our hands, that's the police department's hands but funding certainly is something we can't control

I was rather surprised to learn that the city is on a regular basis has divided into five districts with four officers in each district at any regular appropriate time with up to 10 percent potentially calling in sick. Sorry, taking the time off and others calling in second now we're aware of an issue that's been going on for a long time which is the number of officers that have to escort people under arrest that have alleged medical issues. So, that number on a regular basis could dwindle down to what I would call the dangerous level for not only the public but for the police department So we need to do and just not maintaining the status quo but moving forward with more police. From budgetary concerns, I understand there's a class coming forward. My suggestion in this order is that we get two classes on

calendar year 2027 by using the budget in 2020, this year's budget. In 2027 and next years budget of 2028 to fund two separate classes that have both available even if it's December of 2027 I think that's a worthwhile goal because we could get additional class on. We would not only maintain but finally start moving ahead and instead of hitting the budget hard in any particular one year, we'd be able to spread it out over essentially two different years budgets. I think it makes fiscal sense. I'll wait to hear back from the manager and Chief Financial Officer, and others to see if I've missed something with that strategy. and obviously we need to have the Chief involved, but I do think having two classes in 2027 will be a great way to start moving forward and not only maintaining the number we have but start getting to the goal.

We really need to be, which is over the 500 mark. It's not the 450, 460 we've been trying to maintain it's really over the five hundred mark lastly I'm going to reiterate, I say that because compared to Springfield Providence and Hartford, and other similarly situated cities of our size. The ratio police to population is much higher than it is Worcester to our Police Department. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Send that to the manager. Council King?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. you know we I think just came before us to the council the other day looking into doubling up police officers two-door car at the same time we're saying there's a which would limit their coverage of the city. It would reduce their Visibility to a degree, given that there'd be less vehicles. And there's other concerns and I supported asking for, I believe I did, for more information and we have cost concerns as well. Mr. Chairman, This particular item, I thought we had just discussed and this is before us without any consideration for costs.

it's not a request to look at well how much would this cost none of that's in here which is usually part of a lot of these items. Mr. Chairman, I certainly would like a cost analysis perhaps if I end up voting for this right now I stand in opposition but that certainly makes sense. I would ask the city manager, I know you've considered this through the chair to administration Given the things that confront us right now and your budget projections, does this appear feasible to you on the face of it through the chair? On its face.

Mr. Manager

Through the Chair to the Council, it'd be difficult for me to give you a yes or no answer because it all depends how many we want to add in a class. If it's a Class of 5, or a Class 30, or Class 40 that has an impact on the cost and also it is subject to the potential negotiations that are I'm going right now with the patrolman's union related to the impact on future budgets for their salary increases. It's tough for me to say whether it's feasible or not because there's a lot of moving pieces right now In place to determine whether that's something that's feasible enough

Through the Chair of the administration, my understanding that what I heard from you is that there are complicating factors as it relates to determining this through the chair.

To the chairs of the council base and what I'm seeing here, this is ensuring two department classes. It doesn't identify how many in these class. So it could be 10 people. It can have been 30, 40, 50. I don't know exactly what that number is. This year we had 22 officers that graduated the class and so we on an annual basis, we try to fund 30 positions but not all 30 are often made to the ceremony. but if we keep on that, that would be something that would have a significant impact on the budget. Especially based on what I'm reading here it seems as though there may be some potential utilizing FY28 dollars for this year's class and I don't know if we will be able to do that. And because the FY28 budget hasn't been developed, it hasn't even approved by the council yet so

There's some finessing or some conversations that need to happen before I can definitively say whether we can do this or not.

Mr. Chairman, I'm not convinced that this is feasible. This does not ask for a report, Mr. Chair. I'll go along with considering this if there's a report. The file of this motion, or this order there's been a stickler about reports and if it's a report or not but certainly would like to figure that out. Through the chair of the administration, is this a departure from how we do things through the chair to the city manager? would this be a departure about how we evaluate classes if we went this route?

two chairs of the council. My understanding is this would have no impact on that, on the evaluation of the classes? Is that what you're asking?

The class size. Right, so you said it could be two people each class. Could be 10, could be five but my question is your process how would this impact that? Again it would be based on- Or do you consider two classes every year?

we only consider one class every year. We have not considered two classes on one given year, that additional cost is something that we have not analyzed and whether the budget right now could actually support that. So I think what the order's asking for me to consider, that possibility so we would have to do some analysis to that.

Mr. Chairman, I'd like a report back on the feasibility of this Mr. chairman if that's not accepted as a friendly amendment, I would like to file it separately. But certainly the manager should consider this and we've just been through this with another order I get it, but certainly a report back from the council with fiscal impact before any decisions made. Mayor Petty.

No, I think... Maybe I'm reading this differently. I think Councilor Burgum is absolutely correct from the report that we got last week. Was it last week? The Chief? Yeah. And I know it depends on budget. It always depends on the budget. Depends how much money, how many are going to be in the class but we're gonna have, I forget the exact numbers, a couple hundred potentially to be out towards the police department at the end of this year. 160 count Councilor Nguyen this year and next year something like that and so Council Berman's doing to make sure that we are filling those positions, public safety. The way I read this is right, and this might be off here is that you want two classes. I even asked the Chief of Police about this at the last meeting, about the classes, how it would work because before the end of the calendar year 27 so that means January you start a class ready for the 27th school year.

Consideration of using funds from... We have a class starting this January, right? For fiscal year for the budget that was adopted for FY 27, July 1st. That's the class and he's gonna put maybe, let's say the class goes over 40. Something like that, whatever it might be.

Well we supported a class I believe is 30.

This class coming in January?

4 1⁄2 or 27.

Okay, so you have 30 coming on the 3rd. So that's what Councilor Bergman is asking for and how do you coordinate that next class who'll be in a different budget which we do every year anyways it would be so there's no real effect on this except the way I'm reading this, you get the police recruits come in earlier. So July 1st comes around for fiscal year 28 You have, that's already budgeted. Councilor Berman said let's just sit away until January of 29th. I'll get my year screwed up for 29. You're going to start it at the end of 27, if possible. Because it's almost impossible to get two classes on in one year. You just can't do it. because there's not enough months. It takes you seven months to train a police officer, so it goes from January through July. Then you have to do background checks, same people who do the background checks are doing are doing the training.

So, the background check's not gonna occur probably, we'll say when things get to close, it could be June, July and get ready maybe by the end of the year. So I think Councilor Bergman is, so there's gonna be real, it's not going to be a real budget issue here We decided not to fund the class whatsoever. because you get two fiscal years. We already budgeted 27th fiscal year, 28 presume which fiscal year would start that so being the same be two fiscal yes

Again, this would be a conversation that Chief and I were heading in. And we will present the recommendations to the council. The way I'm reading is it says police academy classes are completed and ready for work before the end of calendar year 27. So that means two classes to be completed and ready for work before the end of the calendar year 27.

Yeah, which would be in a 28 budget. because we're gonna do that budget next year.

Correct, but so that means you would be making a decision on the FY28 budget right now to be- Oh yeah well you got it. So that's why I was saying earlier, it would just be considering as part of the budget based on whether we- The way I read this is he's trying to push up the timetable.

to see if we can do this. You can clarify if you want, Councilor Bergman but I get what he's trying to say here. It's sort of an emergency if you think about it. We struggled with this with the fire department. We were down a lot of firefighters a lot of firefighters. And it took us a few years to recover from that, and that's what Councilor Bergman is trying to do here is make sure we don't get in that same situation as if there was the fire department was several years ago.

Councilor Satyamecha?

Thank you Mr Vice Chair, I appreciate it. I think there's a need of an increasing allow law enforcement officers that we all recognize that. I think this should be, if I may through the chair to the manager maybe it is a discussion between yourself, Police Chief and the CFO how we can really do this. If we are going to be advancing the money from 2028 for this purpose I think we should involve CFO also, Tim McGurthy to find out if that would be feasible or doable. I like the thing that if we can do two classes Certainly we'll increase the number of police officers. Last time when Police Chief was here, I think he was on board to do two classes. It's just a matter of having the budget. So this gives us a pathway Economou.

But I think that it should be discussed with the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Mugurti chief and you to come up with a solution if that is possible because we are going to be advancing the budget for 2028 so thank you.

Councilor Economou?

I'd just like to sign on to Council Bergman's orders.

Okay, so we're gonna set Council Bergmann?

Since there was lots of postulating about what I meant, I think Mr. Mayor you hit the nail on the head. My goal for this item, and I have no issue with Councilor King's friendly amendment. My goal of this item to see if financially we're already committed to one class with this year's budget We can find a way to make sure we get another class on board, starting with next year's budget. Now whether we could do that before the budget starts or not is a question of legal and fiscal Criteria that I don't have an answer to. The manager is going to have to find that out, but I'm sure he will. But the other point I had was when I listened to the chief last week and been wrong, but I thought what I heard him say is and it was the answer to a good question that the mayor had asked. What's the length of time to get a new class really up and running? And I thought I heard around four or five months is where I heard that.

So perhaps even longer, but it seems to me it would be tight if we started in July, but not necessarily impossible to get it to the end of the year and then if we could get a class started, two classes started in 2027 budgeted by this year's budget and paid for next year's budget even if we don't make the December 31st goal at least people will know that we have had two classes up and running in 2027. I think that's the thing we need to start doing more of, to make up ground because we're losing ground. And I think it's also a good message to send that it's a priority If it legally can be done, then I'm all for it. But I'm simply asking that the mayor and the manager, excuse me, through the mayor to the city manager, let those discussions be had with a law department and with the CFO if it can be done, great. If we can't I'll welcome the report back.

Okay so take the motions from Council King.

Is that Council King? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like this to be a report, Mr. Chairman, number one. Number two, I sat here and I heard Mayor Petty indicate that it wasn't feasible and he said he supported it. I heard the city manager say it takes seven months when you include the background and the rest of the process. And so this is pie in the sky, it's really what it is to a large extent. Mr. Chairman, you know we keep hearing about this number of folks that are gonna retire and I've been hearing this for probably close to a decade and the mention of the number of around 160 or so, 61 or whatever the number is. I'm gonna ask through the chair to administration what's the number? Is it 161?

Mr. Manager

To the chairs of the council. The people that are eligible potentially to retire are roughly about 100, if not less than 100. Less than 100? The people who are eligible for retirement There are a number of folks currently right now that have already put their papers in for retirement. So I think if you take into consideration those that are retiring, Those are long-term leave, potential military, et cetera. I think that's where that 161 number came from.

Just a point. You're saying that includes long term leaves and

It may potentially, and I have to- Folks in the service.

Is that what you said? Long term leave of folks in the services?

To reach out to the council, correct.

And so they are- They're coming back though, potentially.

potentially, but there are times where they don't. And so that leaves these positions open or unfilled or not available for the city. The individuals that I said are eligible for retirement, there was a particular moment in time in the city in 94 or 95, I believe. where the city brought in a hundred or over 100 officers. There was two major big classes that were brought forward. Those individuals are the ones that are eligible right now for that retirement.

Thank you. And those numbers, the number that you're calculating what was a number last year? for retirements, potential.

Mr. Manager?

To the council, more or less similar numbers. Same numbers? More or less, similar.

Okay and do you have an idea of the year before that? Approximately.

Judiciary, it's the councilor. I do know that where I'm referring to the class, the 94, I believe it was 94 or 93-94, that class, again you think about 30 years later. Were they eligible in 2024? And so they were eligible then.

So we have the same number. Mr. Chairman, I've participated in recruiting activities etc for probably close to six years now and We keep hearing this number. not convinced that this is feasible. I would like a report, Mr. Chairman and under that I can support this however I want to reiterate what I heard was seven months due to charity administration. Is that correct for the time period? Mr. Manager

The training happens, it takes 12 weeks training and then prior to that there's a lot of background review etc. So when you take the holistic from the beginning to end is roughly seven months Thank You Mr Chairman

Okay, Councilor Rivera.

Just for clarification purposes I was understanding through many conversations we had to the chair of administration We are 60 officers short, 60-61 officers short now. And there's about 100 or so who are at retirement. So isn't that where the whole number comes from?

Mr. Manager?

Through to the councilor, yes you are correct but that 60 includes people that are all on IOD workers comp military etc it's not that we're a 60 open positions There are people that are in those positions but there are certain circumstances that they're not currently active in the police department. and so that's where the overall 60 comes from. The 100 or so are individuals that are now eligible for retirement based on their date in time when they started with the city.

Thank you, okay.

So we have the item, plus we have an item for getting a report back so we can take those collectively if you'd like. Yes. All those in favor? Opposed? Okay, we have a resolution. Let's see how long this will take. That the City Council of Seahawks is hereby go on record commending MassDOT District 3 Highway Director of Central Mass Barry J. Warian for his support in ensuring the portion of McKeon Road under I-290 be resurfaced.

Mr. Chairman, through you, I'm going to use a line that my friend and colleague Metra uses. I got elected to get things done, and this is one of them. This is one Mr. Chairman. went door to door in Vernon Hill, Quincy Village, College Hill and I can't tell you how many people told me that portion of road under 290 on McEwen Road needs to be resurfaced. and I said, well, I'll do everything I can to address it. So I used an old contact back when I was in the legislature. Barry Lorien back then was an engineer who worked with me on 146th and 146 and I called him up, and he said he'd do it. Give me some time, and I'll do it." And he did. So I want to thank the director of

the Highway Director at MassDOT here in District 3 in Worcester, Barry Laurien for keeping his word. And it's only a stretch of maybe 100-150 feet but anybody who travels that road for the last year or two It was actually deteriorating. It wasn't potholes, the whole road was an issue so again I want to thank him and I appreciate the time, Mr. Chairman. I made it pretty quick, didn't I? Thank you.

Okay, roll call.

Councillor Bergman? Yes. Councillor Bilotta? Yes Councillor Economou? Yes

Yes.

Councilor King? Yes.

14A to 14F, motions will accept. All those in favor of a postal audit? 15A, motion accepted and adopted. All in favor or opposed so ordered. 15B, motion to accept. Those in favor are opposed so awarded. 16A, motion is to advertise proposed ordinance. Roll call.

Councilor Bergman? Yes. 16B to 16T.

O'Connor, Chair of the Board of Trustees. Motion to accept. All those in favor? Opposed? So ordered. We'll do the rest of it with suspension. Councilor Economou, roll call.

Bergman, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King. Yes. Councilor Mitra? Yes. Councillor Ojeda? Yes, yes. Councillor Rivera? Yes! Councillor Rosen? Yes

Yes.

And Mayor Petty? Yes, Councilor Economou?

Thank you Mr. Chairman real quick here some great work's been done here in our schools and I just want to congratulate the four schools here in that have earned state recognition for academic progress. They are the Francis J. McGrath Elementary School, Midland Street School, Worcester Arts Magnet, all three of those in D1, and Columbus Park School. D5, yes thank you. These schools demonstrate significant progress towards accountability targets in English language arts and math they ranked in the 20th percentile in this state. So I just wanted to, I think it's something that's worth mentioning and I think its something that the school department and the administrators and teachers should be proud of, thank you.

Thank you. And with that, we have a motion to adjourn. All those in favor? Opposed? So ordered.