Executive Summary
At its regular meeting on September 15, 2026, the Worcester City Council addressed several municipal matters, dominated by extensive public testimony against a proposed public camping ordinance (Item 8.19A) that would fine unhoused individuals $25 per day for sleeping or camping on public property; the item was held under privilege alongside a police reform petition (Item 7Z). The Council engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Works and Department of Transportation and Mobility regarding delays and scheduling in street and sidewalk construction, ultimately referring related reform orders to committee. Additionally, the Council approved a Tax Increment Financing agreement amendment for 30–36 Washington Square, initiated reports on regional homelessness collaboration, street repair standards, and invasive species control, and debated procedural matters including a failed motion to convene an executive session concerning police internal affairs.
Proclamation of Constitution Week
- Mayor Joseph M. Petty issued an official proclamation designating September 17 to September 23, 2026, as Constitution Week in recognition of the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the United States Constitution.
- Deborah Nurse, State Chair of Commemorative Events for the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution and past regent of the Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chapter, accepted the proclamation and highlighted the chapter house, The Oaks on Lincoln Street.
Approval of Minutes
- Motion to approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on August 18, 2026.
- Passed 11-0.
Items Held Under Privilege
- A petition requesting consideration of an Executive Summary Proposal for Police Reform in the City of Worcester was held under privilege by Councilor Robert Bilotta (Item 7Z).
- An ordinance concerning public camping and homeless encampments, titled "Disrupting the Cycle," was held under privilege by Councilor Khrystian King (Item 8.19A).
Public Participation
- Mayor Petty moved to suspend the rules to extend public comment to one hour.
- Passed 11-0.
- Councilor King moved to amend the suspension to extend public comment until all speakers were heard.
- Passed 6-5, with Councilors Morris Bergman, Tony Economou, Jose Rivera, and Kathleen Toomey voting against.
- Over twenty members of the public addressed the Council, predominantly speaking in opposition to the proposed public camping ordinance (Item 8.19A):
- A public commenter noted the broad implications of the proposed $25 daily fine for sitting, sleeping, or lying on public streets and sidewalks, characterizing it as "making the simple act of living in this city a finable offense."
- Dante Camperetta, speaking as a housing policy instructor with lived experience of homelessness, stated that "encampment bans don't eliminate homelessness; they simply scatter vulnerable human beings and disrupt care," emphasizing that Worcester's rental vacancy rate is at 1.7% and that fines cannot resolve structural housing shortages.
- Jillian Joseph, Director of the Road to Care mobile clinic, noted that the city's framework lists only 197 permanent shelter beds against a count of over 1,000 unhoused individuals, remarking that "reasonable efforts to offer shelter is not the same as an available bed."
- Brittany Chapman of the Road to Care Mobile Addiction Service requested that the administration pause enforcement and prioritize access and shelter capacity.
- Echo Louissant Collins, Founder and Executive Director of 508 Chairs, described distributing approximately 800 meals over the summer and urged the Council to refer the matter back to committee and adopt a compassionate approach.
- Multiple members of the public highlighted regional and economic factors, noting that market rents require an income of $95,000 against a median household income of $67,000.
- A student petitioner and adult resident spoke regarding Item 7J, urging the Council to repaint the school crosswalk at Lovell Street and Lakeside Avenue to ensure safe transit for local students.
Zoning Compliance and Municipal Oversight Procedures Report, Keith Boucher Petition (Item 7A)
- Petitioner Keith Boucher presented a petition requesting a public report on municipal procedures governing tracking, inter-departmental coordination, and enforcement of conditions and permits issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
- Councilor King moved that the petition be referred to the City Manager to generate the requested report prior to review by the Standing Committee on Economic Development.
- Councilor Bergman stated the item would be placed on the next Economic Development Committee agenda upon referral.
- Motion to refer to the City Manager for a report and subsequently to the Standing Committee on Economic Development.
- Passed 11-0.
Traffic and Parking Petitions (Items 7B through 7W)
- The Council acted on general traffic and parking petitions (Items 7B through 7E and 7I through 7W):
- Referred to the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking.
- Passed 11-0.
- Items 7F, 7G, and 7H were taken up separately:
- Councilor King moved to refer Items 7G and 7H to Traffic and Parking and requested that the subject language regarding school pedestrian safety in Items 7F and 7O be referred to the Standing Committee on Education for an upcoming school safety audit discussion.
- Following procedural clarification that traffic and pedestrian safety jurisdiction resides with Traffic and Parking, Councilor King withdrew the separate motion to refer to Education.
- Motion to refer Items 7F, 7G, and 7H to the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking.
- Passed 11-0.
National Grid Conduit Locations, Benefit/Gate Street and Patch Street (Items 7X and 7Y)
- Public hearing and petition requests from National Grid for conduit locations on Gate Street and Patch Street.
- Approved.
- Passed 11-0.
Tax Increment Financing Agreement Amendment, 30-36 Washington Square (Item 8.4A)
- Recommendation of the City Manager to adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement for property located at 30–36 Washington Square.
- Motion to adopt the resolution.
- Passed 11-0.
Dog Waste Disposal Advisory (Item 8.8A)
- Communication of the City Manager transmitting information relative to a dog waste disposal advisory and mailings sent to licensed dog owners.
- Councilor Luis Ojeda raised concerns regarding dog feces accumulation near school bus stops and asked about installing multilingual signage and public awareness campaigns via schools and bus stops.
- Department of Public Works and Parks (DPW) representatives noted ongoing coordination with Inspectional Services and the Law Department to address signage.
- Referred to the Standing Committee on Public Works.
- Passed 11-0.
Street and Sidewalk Construction Progress Report (Item 8.11A) and Project Selection Process (Item 9O)
- The Council reviewed the Street and Sidewalk Construction Progress Report alongside Item 9O, an order filed by Councilor John Fresolo requesting a committee discussion on improving selection and scheduling processes for district street and sidewalk projects.
- Discussion focused on project delays and communication gaps:
- Councilor Economou requested clearer timelines and asked whether missing sidewalks are constructed during street resurfacing.
- Councilor Bilotta expressed concern over delayed sidewalk repairs from the 2025 construction season and urged accountability for underperforming contractors.
- Councilor King questioned DPW's framework for establishing timelines and monitoring progress; City Manager Eric Batista and DPW Commissioner Westerling noted that multi-street contracts and specialized subcontractor sequencing (milling, utility adjustments, curbing) create scheduling variables.
- Councilor Fresolo detailed constituent commitments made based on projected construction schedules for sidewalks, speed humps, and streets (including Uppsala Street and Granite/St. Anthony Street) that were subsequently postponed to 2027 or future construction seasons.
- Councilor Rosen and Councilor Bergman highlighted Hadwin Lane, which waited five years for construction and experienced intermittent work, narrowing the road entrance to Pleasant Street without neighborhood input.
- Councilor Rivera offered an amendment to Item 9O requesting a comprehensive review of project scheduling, predictability, and whether the current district councilor selection process is the most effective approach, as well as establishing a codified selection policy based on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI).
- Motion to refer Item 8.11A and Item 9O as amended to the Standing Committee on Public Works, and to request reports from the administration on contractor best practices and selection policy.
- Passed 11-0.
Opioid Settlement Fund Allocation (Item 8.19B)
- Communication of the City Manager transmitting information relative to the City of Worcester's opioid allocation funds.
- Referred to the Standing Committee on Public Health.
- Passed 11-0.
National Service Dog Month Resolution (Item 9P)
- Resolution recognizing September as National Service Dog Month, sponsored by Councilor Bilotta.
- Councilor Bilotta recognized local resident Michelle and service dog Healy, acknowledging the critical independence, safety, and companionship service dogs provide.
- Adopted.
- Passed 11-0.
Traffic Calming Speed Hump Program Administration (Item 8.14A)
- Communication from the City Manager regarding new policies and procedures for the administration of the Traffic Calming Speed Hump Program.
- Referred to the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking.
- Passed 11-0.
Financial and Development Reports (Items 8.29A, 8.30A, 8.35A, 8.36A, 8.37A–D, 9A, 9B, and 9C)
- The Council acted on several routine and scheduled financial and development communications:
- July 2026 Financial Update (Item 8.29A) referred to the Standing Committee on Municipal Operations. Passed 11-0.
- DCU Special Tax District Borrowing Update (Item 8.30A) referred to the Standing Committee on Municipal Operations. Passed 11-0.
- Routine administrative communications (Items 8.35A, 8.36A, and 8.37A through 8.37D) adopted on a roll call. Passed 11-0.
- Economic Development Initiatives (Item 9A) referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development. Passed 11-0.
- Housing and Neighborhood Development Activities (Item 9B) referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development. Passed 11-0.
- Semi-Annual TIF/TIE Report as of June 30, 2026 (Item 9C) referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development. Passed 11-0.
Winter Weather and Snowstorm Preparations Report (Item 9D)
- Order requesting the City Manager to have the Commissioner of Public Works provide a report detailing personnel, equipment, and operational improvements for the upcoming winter weather season.
- Adopted and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Private Street Conversions and Maintenance Reports (Items 9E and 9F)
- Councilor Satya Mitra submitted Item 9E requesting a report on the legal, procedural, and fiscal requirements to convert private streets to public streets, noting that Worcester has over 400 miles of private roadways.
- City Manager Batista clarified the distinction between street conversion (assessed to abutters based on total project cost and frontage) and maintenance under petition ($6 per linear foot).
- Councilor Mitra also submitted Item 9F requesting a report on city responsibilities to maintain private streets to a standard allowing emergency and public safety vehicle access.
- Both orders were adopted and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Major Arteries Resurfacing Cost Assessment Report (Item 9G)
- Order requesting the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility to provide an estimate of the monetary allocations required to resurface 26 identified major city arteries under the Pavement Management Program.
- Adopted and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Regional Homelessness Response and Public Health Coordination (Item 9H)
- Councilor Rosen introduced an order requesting a review of regional homelessness response plans in communities such as Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, and Spokane to evaluate adopting formal interlocal cost-sharing agreements with neighboring Central Massachusetts towns.
- City Manager Batista reported ongoing regional outreach and training with communities including Millbury, Shrewsbury, Auburn, Grafton, and Spencer in coordination with the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA).
- Councilor King moved that the City Manager also report on the history, structure, and dissolution of the former Central Massachusetts Regional Alliance Health Network.
- Motion to adopt Item 9H and Councilor King's requested report, referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Spotted Lanternfly and Tree of Heaven Mitigation (Item 9I)
- Order by Councilor Rivera requesting a report on municipal response measures against the spotted lanternfly, amended to include:
- Procedures following reports of egg masses via Worcester 311;
- Management and mapping of the Tree of Heaven (its primary host) on municipal rights-of-way;
- Coordination with MassDOT, the Department of Agricultural Resources, and railroad operators; and
- Potential pilot plantings of milkweed on public lands.
- Adopted as amended and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Downtown and Worcester Common Public Safety Action Plan (Item 9J)
- Order requesting an immediate action plan to address violent incidents in the Worcester Common and Downtown Central Business District.
- Councilor Toomey recused herself from the item.
- City Manager Batista reported administrative reassignments, increased officer visibility, and ongoing meetings with area business owners.
- Councilor Economou moved to file the order.
- Passed 10-0, with Councilor Toomey recused.
Social Service Agencies and Public Safety Collaboration (Item 9K)
- Order originally requesting the Standing Committee on Public Safety to invite social service agencies to discuss homelessness and addiction response.
- Councilor Toomey recused herself from the item.
- The original motion to file was withdrawn.
- Councilor King moved to amend the item to refer it to the Standing Committee on Public Health and expand the scope to cover both public health and public safety issues.
- Motion to adopt the amended order.
- Passed 10-0, with Councilor Toomey recused.
Street and Sidewalk Remediation and Material Standards (Item 9L)
- Order by Councilor Economou requesting the DPW Commissioner to review and rectify substandard street and sidewalk installations across the city, citing:
- Inadequate loam and hydroseeding on Florida Avenue, Park Avenue, and Germain Street;
- Use of standard sand rather than polymeric sand between sidewalk bricks on Germain Street;
- Cracked and heaved sidewalk sections along Burncoat Street near Arbutus and Rawlinson Roads; and
- Grade adjustments at Thorndike Road.
- Adopted and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Southbridge Street Trash Receptacles (Item 9M)
- Order by Councilor Mitra requesting the installation of two Bigbelly/woven trash receptacles along Southbridge Street (vicinity of 114–148 Southbridge Street) to assist local businesses.
- Adopted and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Sanitation Collection Practices in Private Driveways (Item 9N)
- Order by Councilor Mitra requesting the DPW Commissioner to direct sanitation staff not to use private residential driveways to turn collection trucks around and to prevent debris and glass spillage during compaction operations, referencing issues raised by residents of Arden Road.
- Adopted and referred to the City Manager.
- Passed 11-0.
Suspension of Rules: Clarification of Prior Vote and Police Department Incident
- The Council voted to suspend the rules to allow Councilor Fresolo to make a personal explanation.
- Passed 11-0.
- Councilor Fresolo stated he wished to correct the public record regarding his vote at the previous meeting to file the Civilian Review Board proposal. He stated he mistakenly understood a motion to file as holding the item rather than killing the proposal, affirming that he intended to support the creation of the board.
- Councilor Fresolo addressed public statements made regarding an incident at his private residence, where an on-duty Worcester Police Department sergeant in an unmarked cruiser photographed a political campaign sign on his lawn while his daughter was present. He expressed frustration that an Internal Affairs complaint resulted in no findings or formal record, questioning the effectiveness of the complaint system for ordinary residents.
Suspension of Rules: Motions on Internal Affairs Executive Session and Charter Rules
- Councilor King moved that the City Council convene an executive session to review internal affairs handling of the police officer conduct matter described by Councilor Fresolo.
- City Solicitor staff advised that the City Council lacks legal jurisdiction over personnel, appointment, removal, or disciplinary matters involving employees appointed by the City Manager, and that the matter had not been placed on the posted agenda.
- Motion to place the executive session request on the next meeting agenda.
- Failed 4-6, with Councilors Bilotta, Fresolo, King, and Ojeda voting in favor, Councilors Bergman, Economou, Mitra, Rivera, Rosen, and Mayor Petty voting against, and Councilor Toomey abstaining.
- A subsequent motion to reconsider the executive session vote failed 1-9, with Councilor Bilotta voting in favor, Councilor Toomey abstaining, and the remaining nine members voting against.
- Councilor King moved to request a legal and charter report on Council Rules 48 and 49 regarding mayoral appointments to committees, committee vacancies, and ex-officio committee participation.
- Passed 10-0, with Councilor Toomey abstaining.