City Council 12/16/2025

December 16, 2025
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Executive Summary

The Worcester City Council meeting held on December 16, 2025, featured significant presentations, including a proclamation for Legendary Legacies Inc. for violence intervention and the presentation of the Key to the City to Lieutenant John Uzinski for heroic lifesaving actions. Major legislative discussions centered on a proposed ordinance to impose fees on undeveloped lots, which was filed following a debate on property rights, and the unanimous adoption of a resolution recognizing December 18th as International Migrants Day. The meeting also marked the final session for Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, who concluded her ten-year tenure on the Council.

Call to Order and Roll Call

  • Meeting Date: December 16, 2025
  • Governing Body: Worcester City Council
  • Type: Regular Meeting
  • Attendees:
    • Mayor Joseph M. Petty
    • Councilor Morris Bergman
    • Councilor Donna Colorio
    • Councilor Etel Haxhiaj
    • Councilor Khrystian King
    • Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
    • Councilor Luis Ojeda
    • Councilor Jenny Pacillo
    • Councilor George Russell
    • Councilor Kathleen Toomey
    • Councilor Nguyen (Note: Councilor Rivera and Economou were listed as potential but Nguyen was called in roll call)

Presentations and Proclamations

  1. Legendary Legacies Inc. Proclamation:
    • Mayor Petty proclaimed December 16, 2025, as a day to recognize Ronald Waddell Jr. and Legendary Legacies for their community violence intervention work.
    • Ron Waddell Jr. noted the organization secures over $1.6 million annually for violence prevention and cited that gun violence costs Massachusetts residents roughly $87 million annually.
  2. Key to the City Presentation:
    • Lieutenant John Uzinski was awarded the Key to the City for his actions on October 24, 2025, when he rescued a woman from a burning building without protective gear or shoes.

Approval of Minutes

  • The minutes of the meeting held on November 25, 2025, were approved unanimously via roll call vote.

Public Participation

  • Fred Nathan (Worcester): Spoke against stipends for neighborhood meetings (Item 10B) and suggested UMass Medical School should contribute more to the city (Items 10E/10F).
  • Janet Davis (Worcester): Spoke in favor of International Migrants Day (Item 11A).
  • Greg (Ashburnham): Criticized the Worcester Police Department (WPD) regarding an incident on Eureka Street and supported measures to block ICE cooperation.
  • Idola Hazard (Worcester): Supported International Migrants Day and the proposal for private schools to pay 0.5% of income to the city (Item 10F).
  • Mike Cain (Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce): Supported Institutional Master Plans (10E) and Community Impact Funds (10F), noting that tax-exempt acquisitions shift the tax burden to commercial and industrial taxpayers.
  • Tom Reno (Worcester): Requested an audit of WPD Bureau of Professional Standards records (Item 10C), citing concerns over internal investigation accuracy.
  • Joseph Mangiamelli (Remote): Spoke in favor of DOJ report oversight (Item 17J) and against metal detectors in City Hall (Item 17H).

Reports of the Committee on Public Works

  • The Council suspended rules to adopt reports regarding:
    • Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program 2025 and 2026.
    • Local Street Resurfacing Rehabilitation Projects for Fiscal Year 2027-2028.
  • Vote Outcome: Adopted unanimously on roll call.

Item 10A: Undeveloped and Vacant Lot Fees

  • Discussion: Councilor Haxhiaj proposed a draft ordinance to impose escalating fees on lots vacant for more than five years to incentivize development. Councilors Bergman and Colorio opposed the measure as an infringement on property rights for owners who are law-abiding and tax-paying.
  • Official Action: Motion to file the item (effectively killing the proposal).
  • Vote to File: 7-4.
    • Yes: Bergman, Colorio, Mero-Carlson, Russell, Toomey, Petty, Nguyen.
    • No: Haxhiaj, King, Ojeda, Pacillo.
  • Follow-up: A motion by Councilor Russell for a report on ways to incentivize development of these lots passed unanimously. A motion by Councilor King to include research on other municipalities' ordinances passed 6-5.

Item 10B: Neighborhood Meeting Stipends

  • Discussion: Councilor Haxhiaj requested a stipend for neighborhood leaders from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Crime Prevention Neighborhood Grant to cover costs like flyers and refreshments.
  • City Manager Response: The City Manager stated the grant is restricted to police personnel overtime and cannot be used for civilian stipends.
  • Official Action: The item was filed. A separate motion by Councilor Toomey to research alternative funding opportunities for neighborhood groups was adopted.

Item 10C: WPD Bureau of Professional Standards Audit

  • Discussion: Councilor Haxhiaj requested an audit of WPD records to ensure the accuracy of officer information cards and investigation data.
  • Official Action: Referred to the City Manager for a legal opinion regarding the Council's authority to mandate such an audit under the City Charter.

Items 10E & 10F: Institutional Master Plans and Impact Funds

  • Item 10E: Councilor Mero-Carlson requested an update on a draft ordinance requiring colleges and hospitals to file 10-year institutional master plans.
  • Item 10F: Councilor Mero-Carlson requested a report on the feasibility of requiring private universities to invest 0.5% of their annual endowment into a Community Impact Fund, noting that 74% of voters supported a non-binding ballot question on this matter.
  • Official Action: Both items were referred to the City Manager for reports.

Resolution 11A: International Migrants Day

  • Resolution Text: "That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby recognize Tuesday, December 18, 2025, as International Migrant's Day..."
  • Discussion: Councilor Haxhiaj and Councilor King spoke on the importance of protecting migrant dignity in the face of federal enforcement. Councilor Colorio stated she supported the item's text but disagreed with the 'ideology' expressed in the floor remarks.
  • Vote Outcome: Adopted unanimously via roll call.

Item 17H: City Hall Security

  • Official Action: A pending item to install metal detectors at City Hall was taken off the table and filed (defeated) following public opposition and administrative review.

Adjournment and Farewell

  • Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson delivered a farewell address, thanking city employees and the administration for their partnership during her 10 years of service.
  • The meeting adjourned following a unanimous roll call vote.

Last updated: Jan 12, 2026

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