City Council 06/23/2026

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. Aye. Thank you for watching!

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

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

and the home of the brave.

Roll call. Councilor Bergman. Here. Councilor Bilotta. Here. Councilor Economou. Here. Councilor Rosolo. Here. King, Present, Councilor Mitra, Councilor Ojeda, Here, Councilor Rivera, Here, Councilor Rosen, Here, Councilor Toomey, Here, Mayor Petty.

Here. Okay, we have a proclamation we're gonna read. Whereas WAVES, New Age Creative Lab, Inc., founded by Worcester residents Jebabel Cabo and Emmanuel Cabo, has emerged as a leading force in creative arts, sewing education, fashion design, and youth empowerment throughout the city of Worcester. Whereas WAVES New Age provides culturally responsive, inclusive, and community-centered programs that give young people meaningful access to sewing, Upcycled Fashion, Digital Arts, Creative Leadership, and Self Expression Across Multiple Neighborhoods. whereas Waves New Age in-school programs including Browncoat High School, North High School, and South High Community School have given students hands-on experience with industry tools Creative Skills, Design Thinking, and Career Pathways to prepare them for the future.

Whereas WAVES, New Age, ARPA funded collaboration with the Jewellby Jubilee Career Center for Performing Arts has expanded arts access, supported youth leadership, uplifted local artists, and strengthened Worcester's creative workforce pipeline. Whereas founders, Jerabelle and Clayton Kabu, Dominican and Ghanaian immigrants serve as cultural leaders whose experiences resonate deeply with Worcester's youth. inspiring students who see themselves reflected in their perseverance, creativity, and leadership. Whereas Waves New Age continues to build a city-wide creative pipeline, through programs such as Fashion Fridays, Youth Arts and Fashion Summit, NOAA Canvas Youth Connect Collaborations, College Partnerships, Sewing Residencies, and the annual Through Their Eyes Showcase.

Now therefore, I, Mayor Joseph M. Petty, recognize that transformative work waives New Age Creative Lab, Inc. and its contributions to the arts education, youth empowerment, and community enrichment for his resolve that June 27th she'll be recognized as WAVE's new Creative Arts and Fashion Education Day here in the City of Worcester. Will someone accept this? And Councilor Ojeda?

Can we go inside?

Why don't you guys want to do a group photo?

Thank you for watching!

Okay. One more. Yes, yes, yes.

We need some help in here, we need some help.

Hey, where you going?

Hey!

I would like to say something. I wrote something, something.

Go ahead, do you have a few words, if you like? Just your name, that's all.

OK. All right. Hi, guys. I'm just a little bit nervous, so I had to write it down. So I just want to say, well, good evening to Mayor Petty, members of the city council, family, friends, and community members. My name is Jerabel Karbu. And I am the executive director and co-founder of Waves and Waves Creative Lab. I will first would like to thank God. Without him, we would not be here. I also want to thank the City of Worcester for this honor. My husband, Emmanuel Karbu, and our WAVES family. Thank you for recognizing June 27th as WAVES New Age Creative Arts and Fashion Education Day. A few years ago, I never imagined I would be standing here. I came to this country with big dreams. And like many families in Worcester, I've had to work hard, learn, and grow. and keep going even when things were difficult.

My husband and I started WAVES because we believe that young people needed a place where they could be creative, learn real skills and feel seen. What started as just a few sewing workshops, volunteer hours, and a lot of faith has grown into programs serving youth across Worcester schools and community organizations. One thing I always tell people is that sewing is more than just making clothes. Sewing is a life skill. It teaches patience, confidence, problem solving, and creativity. It can be a hobby, a career, or even a way to support yourself and your family. We've seen young people come into our programs shy and unsure of themselves and leave feeling proud of what they've created. We've seen them discover talents they didn't know they had. This proclamation is not just for me or Q or my son or Waves.

This is to every child, student that we've touched, family, volunteer, every partner, every person who believes in our mission. The next generation is our future. If we continue to invest in our young people, give them opportunities, and believe in themselves, there is no limit that they can accomplish. Thank you again for this honor and I'm grateful forever and ever. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll go back to the agenda. Next item up is approval of the minutes. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Public participation, the person may speak for no more than two minutes on the item appearing on the agenda. Mr.

Clerk.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Rule 39, items of public interest at every meeting of the City Council under the publicization 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 their testimony to one appearance at the microphone. The time for speaking shall not exceed two minutes. for 30 minutes for all speakers. Rule 40 petitions, on the first occasion the petition appears on the City Council agenda, the primary petition may address the City Council for no more than three minutes on the subject of the petition.

Okay, Gary. Does your name see residence in the item number?

Hi, my name is Gary. I live in District 5. First thing before I get going, I would like to thank the city because the enthusiasm in the back of the city hall is amazing for the game. and it was a great thing that you started that, having it outside. Even in the rain, there's a lot of people out there. I would like to talk about 17G. On September 17th, 2024, there was a motion from Mr. King about to start, what is the opinion to get something going on a charter review? I don't know about anybody else, but I haven't heard anything. And that was two years ago. I know charter reviews take a long time. but we could have got a jump on it two years ago. We could have started. If we start now, there's gotta be a way we can get it faster than the normal rate, because we need a charter review.

Heck, I mean, the charter wasn't reviewed since I was a kid. It was 40 years ago that the charter was reviewed. We need a charter review. We need it now. And I think it's going to be brought up. Second thing is 17D, asking about the number of miles on bike paths. I mean, this is getting overblown. We talk about it, we talk about it. They were here the last meeting and said it's safer when you have a bike path. because traffic slows down. If I hear one more time, every time this comes up and they start referring to Mill Street, which was approved by your city manager, I think should stop talking about that. It's working and it's not the best solution, but it's what we have. Live with it. The last thing I would like to talk to about 16D. Here we are again.

Gordon Davis requested a standing committee on public safety investigate the issue of systemic racism, public safety. Could I just say one thing?

Thank you.

He's suing the city. He's suing the city because I don't see anything being done on that.

I appreciate it.

I wore my shirt today.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Because it's turning into a Mickey Mouse operation here. We need to get some leadership and it's done. Thank you.

Next speaker.

Idella has it, City of Worcester. We can't deny that there's systematic racism in this city. I don't know what the solution is.

What item are you speaking on? I'm sorry? What item are you speaking on?

I don't hear you.

What item are you speaking on?

The item that gentleman before me was speaking on. and I'd also like to go to 17B in regards to bicycle path in the street. I think they're dangerous. Why? In all over the city. We have them and then they stop. So where do they go? That is extremely dangerous. Where do they pick up? What about parking on Green Street? I walk a lot. and there's bicycle paths and then they stop and then there's parking. Right where the bicycle paths go and then they stop. If they're not paying attention, they're going to hit the back of a car and go right over the car. So I think if we're gonna have bicycle paths, they need to continue and no parking.

We can't have both in the same lane. Thank you.

and nobody else will go online or. Thank you Mr. Mayor, there's only one calling you to raise their hand, Nellie Medina, I'm gonna try to meet the resident now.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay, hi, my name is Ali Medina. I live in District 5 in Worcester. I have a few items. So the first one is... 16D. I support Gordon David's request for the Standing Committee on Public Safety to overview the issue of racism that we have in the city that It's a lot, but we need some kind of resolution. I want to comment on 8A, Councilor Jose Rivera's request for sidewalk resurfacing on the outside of Lovell Street, Columbus Street. And then there's 10A, which sounds like the same order. but this one asked that the public, that he asked the city manager to ask the commissioner on public works to complete immediate emergency repairs. However, I was hoping they can add to that that immediate repainting of the crosswalk a block further down that street at Lakeside and Lovell Street, which are used by Columbus Private Territory Academy students. Walking to and from a school is dangerous. and pedestrians are crossing that street to the bus stop, which are nearly undetectable.

You cannot see the crosswalk unless you know they're there. I know they're there, so they're visible to me. The street crossing at Lakeside and Lovell Street is where the students cross every day to and from the school. and then we need crosswalks there. And then we have an order from Councilman Rosen requesting signage for Webster Square, Councilman Frisola requesting a speed bump. There's item 8B, 8D, the chairman's order requesting signage at Crompton Park. However, since September 2025, the students at Goddard Science School and Technology have advocated for a crosswalk between Richard and Main Street at 970 Main Street and have waited an entire school year. Their safety and advocacy have been ignored and this committee's disregard has been noted. So my question is, how are we asking for safety measures and signage on the streets when the ones we voted for last year are still not in place? And so shame on the city councilors who I emailed directly, you know who you are, who let the students in our community down.

The children, no matter where they lived, there's a recognition for their civic engagement and safety passage to and from school. So my second question is how are safety and priority and who gets feedback, what communities, what kids?

Okay, thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Okay, we'll go back to the agenda. We have... King has held 11A, B, and C under privilege. So we're going to public participation. I'm sorry, hearings and orders. The motion is to open a hearing on natural grid condo location on Russell Street. Those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Anybody opposed? Seeing nobody opposed, motion is to adopt. Those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Petitions. 8A, refer to Public Works Committee. All those in favor, oppose, so ordered. 8B and 8I, refer to- Mr. Chairman. Yep, Council Rosen. Just may I briefly address 8F. 8F, okay.

8F, yep, and Hammond Park and Stafford Street area request installation of two signs at both entrances of Shaw's parking lot at 68 Stafford Street.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I've received a couple of calls the last few weeks from two families who live in the Stafford Street area and evidently at the Webster Square Plaza or around the Shaw's building. between that building and Heard Street, which is, what, a tenth of a mile up the street, we have a duck crossing there. Ducks frequently use that to go to the Blackstone River William back there. And these two families have witnessed over the last couple of years people actually, when the ducks are crossing, people driving through the flock of ducks. They've seen that before. And so some people might say, well, signage? Do we ever do signage? I was just in New Hampshire over the weekend, and I saw a turtle crossing sign. Now, that must be pretty slow when the turtles are crossing. The ducks are a little faster.

But on Webster Street, not far from where I'm talking about, Webster Street, we already have a duck crossing sign. Now, would the sign stop anyone who's crazy from driving through a flock of these ducks? Probably not, but I think it does alert people to the fact that you know be careful ducks might be crossing that day at that time so I know it's not the most important issue we have here in the city of Worcester but I think a couple of little duck crossing signs near Shaw's and near Hurt Street would maybe make people more aware of what's happening with the duck population. and unfortunately the geese population too because they use the same area to cross. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Okay, we'll take those. What was that? 8B to 8I, we're gonna send to... Traffic and Parking, all those in favor. AB to 8I, all those in favor. Opposed, so ordered. Opposed. Okay, 9A, motion was to adopt.

Brueggemann, Bilotta, Economou, Fresolo, King. No. Mitra, Councilor Ojeda, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Rosen, Councilor Toomey, and Mayor Petty.

Yes, 10A, request the manager, request the commissioner of public works, complete immediate emergency repairs, a sidewalk on the odd side of Lovell Street in front of Columbus Park, Preparatory Elementary School, located at 75 Lovell Street, Councilor Rivera.

I don't think I need to say much. Luckily for us, last week, City Manager was there. He got to see it firsthand. You guys saw it. So no more than I need to say.

So that's the manager. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Requesting manager, request police chief provide increased enforcement of double parking violations from the intersection of Chino, Ave, and Boylston Street, Westwood on Boylston Street, towards Pasadena Parkway, Interest of Public Safety, Councilor Economou.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me just clean that up a little bit for you. It's Boylston Street, not West Boylston Street. It's right, what we used to call cozy corner, down in that corner. This has been an ongoing issue here. And the issue is, if you're coming down Chino Ave, In your, you come to Boylston Street, you look left, you look right, you look left again, no traffic, so you decide to pull out. The problem is there are cars double parked right there, right at that corner. and it's creating a public safety issue because it forces you into the next lane and if not the next lane, over the double yellow line to get around the traffic that's congregating along that roadway. It's just dangerous and I want to see that change. I want to see what we can do with police enforcement to move these vehicles along, ticket them. I would prefer to ticket them to get the message made.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. McCluskey, Manager, request the Police Chief provide increased enforcement related to the public consumption of alcohol in the vicinity of 8 Boylston Street, Councilor Economou.

Same location, Mr. Chairman. Unfortunately, people are standing out on the sidewalk having their drinks, their alcoholic beverages, whether it's the business that's at fault or just people taking their free liberties to drink in public, I think this needs to be curtailed one way or the other. Whether we enforce the open container law, or we force other actions to the business. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. All those in favor, opposed, so board. Excuse me, I have a question. Councilor Toomey, would the privacy rise?

Possible.

What is it?

Possible addendum. Amendment. Could we also inquire as to if we are going to be enforcing the Open Containment Law that We also work with the courts to ensure that we're not just having people go in and not even be getting docket numbers. They're not doing anything in the courts. Our officers are doing the job. The courts are not doing anything. So thank you.

Okay, as amended. Mr. Chairman. Can you repeat?

Yeah, could you repeat that? That may result in a no vote for me.

Could you repeat the amendment?

that you include the courts. and the discussion is moving forward because it doesn't make any sense to force the... Oh, for the diversion program?

For the diversion program for these kids?

It's the diversion program, yes, but you also need to have... and some ability for if someone's a true violation and they've been through a number of times, then they need more support. There are, I don't know if people know this, but there are Addiction Treatment Programs in the court, in the jails as well. Thank you.

I think she's asking to include the courts in this, if it involves young people that we have diversion programs in helping the courts. So, I don't know. Councilor Carmel?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm fine with the amendment, that's not a problem. But I want to make it clear, this isn't kids.

It's not kids? No.

This is adults.

Okay.

all right and it's it's an issue it's an issue in this neighborhood uh long-term issue uh and it it needs to be dealt with this needs to get rectified and the only way I see this being handled is by strong enforcement and really just putting the hammer down. That's how I see it.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you Mr. Chairman. I certainly understand I'm not familiar with all the the intricacies of this particular challenge as a district councilor is on the face of it I would support this. I will say that As far as bringing the hammer down, I'd like to see some community engagement. either by law enforcement or the appropriate city staff. Through the chair of the administration, has this particular location come to the attention of the city administration, to your knowledge, through the chair?

I know there's been some activity on Boylston Street. I don't know if this is a particular area that the officers have been engaged in, but I know there's been some activity in that area that the officers are paying attention to. But again, this is something that we can easily mobilize our department and our team to be able to address.

And through chair to administration, are we aware to what degree there's been any community policing outside of their vehicles in this specific location?

Mr. Manager?

Yeah, to the Councilor, I don't have that direct information with me right now to be able to answer it directly.

Chairman, I'd like a related order that way. Again, for the public record, I do support this as written. The amendment I do not support. It's unclear to me. you know what exactly the intention is as it relates to our court system as you know our court system is designed in a way where we are not incarcerating people for low-level offenses and there's a whole Littany of different responses to different concerns and violations that come before them so I'm not sure once again what the exact I don't know what the exact wording is on that motion, but without knowing what that exact wording is, I can't support it. If the chair is open to and the filer of the motion is open to separating the two orders, I'd vote in favor of 10C.

I'm not voting in favor of whatever that amendment is.

Okay, so we got 10 C, as it is, motions to approve on the amendment, roll call.

We separate them? Yeah. So this is 10C. OK.

So, Mr. Chairman, for clarity. So, Tennessee, you're voting as it is. So, this is on Councilor Toomey's new amendment or motion. Yep. Councilor Bergman? Yes. Councilor Bilotta? Yes. Councilor Economou? Yes. Councilor Fresolo? Yes. Councilor King? Yes. Yes. Councilor Mitra, Councilor Ojeda. Yes. Councilor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Toomey. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes.

Okay, we are on. Mr. Chairman, the amendment.

What was the amendment?

I completely misunderstood. Again, so for the record, I just want to be recorded as a no. Due to the amendment, you haven't even been able to restate exactly what it is other than what she intended to say. and so therefore I like mine recorded as a no. I don't even know what the motion is. Okay. The amendment is. I have no idea.

Okay, council.

I'm sorry, I was confused. Same here.

That would be a no as well. I apologize. Okay. Okay, three nos. Okay. Okay. And correct that for the record. Oh, okay, we already did 11. 11A we already did. 12A and 12B, motion to adopt on the roll call. Roll call.

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

Yes, 13A, motions accept. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Councilor Economou.

Can we take 12B? We just passed that. Do we just do 12A through 11A through 11C?

I'm sorry, that's held under privilege.

Held under privilege, okay, very good.

I should have said that again. Okay, we are on 14A and B, motions is accepted to adopt. All those in favor, a postal audit. 14C to 14G, motions accept. All those in favor, opposed, so ordered. Councilor Rivera, request the order to provide council with a report detailing a full financial audit and accounting of both the completed and currently underway work being done at Beaverbrook Dog Park. Rivera.

So I'm just gonna actually hold it again one more time, because we're making progress, we're making some way with the residents in the Beaverbrook Park area.

Motion is to hold under privilege, you need four votes, roll call.

Councilor Bergman. Yes. Councilor Bilotta. Yes. Yes. Councilor Economou. Yes. Councilor Rosolo. Yes. Councilor King. Yes. Councilor Mitra. Councilor Ojeda. Yes. Councilor Rivera. Yes. Councilor Rosen. Yes. Councilor Toomey.

Yes.

Mayor Petty.

Yes. That brings us to the end of the meeting. So the motion is to Afton. Thank you for being reported. This is Afton's last meeting, so everybody know that. So thank you for serving the city of Worcester. Good luck. Good luck. Motion adjourned. All those in favor, oppose, so ordered.