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Optiline Enterprises at 274 Franklin Street

At a glance

  • What: Gary Rosen asked the City Manager and Chief Development Officer to explain why Optiline Enterprises, a drywall and framing subcontractor, is working on the 364-unit complex at 274 Franklin St.
  • Where it stands: on 2026-09-22 the City Solicitor said the city had reaffirmed in writing that Optiline remains ineligible. Rosen's order was placed on file on 2026-10-06 after answers from the City Manager and Solicitor.
  • Next: nothing pending on Rosen's order; King's related orders were adopted 11-0 on September 29.

Background

  • Optiline was previously banned from taxpayer-funded Worcester projects (June 2025) over alleged wage theft and labor violations.
  • The project receives about $11 million in tax relief over 15 years.
  • The Responsible Development Ordinance bars contractors with labor violations in the past three years.

Solicitor's answer (2026-09-22)

  • Optiline remains ineligible, about three years from the December 2024 Attorney General citation.
  • Keeping it on the job would breach the developer's TIF agreement.
  • Khrystian E. King's orders: a list of contractors ineligible under the RDO, and a report on known Optiline wage theft issues. Both adopted 11-0 on September 29.

Discussion time

About 15 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting Minutes
2026-09-22 - City Council 15

Log

  • 2026-10-06 - City Council — Taken from privilege. Gary Rosen, noting pending litigation, asked only whether the subcontractor is still on the job. Eric D. Batista said it is not on site; City Solicitor Alexandra H. Kalkounis said an emergency hearing was held on Monday (October 5) where the subcontractor's motion was denied by the judge, so it is off the job, though more litigation is possible. Batista named the developer partnership (the Michaels group and Go Venture), general contractor DF Pray (spelling uncertain) and Optiline. Khrystian E. King said he would take his concerns to Batista the next day, thanked the carpenters union, and praised the developer for acting quickly and keeping to the TIF timelines. Rosen moved to place on file; placed on file.
  • 2026-09-29 - City Council — Taken up first, before petitions: Khrystian E. King moved to hold Gary Rosen's order (10h) under privilege a second time; the Mayor called it the Franklin Street TIF item and said four votes were needed. Held 11-0. Abby Mortillaro ("no TIF for Optiline", per captions) and Kirsten Fraser were among those speaking for the order in public participation. King's two related orders from September 22 (list of RDO-ineligible contractors; report on Optiline wage theft) were recorded as adopted 11-0.
  • 2026-09-22 - City Council — Rosen presented the item at about 11:45 PM. City Manager Eric D. Batista said the city told the developer in June 2025 that Optiline was ineligible, then learned recently (the Chief Development Officer saw them on a site visit) that the developer had hired it. City Solicitor Alexandra H. Kalkounis said the 2025 determination rested on an Attorney General citation (December 2024) for retaliation, with no wage-theft findings; a later settlement said Optiline had no liability, but the AG clarified it covers only the civil penalty, so the city sent the developer a letter that afternoon reaffirming Optiline cannot work on the project for three years from the citation. Keeping it would breach the developer's TIF agreement. Batista said he would speak to the developer the next day; there is no mechanism to notify developers of ineligible contractors. Public speakers for the item included David Minasian (Carpenters Union) and Fred Taylor; about a dozen more backed the Carpenters. At midnight Rosen held the item for a week; Khrystian E. King's two orders adopted 11-0.