2026-10-13 - City Council
Summary
Based on auto-captions and the official minutes; may contain misheard names or figures.
Time on topic (from transcript timestamps; approximate, includes side talk):
| Topic | Minutes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Readiness and Snow Operations 2026-2027 | 55 | 29% |
| City Council Rules Changes | 42 | 22% |
| School Safety Audit and School Zones | 29 | 15% |
| Opening and public participation | 19 | 10% |
| Belmont Street and Lake Avenue Traffic Safety | 12 | 6% |
| ALERTWorcester Emergency Alert System | 10 | 5% |
| Zero Waste Master Plan and Public Recycling Bins | 9 | 5% |
| Hybrid Beacon Pedestrian Crossings | 8 | 4% |
| Routine business | 5 | 3% |
| Chandler St and May St Intersection Project | 3 | 1% |
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- Met 6:31 to 9:40 PM (Councilor King joined remotely until he arrived at 7:06).
Opening and public participation
0:00-18:50
- The Mayor presented Certificates of Recognition to the five staff of the Worcester Public Library's Talking Book Library for winning the Subregional Library of the Year award.
- Public participation lasted only about 15 minutes.
- Speakers pressed for public restrooms (agenda items 13a and 13b), mostly opposed moving the meeting start to 5:30 PM (11b), and Nathalie Gibson said ALERTWorcester is not delivering road-closure or construction notices to her.
- David Webb, by phone, mocked the City's "3-star" Welcoming designation and called the Council's meetings deliberately drawn out; Fred Nathan urged readiness for winter and suggested councilors get more say over the City Manager's items.
Routine business
18:50-21:50, 2:16:28-2:17:26, 2:46:55-2:47:52
- Passed 11-0: four National Grid conduit locations (Chadwick St., Franklin and Arctic Sts., Grafton St., Pleasant St.), 25 salary ordinances plus a public health nursing ordinance ordered advertised, prior-year invoices ($47,836.54 for DPW and $160.80 for Sustainability and Resilience), a Central Square Technologies five-year contract, and a City Auditor recommendation to raise the retirement COLA base from $16,000 to $17,000 starting July 1, 2027.
- The Welcoming America 3-star communication was placed on file.
- Charter Communications' conduit hearing at 135 Kenberma Rd. was filed at John P. Fresolo's request because the residents had worked out a different plan and Charter will file a new order.
- Tabled items 12a to 12f (including rent control and the DOJ report comparison) saw no action.
Downtown Public Restrooms
- Under suspension the Council adopted (per the minutes; the captions skip these) Satya B. Mitra's order on rented mobile bathrooms and showers in municipal lots and Kathleen M. Toomey's cost and funding report on bathroom and shower facilities.
Other orders adopted under suspension
- Khrystian E. King's reports on workforce development in response to AI and on completing two police academy classes before the end of 2027.
- Tony Economou's resolution honoring four elementary schools.
Winter Readiness and Snow Operations 2026-2027
21:50-1:16:44
- The longest item (roughly 22 minutes to 1 hour 16 minutes into the recording): Public Works Commissioner John K. Westerling's winter readiness report. Economou, Robert A. Bilotta, Fresolo, Morris A. Bergman, Toomey, Mitra, Gary Rosen, Jose A. Rivera, Luis A. Ojeda and King all questioned him.
- Equipment: seven six-wheel dump trucks with wing plows (the City's first) arrive two in November, two in December, two in January and one in February; a new loader is due the week of Thanksgiving; a second loader-mounted snowblower and four sidewalk machines are coming (two from Canada, with tariff delays possible); brine-capable trucks rise from three to nine or ten; and a hot-mix pavement recycler for potholes is due in January.
- Staffing: DPW vacancies fell from 54 (16 in operations) a year ago to 28 (8 in operations), and seven new CDL operators were hired.
- Salt shed replacement with fabric tents (funded by $3 million appropriated in the FY26 budget) will happen after this winter.
- Bergman pressed for an objective record of subcontractors who must redo missed streets; Westerling said routing and GPS software should be running at the start of winter (procurement still pending), contractor rates (with a higher rate for GPS-equipped vehicles) will come back at the November meeting, and chronic misses mean a contractor will not work with the City long.
- King questioned the roughly 40 inspectors ("the guy watching the guy") and equipment utilization.
- Rosen called it the best winter report he has seen, with a Charlie Brown caveat, and said the proof comes in March.
- Rivera asked who enforces his hydrant-shoveling order (Westerling: Inspectional Services and DPW). Residents were told to call 311, bus stop clearing is the WRTA's responsibility, and the City will start a parking-ban education campaign with informational notices on cars.
- The item was referred to Public Works, as was the fall leaf collection plan.
Belmont Street and Lake Avenue Traffic Safety
1:16:44-1:29:04
- Transportation and Mobility Commissioner Stephen S. Rolle reported on Belmont Street and Lake Avenue safety.
- The stretch of Belmont toward I-290 has a higher crash rate than the six-lane section, so a corridor study scope is being drafted for possible 2027 funding.
- Lake Avenue and Hamilton Street intersection design is funded through the regional TIP (a first for design money), the consultant contract is being negotiated, and the first public meeting is expected around December.
- The separate heavy-vehicle exclusion study for Hamilton Street and Lake Avenue (Truck Ban - Hamilton Street and Lake Avenue) should have a report ready for the state shortly after the new year.
- Fresolo got Eric D. Batista's commitment that the Lake Avenue long patch contractor will mobilize by about the end of October and work will occur this calendar year.
Hybrid Beacon Pedestrian Crossings
1:31:39-1:39:13
- Rolle said the first pedestrian hybrid beacon (on Belmont Street) goes into design next month with construction in late spring or summer 2027, paid from the capital budget rather than grants.
- King cited Federal Highway Administration figures of about 70 percent fewer pedestrian crashes.
- King's motion that the City Manager have the Commissioner and Superintendent notify students about new pedestrian safety measures was adopted 11-0.
Chandler St and May St Intersection Project
1:29:04-1:31:39
- Rivera clarified that current work on Chandler Street is replacement of two 19th-century water lines, with only preliminary work this fall and construction in spring.
- A meeting on the Chandler and May double roundabouts is Thursday, October 15 at 6 PM at the Chandler dual language school.
- A councilor also noted a Main Street visioning meeting on October 14 at 5 PM at the YMCA.
- Bicycle accommodations added in 2026 went to Traffic and Parking.
ALERTWorcester Emergency Alert System
1:39:13-1:48:59
- Emergency Communications Commissioner Charles R. Goodwin said ALERTWorcester has 7,298 sign-ups (about 100 more in a week), versus about 33,000 phone numbers in the old Code Red system that accumulated since 2015 (almost a quarter dead).
- Outreach will include A-frames, radio, podcasts and a cable video; Goodwin said alerts are for public safety and elections, not meeting notices.
- Toomey recused; Mitra pushed for a target (he suggested 70 percent) and more advertising.
- It went to Public Safety.
Zero Waste Master Plan and Public Recycling Bins
2:07:01-2:16:28
- Sustainability chief John W. Odell presented the Zero Waste Master Plan: recycling bins with repeated contamination would eventually be skipped after "oops" stickers and warnings.
- The public litter and recycling bin pilot has 146 of 150 bins installed, with about 20 tons of recycling and 40 tons of trash collected in six months. The pilot ends in June, when the City will weigh redeploying or adding bins (Rivera wanted about 30 more).
- That item and the Ballpark Commission communication (to Public Works) were referred; the sustainability items went to Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment, 11-0.
School Safety Audit and School Zones
2:17:26-2:46:06
- City Auditor Robert V. Stearns's school safety audit sparked a long exchange led by King, who first filed the order in September 2023.
- Rolle said school zone speed limits must be set by ordinance, about half of schools lacked one, and last year's ordinance covered every public school; a contractor was hired for 120 school zone signs, 110 were installed as of that morning and the rest were due that week, with pavement stencils later in October.
- The audit lists 25 schools without rapid flashing beacons, and flagged Nelson Place and Rice Square School crossings as dangerous (Rolle said Massasoit Rd. has been rebuilt with curb extensions and a beacon).
- Rolle also said the Safe Routes to School grant program yields one or two grants a year, with a Vernon Hill School infrastructure grant apparently awarded and funding expected for Columbus Park.
- Fresolo complained that the Roosevelt School principal keeps cars off school property until 2:00 PM, leaving parents idling in the road on Grafton St., and that Rice Square teachers park on narrow side streets such as Indiana St. instead of the Our Lady of Loreto lot; the Mayor said the school has about 80 staff and 40 to 50 lot spaces and asked for a report.
- Referrals went to Education and Traffic and Parking, with 11-0 votes on King's requests for the Safe Routes to School Taskforce's two-year strategic plan and for a hybrid beacon at Chandler Elementary (114 Chandler St.) and the Mayor's parking report for Roosevelt and Rice Square.
City Council Rules Changes
1:48:59-2:07:01, 2:46:06-2:46:55, 2:47:52-3:10:55
- The most contested items were about Council rules.
- Proposed Rules 61, 62 and 63 (Mitra's budget-priority rules), City Manager's letter: CFO Tim McGourthy said the dates (committee priorities March 1, preliminary budget presentation March 15) are workable but late for a budget submitted in early May under a 170-day charter clock and 45-day Council review, noting only about 0.2 percent of the budget is truly new money (60 percent education, 20 percent fixed costs).
- King said he would vote no, saying orders already establish priorities; Mitra urged committee work and Rivera suggested consolidating them into one rule. Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations 10-1 (King no).
- Rivera's order to start every meeting at 5:30 PM with an hour of public participation was referred to the same committee as amended 8-3 (nays Bilotta, King, Ojeda), after Rivera argued meetings routinely pass midnight and nobody is silenced.
- King (who prefers 7 PM and noted 2025 had the fewest Council meetings in 20 years), Bilotta and Ojeda spoke about hardship for working residents and shift workers.
- Bergman, who supported committee review, called it a false narrative that anyone is stifling comment, said the charter requires only "a reasonable amount of time", and complained of "America's Got Talent" performances in public comment.
- Rosen's amendment added a 6 PM option, and King's Rule 5 (special meetings) review was added.
- The Clerk, Nikolin Vangjeli, said 6:30 has been the practice since at least 2020, likely set in a mid-2010s rules revamp.
- A City Clerk quarterly report on Council orders and the Hope Cemetery sale of lots fund communication also went to Municipal and Legislative Operations.
Issues discussed: City Council Rules Changes, Downtown Public Restrooms, Winter Readiness and Snow Operations 2026-2027, Belmont Street and Lake Avenue Traffic Safety, Hybrid Beacon Pedestrian Crossings, Truck Ban - Hamilton Street and Lake Avenue, Chandler St and May St Intersection Project, ALERTWorcester Emergency Alert System, Zero Waste Master Plan and Public Recycling Bins, School Safety Audit and School Zones, DPW Staffing and Civil Service Hiring, Police Staffing Shortage, Non-Functioning Fire Hydrants, WRTA Bus Service Improvements, Traffic-Calming Speed Hump Program
Official Minutes
Journal of the City Council, posted on PrimeGov (summary of actions, not verbatim). Page headers removed.
CITY OF WORCESTER
JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Esther Howland (South) Chamber
Convened: 6:31 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:40 P.M.
MAYOR
Joseph M. Petty
AT-LARGE COUNCILORS DISTRICT COUNCILORS
Morris A. Bergman Tony Economou - District 1
Khrystian E. King Robert A. Bilotta - District 2
Satya B. Mitra John P. Fresolo - District 3
Gary Rosen
Luis A. Ojeda - District 4
Kathleen M. Toomey
Jose A. Rivera - District 5
www.worcesterma.gov
CITY CLERK CITY MANAGER CITY AUDITOR
Nikolin Vangjeli Eric D. Batista Robert V. Stearns
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL - All present with the Mayor as the Chair. Councilor King
participated in the meeting remotely until his arrival in the Chamber at 7:06 P.M.
4. PROCLAMATIONS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, MOMENTS OF SILENCE
4a. Mayor Petty provided Lee Anne Hooley, Cheryl Conn, Bianca Rullo, Joel Keisling and
Karen Wall with a Certificate of Mayoral Recognition for their parts in Worcester’s
Talking Book Library winning the Subregional Library of the Year Award from the
National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled/Library of Congress.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
5a. Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of
the City Council Meeting of September 29, 2026.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll
call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
6a. Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following Speakers:
1. Abby Mortillaro, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor of nor opposed to item
#11b CC and spoke in favor of items #13a CC and #13b CC
2. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor of nor opposed to items #9.7A
CM, #9.11A CM and #9.11B CM and spoke in favor of item #9.26A CM
3. Gary Hunter, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #13a CC and #13b CC and
spoke in opposition to item #11b CC
4. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke concerning an item not listed on the agenda,
spoke in opposition to item #11b CC and spoke in favor of items #13a CC and #13b CC
5. David Webb, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to items #9.39A CM and #11b
CC and spoke in favor of items #12a CC through #12f CC
6. Nathalie Gibson, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor of nor opposed to item
#9.14A CM
7. HEARINGS AND ORDERS
7a. Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: CHADWICK ST.
Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: CHADWICK ST.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to open hearings for items #7a CC
through #7d CC. Mayor Petty's motion was approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays.
Mayor Petty asked if any abutters wished to be heard on the items. Hearing no speakers, Mayor
Petty moved to close the hearings. Mayor Petty's motion was approved on a roll call vote of 11
Yeas and 0 Nays.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the items. Hearing held and Order adopted on a
roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
7b. Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: FRANKLIN ST. & ARCTIC ST.
Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: FRANKLIN ST. &
ARCTIC ST.
Hearing held and Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #7a CC)
7c. Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: GRAFTON ST.
Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: GRAFTON ST.
Hearing held and Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #7a CC)
7d. Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: PLEASANT ST.
Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: PLEASANT ST.
Hearing held and Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #7a CC)
8. PETITIONS
8a. Asaad Challab request sewer extension of approximately eighty-five (85) feet for 72A
and 72B Arlington St.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Public Works
Committee. Referred to Public Works Committee on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
8b. Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request installation of a crosswalk across Plantation St.,
from the Biotech Two parking lot, located at 373 Plantation St., to Mercadante Funeral
Home, located at 370 Plantation St.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to refer items #8b CC through #8e CC to
Traffic and Parking Committee. Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee on a roll call vote of
11 Yeas and 0 Nays
8c. Amaris Gonzalez request removal of the handicap parking space in front of 63 Airlie St.
Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #8b
CC)
8d. Laura Abbascia request a traffic and speeding study be conducted on Westview Rd. for
the purpose of installing traffic calming measures, including speed humps.
Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #8b
CC)
8e. Gladymill Canales request installation of speed humps on Wyman St.
Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #8b
CC)
9. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
9.1 APPOINTMENTS
Non-City Council Confirmation
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of
Nayari Veras and Chris Michelotti to the Worcester Arts Council.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to place items #9.1A CM
and #9.1B CM on file. Placed on file on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
B. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of
Aashish Dhungana to the Conservation Commission.
Placed on file on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9.1A CM)
9.2 APPOINTMENTS
City Council Confirmation
9.3 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
William Bagley, Jr., Esq., Chief Human Resources Officer
A. Recommend Adoption of an Amendment to Salary Ordinance.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to advertise the proposed
Ordinances associated with items #9.3A CM and #9.3B CM. Voted to advertise
twenty-five (25) ordinances on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
B. Recommend Adoption of an Amendment to Salary Ordinance Relative to
Public Health Nursing.
Voted to advertise proposed Ordinance on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See
Item #9.3A CM)
9.4 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Peter Dunn, Chief Development Officer
9.5 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Kevin Lovaincy, Chief Equity Officer
9.6 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Division of Human Rights and Accessibility
Patricia M. LaFore, Director
9.7 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Administration Division
John K. Westerling, Commissioner
A. Transmitting Informational Communications Relative to Winter Readiness
for the Coming 2026–2027 Winter Season.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Economou and Councilor
Bilotta, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Bilotta.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Fresolo, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Fresolo.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Bergman.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey and Councilor Mitra, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Mitra.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rosen, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Rosen.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rivera, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Rivera.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Ojeda, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Ojeda.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor King.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Economou for a second time, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty moved to refer the item to Public Works Committee. Referred to Public
Works Committee
B. Recommend Adoption of Central Square Technologies Five-Year Contract.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
C. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to DPW Fall Leaf
Collection 2026.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Ojeda, who spoke concerning
the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Public Works, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Ojeda.
Mayor Petty moved to refer the item to Public Works Committee. Referred to Public
Works Committee
9.8 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Engineering and Architectural Services Division
John K. Westerling, Commissioner
9.9 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Operations Division
John K. Westerling, Commissioner
9.10 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND CEMETERY
Robert C. Antonelli, Jr., Commissioner
9.11 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY
Stephen S. Rolle, P.E., Commissioner
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Miles of Bicycle
Accommodations Added in 2026.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved to refer the item to Traffic and Parking
Committee. Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee
B. Transmitting Informational Communication Concerning Traffic Safety
Initiatives on Belmont Street and Lake Avenue.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Bilotta, who spoke concerning
the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who
responded to questions raised by Councilor Bilotta.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Fresolo, who spoke concerning
the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who
responded to questions raised by Councilor Fresolo.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Rivera, who spoke concerning
the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and City
Manager, who responded to questions raised by Councilor Rivera.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who
responded to questions raised by Councilor King.
Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager ensure the Commissioner of
Transportation and Mobility and Superintendent of Public Schools collaborate to
provide students with proper notification and explanations related to the installation
of various pedestrian safety measures when they are implemented in the vicinity of
schools.” (See Item #14a CC).
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Traffic and Parking
Committee. Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas
and 0 Nays
9.12 FIRE DEPARTMENT
Martin Dyer, Fire Chief
9.13 POLICE DEPARTMENT
Paul B. Saucier, Police Chief
9.14 DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Charles R. Goodwin, Commissioner
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Enrollment
Numbers of ALERTWorcester.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Toomey, who moved to recuse
herself from the item and did not participate in the discussion.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Ojeda and Councilor Rivera, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Emergency Communications and
Management, who responded to questions raised by Councilor Rivera.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mitra, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Emergency Communications and
Management, who responded to questions raised by Councilor Mitra.
Mayor Petty moved to refer the item to Public Safety. Referred to Public Safety
9.15 LAW DEPARTMENT
Alexandra H. Kalkounis, Esq., City Solicitor
9.16 DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Administration
Nicholas Antanavica, Commissioner
9.17 DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Building and Zoning Division
David Horne, Deputy Building Commissioner
9.18 DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Housing and Health Inspections Division
Lee R. Hall, Director
9.19 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration
Seema Dixit, Commissioner
9.20 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Elder Affairs
Amy Vogel Waters, Director
9.21 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Veterans Services
Alex R. Arriaga, Interim Veterans Services Director
9.22 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Youth Opportunities
Raquel Castro-Corazzini, Director
9.23 WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Jason L. Homer, Executive Director
9.24 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Election Commission Division
Nikolin Vangjeli, City Clerk
9.25 PUBLIC SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Brian Allen, Superintendent
9.26 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Administration
Timothy McGourthy, Chief Financial Officer
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Proposed New Rules
61, 62, and 63 of the Rules of City Council.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning
the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, who
responded to questions raised by Councilor King.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mitra and Councilor Rivera, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Municipal and Legislative
Operations Committee. Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations
Committee on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nay (Nay – King)
9.27 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Assessing Division
Samuel E. Konieczny, City Assessor
9.28 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Budget Office Division
Erin E. Taylor, Director
9.29 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Purchasing Division
Christopher Gagliastro, Director
9.30 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Treasury and Collections Division
Francisco Hernandez, Treasurer and Collector of Taxes
9.31 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC FACILITIES
James Bedard, Chief of Public Facilities
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Worcester
Ballpark Commission.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved to refer the item to Public Works Committee.
Referred to Public Works Committee
9.32 DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE
John W. Odell, Chief Sustainability Officer
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Zero Waste Master
Plan.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item
#9.32B CM.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bilotta, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Chief Sustainability Officer, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Bilotta.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Ojeda, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Chief Sustainability Officer, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Ojeda.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey and Councilor Rivera, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Urban Technologies,
Innovation and Environment Committee. Referred to Urban Technologies,
Innovation and Environment Committee on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
B. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Department of
Sustainability & Resilience Project Updates – Climate Resilience and
Current Zero Waste Programs.
Referred to Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee on a roll
call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9.32A CM)
9.33 DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Michael P. Hamel, Chief Information Officer
9.34 FINANCE ITEMS
Capital Transfers
9.35 FINANCE ITEMS
Grants and Donations
9.36 FINANCE ITEMS
Operational Transfers
9.37 FINANCE ITEMS
Prior Year
A. Recommend that Forty-Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars
and Fifty Four Cents ($47,836.54) be Authorized from Various Fiscal Year
2027 Department of Public Works Cost Centers for the Payment of Prior Year
Invoices.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt items #9.37A CM
and #9.37B CM. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
B. Recommend That One Hundred Sixty Dollars and Eighty Cents ($160.80) be
Authorized from Fiscal Year 2027 Cost Center #CC1008, Department of
Sustainability & Resilience Ordinary Maintenance, for the Payment of a Prior
Year Invoice.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9.37A CM)
9.38 FINANCE
Loan Orders
9.39 MISCELLANEOUS AGENDA TRANSMITTALS
A. Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Worcester’s 3-Star
Certified Welcoming Designation Through Welcoming America.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to place the item on file.
Placed on file on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
10. COMMUNICATIONS
10a. Robert V. Stearns, City Auditor, transmitting an informational communication detailing a
completed school safety audit.
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and City Auditor, who
responded to questions raised by Councilor King.
Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation
and Mobility provide City Council with a copy of the two (2) year strategic plan that relates to the
city’s Safe Routes to School Taskforce.” (See Item #14b CC).
Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation
and Mobility consider the installation of a hybrid beacon system for the crosswalks in the vicinity
of Chandler Elementary Community School, located at 114 Chandler St.” (See Item #14c CC).
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Fresolo, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the City Auditor, who responded to questions raised by Councilor Fresolo.
Mayor Petty moved to, “Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation and
Mobility provide City Council with a report concerning parking limitations and regulations in
place in and around Roosevelt Elementary School, located at 1006 Grafton St., as well as Rice
Square Elementary School, located at 76 Massasoit Rd., to determine any potential improvements
that can be made at the locations.” (See Item #14d CC).
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bilotta, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who responded to
questions raised by Councilor Bilotta.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to both Education Committee and Traffic
and Parking Committee. Referred to Education Committee and Traffic and Parking Committee
on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
10b. Robert V. Stearns, City Auditor, recommending approval of an increase in the
cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) maximum base from $16,000 to $17,000 starting July
1, 2027.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll
call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
10c. Robert V. Stearns, City Auditor, transmitting an informational communication relative to
how the Sale of Lots and Graves fund can be used at Hope Cemetery.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Municipal and
Legislative Operations Committee. Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee
on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
10d. Nikolin Vangjeli, City Clerk, transmitting an informational quarterly report outlining the
various City Council Orders and Chairman's Orders adopted over the previous three (3)
months, for the period of July 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Municipal and
Legislative Operations Committee. Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee
on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
11. HELD UNDER PRIVILEGE
11a. Hearing: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: 135 KENBERMA
RD.
Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: 135
KENBERMA RD. (Held Under Privilege - Fresolo October 6, 2026)
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Fresolo, who moved to place the item on file.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote on Councilor Fresolo’s motion to place the item on file.
Placed on file on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays
11b. ORDER of Councilor Jose A. Rivera - Request Standing Committee on Municipal and
Legislative Operations review the Rules of the City Council relative to public
participation to discuss the feasibility of amending the Rules of City Council to have all
City Council meetings begin at 5:30 p.m., with public participation occurring from the
set time of 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each meeting. (Held Under Privilege - King October 6,
2026)
Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Rivera and Councilor King, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized the City Clerk, who responded to questions raised by Councilor King.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, Councilor Bilotta and Councilor Mitra, who spoke
concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rosen, who moved to amend the item to read as follows:
“Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations review the Rules of the
City Council relative to public participation to discuss the feasibility of amending the Rules of City
Council to have all City Council meetings begin at either 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m., with public
participation occurring from the set time of either 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. each
meeting.”
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who spoke concerning the item.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King for a second time, who moved to, “Request Standing
Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations review Rule Five (5) of the Rules of City
Council, which allows for the mayor, or if the mayor is unable to serve, the vice chair of the city
council, or any five (5) members thereof, to call a special meeting by causing written notices
stating the time and purpose of holding such meetings, in an effort to determine any potential
amendments to the rule that would better assist City Council in completing its regular business.”
(See Item #14e CC).
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to refer the item to Municipal and Legislative Operations
Committee as amended. Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee as amended
on a roll call vote of 8 Yeas and 3 Nays (Yeas – Bergman, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Rivera,
Rosen, Toomey, Petty) (Nays – Bilotta, King, Ojeda)
12. TABLED ITEMS
12a. ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager request City
Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion regarding the process of instituting a
residential rent control program and the resulting impact of implementing such a
program. (Held Under Privilege - Lukes September 17, 2019 and September 24, 2019
and Tabled - Lukes October 15, 2019)
No action taken
12b. RESOLUTION of Councilor Khrystian E. King - That the City Council of the City of
Worcester does hereby support Representative Rebecca Rauch and Senator Sonia
Chang-Diaz’s SD 699 HD 1283, An Act effectuating equity in COVID-19 Vaccination
Bill. (Held Under Privilege - Bergman February 9, 2021 and Tabled - Bergman February
23, 2021)
No action taken
12c. ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj and Councilor Thu Nguyen - Request City Manager
work with appropriate departments and stakeholders to establish an Office of Housing
Stability in an effort to prevent the involuntary displacement of city residents who are in
the process of being evicted or at the risk of losing their housing, as well as to enact
policies to combat displacement, homelessness and enhance tenants’ rights. (Held Under
Privilege - Haxhiaj July 18, 2023 and Tabled - Haxhiaj August 22, 2023)
No action taken
12d. PETITION of Gordon Davis request City Council request Standing Committee on Public
Safety investigate the issue of systemic racism and public safety with public hearings
included. (Tabled - Toomey May 14, 2024)
No action taken
12e. ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager conduct an equity audit
of all city departments every five (5) years. (Held Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson
December 10, 2024 and Held Under Privilege - Toomey December 17, 2024 and Tabled -
Nguyen January 7, 2025)
No action taken
12f. COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication
relative to how the U.S. Department of Justice's report on the Worcester Police
Department differs from the account of the municipality. (Held Under Privilege - King
April 29, 2025 and May 6, 2025 and Tabled - King May 13, 2025)
No action taken
13. BUSINESS UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES - Items brought forth under
suspension at the October 6, 2026 City Council meeting.
13a. ORDER of Councilor Satya B. Mitra – Request City Manager explore the possibility of
installing rented, mobile bathrooms and showers in the city’s municipal parking lots until
such a time that permanent bathrooms and showers are reviewed and completed. – Item
#20a CC Order adopted
13b. ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City
Council with a report concerning the costs associated with installing temporary and/or
permanent bathroom and shower facilities in the city. Further, request said report also
include information concerning funding sources and/or grants available for the
installation of such facilities. – Item #20b CC Order adopted
13c. ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council
with a report related to the city’s current and future workforce development, in response
to artificial intelligence (AI) and increased/improved technology. – Item #20c CC Order
adopted
13d. ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council
with a report concerning the feasibility of any plans to complete two (2) Worcester Police
Department (WPD) police academy classes prior to the end of calendar year 2027,
wherein one class would utilize funds from Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) and other would
utilize funds from Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28). Further, request said report include an
analysis of the fiscal impact of such a decision. – Item #20d CC Order adopted
13e. RESOLUTION of Councilor Tony Economou – That the City Council of the City of
Worcester does hereby go on record recognizing the students and faculty at Francis J.
McGrath Elementary School, Midland Street Elementary School, Worcester Arts Magnet
School, and Columbus Park Preparatory Elementary School for earning state recognition
for their academic progress toward accountability targets in English Language Arts and
Mathematics, while ranking above the twentieth percentile of schools statewide. – Item
#20e CC Resolution adopted
14. NEW BUSINESS UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES - Items brought forth under
suspension at the October 13, 2026 City Council meeting.
14a. Motion King @ #9.11B CM – Request City Manager ensure the Commissioner of
Transportation and Mobility and Superintendent of Public Schools collaborate to provide
students with proper notification and explanations related to the installation of various
pedestrian safety measures when they are implemented in the vicinity of schools.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9.11B CM)
14b. Motion King @ #10a CC – Request City Manager request Commissioner of
Transportation and Mobility provide City Council with a copy of the two (2) year
strategic plan that relates to the city’s Safe Routes to School Taskforce.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #10a CC)
14c. Motion King @ #10a CC – Request City Manager request Commissioner of
Transportation and Mobility consider the installation of a hybrid beacon system for the
crosswalks in the vicinity of Chandler Elementary Community School, located at 114
Chandler St.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #10a CC)
14d. Motion Petty @ #10a CC – Request City Manager request Commissioner of
Transportation and Mobility provide City Council with a report concerning parking
limitations and regulations in place in and around Roosevelt Elementary School, located
at 1006 Grafton St., as well as Rice Square Elementary School, located at 76 Massasoit
Rd., to determine any potential improvements that can be made at the locations.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #10a CC)
14e. Motion King @ #11b CC – Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative
Operations review Rule Five (5) of the Rules of City Council, which allows for the
mayor, or if the mayor is unable to serve, the vice chair of the city council, or any five
(5) members thereof, to call a special meeting by causing written notices stating the time
and purpose of holding such meetings, in an effort to determine any potential
amendments to the rule that would better assist City Council in completing its regular
business.
Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee on a roll call vote of 8 Yeas and 3
Nays (Yeas – Bergman, Economou, Fresolo, Mitra, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey, Petty) (Nays – Bilotta,
King, Ojeda) (See Item #11b CC)
Sources
- Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGwKU8As908
- Minutes: https://worcesterma.primegov.com/Public/CompiledDocument?meetingTemplateId=76847&compileOutputType=1
Video
Transcript
Auto-generated YouTube captions; names and terms are likely misheard.
Transcript
0:01Good evening everyone. Welcome to the
0:02listed city council meeting. If you can
0:04stand, please stand for the pledge of
0:06allegiance and the stars.
0:11>> I pledge algiance to the flag, United
0:14States of America, the republic for
0:16which it stands, one nation under God,
0:19indivisible, liberty and justice.
0:29Oh, say can you see
0:34by the dawn early
0:37light
0:39what so proudly
0:42we held
0:44at the twilight
0:46lasting
0:49brought stripes and bright stars
0:54through the perilous
0:57fight
0:58or The
1:00birds we watch
1:03were so gallently
1:06streaming
1:08and the rockets
1:11red.
1:13The bombs were singing in
1:18gave proof through the night
1:23that our flag was still there.
1:28Oh, say does that star spangled
1:35yet?
1:40For the land
1:43of the free
1:47and the home
1:50of the
1:53brave.
2:08Roll call.
2:08>> Councelor Bergman
2:09>> here.
2:10>> Bada
2:11>> here.
2:11>> Connov
2:12>> here.
2:13>> Rolo
2:13>> here.
2:14>> King
2:15>> here.
2:16>> Mitra
2:16>> here.
2:17>> Oh
2:18>> here.
2:18>> Rivera
2:19>> here. Rosen
2:20>> here.
2:21>> Uncle Tumi
2:22>> here.
2:22>> And mayor Petty
2:23>> here. So first on my business. I'd like
2:26to recognize the Wister Public
2:27Libraryies talking book library. During
2:30today's council meeting, the work of
2:31these five people often go unnoticed,
2:33but they are vital to Wist Public
2:35Library and the rest of the city,
2:37winning a record number of awards over
2:39the years. Recently, they won the
2:40subreional library of the year and last
2:43year they won the subreional library of
2:45the state.
2:47The five members of the team are Lee
2:49Anne Hulie who's the uh talking book
2:52library head provides outstanding
2:54leadership as the head of the talking
2:56book services guiding the program to
2:57statewide excellence and national
2:59recognition. Cheryl Khan delivers
3:02personalized compassionate advisory
3:03service to patrons ensuring every
3:05readers feel supported and understood.
3:09Bianc Bianca Rua Luro enhances the
3:12reader experience through the thoughtful
3:14recommendations, attention to individual
3:16needs, and a strong commitment to
3:17accessibility.
3:20Joe Keeling, outreach and programming
3:23librarian, expands awareness of talking
3:25book resources through innovative
3:26outreach and programming that
3:28strengthens community connections. and
3:31Karen Wall, outreach and programming
3:33librarian, building impactful
3:34partnerships, outreach initiatives that
3:37broaden access to talking book services
3:39across central Massachusetts. Just like
3:41to congratulate you all and uh we have
3:44certificates of that say in recognition
3:46of each person for the talking book
3:48libraries award of sub regional library
3:50of the year. Congratulations.
3:53You want to come on down? We get a quick
4:10One minute.
5:04All right. Over here,
5:09two
5:10bunch of them.
5:25Thank you so much.
5:46Okay,
5:52>> first item of business is approval of
5:54the minutes of September 29th, 2026.
5:57Roll call.
5:58>> Councelor Bergman,
5:59>> yes.
6:00>> Council Bada,
6:01>> yes.
6:01>> Conamu,
6:02>> yes.
6:02>> Counc,
6:03>> yes. Council King,
6:05>> yes.
6:05>> Council Mitra,
6:06>> yes.
6:07>> Council,
6:08>> yes.
6:08>> Council Rivera,
6:09>> yes.
6:10>> Councelor Rosen,
6:11>> yes.
6:11>> Councelor Tumi,
6:12>> yes.
6:13>> Mayor Petty,
6:14>> yes. Uh, public participation, a person
6:16may speak for no more than two minutes.
6:19And I hear appearing on the agenda. Mr.
6:21Clerk.
6:22>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Rule 39, items
6:24of public interest. At every meeting of
6:26the city council under public
6:27participation portion of the agenda, the
6:29chair shall recognize any person seeking
6:31such recognition for the purpose of
6:33addressing the city council on any
6:34eligible item on the agenda for the
6:36meeting both in person and remotely. Any
6:39person who wishes to speak on more than
6:40one agenda item shall combine the
6:42testimony on all items to one appearance
6:44at the microphone. The time for speaking
6:46shall not exceed two minutes for any one
6:48speaker or 30 minutes for all speakers.
6:50and rule 40 petitions. On the first
6:52occasion, a petition appears before the
6:54city council agenda. The prime petition
6:56may address the city council for no more
6:57than two minutes. I'm sorry, three
6:59minutes on their subject of their
7:00petition.
7:02Use your name, see your residence, and
7:03item number.
7:04>> Happy morning. She her. What's the
7:06resident starting with 11B? Um, moving
7:10the meeting starting time to 5:30.
7:13While it may while it works for me, uh
7:15it might not work for other people
7:18and I I just want to make sure that you
7:20know everyone you know gets a chance to
7:22speak and I think it is really really
7:24really really important you know that
7:26everyone gets a chance to speak.
7:28Okay.
7:30Um, moving on. 13A and B. P. It's about
7:36both are about public bathrooms because
7:39we need them. And, you know,
7:44honestly, just we need places to pee and
7:48poo. They need to be all over the city.
7:51You know, they need to be open 247.
7:55And
7:58also I want to make sure that you know
8:01trans individuals are allowed to use the
8:04bathrooms according to which has been
8:08good. You know I've been using the the
8:10ladies bathroom and haven't had any
8:12problems. So that's good. But you know
8:17have more public bathrooms available not
8:19just in Union Station but you know but
8:23everywhere. Oh, also the library has
8:26one. But yeah, you know, like we need
8:30public efforts like everywhere like in
8:33all p public parks. Um, you know, yeah.
8:38Yeah. We we need some in the common, you
8:41know. What's common? Definitely a public
8:43bathroom, you know. Um,
8:48yeah. and just, you know,
8:52make sure we have these public bathrooms
8:54to have a place to be pe be and boo. You
8:56know, I I that's important and you know,
9:02get it done. You know, just get it done.
9:05All right, that's all I have to say.
9:07>> Thank you.
9:09What's your name? See your residence.
9:11Item number
9:14>> uh Fred Nathan Worcester. There are
9:17important reports that are uh produced
9:20by the city manager in this council.
9:22We're going to start with uh uh 9-
9:27uh 7 uh a uh the report about the
9:32winter.
9:33I mean uh winter is coming there people
9:37and it's not that far off. So, at some
9:40point we need to know if we're ready
9:43because we can't get caught short like
9:46we have, you know, the last couple
9:48winters. At some point in time, the
9:50people are going to revolt if if the
9:53roads are not accountable.
9:56I I I know you have no control over the
9:59weather, but can't uh have the kind of
10:02uh fiascos that have occurred.
10:07Um, you've got the report on on the
10:10miles of bicycle uh accommodations.
10:14It would be nice uh when these uh
10:16reports are generated.
10:20I know I'm probably miss uh boring to
10:22you, Mr. Mayor, but
10:25um uh when the council and the mayor and
10:27the city man just sits back and just
10:29looks. Okay. Yeah. All right. All right.
10:31Whatever, Fred. I'm not the only one
10:33here.
10:35Um
10:37there also we have a report you know
10:39concerning
10:40uh Belmont Street and and Lake A. At
10:43some point in time you know uh people
10:46get hurt, people get killed. I don't
10:49know what you can do except maybe uh
10:52synchronize the lights at every every
10:54light in the city is green at the same
10:56time or every light in the city is red
10:58at the same time. Who knows? uh you guys
11:00are going to do. And as far as the other
11:03thing about changing the rules, hey,
11:05maybe that's what it needs is a
11:07counselor should have more input on on
11:10what the city manager, you know, instead
11:12of just voting the whole thing up or
11:14down, they should have the right to say,
11:16"Okay, well, I don't like this."
11:18>> Thank you. Appreciate it.
11:24>> See names, see your residence item
11:26numbers.
11:27>> Gary Hunter. I live in Worcester.
11:32First, I'd like to start out with 13A
11:33and B.
11:36Picture this. Worcester 2020.
11:40We need bathrooms in the city. Picture
11:43this. 1995. We need bathrooms in the
11:46city. Now, we picture this 2026. And
11:48we're still talking about it. They need
11:51bathrooms.
11:52When you have an event behind city hall,
11:55what do you do? You bring porter parties
11:56in temporarily. If you they're doing
11:59constructions on houses, what do they
12:01do? They bring potter parties in
12:04temporarily. I think we need to get off,
12:07care about the people that are walking
12:08around in the city and get those
12:11bathrooms made now. There should not be
12:13a um any distractions except to make
12:17sure these pe your people that live in
12:20the city are taken care of. There could
12:22be your mother, it could be your
12:23brother, it could be your daughter that
12:24needs them. We need it done now and
12:27there shouldn't be much of a delay. And
12:28if you can't put the porta polies up and
12:32have some kind of relief.
12:36Now picture 11B. Picture this. And city
12:40council actually listens to the people
12:42that come in here and talk rather than
12:45trying to cut off people's discussions.
12:51Th this uh res agenda item is trying to
12:54cut people off and make them because and
12:56make it convenient and make it earlier
12:59and make it harder for people to talk.
13:02I'm totally against this. I think we
13:03should have more discussions.
13:06This agenda by Mr. Rivera and uh
13:08followed up by Mr. Bergman is just
13:11wrong.
13:13Mr. Rivera said we needed to get so we
13:17can get to the people's business.
13:20That's a great idea. Get to the people's
13:22business. Look at this agenda. What is
13:25on this agenda that's going to get to
13:27the people's business? Nothing. Get
13:30something on the agenda and vote on it,
13:31please.
13:42>> Your name is your residence.
13:45>> Hidela Hazen, city of Worcester. First I
13:48would like to call attention to
13:51>> while the priest speakers were speaking
13:53>> were they were they speaking I'm sorry
13:57and not paying attention.
13:59>> I'm looking at the agendas.
14:01>> Go ahead.
14:02>> Can you myself and on this side I've
14:04noticed on this side they were paying
14:06full attention.
14:08>> Okay.
14:08>> Also I'm glad to see that we have at
14:11least three Democrats
14:14>> on this city council. Can you uh
14:16>> with the city being supposedly a
14:19Democrat your item numbers, please?
14:21>> Okay. Yes.
14:22>> So, you're here to speak on.
14:23>> I don't think the city council should
14:26start at 5:30. People like to have
14:28dinner around 5:00. And of course, we
14:32need bathrooms downtown.
14:35That is a body function.
14:38What goes in must come out. Thank you.
14:47Okay, we'll go on to the agenda.
14:52>> What's that?
14:53>> Oh, we have someone virtual. Okay.
14:56>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, we have
14:57our first calling user is David Webb.
14:59Try to mute the resident now.
15:04>> Can't believe you guys almost forgot
15:05about online callers. Uh, David Webb,
15:07unfortunately, Mister uh 9.99
15:10Mr. receiving three out of five star
15:12rating. Something the manager seems to
15:14be very proud of. It's like a skit from
15:16Old Sunny in Philadelphia. I've seen the
15:18administration being proud of getting it
15:20three stars. Although, I guess at least
15:22it's out of five, not 10. Would you a
15:26three star restaurant? Would you take
15:28your family to a three-star hotel?
15:30Worster is very much a three-star city
15:33which considering its manager his period
15:35knows the governor of New York City and
15:36the governor of Massachusetts you can
15:39and you can just cities at even a
15:42fourstar hotel. So so why we serving
15:45three stars for our city?
15:48We want to hold our elected officials
15:50and employees they hire to a higher
15:52standard or any standard at all would be
15:55nice to start. It kind of seems like
15:57they can do just whatever they want and
15:59we keep just giving them
16:05necessary gibber's job and interesting
16:08meetings. These meetings are
16:09deliberately drawn out and boring so we
16:11all can bear evil self-interest in
16:12developer worshipping within
16:14conversations of speed bumps and traffic
16:16lights.
16:16>> I can't understand this.
16:19>> You can't hear now. Are you still on?
16:22>> Yes, I am. Are you able to hear me?
16:25Barely something. It's not coming in.
16:26Good.
16:27>> Okay. But I couldn't
16:28>> What item number you want? No. I'm
16:30sorry.
16:37>> Yeah.
16:43>> I'm sorry. This should have been clear.
16:45My bad. 11B
16:49necessary. If the clerk did her job in
16:52the interest of efficient meetings
16:55are deliberately drawn out and boring so
16:58you all can bury evil self-interest and
17:00developer worshipping within
17:03conversations of speed bumps and traffic
17:05lights by using buzz phrases about
17:08business interest.
17:10You all have items 12, A, B, C, D, E,
17:14and of course, F. Tell your old
17:19start time dependent on starting earlier
17:21to make anything any better. You just
17:24want with another hour of unnecessary
17:27back and forth, poorly moderated by
17:30someone at the end of his career. Do
17:32better.
17:34>> Okay, next speaker.
17:37>> Mayor, the last speaker is Natalie
17:39Gibson. join the resident now.
17:45>> Good evening. Uh Natalie Gibson,
17:47Worester, Mass. Um I am calling about uh
17:519.14.
17:54See that you guys have a things that um
17:57you can receive for the Worcester
17:59alerts. However, I keep telling um at
18:04least my counselor, councelor Rivera and
18:08uh councelor Mitra when he has come to
18:09our meetings that they should have road
18:13closures all the road closures uh coming
18:16through the alert system. I am versse on
18:19how to use it, how to do my settings and
18:23I will tell you wherever I am that I
18:25have it set for. I am not getting road
18:28closures or constructions so
18:31construction notices. So I think that
18:33someone really needs to look into why
18:37some of those alerts are not coming
18:38through. Don't just look through uh say
18:42like the city manager's alerts or one of
18:44the counselor's alerts. look at the
18:46alerts that the residents are getting
18:49because I can assure you I am not the
18:51only person who is not getting um
18:54construction updates uh coming through
18:57and we all know that there's
18:58construction going on all over this
19:00city.
19:02Thank you.
19:03>> Thank you.
19:05>> Okay,
19:07we're going to hearings and orders. The
19:09motion is to open the hearing. Roll
19:11call.
19:14Councelor Bergman,
19:15>> yes. Council Bada,
19:16>> yes. Councelor Cono,
19:18>> yes. Councelor Zolo,
19:19>> yes. Councilor King,
19:20>> yes.
19:21>> Councilor Mitra,
19:22>> yes. Council,
19:23>> yes. Council Vera,
19:24>> yes.
19:24>> Council Rosen,
19:25>> yes.
19:25>> Council Tumi,
19:26>> yes.
19:26>> And Mayor Petty,
19:28>> yes. Okay. We have a condo location at
19:31Chat Street. We have a condo location on
19:35Franklin and Artic Street. We have a
19:38condo location on Grafton Street.
19:41And we have a con location on Pleasant
19:44Street.
19:46All set. Anybody oppose any of these
19:47items?
19:50See nobody opposed.
19:53Motion is to close the hearing and to
19:56adopt. Roll call.
19:57>> Councelor Bergman.
19:59>> Yes.
19:59>> Councelor Bada.
20:00>> Yes.
20:00>> Councelor Cona.
20:01>> Yes.
20:02>> Zolo.
20:02>> Yes.
20:03>> Councor King.
20:04>> Yes.
20:04>> Council Mitra.
20:05>> Yes.
20:05>> Counc.
20:06>> Yes.
20:07>> Rivera.
20:08>> Yes.
20:08>> Councor Rosen.
20:09>> Yes.
20:09>> Tumi. Yes.
20:10>> And mayor Petty.
20:12>> Yes. We have uh petitions. Anybody here
20:14for a petition? We have 8A refer to
20:17public works. 8B and 8 refer to traffic
20:20and parking.
20:23>> Roll call. Councelor Bergman.
20:24>> Yes.
20:24>> Councelor Bada.
20:25>> Yes.
20:26>> Councelor Cono.
20:27>> Yes.
20:27>> Councelor Zolo.
20:28>> Yes.
20:28>> Councelor King.
20:30>> Yes.
20:31>> Council Mitra.
20:31>> Yes.
20:32>> Councelor Hayda.
20:33>> Yes.
20:33>> Councelor Rivera.
20:34>> Yes.
20:34>> Councelor Rosen.
20:35>> Yes.
20:36>> Tumi.
20:37>> Yes.
20:37>> And Mayor Petty.
20:39>> Yes.
20:4091A and B transformation information
20:42communication relevant to the
20:43appointment of Nar is it Naari Ver Veras
20:47and Chris Mawadi to the Worester Arts
20:50Council and transmitting information
20:51communication of the appointment of
20:52Ashes uh Dong Ghana to the conservation
20:56commission. Motion to place on file both
20:59items. Roll call.
21:00>> Councelor Bergman.
21:01>> Yes.
21:02>> Councelor Bada.
21:03>> Yes.
21:03>> Councelor Kanu.
21:04>> Yes.
21:04>> Councelor Rolo.
21:05>> Yes.
21:05>> Councelor King.
21:07>> Yes.
21:07>> Council Mitra.
21:08>> Yes. Council Aita,
21:09>> yes.
21:10>> Councelor Rivera,
21:11>> yes.
21:11>> Councilor Rosen,
21:12>> yes.
21:12>> Councelor Tumi,
21:13>> yes.
21:13>> And Mayor Petty,
21:15>> yes.
21:16>> 9.3
21:18A, recommend adoption of salary
21:20ordinance
21:22and also recommend adoption and B is
21:24recommended adoption amendment to the
21:25salary ordinance relative to the public
21:27health nursing.
21:29Any questions on those? Seeing none,
21:31we'll take those collectively. Roll
21:33call.
21:34>> Councelor Bergman.
21:35>> Yes.
21:35>> Councelor Bada.
21:36>> Yes.
21:37>> Councelor Conamo. Yes,
21:38>> councelor Zolo.
21:39>> Yes,
21:39>> councelor King.
21:42>> Yes,
21:43>> Mitra.
21:43>> Yes,
21:45>> yes,
21:45>> Rivera.
21:46>> Yes,
21:47>> Rosen.
21:47>> Yes,
21:48>> Tumi.
21:48>> Yes.
21:49>> And mayor Petty.
21:50>> Yes. We have 9.78. Transforming
21:52information over to the winter readiness
21:54for the coming 2627 winter season.
21:58Okay. Council Kimmel, did you anything?
22:03>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um
22:09it's about a week or week or so a week
22:11and a half ago where I sat down with
22:13Commissioner Wesling. We went over a lot
22:14of things uh pertaining to our upcoming
22:18winter and our readiness for that uh for
22:22that winter to take place. And I got to
22:24say, I'm I'm happy to hear that a lot of
22:27things that were talked about um on this
22:30council floor last winter, last spring,
22:33maybe even this summer, um are coming to
22:37fruition um in this upcoming season.
22:40Whether it's plows with uh wing plows on
22:43them, whether it's added brining
22:45equipment,
22:46um mechanics just to make sure our
22:49equipment is in place and ready to go. I
22:52look forward actually to the um
22:56um forgot what forgot what it was called
22:58but to keep people accountable as to
23:01what's been done and what hasn't been
23:03done. I know the procurement process was
23:05in place for that. Um I think these are
23:08all positives. I think these are all
23:10things that will give our DPW and our
23:12residents in our community
23:15um hopefully the security that they know
23:18that our streets will be done in a
23:22quick and proficient manner this
23:24upcoming season. So, I look forward to
23:26it. Um I don't have many questions. Uh
23:29the commissioner outlined everything
23:31pretty clearly in his report. Um,
23:35and I look forward to seeing the men and
23:37uh, women of our city in action. You
23:39know, the other thing too I want to give
23:40kudos to as well, which I think
23:42sometimes gets overlooked, is our
23:45customer service reps who probably deal
23:47with the the bulk of the um,
23:51uh, the temperament of our people. So, I
23:54give them a lot of credit too during
23:56these storms and our emergency
23:58communications department. I will say
24:00this, I think it's important for people
24:02to get on the alert the alert worcester
24:04program as I think that is uh a clear
24:07directive is of how information will get
24:10out to the public uh during uh our major
24:14storms here in the city. So I appreciate
24:16the commissioner's report, city
24:18manager's report bringing this forward
24:20and I look forward to uh a smooth smooth
24:23winter season. Thank you.
24:26Yach says a lot of rain so it could be
24:29ice
24:30council followed by council fol.
24:32>> Thank you Mr. Chair and I appreciate
24:34this uh really thorough report and I'll
24:37echo what councelor economy said. It's
24:38great to see some of the uh additions of
24:41new equipment of additional training and
24:44staffing that that is that is happening.
24:46It was great to hear about the
24:47additional training that some of the
24:49folks went through or they traveled out
24:50of town. Uh says here that two team
24:53members attended the American Public
24:54Works Association North American Snow
24:56Conference in Cleveland. Uh two
24:58employees traveled to Colorado to
25:00participate in the APqua's National Snow
25:02Rodeo. So it's it's really, you know,
25:04great to see this happening. Um and
25:05again, a lot of the the concerns that
25:07the council echoed last season, I think
25:09are being addressed. I I do have a few
25:11questions. Um and I'll just go through
25:14each each one of them through the
25:15through the chat to the commissioner.
25:17Um, but again, it's great to see new
25:19equipment coming online and new staff
25:20for sure because I think it'll
25:21absolutely be helpful. Um,
25:25>> so through the chair, the commissioner
25:26just had a question. Uh, you know, we're
25:28getting seven new, uh, six wheel dump
25:31trucks with wing plows. The, it also
25:33says we're getting a front end loader,
25:34mounted snowblower, a loader, and four
25:36sidewalk machines. Um, and said that are
25:38scheduled delivery through November to
25:41February. Are is there any additional
25:43information on when we might be
25:45expecting some of these items or are
25:47they still kind of too far out to say?
25:50I'm just curious what what might we be
25:51getting before like the first of the
25:52year
25:54>> through the chair. Um the report
25:57outlines the anticipated delivery of
26:00those items. I think the the most uh the
26:03one that's going to be the soonest
26:05delivery is going to be the new loader.
26:08that's expected the week of uh
26:11Thanksgiving. We are still subject to uh
26:15delays in delivery of equipment. Um but
26:19the the loader is the the most recent,
26:22the one that's coming the soonest. Uh
26:24the four new sidewalk machines, two of
26:26them are coming from uh Canada, so
26:29unfortunately we're dealing with uh
26:31tariff issues there. Um, and the the
26:34seven new six-wheel dump trucks with the
26:37wing plows, those are expected. Two in
26:41November, two in December, two in
26:44January, and one in February. Uh, those
26:46are all subject to change, but we're
26:49looking forward to all these things
26:50coming in either before the snowfalls
26:52or, uh, in the early parts of winter.
26:55>> That's great to hear. And again, it was
26:56exciting to see that there's going to be
26:58what minimum of nine pieces of trucks
27:01with equipped with the brine the brining
27:03equipment.
27:04>> That's correct. Through the chair. Um
27:06the brine system was only fully
27:09functional as of February of last year.
27:11So we only had three trucks that we
27:13could put out there, but we worked all
27:15season, all summer to make sure that
27:18we've got uh we're going to have nine
27:19possibly 10 pieces of equipment to be
27:22able to spread the brine.
27:24>> That's great. Are those on like six
27:25wheel dump trucks or are those lighter
27:26vehicles? That that that's
27:28>> it's a combination of uh sixheel dump
27:31trucks, uh saddle tanks on bigger
27:34trucks. Uh but we'll be able to get out
27:37and get uh those roads pre-treated with
27:39the brine.
27:41>> Again, this is be great. The other last
27:43question I had was regarding the uh the
27:48pavement repair equipment. It said that
27:50DPW is working on um establishing a
27:54dedicated materials processing area. Is
27:57that how is that coming along or is will
28:00that be I'm sure I'm I'm sure it'll be
28:02ready to go by pothole season
28:06>> through the chair. Uh we anticipate
28:08according to our supplier that that'll
28:10be delivered in January. Okay.
28:11>> So we're preparing the site now uh so
28:14it'll be ready when that is delivered.
28:15>> That's great. I really appreciate uh you
28:18know your work in in the city manager's
28:20work on this and the whole uh city
28:21administration because we had some
28:23challenges last year and I think this
28:25new equipment and new strategies and
28:26training it will really help um and
28:28again but councelor economy said getting
28:30on the alert 311 wister um I do just
28:33want to continue to beat the drum for
28:35Indian lake neighborhood scrimmageor and
28:37mel and proctor uh proctor street we had
28:40some real challenges up there I know
28:41it's a challenging terrain uh but just
28:43want to continue to beat the drum for
28:45that neighborhood but really appreiate
28:46appreciate this report and I think we're
28:47going to be in much better shape this
28:48coming winter. Thank you.
28:50>> Thank you, Council Fo.
28:53>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you to
28:54the commissioner. Thank you for the
28:56report, Mr. Commissioner. And the one
28:58question I have is on the pavement
29:01uh recycler. I've been told that uh it
29:04is a gamecher. And uh I know last year
29:08we were going to East Boston during the
29:10winter and trying to pick up asphalt and
29:12by the time it got here uh unfortunately
29:15it wasn't as hot as it could have been
29:17and um you know issues with that. But uh
29:20if you could just touch upon this so the
29:22general public knows will that this
29:24allow us when when a pothole comes up uh
29:27and is reported we can go and u address
29:31it right away with this uh this program
29:33that you're putting in place. I I'm
29:35hoping that's the case in the winter
29:37months and uh if you could elaborate I'd
29:39appreciate it. Thank you
29:41>> through the chair. We do anticipate that
29:43this will be a gamecher for the DPW and
29:46for the city and provide for uh better
29:49quality of roads through the winter. Uh
29:51the city of Newton has such a machine.
29:54Uh we went out and we spoke to the folks
29:57there and we asked them how they would
29:59evaluate it and they said for them it is
30:01in fact a gamecher as you stated. What
30:04we were doing last year was sending
30:06trucks to East Boston. By the time they
30:09get to Boston and they get back, the
30:11material is not as hot as it could be or
30:13should be. Uh we've wasted over two
30:16hours of personnel and travel time. So,
30:19what we're going to be able to do is uh
30:21on a frequent basis is to take existing
30:26stockpile that we already have of
30:28recycled, mil um pavement. We're going
30:32to take that. We're going to put it into
30:33this batch plant. We're going to add
30:35additives to it, heat it up, and then
30:38what we're going to receive is uh
30:40something as though we went directly to
30:43the asphalt plant. It's going to be hot.
30:45It's going to be the temperature that we
30:46need. Uh so, it's going to be allow us
30:49to put hot mix into those potholes as
30:52opposed to cold patch, which uh it
30:55doesn't do the best job. So, we're gonna
30:57have hot mix. We're going to save time
30:59on the travel to and from Boston. Uh,
31:02and we're going to be able to uh recycle
31:05materials that we've got sitting around.
31:08>> Thank you, Mr.
31:09>> Thank you. The next speaker is Council
31:11Bergman.
31:13>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I'm going
31:15to try to focus very on two very
31:17specific uh parts of the report. One
31:21that I'm reading and one that I didn't
31:23see through through the uh chair to the
31:25commissioner.
31:27um C contractor rate adjustments for
31:302026 2027. So I think that that's
31:33important and I think that's a good
31:35thing. Um I'm assuming you haven't come
31:38up with what those adjustments are going
31:40to be or have you come up with them?
31:43They just for whatever reason preferably
31:47were not put on the report through the
31:48chair. That's my first question.
31:50>> Uh through the chair we have come up
31:52with our recommendation. We are uh
31:55positioning ourselves to be competitive
31:56with surrounding communities and mass
31:59DOT. Uh those recommendations are
32:02currently being reviewed by the budget
32:03office.
32:04>> So through the chair, what what season
32:07or time frame do notices usually go out
32:10to the contractors
32:11um asking them if they want to sign up
32:14to uh to snow to remove snow or use
32:17their snow plows for Worcester? Is it
32:19this time of year? Is it later in the
32:21season through the chair? uh through the
32:23chair. It's a combination of uh
32:26conversations that we've been having
32:27with some of our larger contractors uh
32:30through the summer. Um and we are
32:33gearing up to have our radio ad put on
32:36the radio. Uh we do have our website
32:40ready for those contractors who want to
32:43uh sign up. Now, the challenge that we
32:46have is that because insurance rates are
32:50so expensive, the contractors typically
32:52don't sign up until December 1st. Uh
32:55they typically get their insurance for
32:58December 1st through April 1st or April
33:0030th. Uh so, we're not going to see a
33:04lot of signups until uh the first week
33:07in December.
33:09>> Is that through the chair? Just a
33:10comment and another few questions. I've
33:13heard from a couple contractors who
33:15often plow for the city of Worester
33:16asking if there's going to be an
33:18increase in the in pay and I asked them
33:22why they need to know now and they had
33:24suggested to me they're in the process
33:25of making up their mind on whether or
33:27not they're going to be applying for
33:28Worcester or not. So if the timing is
33:30until December 1st then I guess I'm
33:32hearing uh information that may be not
33:35maybe it's selective and it's not the
33:37general consensus. So, I don't know if
33:38you'd have any comments on that through
33:40the chair or the commission.
33:41>> Commission.
33:41>> Uh through the chair, we anticipate to
33:44be back before the city council with our
33:46recommended rates at your next uh
33:50November meeting where it's a a
33:51combination agenda.
33:53>> Okay. And uh just a last series of
33:56questions on a on a category that
33:59probably is going to come as no
34:00surprise, one that has uh flustered me,
34:04if I can use a word, since I've been a
34:05city councelor, and that's the dynamic
34:08of the inspectors versus the
34:10supervisors. And I don't see any change
34:12in the report. And I'm assuming that's
34:14going to be the same system. So my
34:17question is, I'm not fighting the
34:19system. I've lost that battle. Um and I
34:21get that. But my question is, and I
34:23asked this last year too, is there going
34:25to be any change um in the process so
34:28that there'll be a recordkeeping some
34:32objective way of determining which
34:35streets, roads,
34:37avenues, whichever, however you want to
34:39describe the uh the road uh has to go
34:43has to be done again because the
34:45subcontractor didn't do a good job and
34:48the inspector and or supervisor had to
34:50come out. because it seems to me I've
34:52said this before um that happens because
34:54we had a whole list last year uh and I
34:57know through the chair to the
34:58commissioner there are various
35:00explanations however I am sure all those
35:02explanations um don't account for every
35:05excuse possible I'm sure there are some
35:08subcontractors who just don't do a good
35:10job gratefully or grateful as a city
35:13thankfully I should say vast majority do
35:15a great job but I want to know which
35:17ones aren't doing a good job because I
35:19can't believe only in government this
35:21could happen that they're going to get
35:22paid again to go back to fix the job
35:24they did poorly the first time. So, I'm
35:26just trying to find out what objective
35:28measure through the chair to the
35:29commissioner are we going to have, if
35:31any, that's going to be let us determine
35:33which streets have to be redone again by
35:36a subcontractor who didn't do the job
35:38properly the first time and if there is
35:40going to be an objective measure, what
35:42consequences will there be? So, I can
35:44repeat that. I know it's lengthy, but I
35:46think you've heard me say it before.
35:48>> Commissioner,
35:48>> uh through the chair, uh you'll notice
35:51that uh in the report, we're talking
35:53about a routing software integration.
35:55Yeah,
35:56>> essentially a GPS system which will be
35:59implemented for all of the city
36:01vehicles. And when we bring forward our
36:04recommendation for the rates for next
36:06season, you'll see two rates for
36:07privates. One rate is without GPS and
36:11the other rate which is more favorable
36:14uh is for those contractors that will be
36:16implementing GPS in their uh in their
36:20vehicles. So that's going to allow for
36:22two things. one, it's going to give the
36:25drivers uh turn byturn routes in a map
36:28that shows uh the routes and the roads
36:31that they're expected to cover. And
36:33those roads will be one color at the
36:36start of the shift and there'll be a
36:37second color as the roads are are
36:40completed. Um so that's the first thing.
36:44The second thing, so the first thing is
36:46that the the drivers will know exactly
36:48what's expected of them and where they
36:49need to go. Uh the second thing is that
36:51it's going to give us visibility into
36:53the routes so that we can uh either
36:56alert the drivers or the inspectors
36:58which roads were missed. Uh it's also
37:00going to give us a third benefit of when
37:04people call to ask when their road will
37:06be plowed or it wasn't plowed, we'll be
37:09able to look at the system to determine
37:11when it was plowed uh and when possibly
37:15it needs to be plowed again.
37:16>> Okay. So, I I appreciate the answer, but
37:17I go back to my two questions. If you're
37:20going to alert the drivers through this
37:22new software as to what roads are
37:24missed, what what documentation is it
37:27going to be so that those of us that are
37:30concerned about constituents calling
37:32about the same street storm after storm
37:34are going to know that that's the same
37:35driver that's not doing their job? How
37:37are we going to know that? Which means,
37:39how are you going to know that?
37:40>> Uh through the through the chair. Uh the
37:43system will be broken out for all of the
37:46different drivers, all the different
37:47routes. So driver X, uh we're going to
37:51know if they missed a road, number one,
37:53based on the system, and number two, if
37:55a phone call comes in suggesting that it
37:57was missed, we're going to be able to
37:59confirm whether it was or not and have a
38:01discussion with those contractors.
38:02>> Is that going to be documented through
38:04the chair somewhat? That's my question.
38:06>> Uh through the chair. I'm not sure if
38:10the system keeps a record like that, but
38:12if not, it's it's something that we're
38:15going to be able to know based on 311
38:17calls, based on our own inspection of
38:19the system and having that conversation.
38:21So lastly, if the system doesn't keep a
38:24record of that, but you know, through
38:26the sources you just mentioned, what are
38:28the consequences going to be for
38:29repetitive missed streets where the city
38:32has to pay twice, maybe three times for
38:34the same contractor to do this job right
38:36the first time, should have been done
38:38right the first time. What's the
38:39consequences?
38:40>> Uh through the chair, the first time
38:42it'll be uh conversation with the
38:44contractor to let them know that that's
38:46part of their their route and they'll be
38:47sent back to cover that route. If it's a
38:50continued uh if it's a continued problem
38:53with their performance, then the
38:54contractor probably won't be working
38:56with us for very long.
38:57>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
38:58Thank you, Mr. Commissioner.
39:00>> Thank you, Council Council Tumi.
39:02>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.
39:04>> Commissioner, thank you. Um, kind of
39:07going over uh the um
39:10uh contract to rates. It's my
39:12understanding that um I believe it's DOT
39:15already has theirs uh displayed today. I
39:18saw uh an I think it was
39:21>> through the chair. That is correct.
39:22>> So are we going to be competitive with
39:24that?
39:25>> Through the chair. Yes, we are.
39:26>> That was a pretty aggressive amount. So
39:30>> through the chair, we have uh taken into
39:33consideration the fact that Mass DOT has
39:36deeper pockets than does the city. Uh
39:38but also the fact that we need to be
39:40competitive and keep the contractors
39:43that we have who know the city and enjoy
39:46working for the city. Okay, thank you.
39:49Let's hope that works. And then um
39:52regarding the um rooting software
39:54integration, um I concur with my
39:57colleague um that it would be really
40:00good to be able to get reports um after
40:02each storm. Um so if that could be done,
40:07especially the the more um difficult
40:10storms, that would be helpful.
40:13Other than that, good job. Thank you.
40:16Thank you.
40:18>> Thank you, Council Mitra.
40:23>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. To you to the
40:24commissioner. Commissioner, thank you
40:26very much for this detailed uh report
40:28that you have given to us. Uh it seems
40:30like that uh based on what winter uh we
40:34had faced last year. you have really
40:35worked done a good uh background work
40:39and getting ready for probably the if we
40:43have another worst winter we're ready to
40:45go for it. Your remark here saying that
40:47we're going to give the our community a
40:50much safer winter this time really makes
40:52me feel very good because we're all uh
40:55like to see that it's safer during the
40:58winter. Couple of questions that I have.
41:00Um, you had mentioned last time that
41:03we'd like to have probably more storage
41:05for the salts, you know, than what we
41:08had last year. Is that being thought of?
41:12>> To you,
41:12>> through the chair, thanks to the
41:14appropriations that were made in the
41:16FY26
41:18budget. Uh, the DPW received $3 million.
41:23Uh, and with that, we are working. We're
41:26not going to have the new salt sheds
41:28built before this winter. Uh, but we're
41:30going to be positioned so that when this
41:32winter is over in the springtime, we're
41:34going to be able to raise the three salt
41:37sheds that we have, the two on Albany
41:39Street, the one on Clark Street, be able
41:41to raise those and replace those with uh
41:44they're actually called stretched fabric
41:46tents. Uh we're going to be able to
41:48replace those before next winter.
41:52>> Okay. uh to the chair uh to the
41:54commissioner. You mentioned that uh this
41:57winter we will have a minimum of nine
42:00trucks available for both uh
42:02pre-treatment and deicing. Uh we had
42:05three last year. So we're buying six new
42:08trucks
42:09>> through the chair. Uh we had the
42:11equipment that was delivered throughout
42:13last winter uh was being deployed on the
42:16vehicles. It wasn't ready. there was a
42:19lot of uh a lot of bugs to be worked out
42:22in the system, but we've spent all year
42:25preparing those trucks. So, we're going
42:26to have uh nine and potentially 10
42:29trucks to spread the brine.
42:32>> Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. To the
42:33chair. Couple of other questions I have.
42:35You said that since then the operation
42:38division has hired seven new CDL
42:41licensed operators. Can you just give me
42:43is my ignorance probably what is CDL
42:46license for the sake of our residents
42:48also to understand uh
42:50>> through the chair CDL stands for
42:52commercial driver's license and those
42:54are special licenses that you need to be
42:56able to drive trucks of a larger size uh
43:00to put it in layman's terms uh so we do
43:03have seven new licensed operators and I
43:05I just want to point something out uh
43:07one of the greatest victories that we
43:09had through this season in working with
43:11the human resources department. This
43:14time last year, the DPW had 54 vacancies
43:17and 16 of those were in the operations
43:19division. As of today, we only have 28
43:24vacancies, of which eight of those are
43:25in the operations division. So, uh just
43:28want to say thank you to the human
43:30resources and all the folks at the DPW
43:32that have worked very hard to fill those
43:35uh very important positions.
43:37>> Okay. Thank you. So, the chair, uh one
43:39more question. And I'm excited about the
43:41you know routing software integration
43:43but you are saying it we are still in
43:45the procurement process and not quite
43:48sure that you'll have it before the
43:49winter begins or um the software will be
43:53available. Everybody will be trained how
43:54to use it.
43:56>> Uh through the
43:57>> I'm terribly sorry. Uh through the chair
44:00we expect to have that up and
44:02operational for the city vehicles uh at
44:06the beginning of the winter. Uh so the
44:09procurement process is going to take a
44:11little more time. Uh but we've been
44:13working with the vendor. Uh we've been
44:15setting up, they've told us what they
44:17need for routing. Uh so we've been
44:19setting up those routes for our trucks
44:22so that we're well positioned so that
44:24when the procurement process is
44:25complete, we'll be able to implement
44:27that right away.
44:29>> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Commissioner. through
44:31the chair. My last question based on
44:34last year's winter, if I remember, many
44:37of our residents came and said that the
44:40snow was piled up at the corner of the
44:42intersection of streets and they were so
44:44high that we had difficulty seeing the
44:46left and right side about the traffic. I
44:49am always of the opinion that we should
44:51have a standardized process of how much
44:53the height of the snow should be, how
44:56narrow the roads should be in the winter
44:58because some complain residents are
45:00complaining that our roads are so
45:01narrow. So I'd like to see that do you
45:04have a standardized process set up that
45:06well on the corner of the streets we
45:08will only have two feet of snow gathered
45:11or three feet something that we can all
45:13work together with and not different at
45:16different spaces. So I'd like to see
45:17that you set up that standard. If you
45:19don't have it, I'm okay. But I'd like to
45:20suggest that we do so. So we know that
45:23we're following a particular policy that
45:25is required for the any city that we
45:27follow this policy. That will be my
45:29suggestion through the chair to you
45:31commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
45:33>> Uh through the chair, uh a couple of
45:35things. One, you'll see on our equipment
45:38that's coming. We do have a second
45:41loader mounted snowblower which is going
45:43going to be delivered. Uh that's going
45:45to assist with uh when we doing snow
45:48removal from uh roadways, edge of curb,
45:52intersections that will help us to more
45:54readily and easily remove the snow from
45:57those intersections that you spoke of.
46:00Um we've also got the new loader that's
46:02coming which of course on a loader
46:05mounted snowblower will have that that
46:07additional loader. Uh but one of the
46:09things that you touched upon was the
46:11fact that roadways uh were were narrow
46:14last year and we agree that that is a
46:17concern. So we've done two things. One,
46:20we met with the uh PL the uh excuse me
46:23the towing contractors uh early in the
46:26summer uh to lay out the challenges that
46:29we had with the program uh and they
46:32shared some things that we have
46:33implemented into our processes. So, we
46:36believe that the the towing program uh
46:39for those illegally parked cars will be
46:42much more efficient and effective this
46:44year so that we're able to get our plows
46:45and our bigger trucks down those side
46:47roads. And the city is going to be
46:49embarking on an education program in the
46:53next couple of weeks uh that will
46:55include videos that we've created with
46:59the DPW and the fire department to show
47:01the importance of keeping vehicles uh
47:04off the road during storms and obeying
47:06the parking bans uh so that we can get
47:09emergency vehicles and plows down those
47:11roads. We're also going to be issuing uh
47:15these uh they're they're not tickets,
47:17but they'reformational
47:19uh pieces that we're going to be putting
47:21on cars starting in the next couple of
47:23weeks. So that folks that are either
47:25parked within 20 ft of an intersection
47:28or uh within 12 ft of the opposite side
47:32of the road or 10 feet closer to
47:35hydrants. all this information. We're
47:37going to start a public education
47:39program so that folks when winter does
47:41come, the information will be out there
47:43and the residents will be better
47:44informed as to what's expected during
47:47the winter and why it's important to
47:49follow parking bands.
47:52>> Thank
47:54you. We have councelor Rosen.
48:01>> Thank you, Mr. Chim.
48:04For those of us who have been around a
48:05long time, this is probably the best
48:08report we've had dealing with winter
48:11operations. It's one of many over the
48:14years.
48:14>> Thank you.
48:15>> And you know, the proof will be in the
48:17pudding. We hope it works. So often, I
48:21know you've only been around a couple of
48:22years here in Worcester, but so often
48:24those of us who have been around a lot
48:25longer feel like Charlie Brown that uh
48:30they say, "Here's the football. Now you
48:33can run and you can kick that football
48:36and it's going to go a long way. And
48:38Charlie Brown believes him all the time.
48:41And that's what's been happening in
48:42Worcester with the city council over the
48:44years. We go for that football. We run
48:46up to it. This time it's going to be
48:48different. We know it. It's going to be
48:51different cuz why? This report says it's
48:54going to be different. So we know it's
48:56going to be different. And Charlie Brown
48:58believes that. And even though he's been
49:00disappointed and hurt because when he
49:02when Lucy Lucy pulls away the football,
49:05Charlie Brown lands on his behind his
49:08back and he's hurt. And the same thing
49:13continues year after year. So I I I like
49:15the report. I like everything you've
49:17said in it. And I can't wait for the
49:20discussion in March, I guess, when kind
49:23of the winter's over. Okay. And I'll be
49:25the first one to say to you,
49:26congratulations. This report is good. It
49:29did work. It's got a lot of great stuff
49:30in it. It's the best I've seen, the best
49:32approach. Things have to be better, I
49:35know, than last year, but we still have
49:37a ways to go in Worcester when it comes
49:39to our winter operations. This deals
49:42with so much of it. Uh I've always had a
49:45question on the brine program. I, you
49:48know, sometimes I'll look at all these
49:50hills and I figure, oh, the brine
49:51program, we're going to treat all the
49:53Worcester at Seven Hills and more. And I
49:57don't know if that's the case. And if it
49:58is the case, I don't know which hills
50:00are treated and which aren't treated.
50:02And sometimes there are main drags. I'm
50:04driving down Chandler Street looking for
50:05that little pattern you can see when you
50:08know they brand it and I say, "Oh, it's
50:09not here." Well, I I'll look on Pleasant
50:11Street. I'll look on Park. So, I just
50:13don't know how we in Worcester, how you
50:16folks dealing with the winter
50:17operations. You choose the streets to do
50:20the brining. And I guess now you'll be
50:22able to do more streets like I'm
50:24suggesting because you have the more
50:26equipment and we've had training and
50:27maybe have more personnel and so on. But
50:30how do we choose these streets? When I
50:31look at RenaM Road, which is near Tatnik
50:34Square, I mean it goes like this, right?
50:37I I wonder if that's I mean that to me
50:39would be yeah, we have to brine that. So
50:42how do you choose these through the
50:43chair to the commissioner?
50:45>> Through the chair. Uh thank you for your
50:46kind words. Uh, and with regard to the
50:48the report, a lot of this comes from the
50:52strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
50:54and threats assessment that we did with
50:56our folks last spring, uh, the SWAT
50:58analysis. Uh, that brought out a lot of
51:01the challenges that we had in the DPW
51:06with our winter program. So, uh, this is
51:08geared to addressing many of those
51:11issues that we had. And I want to thank
51:13uh the city council and the city manager
51:15for hearing the needs and for supporting
51:18the DPW. Uh with regard to the brine,
51:21yes, we will have more equipment. We'll
51:23have better training. Uh we're actually
51:26bringing in uh the folks from UMass once
51:29again this year to train our folks on
51:31that brine system. Um and what we're
51:34doing now is we're laying out those
51:35routes where the brine will be deployed.
51:38And the the benefit of brine uh when you
51:41see those lines on the roadway uh we can
51:44put those down several days in advance.
51:46So if we know a storm's coming and the
51:48weather conditions are appropriate, we
51:50can get out and we can pre-treat those
51:52roads well in advance. So we're not
51:55subject to what we were uh in the recent
51:58past where snow is falling, we need to
52:00get the salt out. We're able to do a
52:02much better job in uh in advance of
52:05those storms. So we're putting those
52:06roots together now. And you through the
52:08chair, you think the brine does a good
52:09job once we do apply it weather
52:11conditions, you know, being favorable.
52:14It does a good job. It actually
52:16accomplishes, I guess, lowering the
52:18melting point of that snow and getting
52:19it to melt.
52:20>> Uh through the chair, uh former
52:23chemistry teacher, I can tell uh when
52:25you put it down at that 23.3% salinity,
52:29it does a fantastic job. It's it's been
52:31proven. Uh Mass DOT uses it, larger
52:34communities use it, smaller communities
52:36use it. It's used as a very effective
52:38measure. It's also good for posttorm. Uh
52:42when we were in last February and March
52:45when we first had the system, uh we went
52:47out to Mil Street which had a lot of
52:49pack on the roadway. Uh we were able to
52:51put that material down and within 15
52:54minutes it turned from hard pack to a
52:56mealy substance that we could plow off
52:58the road readily. So it does have uh its
53:01its uses and it's very effective when
53:04you put it down under the right
53:06conditions.
53:07>> And through the chair to the
53:08commissioner, you just mentioned Milt
53:09Street. Is that a difficult street to
53:11plow where we have some of those posts
53:13still sticking up and we have cars maybe
53:15parked kind of in the middle of the
53:17road. I don't want to get into a whole
53:18discussion on Procon on Mil Street and
53:20the traffic patterns there. But for
53:22plowing, is that is that has that been a
53:24problem?
53:25>> Commissioner
53:26>> through the chair. Uh the cars parked on
53:28the side of the road make it no more
53:29challenging than other roads in the city
53:31that have cars parked on the side. Uh
53:34the issue that we had uh the greatest
53:37challenge with is those uh
53:41vinyl or plastic pylons uh because those
53:44could not be removed. Uh we didn't have
53:47uh much of an ability to remove the snow
53:49from around those. Uh this year we will
53:52have as I mentioned we're going to have
53:54uh new machines that will help us to be
53:57able to get out there but that will
53:58still be a challenge for us around those
54:01pylons through the chair on Mil Street.
54:04So if most of those boxes kind of in the
54:07middle of the road where cars park if
54:09they're empty because maybe folks are at
54:11work do we plow the parking spots for
54:13them or do we plow just that one lane on
54:16each side that traffic lane?
54:18Commissioner
54:18>> through the chair. If there's a stretch
54:20where there are no cars, the plow will
54:22go back and it will push the snow from
54:24that area. Uh but if it's uh
54:28just one gap between multiple cars,
54:31we're not likely to go back and be able
54:32to push that effect.
54:33>> And we threw the chair on Mil Street. So
54:35my right that if I was parked couple of
54:37cars were parked in the middle there
54:38along Mil Street, the plow might really
54:40plow my car in even more so than than
54:43you might expect on other streets. uh
54:46through the chair. I don't think that
54:47it's going to be any more I I didn't
54:50witness it last year anymore than any
54:52other street that has cars parked along
54:54the edge of the travel way. Uh the plows
54:57go through. They can angle uh
55:00potentially to the left. So if cars are
55:02parked on the right, they can
55:03potentially angle to the left if they
55:06are of a a size that can be articulated.
55:09But a lot of the larger trucks are fixed
55:11plows, so they can't articulate left or
55:14right. So there's no choice but to move
55:16that snow to the right.
55:17>> I fully understand through the chair
55:19that to the commissioner that uh might
55:21be kind of dangerous. I mean I can
55:22shovel out my car in front of my house
55:24if I'm parked in the road parked on Mil
55:26Street in the middle and then shoveling
55:28out my car. It could be a little
55:29dangerous. There's there's not a lot of
55:31space between my parked car, the snow
55:33bank that's along there and the travel
55:36lane. So just could be dangerous to be
55:38shoveling out your car. Say on June
55:40Street you're on the curb little safer.
55:43That's all I'm saying. Okay, this may
55:45not be a city of Worcester problem, but
55:47it's a big problem for the residents in
55:49the city of Worcester and that is
55:51through the chair to the commissioner
55:52that is the bus stops. Now, I guess most
55:55of the bus stops are under the opices of
55:57the WRTA,
55:59but we know that so often since our
56:02people are doing the plowing, not the
56:04WRTA, those bus stops can be really
56:07plowed in, they're not accessible. So,
56:10where do you go? I mean, the bus is
56:11going to come. I can't be, you know, a
56:13mile down the road at some place where
56:16there's no bus stop trying to wave down
56:18the bus. I can't make it over the
56:20banking. Do we as a city, I'll ask the
56:23commissioner, I won't ask the city
56:25manager. I ask the commissioner this
56:26honest question. Do we as a city have
56:28any responsibility to the people who
56:30take the bus? And there's a lot of them
56:31now. We have free busing and a lot of
56:33buses are kind of filled now. People are
56:35kind of seeing that it's advantageous to
56:38take the free bus here in Worcester. So,
56:40do we have a responsibility to try to
56:41clear some of those out? I know you got
56:43your hands full here and you got a lot
56:45to do and you're doing great that way
56:46and so on. But what about those bus
56:49stops? Someone's going to get hurt in
56:51the future. Through the chair,
56:52>> commissioner,
56:53>> through the chair. Uh, we do have a
56:55responsibility to work with the WRTA. It
56:58is their responsibility. I know that we
57:00have representatives on their board. Uh,
57:02and those conversations can and should
57:04occur before wintertime so that we can
57:07get buyin from them. uh after we clear
57:11nearly 500 miles of road uh if we have
57:15the ability and the folks that are still
57:17able uh to go out uh we can assist uh
57:21but that that responsibility should rest
57:23with the WRTA.
57:26>> Okay. And I think you've already said
57:28that through the chair that we're going
57:29to kind of fill potholes as needed this
57:31year. We've never been able to do that
57:33in the past and they've certainly
57:35mounted up and we couldn't get the right
57:37hot hatch and so on. So, I'm glad of
57:39that. And I I know there's one person in
57:41the city who's glad you're going to fill
57:43those potholes
57:45as needed.
57:47He didn't he didn't come down tonight,
57:49but you know what I mean, right? He
57:51usually talks about the potholes. Okay.
57:54So, if we can get them all filled as
57:56needed, he won't have to come down
57:58anymore. My my my final question is
58:01this. City sidewalks. I mean, let's take
58:04the one on Pleasant Street along the
58:06Newton Square. There's the maybe there's
58:08a still stonewall. I don't mean Highland
58:10Street. I mean Pleasant Street, past the
58:12tennis courts, past the little uh house
58:15we have for the fixing Newton Hill and
58:17so on dealing with Newton Hill. So, that
58:19whole long stretch right down to Park A,
58:21city sidewalk there. It seems to me it's
58:24not always plowed. Whose responsibility
58:26is that? Is that the DPW in front of
58:29Darity High? I'm guessing it's the
58:31school department, but and this isn't
58:34the only side, just one I could think of
58:36because I go by it all the time. How do
58:38we get that plowed all the time? Is that
58:39something that we can't always do?
58:41What's the situation there through the
58:43chair?
58:43>> Commissioner,
58:44>> uh through the chair, uh as is mentioned
58:47in the report, uh under equipment, we do
58:49have four new sidewalk machines coming.
58:52Uh two of those are standon. So you
58:55stand on the back and it's either has a
58:58an articulating plow or a snowblower.
59:01And that those those machines they have
59:03the benefit of they're only 34 in wide
59:06so they can squeeze uh between
59:08obstructions and they can go on more
59:10narrow sidewalks. Um we've also got two
59:13trackless machines which are
59:15articulating machines with a cabin. Uh
59:19so we're going to be better positioned
59:21to be able to address those sidewalks
59:23that are the city's responsibility.
59:25>> And final question to the chair. So when
59:27a a home a homeowner or even a renter I
59:30guess when any resident of Worcester has
59:33problem with the plowing on their street
59:36on their hill front of their house
59:40who should they call who is better 311
59:44or a city councelor?
59:47uh through the chair. Um 311 is the best
59:51uh the best.
59:52>> Okay. I want to make sure the people
59:53watching hear that 311. They will get
59:56better, faster service because a lot of
59:59us will wind up calling 311.
1:00:01>> That's right. And the number for 311 is
1:00:04311.
1:00:04>> Oh, that was that's very good that we
1:00:06chose that.
1:00:06>> Uh the reason that that's the better
1:00:08call is that uh those calls are all
1:00:12logged and the log and the reports go to
1:00:15the DPW. So, we have something to go off
1:00:17when we're looking at which areas need
1:00:20to be addressed. Um, so there's there's
1:00:22better accountability there. And credit
1:00:25to Commissioner Goodwin and his team.
1:00:27They're going to be assisting with uh
1:00:29the the logging of those calls and the
1:00:31close out of those calls. So, there'll
1:00:33be much better coordination this year so
1:00:34we we have a better understanding of
1:00:37where we need to focus our our assets.
1:00:40>> That's great news. And Mr. chairman just
1:00:42and the city manager and the
1:00:44commissioner great report and as I said
1:00:46at the beginning let's just hope it
1:00:47works we'll know probably in March but I
1:00:49have a lot of faith in you and the whole
1:00:51team down there so you know do well and
1:00:54I'm glad that the budget hearings were
1:00:56you know helpful to DPW and get all this
1:00:59work done now thank you
1:01:00>> thank you we have councelor Rivera
1:01:06>> definitely going to be quick because
1:01:08everybody answered all the questions u
1:01:10through the chair
1:01:11to Commissioner Wester Lynn. First of
1:01:13all, reports outstanding. So, we're also
1:01:16getting praises on the reports and
1:01:17obviously we we want to expect good
1:01:21services. One thing I want to stress
1:01:23because I keep hearing in the
1:01:24neighborhood meetings that the city
1:01:25administration is not very productive or
1:01:29good on listening to the residents. But
1:01:32I want to say based on our email
1:01:34conversations that I thank you for
1:01:36taking the time to respond to the emails
1:01:38and also take into considerations the
1:01:40neighbors concerns on on how to deal
1:01:43with certain snow plows uh snow plowing
1:01:46um streets on certain streets on certain
1:01:49you know and you know what what I'm
1:01:50talking about. But that's very
1:01:51important. I appreciate it because I
1:01:53want to specify when the city
1:01:55administration is listening to the
1:01:57residents um then I think it's important
1:02:00that they they they learn that that is
1:02:02happening and and and I'm witness to
1:02:04that.
1:02:05>> Thank you. Another question is um
1:02:10through the chair to the commissioner. I
1:02:12put in an order. I don't I actually
1:02:14don't know which committee is in now and
1:02:16I'm hoping that it's taken care of
1:02:17before
1:02:19the snowing starts on when the um
1:02:23residents who are in charge of the fire
1:02:25hydrants are not shoveling the fire
1:02:27hydrants. It's going to be as an
1:02:29enforcement order with some teeth. Um,
1:02:32who who's responsible to give those
1:02:34tickets out? Um, would that be part of
1:02:36DPW, um, DTM, police department? Um,
1:02:42>> through the chair, if you'll forgive me,
1:02:44I missed the your your question. Who's
1:02:46responsible for
1:02:47>> who would be who would be the ones
1:02:48responsible for
1:02:51enforcing the not shoveling the fire
1:02:53hydrants? Um, through the new order that
1:02:56I put in
1:02:57>> uh through the chair. So uh if uh
1:03:00hydrant is identified as not being
1:03:03cleared out which is the responsibility
1:03:05of a butters uh then the enforcement
1:03:08would come from a combination of the the
1:03:12uh the inspectional services and the
1:03:14DPW. But it's important to stress that
1:03:18not only is it the responsibility of a
1:03:20butters, but it's also in a butter's uh
1:03:22best interest should there be a fire. If
1:03:26the fire department has to show up and
1:03:27either look for another hydrant or
1:03:29shovel out a hydrant, that's valuable
1:03:31time that's lost and can mean the
1:03:32difference between saving a structure
1:03:34and losing a structure.
1:03:36>> I agree. That's why I hope that uh
1:03:38whichever committee this order is in, it
1:03:40gets heard and taken care of before
1:03:42winter starts. Thank you.
1:03:46Okay.
1:03:48Not yet. Nope. We get Contra Oha.
1:03:55>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, yes, I
1:03:57agree with the report. It's good report.
1:03:59Just have a quick question uh through
1:04:01the chair to the uh commissioner. I know
1:04:04we talked about data and um being able
1:04:08to use
1:04:10the routing software in integration. Um
1:04:14is there a way or would we be able to
1:04:16notify the current or the new drivers
1:04:20some of the unique issues that we have
1:04:21in certain neighborhoods that we've had
1:04:23in the past? How do we know let them
1:04:25know now? I don't want this to be a
1:04:27system where we have to update it as we
1:04:30go without giving information in
1:04:32advance. You know, you understand what
1:04:33I'm saying?
1:04:34>> So, is that something that we're looking
1:04:36forward uh being able to put into the
1:04:39system? If it's if you can't put in the
1:04:41system, is it able to put a note like
1:04:44certain streets um need to be plowed to
1:04:46the left versus to the right? I know
1:04:48there sometimes you you had mentioned
1:04:49the the vehicles can only plow to the
1:04:51left and if parking is only allowed on
1:04:53the left and it's plowing to left, it's
1:04:54plowing everybody in. So, are we using
1:04:58last year's
1:05:00information to to to um notify a lot of
1:05:03the drivers that'll be doing the work
1:05:05this year?
1:05:06>> Uh through the chair, two things. Uh one
1:05:09of the items that we need to update in
1:05:12the report or news since the report was
1:05:15prepared. Uh you saw in here that we're
1:05:17doing training. Uh the training that
1:05:20we've set up uh to date has been on
1:05:23sweepers and loaders and back hoes, but
1:05:26this past weekend we set up uh plow
1:05:29routes over at the former Price Chopper
1:05:33on uh
1:05:35>> Cambridge Street.
1:05:37>> Cambridge Street.
1:05:37>> Cambridge Street. Yes. Uh so we're we've
1:05:39got our uh our experienced drivers who
1:05:43are training the new drivers on exactly
1:05:46how to operate a plow safely. But that
1:05:49institutional knowledge, I'll give
1:05:51credit to the city uh as being a good
1:05:54employer because we've got folks who
1:05:56have been with the city for their entire
1:05:58careers. Uh and that institutional
1:06:00knowledge uh every year is shared with
1:06:03the newer drivers uh for the first storm
1:06:06or two. Not only have the folks been
1:06:08trained on uh non snow routes, but
1:06:13they're also uh going to be going out
1:06:14with experienced drivers who will show
1:06:17those areas that are uh need special
1:06:20attention.
1:06:20>> Thank you. Lastly, through the chair, to
1:06:22the commissioner um and and I just hope
1:06:24that we also connect with 311.
1:06:26Obviously, it was mentioned earlier, but
1:06:28301 will be able to give you some more
1:06:30data on which ones were those problem
1:06:32streets. We had a resident here during
1:06:34the winter storms, during the winter
1:06:36months, saying that their street never
1:06:37got touched and it's been an issue going
1:06:39on for many, many, many years. So, those
1:06:41are the things I want to be able to
1:06:42avoid.
1:06:42>> Um, especially when we hit the ground
1:06:44running. It sounds like we will, but
1:06:47>> these little um concerns and issues that
1:06:50may not be in the system when a driver
1:06:52has it up on up on his list of roads to
1:06:55do, does not know how um intrinsic some
1:06:58of these um streets can be.
1:07:01So, thank you. Thank you.
1:07:03>> Thank you,
1:07:07>> Council King.
1:07:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh just have a
1:07:13a couple of questions. One first through
1:07:15the chair um to the administration. Uh I
1:07:19know we you talked a little bit about
1:07:21increase in staffing um or hires, people
1:07:24who are on boarded um through the chair
1:07:26administration. Can you share um how
1:07:30many folks we are above um the um
1:07:37positions that we had last year? Um so
1:07:41if we had 10 total positions, are we now
1:07:44at 20? Um what is the um exact numbers
1:07:48through chair?
1:07:49>> Uh through the chair the the number of
1:07:52positions has not changed. Um, as I uh
1:07:56mentioned, as of this time last year,
1:07:58there were 54 vacancies in the DPW. 16
1:08:01of those are in operations. And I
1:08:03mention operations because that's where
1:08:04the the primary uh number of uh plow
1:08:08drivers and and snow snow fighters come
1:08:11from. As of today, uh the same number of
1:08:16of uh positions we have, we're down to
1:08:1928 vacancies and eight of those are in
1:08:21the operations team.
1:08:24So, we've increased the capacity for
1:08:26operations, which deals with the snow,
1:08:29is that what you're saying? By eight.
1:08:30>> That's correct.
1:08:32>> Okay. Um, and are those numbers been
1:08:35relatively uh the vacancies has it been
1:08:37relatively consistent over the over your
1:08:39time here? I don't know how many years
1:08:41you've been here now. I don't know if
1:08:41it's two or three.
1:08:42>> Uh, through the chair, no. those those
1:08:45numbers, the vacancy rate has been uh in
1:08:48the 50s for my term here and it's only
1:08:50been we're going on a year and three
1:08:53quarters. Uh so it's been in the 50s. Uh
1:08:56but uh the city manager's office and the
1:08:59human resources office and the folks at
1:09:00DPW have made a concerted effort to
1:09:03bring that vacancy rate down
1:09:05considerably.
1:09:07>> And through the chair, so now we're in
1:09:08our 30s. Is that what it is?
1:09:10>> 28 vacancies as of this morning.
1:09:12>> Okay. 30-ish. Um thank you very much. Um
1:09:17through the chair to the administration
1:09:19if you could um explain to me um the
1:09:23position I call it the guy watching the
1:09:25guy uh the supervisory position um where
1:09:30my understanding is they're in the car
1:09:32with I don't know if you could just
1:09:34explain that please through the chair
1:09:36what that position is what exactly that
1:09:39uh supervisor does. Um and yes, please
1:09:44>> uh through the chair uh the DPW, we have
1:09:48uh a number of inspectors that are out
1:09:50on the road. Uh each team of inspectors
1:09:54what their responsibility is to do two
1:09:56things is to monitor the actual vehicles
1:10:00that are plowing on the routes that
1:10:01they're in charge of. Uh inspecting to
1:10:04make sure that they're doing their job.
1:10:06Uh and secondly, when 311 gets calls,
1:10:10when the DPW gets calls, those calls are
1:10:13put out to the inspectors so that they
1:10:16can uh take the resources that they have
1:10:18available to them on their routes and
1:10:20deploy them to those areas uh that need
1:10:22help.
1:10:23>> And through chair to the administration,
1:10:25um if you could explain, is it is it a
1:10:27ride along? Is it two people in a car?
1:10:29What what does that look like? Um so the
1:10:31public can understand
1:10:33the chair. through the chair. Uh each
1:10:35team uh is essentially a driver and
1:10:38someone who's monitoring both uh the
1:10:41iPads. In this case, they'll also have
1:10:43the GPS uh with them and they're also
1:10:46monitoring the radio and the telephone
1:10:48so that they can be in communication
1:10:50while the driver is driving safely in uh
1:10:53dangerous conditions.
1:10:55>> And that position is called what?
1:10:57Through the chair.
1:10:58>> Uh through the chair. Those are the
1:11:00inspectors.
1:11:01>> And how many do we have?
1:11:03uh through the chair. I'd have to get
1:11:05back to you on that, but we're we're
1:11:07evaluating that considering the fact
1:11:09that we're going to have a GPS system
1:11:11which is going to make uh the need to be
1:11:14uh boots on the ground and eyes on the
1:11:17roots. We're evaluating that that to see
1:11:20if we can make adjustments there uh to
1:11:22reduce that number.
1:11:24>> Through chair to the administration, do
1:11:26we have an idea what that number is
1:11:28inspectors
1:11:30>> through the chair? I I don't I don't
1:11:32want to guess.
1:11:32>> 100.
1:11:33>> No, it's
1:11:34>> hundreds.
1:11:34>> It's closer to 40.
1:11:36>> Okay. Um Mr. Chairman, I I would just
1:11:39suggest um that given the challenges we
1:11:43have with personnel um that we figure
1:11:45out a different way uh to use those
1:11:48folks. I call it the guy watching the
1:11:50guy or the person watching the person if
1:11:52it's a a woman or or someone who's
1:11:55identifies differently. Um it just seems
1:11:58on the face of it that we could do
1:12:00better um as relates to that sort of
1:12:03deployment. Mr. Chairman, through the
1:12:04chair, um the question I do have that
1:12:08sticks with me is um one of the things
1:12:10I've talked about over time, I
1:12:11appreciate, you know, purchasing new
1:12:13equipment, etc. We do that almost yearly
1:12:17for the last 10 years at least. Um and
1:12:19particularly when we have less snow. Um
1:12:22and I've always questioned our usage. um
1:12:26how often are we using these things? So
1:12:29we are increasing staffing by eight and
1:12:32we have um a number of vehicles coming
1:12:34in. Uh we have a number of new
1:12:36equipment. So my question to the chair
1:12:38to the administration is how are we
1:12:39evaluating usage of equipment? How does
1:12:43that happen given the the staffing?
1:12:46Commissioner
1:12:47>> through the chair. Uh when we have all
1:12:50pieces of equipment that are not broken
1:12:52down either just before the storm or
1:12:55during a storm, uh we have about a 1:1
1:12:58ratio when everybody
1:13:02comes to work the storm and that's one
1:13:05of the things that we're working on. Uh
1:13:07to date overtime is a voluntary process.
1:13:10Of course,
1:13:11>> we cannot do our jobs without those uh
1:13:15hardworking men and women coming in
1:13:17during storms. So, we're working with
1:13:19the union to see how we can further
1:13:21incentivize that this year. Uh but when
1:13:23everybody comes in, uh it's nearly a
1:13:26one:1 ratio for the the plow equipment,
1:13:29the Brian equipment to the personnel.
1:13:32>> Mr. Chairman, I know in the past I'd
1:13:33asked for some information relative to
1:13:36um the usage of of uh equipment. Um, I
1:13:39hope to get that back in some time. I'll
1:13:41I'll take another look at that order.
1:13:43But, um, you know, I'm I'm I'm sort of
1:13:46allowing the the thought process of
1:13:48councelor Rosen and um really looking
1:13:51forward to seeing this come to fruition.
1:13:54Um, as it relates to all this and making
1:13:57sure that we're spending our money
1:13:58wisely. Um, through the chair to
1:14:00administration, really quickly, how many
1:14:02additional um trucks or vehicles are we
1:14:05looking at? Uh through the through the
1:14:07chair, we have seven new six wheel dump
1:14:09trucks with wing plows, which by the
1:14:11way, the city has never had wing plows.
1:14:13Uh a truck with a wing plow, one truck,
1:14:16and one driver is able to do the work of
1:14:18two trucks and two drivers. So, we have
1:14:20seven new six-heel dump trucks with wing
1:14:22plows. We have one loader mounted
1:14:24snowblower, we have one new loader, and
1:14:26four new sidewalk machines.
1:14:31>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No
1:14:32further questions. Okay, Council Carmel.
1:14:36>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I won't
1:14:38belabor the point, but again, I just
1:14:41want to say thank you to the
1:14:42commissioner for coming forward with
1:14:43this report. You've obviously heard us,
1:14:46the city manager, you've heard us all um
1:14:50in the last few months after last
1:14:52winter, and I feel I feel we're set up
1:14:54for success going forward. Um, I know
1:14:57the men and women are dedicated and I
1:14:59would encourage my colleagues on the
1:15:00city council or those out in in the
1:15:02public too when it comes to uh the
1:15:05pothole repair process uh with that
1:15:08small batch asphalt plant. Um, American
1:15:12Paving Solution, uh, American Pavement
1:15:15Specialist. There's a YouTube video.
1:15:18They have one of those down in Danbury,
1:15:20Connecticut. Um, and they were able to
1:15:23pave a subdivision in uh, I think it was
1:15:27in December and they only did it just to
1:15:29make the point that they can, they don't
1:15:32want to, but I think that will be a
1:15:34gamecher in our arsenal as well as we go
1:15:37forward. So, thank you both.
1:15:38>> Commissioner, thank you through the
1:15:40chair. I just want to say thank you for
1:15:41the kind words. Uh, the report is merely
1:15:43an indication of all the hard work by
1:15:45the men and women that have worked since
1:15:47last winter to bring us to this point.
1:15:49we're in a much better position for this
1:15:51winter. Thank you.
1:15:51>> Thank you, Commissioner. It was a nice
1:15:52report. Look forward to the
1:15:54implementation and uh see how it goes.
1:15:56And uh I'd like to say I remember we had
1:15:59over 90 vacancies at one time in the
1:16:01DPW. Now we're done. Now we're down
1:16:0528. Yeah.
1:16:07>> So you did a good job hiring. Good job.
1:16:11Okay.
1:16:13Send of public works. All those in favor
1:16:15oppos. So audited. Recommend adoption of
1:16:17Central Square Technology 5-year
1:16:19contract. Roll call.
1:16:21>> Councelor Bergman.
1:16:22>> Yes.
1:16:23>> Bada.
1:16:25>> Yes.
1:16:26>> Economo.
1:16:27>> Yes.
1:16:27>> Zolo.
1:16:28>> Yes.
1:16:28>> King.
1:16:29>> Yes.
1:16:30>> Mitra.
1:16:30>> Yes.
1:16:32>> Yes.
1:16:32>> Counc.
1:16:33>> Yes.
1:16:34>> Rosen.
1:16:34>> Yes.
1:16:35>> Tumi.
1:16:36>> Yes.
1:16:36>> Hey. Mayor Petty.
1:16:37>> Yes. Transferring information
1:16:38communication of the DPW fall leaf
1:16:41collection starting next month. send
1:16:44that out to public works
1:16:46before I do so. Council O'Hara,
1:16:48>> thank you.
1:16:50>> I'll try to be quick. Uh I guess
1:16:53Commissioner
1:17:04>> Thank you. uh through the chair to the
1:17:07commissioner on
1:17:10the fall leaf collection. It says sites
1:17:12will stay open in December until
1:17:13Christmas tree drop off weather
1:17:15permitting. So usually to the ch to the
1:17:17commissioner usually this closes in
1:17:20November. Is that correct or has this
1:17:22always been open till
1:17:24>> commissioner?
1:17:24>> This time of the year that time of the
1:17:26year.
1:17:27>> Uh through the chair that's typical of
1:17:29what the schedule is.
1:17:30>> Okay. And then um
1:17:34I know last year we've had some issues
1:17:35in the district where um maybe the snow
1:17:39came right before some of the leaf drop
1:17:41off uh before the leaf cleanup came and
1:17:44um it had stayed there for a while um
1:17:48and it had got real hard and I guess we
1:17:50just didn't have the the tools or the
1:17:51machines to um get back to it through
1:17:54the chair to the commissioner. Is there
1:17:56is that going to be an issue this year?
1:17:57Do you know especially with the new
1:17:59machines we got coming? I'm not sure
1:18:01>> commissioner
1:18:02>> uh through the chair. Um we are last
1:18:06year we did have a snowstorm that came
1:18:08before we were able to complete the
1:18:09roots. I think we had two additional
1:18:11days that we had to go back out. Uh but
1:18:14we've got the equipment where if we miss
1:18:16something, it's not going to stay there
1:18:18as long as we have a break in the snow
1:18:20removal operations. Uh we've got the
1:18:23equipment where we can go out and remove
1:18:25it whether it's frozen to the to the
1:18:26ground or not. Uh, so I wouldn't be
1:18:29concerned about that.
1:18:33>> Okay. Thank you. And just one last thing
1:18:36quickly reading through the um outreach
1:18:39communications.
1:18:42I don't see I could be wrong. um really
1:18:45quickly, but um I don't see where it
1:18:48says um if we're adding this to the
1:18:50Whistler public schools, if we're going
1:18:52to send it through there um through the
1:18:55students or through the through the
1:18:56schools to share along with their
1:18:58parents
1:18:59>> uh through the chair. That's an
1:19:00excellent point. We can share uh the
1:19:04program overview with the maps and the
1:19:06flyers with the the school department so
1:19:09that they can share that and distribute
1:19:11that through their school system. That's
1:19:13an excellent point.
1:19:14>> Okay. Okay, thank you. That's it.
1:19:15Appreciate it.
1:19:18>> So, we'll send that to uh public works.
1:19:21All those in favor? Oppose? So, ordered.
1:19:249.11a
1:19:26transformation communication of the
1:19:28miles of bicycle accommodations add in
1:19:302026.
1:19:33Mr. Raleigh doing a good job. So, we'll
1:19:37send that to traffic and parking. All
1:19:39those in favor? So ordered ch
1:19:42information communication of the traffic
1:19:44safety initiatives on Belmont Street in
1:19:46Lake Avenue.
1:19:48So we get some good initiatives going
1:19:50there. Council Bada.
1:19:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh appreciate
1:19:54this report and all the work that the
1:19:56administration and um TTM has done to
1:20:00address the challenges on Lake Avenue
1:20:02and Belmont. I appreciate the help with
1:20:04getting using some of the CSX
1:20:06neighborhood funding to install some u
1:20:09pedestrian flashing, not beacons, but
1:20:11signs with flashing just to enhance
1:20:13pedestrian safety. Um had a question.
1:20:17Excuse me. Let me go backwards.
1:20:20But again, I appreciate the the
1:20:22enforcement too on Lake because we know
1:20:24it's
1:20:26very lots of speeding there. Um, I just
1:20:30had a question about the the the the DTM
1:20:35is developing uh study scope for
1:20:38corridor uh study extending from Manny
1:20:40from officer Manny familiar way to I290.
1:20:43Uh the study would identify and evaluate
1:20:45operations and physical changes to this
1:20:47segment of Belmont Street to improve
1:20:48safety. Uh just appreciate some more
1:20:51information on that. I know several
1:20:53residents have reached out to me over
1:20:54the last, you know, nine 10 months uh
1:20:57expressing serious concerns about just
1:20:58pedestrian safety on Belmont. And again,
1:21:00appreciate DTM's uh work so far with
1:21:03helping us with this.
1:21:06>> I I guess my question was, excuse me, I
1:21:09wasn't clear, but uh question about the
1:21:10last uh bullet point there about
1:21:12developing a study scope for uh the
1:21:14corridor of Belmont from Manny Familiar
1:21:16Way to 290.
1:21:18>> Commissioner
1:21:27through the chair. So that um that
1:21:29stretch of of Belmont Street coming down
1:21:32towards I290 is actually uh experiences
1:21:35a higher uh crash rate than than the six
1:21:38lane section further to the east, which
1:21:40surprises a lot of people, but it's one
1:21:42where we see recurring problems.
1:21:45um and it's a location where there
1:21:48aren't a lot of easily identifiable
1:21:50near-term solutions. So, um that's one
1:21:54where we think it makes sense to look at
1:21:56that entire corridor through a formal
1:21:58study. So, we've been working on putting
1:22:01a scope together for that study um for
1:22:04potential funding in uh 2027.
1:22:07>> Okay. Thank you. Um, and just bouncing
1:22:10back to to Lake A, I just want to, you
1:22:13know, say that I think for next summer
1:22:14it would be great for us to have some
1:22:16seasonal uh safety additions down by
1:22:19Lake A and Anna down by the the Marine
1:22:21Corps League in Medulka's ice cream. It
1:22:23gets very busy there during the summer.
1:22:25From there going all the way up to
1:22:26Hamilton Figalo Davis Parkway is really
1:22:28busy. Lots of um pedestrians running and
1:22:31we have the sneaker has a run club
1:22:33that's really great and they have I
1:22:34don't know close to 100 people there
1:22:36weekly uh jogging. So, we really
1:22:38appreciate us to continue to work on
1:22:40Lake A and of course the the uh TIP
1:22:42funding for the reconfiguration and
1:22:45traffic control down at Lake A and
1:22:47Hamilton Street. Could you just provide
1:22:48a little more information on that,
1:22:50Commissioner? Just for the public,
1:22:51>> the commissioner
1:22:52>> through the chair. So, we did receive
1:22:54funding through the regional uh
1:22:56transportation improvement program for
1:22:58design work there. This is a a first. Um
1:23:01that program typically funds
1:23:03construction projects, but not the
1:23:05design element. that's usually the
1:23:06jurisdiction's responsibility. Um, but
1:23:09for the first time they have made design
1:23:11funds available. Um, and we applied to
1:23:14study both the intersection as well as
1:23:18that sort of entire frontage nearby um,
1:23:21extending north and south by the uh, the
1:23:23ball fields in the park.
1:23:25>> Um, that we're negotiating the contract
1:23:28right now with the consultant consultant
1:23:30that was selected. The one downside to
1:23:32TIP funding is that it comes with a
1:23:34little more red tape to get things
1:23:35started. Um, but we're close to getting
1:23:37that uh ready to go. There'll be several
1:23:39public meetings that take place um once
1:23:42that project's underway. And one of the
1:23:44things we want to do with this project
1:23:45is not just design the intersection
1:23:47improvements there, but really lay the
1:23:49groundwork for what Lake Avenue should
1:23:51look like in the future, too. Okay.
1:23:53>> Um, you know, it's sort of two different
1:23:54corridors, each with their own distinct
1:23:56issues. this the southern section is a a
1:23:59narrower cross-section. I think we'll
1:24:01have one um approach
1:24:05sort of more of an open book I think to
1:24:07the north in the in district 2 where
1:24:09you've got that really wide
1:24:10cross-section and we need to think about
1:24:12how to utilize that better and in a a
1:24:14safer fashion.
1:24:15>> Okay. Thank you. You know, again, I want
1:24:17to stress the importance of getting this
1:24:18intersection really handled, especially
1:24:21if uh, you know, any future development
1:24:24that might be happening at Lake Park or
1:24:26at Tivven Field. We really need to make
1:24:28sure that this area can handle it
1:24:30safely. So, I just wanted to really
1:24:33stress that to the council and my
1:24:35colleagues, but appreciate the
1:24:36information and really looking forward
1:24:37to working continue to work with you and
1:24:39the city administration on these issues
1:24:40because it's really important for my
1:24:42constituents and obviously to me too.
1:24:43So, thank you.
1:24:44>> Thank you, Councilman Fizola.
1:24:50Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you,
1:24:51the commissioner uh commissioner,
1:24:54we allocated uh the money for a study to
1:24:57be done on
1:25:00Lake A and Hamilton Street. Um can you
1:25:04give the myself, the council, and the
1:25:06general public a
1:25:09a ballpark of when that might uh begin
1:25:13and how long it would take?
1:25:15to get that study uh to the Commonwealth
1:25:18of Mass to educate them on it
1:25:22>> commissioner
1:25:23>> through the chair. So that's the uh
1:25:25truck exclus or the heavy vehicle
1:25:26exclusion study um which is going to
1:25:28look at both Hamilton Street and Lake A.
1:25:31Um we have received the scope of work
1:25:34back from the consultants. So we're
1:25:35putting the contract together to to do
1:25:37that work. The first phase will involve
1:25:38collecting the necessary data. of
1:25:40traffic counts, um, uh, some of the
1:25:44neighborhood context data and that kind
1:25:46of thing. Um, that'll happen this fall.
1:25:49I would expect we'll likely have a
1:25:50report ready to go into the state for
1:25:52their consideration shortly after the
1:25:54new year.
1:25:55>> It's not a real long process. Um, there
1:25:57is quite a bit of data collection
1:25:58involved, but it should move pretty
1:26:00quickly once that contract gets
1:26:02executed.
1:26:03>> Thank you. Uh, the Commissioner Westing
1:26:06left. Uh my question is when will the
1:26:11long patch program begin on Lake A? It's
1:26:14it's now midocctober and it hasn't
1:26:17started yet. So I'd like to have a
1:26:19ballpark of when it's going to start.
1:26:21>> Commissioner
1:26:24>> through the chair. So I I can't answer
1:26:26that question. I'd have to defer to
1:26:28Commissioner Westerling on that.
1:26:29>> Okay.
1:26:30>> Um I don't
1:26:31>> Mr. Manager.
1:26:31>> Mr. Manager, can you
1:26:33>> Yeah. through the shape of the council.
1:26:35Um I've spoken with the commissioner on
1:26:37this before. We are trying to finalize
1:26:39the contract with the contractor. The
1:26:42this is the area of the city that is the
1:26:44priority. Our hope is to mobilize the
1:26:46contractor uh hopefully by the end of
1:26:48the the the month so we can be able to
1:26:50uh execute on the long patch.
1:26:52>> Okay. And through you, Mr. Chairman,
1:26:55that's something that's going to happen
1:26:57this year, right? This calendar year.
1:26:59>> Through the ch of the council.
1:27:00Absolutely.
1:27:01>> Okay. Just to uh add, Mr. Commissioner,
1:27:06I know uh the commissioner DPW left, but
1:27:09I see uh spray paint around the manhole
1:27:13covers. Is that mean that somebody's
1:27:15been out to uh look at that or you might
1:27:19not be knowledgeable with that, but I I
1:27:21do see uh orange spray paint around
1:27:25manhole covers that hopefully will be
1:27:27worked on when we do lawn patch. M the
1:27:30chair I wouldn't want to speculate on
1:27:32what that is but it it could be
1:27:33associated with the utilities or it
1:27:35could be preliminary um identification
1:27:37of utilities for that subsequent long
1:27:40patching work.
1:27:40>> Okay. Finally, Mr. chairman through you.
1:27:43Uh in the report it states and you have
1:27:47uh
1:27:49elaborated to me and council Bada that a
1:27:52public meeting will be held on uh the
1:27:55intersection of Lake A and Bigalow Way
1:27:58or as people know at Hamilton Street. Is
1:28:01any any idea when that might take place?
1:28:03And I know we talked about a location. I
1:28:06I thought uh and I u you know spoke to
1:28:10you about maybe having at the field
1:28:13house at Lake Lake Park, John Tibnet
1:28:16Field uh that but could you uh do you
1:28:20have any idea when when you might want
1:28:22to uh have that uh meeting with the
1:28:25general public
1:28:27>> through the chair? So we're we'll
1:28:29actually have several meetings um over
1:28:30the course of that design work. The
1:28:32first one should take place very quickly
1:28:34after the the contract's executed. Um,
1:28:37as I was saying earlier, there's a
1:28:39little bit of red tape when you go
1:28:40through the the mass DOT funding
1:28:42program. So, we're still trying to get
1:28:44that contract executed. Um, but I would
1:28:46anticipate that that first meeting will
1:28:48happen this this winter. Um, so probably
1:28:51looking in the December at this point in
1:28:53the December time frame. Um, and happy
1:28:56to coordinate with both district
1:28:58counselors on the the most suitable
1:29:00location for that.
1:29:02Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. Thank you,
1:29:03Mr. Chairman.
1:29:04>> Thank you. So, I'll send that council
1:29:06Rivera.
1:29:09>> This will be quick uh Commissioner Ali
1:29:12um through the chair, through the
1:29:13commissioner. I know that uh we have a
1:29:16very big important meeting this coming
1:29:18Thursday uh for the um double rotary,
1:29:22double roundabouts, Chandler May area.
1:29:25Um but there's some work being done in
1:29:27the um right now on Chandler Street. I
1:29:30just want to clarify
1:29:32um for the residents that area that
1:29:34that's just some
1:29:37pipes that need to be fixed and changed
1:29:39and uh and u just kind of wanted the
1:29:41clarification on what's being done there
1:29:43soon as opposed to thinking that the
1:29:46work is going to be done on the double
1:29:48roundabouts please
1:29:51>> through the chair. Yeah. to clarify. So
1:29:52the work that um is eminent there is
1:29:56related to replacing two uh water lines
1:29:59that date back to the the 19th century
1:30:01actually.
1:30:02>> Yeah. Um and again through the chair
1:30:04through the commissioner um is is that
1:30:07work starting like now soon next week?
1:30:10Uh do you know when
1:30:14>> to say it to the council? One of the
1:30:15things that they're doing right now is
1:30:16trying to identify the actual location
1:30:18of uh they're digging in a little bit to
1:30:21understand the locations of what's
1:30:23underneath the ground. Um there's no
1:30:26construction work happening this season.
1:30:28Uh majority of the construction will
1:30:30will begin in the spring. Um and the
1:30:32hope is that uh through the spring and
1:30:35through the summer hopefully by the end
1:30:36of August we would be have completed the
1:30:38project the restoration or the
1:30:40replacement of these actual pipes uh in
1:30:43front of the Worester state.
1:30:45>> So clarification through the chair to
1:30:47the administration the work was supposed
1:30:50to be done though this year no or just
1:30:52something changed
1:30:53>> uh through the cho that work was always
1:30:56scheduled to happen this year. Uh some
1:30:58of the preliminary works hap is
1:30:59happening now. So if you see some
1:31:01activity, construction activity now
1:31:03there, it's preliminary work. Um then
1:31:06again the the following work will
1:31:07continue in the spring that was always
1:31:09slated to happen uh this year uh based
1:31:12on our schedule of replacements.
1:31:14>> Thank you.
1:31:15>> Thank you.
1:31:16Okay, we council. Okay.
1:31:30Sorry, just give me a second. I got to
1:31:32get to my notes here.
1:31:39Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um,
1:31:42I was happy to see something I've been
1:31:44pushing for a long time. uh the
1:31:46pedestrian hybrid beacon lights um
1:31:49similar to the system over on Route 20
1:31:52um over there near Burlington actually
1:31:54um for the first time ever was stopped
1:31:56at that um this week as a person on
1:31:59their motorcycle um hit the button and
1:32:03it is a bit of an adjustment. Um so I
1:32:07have a couple of questions. If you could
1:32:08just explain for the public what that
1:32:10system is, what it entails. I kind of uh
1:32:12explained it similar to um railroad
1:32:15traffic lights that go over the top, but
1:32:17if you could just explain that briefly
1:32:19um and uh the importance and the um
1:32:23effectiveness of reducing risk through
1:32:26the chair,
1:32:28>> commissioner
1:32:29>> through the chair, uh I'd be happy to.
1:32:31And you know, one of the things, I think
1:32:32I mentioned this uh at one of our recent
1:32:34meetings as well, one of the things
1:32:36that'll be important as we implement
1:32:38this first pedestrian hybrid beacon is
1:32:40to have a public information campaign so
1:32:42people understand what this is. Um it's
1:32:44likely they haven't seen them before
1:32:46unless they've been down on Route 20. Um
1:32:49that's the only one in the immediate
1:32:50area currently. Uh but basically, this
1:32:53is a a step up from the rapid flashing
1:32:56beacons that you see all around the city
1:32:58with the yellow flashing lights. Those
1:32:59are essentially warning lights that that
1:33:02tell people that a pedestrian's present
1:33:03and trying to cross the crosswalk. A
1:33:06pedestrian hybrid beacon is um a higher
1:33:10level of traffic control device that
1:33:12actually requires that the the vehicle
1:33:15stop with red lights. Um and the way
1:33:17these things work is that they're
1:33:19they're typically uh they're typically
1:33:22dark. They're there's no lights that um
1:33:24are displayed at all most of the time.
1:33:26And then when a pedestrian activates it
1:33:29uh at the appropriate time, it will go
1:33:33into a phase where the lights will start
1:33:36flashing so that you know something's
1:33:37happening. And then it actually displays
1:33:40a red phase um at which point all
1:33:43traffic has to stop to allow pedestrians
1:33:46to cross. And then it'll go into a
1:33:48blinking phase after that which allows
1:33:51vehicles to proceed again if they look
1:33:53and it's clear. So what that does
1:33:56relative to just a normal traffic signal
1:33:59is it provides for a shorter recovery
1:34:01time. Meaning that if the pedestrian has
1:34:04cleared the intersection um or is no
1:34:06longer present then traffic can after
1:34:09stopping traffic can proceed again
1:34:14>> and do we have a a timeline for that
1:34:17installation to the chair? So, spring of
1:34:1927, I mean
1:34:22>> through through the chair. So, uh we'll
1:34:24be starting design work on that um
1:34:27probably next month and the aim would be
1:34:30to put that out for uh construction late
1:34:33spring uh into summer next year.
1:34:36>> Thank you. Um you know, the uh
1:34:40importance of this is is is vast. It it
1:34:43certainly is good for um locations such
1:34:47as Belmont Street. Um also location
1:34:50where there's multi-lanes of traffic. Um
1:34:53one of the things I've been pushing for
1:34:55is for this also over on Lake A um on
1:34:58Belmont Street down where we had a
1:35:00fatality near the Ley Center um as well.
1:35:04So, um, Lincoln Street, Hamilton Street,
1:35:07those are some locations, um, where this
1:35:10potentially could be helpful. And other
1:35:12streets where there's, you know, sort of
1:35:14a a system of stop lights um, and
1:35:16crossings um, signals, um, it it might
1:35:21not be as applicable. Um, through this
1:35:24here to the administration, um, my
1:35:27research has shown me that the Federal
1:35:29Highway Administration shows that
1:35:31there's close to 70% reduction
1:35:34um and pedestrian crashes from the
1:35:37system. Um and that total roadway crash
1:35:41has decreased by 29%, severe injuries by
1:35:4515%. Um and I know one of the and I say
1:35:48that to say this is extremely important.
1:35:50Um and I know it's costly. It's one of
1:35:53the things we spoke about over the last
1:35:55three or four years I've been pushing
1:35:56for this is the cost of it. And I'm just
1:35:59wondering were we able to access any
1:36:02grants um for this particular system
1:36:07through the chair
1:36:07>> commissioner
1:36:08>> through the chair. So for this first
1:36:10implementation we aren't are not using
1:36:12grant funding. We're paying for it
1:36:14through our uh regular capital budget.
1:36:16Um as you noted the statistics are are
1:36:19um very favorable for these. We had a
1:36:22report I want to say about a year ago
1:36:23where we summarized um a lot of these
1:36:26statistics and they are very effective
1:36:27at at helping particularly on multi-lane
1:36:30roads and and roads with higher uh
1:36:32travel speeds where um you know u a
1:36:36rapid flashing beacon by itself which is
1:36:38off on the side of the road and is only
1:36:40a warning light doesn't really draw
1:36:42enough attention to it.
1:36:44>> All right. Thank you. I look forward to
1:36:47really seeing um what this public
1:36:49educational campaign will be. It would
1:36:52be important include the schools um and
1:36:54the folks that are are walking
1:36:57um in different parts of the city. So uh
1:37:00my last question to the chair um is as
1:37:03it relates to um the schools in the most
1:37:08concerning locations. Um I know we have
1:37:12a report coming up on the school safety
1:37:13audit. Um but as it relates to this
1:37:16recent work that's being done on Lake A
1:37:20um and uh Belmont Street um what is the
1:37:25communication or what is the work that's
1:37:27being done with the school side um to
1:37:30educate the young people and their
1:37:31parents um because there's a high high
1:37:34number of walkers at least on the
1:37:35Belmont Street side um and possibly Lake
1:37:38View or what have you.
1:37:40um what what what work is being done
1:37:42specific to those recent changes um
1:37:45outside of the safety audit through
1:37:47chair
1:37:48>> commissioner
1:37:50through the chair. So the the work
1:37:53that's been completed so far is fairly
1:37:56straightforward. So, it's things like
1:37:57signage and pavement markings and those
1:37:59types of things where I think we're
1:38:00going to really need to coordinate with
1:38:02the schools are items like the
1:38:04pedestrian hybrid beacons, which are
1:38:06something that are different that people
1:38:07haven't experienced before. Um, so it's
1:38:09really uh something we haven't done yet,
1:38:12but we need to have that on our radar as
1:38:14we move closer to implementation to this
1:38:16one on on Belmont Street in particular.
1:38:19>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I would just
1:38:21like to make a motion that we do exactly
1:38:22that. Um and that the manager work with
1:38:24his communication team um intersect with
1:38:27the schools um um as it makes sense um
1:38:32in order to to begin this process. Um I
1:38:35think it can be impactful not just for
1:38:37the pedestrian hybrid beacons but just
1:38:39generally speaking. Um and I I'm looking
1:38:42forward to again getting to the school
1:38:44safety audit where they're already doing
1:38:45some of that work. Thank you, Mr.
1:38:47Chairman.
1:38:47>> Thank you. So send that to traffic and
1:38:50parking or the motion to the manager.
1:38:52Those in favor oppose. I'm sorry. Roll
1:38:54call.
1:38:56>> Bergman.
1:38:56>> Yes.
1:38:57>> Bada.
1:38:59>> Yes.
1:39:00>> Conamu.
1:39:01>> Yes.
1:39:01>> Zolo.
1:39:02>> Yes.
1:39:02>> Council King.
1:39:03>> Yes.
1:39:04>> Mitra.
1:39:04>> Yes.
1:39:05>> Aita.
1:39:06>> Yes.
1:39:06>> Rivera.
1:39:07>> Yes.
1:39:07>> Council Rosen.
1:39:08>> Yes.
1:39:09>> Council Tumi.
1:39:11>> Yes.
1:39:12>> Mayor Petty.
1:39:13>> Yes. 19 9.14A. transmitting information
1:39:17communication of the enrollment numbers
1:39:18the worester send out to public safety
1:39:22council.
1:39:23>> Thank you again same pretty much same
1:39:25question to our uh commissioner DPW um
1:39:29again this information if we can get
1:39:31this into the whistle public schools um
1:39:33one mainly because it does alert um you
1:39:36know um some of the things that may take
1:39:37place with the schools. So again, if
1:39:39there's ways we can get this to the
1:39:41Whistle Public Schools and also um to
1:39:44some of the neighborhood um neighborhood
1:39:46meetings that we have. So it'd be great
1:39:48to to find a way to get this into some
1:39:50of these meetings that people have.
1:39:52>> Okay.
1:39:53>> Thank you.
1:39:54>> Quick question, Mr. Council.
1:39:58>> Uh I guess u my question is to um to the
1:40:01chair of the commission.
1:40:05Sorry.
1:40:09Chu um Mr. Good one. Um, I noticed here
1:40:12it said there are more than 7,200 who
1:40:15are registered for the alert. So that
1:40:17could you give me through the old system
1:40:19that we used to have before. How many
1:40:20residents do we have then?
1:40:23>> Commissioner
1:40:24>> uh through the chair to the commissioner
1:40:26or to the counselor. There's there's
1:40:28actually the old system uh showed the
1:40:31data differently first off. So we had 30
1:40:33about 33,000 phone numbers in there.
1:40:36>> The way this new system is is it's based
1:40:38off of your user account. So, there are
1:40:41people that have multiple phone numbers,
1:40:43multiple email addresses. Um, but within
1:40:46that 33,000 phone numbers, there's two
1:40:49caveats. One, the 7,200, we're actually,
1:40:52since I submitted this last week, we're
1:40:54at 7,298.
1:40:56So, we've gotten almost another 100 uh
1:40:58signups.
1:41:00Um, and
1:41:02with the old system that 33,000, we
1:41:06implemented that in 2015. So that 33,000
1:41:09was over 10 years.
1:41:10>> Um, versus the 7,200 that we've gotten
1:41:13in the last 6 months. Um, uh, the second
1:41:16thing is that 33,000 we had run a report
1:41:20just before Code Red shutdown last year
1:41:23and almost a quarter of those were old
1:41:25phone numbers that were dead. Phone
1:41:26numbers, didn't answer, they weren't
1:41:28live anymore. uh but had not been
1:41:30removed from the system because people
1:41:32didn't notify us or alert us that they
1:41:34wanted the phone numbers removed
1:41:36>> just based on you know the the since
1:41:39kicked off and then I I know the
1:41:41importance of deliver and and I've heard
1:41:44you know in the beginning some
1:41:45complaints but now you know a lot of
1:41:47people a lot of the residents love it is
1:41:50there a way some type of educational
1:41:54form or something that we can come up
1:41:55with to get the word out more just
1:41:58because there's a lot of people not
1:42:00aware of it, you know, and a lot of our
1:42:01res was the residents. We have big big
1:42:05city, small city, big city, but I just
1:42:08think that that they're not getting to
1:42:10adjust to this, you know, what you guys
1:42:12are doing. And I think it's important if
1:42:14somehow we can just get the word out
1:42:16more to get
1:42:18>> through the chair to the counselor. So,
1:42:19we have a a number of different things
1:42:22planned coming up. We have A-frames that
1:42:24are going up at Union Station, down at
1:42:26City Hall, uh 799 Main Street. We're
1:42:29working with uh some of the local radio
1:42:31stations to do radio spot, radio ads, um
1:42:34as well as some stuff with uh podcasts
1:42:37to alert people geollocated um that are
1:42:40listening in the city. Um there's also
1:42:43going to be a video that's coming out
1:42:45that we worked with cable services on to
1:42:48uh start educating people on that. And
1:42:50uh we're actually going to be setting up
1:42:52some sign boards soon promoting it for
1:42:54the winter weather.
1:42:55>> Good. Um I think through the chair
1:42:56through the um disagreement just so
1:42:58you're aware um myself personally I'll
1:43:01do it and I know a lot of the city
1:43:02council will do it. But if you guys
1:43:03share that type of information with us
1:43:06like you always do, but you know in a
1:43:08good social media format. We'll be more
1:43:10than happy to share it ourselves just
1:43:12kind of help get the word out and stuff
1:43:13like that.
1:43:14>> Absolutely.
1:43:14>> Thank you.
1:43:15>> Thank you. Send that to public safety.
1:43:18>> Excuse me. Motion to recuse.
1:43:20>> Okay. Roll call. Council Tumi has
1:43:23recused herself.
1:43:26>> I'm sorry, Dr. Mitra. I'm sorry. Council
1:43:27me.
1:43:29>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through you to the
1:43:31commission. Thank you very much for the
1:43:33report. Uh I know last time when I had
1:43:35inquired that how many people have
1:43:36signed up there was about 2,500. So now
1:43:39I see 7,000 plus and which is a good
1:43:43improvement. But in my opinion, I mean,
1:43:45we have I was inquiring about how many
1:43:48homes we have that could have been
1:43:49possibly signing in for the rooster
1:43:52alert because I think the program is
1:43:53very good, very useful, very informative
1:43:56and which is much needed and there are
1:43:58some seven items that you have that we
1:44:01are using to inform people. It's a
1:44:03monologue. It's just like not you don't
1:44:05get a dialogue from other from the
1:44:07residents. You just give the information
1:44:09that there will be no leaf collection or
1:44:12things of that nature. But 7,000 plus
1:44:16through the chair to you. Do you think
1:44:18it is uh are you satisfied with that? We
1:44:21are about 90,000 homes in our city,
1:44:24200,000 plus people. I mean, I want to
1:44:27see that most of us sign up for this and
1:44:30really use this particular program which
1:44:33I think is so much beneficial.
1:44:36uh through the chair, the counselor, I
1:44:37am uh very satisfied with seeing the
1:44:39number going up and I I expect just as I
1:44:42said from Friday to today, we got almost
1:44:45another hundred. Um that's going to
1:44:48continue to grow as people um are
1:44:51informed about it and we're doing that
1:44:53outreach and engagement. Um and they in
1:44:56my experience with an alerting software
1:44:59over the last uh 15 years I've been in
1:45:01public safety generally they expect a 1
1:45:05to 3% of the community to sign up which
1:45:08is sounds small but that's just across
1:45:11the country that has been the rate of
1:45:14how many people sign up for these
1:45:15alerting softwares. Um, I think we're
1:45:17going to keep growing and and seeing
1:45:19more and more people go in there,
1:45:20especially as they can control which
1:45:23messages they want to receive now. So,
1:45:25you know, in prior year you systems, I
1:45:28noticed that we would get a lot of
1:45:30complaints that people felt overwhelmed
1:45:33with the amount of messaging going out
1:45:35and they would just unsubscribe. Where
1:45:37with this, they can choose which lists
1:45:39they want to go on and off of. um which
1:45:41I think having the ability to uh allow
1:45:45the residents to tailor their
1:45:46subscriptions better will in you know
1:45:49improve our enrollment rates and the
1:45:52retention rates.
1:45:53>> Yeah. through the chair to commissioner.
1:45:55I think you know for us to assess that
1:45:58the program is successful. I think we
1:46:00got to have some kind of as I've always
1:46:02said some kind of smart goal that uh we
1:46:05need to see that at least 70% of the
1:46:07residents or people should sign up for
1:46:10this. If we can have some kind of that
1:46:12kind of goal then maybe we'll approach
1:46:14that way and maybe we'll do some more
1:46:17things that could be done. I I would
1:46:19probably suggest that city has many
1:46:21digital signs in the city. You know,
1:46:23maybe DCU center. Can we pull roll a
1:46:26sign there that sign up for alert or
1:46:28call this place try to advertise as much
1:46:31as possible. I saw in my tax bill there
1:46:34was a pamphlet which I had suggested and
1:46:36done it. So I think there are more
1:46:38things that probably need to be done for
1:46:40people to pay attention to this
1:46:41important you know provision we have
1:46:44otherwise I think we're not we're not
1:46:46really using the benefit that it has so
1:46:48I'd like to see that more things are
1:46:50done and also there are seven items that
1:46:53could be used is there any other thing
1:46:55is there any criteria which uh makes the
1:46:58item to be notified like in the past we
1:47:01have had our uh you know standing
1:47:05committee meeting which are important
1:47:06important meetings. If the meeting is of
1:47:08that importance that the resident should
1:47:11know through the chair to you, could we
1:47:13use your system alert to let the
1:47:15residents know about this meeting is
1:47:17coming up. Please come
1:47:19>> uh through the chair, the counselor. Uh
1:47:21first off, for your first comment, we do
1:47:24have um advertising at DCU. We're adding
1:47:28the radio spots, the video spots, the
1:47:30handouts. uh we've been pushing it at
1:47:32different meetings and we're in the
1:47:34process of looking at uh other options
1:47:36as well that you know based off what we
1:47:39could fit in the fiscal budget uh to get
1:47:41the word out to everybody. We're going
1:47:42to keep pushing as time goes on with a
1:47:45number of different uh possibilities to
1:47:48get the word out to everybody. Um as far
1:47:50as the uh alerting groups that we have
1:47:53right now, these are based off of uh the
1:47:56criteria. It's all based off of certain
1:47:59things that are affecting the community.
1:48:01Uh with the meetings in my time in the
1:48:05city, we've never sent anything out for
1:48:07to alert people of a meeting. We have
1:48:09for elections. Uh but you know, a state
1:48:11election or a national election, but
1:48:13nothing for local meetings. Those have
1:48:15always been posted on the website. Um
1:48:18and right now we try to keep it to
1:48:21things that are public safety related
1:48:22except for the elections list.
1:48:25>> Thank you, Mr. commissioner for coming
1:48:26giving us the report and through the
1:48:28chair to you and it is a good
1:48:30improvement from 2500 to 7,000 plus but
1:48:33I have to see it rise up more and maybe
1:48:35set a goal that we got to have at least
1:48:36so much by this month and that's a smart
1:48:39way of moving forwards thank you good
1:48:41luck to you and appreciate your work
1:48:44>> okay councelor Tum excuse yourself I'll
1:48:47send that to public safety all those in
1:48:48favor opposed
1:48:52everybody says we're going to vote
1:48:55She's not voting on it.
1:48:59Okay. Next item up is 9.26H.
1:49:02Information communication of the new
1:49:03proposed rules 261, 62, and 63s of the
1:49:06city council. Motion sent to Mo.
1:49:12Councelor King.
1:49:16>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I'm not
1:49:19going to vote to send this to Mo. Um
1:49:22certainly um I'm sure it's going to go
1:49:24there and we'll see what comes out of
1:49:26it. Um what I will say is uh we have
1:49:29another item on um in a bit where the
1:49:33city clerk has a quarterly report on all
1:49:37the orders that came from the council um
1:49:41to the city manager. And as I've stated
1:49:43previously, um it's the expectation that
1:49:48the city manager takes account of these
1:49:50things. I mean, there's all sorts of um
1:49:53things that have been brought forward
1:49:55related to police, fire, school,
1:49:56pedestrian safety, the unsheltered,
1:49:59homelessness, um public bathrooms, um
1:50:04taxes, development, responsible
1:50:07development, wage theft, um
1:50:10opportunities for our youth. Um there's
1:50:14all sorts of of um guidelines here. Um
1:50:18many of these adopted unanimously 11 to
1:50:21zero. Um and
1:50:25folks make a lot of comments about too
1:50:28many orders. Ah we give the manager too
1:50:31many orders. And I'll just state this
1:50:34again for the public that um those
1:50:37orders come for a reason. Every week
1:50:39we're here there's orders on sidewalks,
1:50:42potholes, resurfacing. Um today we're
1:50:46discussing um
1:50:49winter weather responsiveness and
1:50:51effectiveness, Mr. Chairman. Um all
1:50:54those things are outlining for the city
1:50:58manager what our priorities are, Mr.
1:51:00Chairman. And to reinvent the wheel, um
1:51:03sounds great. Um, however, that would
1:51:07mean that these orders that have been
1:51:09filed by a number of folks, just about
1:51:12everybody on this council, um, aren't
1:51:16used to establish priority in the city
1:51:20at the discretion of the manager and at
1:51:22the behest and suggestion of the
1:51:25council, Mr. Chairman. So, um, I'm not
1:51:28looking to discuss this any further. um
1:51:31through chair to the administration if
1:51:33you could just um summarize um the
1:51:37response from your department as relates
1:51:39to these potential rules through chair.
1:51:43>> Mr. Manager, Mr. McGirthy
1:51:45>> uh to the chair of the council. Um what
1:51:48we've tried to outline here in some of
1:51:50the rules suggested is some of the
1:51:53current processes that we have in place
1:51:55but also some of the regulations around
1:51:57the timing of when budgets needs to be
1:51:59submitted based on state regulations uh
1:52:02etc. Um so again I the order uh or what
1:52:07was sent to me was to come back with
1:52:08suggested dates. We think that these
1:52:10dates are reasonable. Um, but we wanted
1:52:13to take into consideration all the other
1:52:15complexities uh that come before the
1:52:18council when we're making these
1:52:20decisions, but also what we're required
1:52:22by by statute as well.
1:52:24>> And through the chair, just for the
1:52:25public, can you just um I don't know if
1:52:27the CFO is the one who wrote this um if
1:52:31you could just identify um the
1:52:33differentiation between the timelines
1:52:36that you're referencing through the
1:52:37chair.
1:52:39Miss McGirthy
1:52:46>> through the chair. So the orders as
1:52:49presented included a few different
1:52:51timelines. One was a March 1st
1:52:55recommendation from the various
1:52:57committees as to the prioritization of
1:53:01budget uh budget elements. The other was
1:53:06uh a March 15th um presentation by the
1:53:10administration on the uh the kind of
1:53:14status of the budget, a preliminary
1:53:16budget overview. The response
1:53:19highlighted that uh the budget is
1:53:22formulated as the city manager said
1:53:24based on the language of the statute and
1:53:27the city charter. Um, it's timeline
1:53:31begins as of the beginning the the city
1:53:34council's first meeting in January. We
1:53:36then have 170 days, the city manager has
1:53:39170 days to submit a budget to the city
1:53:42council. The city council then has 45
1:53:46days to review and approve or reduce the
1:53:48budget that was submitted. The challenge
1:53:50with that timeline is the budget has to
1:53:52go into effect by July 1st. If you go
1:53:55the full 170 days, that would preclude a
1:53:58full 45day review. So, we have to back
1:54:00up our submission time. So, we usually
1:54:03submit the budget the beginning of May,
1:54:05the first week of May. During the
1:54:07previous months, we're doing meetings
1:54:10with departments. We're reviewing the
1:54:11state budget. We're reviewing the
1:54:13revenues coming out or the revenues
1:54:15anticipated from the state budget, the
1:54:17assessments coming from the state
1:54:19budget. Those are available late
1:54:21January. Um, we're looking at the costs,
1:54:24the city's costs, which come from our
1:54:26third quarter results coming out of
1:54:27March. We're looking at departmental
1:54:30requests, which we asked for at the
1:54:32beginning of January. And so really by
1:54:34April and May, the city manager is going
1:54:36really by April, March and April, the
1:54:38city manager is going through department
1:54:39by department to understand what the
1:54:41requests are kind of lay those requests
1:54:44against the available funding that we
1:54:46see happening and the um priorities as
1:54:49you mentioned that the council has
1:54:50indicated throughout the course of the
1:54:52year. Um the the timeline suggested a
1:54:54March 1st city council committee
1:54:58recommendation of priorities that would
1:55:00allow the city manager to consider those
1:55:02priorities as he's getting into the
1:55:04finetuning of the revenues versus the
1:55:06proposed expenses. The March 15th um
1:55:10submission to city council or
1:55:12presentation to council at that time we
1:55:14obviously would not yet have the March
1:55:1731st results the third quarter results
1:55:19from the city. So, it would be very
1:55:21preliminary. We would be looking at um
1:55:24expected revenues from the state,
1:55:26expected revenues from property tax, but
1:55:28we'd still be looking at our local
1:55:29revenues that might be coming forward
1:55:31and calculating what some of the larger
1:55:33expenses might be such as debt service,
1:55:36um uh health insurance, and the like.
1:55:42>> And so, what are your counter proposals
1:55:45or recommendations to the chair? uh
1:55:47through the chair, we're open to the
1:55:50dates presented March 1st and March
1:55:5215th, recognizing that it is a limited
1:55:54window. The budget process is really a
1:55:56limited window. When the budget's
1:55:58approved as of July 1st, you know, we
1:56:00then look quarter by quarter to see what
1:56:02the results are, to see what the
1:56:04spending is um to see what council is
1:56:07discussing, debating, prioritizing for
1:56:09the next fiscal year. Uh it's just that
1:56:12challenge that those March timelines if
1:56:15they are not met information will
1:56:18probably come too late for us to really
1:56:20incorporate them into the budget. And
1:56:22even if they are met the budget I did a
1:56:25quick calculation it's about 0.2%
1:56:28of the budget is truly available for
1:56:32something new. Everything else 60% goes
1:56:34to education 20% goes to fixed costs.
1:56:38The remaining 20% goes to city
1:56:40operations. But within that 20% to city
1:56:43operations, almost all of it is
1:56:45dedicated towards the status quo budget
1:56:47or the annual increase in cost that we
1:56:50have for simply maintaining the
1:56:52operations today.
1:56:55>> Thank you. Um
1:56:58I certainly you know um
1:57:02want to say that our agendas are set on
1:57:05the council floor in committee. Our
1:57:08agendas are also set from um our monthly
1:57:11meetings um pursuing orders and things
1:57:14that we want to get done. Um you know
1:57:18and that's on an ongoing basis. But um
1:57:20to create three additional rules where
1:57:22it seems as though
1:57:25um the information we we're getting is
1:57:28not going to to lead us down a path
1:57:31that's um going to be much different
1:57:33than than um if we didn't have it. So
1:57:37Mr. Chairman, I would just ask I'll just
1:57:41state for the record um you know another
1:57:43thing that this council has done
1:57:44historically and this is a new council
1:57:46so maybe we'll stop doing it. I'm not
1:57:48sure. Um but often the city manager's
1:57:51evaluation which is um late June, early
1:57:54early summer um is also where folks set
1:57:57their agendas for their districts. at
1:57:59large counselors set their agendas when
1:58:01we're talking directly to department
1:58:03heads before they've submitted um their
1:58:07um budgets and priorities um and kind of
1:58:11laying out for the manager um as it
1:58:13moves forward in between evaluations
1:58:16what those priorities are. um you know
1:58:20and and we we should be holding uh the
1:58:22manager accountable for many things um
1:58:25including uh task completion um policy
1:58:29development operational needs etc um
1:58:34economic development of course and
1:58:36public safety much more um so Mr. Jim,
1:58:38and I'm not quite sure. I'm a little bit
1:58:40confused with these three rules. Um, and
1:58:43and really what the efficacy will be.
1:58:46Um, I'll certainly listen to if anything
1:58:48else is stated about it and perhaps
1:58:50change my my vote. Um, but right now, I
1:58:53I don't see this as effective um use of
1:58:56time. Um, and I'll continue to um
1:59:00advocate um for the things that's
1:59:02important for this city and when it's
1:59:05when it's supported by the council. Um,
1:59:08it should be on the agenda of the
1:59:09manager. Thank you,
1:59:12>> Council Mitra.
1:59:16>> Thank you, Mr. Chair, through you to
1:59:19city manager. First of all, uh, Mr.
1:59:22Manager, thank you very much for taking
1:59:23this uh, expeditedly and giving your
1:59:27views on the u rules that we had
1:59:31proposed.
1:59:32um through the chair uh to all of our
1:59:36city councilors. I think if you
1:59:38understand what my point here was to
1:59:42give the city manager an opportunity to
1:59:45listen to the voice of these residents
1:59:49and the voice is us city councilors as
1:59:52you heard today one of the residents
1:59:54said that you know Mr. Rivera and Mr.
1:59:57meet come to our meetings. We go to the
2:00:00neighborhood meetings, we hear them and
2:00:03we bring the voice of them to the city
2:00:06manager. Budget is an important part of
2:00:09our city's function and budget is how
2:00:12the appropriation should be done that
2:00:14will impact most of us. So we try to see
2:00:17that we're trying to give you an
2:00:19opportunity to see what that residents
2:00:22are looking for from us. Giving us a
2:00:25chance to give you our remarks, our
2:00:28priorities. It's that simple. Before we
2:00:31can do that, I'm just requesting that
2:00:33give us a sort of like a where is your
2:00:35performance from each department. I know
2:00:38by January every department head gives
2:00:41submits you the budget request. So they
2:00:43have everything. All we want is some
2:00:45salient features how they have done from
2:00:48July through January. So we can have
2:00:50some assessment. Each uh department will
2:00:54each committee will can look at that and
2:00:57give us give you what should be the
2:00:59priority set for the budget. Just an
2:01:03just an opinion and you don't have to
2:01:05take it. I'm not taking away this this
2:01:08rules are not to take away anything from
2:01:10the city manager to create the budget
2:01:13but help him so that we can co-work
2:01:15together co-design the particular budget
2:01:18so that it'll be a view you have from
2:01:21the department heads view you have from
2:01:23the city councilors and city councilor's
2:01:26voice is nothing but good thing for the
2:01:29for the residents residents are telling
2:01:31us what needs to be done well we need to
2:01:33have some more u shelter for the
2:01:36homeless people. We need to have more
2:01:38classes for the police force. We need to
2:01:40have more budget for the potholes, for
2:01:43the roads, for the safety. All those
2:01:45things that we think important by
2:01:47looking at the performance result. I
2:01:48don't need the full detail because they
2:01:51are already creating the details by
2:01:53January to present to you. I just need
2:01:55some you know some like salient
2:01:57features. Give us the performance of
2:01:59these and then give you the report that
2:02:02we think would be important. So it is a
2:02:05good program. It's a rule. Setting up
2:02:08the rule makes it more instit
2:02:10institutionalized the system. Um Mr.
2:02:13Manager here you have said that in your
2:02:15in your letter that
2:02:18um city manager it it be forwarded to
2:02:21the city manager for consideration and
2:02:23incorporated into an annual budget
2:02:26process going forward rather than become
2:02:29a rule of the city council.
2:02:32You are opening your arms to listen to
2:02:34us which is very good. You're saying
2:02:36send it to me and I will take that into
2:02:38consideration.
2:02:40I'm looking at the what is good for the
2:02:42city. I'm looking tomorrow if we have a
2:02:45new manager and he doesn't accept this.
2:02:47He has some other things to think. If
2:02:50there's a rule, it's a rule. New manager
2:02:53comes, it's a rule is there. If a new
2:02:56city councelor comes, it's a rule. It's
2:02:58there. So, it is now institutionalized.
2:03:00it is there for the city and what is
2:03:02wrong with us giving you a view of the
2:03:06residents we are just trying to give you
2:03:08what we hear from the residents so I
2:03:10think you should give us the opportunity
2:03:13right now it's not the point of
2:03:15discussion here it should go to the
2:03:17process it should go to the MLO and the
2:03:20committee should discuss this and we can
2:03:22come back with your report and make it
2:03:25work we're trying to make things work
2:03:28we're not trying to see that you say it
2:03:29cannot be worked. I think it can be
2:03:31worked. I'm flexible with the date. If
2:03:34March 15th is not the right, we can do
2:03:36different date which is workable for
2:03:38you. Maybe April end we can you can
2:03:40bring the preliminary report. You sit
2:03:42behind the you know in the closed door
2:03:44with two counselors and go through the
2:03:47preliminary report and nobody can give
2:03:49you because in your own statement here
2:03:51Mr. Morti says anything given to us
2:03:54after early March is not going to be
2:03:56considered. So we are sitting with you
2:03:57at a point where nothing is going to be
2:03:59considered anyway. I'm trying to create
2:04:02a rule so that we can give it to you
2:04:04before you appropriate your budget. Just
2:04:07giving you our opinion we don't have to
2:04:09take it but at least we can go and tell
2:04:11our resident that we made your request
2:04:14to the city manager and he will do the
2:04:16best thing that is possible for our
2:04:18city. They should be saying to us that
2:04:20okay at least you gave the message to
2:04:22them. That's all I'm trying to create
2:04:24and I request chairperson to send it to
2:04:26the MLO. Let the MLO committee discuss
2:04:29it. Let us come maybe we'll come up with
2:04:31only one rule that will come consolidate
2:04:33the whole thing. Maybe we'll see what
2:04:35can work with these dates that you are
2:04:37giving and the difficulties that you are
2:04:39posing. We have your opinion. It's the
2:04:41what which is what we wanted. So I
2:04:42wanted to go to the same MLO and make a
2:04:45decision where the residents will come
2:04:47all all city councilors can come and I
2:04:50think it gives you a very good view
2:04:52about the the head department head's
2:04:55view and their priorities the residents
2:04:58this is the residents good for the
2:04:59residents to know that yes the system is
2:05:01being set we're trying to set something
2:05:04we're trying to get something done you
2:05:06know I was looking we have in in in '
2:05:0880s we used to have 40,000 close to
2:05:1140,000 people come and vote, go to the
2:05:13polling board which is now down to in
2:05:1520s. Why? Because we are not able to set
2:05:19things because they're sending us here
2:05:21to get things done and if we don't get
2:05:23things done, why would they go to the
2:05:25polling booth? There is no point going
2:05:27and pulling. So I think it's good for
2:05:29us. Let's establish some rules so that
2:05:32the our city residents can see that yes,
2:05:35I'm sending that council there. I'm
2:05:37electing him is getting something done.
2:05:40So Mr. manager through to you through
2:05:43chair I request that with your reports
2:05:46that you have given we'll consider it
2:05:48very deeply send it to MLO and let's
2:05:50discuss there and we'll bring it back
2:05:52maybe something that will work so that's
2:05:54my request uh Mr. chair, send it to the
2:05:57MLO committee and hash it over. Thank
2:05:59you,
2:06:02>> councelor Rivera.
2:06:05>> Uh I was just thinking instead of making
2:06:08it like you know I don't know if it's a
2:06:10friendly amendment or separate orders
2:06:12instead of doing like a basically it's
2:06:15going to be the same language instead of
2:06:18doing rule 61 6263 just do one rule you
2:06:21know send it to MLO and they can discuss
2:06:23it there. It's going to be the same
2:06:25information just one rule and then
2:06:28between the city manager MLO and city
2:06:31councilors we can figure it out you know
2:06:34just my
2:06:35>> Okay. So we'll do a roll call and send
2:06:37it to committee. Roll call.
2:06:40>> Councelor Bergman.
2:06:42>> Yes.
2:06:42>> Councelor Bada.
2:06:44>> Yes.
2:06:45>> Councelor Cono.
2:06:46>> Yes.
2:06:47>> Viso.
2:06:47>> Yes.
2:06:48>> Councelor King.
2:06:49>> No.
2:06:50>> Council Mitra.
2:06:51>> Yes.
2:06:51>> Council. Yes.
2:06:53>> Councelor Rivera.
2:06:54>> Yes.
2:06:54>> Councelor Rosen.
2:06:55>> Yes.
2:06:56>> Councelor Tumi.
2:06:57>> Yes.
2:06:58>> Mayor Petty.
2:06:59>> Yes.
2:07:00>> Thank you.
2:07:01>> Okay. We are on U 9.31. Transmitting
2:07:04information communication the West
2:07:06Ballpark Commission.
2:07:08Go to public works.
2:07:10Those in favor post. So ordered. We are
2:07:13going transmitting information
2:07:15communication of the zero waste master
2:07:16plan. I go to urban tie
2:07:21questions. Okay, we'll go in the right
2:07:23track. Keep it keep on good job out
2:07:26there. So, keep it going. We'll send
2:07:28that to uh urban tile. Those in favor of
2:07:30post so next item church information
2:07:34communication over to the department of
2:07:35sustainability resilience project
2:07:37updates climate resilience and current
2:07:39zero waste programs. Send that to urban
2:07:42counc. Yeah, I just had one quick
2:07:44question about the um zero waste
2:07:47programs. And forgive me, I don't know
2:07:49if this was part of 9.32A.
2:07:52The manager could help clarify, but it
2:07:53uh we talked about what was some of the
2:07:55updates that are going to be coming in
2:07:56and the plans about um
2:08:00eliminating what should and shouldn't be
2:08:02in in recycling bins. And there was one
2:08:04part of the report mentioned that uh if
2:08:07there were items that were if the the
2:08:09recycling bins were contaminated, those
2:08:12bins would not be picked up. I was just
2:08:13curious looking for some more
2:08:14clarification on that. Um I'm not sure
2:08:17if someone might be able to provide that
2:08:18information, but that's just can
2:08:20understand the the intention. I just
2:08:22really worry about what that would for
2:08:24for for trash on our streets because
2:08:27it's already a bit of a bit of a
2:08:28challenge.
2:08:42uh through the chair to the counselor.
2:08:44Um so it's an excellent question. Uh the
2:08:47idea is that we're going to be putting
2:08:49um doing a a robust outreach campaign as
2:08:52part of this upfront. Uh we will also be
2:08:55going um targeting areas that seem to
2:08:59have um uh where we're having issues uh
2:09:03to make sure that the first time and
2:09:05even perhaps the second time that uh
2:09:08there are contaminants in it, they get
2:09:09an what's called an oop sticker. That
2:09:12oop sticker basically will let them know
2:09:13that we've noticed you put uh things in
2:09:17your recycle bin that you shouldn't.
2:09:18Here's the things that you should be
2:09:20putting in. Uh we'll leave the recycle
2:09:22uh flyer that uh you may have seen as
2:09:24well which has been recently updated
2:09:26that gives a a nice overview as to what
2:09:28is acceptable and what isn't. Um and
2:09:31it's only after those repeated uh
2:09:34failures at that point it won't get
2:09:36taken. Um when we did this four years
2:09:38ago turns out that most people came
2:09:41under compliance after just the oop
2:09:42sticker the vast majority. Um, we did
2:09:45have a couple people uh occurrences
2:09:48where uh our vendor Cassella uh did not
2:09:51pick them up and I can assure you that
2:09:53uh once they were notified as to why
2:09:56they came quickly under compliance. It
2:09:58was not I can say this with um
2:10:00confidence an issue where we had um uh a
2:10:04lot of failures and it created more
2:10:07problems than it solved. In fact, it was
2:10:08the other way around. People really want
2:10:11to do the right thing about this. they
2:10:12just don't know necessarily what belongs
2:10:15in the recycle bin and once we give them
2:10:17that information. Uh it seems that most
2:10:19people are are readily start complying.
2:10:21>> Okay. No, that's great to know. That was
2:10:23just a concern. Um would love to see
2:10:25this happen or some special attention
2:10:27paid to the top of Hamilton Street. I
2:10:29know I'm sure councelor will agree with
2:10:31me from plantation going down to to all
2:10:34the way to Hamilton and Stish. Folks are
2:10:36putting trash out days before. They're
2:10:38putting out things that are just bulk
2:10:40items. uh a few properties at are just
2:10:43really bad. Um and I know it's sometimes
2:10:46wind and things like that and uh but
2:10:49would hope that we could sp you know
2:10:50educate some folks in that area because
2:10:52I don't know if it's um you know tenants
2:10:54just not being aware or homeowners not
2:10:55being aware but the the it's a frequent
2:10:58problem up in that area. So thank you
2:11:02>> councelor her.
2:11:05>> Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chairman. just
2:11:07um real quickly um if you could tell me
2:11:10through the chair to
2:11:12um John Mr. Odell um how many did we
2:11:17want to put out to begin with? Right now
2:11:19it says we installed 146, but I thought
2:11:22the number was higher. Maybe I'm wrong.
2:11:24When we are originally started this
2:11:27>> through the chair to the council, I I
2:11:29misheard the question. I don't think I
2:11:30>> I'm sorry. To install the wool bins, how
2:11:32many did we originally want to have out?
2:11:35>> Um through the chair, 150.
2:11:37>> Okay.
2:11:38>> Total.
2:11:39>> Okay. Thank you. And then um
2:11:45based on information that we received
2:11:47and the data that you you've received um
2:11:51is it fair to say that these are these
2:11:53are actually doing the job that we're we
2:11:55wanted them to do?
2:11:56>> Sure.
2:11:57>> Uh through the chair to the counselor.
2:11:59Uh yes. Um
2:12:02the uh the feedback we've gotten um has
2:12:06been u predominantly very positive. Um,
2:12:09in fact, the biggest uh thing that we're
2:12:12hearing from people is we'd like more
2:12:14bins in more places, which is we'd love
2:12:16to do uh obviously uh financially that
2:12:19becomes um more challenging, but the
2:12:23need for these things I think was um
2:12:25long overdue and they've been very
2:12:27successful and I think the volume of
2:12:28recycling that and uh trash that we've
2:12:31been able to take off the streets
2:12:32through these has been very um uh
2:12:35indicative of that success.
2:12:38>> Okay. Thank you. And um so is there
2:12:41going to be a plan in the future for for
2:12:44more um
2:12:46>> what does that look like? I know a lot
2:12:47of residents like you had mentioned they
2:12:49they really like this. Um some of them
2:12:50in the in the neighborhood meetings that
2:12:51want to help out even more. Um so me
2:12:54going back to some of these meetings,
2:12:55you know what what should I say
2:12:58>> uh through the chair? So, what we've
2:12:59been doing to date is essentially been a
2:13:02year-long pilot which we um a little
2:13:05over a year pilot which will be ending
2:13:08um uh this June with our current
2:13:11contractor. Um at that point we will
2:13:13should have uh some of the metrics that
2:13:16we're really looking for to
2:13:17understanding where there may be
2:13:19opportunities to both uh redeploy some
2:13:23of the existing bins and where there are
2:13:24opportunities for potentially new bins
2:13:26so we could understand more accurately
2:13:29do we need 10 more? Do we need 30 more?
2:13:32and and then based on that, can we
2:13:35actually do that and maintain the root
2:13:36system that we have already in place or
2:13:39is that going to require a whole new
2:13:40route which may increase costs rather
2:13:42significantly. So, it's a little
2:13:44premature to say yet what we can and
2:13:47can't do, but I can say that that's
2:13:50exactly what we'll be looking at um this
2:13:53summer uh the summer of 27 and and
2:13:56beyond in terms of how we can
2:13:57potentially do that if the numbers back
2:13:59that up.
2:14:00>> Okay. Okay. And lastly, probably through
2:14:01through an through an order through the
2:14:03through the chair, um you said that it's
2:14:05it's um has done its job and has picked
2:14:08up we've been able to um have less trash
2:14:12throughout our city. And so I just want
2:14:14to have an idea of what does that mean?
2:14:16Like what are the numbers of the amount
2:14:18of trash or bags that have been dumped
2:14:21throughout the city? Again, to show the
2:14:23residents that this program is working,
2:14:24not just by saying it, but by showing
2:14:26numbers of the amount of trash that's
2:14:28been dumped.
2:14:30Um I think it's hard to say the exact
2:14:32numbers but um in terms of bags but if
2:14:34memory serves and I think we had it uh
2:14:38listed here some 20 tons of recycling
2:14:40and 40 tons of trash have been collected
2:14:42through the Wubins program over the past
2:14:44six months. So it's it is substantial.
2:14:48>> Okay. Thank you.
2:14:50>> Thank you. Okay. Council Tommy Council
2:14:53Tumi followed by councelor Rivera.
2:14:57>> Thank you Mr. Chair. Um, just a point of
2:14:59order. I think the previous two votes
2:15:01that were taken were roll calls. I think
2:15:04that um, they were supposed to have been
2:15:06not roll calls. They
2:15:08>> should have been a roll call. So, I
2:15:10would like my my vote to be yes on both
2:15:13of them.
2:15:14>> Okay.
2:15:15>> Thank you,
2:15:16>> Council Rivera.
2:15:19Quick question because council asked the
2:15:21questions and Mr. to them. But uh I
2:15:24would say that what I'm hearing in
2:15:28neighborhood meetings that we have some
2:15:29complaints. I get pictures even and not
2:15:31even in my district of Wubins that are
2:15:33you know so 301 whatever but very
2:15:36successful 40 tons of trash extremely
2:15:39successful.
2:15:41I would go with the 30 in the 30. I'm
2:15:43telling you real quick you have no
2:15:45issues with putting 30 throughout the
2:15:48whole city. I got two. I got probably
2:15:50five of them right now that district
2:15:51five, but I'm waiting for two just to
2:15:54but
2:15:56um thank you for that. And um yeah, that
2:15:59that was pretty much it. Council I had
2:16:00to ask you the question. Thank you.
2:16:02>> Okay, all set. Thank you, Mr. Adele. So,
2:16:05we take collectively 9.31A 9.32A 9.32B
2:16:11collectively on a roll call.
2:16:13>> Councelor Bergman,
2:16:14>> yes.
2:16:15>> Bada Cono,
2:16:17>> yes.
2:16:18Zolo,
2:16:18>> yes.
2:16:19>> King,
2:16:20>> yes.
2:16:20>> Mitra,
2:16:21>> yes.
2:16:22>> Oh,
2:16:22>> yes.
2:16:23>> Rivera,
2:16:23>> yes.
2:16:24>> Rosen,
2:16:25>> yes.
2:16:25>> Tumi,
2:16:26>> yes.
2:16:27>> And mayor Petty,
2:16:28>> yes. We have finance items 9.37A
2:16:31and B. We adopt a roll call
2:16:33collectively.
2:16:35>> Roll call.
2:16:36>> Councelor Bergman.
2:16:37>> Yes.
2:16:38>> Bada.
2:16:38>> Yes.
2:16:39>> Econom.
2:16:39>> Yes.
2:16:40>> Zolo.
2:16:41>> Yes.
2:16:41>> King.
2:16:42>> Yes.
2:16:42>> Anditra.
2:16:43>> Yes.
2:16:44>> So,
2:16:44>> yes. Rivera.
2:16:46>> Yes.
2:16:46>> Rosen. Yes.
2:16:47>> Council Tumi.
2:16:48>> Yes.
2:16:49>> And Mayor Petty.
2:16:50>> Yes. 9.39A. Transformation information
2:16:53communication of the WIS three star
2:16:54certified welcome designation through
2:16:56welcoming Worester.
2:16:59>> Place on file. It's okay with everyone.
2:17:01Good job, Mr. Manager, your team and the
2:17:04community.
2:17:04>> Good job. So we uh place on file. Roll
2:17:08call.
2:17:08>> Councelor Bergman.
2:17:09>> Yes.
2:17:10>> Council Bada.
2:17:11>> Yes.
2:17:11>> Econom.
2:17:12>> Yes. Counc.
2:17:13>> Yes.
2:17:14>> King.
2:17:14>> Yes.
2:17:15>> Council Mitra.
2:17:16>> Yes. So,
2:17:17>> yes.
2:17:17>> Rivera,
2:17:18>> yes.
2:17:18>> Rosen,
2:17:19>> yes.
2:17:20>> Tumi,
2:17:20>> yes.
2:17:21>> And Mayor Petty,
2:17:22>> yes. Uh, Robert Stern, Carter,
2:17:24transmitting information communication
2:17:26of detailing compile completed school
2:17:28safety audit. Council King.
2:17:34>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, first want
2:17:37to thank um the auditor for this
2:17:41particular item. Um this is an item
2:17:43that's been sitting in committee in my
2:17:46education committee
2:17:48>> um for some time. Um
2:17:51and it's related to
2:17:54safety of of our schools. Um,
2:17:58going back to when I first filed this
2:18:00order, um, in September of 2023, 3 years
2:18:04ago, um, we asked for this to begin. And
2:18:08around that time, we were able to
2:18:10determine, uh, through the work, I think
2:18:12it's DTM, um, that we had an issue with
2:18:17school zone signage. Um, we had schools
2:18:20that were not um
2:18:24um were not identified or proper
2:18:27properly um
2:18:30um identified as school zones. We had to
2:18:32file a new ordinance. Um and I just
2:18:35wanted the the um through the chair to
2:18:38the administration if they could explain
2:18:39that process please and why it was
2:18:42necessary.
2:18:47>> Mr. Sterns or uh
2:18:49>> it's in the backup here.
2:18:51>> What's that?
2:18:52>> It's in the backup
2:18:55chapter um section 79 chapter 13.
2:18:58>> Mr. Arthur, can you just repeat the
2:19:01question as I
2:19:01>> think it's DTM?
2:19:03>> Oh, Mr. Raleigh
2:19:14>> Commissioner
2:19:15>> through the chair and I apologize. Would
2:19:17you mind repeating the question?
2:19:18>> You could just explain um we had
2:19:20discussions some years ago about uh the
2:19:22need for the school zones, the ordinance
2:19:25that had to be amended um and the
2:19:27reasons why that ordinance had to be
2:19:28amended. Um this came after I met with
2:19:31some folks in the Burco district who
2:19:33were concerned that um in many of our
2:19:36arterial ways um in those corridors
2:19:39there was a lack of signage for example
2:19:41Chandler Street, Main South um etc. Um
2:19:44and there was a an issue um and it
2:19:48required an ordinance change through the
2:19:50chair. If you could just explain for the
2:19:52public what that why that was necessary.
2:19:54>> Through the chair certainly. Um, so the
2:19:57uh school zone
2:19:59speed limits of 20 mph are established
2:20:02by ordinance. That means that we're not
2:20:05able to to sign a a 20 m per hour zone
2:20:08around a school unless it's been
2:20:10ordained by the city council. In uh
2:20:12doing the research at that time, uh I
2:20:15believe in 2025, we recognized that a
2:20:18significant number of schools did not
2:20:20have ordinances establishing school
2:20:22zones around them. Um I I don't want to
2:20:25get the number wrong, but it was it was
2:20:27a significant share. It was probably
2:20:29somewhere around half. Um so we drafted
2:20:32a new ordinance um and established
2:20:35school zones around every public school
2:20:37in Worcester. We retained all of the
2:20:39existing um private school zones, but we
2:20:42have not at this point uh established
2:20:45new school zones there. That could be
2:20:46done by a subsequent petition.
2:20:49>> Thank you. Um Mr. Chairman, you know,
2:20:51again, three years ago, I'd filed this
2:20:53order. It's still sitting in my
2:20:55committee. I'm welcome to to have this
2:20:57come back to committee um as well. Um
2:21:01and
2:21:02you know, in in May of 2026, I asked for
2:21:06an update once again. Um and the reason
2:21:09I asked for that update is because um
2:21:12you know, we needed data. We needed data
2:21:15on this stuff. in June and July
2:21:17according to this report. A month after
2:21:20um they commenced um with
2:21:24auditing um regarding uh several schools
2:21:29regarding school zones, crosswalk
2:21:31signage um etc.
2:21:34um through the chair to the
2:21:35administration. I do have a couple of
2:21:37questions as relates to the walkability
2:21:40audits, the arrival dismissal
2:21:42observations and grants um that we were
2:21:45we were seeking. Um do we have a a a
2:21:48number? I don't know if the CFO is still
2:21:50here. Um but if we have an actual
2:21:52number, a finite number as relates to
2:21:55how much um we're able to um apply
2:21:58grants um to this endeavor um given the
2:22:02fact that it's it's outlined here in
2:22:04this report through the chair,
2:22:12>> Mr. Sterns or
2:22:15Commissioner
2:22:23through the chair. So the the primary
2:22:25funding programs um available uh for
2:22:28this are the through the state's safe
2:22:30routes to schools program. We've been
2:22:32successful every year in obtaining at
2:22:34least one grant um through that program.
2:22:37Uh we endeavor to um obtain more but
2:22:41that's that's kind of the pace you can
2:22:43expect one or two grants a year. Um, I
2:22:46know this year we have submitted on uh
2:22:49for an infrastructure grant at Vernon
2:22:51Hill School and I believe we've been
2:22:52awarded that grant. Um, and I also
2:22:56believe there will be some uh funding
2:22:58for the Columbus Park School in the
2:23:00coming year.
2:23:02>> Thank you. Um,
2:23:04in this report it it it outlines and I'm
2:23:07not sure who wrote this. Is this your
2:23:09report? Who is this report? um if you
2:23:12could just speak to um a couple of the
2:23:15items on the second page regarding um
2:23:19the school zones um and compliance that
2:23:24was observed in June and July um and
2:23:26what's the planned installation of new
2:23:29school zone signs um through the chair
2:23:32as you understand it based on the data
2:23:34>> Mrs.
2:23:37um to the chair to the counselor. I um
2:23:41watched the committee meeting and got
2:23:42the information um the source of the uh
2:23:46of the ordinance and the schedule that
2:23:48has all the school zones with the
2:23:50streets. And so I used that as the basis
2:23:52of
2:23:54um actually going to the streets and
2:23:56seeing if they had the start of the
2:23:58school zone with the signage and the end
2:24:00of the school zone um in both directions
2:24:04on the streets listed
2:24:06and marked some of the criteria that was
2:24:10in in the order. also whether crosswalks
2:24:14are there uh signs for crosswalks or the
2:24:17uh flashing beacon um the so-called
2:24:22blinking um um crosswalk signs were
2:24:25there as well. So that's the work I did
2:24:27in June and July. And if they didn't
2:24:30have it, I I marked it or if it was an
2:24:32old sign or if there was coverage by um
2:24:35overgrowth of brush, I marked that down
2:24:38as well.
2:24:39>> Thank you. and through the chair to the
2:24:42administration, if you could speak a
2:24:44little bit to um the gaps. So, there's a
2:24:47number of of gaps here as it relates to
2:24:51um schools with 20 m per hour signage,
2:24:54schools that have crosswalks, some have
2:24:56crosswalks according to this report um
2:25:01on just some um parts of the school.
2:25:04Some have them on the entrances but not
2:25:05on the sides. Some don't have the
2:25:07updated signs. Um so if you could speak
2:25:10to those as well as the crossing
2:25:13blinking lights at crosswalks and what
2:25:16the plan is given the gaps. Um in some
2:25:19instances we have um you know uh 25
2:25:25schools without the um rapid flashing
2:25:29beacons that could use them. So with
2:25:31regards to the gaps, how are we figuring
2:25:33out how to do this um work? particularly
2:25:36because DTM reported that the top f five
2:25:39public schools that have the most severe
2:25:42crashes within the thousand feet are the
2:25:45adult learning sand center, Chandler
2:25:47Elementary, West East Middle, Belmont
2:25:49Street, Grafton Community, Grafton
2:25:51Elementary. There are so many needs. Um
2:25:54what is the plan to to fill those gaps
2:25:57through the chair?
2:26:00Commission
2:26:15through the chair. Um so as noted, there
2:26:18was a significant amount of work um that
2:26:20we've realized is necessary to um
2:26:25really implement all the safety features
2:26:28that are merited around the schools. Um
2:26:30so the focus initially has been on
2:26:32establishing those school zone signs. Uh
2:26:37there were huge number that were
2:26:39necessary both because of missing signs
2:26:41for previously ordained locations as
2:26:44well as all of the newly established
2:26:46locations that were establish that were
2:26:47uh voted last year. Um over the summer
2:26:51we did uh hire a contractor to install
2:26:55120 schools zone signs. As of this
2:26:58morning, 110 of those have been
2:27:00installed and um it's been reported that
2:27:03all the remaining 10 will be installed
2:27:05this week. So, that work will be
2:27:07completed. Um as far as crosswalks go,
2:27:10we're working with the DPW streets
2:27:12department on that um and submitting um
2:27:16work orders on those. So, those can all
2:27:18be addressed. And you know, many of
2:27:20these are locations that have never had
2:27:22these signs. So, for decades, they
2:27:24haven't had them. So, it's it's really I
2:27:26think an important thing that we're
2:27:27going through this in a very sort of
2:27:29orderly and complete process to get all
2:27:32of the proper signage that should be in
2:27:34place around the schools. In terms of
2:27:36rapid flashing beacons, um I think we've
2:27:39done a pretty good job of establishing
2:27:42those at school crossing locations um
2:27:46where they're really warranted in terms
2:27:48of streets that have higher traffic
2:27:50volumes or um higher observed speeds. Um
2:27:55there the auditor's report does list 25
2:27:58locations that um that do not have rapid
2:28:03flashing beacons. And this is something
2:28:05we'll want to spend a little bit of time
2:28:07um comparing to to our data to determine
2:28:10which of these we think um do merit
2:28:13them. Um you know in some locations uh
2:28:16the the fronting streets are very minor
2:28:18streets. So it's not really a good good
2:28:20location for an RFB, but we certainly
2:28:22want to make sure there's crosswalk
2:28:23signs there. Um other locations there's
2:28:27future work where it's anticipated that
2:28:30there will be rapid flashing beacons.
2:28:32for example,
2:28:33um uh let's see, I saw one and I miss oh
2:28:38May Street Schools. So that will um
2:28:41receive rapid flashing beacons as part
2:28:43of the Chandler Street Main Street
2:28:44project. Um so that's something we'll go
2:28:47through uh and identify and then uh
2:28:50prioritize those locations that as I
2:28:52said have the the you know the traffic
2:28:55data that that merits their
2:28:57installation.
2:28:58>> Thank you. indicates that DTM has
2:29:00planned for installing 120 new school
2:29:03signs through an outside contractor
2:29:06before the end of October. What is the
2:29:09status update on that? What are the
2:29:10actual
2:29:11>> through the chair? So 110 of those 120
2:29:13are installed um as of this morning and
2:29:16we expect the remaining 10 to be
2:29:18installed this week.
2:29:19>> And how many schools that encompass
2:29:21about
2:29:23>> approximately?
2:29:25It's probably around 35 to 40 schools.
2:29:29Um I I just want to give you
2:29:31commendations for that. Uh that's a
2:29:33quick turnaround. Um I'm sure DPW
2:29:35perhaps has something to do with that as
2:29:37well, city manager um etc. Um are there
2:29:42are there markings that have to also be
2:29:44done um as well through the chair? And
2:29:47if you could explain what the markings
2:29:48are for people that don't know.
2:29:50>> Through the chair. So I presume you're
2:29:51talking about the stencileled um school
2:29:55marking, pavement markings. So So those
2:29:58are uh markings that are an optional
2:29:59marking that again we like to apply if
2:30:01it's a higher volume or higher speed
2:30:04street. Um those should be applied at
2:30:07the location where the school zone signs
2:30:09are. So, now that these signs have been
2:30:11installed, we'll have our contractor
2:30:13come back, our payment marking
2:30:14contractor come back in and apply the
2:30:16school stencils in the appropriate
2:30:18locations uh here later this month.
2:30:21>> Thank you. I have two more things, Mr.
2:30:23Chairman. Um
2:30:24>> you're in your second five, too.
2:30:26>> Thank you. Um, one is, uh, one of the
2:30:30things that jumped out to me here is we
2:30:32have a grid,
2:30:34um, that was done and, um, from what I
2:30:38gather, and if I'm wrong, I'm sure the
2:30:39auditor will correct me, I saw two
2:30:43issues and observations
2:30:46that elevated
2:30:48crossings for kids and families as
2:30:51dangerous. That was Nelson Place where
2:30:54it indicates that the crossing at this
2:30:56intersection is dangerous. Um the other
2:31:00one was Rice Square School. Um where
2:31:03once again the word dangerous was used.
2:31:06Dangerous crossing in a section of
2:31:07Grafton Massoy and Plantation Street. Um
2:31:13through the chair um to DTM um what is
2:31:16the plan in those locations and are
2:31:18there others that are equally dangerous?
2:31:24through the chair. So I don't have that
2:31:26particular table in front of me, but I I
2:31:28can say that in terms of um Rice Square
2:31:30School, so Massoya Road is being
2:31:32reconstructed
2:31:33um currently. In fact, that section has
2:31:36already been redone uh right in front of
2:31:38the school extending north to Grafton
2:31:40Street. So the crosswalks have been
2:31:42improved with curb extensions. There's a
2:31:44rapid flashing beacon that's been put
2:31:45right in front of the school. So, I
2:31:47think that's that's being pretty
2:31:48effectively addressed through the um the
2:31:52existing work that's taking place there.
2:31:54Um Nelson Place, I would have to
2:31:56refamiliarize myself with that
2:31:58recommendation. We actually did install
2:32:00a rapid flashing beacon down at Grove
2:32:02Street, which isn't right at Nelson
2:32:04Place, but I'm I suspect that that's
2:32:06what the report was referring to because
2:32:08that's the high volume street in that
2:32:10location. Um, so this previous year we
2:32:14did install a rapid flashing beacon
2:32:15there to help uh children who are
2:32:17walking to school cross the street
2:32:18safely.
2:32:20Thank you. Um,
2:32:22I'm not sure if the city solic uh the
2:32:25city auditor could could speak to this.
2:32:27I don't know if you're prepared, but one
2:32:29of the um important aspects of this I'd
2:32:31like to see in committee is um the
2:32:34education piece. So there's a piece here
2:32:36on bicycle education, pedestrian
2:32:39um professional development um for the
2:32:42health and wellness um folks and
2:32:44physical education teachers etc. Um
2:32:48I'm just wondering what you called um
2:32:52you know if you could kind of qualify
2:32:54that or quantify it um from the audit
2:32:57related to education.
2:33:01It was commented that that's an ongoing
2:33:03activity uh educating um children
2:33:08walking to school um safely, riding
2:33:11bikes to school, getting on the buses
2:33:13safely. Um my read of the reports and
2:33:18the SRTS reports is that that is an
2:33:22ongoing activity. And is it fair to say
2:33:25it sounds like there's some progress
2:33:27that would be being made at this time by
2:33:29the city,
2:33:32>> Mr. Sterns,
2:33:33>> based on the audit?
2:33:34>> I other than the education is going on,
2:33:37uh the effects of it, um I don't have
2:33:40any data on that.
2:33:42>> Okay. Um Mr. Chairman, the the only
2:33:46other thing I I would add and I would
2:33:48ask uh Commissioner Raleigh perhaps is
2:33:51you know I in my work as a social worker
2:33:53in various schools throughout the city
2:33:54in all different districts and what I've
2:33:57found in the middle schools um and some
2:33:59of the high schools is the um the number
2:34:03of um scooters and and uh electric bikes
2:34:08um that are there and um you know large
2:34:12numbers um you know if you go to some of
2:34:15our schools. I mean, 20, 30 of them,
2:34:18sometimes inside so they're safe,
2:34:20sometimes locked outside in the bike
2:34:21racks. Um, but through the chair, um,
2:34:24can you speak a little bit to, um, any
2:34:28educational piece that you guys are
2:34:30looking at um, for our kids as it
2:34:32relates to that? Through the chair,
2:34:35>> commissioner,
2:34:36>> through the chair. So most of that work
2:34:38is is done in in uh coordination with uh
2:34:41Worcester public schools and the safe
2:34:42routes to schools program. One of the
2:34:44things they've done is uh bike rodeos at
2:34:48various schools where that's typically
2:34:50actually at the elementary school age
2:34:52where um they'll have some activities to
2:34:54teach kids safe bike riding skills and
2:34:56actually demonstrate them at the school
2:34:59site. So I think that's a good program
2:35:01we have. Um, it wasn't too long ago that
2:35:04the safe roots to schools program in
2:35:06Worcester had basically become stagnant
2:35:08and that's been reactivated, which I
2:35:10think has been really valuable. I don't
2:35:12recall off the top of my head exactly
2:35:14how many schools are participating in it
2:35:15now, but it's the majority of them. Um,
2:35:18so it's been a concerted effort from
2:35:21Worcester public schools with support
2:35:22from DTM and and Worester police as well
2:35:25um to get that to get that program
2:35:27reestablished. Um, we haven't targeted
2:35:30older kids yet and I think it's a good
2:35:32suggestion to do so. Uh, one of the
2:35:35things that I noticed when we were um at
2:35:37Dohy High uh doing some work for the the
2:35:41Highland Street Newton Square project
2:35:42that we're working on is tons of kids
2:35:44ride their bikes there. Tons. Like the
2:35:47principal was telling us that the bike
2:35:49racks are always full and kids are
2:35:51taking the bikes in the, you know,
2:35:52inside to keep them safe because there's
2:35:54no no place to park them outside. So,
2:35:56it's, you know, I think it's a good
2:35:58suggestion. Um, often times our
2:36:01department's really focused on the
2:36:02infrastructure piece, but the education
2:36:05piece is an important one, too.
2:36:06>> Certainly appreciate the interface with
2:36:08law enforcement in this regard. Um, and
2:36:11I'll say I'm not going to say which
2:36:12middle school was, a couple of them.
2:36:14They have, you know, 20 or 25 of them um
2:36:17there. And you know, I think as as
2:36:19important as it is to educate folks on,
2:36:22you know, um using their bicycles and
2:36:24walking and and when they get their
2:36:26permits and licenses that it's equally
2:36:27important that we do this education
2:36:29piece, um this particular gap there. I
2:36:32just want to also give you kudos for um
2:36:35what you call was kickstarting or
2:36:36restarting um the safe routes to school
2:36:40task force with the schools, Department
2:36:42of Public Health, Department of Public
2:36:44Work, the police, Mass D,
2:36:47etc. Um in this two-year strategic plan.
2:36:50I don't know that we have that um
2:36:52anywhere uh but I would like to make a
2:36:54motion that we get that strategic plan
2:36:57um moving forward, Mr. Chairman. But um
2:37:00a lot of work that's that's happened in
2:37:02a flurry. Um you know and I think it
2:37:04it'll go a long way um for our kids. Um
2:37:09the only other question I had is it
2:37:11relates to Chandler Street uh school up
2:37:13there. Um a lot of construction as it's
2:37:16mentioned in the report. Um
2:37:20a lot of concerns there. um you know and
2:37:22I've talked to council about this and
2:37:24council rivera before him around um
2:37:27approaching element that school coming
2:37:29from main street at the crest crest of
2:37:33the um hill there um over I think
2:37:36Wellington and and Chandler probably um
2:37:39very difficult when those kids walk
2:37:41right there at the top of that
2:37:43especially in the afternoon with the sun
2:37:45and we've talked time and time again
2:37:47that that might be a location for a
2:37:49>> Can you wrap up now?
2:37:50>> Yep. for a PHP for hybrid brie. Um would
2:37:53like to make a motion that be considered
2:37:55as well. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
2:37:56>> Thank you. Okay. So, we'll send that to
2:38:01Council Zol.
2:38:04>> You're muted.
2:38:05>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you,
2:38:08I'd like to ask a couple questions. Uh
2:38:10in this
2:38:13uh completed school safety audit, were
2:38:17principles uh spoken to about their
2:38:20school and the uh issues around it
2:38:24>> outside Mr.
2:38:25>> by my office? No, we did not.
2:38:27>> No. No. Okay. Uh two schools that I uh
2:38:31would bring up uh Roosevelt and Rice
2:38:33Square School. Uh dismissal and drop
2:38:36off. uh we know our our issues and I
2:38:39believe if we talk to the principles uh
2:38:42they need to be involved and they need
2:38:45to be more understanding of what's going
2:38:48on outside their school uh during that
2:38:51time. Uh in Ro in the case of Roosevelt
2:38:56uh we we have made a a much improved uh
2:39:01drop off and dismissal
2:39:03uh plan there. But I think it still can
2:39:07be improved by uh the principal allowing
2:39:09cars onto the property earlier than
2:39:122:00.
2:39:14And uh
2:39:17there's an issue now that uh parents for
2:39:20whatever reason, you know, want to come
2:39:22early and get get to uh the school as as
2:39:27uh you know, as early as they can. And
2:39:30what happens is because we have the no
2:39:32parking there on on Grafton Street, uh
2:39:35they're parked in the middle of the road
2:39:37now waiting for that those cones to be
2:39:40removed and that them being allowed onto
2:39:43school property to uh get in line to
2:39:46pick up their children. It's an issue
2:39:49and uh the school principal uh has dug
2:39:52in and won't uh allow anybody to uh
2:39:56access property in that the driveway of
2:39:58that uh school until 2:00. And I think
2:40:01that's I be honest with you, I think
2:40:03that's an issue that should be talked uh
2:40:06spoken uh you know the principal should
2:40:09be spoken with and and uh asked to
2:40:12cooperate. Uh, Rice Square School
2:40:17is another one where uh if if the
2:40:20principal has hadn't been spoken to, uh
2:40:23I know through the mayor's office, uh
2:40:25the mayor um has has spoken with the
2:40:28superintendent to try to uh get all
2:40:31teachers parked off the street and into
2:40:35our Lady of Lorettto Church parking lot
2:40:37where they're allowed to park. And uh as
2:40:40of this date now, we've been in school
2:40:42well over a month. Uh there's still
2:40:45teachers that are hellbent to stay
2:40:47parked on the side streets around that
2:40:50school. I've been very patient with
2:40:52that. Uh Mr. Raleigh, through you, Mr.
2:40:55Chairman, you know, we've uh gone
2:40:56through traffic and parking to put up uh
2:40:59some parking restrictions around the
2:41:01school. And I have uh tried to be
2:41:04patient with the principal there and the
2:41:06teachers there. And uh my patients are
2:41:09wearing thin because uh there's a huge
2:41:12safety issue where they could be parked
2:41:14their car in the parking lot and allow
2:41:18for uh those side streets that that uh
2:41:23uh are narrow uh and uh when teachers
2:41:28are parked on both sides of Indiana
2:41:30Street, uh only one vehicle can one
2:41:33width of a vehicle can get down that
2:41:36street. And uh I only bring this up
2:41:40because
2:41:41uh we're trying to work uh with both
2:41:45schools to uh come up with the best uh
2:41:49plan to uh alleviate that con congestion
2:41:54uh you know that uh happens there uh at
2:41:58dismissal and uh early early in the
2:42:01morning drop off and uh again uh through
2:42:05you Mr. chairman. Uh we've been patient
2:42:08on both ends, but I think at some point
2:42:12uh either the manager or the mayor of
2:42:15the uh who is chairman of uh the school
2:42:17committee has to uh speak to someone in
2:42:21in the school department and tell them
2:42:23that uh in these cases the principles
2:42:25have to be more uh cooperative. Thank
2:42:29you, Mr. Chairman.
2:42:30>> Let's make a suggestion. Maybe we ask
2:42:32for a report from the superintendent
2:42:33both of those schools. bring a forth in
2:42:35front of us.
2:42:39Oh, Mr. Raleigh. But, uh, anyways, the
2:42:42superintendent and as far as Rice Square
2:42:44was concerned was there's 80 people that
2:42:46work in that building. The lot only
2:42:48takes 40 to 50 lot cars. So, we got
2:42:50another 30 cars we got to find spots
2:42:52for. So, let's get that in the report so
2:42:54we can uh figure that out. All those in
2:42:57favor post. So, I'm sorry. We could do a
2:42:59roll call. So,
2:43:02Anybody
2:43:06else? Council,
2:43:09>> I can get my microphone to work. Uh, are
2:43:11there any Just quick followup. Uh, are
2:43:14there any plans moving forward to work
2:43:17with the school principles on these
2:43:21issues? Has that been happening? Are
2:43:23there plans in the future to do that to
2:43:25address, you know, like working with the
2:43:27individual school principles from the
2:43:28city side to address these these
2:43:30challenges?
2:43:38um through the chair. So, typically um
2:43:41typically uh that'll occur when there's
2:43:44a specific issue such as councelor
2:43:46Friscilla just talked about. Um we'll
2:43:48engage directly with the the school
2:43:50administration at that point. Um or the
2:43:53other avenue are these safe roots to
2:43:55schools um um programs where they'll
2:43:59take an intensive look at a school make
2:44:01a series of recommendations and through
2:44:03that process the various departments who
2:44:05have a role whether it's DTM or police
2:44:08department or public health or whomever
2:44:10um will be engaged with the the
2:44:12principal and the other um staff
2:44:14involved in school safety.
2:44:16>> Okay. Uh, just one other followup that I
2:44:19have. Are the schools pursuing any
2:44:23grants to improve things like that?
2:44:25Excuse me, to improve what we're talking
2:44:27about here. Is that under their purview?
2:44:28Are they, you know, I'm assuming there
2:44:30might be grants that they could pursue
2:44:31that the city can? Are there any options
2:44:33for them to pursue additional funding to
2:44:34to improve safety around the schools?
2:44:37Commissioner
2:44:38>> through the chair. I'm unsure if there's
2:44:40programs that the schools are eligible
2:44:42for separately than the safe roots to
2:44:44schools grants which um this the
2:44:47municipal side actually takes the lead
2:44:49on. Um there there may very well be but
2:44:51we do uh apply for the safe roots to
2:44:54schools grant funding every year.
2:44:55>> Okay. Thank you.
2:44:57>> Thank you. Okay. So we'll take this.
2:45:01We'll send the education piece of the
2:45:03report to education and traffic and
2:45:04parking. There's number of traffic and
2:45:06parking issues to send in the traffic
2:45:07and parking
2:45:09and along with the motions. Uh we will
2:45:13do roll call. Roll call.
2:45:14>> Councelor Bergman.
2:45:15>> Yes.
2:45:15>> Mr. Bada.
2:45:16>> Yes.
2:45:17>> Mr. Econom.
2:45:18>> Yes.
2:45:18>> Mr. Molo.
2:45:19>> Yes.
2:45:19>> Mr. King.
2:45:20>> Yes.
2:45:20>> Mr. Mitra.
2:45:21>> Yes.
2:45:22>> Mr. O'Hada.
2:45:23>> Yes.
2:45:23>> Mr. Rivera.
2:45:24>> Yes.
2:45:24>> Mr. Rosen.
2:45:25>> Yes.
2:45:25>> Mr. Tumi.
2:45:27>> Yes.
2:45:27>> Mayor Petty.
2:45:28>> Yes. Um recommending approval of Mr.
2:45:31Sterns recommending approval of an
2:45:33increase in the cost of living
2:45:34adjustment. Maximum from 16 to 17,000
2:45:36starting July 1st
2:45:382027.
2:45:40Uh so roll call.
2:45:42>> Uncle Bergman.
2:45:43>> Yes.
2:45:44>> Bada.
2:45:44>> Yes.
2:45:45>> Economo.
2:45:46>> Yes.
2:45:46>> Zolo.
2:45:47>> Yes.
2:45:47>> King.
2:45:48>> Yes.
2:45:49>> Mitra.
2:45:49>> Yes.
2:45:50>> Oh,
2:45:50>> yes.
2:45:51>> Rivera.
2:45:51>> Yes.
2:45:52>> Rosen.
2:45:52>> Yes.
2:45:53>> Tumi.
2:45:54>> Yes.
2:45:54>> And Mayor Petty.
2:45:55>> Yes.
2:45:56>> Robert Sterns. yards transmitting
2:45:58information communication to how the
2:46:00state the seal of Watts and Graves fund
2:46:02can be used at home cemetery.
2:46:06Refer that to Emmo.
2:46:08>> Roll call.
2:46:08>> Council Bergman.
2:46:09>> Yes.
2:46:10>> Bada.
2:46:11>> Yes.
2:46:11>> Cono.
2:46:12>> Yes.
2:46:12>> Zolo.
2:46:13>> Yes.
2:46:14>> King.
2:46:15>> Yes.
2:46:15>> Mitra.
2:46:16>> Yes.
2:46:16>> Oh,
2:46:17>> yes.
2:46:18>> Rivera.
2:46:18>> Yes.
2:46:19>> Rosen.
2:46:19>> Yes.
2:46:20>> Tumi.
2:46:21>> Yes.
2:46:21>> Mayor Petty. see current transmitting
2:46:23information uh information quality
2:46:26report outlining the various city
2:46:27councils and chairman laws adopted over
2:46:30the previous three months. We can file
2:46:32that roll call.
2:46:33>> Mr. Chairman,
2:46:34>> council,
2:46:35>> can we send that to municipal
2:46:36operations?
2:46:37>> You can do that. Want that?
2:46:39>> Okay. Roll call.
2:46:41>> Councelor Bergman.
2:46:42>> Yeah.
2:46:43>> Yes.
2:46:43>> Councilor Bada.
2:46:44>> Yes.
2:46:45>> Economo.
2:46:46>> Yes.
2:46:46>> Counc.
2:46:47>> Yes.
2:46:48>> King.
2:46:49>> Yes.
2:46:49>> Mitra.
2:46:50>> Yes.
2:46:51>> Ha.
2:46:51>> Yes. Mr. Rivera,
2:46:52>> yes.
2:46:53>> Mr. Rosen,
2:46:53>> yes.
2:46:54>> Tumi,
2:46:55>> yes.
2:46:55>> And Mayor Petty,
2:46:57>> yes. 11A,
2:46:59uh, child communications for a contact
2:47:01location at 135 Kern Road. Uh, council.
2:47:06>> Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion
2:47:08to file this uh, particular item. uh
2:47:12charter communications and the uh
2:47:15residents at 135 Kurma Road have uh come
2:47:19up with a uh different plan of action
2:47:21and uh they will file comm uh charter
2:47:24communications will file another order
2:47:26next week. So this order here, Mr.
2:47:28Chairman, again I'd like to file.
2:47:30>> Okay, so motion is to file. Roll call.
2:47:32>> Councelor Bergman,
2:47:33>> yes.
2:47:33>> Mr. Bada,
2:47:34>> yes.
2:47:35>> Cono, yes.
2:47:35>> Mr. Zolo,
2:47:36>> yes.
2:47:37>> Mr. King,
2:47:38>> yes.
2:47:38>> Mitra,
2:47:39>> yes. Oh,
2:47:40>> yes.
2:47:41>> Rivera,
2:47:41>> yes.
2:47:42>> Rosen,
2:47:42>> yes.
2:47:43>> Tumi,
2:47:44>> yes.
2:47:45>> And Mayor Petty,
2:47:46>> yes. Request the committee on municipal
2:47:48operation legislative operation review
2:47:50the rules of the city council relative
2:47:52to the public participation. Discuss the
2:47:53feasibility of amending rules of the
2:47:55council to have all city council
2:47:57meetings begin at 5:30 with the public
2:47:59participation occurring from set times
2:48:00from 5:30 to 6:30. Each meeting
2:48:04the motion, this is from councelor Jose
2:48:06Rivera and the motion is to send to ML.
2:48:07Councelor Rivera.
2:48:09>> Yeah. So, I just it's pretty sad that I
2:48:13have to come up here and explain my the
2:48:15reasoning of my uh order because there's
2:48:18a lot of misinformation out there. And I
2:48:20will say when when we read a text
2:48:22without context, we end up with a
2:48:24pretext for a proof text. And and I just
2:48:28luckily I have the facts behind me, but
2:48:31I just going based on the order that we
2:48:33have. We have right now 30 minutes 6:30
2:48:37to 7. We always suspend the rules. We
2:48:41always let unanimously. We always let
2:48:43the residents speak. I've not seen one
2:48:46time in the 10 months that I've been
2:48:48here that we've never suspended the
2:48:50rules for everybody to speak, have their
2:48:54two minutes.
2:48:55What I'm asking is so we can have a a
2:48:58balance because there's been more than a
2:49:00few times where past once midnight comes
2:49:04whether we want to stay or not we have
2:49:07to stop and we can't get the the work
2:49:09done and uh so I'm asking 5:30 to 6:30
2:49:15and it'll give and add in another half
2:49:18an hour for the public participation
2:49:20because I think it's important for the
2:49:22residents to have their uh their time to
2:49:25share all of their issues that they want
2:49:28done.
2:49:30But so we're not taking away nobody's
2:49:33time. We're adding, you know, we're not
2:49:35trying to stop anybody from
2:49:37participating in public speaking. And I
2:49:41I chair traffic and parking and I start
2:49:43all of my meetings at 5:30 and the room
2:49:45was full. And when when I let them speak
2:49:50five 10 minutes, I don't I don't give
2:49:52them a two-minute limit. and we're here
2:49:54for two and a half hours. There's no
2:49:56problem. Everybody's heard. All the work
2:49:58gets done. No issues here. We have an
2:50:02hour, 5:30, 6:30. We start our public
2:50:05meeting. We start our city council
2:50:07meeting. If we're not done with public
2:50:09participation, we suspend the rules,
2:50:12right? We give them time. Um the key
2:50:15point is that by midnight, even before
2:50:18midnight, probably by 11 or hour early,
2:50:21we're done with the work that residents
2:50:25elected us to get done. I mean, to me,
2:50:28it's 1 + 1 is equals to here. We we're
2:50:32balancing out. We're starting an hour
2:50:35earlier and uh
2:50:39and we're finish. We're getting the work
2:50:40done. Nobody stopping anybody from
2:50:43public speaking. Nobody's trying to
2:50:45interfere with anybody's,
2:50:48you know, no violating no open meeting
2:50:50laws. No stopping our constitutional
2:50:53rights. This is about getting the work
2:50:55done and allowing the residents to have
2:50:57their public speaking time. Um, I've
2:51:00heard different, you know, uh, we'll
2:51:02send it to MLO and and then we'll see
2:51:05what the council says.
2:51:08>> Thank you. the motions to send them o
2:51:11council k
2:51:15>> thank you Mr. chairman and um
2:51:18just want to begin my statements by
2:51:20saying that I I I do not think that
2:51:22public participation prot prevents us
2:51:24from doing the work. Um as an elected
2:51:28official in the city um for over a
2:51:31decade now we know that it es and flows.
2:51:35Um in 2025 we had the lowest number of
2:51:39city council meetings in 20 years. Mr.
2:51:42chairman. We had a meeting that lasted
2:51:45about 20 something minutes um in 2025.
2:51:49Mr. Chairman, tonight public
2:51:51participation lasted about 15 minutes,
2:51:54Mr. Chairman. Um and so public speaking
2:51:58would be done. Um
2:52:01you know, it it really depends on the
2:52:04issue. Um, and when there's hot button
2:52:07issues, um, related to our city, related
2:52:11to economic development, related to
2:52:14health and safety, um, we know that
2:52:16there's going to be a turnout and
2:52:18nothing prevents this council um, from
2:52:21voting against suspension of rules, um,
2:52:24if they feel that the time isn't valued.
2:52:26Mr. Chairman, um, I've spoken to a
2:52:29number of constituents
2:52:31um, that report this would create an
2:52:33hardship for them. Um, you know, I I
2:52:35spoke briefly with counselor Rivera
2:52:38before the meeting and said, "Hey, I'd
2:52:40like to go back to 7 PM." Um, and the
2:52:43reason why is it really hit a sweet
2:52:45spot. Um, from some of the nurses I've
2:52:47talked to over the years that are
2:52:48working 11 to seven shifts. Um, folks
2:52:51working 9 to5, it was a really good
2:52:53balance of folks being able to
2:52:56participate um, after getting their kids
2:52:59home from school and situated. Um we
2:53:02know that we as a council have uh family
2:53:05and friends um kids, grandchildren um
2:53:08that engage in in different um
2:53:12activities um that we would like to
2:53:14attend um and that we can't and we know
2:53:17that this particular form of government
2:53:19requires us to give our time um in a way
2:53:24that we would not have to give our
2:53:26personal time if this was a full-time
2:53:29um equivalent position.
2:53:31Um but it's not and um Mr. Chairman, we
2:53:36also um historically have um run into
2:53:40some challenges with our more active
2:53:42committees. Um over the years we've had
2:53:44folks um sh remember economic
2:53:47development for years meeting before the
2:53:48council um public health um traffic and
2:53:52parking where you got to the point where
2:53:55um when we switched to 6:30 um my guess
2:53:59that was probably I don't know 2022
2:54:03202 or so um that we ran into some
2:54:07challenges there Mr. ch um folks want to
2:54:10get home. They want to get in um for
2:54:13in-person um participation
2:54:16um because that's that's where folks
2:54:19feel um often that they're most
2:54:22effective. And sure um we have the uh
2:54:25other portion that's available and again
2:54:29an hour for public participation isn't
2:54:32always a necessity. Sometimes it's
2:54:34significantly less as we've seen
2:54:37tonight. Mr. chairman, I can tell you
2:54:39for myself, um, it creates a challenge
2:54:42as it relates to work. Um, my work ends
2:54:44at 5:00. There are times I can get out
2:54:46before, but it requires that I take time
2:54:48if I'm at a flag raising, I got to take
2:54:50time off my my uh uh time that that uh
2:54:54vacation time or what have you and it
2:54:56runs out. Um, so, you know, you're not
2:54:59always able to do that. and and you
2:55:01know, we know that we have folks that
2:55:03end in their workday um 45 minutes away,
2:55:06an hour away. Um to have the opportunity
2:55:08to get back on time to be in chambers is
2:55:11extremely important. Mr. Chairman, um
2:55:14through the chair, to the
2:55:15administration, I'm sorry, to the clerk,
2:55:18if you could just speak to when when we
2:55:20changed from 6:30 to 700 p.m. to
2:55:25>> Huh?
2:55:27>> Yeah. 7 to 6:30. Sorry. uh three chairs
2:55:29to the council. So it was before my
2:55:31tenure.
2:55:32>> I can do some research if you like, but
2:55:33I don't have the information. Okay.
2:55:34>> I don't Mr. Mayor, do you remember?
2:55:37>> It had to be over 10 years ago.
2:55:38>> Yeah, it was after it was after Black
2:55:40Lives Matter
2:55:40>> was here. I remember that.
2:55:41>> No, it was before that.
2:55:43>> Yeah.
2:55:43>> Yeah. Certainly. I became clerk in 2020,
2:55:45so we've always had 6:30. I think it was
2:55:48probably maybe 2015 or 2016 there was a
2:55:50revamp of the rules.
2:55:52>> It could have been back then.
2:55:53>> Yeah. um you know and and and 7 o'clock
2:55:56was that way for a long time and now the
2:55:58public has adjusted to 6:30. Um you know
2:56:01again um I think the 7:00's the sweet
2:56:05spot. 5:30 going back to that is not
2:56:07something that I'm willing to consider.
2:56:09Um I know there's going to be further
2:56:10discussion on this. I'm sure it'll go to
2:56:12committee. Um but I'm not going to
2:56:14support it. Um I think it causes
2:56:16hardship where we don't need to call
2:56:18cause hardship. And if folks feel like
2:56:20there's too much public discussion
2:56:22that's taken away from the the business
2:56:24of the city, um part of that feedback is
2:56:27the business of the city. Uh Mr.
2:56:29Chairman, and I won't be voting for this
2:56:31um to go to committee.
2:56:33>> Council Bergman,
2:56:36>> it's going to go to committee. So I'll
2:56:38try to make my comments brief.
2:56:40You know, I I I can speak for myself and
2:56:43I think some of my colleagues uh in
2:56:46saying that the narrative that trying to
2:56:48change the time somehow is trying to
2:56:51stifle public participation is just
2:56:54false and ours, as councelor Rivera
2:56:57said, is twice as much as we dedicate
2:57:00now. And I'd also say that uh school
2:57:03committee, as the mayor pointed out last
2:57:05last meeting, meets at 5:30. Our
2:57:08committees meet at 5:30. Um, I'm not
2:57:10saying 5:30 is the right time. Uh, we
2:57:13should talk about it in MLO and that's
2:57:15that's where hopefully it's going to be
2:57:17headed. Um, I will say that I've gotten
2:57:20zero emails. I got one text message last
2:57:23week at the meeting, but zero emails. I
2:57:26don't know if my colleagues did uh
2:57:27about, you know, this is going to be an
2:57:30inconsistent time. Um, maybe I missed
2:57:32one or two emails, but I I didn't hear
2:57:34an overriding public push back for it,
2:57:37but maybe there is. And that's what we
2:57:38do in committees. Um, but I will say
2:57:41that and hopefully council accepts this
2:57:44as a friendly amendment. We need to find
2:57:47more efficient ways to do the public
2:57:49portion of the meeting. We used to when
2:57:52I started on the council, ask the
2:57:54public, which we do at committees, if
2:57:56you have a spokesperson and you're here
2:57:58in a group and everybody's inclined to
2:58:00say the same thing, please consider
2:58:02having a spokesperson speak for a number
2:58:03of you. We can't force somebody to do
2:58:05that. They've got a everybody's got a
2:58:07right to be the microphone, but if
2:58:08everybody's got the same opinion, they
2:58:10come as a group. Maybe they could have a
2:58:12spokesperson speak on behalf of
2:58:13everyone. There are certain communities
2:58:15that require you to have written
2:58:16testimony, you can't speak in public.
2:58:18Um, so we welcome people speaking in
2:58:20public, but that doesn't mean we can't
2:58:22be more efficient about it. Um, lately
2:58:24we've had uh what I call uh America's
2:58:28Got Talent, not uh during our public
2:58:31portion of the meeting. It's somewhat of
2:58:33an embarrassment. That's not what we're
2:58:36here for. We're not here for
2:58:36performances. Um, so we need to be I
2:58:39know some people appreciate it. I think
2:58:41most of us that want to get the work
2:58:42done don't. Um, so I think there's more
2:58:46efficient ways to get the meeting done
2:58:49uh without depriving folks of the
2:58:51opportunity to speak. But I'm going to
2:58:52repeat one thing I said last time. Our
2:58:54charter says a reasonable amount of
2:58:56time. It doesn't say half an hour.
2:58:58Doesn't say an hour. Other communities
2:59:00do less. Other communities possibly do
2:59:02more. Doesn't say the beginning of the
2:59:03meeting. And our charter says something
2:59:05very interesting which has always
2:59:06intrigued me. It talks about the public
2:59:08being the citizens and the employees of
2:59:10the city of Worner. That means to me
2:59:12that somebody out in the Midwest or the
2:59:14West Coast isn't that. But we let
2:59:16everybody speak. So we're generous. And
2:59:19you know this narrative that we're not
2:59:20generous really ticks me off because the
2:59:23charter says a reasonable amount of
2:59:25time. It doesn't say that 30 minutes or
2:59:2760 minutes is not reasonable. So let it
2:59:31go to committee. Let's talk it over. I
2:59:33have my concerns that it may not be
2:59:35effective because ultimately even if we
2:59:38limit it to an hour, there's always
2:59:40going to be people um requesting more
2:59:42time and the the nature of this council
2:59:45has been to grant more time
2:59:46consistently. Um so and also I don't
2:59:50know how we have committee meetings on
2:59:52Tuesdays if we're going to start the
2:59:53council meeting at 5:30. So there are
2:59:56issues to to consider. Again, I'm not
2:59:59saying I support it or don't support it.
3:00:01But what I don't support is is the
3:00:03characterization that somehow those of
3:00:05us that want this to go to MLO for more
3:00:07discussion to see if if a change of time
3:00:09would work or if it or if we can find
3:00:11ways to be more efficient is somehow
3:00:13stifling the public input. Simply not
3:00:16true. Charter doesn't say that and it
3:00:18it's just a false narrative in my
3:00:20opinion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
3:00:23>> Council B, did you have hand up? Council
3:00:26B.
3:00:26>> Yeah, thank you. No, I completely
3:00:28understand where councelor uh Rivera is
3:00:30coming from and agree with wanting to do
3:00:33uh you know the council's business in a
3:00:35in a more efficient way. I think that uh
3:00:38I hope Mr. Chairman take issue with
3:00:39this, but I think that comes to how you
3:00:41know where where the meetings are are
3:00:43being run. I know there was sometimes
3:00:45some push back against you know what
3:00:47against folks you know not being happy
3:00:49with being asked what purpose do you
3:00:51rise? But I mean that that's the whole
3:00:52point of you know moving the meeting
3:00:54along efficiently. Um, and but I do I I
3:00:57can understand that like it's it's we're
3:00:59not taking away any time, but I I do
3:01:02agree that moving the meetings up to
3:01:055:30 would would be challenging for a
3:01:07lot of folks that would want to
3:01:09participate. Um, and I I don't think
3:01:11it's a very convenient time for the
3:01:14general public and and agree with what
3:01:16councelor Bergman saying that yeah, we
3:01:17don't some cities and towns don't allow
3:01:19any public commenter. have to have
3:01:20written testimony and I think we are
3:01:22generous with with with what we're you
3:01:24know doing but also it's our job to
3:01:26listen to the public. I I don't mind if
3:01:28you know twice once a month public
3:01:30comment goes for an hour. Um but I mean
3:01:32we we do have uh
3:01:36you know the the right to move to
3:01:38question as counselors. We all don't
3:01:39have to go around the horn on every
3:01:41single item. Uh that's why I'm speaking
3:01:42in opposition to this and and I think
3:01:44it'd be great to continue to enforce
3:01:46what purpose do you rise to whether
3:01:48you're to make sure that you're speaking
3:01:50in opposition or you wanted to provide
3:01:52an amendment. So uh we are I think
3:01:55respectful of each other's times too. Um
3:01:58so that's where I'm at. But that's
3:01:59that's why I'll be voting no on this.
3:02:00But I I agree. Uh I don't think this is
3:02:04intending to take away time, but I do
3:02:06think the unintended consequences of
3:02:07moving it up would do that. So thank
3:02:09you. Thank you, councelor Mitro.
3:02:13>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I think
3:02:17councelor Rivera's uh order, you know,
3:02:20if you really look at it does have
3:02:21merit. Uh, sometimes people are not
3:02:24interpreting it properly is giving an
3:02:26option for people to have more than half
3:02:29an hour time that we have. At the same
3:02:31time, the intent is good that we will
3:02:34get more time to finish the agenda items
3:02:36that we have. generally sometimes by
3:02:38having it from starting from 6:30 I mean
3:02:41we go to 7 sometimes goes longer and we
3:02:44are unable to finish our whole whole
3:02:46agenda and I see the merit in it but the
3:02:48point is that such discussion should be
3:02:52done and then let's review everything
3:02:54let's look at the everything has a pros
3:02:56and cons let's have a discussion on it
3:02:58and the best place to have a discussion
3:03:00we have a process the process is send it
3:03:03to the standing committee where more
3:03:05people can come where counselors can
3:03:07come where the members of the committee
3:03:09can discuss and bring in the more
3:03:11healthier solution to it. Maybe it is
3:03:13good maybe after we discuss we find that
3:03:16this is a good solution to make our
3:03:18point that we want to get agenda items
3:03:20done before midnight and not too late.
3:03:22So has merit must go to MLO. I would
3:03:25suggest Mr. Chair to send it to MLO have
3:03:28a better discussion and bring it back to
3:03:29the council for further discussion if
3:03:32needed. Thank you.
3:03:33>> Thank you councel Rosen.
3:03:39Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman,
3:03:42most of our our subcommittees meet, I
3:03:46think all of them, all what, 10 of them,
3:03:48they meet between 5 and 5:30. I don't
3:03:50think there's any subcommittee that
3:03:52meets after 5:30. I don't think there's
3:03:54any subcommittee that meets before 5:00.
3:03:57I know in public health, I always choose
3:03:585:15. I think our public works starts
3:04:01about 5, but no one goes beyond 5:30 and
3:04:05people have never complained about those
3:04:07meetings. They seem to attend if there's
3:04:09a big issue on there. Now, we talked in
3:04:11MLO about chatter review and you know,
3:04:14when people knew about the meeting, they
3:04:15all came down, whatever time that was. I
3:04:17think it might have been 5:00 even. So,
3:04:19I don't see a problem in subcommittees
3:04:22with the time we start. And I'm not sure
3:04:24there would be a problem if we make a
3:04:26change in the time that the uh city
3:04:29council meetings start. And as far as
3:04:32people maybe can't get down here at 5:30
3:04:35or whenever it is to speak, some people
3:04:37can't get down here at 6:30 either. But
3:04:39we do have a great opportunity online.
3:04:41People can stay home, you know, watch
3:04:43the kids, make the dinner, whatever they
3:04:45have to do, and you know, call in and
3:04:48they get their same two minutes and it's
3:04:50just as effective. So, you know, they
3:04:52don't have to appear here necessarily.
3:04:55It's probably nicer for them and they
3:04:57feel like maybe we listen a little more
3:04:59if they're right before us, but I think
3:05:00we listen well too when they're calling
3:05:03from at home. So, I guess I'm going to
3:05:05make amendment on this though. I'm going
3:05:07to request that we change the 5:30 or at
3:05:09least, you know, this can go to maybe
3:05:11both times can go to the MLO committee,
3:05:13but make it 6:00. 6 o'clock I think is
3:05:16is a good uh you know time for most
3:05:20people since all subcommittees start 5
3:05:24to 5:30. This is 6:00. I don't think
3:05:26there'll be any complaints if we start
3:05:28at 6:00. They'll come down if they have
3:05:30time. They'll go online if they don't
3:05:32have time to come down. It's a
3:05:34reasonable time. And as I said, every
3:05:36subcommittee, no one starts at 6.
3:05:405:30 is definitely the the the uh latest
3:05:44we start. So my amendment would be six
3:05:47o'clock starting the city council
3:05:49meetings and still giving the the public
3:05:52the chance to speak whether it's a half
3:05:53an hour an hour. We always suspend the
3:05:55rules. We let the people speak. Okay.
3:05:58And it's worked out pretty well.
3:05:59Sometimes it's a couple hours. Yeah.
3:06:00We've had, you know, the homeless issue
3:06:02and other issues and you know they take
3:06:03a couple hours because they, you know,
3:06:05we're their representatives. So that's
3:06:07why they come down and speak to us and
3:06:09it should happen. You know, you
3:06:11shouldn't say, "Well, they already spoke
3:06:12a half an hour. We have to suspend the
3:06:14rules and all that." Give them a chance
3:06:15to speak. I don't mind that. They should
3:06:17all have a chance to speak. I'm not
3:06:18talking three or four hours. I'm
3:06:20talking, you know, an hour, an hour and
3:06:21a half or so on. But my amendment would
3:06:23be 6:00 starting the city council
3:06:26meetings. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
3:06:28>> So, you're looking at to add 6 p.m. So,
3:06:30it could be 5:30 or 6.
3:06:32>> Yeah, 5:30 or 6, right? So, when we talk
3:06:33about in committee, we could discuss
3:06:35both. Okay, council King for second
3:06:38time. Give
3:06:39>> me 20 seconds. Um, Mr. Chairman, um, I
3:06:42like to
3:06:43>> my hand raised.
3:06:44>> Oh.
3:06:44>> Oh, council me. I'm sorry for the first
3:06:46time. Council Tumi.
3:06:47>> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much.
3:06:49Um, I think the the important thing is
3:06:52is that we do have a discussion that
3:06:53people have uh different opinions and
3:06:56that um we should be listening to uh the
3:06:59public and and also our concerns. And I
3:07:02think councelor Rosen um brought up a
3:07:04point that I was going to bring up too
3:07:06is that the there is the out of
3:07:07compromise and 6:00 may very well be uh
3:07:10a good point of compromise for folks. Um
3:07:13so I look forward to seeing this in
3:07:15committee. Thank you.
3:07:16>> Thank you, Council King.
3:07:18>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um really
3:07:20quickly, um if I could make a motion or
3:07:23perhaps Yeah, motion um that rule five
3:07:28um also be sent to committee. Rule five
3:07:31allows for um any counselor if they get
3:07:34five signatures to request a special
3:07:36meeting if they feel that business of
3:07:37the city is not being done. For example,
3:07:40Mr. Chairman, in addition to that, we
3:07:42know that when we have long meetings,
3:07:44they're a result of joint meetings,
3:07:46council agendas as well as um uh budget
3:07:51meetings for budget or if it's a hot
3:07:53topic issue, Mr. Chairman. Um so you
3:07:56know one of the things that uh we could
3:07:58consider is if there's a joint meeting
3:08:00or a cancellation of a joint meeting
3:08:02that we schedule on an off day um to
3:08:06make sure we don't miss a meeting that
3:08:07me week because that's the a lot of the
3:08:10time is when the manager's coming in and
3:08:11the council's coming in with a whole lot
3:08:13of things um even more so than public
3:08:15participation. Thank you.
3:08:18Okay.
3:08:31So,
3:08:33Mr. Cl
3:08:35and whether there's a charter or a ruler
3:08:38>> uh through the chair to the to the
3:08:39mayor. So, basically um I believe there
3:08:41is a charter section on that rule, but I
3:08:44don't have the actual section in front
3:08:45of me right now. But
3:08:47>> yeah, we'll send it to the committee for
3:08:48a report.
3:08:49>> Okay. Is everybody good? as amended.
3:08:53>> I'm sorry. Roll call.
3:08:55>> Councelor Bregman,
3:08:57>> yes. Council Mada,
3:08:58>> no.
3:09:00>> Council Economo,
3:09:00>> yes.
3:09:01>> Council Zolo,
3:09:02>> yes.
3:09:02>> Council King,
3:09:03>> no.
3:09:04>> Council Mitra,
3:09:05>> yes.
3:09:06>> Ha,
3:09:06>> no.
3:09:07>> Council Rivera,
3:09:08>> yes.
3:09:08>> Council Rosen,
3:09:09>> yes.
3:09:10>> Council Tumi,
3:09:11>> yes.
3:09:12>> Mayor Petty,
3:09:13>> yes. So, it brings us to the end of the
3:09:15meeting. Council Rivera, do you want the
3:09:17suspension? We do a roll call. Council
3:09:20Raero who wants to suspend the rules.
3:09:22You need eight votes. Roll call.
3:09:26Council
3:09:26>> Bergman.
3:09:27>> Yes. Council Bada.
3:09:28>> Yes.
3:09:28>> Council Economo.
3:09:29>> Yes.
3:09:30>> Council Zolo.
3:09:30>> Yes.
3:09:31>> Council King.
3:09:31>> Yes.
3:09:32>> Council Mitra.
3:09:33>> Yes.
3:09:33>> Roa.
3:09:34>> Yes.
3:09:34>> Counc Rivera.
3:09:35>> Yes.
3:09:36>> Rosen.
3:09:36>> Yes.
3:09:37>> Council Tumi.
3:09:38>> Yes.
3:09:38>> And Mayor Petty.
3:09:39>> Yes. Council Rivera. So basically, I
3:09:42just want to let all the councils know,
3:09:43all my colleagues know that on Thursday,
3:09:45we're going to have a very important
3:09:46meeting and uh Chandler dual language
3:09:49program at 6 PM. It's going to do with
3:09:52the double roundabouts on Ma Chandler
3:09:54and Main Street. And I know you guys are
3:09:56going to get a lot of emails for support
3:09:59or against. So it'll be ideal if you
3:10:02could make it to come to the meeting so
3:10:04you can hear from the residents and and
3:10:06you can hear from the city
3:10:07administration itself. Thank you.
3:10:09counter there. I'm counter.
3:10:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, real quick
3:10:12also, uh, we are having the Main Street
3:10:15revisiting, sorry, Main Street visiting
3:10:17meeting tomorrow at the YMCA at 5
3:10:23p.m., right? That's for Main Street. So,
3:10:25hopefully residents can can attend. It's
3:10:27an opportunity to have um to be able to
3:10:30speak on some of the concerns you have
3:10:31with uh the revisioning of Main Street.
3:10:34Thank you.
3:10:36>> Thank you. Motion is to adjourn. Roll
3:10:39call.
3:10:41>> Council Bergman.
3:10:42>> Yes.
3:10:42>> Bada. Yes.
3:10:44>> Conamu.
3:10:44>> Yes.
3:10:45>> Zolo.
3:10:45>> Yes.
3:10:46>> King.
3:10:47>> Yes.
3:10:48>> Mitra.
3:10:48>> Yes.
3:10:49>> Ha.
3:10:49>> Yes.
3:10:50>> Rivera.
3:10:51>> Yes.
3:10:51>> Rosen.
3:10:52>> Yes.
3:10:52>> Tumi.
3:10:53>> Yes.
3:10:54>> And mayor Petty.
3:10:55>> Yes.