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Kathleen M. Toomey

Context

Associated municipality: Worcester.

At-Large councilor; recuses herself from police and public safety items and the camping ordinance. Source: City Council journals (official minutes); spellings from the minutes.

Issues

Log

  • 2026-10-13 - City Council — Cost report on bathroom and shower facilities (13b) adopted under suspension; asked whether snow contractor rates will match MassDOT's and for post-storm reports; recused herself on the ALERTWorcester item; asked that her yes votes be recorded on two earlier roll calls; voted yes on both rules referrals.
  • 2026-10-06 - City Council — Arrived 6:37 PM. Moved the bathroom cost and funding-sources report (adopted) and amended Mitra's border signs order to use earlier signage plans; her MassDOT wayfinding sign order (Becker and Anna Maria colleges) was adopted.
  • 2026-09-29 - City Council — Recused herself from the police traffic, drone and retirement items, the noise, one-day event and two-officers orders and the Worcester State enforcement order, leaving the room each time. Asked that her June 9 scooter and e-bike regulation order be included in the helmet item; spoke strongly for the Burncoat project and equity, suggesting creative business and nonprofit investment; noted her own earlier Municipal ID order; opposed King's amended bathrooms order.
  • 2026-09-22 - City Council — Arrived at 6:34 PM. Recused from the camping ordinance, the police reform proposal, Harrington Way (8c/10d), the scooter order (10g), Chairman's orders 9a-9h and Public Safety reports 16a-16b; voted on Rules 61-63 and the Optiline orders. Co-sponsor of the scooter licensing order.
  • 2026-09-16 - Economic Development Committee — Vice chair. Supported the GreenTech TIF; asked about Responsible Development Ordinance compliance and local hiring on the Lakeside UCH-TIF, about 370 Plantation St. in the Belmont/Plantation rezoning, and about housing plans, flooding and Hermon St. parking in the Centro zone change; urged traffic enforcement for the 42 Hermon St. residents. All votes 3-0.
  • 2026-09-15 - City Council — Participated remotely; recused on downtown violence and several King items; withdrew her Public Safety invitation order (10-1); noted sheriffs elsewhere using opioid settlement funds for housing; voted no on extending public comment indefinitely.
  • 2026-09-08 - Public Safety Committee — Chaired. Led questions on noise-complaint enforcement and event licensing (said the $50 fine is no deterrent) and on a secure hospital unit for arrestees; brought four noise/event Chairman's Orders and two police-staffing orders (two officers per car, lateral-recruiting update); moved to file both items.
  • 2026-09-08 - City Council — Her order for a Public Safety discussion of the closed DOJ investigation (22b) was placed on file 8-3; the captions show her withdrawing it, and a reconsideration motion got 7 votes of the 8 needed. During the civilian review board discussion said accountability is the goal but another board is not the best route, thanked Kevin Lovaincy and read the DEI hotline number (508-799-1995 as heard). Her invitation to social-service agencies (15h) was held under privilege.
  • 2026-08-24 - Public Health and Human Services Committee - Raised high-THC vapes and psychosis risk, mental health as a root cause, peer mentorship, a healthy-futures pledge, and involving parent councils and recovery schools.
  • 2026-08-18 - City Council — Participated remotely; held her order for a public discussion of the DOJ investigation closure under privilege; amended the Common safety order; order on fire station renovations adopted 10-0. Her Common amendment cited over 100 early arrests followed by releases (her account); she voted against postponing the meeting.
  • 2026-07-21 - City Council — Moved the order for immediate 25 mph statutory signage on Hope Ave. after the speed limit rescission; absent for the salary ordinance advertising vote. Per the captions she closed the meeting asking the Council to thank a retiring police lieutenant (name garbled) for more than 40 years of service.