WORCESTER—As Worcester’s newly elected city council prepares to convene for its first regular meeting of the year on Jan. 13, the body has finalized its standing committee assignments for the 2026–27 term, laying out how legislative work—and political influence—will be divided over the next two years.
The committee structure, announced following the council’s recent reorganization, assigns councilors to nine standing committees that handle everything from economic development and public safety to traffic policy, public health and emerging technology. Each committee consists of three members, with a designated chair responsible for guiding agendas and advancing items to the full council.
Several of the assignments place newly elected or returning councilors into prominent roles. Satya Mitra, elected at large for the first time in November, was named chair of Municipal and Legislative Operations, a powerful committee that oversees core city functions including taxation, budgeting processes, personnel systems and the rules governing council proceedings. Mitra also serves on Economic Development and Public Works, giving him a presence across several policy-heavy areas early in his first term.
Economic Development — one of the council’s most closely watched committees —will be chaired by Morris “Moe” Bergman, with Kathleen Toomey and Mitra also serving. The committee handles issues related to housing, zoning, workforce development, arts and cultural investment and long-term planning, all of which were central themes during last fall’s municipal campaign.
Education, which oversees matters tied to Worcester Public Schools, libraries and higher education, will be chaired by Khrystian King, who finished second in the mayoral race and returns to the council again as vice chair. Tony Economou and Gary Rosen are also serving on the committee.
Rosen, who returned to the council after years away following a strong at-large showing in November, was named chair of Public Health and Human Services, a committee responsible for issues affecting seniors, veterans, housing stability, public health and civil rights. King and Toomey round out that committee.
Public Safety will be chaired by Toomey, with Bergman and Economou also assigned. The committee oversees police, fire, emergency communications and inspectional services — an area that has drawn sustained public attention in recent years.
Several district councilors were tapped to chair infrastructure- and operations-focused committees. Economou will chair Public Works, alongside Mitra and John Fresolo, overseeing streets, water, snow removal and sanitation. Jose Rivera, newly elected in District 5 after unseating an incumbent, was named chair of Traffic and Parking, joined by Luis Ojeda and Robert Bilotta. Ojeda will chair Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment, a committee focused on climate policy, smart-city initiatives and energy systems, with Rivera and King also serving.
Bilotta, elected in District 2, chairs Public Service and Transportation, which oversees public transit, cable and telecommunications, alongside Fresolo and Ojeda. Fresolo also serves on Veterans’ Memorial, Parks and Recreation with Bilotta and Rivera.
Finance and Ordinances — which oversees the city’s budget and fiscal matters — continues to be handled by the mayor and the full City Council, rather than a smaller committee.
The committee assignments come after a November election that reshaped the council while maintaining a mix of continuity and change. Mayor Joseph Petty secured an eighth term, while the at-large council slate included returning member Rosen and newcomer Mitra. District races brought further turnover, with Rivera and Bilotta both winning seats previously held by incumbents.
With committees now set, councilors are expected to begin advancing policy discussions as early as next week, when the council resumes regular meetings and committee work formally gets underway for 2026.
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