WORCESTER—This week’s city council meeting tackles several significant issues, including the adoption of key salary ordinances, reports on police technology, and local infrastructure improvements.
City Manager Eric Batista is proposing salary ordinances to implement bargaining agreements with both Local 1009, IAFF (Worcester Firefighters) and Local 504, IBPO (Worcester Police Officers). These agreements include wage increases of two percent in FY2024, three percent in FY2025, and two percent in FY2026, aimed at boosting morale and bringing city employees’ pay in line with other departments across Massachusetts.
Additionally, Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier presents to council a quarterly report on the Worcester Police Department’s use of drones (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems), which shows seven deployments between June 9 and September 9 of 2024.
Other notable items on the agenda include:
- Land reconveyance to Friendly House: The city council will vote on the reconveyance of land at 40 Wall St. to Friendly House, which supports youth services, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and food security initiatives in Worcester.
- Tennis court improvements at Newton Square Rotary: Councilor Etel Haxhiaj requests an update on any planned improvements to the tennis courts at Newton Square, asking the Department of Public Works for a status report.
- School facilities investment report: Council reviews a report from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau on investing in Worcester Public Schools facilities, along with an online tool for visualizing school conditions by neighborhood.
- New safety zones: Councilor George J. Russell calls for a report on locations where new 20 MPH safety zones should be implemented, focusing on areas around schools, daycares, senior centers, and parks.
- Speed limits on city streets: In addition to councilors request that city streets be subject to Worcester’s 25 MPH statutory speed limit, Councilor George Russell is also seeking to include Main Street, Stafford Street, and Park Ave. in that limit.
- ShotSpotter technology update: Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey seeks a report on the results of Chicago’s use of ShotSpotter technology to assess its potential benefits for Worcester.
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute property plans: Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson requests a report on WPI’s plans to purchase properties at 65 Prescott St. and 72 Grove St., including details of corporate agreements and tax implications.
Worcester City Council meets on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at City Hall in the Esther Howland (south) Chamber at 6:30 p.m.
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