WORCESTER—Calls for restrictions on new gas stations, praise for the municipality’s urban forestry master plan, a request for overdue recognition of 265 World War II combatants who died in the conflict, criticism of the city’s law department and a push for more help for struggling small businesses dominated Tuesday’s meeting of the Worcester City Council.
An order by Councilor Etel Haxhiaj asking that the city manager provide a draft recommendation with a prospective objective of curbing new automobile fueling stations in all zoning districts of the city received strong public backing.
Residents speaking on behalf of Haxhiaj’s order noted that Worcester already has approximately 60 gas stations, which is more than Providence’s 40, and that gas stations do not align with the city’s efforts to turn away from fossil fuels and embrace a green economy.
Pushback to Haxhiaj’s order came from Councilors Morris Bergman and George Russell, however.
To Haxhiaj’s assertion that many of her constituents are leading the charge on the issue of gas stations, Bergman said he has no recollection of similar concerns being expressed to him by residents. Bergman said “demand will drive” the fate of gas stations. “Let market conditions dictate,” he said. “This is an overreach.”
Bergman moved that Haxhiaj’s order be filed.
Jenny Pacillo and Khrystian King both backed Haxhiaj in asking for more information but Russell said “in my district, District 3, most people are driving older cars.” He pointed out that gas stations are not allowed in a residential zone, and only by special permit in other zones. “The system is working” as it stands now, he said.
While Pacillo and King both requested that Haxhiaj’s item be moved forward, Mayor Joseph Petty said he agreed with Russell’s position. Haxhiaj’s order does ask for amending the zoning, he said.
Haxhiaj defended her order, noting that a gas station on Hope Avenue is going to replace “a beloved bakery” and that there is confusion among her constituents about the availability of charging stations for EVs.
“I’m simply asking for an educated report,” she said.
The motion to file passed on a voice vote, however.
Small businesses and road construction
Addressing councilors separately, Andy Serrato and Tony Economou asked that small businesses be notified when road construction is going to take place in front of their property. Serrato is the former owner of Serrato Signs. Economou is a former District 1 city councilor.
Both men also asked for creation of an ombudsman position. The individual serving in that capacity would act as a go-between, to facilitate what Economou referred to as “a more holistic one-stop process” for people interested in establishing and operating a business in the city.
Road construction in front of a business is “not one week or one month” in terms of recovering the funds a business affected by this activity loses, Economou said.
Taking steps to correct these situations would amount to “an opportunity for the city to seize this and run with it” for better outcomes, Economou said.
Public-records request questions
As petitioners, Tom Marino and David Webb questioned the city’s law department.
Marino commended the law department for work that has improved “100% over the previous administration,” but noted that lately this has “bogged down.” He said in looking into a public records law issue on behalf of someone else, “I thought I’d ask for some data. It took an extremely long time. From the outside it appears to be a resource problem.” He asked for the administration to address this matter.
Webb’s requests were twofold. In the first instance, he asked that the city solicitor draft documentation required to amend the city charter in the interest of developing a review “to ensure the ongoing competency and efficacy of the law department.”
Webb also asked that employees of the law department be required to have “a basic comprehension and familiarity with constitutional law.” Lacking that, they should be required to submit papers and other legal documents as proof, he said. Otherwise, they would be ineligible to work in the law department, he said.
Both of Webb’s items, 18r and 18s, were sent to the city manager after a motion to file them failed.
Rod Lee is a career journalist, a veteran of the media scene in Central Massachusetts and the author of seven books including the recently published “Gil Cristopher,” a novel about the difficulties associated with aging. He can be contacted at rodlee1963@gmail.com
