Search for new Worcester city manager returns to City Council agenda

WORCESTER — The City Council is scheduled to take up the city manager search at its Wednesday meeting, a week after an item outlining the next steps in the process was postponed by Mayor Joseph M. Petty.

Petty has said that he would forgo a search and give the permanent city manager job to acting City Manager Eric D. Batista.

At-Large Councilor Khrystian King, head of the Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee, which has been leading the search process, added an item to last week’s agenda that would have led to hiring a firm to do a nationwide search for the city manager.

Petty, however, announced the item would be postponed under City Council rules that allow any councilor to hold an item and suspend debate on it until the next scheduled meeting.

The mayor also refused King’s request to speak on the item, citing the hold. Then a vote to suspend the rules to allow King to speak on the item failed 6-4: At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen was absent, and Petty was joined by District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, District 3 Councilor George Russell, and at-Large Councilors Kate Toomey, Moe Bergman and Donna Colorio.

The item, and two related items, are back before the council Wednesday, according to the agenda.

The council previously voted 10-1 to undergo a nationwide search for the next city manager.

In addition, UMass Chan Medical School and its chancellor, Michael F. Collins, have petitioned the council to change the names of Plantation Street, Plantation Parkway and Plantation Terrace.

“The word ‘plantation’ connotes oppression in our country and serves as a reminder of the painful history of slavery in America,” the petition reads. “We would hope to participate in a larger community conversation regarding the appropriate course of action to find a more appropriate name.”

The petition is scheduled to be referred to the Public Works Committee.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Search for new Worcester city manager returns to City Council agenda