Worcester City Council: Residents sought to serve on ad hoc committees for ARPA funds

Steven H. Foskett Jr., Telegram & Gazette
·2 min read
Worcester residents attended a community input session Thursday evening at the Worcester Boys & Girls Club to brainstorm the usage of the $111 million funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package, as well as an additional $36 million in state funds.
Worcester residents attended a community input session Thursday evening at the Worcester Boys & Girls Club to brainstorm the usage of the $111 million funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package, as well as an additional $36 million in state funds.

WORCESTER — The city is seeking residents to serve on ad hoc committees that will help review grant applications for the $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds set aside for community allocation.

According to a communication from City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. to the City Council on Tuesday's council agenda, the city is seeking applicants to serve on one of five ad hoc committees — the affordable housing trust fund, business assistance, community projects and programs, the creative economy and cultural plan, and mental health programs.

With assistance from city administration, the committees will help with award recommendations "according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's goal of funding those most disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially low-income communities and communities of color," according to the report.

The city is in line to receive around $146 million in ARPA funds; so far, it has been wired around $73 million of the total.

Petition to prohibit new gas stations

A petition signed by Douglas Arbetter and four other residents on Tuesday's council agenda asks the council to request the city manager develop a zoning ordinance amendment that would "prohibit the construction of, or new land use for, fossil-fuel automobile refueling stations citywide."

Currently, automobile fueling stations are allowed by special permit in certain areas of the city; residents and local activists have recently spoken out against proposals for stations on Park and Quinsigamond avenues.

The Park Avenue proposal was withdrawn by developers last month after Zoning Board of Appeals members indicated it didn't have the votes to pass.

Petition for proof of vaccination

Arbetter has a second petition on Tuesday's agenda asking the council to ask the city manager to "enact and enforce a vaccine mandate that requires proof of vaccination to enter all restaurants, gyms/weight training facilities and entertainment venues in the city."

Plan for archive at former Becker site

In a communication to the council, City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli said work is underway to consolidate and protect a portion of the city's archives and other historical materials at library space in the former Becker College property at 61 Sever St. that the city purchased last year, after the college dissolved.

Vangjeli's report notes that plans for the city archives include public access.

Moratorium debate continues

Also Tuesday, last week's order asking the city manager to consider enacting an eviction and foreclosure moratorium will resurface, after it was held at the request of at-large Councilor Morris Bergman.

The order, submitted by District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, prompted a long debate last week, but it will likely come up for a vote Tuesday.

It appeared last week that Haxhiaj's order — which only asks the manager to consider the moratorium — had enough votes for a 6-5 decision to send it to the Economic Development Committee for further discussion.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester City Council: Ad hoc committees forming to steer ARPA funds for community priorities