2026-09-08 - Public Safety Committee
Summary
The committee (Kathleen M. Toomey, chair; Morris A. Bergman, arriving 5:17; Tony Economou) met from 5:04 to 6:20 PM with Inspectional Services Commissioner Nicholas J. Antanavica and Police Chief Paul B. Saucier. On the Council order to review the noise ordinance and a possible special noise variance for churches and festivals, three speakers weighed in (two in favor, one neutral). The Commissioner explained Police versus Inspectional Services enforcement, and members probed one-day and annual entertainment licenses, abutter notice and late-night complaint triage. Toomey's orders asked for a draft ordinance raising noise fines, a feasibility review of License Commission public hearings with abutter notice for all one-day event licenses, complaint and citation data at those hearings, and a report on the event-license approval process; the item was recommended for filing. On the City Manager's communication on the Police Department's Hospital Guard, the Chief described the role and staffing strain; orders asked for a report and cost estimate on staffing two officers per patrol car and an update on the July 21 order about lateral-transfer recruiting incentives, and the item was recommended for filing.
Summary written from the official minutes; no transcript yet.
Issues discussed: Noise Ordinance and Event Licensing, St. Joan of Arc Church Noise, Police Staffing and Hospital Guard
Official Minutes
Committee minutes posted on PrimeGov (summary of actions, not verbatim). Page footers removed.
CITY OF WORCESTER
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Esther Howland (South) Chamber
Convened: 5:04 P.M.
Adjourned: 6:20 P.M.
MAYOR
Joseph M. Petty
COMMITTEE MEMBERS CLERK OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey Nikolin Vangjeli
Vice Chairperson Morris A Bergman
Councilor Tony Economou
www.worcesterma.gov
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts
Present Were: Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey
Councilor Morris A. Bergman, who arrived at 5:17 p.m.
Councilor Tony Economou
Also: Commissioner of Inspectional Services Nicholas J.
Antanavica
Police Chief Paul B. Saucier
Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk
1. Virtual Attendee Call-In Information
a. Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public
engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote
participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the
meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the
below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated. If you join a Zoom
meeting by dialing in with a phone number, you can raise your hand by dialing *9.
Public Safety Committee Zoom Link: https://worcesterma.zoomgov.com/j/1615547889
Public Safety Committee Zoom Phone Number: +1 646 828 7666
Public Safety Committee Zoom Access Code: 161 554 7889
Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the following Speakers:
1. Bruce Hoffner, NH resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
2. Joseph Carcia, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
3. Gordon Davis, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor of nor opposed to item #3a
2. Approval of the Minutes
a. Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the
minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on June 23, 2026.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted
3. Miscellaneous Item
a. Order of Councilor Tony Economou, Councilor Jose A. Rivera, Councilor Kathleen M.
Toomey, Councilor Gary Rosen and Councilor Robert A. Bilotta - Request Standing
Committee on Public Safety hold a discussion to review the city’s ordinance relative to
excessive and unreasonable noise. Further, request said discussion include the feasibility
of amending the noise ordinance to allow for the creation of a special noise variance
application for churches, festivals, or organizations holding certain events (see attached
for Worcester noise ordinance, as well as other municipalities’ processes).
# 13b CC July 21, 2026
Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Inspectional
Services, who provided an overview of the city’s noise ordinance, which included enforcement
roles between the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and the Inspectional Services Department
(ISD), as well as best methods used to approach noise complaints at establishments.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed problem properties and the feasibility of establishing a
chronic ambient noise policy with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed the process used
by the License Commission to grant one-day and yearly entertainment licenses to establishments,
permissible event operation hours relative to religious buildings, permitted operations under a
one-day event license, the request within the one-day event license application for additional
amplification permitting, and the process relative to enforcing one-day event license violations
with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed ISD investigating reported noise complaints within
standard business hours with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed rules within
event licenses that exempt certain noise ordinance guidelines, late night reports of excessive noise
being triaged by WPD, the process relative to inform the License Commission of repeated event
violations at an establishment, and issues relative to event parking with the Commissioner of
Inspectional Services and Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City
Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a draft ordinance amending the city’s
noise ordinance by increasing fines associated with violations of excessive noise.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed the feasibility of
requiring WPD officers to be present at permitted events with the Commissioner of Inspectional
Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the process relative
to notify abutters of locations with approved one-day event licenses and an increase in one-day
event applications with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: “1)
Request City Manager review the feasibility of requiring that public hearings take place before the
License Commission for all one-day event license applications, with public notices being sent to all
abutters in the vicinity of the proposed location; and 2) Request City Manager request
Commissioner of Inspectional Services ensure data is provided at all one-day event license
hearings before the License Commission that identifies whether the property has received
complaints and/or citations relative to excessive noise and event permits for the purpose of
increasing noise ordinance enforcement.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed event capacity limits with the Commissioner of
Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed the process
related for ISD to inform WPD of weekly events occurring in the city with the Commissioner of
Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed required training to measure and analyze noise and the
feasibility of staffing ISD personnel at permitted events to measure excessive noise in lieu of a
WPD officer with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who highlighted the importance
of neighborhood testimony relative to issuing event licenses and issues relating to the early meeting
times of the License Commission with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed issues relative to unlicensed events occurring in the
city and the process relative to revoking an establishment’s Certificate of Occupancy due to
hosting unlicensed events with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed referring to the
building code to enforce repeated event violations with higher monetary penalties with the
Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City
Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services provide City Council with a report
detailing the step-by-step process used by the License Commission to approve event license
applications. Said report should also include the requirement for public hearings, the process used
to notify event location abutters, a list of identified problem properties, and best practices used in
other communities relative to event permitting and permit violation enforcement.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File
Chairman's Orders
Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a draft ordinance
amending the city’s noise ordinance by increasing fines associated with violations of
excessive noise.
Request City Manager review the feasibility of requiring that public hearings take place
before the License Commission for all one-day event license applications, with public
notices being sent to all abutters in the vicinity of the proposed location.
Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services ensure data is
provided at all one-day event license hearings before the License Commission that
identifies whether the property has received complaints and/or citations relative to
excessive noise and event permits for the purpose of increasing noise ordinance
enforcement.
Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services provide City
Council with a report detailing the step-by-step process used by the License Commission
to approve event license applications. Said report should also include the requirement for
public hearings, the process used to notify event location abutters, a list of identified
problem properties, and best practices used in other communities relative to event
permitting and permit violation enforcement.
4. Communication of the City Manager - Police Department
a. Transmitting informational communication relative to the Hospital Guard of the
Worcester Police Department.
# 7a CC June 2, 2026
Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Police Chief, who provided an
overview related to the role of Hospital Guard of the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and
discussed challenges relative to staffing capacity within the department.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed the feasibility of establishing a secured unit within the
hospitals to reduce the need of individual Hospital Guards per detainee and contract negotiations
to mitigate staffing challenges with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed the process
relative to staffing hospital transportation for detainees and the effect said arrangements have on
patrol/route officer staffing with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the need for
additional police officers within the department and the feasibility of staffing two (2) officer patrol
cars with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed short-term
methods to institute a two (2) officer patrol car practice with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City
Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the feasibility of increasing the Worcester
Police Department (WPD) personnel to ensure the staffing of two (2) officers per route/patrol car.
Said request report should also include an estimated cost analysis to institute such a practice.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the feasibility of
establishing precinct police stations to mitigate officer travel times with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City
Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previously adopted order from July
21, 2026, which read, ‘Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a
report detailing incentives and efforts provided by other cities and towns relative to recruiting
lateral police transfers.’”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Economou, who discussed the feasibility of
working with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office as a method of mitigating temporary staffing
challenges with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File
Chairman's Orders
Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the feasibility of
increasing the Worcester Police Department (WPD) personnel to ensure the staffing of
two (2) officers per route/patrol car. Said request report should also include an estimated
cost analysis to institute such a practice.
Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previously
adopted order from July 21, 2026, which read, ‘Request City Manager request Police
Chief provide City Council with a report detailing incentives and efforts provided by
other cities and towns relative to recruiting lateral police transfers.’
Transcript
Transcript pending: YouTube captions can't be retrieved yet (see the Worcester playbook).