Public Meetings | City of Worcester
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PUBLIC MEETINGS GUIDE TO PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC MEETINGS Image Agendas & Minutes Review agendas & minutes for City Council and other public meetings. Image Meeting Calendar View the schedule for City Council and other public agency meetings. Image Video-on-Demand Watch live coverage or previous City Council and other public meetings. RULES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS At every meeting of the City Council, under the "public participation" portion of the agenda, the chair shall recognize any person seeking such recognition for the purpose of addressing the council on any eligible item on the agenda for that meeting both in person and remotely. Any person who wishes to speak on more than one agenda item shall combine their testimony on all items to one appearance at the microphone. The time for speaking shall not exceed two minutes for any one speaker or thirty (30) minutes for all speakers. See attached flyer for the full Rules of Public Participation. How will I know what is going on? Can I make a comment? City Council, School Committee and City of Worcester Boards and Commission meetings are generally all open to the public and interested individuals are encouraged to attend. The following guide will help you participate. English | Spanish | Albanian | Nepali | Portuguese | Twi | Vietnamese Know the Lingo? Learn more about the terminology used in City Council. Learn More PUBLIC NOTICE - VIRTUAL MEETINGS 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 "Public Participation" section of this meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, or to join via the Virtual Application follow the link or dial the direct phone line and access code as indicated on the meeting agenda. Joining a City Council Zoom Event Translated Captions for the City Clerk - Zoom Accounts and for more info visit Enabling and Configuring Translated Captions Joining a Teams Public Meeting Government Channel Live Stream PETITION THE CITY COUNCIL An individual may petition the City Council on a wide range of topics including the condition of streets and sidewalks, street lighting, public safety, housing, zoning, taxation, traffic, parking and many others. File a Petition EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS All City sponsored public meetings and hearings must be held in locations that are accessible to people with disabilities, including people who use wheelchairs. Persons with disabilities are invited to make their needs known to Department/Division hosting the public meeting by should they need: Auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, or Written materials in alternative formats, or Reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access programs and activities of the City of Worcester. How Will the City of Worcester Assist an LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Person? Through a partnership with Language Line Solutions, City employees have access to telephonic and face to face interpreters in 90 different languages. For more information concerning a meeting, please contact the Department/Division hosting the meeting by email or phone. Please send written comments and requests for reasonable accommodation 2 business days or more in advance of the meeting. Requests for language interpretation must be made 10 business days or more in advance of the meeting. While boards and commissions do their best to accommodate you, certain accommodations may not be available if requested within short notice of the scheduled meeting. Requests for American Sign Language interpretation must be made 10 business days or more in advance of the meeting. RULES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS At every meeting of the City Council, under the "public participation" portion of the agenda, the chair shall recognize any person seeking such recognition for the purpose of addressing the council on any eligible item on the agenda for that meeting both in person and remotely. Any person who wishes to speak on more than one agenda item shall combine their testimony on all items to one appearance at the microphone. The time for speaking shall not exceed two minutes for any one speaker or thirty (30) minutes for all speakers. See attached flyer for the full Rules of Public Participation. CITY OF WORCESTER STATEMENT OF INCLUSIVITY The City of Worcester recognizes the rights of all individuals to participate in the political and civic life free from bigotry and intimidation based on their race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other aspect of their being. As civic leaders we do not condone or approve of unwanted, unwelcome and inappropriate language, bigotry, hate, epithets, profanity, etc. that interferes with a standard of conduct that promotes respectful, inclusive and civic engagement in all City Council Meetings and Public Forums. WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Boards & Commissions The City's Boards and Commissions, whose effectiveness depends so heavily upon enlightened citizen participation, have an important impact on Worcester residents and businesses. The Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) established in 1986 assists the City Manager in selecting candidates for appointment to many of these boards and commissions. The CAC recognizes the importance of attaining a membership on municipal boards which reflects the ethnic diversity of the community. If interested, please submit an Online Application to the City of Worcester's Office of Human Resources. Board & Commission Vacancies Committees & Groups The City of Worcester has a number of committees and groups (not under guidance of the Citizen Advisory Council) whose role and involvement have an important impact on residents and businesses. Public Library In an information-rich and culturally diverse society, the Worcester Public Library is a source of civic activity and pride, offering opportunities for the development of a literate and informed citizenry. Today's library is a vital and vibrant place of information and learning, used and valued by people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Public Schools The Worcester Public School system is comprised of over 23,000 students in 44 schools, ranging from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. This diverse group of students helps make Worcester an excellent place to receive a first-class education. Accessing the City Council The City Clerk's Office guides you on how to reach your city councilors and file a petition. Watch Now! CONTACT INFORMATION Address City Clerk City Hall Room 206 455 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608 Contact Phone: 508-799-1121 Fax: 508-799-1194 Email Us Hours Monday 8:45 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday - Friday 8:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
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The Worcester Planning Board reviews site plans, parking plans, and subdivision plans while making recommendations on zoning ordinance changes and supporting long-range planning initiatives. The Board has updated its application review procedures and now makes all meeting agendas, minutes, and videos available through the OneMeeting portal as of July 2025, with archived materials available back to 2021. Applicants must submit digital copies of all applications and plans as PDFs to planning@worcesterma.gov, and the Board offers numerous application types including site plans, subdivisions, parking plans, and special permits for various uses such as accessory dwellings, adaptive reuse, and marijuana establishments.
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