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Worcester council orders review of petition rules after heated public comment
Summary
City council asked the city solicitor and clerk to review how resident petitions reach the council after dozens of public commenters warned that proposed procedural changes would curb direct civic participation.
WORCESTER, Mass. — The Worcester City Council voted to send three items about petitioning and public participation to the Municipal Liaison and Ordinances subcommittee after an evening of outspoken public comment urging the council not to narrow residents’ ability to place matters on the council agenda.
The motion asks the city solicitor and the city clerk to report back on how other Massachusetts municipalities handle resident petitions and to clarify which types of requests may properly be brought by residents rather than by councilors. Council Chairman Bergman said the requests were intended to resolve questions in the charter and in council rules, not to limit speech.
The agenda…
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