WORCESTER — Within the nearly $4 billion economic development package that the state Legislature sent to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk Thursday is an item that could pave the way for Worcester to name its next police chief.
While the big items in the more than 300-page package include $500 million for life sciences and $400 million for climate technology, as well as a pathway for a new professional football stadium in Everett, page 288 contains an important update on requested municipal information. exceptions to civil service law.
The text states that any city or municipality that has filed a request during the regular legislative session to exempt police and fire positions from civil service requirements may grant those exemptions without further legislative action if they send a letter to the following administrators :
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The personnel administrator of the Human Resources department within the Executive Office of Administration and Finance
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The Joint Committee on Public Service in the State Legislature
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The chairman of the Civil Service Commission
The letter must be received by the personnel administrator of the Human Resources department no later than February 15, 2025. The exemption would come into effect on March 1.
The text reads as follows:
“[A] city or municipality, in behalf of which legislation has been duly filed in the general court between January 4, 2023 and July 31, 2024 up to and including the removal of any or all positions within the police or fire department of the city or municipality and including a (sic ) documented local approval as recognized by the Clerk of the Senate or House of Representatives may exempt any position within the police or fire departments specified in such legislation without the need for further action by the general court on such legislation. “
As of Friday afternoon, the economic development bill is awaiting Healey’s signature to be signed into law.
A spokesman for City Manager Eric D. Batista’s office declined comment Friday.
Paul B. Saucier has been interim chief since September 1, 2023, the same day Police Chief Steven M. Sargent announced his abrupt retirement.
WORCESTER – Interim Police Chief Paul B. Saucier
In March, the City Council received a racial equity audit conducted by a third party that recommended the city consider defunding police from civil service requirements.
The civil service regulates the fulfillment of certain municipal functions in the state. Although the goal of the system is equal opportunity, free from political influence or favoritism, the civil service has been criticized as an obstacle to selecting a more diverse range of candidates.
In 2022, Spencer Tatum, a now-retired officer from Worcester, and several other police officers won a class action lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court, with a judge ruling that the civil service exam process was discriminatory.
In March, the Worcester City Council unanimously authorized Batista to ask the state Legislature to approve the civil service exemptions. However, the House Rule petition languished in committee, along with several other municipal requests for exemptions.
In August, the Telegram & Gazette reported that three deputy chiefs – Sean J. Fleming, Edward J. McGinn and Carl J. Supernor – had filed a petition with the Civil Service Commission, alleging that the city had violated state law by failing to provide civil service to take an examination for the position of Chief of Police, while the House Rule petition remained in committee.
The deputy chiefs’ petition claimed that Batista informed them that he intended to appoint Saucier as permanent chief.
In October, the Civil Service Commission authorized an investigation. The decision, written by commission chairman Christopher C. Bowman, heavily criticized the city’s arguments against an investigation.
The in-person conference conference continued until December 4.
Several other municipalities are processing requests for exemption of civil servants:
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Millbury has requested that all police officers be released.
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Bellingham has requested to be released from all police positions.
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Lancaster has requested to be released from the position of police chief.
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Hopedale has requested to be exempt from all fire department positions.
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Charlton has requested that all police officers be released.
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Gardner has requested to be exempt from all police positions below the rank of deputy chief.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Legislature’s determination of civil service affects chief’s appointment
