Standing Committee on Public Safety

CITY OF WORCESTER PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Tuesday, September 9, 2025 Esther Howland (South) Chamber 5:00 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 Luis A Ojeda www.worcesterma.gov City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts 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 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 24, 2025. 3. Communications of the City Manager - Police Department a. Transmitting informational communication relative to a Police Body Camera Report. # 12.10A CM August 19, 2025 b. Transmitting informational communication relative to the ShotSpotter Contract. # 10.13A CM April 15, 2025 In Committee May 14, 2025 - Held September 9, 2025 Public Safety Committee Page 1 of 2  c. Transmitting informational communication relative to a comparison of 2023 and 2024 police details. # 9.13A CM April 1, 2025 4. Communications of the City Manager - Fire Department a. Transmitting informational communication relative to PFAS-free gear acquired by the Fire Department. # 12.9A CM August 19, 2025 b. Transmitting informational communication relative to a report detailing the demographics pertaining to the recruits of the recent WFD Fire Academy. # 9.9A CM July 15, 2025 c. Transmitting informational communication relative to the city's fire sprinkler policies and the potential impact of adopting M.G.L. Chapter 148, Section 26I. # 9.12A CM April 1, 2025 d. Recommend adoption of MGL Ch 148, Section 26I, which mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential buildings with four or more dwelling units. # 16k CC April 1, 2025 September 9, 2025 Public Safety Committee Page 2 of 2  3a Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager August 19, 2025 Attachment for item #12.10 A TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: I respectfully submit the attached communication relative to a request for an annual update on the Worcester Police Department’s Body-Worn Camera program, as received from Paul B. Saucier, Police Chief, and forwarded for the information of your Honorable Body. Since the launch of the Body-Worn Camera program in February 2023, the majority of Worcester Police officers have been equipped with body cameras. Officers have created over 275,000 videos, and the program has been effective in increasing transparency, improving training, and assisting in internal investigations. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov  Police Department Paul B. Saucier, Police Chief 9-11 Lincoln Square, Worcester, MA 01608 P| 508-799-8600 F| 508-799-8680 WPD@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Paul B. Saucier, Police Chief Date: August 19, 2025 Re: Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a Police Body Camera Report. In response to a request for an annual update on the Body-Worn Camera program, the following report is submitted. Program Overview Since the launch of the Body-Worn Camera (BWC) program in February 2023, the majority of Worcester Police officers have been equipped with BWCs. Three hundred cameras were ordered from Axon and assigned to the officers who have the most contact with the public. Currently, that includes officers assigned to the Operations, Special Operations, and Investigative divisions. In addition, every officer on the SWAT team is assigned a camera, regardless of their primary assignment. There are currently about 440 sworn Worcester Police Department (WPD) officers and officials, and we believe that it would be beneficial to equip every sworn officer with a BWC. However, we recognize that equipping BWCs to officers who have less public-facing or more administrative roles would have diminishing returns. Most of the benefit of the program has already been captured by equipping the officers who currently have BWCs. If future budgets allow, there would be some benefit to ensuring that every officer has a BWC. The WPD BWC policy requires that officers record nearly every interaction they have with a community member (i.e., when the officer is performing a police function like responding to a call or stopping someone). There are rare exceptions to this, such as when victims or witnesses want to pass information to officers without being recorded. As such, the program generates a large volume of videos. Axon, the company that provides our BWCs, has over 85% of the market share in the BWC market. We use their cameras, and our videos go to their cloud storage system. We are currently in the middle of a five-year contract with the company, and recently were issued their Police Department• 9-11 Lincoln Square, Worcester, MA 01608 P| 508-799-8600 F| 508-799-8680 • www.worcesterma.gov new Body 4 cameras, which feature improved audio, video, and battery life from the previous Body 3 model. Since the program’s inception, we have found that the product has worked well, and the company has been responsive when minor issues have surfaced. Our current contract with them ends on June 30, 2027. 2024-2025: BWC Program As of Feb. 15, 2025, 275,328 pieces of evidence have been created and stored on Evidence.com. In the period from the program launch in February 2023 to February 2024, there were 115,985 files of evidence generated. In the period from February 2024 to February 2025, there were an additional 141,754 files of evidence generated. The majority of these items are videos recorded on officers’ BWCs, but the Evidence.com platform also hosts Crime Scene Unit photos, surveillance footage, and other types of evidence. From February 2024 to February 2025, every use of force classified as level 3 on the use of force continuum was reviewed by the involved officer’s sergeant. Every use of force classified at level 4 was reviewed by a captain or lieutenant. In addition, unit commanders and officials assigned to the Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS) performed a monthly review of BWC videos selected randomly by Axon’s Performance software. Previously, this was 40 videos a month, but in 2025 I increased the number to 64. Based on the results of these reviews, officials have given feedback to officers and the Training Division has adjusted departmental training based on what they have seen in the videos. In addition, officers can watch their own videos and assess the strengths and weaknesses of their performance. Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS) has found BWC footage extremely helpful in their complaint investigations. The existence of an objective video of an incident means that many of the facts of the incident will be known from the start, and their investigation can focus on filling in the gaps. The BWC program has generated many public records requests for public video footage. These requests are handled by the Law Department and the body camera redaction specialists who work for it. The responsibility for sharing videos with attorneys for court purposes is currently held by our Court Liaison Unit. Soon, the Worcester Police Department will pilot new technology from Axon that enables real- time language translation through the camera. This technology works through our existing body cameras and can automatically detect more than 50 languages, translating them into English and vice versa. We hope to start this free pilot program in October to see if it aids us in our priority of communicating more effectively with non-English speakers. Summary of the BWC Program We believe that the introduction of BWCs has been effective at increasing transparency and public trust. It has helped to improve officer professionalism, has led to superior training, and has made the investigation of complaints more efficient and accurate. In the future, the cameras will become increasingly effective as the technology continues to improve. Sincerely, Paul B. Saucier, Police Chief Suggested Council Action: Informational Communication  3b Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager April 15, 2025 Attachment for Item #10.13A TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: The attached communication relative to the timeline of the ShotSpotter contract, as received from Paul B. Saucier, Interim Police Chief, is forwarded for the information of your Honorable Body. The first ShotSpotter contract was initiated in 2014 and lasted through 2017. The municipality entered a second contract on Jan. 17, 2017, that was in effect until Jan. 16, 2020. A third contract was signed on April 6, 2020 and was in effect through April 5, 2023. The current ShotSpotter contract goes from April 6, 2023, to April 5, 2026, at which point it will be eligible for renewal. This applies to both ShotSpotter and Resource Router, which was formerly called ShotSpotter Connect. The cost of Resource Router and ShotSpotter for the past three years has averaged $573,563 a year. Of the annual cost, $528,597 pays for ShotSpotter and $44,966 goes to Resource Router. As a municipality, it is imperative that we use every tool in our toolbox to keep our residents safe. ShotSpotter is one of those tools. Of 84 ShotSpotter activations in 2024 involving confirmed gunshots, 39 did not involve an immediate 911 call, meaning ShotSpotter lead to a timelier response, allowing officers to collect physical evidence they may have otherwise lost. ShotSpotter activation also led to the recovery of eight of the 24 crime guns confiscated by the municipality’s newly formed Crime Gun Intelligence Unit in 2024. City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov ShotSpotter is critical to improved response time, which improves the delivery of life- saving medical treatment, and in evidence collection, which aids in crime gun recovery and making arrests. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager  Worcester Police Department Paul B. Saucier, Chief of Police 9-11 Lincoln Square, Worcester MA 01608 P| 508-799-8600 F| 508-799-8680 WPD@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Paul B. Saucier, Chief of Police Date: April 15, 2025 Re: ShotSpotter Contract Relative to your request for a report on the timeline of the ShotSpotter contract, the following is submitted. The first ShotSpotter contract was initiated in 2014 and went through 2017. The second contract term was in effect from Jan. 17, 2017, through Jan. 16, 2020. A third contract was signed on April 6, 2020, and was in effect through April 5, 2023. The current contract goes from April 6, 2023, to April 5, 2026, at which point it will be eligible for renewal. This applies to both ShotSpotter and Resource Router, which was formerly called ShotSpotter Connect. The cost of Resource Router and ShotSpotter for the past three years has averaged $573,563 a year. Of the annual cost, $528,597 pays for ShotSpotter and $44,966 goes to Resource Router. ShotSpotter is an acoustic-enabled gunshot detection system that uses an arrayed network of sensors to “listen” for loud, impulsive sounds—pops, booms, and bangs—that may be gunfire, and then pinpoints the point of origination of the sound via triangulation. That sound is then filtered through a computer to dismiss noises that are clearly not attributable to gunfire. The remaining sounds are then immediately sent to, and reviewed by, highly trained acoustic reviewers at ShotSpotter’s Incident Review Centers who play back the recorded sound, analyze the audio waveforms, and assess numerous other points of data to see if they match the typical pattern for gunfire. From there, the acoustic reviewers either publish the incident to police as gunfire or dismiss the sounds as non-gunfire events. This takes roughly 60 seconds and is intended to enhance public safety by providing a timelier and more targeted response to gunshots by Worcester Police, Worcester Fire, and Worcester EMS. For comparison, when someone calls 911 (versus to a ShotSpotter activation) that person is usually calling from within a dwelling reporting what they thought were gunshots, and the location dispatched is the address the person is calling from. This may not be in the vicinity of where the shots are emanating from. Some shooting incidents involve sound traveling several hundred feet from the incident location and up to 1 mile in an urban environment. In addition, according to a Brookings Institute Study more than 80% of gunfire incidents go unreported to 911. In 2024 there were 105 confirmed gunshot incidents, indicating physical evidence was found on scene not including digital acoustic evidence, resulting in 84 ShotSpotter activations. Of the 84 ShotSpotter activations, physical evidence was recovered in 76 of them. Thirty-nine of these Worcester Police Department • 9-11 Lincoln Square Worcester, MA 01608 P| 508-799-8600 F| 508-799-8680 • www.WorcesterMa.gov 84 ShotSpotter incidents did not result in an immediate 911 call. Physical evidence was recovered in 35 cases in which there was no 911 immediate call. There was a total of 344 ShotSpotter activations in 2024. We now have the ability, through our newly formed Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), to actively investigate and follow up on every ShotSpotter notification. After a notification comes in, the CGIU canvasses the area and places informational door hangers on residences, with information on how to reach the CGIU and report gun violence. This work is being done in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr’s office. Since April 2024, this unit has made 44 firearm-related arrests and has confiscated 24 crime guns. Eight of these crime guns were in connection with ShotSpotter activations, including one case that resulted in the arrest of a juvenile with a machine gun. In this case, there was a ShotSpotter activation for shots fired on South Ward Street. The follow-up investigation by the CGIU revealed that the male was firing an automatic weapon at cars passing on I-290. As a result of this investigation, a search warrant was issued, the automatic firearm was recovered, and the juvenile was charged. In essence, when a ShotSpotter activation occurs, officers are responding to a dot on a map indicating within 25 meters (82 feet) of where the gunshot originated from. Dispatch has this same map and often directs officers in real time to the location of the dot. A supervisor is also dispatched to the scene per policy. Once on scene officers are looking for victims, witnesses, shell casings, property damage and other signs of a shots fired incident. Often physical evidence cannot be located on scene, but digital acoustic evidence of the gunfire is sent to officer's cruisers and cell phones via email and through the ShotSpotter application. This digital evidence is in the form of an audio clip of the gunfire. Officers can listen to this and determine, through their experience, whether there was a gunshot or not. Many times, by listening to the audio clip, the review center and responding officer may be able to determine whether the gunshots are from a fully automatic weapon, whether there are multiple shooters and whether the shooter is moving. This intelligence enhances officers’ safety. Without the program, there would be many incidents of gunfire that would not result in a police response, resulting in lost evidence, decreased community confidence in the WPD, and a possible delay in life-saving medical treatment. Every illegal firearm on the street has the potential to be used in multiple shooting incidents. All shell casings that are located are sent for analysis where we have the ability to match these casings to crime guns and shooting scenes. Every crime gun removed from the street is important for reducing the violent crime rate and making the city safer. In 2024, Worcester Police collected 772 shell casings from within the eight miles covered by ShotSpotter. That means we know of 772 bullets fired in the coverage area. This coverage area was determined by historical call logs for homicides, victims of gunfire, and shots fired calls. There were 24 shooting homicides in the City of Worcester between Jan. 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2024. Fourteen of the 24 took place in the ShotSpotter coverage area. In the same timeframe, there were 74 non-fatal shootings involving 93 victims, and 66 took place within the coverage area. ShotSpotter technology only alerts the department to sounds that may be gunfire. There are no cameras associated with ShotSpotter technology, nor is a suspect identified through the technology. The same officers working the area of the city within the coverage area are the same officers who work there on a daily basis and are the same officers responding to an alert. Additional officers are not deployed from roll call to these areas just because they fall within the coverage area. A ShotSpotter alert does not, in of itself, rise to the level of the reasonable suspicion needed to justify a stop unless it is coupled with other factors. In a recent Massachusetts case, Commonwealth v. Ford, 100 Mass. App. Ct. 712 (2022), an appeals court held that it was reasonable for a police officer to stop the defendant. The Ford court reasoned that reasonable suspicion was formed by the combination of a Shot Spotter alert and the officer hearing what he recognized to be shots fired. ResourceRouter is a deployment tool based on the past five years of historical crime data from the public, not officer-initiated calls, and gives officers locations where their presence might prevent crime. Instead of officers driving around their patrol route with no direction, this technology directs them to a different location every 8 hours. This takes place within all 20 routes in the city and is shown as a box on the officer’s computer. The officers then visit these areas three times per shift for 15 minutes. These locations are city-wide and are within the officers’ normal patrol area. We now use the program to engage the community and deter crime by having our officers perform community engagement patrols within these predetermined areas. Officers are required to get out of their vehicles and conduct foot beats allowing them to meet community. These community engagement patrols occur within the 20 routes city wide, suggested by ResourceRouter. In 2024, officers visited 22,485 locations for a total of 1,648,007 minutes. ResourceRouter is not expected to result in arrests or major changes to our emergency response. Instead, it enhances our community policing foot beat efforts by directing officers to areas of their route where their presence is most likely to reassure residents and deter crime. Respectfully Submitted, Paul B. Saucier Chief of Police  3c Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager April 1, 2025 Attachment for Item #9.13A TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: The attached communication relative to a report on the comparison of 2023 and 2024 police details as received from Paul B. Saucier, Chief of Police, is forwarded for the information of your Honorable Body. In 2024, there were 22,993 filled detail assignments and an estimated 650 unfilled detail job assignments. I am pleased to share the amount of unfilled details has decreased from an estimated 1,756 unfilled detail job assignments in 2023 and the amount of filled details increased from 22,630 filled detail assignments in 2023. The Worcester Police Department (WPD) attributes these changes to the most recent academy class taking on more details. Moving forward, the WPD now has a software system that will give exact numbers for unfilled detail assignments, improving our data tracking. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov  Worcester Police Department Paul B. Saucier, Chief of Police 9-11 Lincoln Square, Worcester MA 01608 P| 508-799-8600 F| 508-799-8680 WPD@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Paul B. Saucier, Chief of Police Date: April 1, 2025 Re: Comparison of 2023 and 2024 details Relative to your request for a report regarding information on the number of unfilled details, the following information is respectfully submitted. In 2023, there was an estimated total of about 1,765 unfilled detail assignments and 22,630 filled detail assignments. In 2024, there was an estimated total of about 650 unfilled detail assignments and 22,993 filled detail assignments. The unfilled numbers were estimated because the old software lumped in unfilled jobs with jobs that are canceled due to weather or other circumstances. We believe the lower number in 2024 is largely because the graduates of the most recent police academy class have been working at a higher rate than other recent classes. The recently obtained software system for off-duty assignments has more precise numbers and can separate these categories, so we no longer have to estimate. So far in 2025, there have been a total of 216 unfilled job assignments. The majority of these involve requests for multiple officers. For example, a company might request four officers and receive three. This would count as one unfilled job assignment, although the job was staffed by three officers. Respectfully Submitted, Paul Saucier Chief of Police Worcester Police Department • 9-11 Lincoln Square Worcester, MA 01608 P| 508-799-8600 F| 508-799-8680 • www.WorcesterMa.gov  4a Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager August 19, 2025 Attachment for Item #12.9 A TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: I respectfully submit the attached communication relative to PFAS-free gear acquired by the Fire Department, as received from Martin W. Dyer, Fire Chief, and forwarded for the consideration of your Honorable Body. In 2024, the state passed a regulation banning the sale of turnout gear containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 2027. The Fire Department has initiated its transition to PFAS-free turnout gear: Wear trials are underway, and initial purchases have been made. Currently, 40 out of 850 sets of WFD’s turnout gear of WFD’s is PFAS free. This amount will increase as the department follows the 10-year replacement cycle for turnout gear per the national standard. All turnout gear will be PFAS-free by 2035 using the current replacement schedule. All new gear will be thoroughly evaluated to ensure it meets departmental performance and safety standards. The municipality is committed to protecting the health and safety of our firefighters and adhering to state regulations. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov  Fire Department Martin Dyer, Fire Chief 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1821 F| 508-799-1819 wfd@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Martin Dyer, Fire Chief Date: August 19, 2025 Re: Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to PFAS-free gear acquired by the Fire Department. In 2024, the state enacted a law targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighter gear, mandating a complete ban on the sale of gear containing PFAS by 2027. The Worcester Fire Department currently owns 850 sets of turnout gear (one set = one turnout coat and one pair of turnout pants). Of these, 40 sets do not intentionally contain PFAS. Our department has aggressively sought alternatives to turnout gear containing PFAS. When gear with PFAS-free outer shells first became available in 2021, we immediately started ordering that option. Although we expected to purchase PFAS-free gear last Fall, it was not available for purchase from manufacturers. Earlier this year, we initiated a wear trial with several vendors and purchased additional sets. The department follows a 10-year replacement cycle for turnout gear per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1851. Each operations member is provided with two sets. Using the current replacement schedule, the turnout gear will be PFAS-free by 2035. A full set of turnout gear currently costs approximately $3,000. If we were to provide each member with PFAS-free gear today, it would cost approximately $2.4 million. For comparison, annual costs for gear replacement according to the replacement schedule are typically between $250,000 and $400,000. Factors to consider when purchasing new gear include: • Lack of long-term performance testing of new materials. • PFAS-free gear is expected to be less durable, requiring replacement earlier than the normal 10 years. • A one-time purchase today would necessitate replacing the majority of turnout gear simultaneously in the next five to 10 years. Fire Department• 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1821 F| 508-799-1819 • www.worcesterma.gov At this time, I recommend that the department continues to test new gear and purchase PFAS- free options according to our current replacement schedule. We will closely study performance and cost over the next year and adjust our plan if appropriate. Sincerely, Martin Dyer, Fire Chief Suggested Council Action: Informational Communication  4b Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager July 15, 2025 TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: I respectfully submit the attached communication relative to a council order for a report detailing the demographics pertaining to the recruits of the recent Worcester Fire Department Fire Academy, as received from Martin Dyer, Fire Chief, and forwarded for the consideration of your Honorable Body. The most recent class graduated on June 6, 2025. 25% of the class was made up of recruits who are BIPOC, 4.2% higher than the 10-year average of 20.8%. Over the last 10 years, classes have increased with respect to ethnic diversity. Municipal departments strive to reflect the community that we serve. To reach diverse candidate pools, the Worcester Fire Department's (WFD) training division and public education unit attend numerous recruitment events and engage with Worcester Public Schools. WFD also holds information sessions prior to Civil Service exams to give all prospective candidates the opportunity to learn about the hiring process and the department. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov  Fire Department Martin Dyer, Fire Chief 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1821 F| 508-799-1819 wfd@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Martin Dyer, Fire Chief Date: July 15, 2025 Re: Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a report detailing the demographics pertaining to the recruits of the recent WFD Fire Academy. The Fire Department is just beginning the hiring process for the recruit academy scheduled to begin in March of 2026; therefore, demographic information for that class is unavailable. Below is the demographic breakdown of the recruit class that graduated on June 6, 2025: Asian Black Hispanic Indian Two+ Unknown White 0 2 2 0 0 0 12 Our training division and public education unit attend numerous recruitment events each year and engage with Worcester Public Schools to reach a diverse candidate pool. Prior to the administration of each Civil Service exam, the department holds information sessions to give prospective candidates the opportunity to learn about the department and the hiring process. Historically over the last 10 classes, the average number of recruits who are BIPOC has been 20.8%, with a high of 29.2% in 2017 and a low of 12.9% with the first class of 2022 (the second class of 2022 was above average with 22.2%). Class diversity has been trending upwards (see chart below). Fire Department• 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1821 F| 508-799-1819 • www.worcesterma.gov  BIPOC Recruits Class Asian Black Hispanic Two+ White Total % 16-01 0 1 2 1 23 27 14.8% 17-01 0 2 5 0 17 24 29.2% 18-01 0 1 2 0 14 17 17.6% 19-01 0 0 3 0 14 17 17.6% 20-01 1 0 4 0 14 19 26.3% 22-01 0 1 1 2 27 31 12.9% 22-02 1 0 4 1 21 27 22.2% 23-01 0 0 2 1 15 18 16.7% 24-01 0 1 2 3 17 23 26.1% 25-01 0 2 2 0 12 16 25.0% Sincerely, Martin Dyer, Fire Chief Suggested Council Action: Informational Communication  4c Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager cc2025feb12024309 Attachment for Item # 9.12A April 1, 2025 TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: The attached communication relative to the city’s fire sprinkler policies and the potential impact of adopting M.G.L. Chapter 148, Section 26I as received from Martin W. Dyer, Fire Chief, is forwarded for the consideration of your Honorable Body. Currently, under the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), residential buildings with three or more dwelling units that are newly constructed or undergoing substantial renovation, change of use, or specific additions or alterations must install an automatic fire sprinkler system. If adopted, Section 26I would not change the requirement for newly constructed units. However, it would require automatic fire sprinklers in residential buildings with four or more units that undergo "substantial rehabilitation," a standard less clearly defined than "substantial renovation" in the current building code. The decision to apply this requirement would rely on the Fire Chief’s judgment. The Fire Chief would plan to apply the MacLaurin standard, which defines substantial rehabilitation as work that makes the structure “as good as new,” with sprinkler installation costs comparable to those in new construction. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov  Worcester Fire Department Martin Dyer, Fire Chief 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1822 wfd@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Martin W. Dyer, Fire Chief Date: April 1, 2025 Re: Motion Russell @ #14a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the city’s current policies relative to installing automatic sprinklers in residential buildings with four (4) or more dwelling units against policies that will be put in place should the City Council adopt M.G.L. Chapter 148, Section 26l. I am writing in response to your request for a report detailing the municipality’s current policies regarding the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in residential buildings with four or more dwelling units, and how these policies would be impacted should the City Council adopt M.G.L. Chapter 148, Section 26I. Current Policies: Under the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), all newly constructed residential buildings with three or more dwelling units are required to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed. The adoption of Section 26I would not change this requirement for new construction. Additionally, under the same Building Code, an automatic fire sprinkler system is required in any residential building with three or more dwelling units if the building undergoes substantial renovation, change of use, or meets specific thresholds for additions or alterations. Impact of Adopting M.G.L. Chapter 148, Section 26I: If Section 26I is adopted, it will require the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in any residential building with four or more dwelling units that is substantially rehabilitated, equating to the equivalent of new construction. The key difference between the current Building Code and Section 26I lies in the definitions of substantial renovation (under the Building Code) versus substantially rehabilitated (under Section 26I) to the extent that the rehabilitation is equivalent to new construction.  The Building Code provides specific thresholds to define substantial renovation. Worcester Fire Department • 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1822 • www.worcesterma.gov   Chapter 148, Section 26I does not provide additional details to define “substantially rehabilitated” and, unlike the Building Code, does not include an appeal process. Therefore, the decision will rely on the judgment of the Fire Chief. Application of the MacLaurin Standard: If Section 26I is adopted, I intend to apply the MacLaurin standard, which is based on the 2016 ruling in MacLaurin v. City of Holyoke. According to this standard, Section 26I would be triggered if the rehabilitation is substantial enough that the physical structure is essentially “as good as new.” Furthermore, the cost of installing sprinklers would need to be comparable to the cost of installing them in a newly constructed building of similar size and type. Should you require any further details or clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out. Sincerely, Martin W. Dyer Fire Chief  4d Eric D. Batista City of Worcester City Manager February 4, 2025 Attachment for Item #8.12 A TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL COUNCILORS: The attached recommendation advocating for the local adoption of MGL Chapter 148, Section 26I, as received from Martin Dyer, Worcester Fire Chief, is forwarded for the consideration of your Honorable Body. MGL Chapter 148, Section 26I mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential buildings with four or more dwelling units. This measure, originally enacted before modern fire protection systems were fully incorporated into building codes, remains relevant today, particularly for older buildings undergoing significant renovation. The legislation strengthens fire safety standards, offering a straightforward approach to ensure that multi-family homes are equipped with life- saving fire sprinkler systems. Automatic fire sprinkler systems have been instrumental in reducing fire fatalities and injuries in Worcester. By containing fires in their early stages, these systems also reduce property damage, which helps prevent tenant displacement—an important factor in maintaining stable housing stock. While some property owners may be concerned about the cost, the long-term benefits may include lower insurance premiums, increased property value, and reduced liability. The adoption of Section 26I will help continue Worcester's progress in fire safety without imposing unnecessary burdens on property owners, ensuring both the safety of residents and the preservation of housing. Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Batista City Manager City of Worcester • 455 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01608-1892 Office: 508–799-1175 • Fax: 508–799-1208 • WorcesterMa.gov  Worcester Fire Department Martin Dyer, Fire Chief 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1822 wfd@worcesterma.gov To: Eric D. Batista, City Manager From: Martin W. Dyer, Fire Chief Date: February 4, 2025 Re: Informational communication regarding the adoption of MGL Ch 148, Section 26I, which mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential buildings with four or more dwelling units. Dear City Manager Batista, I am writing to encourage your support for the local adoption of MGL Chapter 148, Section 26I, which mandates the installation of automatic sprinkler systems in residential buildings containing four or more dwelling units. As Fire Chief, my primary concern is the safety of Worcester’s residents, and this legislation represents a thoughtful and measured approach to enhancing fire protection in our community. Worcester has faced significant fire safety challenges in the past. In previous decades, fire fatalities in the city were tragically high, particularly in multi-family homes. The introduction of fire sprinkler laws over the years has played a crucial role in reducing these fatalities and improving overall fire safety. Automatic fire sprinklers have proven to save lives and minimize injuries by controlling fires quickly, giving residents time to escape and reducing the risk to firefighters. Section 26I was originally passed before modern fire protection systems were standard in building codes, and today, the building and fire codes are largely aligned in their requirements for sprinkler systems and other safety measures. However, there remains a small segment of older buildings where current codes may leave room for interpretation, particularly in the case of substantial renovations. By adopting Section 26I locally, we ensure that no gaps in fire safety remain, particularly in these vulnerable structures. This measure will further help reduce property loss by containing fires in their early stages, which in turn reduces the likelihood of displacement due to significant fire damage—an important consideration given the current housing landscape. By adopting Section 26I, Worcester can continue improving its fire safety record and ensure that our housing stock remains safe and resilient. This legislation offers a straightforward approach to ensuring that necessary fire suppression systems are in place to protect both occupants and property. It is designed to enhance safety in a practical manner, without imposing undue burdens on property owners. Worcester Fire Department • 141 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 P| 508-799-1822 • www.worcesterma.gov I understand that some property owners and landlords may have concerns about the cost of installing sprinkler systems. However, it is important to recognize the long-term value these systems may provide: reducing insurance premiums, enhancing property value, and mitigating liability by decreasing the likelihood of a major fire. Worcester has made great strides in fire safety, and adopting MGL Chapter 148, Section 26I will allow us to continue that progress while ensuring that no vulnerable structures are overlooked or inadequately protected. I respectfully ask the City Council to consider the life- saving and property-preserving benefits of this legislation and support its local adoption. Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be happy to provide any additional information or discuss this further at your convenience. Sincerely, Martin W. Dyer Fire Chief  City of Worcester BE IT ORDERED that the city of Worcester hereby accepts the provisions of section 26I of chapter one hundred forty-eight of the General Laws requiring in any building hereinafter constructed or substantially rehabilitated, the installation of automatic sprinkler systems in residential buildings containing four or more dwelling units.