Page 5 - 2024 Annual Report

Originally designed to ensure merit-based hiring and protect against as maps of library locations transposed onto demographic and income
politically motivated decisions, civil service laws are increasingly data, and allowed users to explore distances between libraries and
being challenged in Massachusetts, with many municipal police and schools, as well as libraries and geographical “population centers” of
fire departments seeking exemptions. The Bureau analyzed this trend each Census Block Group.
in light of the Worcester City Council's March 19, 2024, vote to support
the City Manager's request for exemptions for the chief of police and Questions to Consider about Worcester Now | Next
deputy chief positions. The City argues that these changes will enhance Master Plan was recognized by the Governmental
administrative efficiency and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in Research Association with its 2024 Award for Best Short
WPD leadership. Additionally, the Bureau analyzed the diversity gap Form Writing.
among WPD's sworn officers and reviewed a history of discrimination
cases related to civil service. The report also addresses ongoing
developments as of September 5, 2024, including the dispute between WORCESTER TOTAL BOOK CIRCULATION
the City and three deputies of the WPD regarding whether the City has
violated the law by failing to appoint a permanent chief of police through
civil service. The report concludes with three recommendations: First,
the City should establish a clear and transparent process for appointing
chiefs and deputy chiefs if exempted from civil service. Second, hiring
and promotions within the WPD should follow a civil service rule that
ensures merit-based standards and promotes diversity. Finally, the
Bureau recommends that the City publish a report on the benefits and
drawbacks of exempting all WPD positions from civil service, based on
discussions with police unions.
In addition to public administration, WRRB covers a wide range of
other issues of concern to local governments and the community.
One such example is food security. In 2022, the Worcester Regional
Research Bureau published Is Worcester Food Insecure? It Depends MAP OF WORCESTER LIBRARIES BY PERCENT UNDER 18
on Where, a regional analysis on food insecurity, particularly focused Library Points
on the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) gap. This
Burncoat
analysis was used in the Worcester Community Food Assessment: Branch
Learning from the Lived Experience of Worcester Residents as one
of its key Foundational Research projects alongside the 2023 Greater Frances
Perkins
Worcester Community Health Assessment and Tufts University’s Branch
Catalyzing Communities Research with the Coalition for a Healthy Goddard
Greater Worcester. The Worcester Community Food Assessment was Branch
published by the Center for Food Equity, Worcester County Food Bank, Great Brook
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Prevention Research Center Valley
at UMass Chan Medical School, and the City of Worcester’s Department Branch
of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health. The Worcester Main Library
Regional Research Bureau and the Coalition for a Healthy Greater
Worcester were featured at the Boston Area Research Initiative’s Annual Roosevelt
Branch
Insight-to-Impact Summit in its Infusing Equity into Institutions: Shifting
Practice Session to discuss the collaborative effort that produced the Tatnuck
Community Food Assessment through a people-centered approach Magnet
Branch
to research.
Another example of local government work is, the Bureau’s ArcGIS
StoryMap about the Worcester Public Library, Check it Out: the
Worcester Public Library in Space and Time. This comprehensive
dashboard included information about the Library’s circulation, holdings, Percent Under 18
revenues, and the like, documenting sweeping change from before the
COVID pandemic to fiscal year 2023, the last year for which data was > 33.5 – 42 > 16.7 – 25 > 0 – 8.3
available. In addition, the StoryMap included interactive elements, such > 25 – 33.5 > 8.3 – 16.7

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