Rights Panel Votes to Release Oversight Letters

Other Committee · Meeting of October 26, 2026

Worcester Human Rights Commission voted to make two letters critical of the city's police oversight structure part of the public record. Acting Chair Randy Feldman read extensively from his personal letter opposing the city's Municipal Civilian Review Board report, arguing the plan still gives the city manager final say over police misconduct findings. Chief Equity Officer Kevin Lavance presented four oversight models drawn from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and said his office's five investigators "don't report to anybody in the police department but myself." Retired Massachusetts Appeals Court Justice Mel Greenberg, a founding HRC member, recounted how the commission lost its subpoena power over police witnesses in a little-publicized City Council vote around 1980.

The commission voted 5-0 to attach both letters, including its July 27, 2026 letter to the city manager, to Monday's meeting minutes, and separately approved its prior minutes 5-0.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Roll Call
• Historical Remarks From Justice Mel Greenberg
• Land Acknowledgment and Mission Statement
• Public Comment
• Approval of Minutes
• Police Department Policy Reviews: Assignments
• Body-Worn Camera Policy Briefing With the Police Chief
• Chief Equity Officer's Presentation on Police Oversight Models
• Human Rights and Accessibility Division Overview
• Acting Chair Feldman's Critique of the Civilian Review Board Report
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,663 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.