The Worcester City Council went against the recommendations of its city manager and fire chief by opting out of a state law requiring automatic sprinklers in new or significantly renovated residential buildings with four or more units.

On Tuesday, the public safety committee made a recommendation to lay aside a communication from City Manager Eric D. Batista recommending the adoption of the law.

The council voted 6-4 in favor of the subcommittee’s recommendation, choosing not to opt into the law.

Voting against adopting the law were Mayor Joseph Petty, Councilors-at-Large Kathleen Toomey, Morris Bergman and Donna Colorio, District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson and District 3 Councilor George Russell.

The councilors voted to lay aside the recommendation because they believed the sprink

See Full Page