It may be one of the shortest city council agendas of the year, but the lone item before councilors Tuesday is a heavy one.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and public participation, the council’s only scheduled business is its annual evaluation of City Manager Eric Batista, giving councilors an opportunity to publicly assess the city’s chief executive, review his administration’s accomplishments and determine how well Worcester is meeting the goals laid out in its strategic plan.
The evaluation, originally scheduled for last week, serves as the council’s annual report card on the administration. Batista turned in a lengthy self-evaluation highlighting what he describes as progress in financial management, housing, transportation, public safety, economic development, environmental initiatives and municipal operations despite what he characterizes as increasingly difficult conditions facing cities and towns across Massachusetts…