CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL
- APRIL 13, 1999
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:09 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:45 P.M.
1. INVOCATION - Rev. Linda Whitney
Lakeview Congregational
Church
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL - All present
except Councillors Finnegan, Lukes and Patton. Councillor Lukes arrived at 7:15
P.M., Councillor Patton at 7:22 P.M., Councillor Finnegan was ill
4. ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
PETITIONS
5 REFERRED TO PARKS DEPARTMENT
5. Chester Lundstrom request City Council fix stone wall at Vernon Hill Park and remove some of the trees that are too close together near the stone wall directly across from 201 Providence St.
6-8 REFERRED TO THE PLANNING BOARD
6. Samuel R. DeSimone, Attorney for Stop & Shop Supermarket,
Inc. request City Council: (A) discontinue Abbott St., a private way, beginning
at its intersection with Winfield St. thence running northeasterly 371.72' to a
point on Abbott St. (B) remove from the
Official Map of the City of Worcester that portion of Abbott St. as described
above. Property owners abutting that
portion of Abbott St. proposed for discontinuance have authorized and consented
to the filing of this petition.
7. Samuel R. DeSimone, Attorney for Stop & Shop Supermarket,
Inc. request City Council: (A) discontinue Winfield St. as a public street from
its intersection with Parker St. northerly, a distance of 291.51' to its
intersection with Winfield Place; and then to discontinue Winfield St. as a
private way from its intersection with Winfield Place easterly a distance of
338.80' to its intersection with Park Ave. (B) Winfield St. as described above
be removed from the Official Map of the City of Worcester. Property owners
abutting those portions of the street proposed for discontinuance have
authorized and consented to the filing of this petition.
8. Samuel R. DeSimone, Attorney for Stop & Shop Supermarket,
Inc. request City Council: (A) discontinue Winfield Place, a private way, from
its intersection with Winfield St. thence running northwesterly to its intersection
with Mayfield St. (B) that Winfield
Place as described above be removed from the Official Map of the City of
Worcester. Property owners abutting the street proposed for discontinuance have
authorized and consented to the filing of this petition.
8a. Councillor Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Jack Lavallee request
installation of a street light on Putnam Lane.
Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee - Suspension of Rules
9-12 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
9. Noel Matos request a new sidewalk in front of 870 Main St.
10. Gary Vecchio request repair/replacement of sidewalks on the even
side of Caprera Rd. from Imperial Rd. to Granby Rd.
11. Robert Gates et al request to amend DPW's existing Order of
Conditions for Indian Lake to reflect the following changes: Due to the
worsening weed problem in Indian Lake, the level of the annual winter drawdown
should be increased from the current maximum of 2.5' to between 5' and 6'.
12. Margaret Power et al request repaving of Kendrick Ave.
12a. Councillor Timothy Murray and Councillor Stephen Patton request
resurfacing of Fenwick St. Referred to Public Works Committee -
Suspension of Rules
12b. Councillor Timothy Murray and Councillor Stephen Patton request
resurfacing of Westbrook Rd. Referred to Public Works Committee -
Suspension of Rules
12c. Councillor Timothy Murray and Councillor Stephen Patton request
emergency sidewalk repair in front of 4 and 6 Saxon Rd. Referred
to Public Works Committee - Suspension of Rules
13 & 14 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
13. Maria Velaz request handicap parking in front of 11 Rodney St.
14. Mayor Raymond V. Mariano on behalf of William McNeil request
Traffic and Parking Committee to secure several 20 minute parking spaces in the
public parking lot across from Kenmore Diner on the corner of Franklin St. and
Grafton St.
14a. Councillor Timothy J. Cooney, Jr. on behalf of Colwyn Caffrey request
to remove handicap parking sign in front of 42 Richmond Ave. Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee - Suspension of Rules
14b. Councillor Janice L. Nadeau on behalf of Green Island C.D.C.
request to remove Bus Stop at 85 Green St. and provide 15 minute parking. Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee - Suspension of Rules
14c. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request Traffic Engineer review the
intersection of Houghton St. and Crowningshield Rd. for traffic safety issues
and recommendations. Referred to the Traffic Engineer -
Suspension of Rules
14d. Councillor Janice L. Nadeau on behalf of Ronald L. O’Clair request
Stop sign on South Crystal St. at intersection of Litchfield St. Referred
to the Traffic Engineer - Suspension of Rules
15 HEARING SET FOR APRIL 27, 1999 - 7:00 P.M.
15. NEW ENGLAND VOICE & DATA LLC for a conduit location on:
Franklin St. at the intersection of New Salem St. to Green St. at the
intersection of Green St. and Temple St.
Green St. at the intersection of Gold St. and Pond St. up Gold St. and left
on Summit St. to an existing building marked GE.
16. Randy Schmid to initiate all applicable penalties and/or orders
as specified under the General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 266, Section 126
relating to the unlawful distribution of the unsolicited advertising circular
known as The Shoppers Guide by the entity commonly known as the Telegram &
Gazette. Referred to the City Manager
17. Randy Schmid to collect the attached invoice for Disposal Fees
billed to the Telegram & Gazette, as guided by General Laws of
Massachusetts, Chapter 266, Section 126 and to use those proceeds to any manner
it deems appropriate. Referred to the City Manager
18. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification
of the appointment of sworn weighers for the year
l999. Mike Conety, John Crowley, Mike
Hackett
Placed
on file
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
A. Communication
relative to Joint Committee on Transportation to Visit the Worcester Regional
Airport.
Referred
to Public Service & Transportation Committee
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
6. CIVIC
CENTER:
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication
relative to the appointment of Mr. Capers as Marketing Director.
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to Union Station
Project Update.
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
A. Communication
relative to Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin.
Placed
on file
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SERVICES:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to Providing
Services - Union Hill & Belmont Street Alert Centers.
Placed
on file
B. Communication
relative to Mileage of Former Vehicle used by Fire Chief.
Referred
to Public Service & Transportation Committee
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
A. Communication
relative to Mid Level Management Positions.
Recommitted
to the City Manager to separate Department Heads and to define M, P and Z
positions
B. Communication relative to Group Benefits
Strategies.
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
15. INFORMATION
SERVICES:
16. LAW:
A. Communication
relative to Staffing Levels/Ambulance Service to Worcester Residents.
Placed
on file
B. Communication
relative to Breakdown of Cable Television Charges.
Referred
to Public Service & Transportation Committee
17. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
18. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
19. PLANNING
& COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication
relative to Downtown Worcester activities report through March 1999.
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
B. Communication
relative to B.A.S.E. Community Benefits Grant Award.
Referred
to Health Committee
C. Request
adoption of an order relative to the disposition of City owned property located
at 110 Elm Street and 112 Elm Street.
Order
adopted
D. Communication
relative to the 1998 Annual Report on the Economic Development Incentive
Program (EDIP).
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
E. Communication
relative to Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park: Status Report/Update.
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
20. POLICE:
A. Communication
relative to Number of Police Officers on Each Shift.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
B. Communication relative to Down Time of
Police Vehicles.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
C. Communication
relative to Monitoring of Problem/Adjacent to Boulevard Garage.
Placed
on file
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH & CODE ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to Dumping at 7
Benefit Terrace.
Placed
on file
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to Amendment to
Senate Bill 1720.
Referred
to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication
relative to Repair Asphalt on Tacoma Street.
Referred
to Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Clearing Asphalt
Debris along Park Ave.
Placed
on file
C. Communication
relative to Work being done at Providence & Worcester Railroad Bridge.
Placed
on file
D. Communication relative to Metal Drop-Off
Day.
Placed
on file
E. Communication
relative to Sewer Easement - 295 Salisbury Street.
Order
adopted
F. Communication relative to l999 Pothole
Patching Report.
Referred
to Public Works Committee
G. Communication relative to North Main
Street Opening Progress Report.
Referred
to Public Works Committee
H. Communication relative to New Downtown
Trash Receptacles.
Referred
to Public Works Committee
I. Communication
relative to Barry/Foley Parking Lot Distance to Rail Terminal.
Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee
25. PURCHASING:
26. TREASURY:
27. VETERANS'
SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Ten Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($10,500.00) be transferred from Account #330-07 Reserve For appropriation Damage Settlement, and appropriated to Account #260-92000, Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance.
Order
adopted on a roll call
B. Recommend that Nine Hundred Forty Five Dollars Sixty Seven Cents, ($945.67) be authorized from #660-92000, Treasury Department Ordinary Maintenance.
Order
adopted on a roll call
C. Recommend that One
Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Six Dollars ($1,336.00) be transferred from
Account #600-92000, Purchasing Department Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated
to Account #600-93000, Purchasing Department Capital Outlay.
Order
adopted on a roll call
D. Recommend that One Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,850.00) be transferred from Account #330-92000, Health & Code Enforcement Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #330-93000, Health & Code Enforcement Capital Outlay.
Order
adopted on a roll call
E. Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) be transferred from Account #359-76, Hope Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Fund, and appropriated to Account #720-91000, Parks Department Personal Services.
Order
adopted on a roll call
F. Recommend that Thirty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($37,750.00) be transferred from Account #359-76, Hope Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Fund, and appropriated to Account #72T807, Hope Cemetery Rehabilitation.
Order
adopted on a roll call
G. Recommend that One Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Six Dollars ($1,336.00) be transferred from Account #010-92000, City Council Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #010-93000, City Council Capital Outlay.
Order
adopted on a roll call
H. Recommend that Six Thousand Three Dollars ($6,003.00) be transferred from Account #100-92000, City Clerk Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #100-93000, City Clerk Capital Outlay.
Order
adopted on a roll call
I. Recommend that Five Thousand Dollars ($5.000.00) be transferred from Account #33040, Reserve for Appropriation Federal 1%, and appropriated to Account #680-92000, Information Services Ordinary Maintenance.
Order
adopted on a roll call
J. Recommend that Ninety Thousand One Hundred Forty Six Dollars ($90,146.00) be transferred, when and as received, from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #45C703, Water Department Capital Equipment.
Order
adopted on a roll call
29. ORDINANCES/ORDERS:
30. MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Request
City Council accept with gratitude a donation from the Worcester County
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Order
adopted with gratitude
COMMUNICATIONS
19. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting report on the undepreciated cost of fixed assets owned by the Worcester Regional Airport.
Referred to Public Service
& Transportation Committee
20. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting quarterly report on
the sources and uses of funds for the construction of ALL School, Roosevelt
Magnet, Norrback Magnet, Worcester Vocational Technical School and Forest Grove
Middle School.
Referred to Education
Committee
ORDERS
20a. Request Administration provide City Council with an update on
expansion of commuter rail service. Motion-Murray @ #8B CM - Adopted
20b. Request Administration provide City Council with quarterly updates
on Union Station, including timelines for completion of the project. Motion-Clancy
@ #8B CM - Adopted
20c. Request Administration report if the central drop off and transfer
of WRTA buses will be transferred from City Hall to Union Station. Motion-Luster
@ #8B CM - Adopted
20d. Request Administration report on City departments involvement in
Alert Centers. Motion-Petty @ #13A CM - Adopted
20e. Request Administration report on how duplicate programming on
different cable stations is figured into rate calculations. Motion-Lukes
@ #16B CM - Adopted
20f. Request Administration report how often the City has done something
similar to Item #19C of the City Manager’s Calendar of April 13, 1999. Motion-Lukes
@ #19C CM – Adopted
20g. Request Administration report if it is feasible to offer TIF
proposals for Main St. properties. Motion-Clancy @ #19D CM - Adopted
20h. Request City Manager report on TIF compliance; what happens if
someone is late or misses a deadline, can he get into difficulties, what kind
of difficulties and how are they resolved.
Motion-Lukes @ #19D CM - Adopted
20I. Request City Manager provide City Council with a breakdown of the
taxable part of each Biotech building as to what the taxes are per square
foot. Further, request a breakdown of
the facility itself as opposed to equipment in the facility. Motion-Clancy
@ #19E CM - Adopted
20j. Request City Manager report if there are taxes owed on property
at 7 Benefit Terrace, whether or not it is a buildable lot and if there is the
possibility of putting it out for an RFP.
Motion-Nadeau @ #21A CM - Adopted
20k. Request Administration consider holding the Metal Drop-off Day on
a non-school vacation Saturday. Motion-Clancy @ #24D CM - Adopted
20L. Request City Manager report on the caseload of the Department of
Social Services in Worcester. Luster -
Suspension of Rules - Adopted
20m. Request Administration provide City Council with report that was
requested regarding the Internal Affairs process at the Worcester Police
Department. Request Administration
include in said report whether it proposes any modifications to the actual
official policy as well as unofficial practices. Luster - Suspension of
Rules - Adopted
20n. Request Administration provide City Council with a status report
on Ladder 5, how long it will be out of service or if it is a permanent
situation. If it is a permanent
situation what the status will be after that.
Clancy - Suspension of Rules -
Adopted
20o. Request City Manager report
relative to Medicaid reimbursement money as to how much the City is
receiving now and how much the City will be receiving in additional monies
under various proposals now under consideration. Murray - Suspension of
Rules - Adopted
20p. Request Administration report and make recommendations on the
impact of implementing one-way traffic on Chelsea St. Lukes - Suspension of Rules
- Referred to Traffic & Parking
Committee
20q. Request Department of Public Works review Plantation St. from
Biotech Park down to Fallon Clinic regarding adequate lighting. Cooney
- Suspension of Rules - Adopted
20r. Request City Manager provide City Council with a report on the
incident that occurred at the Palladium on Saturday, April 10, 1999. Cooney
- Suspension of Rules - Adopted
20s. Request City Council to accept the following policy recommendation
relative to selecting sidewalks for improvement: The Public Works Committee selects sidewalks based on the
following: 1) Sidewalk funds are
allocated 60% for categories 1, 2 and 3 and 40% for category 4. 2) Selection of sidewalks will recognize and
be guided by the following factors: Age
of petition, community request and support and allocation of funds citywide.
Cooney - Suspension of Rules - Councillor Perotto requested the item be
held under personal privilege
20t. Request Public Works Committee to also consider Scenario 2 that
the Department of Public Works would use if they made the decision to select
sidewalks to be repaired. Luster - Suspension of Rules - Adopted
20u. Request Administration report as to their particular preference on
each scenario as stated in the April 8, 1999 memorandum to Councillor Timothy
J. Cooney, Jr. from Robert L. Moylan, Jr., Commissioner of Public Works
relative to Sidewalk Allocation. Clancy - Suspension of Rules - Adopted
20v. Request City Solicitor provide a legal opinion relative to the
appropriateness and method of the current City Council voting on a policy that
will expire at the end of the current term and how that policy can be
incorporated as a policy or as a rule. Lukes - Suspension of Rules - Adopted
21. RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE:
a) #39CC
May 12, 1998
Order - Request Administration report on the policy of the
Worcester Convention Center/Centrum Centre in seeking out, catering and
servicing small group events and what impact this type of competition has had
amongst the local restaurants and hotels.
(Lukes)
b) #6CC
October 20, 1998
Communication of James DelSignore, City Auditor
transmitting communication relative to tax levy impact regarding funding of a
staff person to the Mayor's Office from the School Department budget if the
salary for the position does not qualify under the school reform financing
formula and explaining the significance of the School Department's October
report to the Department of Education with respect to current year's Net School
Spending requirements.
c) #4CC
December 15, 1998
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to the current
five-year fiscal projection for the
fiscal years 1999 through 2003.
d) #5CC
December 15, 1998
Order - Request City Manager to construct the Fiscal Year
2000 budget that only anticipates new growth and does not include an increase of 2 1/2% allowed under
Proposition 2 1/2. (Petty, Patton,
Mariano, Finnegan, Murray, Cooney, Lukes, Perotto)
e) #6CC
December 15, 1998
Order - Request City Manager to consider proposing a hiring
freeze of City employees except for public safety employees. (Petty)
f) #4B CM
December 15, 1998
Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to calculations, 10 Year Period to a Single Tax Rate.
g) #5A
CM December 15, 1998
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Fiscal 2000 Projections.
h) #5B CM
December 15, 1998
Communication of the City Manager transmitting reports from Janice Borg Silverman, Director, Human Resources and John Pranckevicius, Budget Director.
i) #33h CC
December 15, 1998
Motion - That the City Council develop a schedule of
Finance meetings at least once a month, starting in January. (Lukes)
j) #5A CM
February 9, 1999
Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to Motions made by Councillors from the December 15,
1998 Council Finance Committee meeting.
k) #5B CM
February 9, 1999
Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to the Fiscal 2000 Budget.
l) #5A CM
February 23, 1999
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Municipal Research
Bureau Presentation.
m) 4C CM
March 16, 1999
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Proposition 2 1/2
ceiling.
n) #59CC April 6, 1999
Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to the FY 2000 budget.
REPORT
21a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Report of the
Committee on Public Works upon the communication of the City Manager
transmitting communication relative to FY/99 Sidewalk Rehabilitation
Program: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Order. Item held under personal privilege at the
request of four Councillors
TABLED ITEMS - No Action Taken
22. Communication of the City Manager recommending that Twelve Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Eight Dollars and Fifty Cents ($12,688.50) be transferred from Account 331-46, Belmont Home Retained Earnings and appropriated to Account 045S505, Belmont Home Advertising, to provide funds for the purpose of payment for advertising costs for proposed sale of the Belmont Home.
23. Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to an RFP for the sale of the Belmont Home.
24. Chairman's Order from Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee -
Request Administration to consider using the current site of the Vocational
School, on the side of the Boys Club, as park land after discontinuance of use
as a Vocational School.
25. Chairman's Order from Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee -
Request Administration to consider eliminating the softball field on the
Belmont St. side of the Vocational School site plan.
26. Chairman's Order from Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee -
Request Administration to reconsider keeping educationally sound, the size of
the parking area for the new Vocational School.
27. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Jonathan
Finkelstein, Esquire on behalf of Smallwood Village Associates, Inc. requesting
City of Worcester make Travis St. public.
28. Order - Request City Council go on record in support of a
Charter Commission regarding the issue of Charter reform. (Lukes, Nadeau,
Cooney)