CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL
- MAY 18, 1999
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:05
P.M.
Adjourned:
9:25 P.M.
1. INVOCATION - Pastor Walter J.E. Weekes, Sr.
Christ Tabernacle Apostolic
Church
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL - All present except Councillor Cooney who arrived at 7:19 P.M.
Mayor Mariano read a
Proclamation proclaiming May 15-22, 1999 White Cane and Guide Dog Safety Week
in Worcester
HEARING AND ORDER - 7:00 P.M.
Hearing
held
4. NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY for a conduit location and one community service cabinet on: CHAMBERLAIN PARKWAY.
4a ADOPTED
4a. Granting permission to NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY for a conduit location and one community service cabinet on: CHAMBERLAIN PARKWAY.
5. ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
PETITIONS
6 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
6. Dina Dionne et al request emergency private street maintenance on Whitla Dr.
7 & 8 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
7. Councillor Stephen T. Patton request "No Parking" on Grove St. in the vicinity of Chadwick St. in front of Education Association of Worcester.
8. Charles Bibaud, Kangaroo Crossing request to abolish taxi stand parking space at 200 Commercial St. next to Family Bank and install 15 minute general parking.
8a. Councillor John Finnegan request removal of parking meters
located on either side of resident driveway at 423 Chandler St. which are
obstructing visibility of handicapped driver upon exiting from drive onto
Chandler St. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee - Suspension of Rules
8b. Councillor John Finnegan on behalf of Mark LaPorte request “No
Parking” signs on either side of driveway located at 3 Prouty Lane. Present crowding of parking on street
creates hazard to resident entering street without line of sight. Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee - Suspension of Rules
9. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
Placed
on file
B. Notification of the appointment of Noberto Soto and Jennifer L. Ginsburg to the Human Rights Commission
Placed
on file
C. Notification of the appointment of Michael R. Theerman, M.D., Jeanice Sherman and Edmund A. Schofield to the Historical Commission
Placed
on file
D. Notification of the appointment of Catherine M. Butler to the G.A.R. Memorial Hall Board of Trustees.
Placed
on file
2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of the appointments of Michael O'Mara, Roland G. Carlson, and Scott Hayman to the Citizens Advisory Council.
Appointments
confirmed on a roll call
B. Notification of the appointment of Linda
F. Parhan, and the reappointment of Andrew S. Grigorov, to the Community Development
Advisory Committee.
Appointment
and reappointment confirmed on a roll call
C. Notification of the appointments of Lauren E. Adams, Victoria A. Theohorides, and the reappointments of Carol A. Kozlowski and Carolyn L. Haglund to the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women.
Appointments
and reappointments confirmed on a roll call
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET OFFICE:
6. CIVIC CENTER:
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. DEVELOPMENT:
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
A. Communication relative to Lights in
Polling Booths.
Placed
on file
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SERVICES:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to Status Report
Regarding Three Pieces of Equipment.
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to Efficiencies in
Combining/DPW, Fire, Police.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
C. Communication relative to Comparison
Report - To Recruit & Employ Women Firefighters.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
D. Communication relative to review committee
to deliberate upon the consultant bids
for a fire study.
Placed
on file
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
A. Communication relative to Residency of DH
employees.
Placed
on file
15. INFORMATION
SERVICES:
16. LAW:
17. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
18. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
19. PLANNING
& COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to April Meeting of
the Route 146 CAC.
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
B. Request approval of the Resolution authorizing the filing of Legislation to allow Expansion of the Green Island Neighborhood Center onto existing land located in Crompton Park.
Recommitted
to the City Manager
C. Request approval of the Resolution authorizing the City of Worcester to apply for an FY99 Historic Landscape Preservation Grant with the Department of Environmental Management.
Resolution
adopted
D. Communication relative to FY 1999 D.A.R.E. Summer Day Program Award.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
E. Communication relative to Federal Dollars for At-Risk Children.
Placed
on file
F. Communication relative to recommendations for the Year 25 Community Development Block Grant Program.
Referred
to Community Development Committee
G. Communication relative to Appropriation Transfer to provide funds for various Parks, Building Renovations and Housing Programs.
Referred
to Community Development Committee
H. Request approval of the Resolution to
apply for Grant Funds and Section 108 Loan Guarantee approval for the proposed
Main South Revitalization Project.
Referred
to Community Development Committee
I. Communication relative to recognition of
the outstanding work of the OPCD staff at a symposium to be held in July, 1999
in Kansas City, Missouri.
Placed
on file
J. Communication relative to Copies of Sign
Offs.
Placed
on file
20. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to Review of
Current Internal Affairs Process.
Recommitted
to the City Manager
B. Communication relative to Police Academy
Training Cadre.
Recommitted
to the City Manager
C. Communication relative to Selection
Process, Training, Officers on Internal Affairs Assignments.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH & CODE ENFORCEMENT:
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
A. Communication relative to Library
Construction Project Update.
Referred
to Education Committee
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to Reduction in
Shop Hours at the Vocational School.
Referred
to Education Committee
B. Communication relative to Progress Report
on the Worcester Vocational High School.
Referred
to Joint Education and Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Information on D.P.W.Open House.
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to Public Compost Site at Ballard Street Yard.
Referred
to Public Works Committee
C. Communication relative to Installation of School Zone Signs on Grove Street.
Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee
D. Communication relative to information on Need for Catch Basins across from 181 Lake Avenue.
Placed
on file
E. Communication relative to Status Report #1 - Street Resurfacing Projects.
Referred
to Public Works Committee
F. Communication relative to Banning of Parking on Chandler Street.
Placed
on file
G. Communication relative to Traffic Signal
request at/near 425 Pleasant Street.
Placed
on file
25. PURCHASING:
26. TREASURY:
27. VETERANS'
SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Three Hundred Six Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty Two Dollars ($306,882.00) be transferred from the following account:
ACCT. DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
330-01 Pearl Elm Reserves $191,482.75
330-02 Federal Plaza Reserves 80,429.25
330-03 Off Street Reserves
24,307.00
330-04 Parking Meter Reserves 10,663.00
Total $306,882.00
and appropriated to the following
accounts:
ACCT. DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
46S501 Pearl Elm Ord.Maintenance $191,482.75
46S502 Fed.Plaza Ord.Maintenance
80,429.25
46S503 Off St. Ord.Maintenance 24,307.00
46S504 Parking Meter Ord.Maint.
10,663.00
Total $306,882.00
Order
adopted on a roll call
B. Recommend that Eighteen Thousand Sixty Three Dollars Nineteen Cents ($18,063.19) be transferred from Account #14SOM124, OPCD Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to the following Accounts:
ACCT. DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
14SSAL24 OPCD Salaries & Fringe $12,763.19
14S47624 So.Worc.Neighborhood Cts. $ 5,300.00
Total $18,063.19
Referred
to Community Development Committee
C. Recommend that One Hundred Eight Thousand Two Hundred Forty Seven Dollars ($108,247.00) be transferred, when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #41C703, DPW Department Capital Equipment.
Order
adopted on a roll call
D. Recommend that One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($112,500.00) be transferred, when and as received, from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #44C704, Sewer Department Capital Equipment.
Order
adopted on a roll call
E. Recommend that Twenty Four Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Seven Dollars Fifty Seven Cents ($24,797.57) be transferred from Account #550-91000, Public Library Personal Services, and appropriated to Account #550-92000, Public Library Ordinary Maintenance.
Order
adopted on a roll call
29. ORDINANCES/ORDERS:
30. MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Communication relative to Eviction Policy at the mixed population housing development operated by the WHA.
Referred
to Housing Committee
B. Communication relative to Security at the Worcester Housing Authority.
Referred
to Housing Committee
COMMUNICATIONS
10. William Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Archives Division, Records Management Unit transmitting communication relative to Electronic Mail.
Placed on file
11. Joseph J. Chessey, Jr., Deputy Commissioner, Mass. Department of Revenue transmitting communication relative to Brownfields Tax Agreements.
Referred to the City Manager
12. Worcester State College transmitting 1998
Annual Report.
Placed on file
13. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting communication relative to Mr. Richardson's remarks at the May 11, 1999 City Council meeting that the Retirement Board was in violation of state law.
Referred to Legislative
Affairs Committee
ORDERS
13a. Request Administration to set a policy for the use of Electronic
Mail in the City of Worcester. Motion-Murray @ #10CC - Adopted
13b. Request City Manager to consider including the School Department
and Parks Department in consolidation of garage services. Motion-Patton
@ #13B CM - Adopted
13c. That the City Council go on record requesting the Municipal
Research Bureau consider consolidation of garage services for future
study. Motion-Clancy @ #13B CM - Adopted
13d. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a private
analysis of what, if any of the garage services could be farmed out to local
taxpaying companies that might be able to provide part or all of certain
services. Motion-Cooney @ #13B CM - Adopted
13e. Request City Manager and Purchasing Department to do an analysis
to see if there is anything within the Public Works, Fire, Police, School and
Parks Departments that can be done by outside vendors. Motion-Cooney
@ #13B CM - Adopted
13f. Request City Manager obtain information from other cities and
towns relative to a central garage. Motion-Petty @ #13B CM - Adopted
13g. Request Administration to look at developing a central garage
scenario, perhaps over a four or five year period where all municipal and
School Department vehicles are repaired under one roof and have mechanics cross-trained. Motion-Murray
@ #13B CM - Adopted
13h. Request City Manager to inform City Council upon the anniversary
date of any Department Head and whether or not they have moved into the
City. Motion-Mariano @ #14A CM - Adopted
13I. Request City Administration to review all the mechanisms to date
to determine if the City needs a high level administrative person coordinate
the City side of the Route 146 project.
Motion-Clancy @ #19A CM - Adopted
13j. Request City Manager report under what circumstances and criteria
the City dedicates money under the Block Grant funds for State owned or private
buildings. Motion-Lukes @ #19G CM - Adopted
13k. Request City Manager report on where the money that was
transferred out of accounts dedicated to Police Uses in Item 19G of the City
Manager’s Calendar of May 18, 1999 and appropriated to other accounts
originally was designated to go into the Police accounts and why we are not
using it. Motion-Lukes @ #19G CM - Adopted
13L. Request City Manager to report on WHIP funds in Item 19G of the
City Manager’s Calendar of May 18, 1999 as to why these funds were not
utilized. Motion-Nadeau @ #19G CM - Adopted
13m. Request City Manager report on how many complaints are received by
Internal Affairs Division of the Police Department per month and year, what
types of allegations, what are the dispositions, what are the corrective
actions and how many of our current Police Officers would qualify for early
intervention system that is described when an Officer has three complaints in
eighteen consecutive months. Motion-Luster @ #20A CM - Adopted
13n. Request City Manager to provide City Council with examples of any
other municipalities where they have the Early Intervention System for their
Police Departments. Motion-Murray @ #20B CM - Adopted
13o. Request City Manager report whether or not the Police Academy
curriculum has room to increase emphasis on conflict resolutions and human and
civil rights. Motion-Luster @ #20B CM - Adopted
13p. Request City Manager to consider permanent Police Officer academy assignments
that better reflect Worcester’s population.
Motion-Luster @ #20B CM - Adopted
13q. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a written report
on furnishings that are not a part of the library construction project out of
the base bid. Motion-Perotto @ #22A CM - Adopted
13r. That the issue of keeping Shop Hours at the Vocational School the
same be referred to the School Committee for its careful consideration. Motion-Patton
@ #23A CM - Adopted
13s. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a summary of
recent changes that have taken place over the last few years and the trade-offs
relative to construction of the new Vocational High School. Motion-Cooney
@ #23B CM - Adopted
13t. Request City Manager and the Department of Public Works report to
City Council on specifically what the plan is over the next year or two for the
closure of the Ballard St. Landfill as to how it will be used. Motion-Clancy
@ #24B CM - Adopted
13u. Request City Manager provide City Council, prior to budget
discussion, with a list of previously approved locations for traffic signals,
prioritized by heavily traveled areas, areas in the vicinity of schools and
elderly complexes. Motion-Clancy @ #24G CM - Adopted
13v. Request City Manager to consider the limited use of brightly
colored barrels in the vicinity of elderly housing to allow elderly pedestrians
to get across the street. Motion-Mariano @ #24G CM - Adopted
13w. Request Administration report on the future use of the Wyman Gordon
property in the Kelly Sq. area and the impact on the neighborhood. Lukes
- Suspension of Rules - Adopted
13x. That the issue of Tag solicitations be the First Item of Business
at the June 15, 1999 City Council meeting.
Lukes - Suspension of Rules -
Adopted
13y. Request Administration to aggressively enforce Tag Day rules. Lukes-Suspension
of Rules - Adopted
13z. Request City Manager to report on what reconstruction work had to
be done at the Fire Headquarters on 141 Grove St. to fit ladder into the
building. Report to include cost and
how this happened. Cooney - Suspension of Rules - Adopted
13aa. Request City Manager to provide City Council, prior to budget
session, with a comparison of salaries of Department Head employees with those
of other cities and towns in Massachusetts of comparable size. Petty
- Suspension of Rules - Adopted
13bb. Request Administration request the Upland Gardens recap advisor,
Keith King to provide the income profile of their tenants. Further, to request the most recent capital
needs assessment for Upland Gardens. Nadeau, Clancy - Suspension of Rules -
Adopted
13cc. Request City Council Housing Sub-committee and the City
Administration hold a hearing with the Upland Gardens tenants and management on
their prepaying plan to develop a plan for long-term affordable housing. Clancy,
Nadeau - Suspension of Rules - Adopted
14. 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.
o) #5A CM May 4, 1999
Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of the fiscal 2000 operating budget in the amount of Three Hundred Forty Two Million Four Hundred Sixty Three Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Two Dollars and 28/100 ($342,463,832.28) be appropriated in the accounts listed hereunder.
Also requesting Council approval to proceed with the implementation of the City of Worcester's fiscal 2000 capital budget in the amount of Thirty Seven Million Nine Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($37,940,000.00) which is contained within the budget document.
p) #5B CM
May 4, 1999
Communication of the City Manager requesting adoption of the attached Salary Ordinance amendments that will implement my recommendation in the FY 2000 Budget.
q) #5D CM
May 4, 1999
Communication of the City Manager relative to Salary Ordinance amendment for the first Salary Ordinance in Item #5B.
r) #14A CM
May 4, 1999
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Management and Mid-Management Employees' Residency.
s) #55CC
May 11, 1999
James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting computation of the legal debt margin for the City of Worcester as of April 30, 1999.
REPORT
15 REFERRED TO ORDINANCE COMMITTEE FOR A HEARING
15. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Attorney Robert E. Longden, Jr. on behalf of The Valkyrie Co., Inc. requesting to discontinue and close to public use a portion of New York St. and to amend the Official Map of the City of Worcester by removing such portion therefrom.
TO BE ORDAINED
16 ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 10 YEAS AND 1 NAY
(Cooney)
16. Amending the Salary Ordinance relative to the salary of the City
Manager.
TABLED ITEMS
17. 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.
18. Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to an RFP for the sale of the Belmont Home.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Order - Request City Council go on record in support of a Charter
Commission regarding the issue of Charter reform. (Lukes, Nadeau,
Cooney). Taken off the Table and
placed on file