CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– APRIL 10, 2001
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:02 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:00 P.M.
1. INVOCATION
– Rev. Arthur Oakes
Church of the
Nazarene
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3.
ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillors
Abraham and Patton. Councillor Abraham arrived at 7:10 P.M. and Councillor
Patton at 7:15 P.M.
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5 REFERRED TO PUBLIC SERVICE &
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
5. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Bill Miley request
street light in front of 846 Millbury St. be moved to a new location away from
building.
6-16 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
6. Joseph A. & Mary M. Salo request abatement of Street
Betterment Assessment #24380 in the amount of $8,805.19 on Barnstable Rd.
7. Kevin M. & Karin Gosler request abatement of Street
Betterment Assessment #24351 in the amount of $5,136.00 on Valley View Lane.
8. Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of Francis & Susan
Gately request Kenilworth Rd. be resurfaced.
9. David Wagner et al request private street maintenance on
Loxwood St.
10. Councillor Janice Nadeau on behalf of Worcester Common Ground
request Public Works provide water service to the Austin/Newbury St. community
playground.
11. Councillor Timothy Murray & Councillor Michael Perotto on
behalf of Thomas Lawton, John Pedone & George Coleman request Public Works
resurface East Park Terrace.
12. Councillor Timothy Murray & Councillor Michael Perotto on
behalf of Thomas Lawton, John Pedone & George Coleman request Public Works
resurface Oleum Court.
13. Marc & Susan Smith et al request private street maintenance
on the private portion of Drexel St.
14. Paul Ramsey et al request private street maintenance on Kendig
St. in front of Lots 136-144.
15. Councillor Janice Nadeau on behalf of Boyden St. Residents
request Public Works resurface Boyden St.
16. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Robert Penny request
sidewalk repair in front of 101 Randolph Rd., Dodge Park Rest Home.
17-19 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
17. Councillor Janice Nadeau on behalf of College Hill Civic Club
Association request Traffic Engineer make suggestions to curb speeding on
Electric St. and bus stop situation.
18. Councillor Janice Nadeau on behalf of Green Island Crime Watch
Group request speed monitor be placed on Washington St. to monitor any
speeding.
19. Councillor Janice Nadeau on behalf of Green Island Crime Watch
Group request 30 MPH signs be posted on Vernon St. between I-290 intersection
and Ballard St. (both sides).
20 HEARING SET FOR APRIL 24, 2001 – 7:00
P.M.
20. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for a cable and conduit system
in: CIRCUIT AVENUE NORTH.
21 & 22 FROM COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT
- Adopted
21. Request Administration to generate and forward to City Council a
list of all households in Quinsigamond Village that will be given notice when
development of parcels A, B, C and D off of the proposed Nippnapp Trail are
available for public review.
22. In the contract for conveyance of landfill property, that the
Administration distribute the proceeds of the sale of this city-owned land for
development off of the proposed Nippnapp Trail between the Quinsigamond
Heritage Park Revitalization Plan and the Greenwood St. Streetscape Improvement
Program and also include a requirement that Liberty Properties and P & W
Railroad partner with the Vernon Hill/Green Island CDC.
23-28 FROM FEES
& CHARGES - Adopted
23. Request City Administration consider doing whatever is possible
to hold water and sewer rates next fiscal year.
24. Request City Administration provide City Council with a
comparison of basic fees charged, water and sewer rates, golf course fees
between the City of Worcester and the cities of Providence, Springfield and
Portland, Maine.
25. Request City Solicitor report on the interpretation by other
communities of the 1991 legislation relative to the power of the City Council
in the setting of fees.
26. Request Administration report on which Towns and Cities have
accepted the Community Preservation Act.
27. Request Administration report on approximately what the City of
Worcester and its residents spent last year on recording fees and charges.
28. Request Administration report as to what the impact would be on
the average residential tax rate and the average commercial tax rate of a .5,
1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3% surcharge under the Community Preservation Act.
29 & 30 FROM
PUBLIC WORKS - Adopted
29. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report
concerning the feasibility of establishing an off-site City of Worcester bill
payment center with convenient parking.
30. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report on
the feasibility of relocating some of the functions located in the North
Chamber of City Hall so as to accommodate public gatherings and meetings and
include in said report information concerning possible cable access from this
room.
31. Request Commissioner of Public Works initiate traffic studies of
the intersections of Pleasant, Chandler and Mower Sts. and Mower, Olean, South
St. and Kinney Dr. and recommend improvements to the City Council for better
pedestrian and motor vehicle operator safety. (Abraham)
32. Request City Manager provide City Council with copies of any
prior analyses of traffic flow accessing and egressing Worcester Regional
Airport using Pleasant St., Chandler St. and Goddard Memorial Dr. (Abraham, Lukes)
33. Request City Manager report to City Council regarding the
possible broadcasting of City Council meetings via local radio. (Gomez)
34. Request City Manager to contact MassPort and Mass. Highway
regarding the Logan Shuttle service and request that they consider integrating
a similar type of passenger shuttle service into the continued development of
Worcester Regional Airport. (Abraham,
Petty)
35. Request Administration to meet with the local delegation
regarding amendments to the Community Preservation Act so as to avoid any
surtaxes on real estate taxes by creating new funding mechanisms based upon the
fees generated by surcharges only.
(Lukes)
36. Request Administration report on any projections which are
available from Registries of Deeds regarding surcharge fees imposed to fund the
Community Preservation Act and actual receipts to date. (Lukes)
37. Request Administration consider the feasibility of opening Pearl
St. to two-way vehicular traffic and make a recommendation. (Irish, Nadeau, Gomez)
38. Request City Administration provide crime statistics in the
Green Island/Vernon Hill Crime Watch area.
(Nadeau)
39. Request Administration contact the 29 “transit oriented
development” projects currently in place around the country to explore the
feasibility of incorporating housing into the
Washington Square development project.
(Irish)
40. Request Administration report to City Council on whether Liberty
Properties owns parcels of land to the south of the Providence St. Fire
Station. (Clancy)
41. Request Administration report to City Council on whether the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts intends to charge citizens for the State portion
of Lake Park. (Clancy)
42. Request City Administration report on the status of enforcement
and oversight concerning unlicensed livery or gypsy cabs. (Murray)
43. Request City Administration report on the City’s future
participation with the Central Mass. Economic Development Agency in
consultation with the federal and state delegations, the Swift administration
and local business organizations.
(Murray)
44.
Request
Administration report on the failure of the electric company to provide
services to downtown Worcester during the past year and during the month of
April and what remedies have been instituted to correct the failure of
services. (Lukes)
45. Request Administration report on whether the City Council can
earmark the account or purpose of tax levy monies which must be voted during
budget session for the School Department.
(Lukes)
45a. Request Administration to work with the School Department
regarding holding public meetings at schools that have cable access during the
renovation of the City Hall garage. Motion-Patton @ #47CC – Adopted
45b. Request Administration to provide City Council with the sewer and
water rate recommendations from 1994 to the present. Motion-Mariano @ #48CC –
Adopted
45c. Request City Manager report how much in tax levy dollars would
have to be appropriated in order to hold the water and sewer rates at the
current levels. Motion-Perotto @ #48CC – Adopted
45d. Request Administration report what streets will not be done due to
the reduction in the Capital Improvement Program. Motion-Perotto @ #48CC –
Adopted
45e. Request Administration verify that for every reduction cost of
$100,000.00 its one cent on the water and sewer rate. Motion-Perotto @ #48CC –
Adopted
45f. Request Administration report on federal funds for cities to
perform water infrastructure work. Motion-Perotto @ #48CC – Adopted
45g. Request Administration report as to how projections of water usage
factor into the water and sewer rates.
Is there an average usage and how the drought and then the rain factored
into the projections. Motion-Murray @ #48CC – Adopted
45h. Request Administration provide the rationale for recommending an
increase in the water and sewer rates in the City of Worcester and not the
towns who use the City’s system. Motion-Murray @ #48CC – Adopted
45i. Request Administration report the current balance in the Sewer
Reserve Account. Motion-Murray @ #48CC – Adopted
45j. Request Administration report as to what standard the City is
making the statement that the quality of Worcester’s water by every reasonable
standard is recognized as one of the best in New England. Motion-Irish
@ #48CC – Adopted
45k. Request Administration report if the increase in the sale of water
to surrounding towns and also bringing in sewerage from surrounding towns has
any affect in either bringing down the water and sewer rates or increasing the
rates. Motion-Nadeau @ #48CC – Adopted
45L. Request Administration report if water usage does go up, how can
we credit that towards next year’s water rates. Motion-Petty @ #48CC –
Adopted
45m. Request Administration provide City Council with an explanation of
the article in the April 10, 2001 newspaper regarding the stormwater discharge
and sewer fees potentially going up from $40.00 to $190.00 based on new DEP
environmental laws. Motion-Petty @ #48CC – Adopted
45n. Request the Commissioner of Public Works provide City Council with
a 5-10 year plan for dealing with reduction of water use. Motion-Lukes
@ #48CC – Adopted
45o. Request City Manager provide City Council with a follow-up report
on how impracticable or costly it would be for the City to bottle and sell its
water as a revenue generating item. Motion-Lukes @ #48CC – Adopted
45p. Request Administration provide City Council with a clearer average
cost for residential water user and commercial user and does the City have
agreements with commercial users for water delivery that might indicate that
they have a different method of payment or cost. Motion-Lukes @ #48CC –
Adopted
45q. Request Administration report what one cent equals on the sewer
rate and water rate. Motion-Lukes @ #48CC – Adopted
45r. Request Administration provide City Council with the
Administrative Cost Agreement with the School Department. Motion-Lukes
@ #48CC – Adopted
45s. Request Administration report on what watershed land the City is
acquiring, with whom and for how much. Motion-Lukes @ #48CC – Adopted
45t. Request Administration report what salary increases are being built
in to the water and sewer rate increases.
Motion-Lukes @ #48CC – Adopted
45u. Request Administration report on the refinancing of loans
mentioned in Item 38 of the City Council Calendar of April 10, 2001; when the
City intends to do this and what interest rate is the City looking for. Motion-Lukes
@ #48CC – Adopted
45v. Request Administration provide City Council with a listing of the
City’s revenues, grants and other monies coming into the water and sewer
Enterprise Accounts. Motion-Lukes @ #48CC – Adopted
45w. Request Administration report on the upcoming convention and
alcohol being served on Shrewsbury St.
Mariano – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted
45x. Request Administration provide a report on enforcement of Section
14, paragraph (c) 7 of the Abandoned Building Ordinance which requires that
owners of such buildings maintain liability insurance describing the method
which determines the amount of such insurance and whether the City is listed as
an insured subject to notice in the event of policy lapse. Irish
– Suspension of Rules – Adopted
45y. Request Administration to research fundraising opportunities to
restore the Rogers Kennedy memorial through individual, foundation donors and
public sources. Irish – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted
45z. Request Administration to take another look at funding the Coes
Pond dam project. Abraham – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
45aa. Request City Manager contact Charter Cable Co. and report to City
Council within thirty (30) days on the status of wiring the City in regards to
the Internet and upgrading cable service throughout the City of Worcester and
dates for completion. Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
45bb. Request City Manager report on the NCAA hockey tournament as to the
public being able to leave the building between games. Murray
– Suspension of Rules - Adopted
46. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting City’s Single Audit
for year ended June 30, 2000, prepared by KPMG LLP.
47. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to the closing of the City Hall garage for repairs.
48. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager recommending the FY 2002 water
and sewer rates.
49. RECESS
TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Action Taken
FINANCE
a)
#5A
CM January 23, 2001
Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to the City Manager’s Contingency Account.
b)
#24E
CM January 23, 2001
Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to Snow Deficit FY2001.
c)
#13B
CM April 3, 2001
Communication of the City Manager relative to Health
Insurance Costs for the Current Year and Future Years.
50-53 ACCEPTED
50. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FEES AND CHARGES Upon the
Communication of James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting Comprehensive
Listing of Fees & Charges which has been updated to December 31, 1999:
recommend Communication be placed on file.
51. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FEES AND CHARGES Upon the
Communication of David J. Rushford, City Clerk transmitting requested
information on the charges levied for copies of vital records at City Clerk
Offices throughout the Commonwealth as well as at the State Office of Vital
Records: recommend Communication be placed on file.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend Communications be placed on
file.
52. Transmitting communication relative to Status Report – City Hall
Improvement Projects.
53. Transmitting communication relative to Status Report - Research
& Recommendation relative to the Proposal to Sell the Naming Rights to the
Centrum Centre.
53a ACCEPTED &
ORDER ADOPTED – Suspension of Rules – On a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays
Councillor Perotto was recused. On a
roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays Councillor Petty was recused
53a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon the
Communication of the City Manager recommending approval of an amendment to the
Union Station Urban Revitalization Plan (USURP): recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.
53b ACCEPTED & ORDER ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL
11-0 – RECONSIDERATION DENIED ON A VOICE VOTE
53b. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the
Communication of James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting communication
relative to the Noncontributory Pop Up Act:
recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.
54 ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0
54 Amending Section 2, Article III of the Worcester Zoning
Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of Shore
Dr.
55. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Order of Councillor Paul
P. Clancy, Jr. requesting approval of the attached Ordinance amending the
Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to Non-Accessory
Signs. (Tabled May 30, 2000)
56. Order – Request Rules Committee to review the procedure used by
City Council for election of individuals to the Library Board of Trustees. (Abraham)
(Tabled December 29, 2000)
57. Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication
relative to city employees serving on Boards and Commissions. (Tabled April 3, 2001)
6:00
P.M. DEVELOPMENT
Re: Amendment to the Union
Station Urban Revitalization
Plan (USURP)
APRIL 10, 2001 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
MAY 7, 2001 PUBLIC WORKS COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M.