CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– FEBRUARY 5, 2002
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:00 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:30 P.M.
1. INVOCATION - Rev. Daniel Becker, Associate Pastor
St. Stephen's Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL - All present except Councillor
Lukes and Petty. Councillor Lukes arrived at 7:10 PM
4. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO ALLMERICA
FINANCIAL FOR THE GENEROUS NOVEMBER 20, 2001 DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000
FOR THE DARE PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF WORCESTER.
David Portnoy accepted
Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Allmerica
HEARINGS
AND ORDERS - 7:00 P.M.
5 & 6 Hearings
Held
5. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: SHREWSBURY STREET. (Attachments)
6. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: VERNON STREET. (Attachments)
5a & 6a ORDERS
ADOPTED
5a. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit
location on: SHREWSBURY STREET.
6a. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit
location on: VERNON STREET.
FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS
7. Report of the City Manager relative to the status of Union
Station Development, including but not limited to: 1. Intermodal Transportation
2. Parking Garage 3. Washington Square Traffic
Configuration 4. Development inside Union
Station 5. Development outside Union Station.
Held for First Item
of Business February 12, 2002
8. ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST
9. ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
PETITIONS
10-15 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
10. Juan Betancourt request handicap parking in front of 9 Douglas
St. (Attachments)
11. Bryan Slack request to install No Parking 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.
on Main St. south side from Goddard Memorial Drive to Curtis Parkway. (Attachments)
12. Stevenson Vo request resident parking on Hillside St. (Attachments)
13. Councillor Paul P. Clancy Jr. request appropriate truck ban
signage to be posted at Cliff St. from Route 146 and Granite St. from Route 20.
(Attachments)
14. Councillor Paul P. Clancy Jr. on behalf of Patricia Smith and
Patricia Dunlap request stop sign on Tennyson St. at intersection of Whipple
St. (Attachments)
15. Councillor Paul P. Clancy Jr. on behalf of Patricia Smith and
Patricia Dunlap request No Parking Anytime, on either side of Whipple St. from
Epworth St. to the dead end terminus of Whipple St. (Attachments)
15a. Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Richard Gotz request
Department of Public Works resurface Oak Hill Road. Referred to Traffic &
Parking - Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
15b. Mayor Timothy P. Murray request parking meters on Norwich St. be
changed from 15 Minutes to One Hour Parking.
Referred to Traffic & Parking
- Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
CHAIRMAN'S
ORDERS
16 & 17 FROM
HEALTH - ORDERS ADOPTED
16. Request Administration report to the City Council relating to
the work of the Heart Program including hours and days of the week that the
program is operational, statistics about referrals of PIP clients to other
facilities and/or programs, demographic tracking and anticipated significant
population growth estimates. (Attachments)
17. Request Administration to provide the City Council with copies
of the current and proposed bedding space for the PIP Shelter and statistics
of recent occupancies at the Main
Street location. (Attachments)
18 - 22 FROM HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION - ORDERS ADOPTED
18. Request Administration to review the current policies for the
disposition of tax foreclosed properties comparing our policy with any
additional allowances under State Law and make recommendations to the City
Council to speed-up the process in the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
19. Request Administration provide the City Council with an update
on the problem items referenced in the Manager's December, 2001 communication
concerning the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Walk. (Attachments)
20. Request City Clerk to communicate with Chairpersons of the
Massachusetts House and Senate Committees on Housing, the Speaker of the House
and the Senate President the grave concerns of the Worcester City Council that
a delay enacting a housing bond bill will bode badly for Worcester and other
urban communities and exhorts them to move expeditiously. (Attachments)
21. Request Administration provide the City Council with an update
of progress made to date with the ComNet initiative. (Attachments)
22. Request Administration post in an appropriate location on the
City of Worcester's web site the policy of the City concerning the disposition
of tax foreclosed properties. (Attachments)
ORDERS
23. Request Administration consider applying for recycling and
economic development grants from the Chelsea Center made available by the
University of Massachusetts and Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. (Murray) (Attachments)
Order adopted
24. Request City Manager consider placing a notice in the excise tax
bill regarding parking ban regulations. (Clancy) (Attachments)
Order adopted
25. Request City Manager consider reversing the one way direction of
traffic on Fairmont Avenue and Ingleside Avenue between Hamilton and Grafton
Streets. (Clancy) (Attachments)
Order adopted
26. Request City Manager report to Council on all requested traffic
studies awaiting completion. (Clancy) (Attachments)
Order adopted
27. Request City Manager consider changing the traffic light at Grafton
and Cutler Streets to blinking status during the morning and evening rush
hours. (Clancy) (Attachments)
Order adopted
28. Request Administration report on number of senior citizens in
Worcester accessing senior citizen circuit breaker tax credit if possible.
(Murray) (Attachments)
Placed on file
29. Request Administration provide the City Council with a progress
report concerning improvements to the Barnyard Zoo at Green Hill Park. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
30. Request Park Commissioner provide the City Council with an
estimated cost of the work that would need to be done to clean the pond at
Green Hill Park (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
31. Request Commissioner of Public Works provide the City Council
with a detailed explanation of the several outside charges reflected in the
calculation of the water and sewer rate billed to in-city and out-of-town
consumers. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
32. Request City Manager report to Council on why the south end of
Union Station was ignored for any potential development build-out. (Clancy,
Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
33. Request City Manager report to Council on the feasibility of
establishing a westbound turn onto Shrewsbury St. at the terminus of the I-290
Shrewsbury St. exit. (Clancy,
Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
34. Request City Manager report to Council on why the current
Harding Street access to Union Station is ignored in the current report,
especially given the fact it is fully built out. (Clancy, Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
35. Request City Manager report to Council on why the current I-290
span over the eastbound lane of Shrewsbury St. and the former Front St.
underpass of the P & W span wasn't considered as a possible route for the
traffic design. (Clancy, Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
36. Request City Manager provide the City Council with a report
identifying all events that have occurred in the re-opened Great Hall of Union
Station, including city costs and income.
(Palmieri) (Attachments)
Order adopted
37. Request City Manager request CIGNA meet with the City Council to
determine their short and long term plans for the Worcester Common
Outlets. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Mayor Murray moved to amend:
Further, request City Manager report who the point person is that the
city is communicating with at CIGNA.
Adopted, as amended
38. Request City Auditor report on annual profits filed by Health
Insurance providers currently under contract
with the City. (Murray) (Attachments)
Councillor Lukes moved to amend:
Further, request City Manager provide City Council with information on
corporate salary structure and benefits of the Health Insurance providers. Councillor Patton moved to further
amend: Request Administration make a
full presentation to the City Council in public session on the method used for
calculating those rates and provide bi-weekly updates also. Councillor Gomez moved to further
amend: Request Administration provide
audited financials on the Health Insurance providers. Adopted, as amended
39. Request Administration consider pursing U.S. Department of
Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile
Mentoring Program grant. (Murray,
Perotto) (Attachments)
Order adopted
40. Request Administration consider hosting a forum for residential
real estate developers in order to encourage the development of housing in the
City of Worcester. Such a forum should highlight
the unmet regional demand for housing, the availability of development sites, the city's central geographic
location, excellent infrastructure, mass transit and roadway system, high per
capita income, excellent public school system and favorable regulatory climate.
(Irish) (Attachments)
Order adopted
41. Request Administration prepare for the City Council an inventory
describing the real estate parcels in the City of Worcester available for
residential development. (Irish) (Attachments)
Order adopted
42. Request Administration report on the 50 highest tax delinquent real estate/personal
property owners for the last three years.
(Lukes) (Attachments)
Order adopted
43. Request Administration report on the reason for the policy for
installation of parking meters in retail/commercial areas and to include in the
report what high traffic commercial/retail areas do not have parking
meters. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Order adopted
44. Request Administration report on the installation of new
electronic parking meters, how many meters are planned for installation, the
plan for replacement of the old meters, the location and the cost and source of
funding, including anticipated costs of maintenance and repair. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Order adopted
45. Request Administration report on the differences and the reasons
for the differences between the newly submitted Washington Square plan by WBDC
and the plan submitted to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority by the
Carlsisle Consulting Group, Inc. entitled "Union Station Area Development
Implementation Strategy, Draft Final Report, January 1995". (Lukes) (Attachments)
Order adopted
45a. Request City Auditor to review health insurance proposals and
report assessment to the City Council as to what it means to the budget as
opposed to current costs. Motion Clancy @ #38 CC - Adopted (Attachments)
45b. Request City Manager report to City Council on the number of Year
2001 grant applications, renewals and awards.
Motion Lukes @ #39 CC -
Adopted (Attachments)
45c. Request City Manager to prepare and conduct a survey of businesses
in the city to determine whether a favorable regulatory climate exists. Motion
Lukes @ #40 CC - Adopted (Attachments)
45d. Request City Auditor to report to City Council potential deficits
and gains at the mid year point of FY 2002.
Motion Clancy @ #47 CC -
Adopted (Attachments)
45e. Request City Manager to discuss and survey the merchants in the
Federal Square area whether their preference is parking meters with time limit
or no meters and provide the policy regarding parking meters in the
commercial/retail areas. Motion Lukes @ #61 CC - Adopted (Attachments)
45f. Request Administration provide the City Council with a copy of
the policy that is in place wherein the process for canceling or postponing
classes in the Worcester Public Schools is delineated. Abraham - Suspension of Rules - Adopted (Attachments)
45g. Request City Manager to report on the status of the selection of
the new Marketing Director and how the money paid to the Chamber of Commerce
for marketing and tourism has been spent and the current balance
remaining. Lukes - Suspension of Rules - Adopted
(Attachments)
45h. Request City Manager to report on the status of the resolution of
litigation with Green Hill Park Coalition. Lukes - Suspension of Rules
- Adopted (Attachments)
45i. Request Administration provide a legal opinion on the February 1,
2002 event that was alleged in violation of the Open Meeting Law. Lukes
- Suspension of Rules - Adopted (Attachments)
COMMUNICATIONS
46. David J. Rushford, City Clerk transmitting communication
relative to Marriage Records Statistics - Year 2001. (Attachments)
Placed on file
47. James A. DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting Auditor's Report
- December 31, 2001. (Attachments)
Placed on file
48. RECESSED TO FINANCE & ORDINANCE: No Action Taken
a) #4B CM June 19, 2001
Communication of the City Manager relative to
Breakdown of New Growth Figures over the past ten years. (Attachments)
b) #5A CM January 29, 2002
Communication of the City
Manager relative to local aid figures included in the Governor's Budget for the
City of Worcester for Fiscal 2003. (Attachments)
REPORTS
49 ACCEPTED & ORDER
ADOPTED ON ROLL CALL 9-0 (Perotto & Petty Absent)
49. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD
REVITALIZATION Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting
communication relative to disposition of City owned property located at 809
Main St., 68 Ward St., 33 Merrick St., 5 Dudley Pl., 10 Ripley St., 36 Dale
St., 124-125 Dewey St. and 2-4-6-(9) Blake St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying order. (Attachments)
50 - 58 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION Upon the following Communications of
the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
50. Transmitting communication relative to status of In-Fill Housing
Project for South Worcester, 2-2A Douglas St. (Attachments)
51. Transmitting communication relative to the Pleasant Street
Neighborhood Walk. (Attachments)
52. Transmitting communication relative to a citywide housing market
study. (Attachments)
53. Transmitting communication relative to a citywide housing market
study. (Attachments)
54. Transmitting communication relative to the Department of Housing
and Community Development's Award of $720,000.00 in matching funds to the
City's commitment of HOME funds for rehabilitation and sale of 24 units of
housing to first-time, low to moderate income homebuyers and renters in the
next eight to twelve months. (Attachments)
55. Transmitting communication relative to Worcester Redevelopment
Authority's Audit Report. (Attachments)
56. Transmitting communication relative to the announcement of the
annual HUD Continuum of Care and Emergency Shelter Grant Award. (Attachments)
57. Transmitting communication relative to the Status of City's
Housing Programs, Initiatives and Policies - FY 2001-2003. (Attachments)
58. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION
Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative
to Article VII - Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonuses to promote affordable
housing: recommend Communication be
referred to the Land Use Committee for consideration of amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance to add density bonuses to promote affordable housing. (Attachments)
58a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE Upon the Communication of the
City Manager requesting adoption of an order relative to 5,503 square feet of
land abutting property on Brantwood Rd.:
recommend adoption of the accompanying order authorizing City Manager
to execute a release deed relative to a parcel of land abutting 101 Brantwood
Rd. Suspension of Rules - Order adopted - Reconsideration denied on voice
vote (Attachments)
TO
BE ORDAINED
59 ORDAINED ON ROLL
CALL 9-0 (Perotto & Petty absent)
59. Amending Section 2 of Article III of the Worcester Zoning
Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of
Bancroft St. (Attachments)
TABLED
ITEMS
60 - 62 Taken Off Table & Referred to Traffic
& Parking
60. Petition of Councillor Philip P. Palmieri request installation
of an over-sized sign directing motorists onto Shrewsbury St. to be added to
the existing Downtown directional sign located at the intersection of Belmont,
Shrewsbury and Aitchison Sts. (Attachments)
61. Petition of Councillor Philip P. Palmieri on behalf of Carl
Swirsky of Sylvia's Dress Shop request the installation of parking meters in Main
St. from 507 to 545, from 553 to 563 and in front of the Denholm Building and
also in Southbridge St. from 30 to 36 so that merchants can realize better
turnover of the small number of on-street parking spaces. (Attachments)
62. Petition of Councillor Philip P. Palmieri on behalf of Belmont
Community School Parent's Group request the installation of a blinking yellow
pedestrian light in front of the Belmont Community School. (Attachments)
Councillor Palmieri moved to amend: Also on existing Downtown sign on
Belmont St. at intersection of Belmont & Shrewsbury Sts.
SCHEDULED
MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
FEBRUARY 4, 2002 PUBLIC WORKS
SAXE ROOM
7:00
P.M. FIRST FLOOR
PUBLIC LIBRARY
FEBRUARY 5, 2002 LAND USE COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:45
P.M. Re: Sale of Land - Brantwood Rd.
FEBRUARY 11, 2002 COMMERCE & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 -
7:00 P.M. DEVELOPMENT
Re:
Union Station & Washington Square
FEBRUARY 11, 2002 PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00
P.M.
FEBRUARY 12, 2002 HEALTH
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30 -
7:00 P.M. Re: Oral Health
FEBRUARY 13, 2002 MUNICIPAL ROOM 310 CITY HALL
6:30
P.M. OPERATIONS
FEBRUARY 25, 2002 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00
P.M.
FEBRUARY
26, 2002 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30 - 7:00 P.M. Re: AIDS/HIV Committee Report
FEBRUARY
27, 2002 COMMERCE & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 - 7:00 P.M. DEVELOPMENT
Re: Union Station & Washington Square
FEBRUARY
27, 2002 TRAFFIC & PARKING COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00 P.M.
MARCH
12, 2002 HEALTH
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30 - 7:00 P.M.