CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– MARCH 26, 2002
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:04 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:39 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Jeffrey Newhall
Greendale Peoples Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present
3a. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
3b. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
Janet Dufault spoke under Items of Departmental or Employee Interest relative to the Insurance Advisory Committee and the health insurance issue
HEARINGS
& ORDERS -
7:00 P.M.
4-6 Hearings Held
4. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC.
for a joint pole location: KALMAR
STREET. (Attachments)
5. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for a conduit location: LAKESIDE AVENUE. (Attachments)
6. NSTAR for gas main location:
ONEIDA AVENUE. (Attachments)
4a-6a ORDERS ADOPTED
4a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY &
VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole location: KALMAR STREET.
5a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for a
conduit location: LAKESIDE AVENUE.
6a. Granting permission to NSTAR for gas main location: ONEIDA AVENUE.
7 & 8 TABLED ONE WEEK UNDER PRIVILEGE
7. Chairman's Order from Commerce & Development - Request
City Manager provide City Council with a pedestrian-friendly roadway plan for
Washington Square that includes a roundabout pointing towards the southerly
portal. (Attachments)
8. Chairman's Order from Commerce & Development - Request
City Manager provide City Council with
a roadway plan for Washington Square using the area immediately to the west
side of Union Station for bus ports, siting the construction of a garage
underneath the I-290 overpass at the corner of Shrewsbury St. and Grafton St.
and also aligns Franklin St. for possible future two-way traffic pattern. (Attachments)
9 Order Adopted on a roll call 11-0
9. Paul Mullaney, Honorary Chairman, Member of the Board of
Directors, Korean War Memorial Committee of Central Mass., Inc. request City
Council to designate the area on Worcester Center Blvd. opposite the main
entrance to the Common Outlets garage as the preferred site for construction of
the Korean War Memorial.
10 & 11 REFERRED TO PARKS DEPARTMENT
10. John Rana request removal of tree that is rotting away at 29
Benedict Rd. (Attachments)
11. Janet & Francis Reidy request removal of tree from in front
of 122 Malvern Rd. (Attachments)
12 REFERRED TO
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
12. Craig & Beth Alexander request sidewalk repair in front of
60 Plantation St. (Attachments)
13-20 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
13. Terry Ann Henry request handicap parking in front of 46 Oak Ave.
(Attachments)
14. Elizabeth Matukaitis request handicap parking near empty lot on
Preston St. (Attachments)
15. Tess Sneesby, Executive Director, Abby’s House request six on
street parking spaces for the Thrift Store, 52 High St. for the operating hours
of Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 am. to
1:00 p.m. (Attachments)
16. Michael Grandone request City of Worcester to remove or reduce
the width of the center median on Shrewsbury St. to allow for diagonal parking
on both sides of the street. (Attachments)
17. Sharon Sendrowski request resident parking on Wall & Chrome
Sts. (Attachments)
18. Councillor Barbara Haller request to create a “4-way Stop” at
the corners of Clifton & Oberlin Sts. (Attachments)
19. Councillor Barbara Haller request to designate Harding St.
between Arwick & Ashmont Sts. as “Not a Truck Route”. (Attachments)
20. Councillor Barbara Haller request to designate Norwood St. as
“No Parking” on one side. (Attachments)
21 FROM HEALTH COMMITTEE - ADOPTED
21. Request City Manager to obtain from the Administration of the
PIP Shelter a listing of the day programs at their facility and those at other
facilities in which their clients are encouraged to participate. (Attachments)
22 FROM TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE -
ADOPTED
22. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a dateline
when the Great and General Court might enact previously requested legislation
authorizing the installation of speed humps in the public ways. (Attachments)
23. Request Administration to clear the sides of Franklin St. from
Putnam Lane to Suffolk St. of the overgrown brush, fallen tree limbs and
debris. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
24. Request Administration to re-paint traffic lane markings in
Belmont St. between Plantation and Shrewsbury Sts. and in Burncoat St. between
Barnard Rd. and Millbrook St.
(Palmieri) (Attachments)
25.
Request
Administration expand hours of operation at our downtown municipal
garages. (Murray) (Attachments)
26. Request Administration provide update on neighborhood
notification efforts regarding siting of group homes and whether said
properties remain on the tax roles.
(Murray) (Attachments)
Councillor Patton moved to amend: Further, request Administration report whether an Ordinance requiring notification when a group home is planned in a zone where it is not allowed by zoning may be enacted
27. Request City Manager to provide zoning status for the parks
located in the City. (Haller) (Attachments)
28. Request City Manager to provide guidelines and requirements for
information presented on the government cable channel. (Haller) (Attachments)
29. Request City Manager to provide a report on the philosophy and
status of community policing in the City, to include long-range
strategies. (Haller) (Attachments)
30. Request Administration to obtain and review copies of
ordinances, bylaws and regulations governing “sidewalk cafe” dining, including
their licensing and permitting process from the cities of Boston, MA,
Providence, RI and Burlington, VT and develop recommendations for same in
Worcester. (Irish, Abraham) (Attachments)
31. Request City Manager to monitor and enforce the provisions of
the noise control ordinance with regards to late-night motorcycle cruising and
congregating in areas adjacent to residential neighborhoods, especially along
Shrewsbury St., Grove St. and at Chadwick Square. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
32. Request City Manager report to City Council on ticketing issues
on Plantation St., between Grafton and Hamilton Sts. on the morning of March
20, 2002. (Clancy) (Attachments)
33. Request City Manager to submit a report on any current report
cards on the status of nursing home care in Worcester, including the report
done by Health Grades, Inc. of Denver which rated Worcester as one of the
nation’s worst cities for nursing home care and include in his response any
statistics available through the State Department of Public Health which either
support or question the conclusion of Health Grades, Inc. (Lukes)
(Attachments)
34. Request Administration to submit a report regarding the number
of home businesses located on June St., the types of home businesses, the
zoning regulations in place at those locations, any buildings currently for
sale with a history of business usage, any buildings currently being converted
to home business use and what other residential buildings are owned by the
operators of any home business. (Lukes)
(Attachments)
35. Request City Manager to submit to City Council a listing with
appropriate documentation of all access routes proposed/considered by the
Massachusetts Highway Department, excluding the most recent three routes. (Lukes) (Attachments)
35a. Request City Manager to provide City Council with information on
the 95% provider match between doctors and Blue Cross and Harvard Pilgrim. Further, request report relative to doctors
not accepting new patients as to whether that applies to people who might
migrate from one plan to another.
Further, request information as to what, if any, provisions Harvard
Pilgrim and/or the Administration would make to try to address the other 5% of
doctors. Motion-Murray @ #40CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
35b. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the
comparison of health insurance rates
that is presented to the Insurance Advisory Committee. Further, request City Manager provide City
Council with a report on the results of the Insurance Advisory Committee’s
discussion on health insurance benefit changes as soon as that information is
available. Motion-Patton @ #40CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
35c. Request City Manager report whether an underground garage is
conceivable at Washington Square. Motion-Patton @ #38CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35d. Request City Auditor to report as to the number of City employees
who might be eligible for the Early Retirement Incentive Program and the
cost. Motion-Murray @ #39CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
35e. Request City Manager to report within the State government, who
took the Early Retirement Incentive option and what was the profile of that
person. Motion-Patton @ #39CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35f. Request City Manager to report as to what kind of savings the
City might realize if people retired early and if the City could save lay-offs,
what kind of savings would the City then experience if the City did not have to
pay in unemployment. Motion-Clancy @ #39CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35g. Request City Auditor provide City Council with his best
guesstimate for when the City Manager comes in with his budget, as to what he
sees potentially on the revenue side and the expenditure side to guide the City
Council through the budget process. Motion-Clancy @ #39CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35h. Request Administration to provide City Council with a listing of
all of those items that would still remain in the budget that the City Manager
presents to City Council that do not include any payments for employees; tax
levy payments directly to services not provided by employees. Motion-Clancy @ #39CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35i. Request Administration contact Mass. Highway to see if they can
widen the access point of Lochwan Ave.
as it comes into Ballard St. as part of the detour of the Route 146
project. Clancy – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
36. Karen A. Gubber, Administrative Assistant transmitting Annual
Report from the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District for Fiscal
Year 2001. (Attachments)
37. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting City’s Single Audit
for the year ended June 30, 2001, prepared by KPMG. (Attachments)
38. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to Union Station/Washington Square. (Attachments)
39. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting the statement of the
Mass. Municipal Association relative to the Governor’s revised Fiscal 2003
Budget Plan to cut $200 million from local aid. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance – Also referred to Municipal Operations Committee for informational purposes
40. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to Health Insurance. (Attachments)
41. That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby
recognizes Worcester Vocational High
School Juniors Lauren Collins, Melissa Johnson and Maribel Chamorro for their 3rd
place trophy at the State competition of the Association of Marketing Students.
(Clancy, Murray) (Attachments)
42. RECESS
TO FINANCE & ORDINANCE: No Action Taken
FINANCE
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 the local aid figures included in the Governor's Budget for the
City of Worcester for Fiscal 2003. (Attachments)
c) #96 CC February 26, 2002
James A. DelSignore, City
Auditor transmitting progress report on the status of the City's finances for
the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2002.
(Attachments)
d) #5A CM February 26,
2002
Communication of the City Manager relative to Financial Projections – FY03. (Attachments)
e) #5A CM
March 5, 2002
Communication of the City
Manager relative to a report regarding a breakdown of projected debt service
line item presented in the fiscal 2003 budget report from last Tuesday's City
Council meeting. (Attachments)
f)
#5A
CM March 19, 2002
Communication of the City
Manager relative to FY 03 Budget – Personnel Reductions. (Attachments)
43-47 ACCEPTED & ORDERS ADOPTED ON A
ROLL CALL 11-0
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the following
Reports of the Planning Board upon Petitions requesting streets be made
public: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Orders.
43. Brian Woodman et al request to make public Jolma Rd. (Attachments)
44. William Martin request to make public Joseph St. (Attachments)
45. Ben & Angelique Carlson request to make public Roy St. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the following
Reports of the Planning Board upon Petitions requesting installation of
sewers: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Orders.
46. Councillor Stephen Patton request Public Works install public
sewers in lower Chester St. (Attachments)
47. Robert L. Moylan, Jr., Commissioner of Public Works request to
install sewers in Alpine St. from Vernon St. to Sterling St., approximately
600’. (Attachments)
48-50 ACCEPTED &
ORDERS ADOPTED
48. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of
Attorney Samuel R. DeSimone on behalf of Hill Financial Services requesting
authority to enter into a prior agreement with the City of Worcester, through
its Department of Public Works to construct at its expense the extension of
sanitary and surface water lines from its property on Wrentham Rd. , across
property of the City of Worcester to connect with the sanitary and surface
water lines on Columbine St., a public street, in accordance with standards set
by the Department of Public Works: recommend
adoption of the accompanying Order. (Attachments)
49. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of
Mayor Timothy Murray and Councillor Stephen T. Patton on behalf of Rabbi
Hershel Fogelman requesting Public Works install a catch basin in front of
Yeshiva Academy and Synagogue at 22 Newton Ave.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.
50. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Sophie Allia et al requesting Traffic & Parking Committee review St.
Nicholas Ave. and Clark St. location for safety improvements: recommend adoption of the accompanying
Order requesting the Commissioner of Public Works to upgrade “Intersection
Ahead” and “Thickly Settled” with 30 MPH speed advisory sign attached on Clark
St. at both approaches to St. Nicholas Ave. (Attachments)
51 VOTED TO
ADVERTISE PROPOSED ORDINANCE
51. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Councillor Juan A. Gomez on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. Juan Lopez requesting
William St. be converted to resident parking:
recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to provide
reserved parking for residents only on the north side of William St. from
Linden St. to North Ashland St. (Attachments)
52-80 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Petitions requesting speed humps:
recommend Petitions be placed on file.
52. Councillor John Finnegan et al request to expand trial program
for speed bumps to Coolidge Rd. (Attachments)
53. Councillor John Finnegan request installation of speed humps in
Copperfield Rd. (Attachments)
54. Councillor John Finnegan on behalf of John Auble request speed
hump be installed in front of 37 Hadwen Lane. (Attachments)
55. Councillor Janice L. Nadeau on behalf of Hackfeld Rd. residents
request speed humps be considered for Hackfeld Rd. for traffic calming
purposes. (Attachments)
56. Councillor John Finnegan on behalf of Kevin & Catherine
McCormack et al request trial speed bumps on Coolidge Rd.
57. Councillor John Finnegan on behalf of Andrew & Lisa Freilich
et al request installation of speed humps in Aylesbury Rd. to help alleviate
speeding vehicles. (Attachments)
58. David Dick, Jr. et al request City Council consider implementing
speed bumps on Thorndyke Rd. either immediately before and after the school or
at the two fire hydrants located on the road. (Attachments)
59. Councillor Stephen T. Patton on behalf of Nicholas Pellegrino
request to add Thornton Rd. to list for consideration of speed humps.
60. Ralph Cobb request installation of three speed bumps: 1 at Manomet & Lakewood Sts., 1 at Elmer
& Lakewood Sts. and 1 on Lakewood St. at the houses on the right side on
the hill side. (Attachments)
61. John Campanale request speed bumps at 729 and 769 Franklin St. (Attachments)
62. Mayor Raymond V. Mariano on behalf of Christopher & Eleanor
Girardin request installation of speed bumps on Winifred Ave. where needed. (Attachments)
63. Wilfred & Theresa Belair request installation of speed bumps
on Tacoma St. (Attachments)
64. Angela D. Dyer et al request speed bumps for Mason St. (Attachments)
65. Debra Comtois Davis request speed humps on Lovell St. in the
vicinity of Columbus Park School, installation to be coordinated with
resurfacing of roadway. (Attachments)
66. Mayor Raymond V. Mariano on behalf of Leonard Ramsdell request
installation of speed bumps on Prudential Rd. where needed. (Attachments)
67. Courtney Desrosiers request that you allow us to construct speed
bumps in front of 37 Davidson Rd., located off Burncoat St. (Attachments)
68. Tony Irving request speed bumps on Herbert St. which becomes
Hadwen Lane. (Attachments)
69. Robert Hemenway request speed bump at Barry Rd. and Toronita
Ave. (Attachments)
70. Councillor Joseph M. Petty on behalf of Donna Hirons request
installation of speed humps in public portion of Proctor St. (Attachments)
71. Councillor Stephen T. Patton request installation of speed humps
on Thornton Rd. (Attachments)
72. Mayor Raymond V. Mariano on behalf of William Akasten et al
request to install speed bumps on Crowningshield Rd. (Attachments)
73. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Francis Grigas
request speed humps on Commonwealth Ave. (Attachments)
74. Ed Weldon, Jr. request speed bump on Timrod Dr. (Attachments)
75. Robert Hiser et al request speed humps on Idalla Rd. and Idalla
Ave. (Attachments)
76. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of David McMahon et al request speed bumps on Richards St. and change Richards
St. to a one-way street eastbound: recommend
Petition be placed on file. (Attachments)
77. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Juan Lopez Velez et al requesting resident parking at 12 William St., extending
from William and Linden Sts. to the parking lot that extends from the side of
12 William St.: recommend Petition
be placed on file. (Attachments)
78. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to
legislation – Speed Humps: recommend
Communication be placed on file. (Attachments)
79. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Stevenson Vo requesting resident parking on Hillside St.: recommend Petition be denied. (Attachments)
80. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Report
of the Committee on Traffic and Parking upon the Petition of Councillor Paul P.
Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Theresa
Marczewski requesting residential parking on West Upsala St.: recommend Petition be denied. (Attachments)
81. Communication of the City Manager requesting adoption of the
Order transferring the jurisdiction of and authorizing the disposition of
foreclosed property at 380 Lake Ave. (Tabled March 12, 2002)
82. VERIZON NEW ENGLAND,
INC. for underground conduits on:
SOUTHBRIDGE ST. (Tabled March 12, 2002) (Attachments)
82a. Granting permission to VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for underground
conduits on: SOUTHBRIDGE ST.
_____________________________________________________________
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
APRIL 3, 2002 YOUTH, PARKS & COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M. RECREATION
APRIL 10, 2002 ELDER AFFAIRS COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M.