CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– APRIL 9, 2002
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:05 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:16 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Charles J. Dumph
Blessed Sacrament Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3.
ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillor
Lukes who arrived at 7:10 P.M.
4. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS TO 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.
The Mayor opened a 30 minute hearing allowing the public to speak either in opposition or in favor of the recommendations of the Commerce & Development Committee regarding the design of Washington Square. Items 50 and 51 of the City Council Calendar were taken up at this time along with a Chairman’s Order from the Commerce & Development Committee from their meeting of April 8, 2002 (Item 16a).
5. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6 & 7 REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
6. Jerry
Galvin request to make public the private portion of Miami St. (Attachments)
7. Deirdre Dundon request City to remove private portion of
Arline St. from the Official City Map and allow abutters to block portion of
road from through traffic. (Attachments)
8 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
8. Patricia McGrath request to extend sewer line from corner of
Pelican Ave. to 9 Phoebe Way approximately 270 ft. To be done at Petitioner’s expense and in accordance with a prior
agreement with the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
8a. Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of Irene Pietrowicz request
a catch basin be installed where the public and private streets join together,
low section of road on Clover St. Referred to Public Works Committee –
Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
9-12 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING
COMMITTEE
9. Josephine
Pickett request handicap parking in front of 19 Reeves St. (Attachments)
10. Maria Cabrera on behalf of Marcelo Caderon request handicap
parking in front of 115 Sterling St. (Attachments)
11. Roberta
Union et al request Resident Only parking on Old English Rd. (Attachments)
12. Dwayne Watson et al request installation of a traffic light at
the corner of Marble and Main Sts. (Attachments)
13-16 HEARINGS SET FOR APRIL 23, 2002 –
7:00 P.M.
13. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: BEAVER ST. (Attachments)
14. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: FRUIT ST. (Attachments)
15. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: GROVE ST. (Attachments)
16. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. for a pole location on: HEARD ST. (Attachments) Councillor
Haller recused on a roll call 10-0
16a FROM COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE – Suspension of Rules
16a. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a roadway plan
for Washington Square that retains the northern portal for some vehicular
access in the event the southern portal is designated as the primary roadway,
that returns Franklin St. to a two-way roadway an that opens Harding St. to
Worcester Center Boulevard. (Attachments)
Councillor Perotto moved to amend to insert after “access” - using a roundabout.
Chairman’s Order adopted, as amended on a roll call 6-5 (Yes-Clancy,
Palmieri, Patton, Perotto, Petty, Murray) – No (Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish,
Lukes)
17 FROM LAND USE COMMITTEE - Adopted
17. Request Administration to provide City Council with an updated
report concerning the amount of revenue collected through the Worcester
District Registry of Deeds and deposited into the Community Preservation Act
pool, identifying amounts by community. (Attachments)
18 FROM YOUTH, PARKS & RECREATION
COMMITTEE – Adopted
18. Request Parks Commissioner and Commissioner of Public Health and
Code Enforcement to communicate with State and Federal authorities on the
issues relating to geese infestation and provide City Council with progress on
these efforts in the Summer of 2002. (Attachments)
19. Request City Manager report on tools available to control
parking problem in the vicinity of the Salter School on Indian Hill Rd. (Patton)
(Attachments)
20. Request City Manager forward to City Council the plans and
status of proposed move of the Abby Kelly Foster Charter School to the facility
at Temple Emanuel, including number of students to be accommodated, start and
end time of daily classes, traffic impacts and the longevity of their stay at
this location. (Abraham) (Attachments)
21. Request Administration provide City Council with a report that
details how much of recent block grant allocations are expended on salaries
excepting those under the administrative salary cap. (Palmieri)
22. Request Administration provide City Council with a report
detailing the number of employees at Neighborhood Services who are also
residents of the City of Worcester.
(Palmieri) (Attachments)
23. Request City Manager provide City Council with a report listing
any positions in the Administrative salary group that have been filled with
non-Worcester residents since May 23, 1995 and the justification for such
hiring in the form of an exemption by the City Manager. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
24. Request Administration to submit a legal opinion on the rights
and responsibilities of towing operators regarding entry into the interior of a
private vehicle which is being towed.
(Lukes) (Attachments)
25. Request Administration report on whether all towing operators
operating under city contracts have complied with payment and ATM
procedures. (Lukes) (Attachments)
25a. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a pedestrian
friendly roadway plan for Washington Square that includes a roundabout and a
plan for a four-way intersection pointing toward the southerly portal. Motion-Irish
@ #16a, 50 & 51 CC – Adopted on a roll call 6-5 (Yes-Abraham, Gomez,
Haller, Irish, Lukes, Patton) - (No-Clancy,
Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Murray) Reconsideration denied on a voice vote (Attachments)
25b. Request City Manager to
provide City Council with a roadway plan for Washington Square that includes a
roundabout and a plan for a four-way intersection 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. Motion-Irish @ #16a, 50 & 51 CC – Adopted on a roll call 6-5
(Yes-Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes, Patton) – (No-Clancy, Palmieri,
Perotto, Petty, Murray) Reconsideration denied on a voice vote (Attachments)
25c. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a roadway plan
for Washington Square the retains the northern portal for some vehicular access
with the use of a roundabout and a plan for a four-way intersection in the
event the southern portal is designated as the primary roadway, that returns
Franklin St. to a two-way roadway and that opens Harding St. to Worcester
Center Boulevard. Motion-Irish @ #16a, 50 & 51 CC – Adopted on a roll call 6-5
(Yes-Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes, Patton) – (No-Clancy, Palmieri,
Perotto, Petty, Murray) Reconsideration denied on a voice vote
25d. Pursuant to approval of the recommendations of the Commerce and
Development Committee relative to roadway plans for Washington Square the
Administration be and is hereby requested to provide a report on what the
impact is going to be on the economic development goals regarding new parcels
to be created and impact on the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in
the area of Washington Square. Motion-Lukes @#16a, 50 & 51 CC –
Adopted on a voice vote – Reconsideration denied on a voice vote (Attachments)
25e. Request City Manager to report on the actual sale of Indian Hill
property as to what was the property as defined in the Purchase and Sale
Agreement, what process remains and whose custody is the property in now. Motion-Patton
@ #19CC – Adopted (Attachments)
25f. Request Administration to submit to City Council any complaints
that have been filed in the past two years against each towing company that has
a contract with the City as to the number of complaints, the nature of said
complaint and how it was resolved. Motion-Lukes @ #24 & 25CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
25g. Request City Manager to report on what will happen to the two fire
companies housed at the Central St. Fire Station if a hotel is built on that
site. Clancy – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
25h. Request Administration to report on the process that takes place
relative to school construction, particularly at North High School. Palmieri – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
26 & 27 ADOPTED
26. SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:
WYOLA DR. (Attachments)
27. SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:
SUNDERLAND RD. (Attachments)
28-30 ADOPTED ON A
ROLL CALL 10-0 (Abraham absent)
28. DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC:
ADELAIDE CIRCLE (Attachments)
29. DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC:
ALLISON CIRCLE (Attachments)
30. DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC:
MATTEO ST. (Attachments)
31. Helen A. Friel, Assistant to the Superintendent/Clerk of the
School Committee transmitting Worcester Public Schools Building Use Policy and
Procedures. (Attachments)
31a FROM COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE – Adopted roll call 11-0 – Suspension of Rules
31a. Request Administration to not consider selling air rights over the Parcel Post Building. (Attachments)
32. 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)
g)
#39CC March 26, 2002
Communication of the City
Manager transmitting statement of the Mass. Municipal Association relative to
the Governor’s revised Fiscal 2003 Budget Plan to cut $200 million from local
aid. (Attachments)
33-38 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
33. Transmitting communication relative to Restrictions on Home
Occupations in Residential Zones. (Attachments)
34. Transmitting communication relative to items relied upon when
City Inspectors attempt to verify home occupations. (Attachments)
35. Transmitting communication relative to Yearly Inspection of Home
Occupations. (Attachments)
36. Transmitting communication relative to Change to Zoning
Schedule. (Attachments)
37. Transmitting communication relative to Zoning Ordinance Update. (Attachments)
38. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE Upon the Report of the
Planning Board upon the Order of Councillor Stephen Patton requesting to
eliminate duplexes as an allowed use in RS-7 and RL-7 districts: recommend Leave to Withdraw. (Attachments)
39 ACCEPTED &
ORDER ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0
39. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of
Joseph & Maryann Mastroberti requesting abatement of Sewer Assessment
#30725 in the amount of $1,824.00 on Beale St.: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Order to abate in full subject to recording of an agreement to
restrict development on the abated parcel. (Attachments)
40 ACCEPTED &
ORDER ADOPTED
40. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, PARKS AND RECREATION Upon the
Petition of Wanda Davaz et al requesting the City build a skateboard park in
the Webster Square area: recommend
adoption of the accompanying Order requesting the Parks Commissioner and
Commission to consider working in a collaborative way to create a skateboard
park in the Webster Square area.
41-47 ACCEPTED
41. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, PARKS AND RECREATION Upon the
Petition of John Cronin et al requesting Youth, Parks and Recreation Committee
consider recommending to the City Manager an appropriation of $250,000.00 from
“free cash” reserve to fund parks and recreation accessibility for persons with
disabilities: recommend Petition be
placed on file. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, PARKS AND RECREATION Upon
the following Communications of the City Manager: recommend Communications be placed on file.
42. Transmitting communication relative to Media Advisory Grant
Award for the Revitalization of the Worcester Common. (Attachments)
43. Transmitting communication relative to Grant Award –
Rehabilitation of the Worcester Common. (Attachments)
44. Transmitting communication relative to Geese at Bathing Beaches.
(Attachments)
45. Transmitting communication relative to Goose Population. (Attachments)
46. Transmitting communication relative to Spring 2000 – Field
Activity and use of facilities for various activities and events. (Attachments)
47. Transmitting communication relative to Funding for Coes Pond Dam
Project. (Attachments)
48 & 49 ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 10-0
48. Amending Section 2 of Article III of the Worcester Zoning
Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of
Teconnett Path. (Attachments) Councillor
Lukes recused on a roll call 10-0
49. Amending Section 40 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide reserved parking for residents only on the north side of
William St. from Linden St. to North Ashland St. (Attachments) (Councillor
Lukes absent)
TABLED UNDER PRIVILEGE (BY
VOTE OF COUNCIL)
50. 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)
Taken off the Table and adopted on a roll call 6-5 (Yes-Clancy, Palmieri, Patton, Perotto, Petty, Murray) – (No-Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes)
51. 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.
Taken off the Table and adopted on a roll call 6-5 (Yes-Clancy, Palmieri, Patton, Perotto, Petty, Murray) – (No-Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes)
Reconsideration
denied on a voice vote
52. VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for underground conduits on: SOUTHBRIDGE ST. (Tabled March 12, 2002) (Attachments)
52a. Granting permission to VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for underground conduits on: SOUTHBRIDGE ST.
APRIL 8, 2002 COMMERCE & PUBLIC
LIBRARY
7:00-9:00 P.M. DEVELOPMENT SAXE ROOM
FIRST FLOOR
Re: Union Station/Washington
Square Redesign
6:00 P.M.
APRIL 23, 2002 YOUTH, PARKS & COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:15 P.M. RECREATION
MAY 1, 2002 TRAFFIC & PARKING COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M.
MAY 6, 2002 PUBLIC WORKS COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M.