CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 30, 2002
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:00 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:10 P.M.
1. INVOCATION Rev. Roosevelt Hughes
John St. Baptist Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
2.
ROLL
CALL All present
Mayor Murray read a Proclamation declaring May 2002 as Childrens Mental Health Month in the City of Worcester
Mayor Murray also read a Proclamation declaring May 11,
2002 as Letter Carriers Food Drive Day in the City of Worcester
4. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS TO ELLEN VALLON AND HELEN WHALL
FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL.
HEARINGS AND ORDERS 7:00
P.M.
5-8 Hearings held 5 Tabled
5. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit locations: BATES AVE., LINCOLN ST., BURNCOAT ST. (Attachments)
6. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit locations: BELMONT ST., RODNEY ST., MERRIFIELD ST.,
ELLIOTT ST., EASTERN AVE., LAUREL ST. (Attachments)
7. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS (AMENDED PETITION) for conduit
location: GARDNER ST. (Attachments)
8. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS (AMENDED PETITION) for conduit
location: PLANTATION ST. (Attachments)
6a-8a ADOPTED 5a Tabled
5a. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit
locations: BATES AVE., LINCOLN ST.,
BURNCOAT ST.
6a. Granting permission to
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit locations: BELMONT ST., RODNEY ST., MERRIFIELD ST., ELLIOTT ST., EASTERN AVE.,
LAUREL ST.
7a. Rescinding Order of March 12, 2002 and granting permission to
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit location:
GARDNER ST.
8a. Rescinding Order of March 12, 2002 and granting permission to
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit location:
PLANTATION ST.
9. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
9a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
10 REFERRED TO THE PLANNING BOARD
10. Dean
Schneyer request to make public Julien Ave. (Attachments)
11-19 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
11. Jeffrey & Kathleen Barnard request abatement of Street
Betterment Assessment #24437 in the amount of $2,532.50 on Delmont Ave. (Attachments)
12. Elizabeth Sheehan & Anna Taraian (deceased) request
abatement of Street Betterment Assessment #24426 in the amount of $5,242.38 on
Keen St. (Attachments)
13. Beatrice Ambrose request abatement of Street Betterment
Assessment #24440 in the amount of $3,165.63 on Delmont Ave. (Attachments)
14. Thomas & Christine Malone request abatement of Street
Betterment Assessment #24432 in the amount of $10,980.72 on Keen St. (Attachments)
15. Louis Zompetti, Jr. request permanent cement stairs with railing
on City property on Bowker St. side of home at 5 Stratfield St. Also request sidewalk repair on Bowker St.
side of 5 Stratfield St. (Attachments)
16. Katherine OHara request sidewalk repair in front of 68 Venus
Dr. (Attachments)
17. Francis & Irene Bastardo request abatement of Street
Betterment Assessment #24445 in the amount of $11,544.40 on Orton St. (Attachments)
18. Cheryl Connor request sidewalk repair in front of 118 Longmeadow
Ave. (Attachments)
19. Robert Paulhus request to extend existing municipal sewer main
on Amesbury St. by approximately 100 ft. to service 42 Amesbury St. (Attachments)
19a. Councillor Michael Perotto and Councillor Philip Palmieri on
behalf of Barbara DeMauro request sidewalk repair between 1-9 Trinity Ave. Referred
to Public Works Committee Suspension of Rules
20-24 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
20. Joanne Malone et al request Stop signs on Keen St. at the
intersection of Montello St. (Attachments)
21. Walter Antul request Stop sign on Park Villa Ave. at Lady Bank
Rd. (Attachments)
22. Joe Aromando request Stop sign at the intersection of Fairmont
Ave. and Bedford St. (Attachments)
23. Mae Pietal request two handicap parking spaces on the Reeves St.
side of 21 Whipple St. (Attachments)
24. Bernard Williams request handicap parking in front of 3 Veterans
Ave. (Attachments)
24a. Councillor Barbara Haller request pedestrian crossing light at the
corner of Elm St. and Park Ave. to facilitate pedestrians crossing from one
side of Elm Park to the other side of Elm Park. Referred to Traffic &
Parking Committee Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
25 & 26 HEARINGS SET FOR MAY 7, 2002
7:00 P.M.
25. NSTAR ELECTRIC & GAS for gas main location on: BAUER ST. (Attachments)
26. NSTAR ELECTRIC & GAS for gas main locations on: FALCON ST., WILLVAIL ST. (Attachments)
26a. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the
Seattle and San Francisco Ordinances addressing guidelines for photographing
protesters in public places. Motion-Perotto @ #16A CM Adopted (Attachments)
26b. Request Administration to provide City Council with a timeline as
to when the fit-out at Union Station might be completed. Motion-Irish
@ #7B CM Adopted (Attachments)
26c. Request City Manager to report as to the obligations of the WRA in
terms of the tax credit issue and the operation of Union Station. Motion-Lukes
@ #7B CM Adopted (Attachments)
26d. The City Council hereby requests re-instituting monthly reporting
on all aspects of the Union Station and Washington Square Project in the same
format as previously submitted. Motion-Murray @ #7B CM Adopted (Attachments)
26e. Request City Manager to create a special economic development zone
for the 67,000 square feet of vacant land controlled by the City of Worcester
at the proposed South Worcester Industrial Park. Motion-Haller @ #7D CM
Adopted on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy, Palmieri absent) (Attachments)
26f. Request Administration to consider installing a traffic signal in
front of the Webster St. Fire Station. Motion-Perotto @ #7E CM Adopted (Attachments)
26g. Request Administration to report relative to what the initial cost
of the Webster St. Fire Station was bid by the contractor, what the actual cost
of construction was and if there were discrepancies, the causes for those
discrepancies. Motion-Gomez @ #7E CM Adopted
26h. Request Police Chief to report relative to the number of citations
issued for excessive noise in problem areas of the City. Motion-Murray
@ #20A CM Adopted (Attachments)
26i. Request Administration to provide City Council with reports on a regular
basis relative to incidents in the
College Hill area near the College of the Holy Cross involving student
disturbances. Motion-Haller @ #20C CM Adopted
(Attachments)
26j. Request City Manager, Mayor and President of Holy Cross College to
develop high level meetings amongst themselves to discuss on a monthly basis
the problem of student disturbances in the College Hill area. Motion-Clancy
@ #20C CM Adopted (Attachments)
26k. Request City Manager to provide City Council with the most current
report relative to incidents in the College Hill area over the weekend of April
27, 2002. Motion-Clancy @ #20C CM Adopted (Attachments)
26L. Request Administration to report as to the owners of properties in
the College Hill area where student disturbances are occurring. Motion-Abraham
@ #20C CM Adopted (Attachments)
26m. Request Administration to report as to any statistics on the number
of arrests in the College Hill area in the past six months by the Worcester
Police Department and what types of complaints have been issued. Motion-Palmieri @ #20C CM Adopted (Attachments)
26n. Request Administration not to extend any contracts for this year
to towing companies and that they include a requirement for posting of notices
on towing company property as to where people can complain relative to towing
of their vehicles and if there is an ATM on the premises. Further, request Administration consider
only having credit cards or cash and excluding the ATM services on the premises
in their next contract requirements. Motion-Lukes @ #25A CM Adopted (Attachments)
26o. Request Administration to provide City Council with a stat sheet
including all ten towing zones for the last 15 years as to how much was bid and
what the subsequent bids were and how long each contract was given for, two or
three years. Motion-Clancy @ #25A CM Adopted
(Attachments)
26p. Request Administration to report on the possibility of relocating
the netting installed at Burncoat St. School to prevent foul balls from landing
on property at 42 North Parkway. Palmieri Suspension of Rules
Adopted (Attachments)
26q. Request Administration to place some type of speed trap on Wall
St. Palmieri Suspension of Rules
Adopted (Attachments)
26r. Request Administration to report going back five years as to what
the allocations were for all of the different Block Grant groups. Palmieri
Suspension of Rules Adopted (Attachments)
26s. Request Administration to provide City Council with an update from
the Health Foundation of Central Mass. with regard to the oral health
initiative. Haller Suspension of Rules Adopted
(Attachments)
26t. Request Administration to contact the School Department relative
to communications that went out to parents or schools as to School Department
priorities with regard to the budget situation. Petty Suspension of
Rules Adopted (Attachments)
26u. Request Administration to report on the timeline for completion of
electrical conduit improvements and bleacher replacements at Mulcahy
Field. Murray, Clancy Suspension of Rules Adopted (Attachments)
26v. Request Administration to report on feasibility, including
potential costs and timelines, for completion of lights at basketball courts at
Vernon Hill Park. Murray, Clancy Suspension of Rules Adopted (Attachments)
26w. Request Administration to report on efforts to abate double parking
and parking on the sidewalk on Stockton St.
Murray, Clancy Suspension of
Rules Adopted (Attachments)
REPORTS
26x ACCEPTED AND
RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0 Suspension of Rules
26x. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT Upon the
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to the
Certified Project Application for the Worcester TC LLC and Abbott Bioresearch
Center, Inc.: recommend adoption of
the accompanying Resolution.
26y ACCEPTED
Suspension of Rules
26y. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon the
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to a
report regarding discussion with representatives of Abbott Bioresearch Center,
Inc.: recommend Communication be
placed on file. (Attachments)
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR APRIL 30, 2002
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of the reappointments of Vite
J. Pigaga, and Francis X. Pisegna, to the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery
Commission. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Notification of the reappointments of
Noberto Soto, and Jennifer Ginsberg to the Human Rights Commission. (Attachments)
Placed on file
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of the reappointment of
Robert L. Thomas, to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. (Attachments)
Reappointment confirmed on a roll call 10-0
(Palmieri absent)
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
6.
COMMUNICATIONS:
7. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to Designating a
Canal District in the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Communication relative to Cost Figure for
Fit-Out of Union Station Spaces 1D and 1E for Commercial/Restaurant Activity as
well as Office Space Build-out. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
C. Communication relative to the Disposition
of Wray Square. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
D. Communication relative to a Development
Plan for Approximately 67,000 Square Feet of Vacant Land Controlled by the City
of Worcester at the Proposed South Worcester Industrial Park (SWIP). (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
E. Communication relative to the Webster
Square Fire Station Punch List. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
F. Communication relative to Convention and
Visitors Bureau First Quarter Report (January 1 March 31, 2002). (Attachments)
Recommitted to the City Manager
8. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
9. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
10. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SERVICES:
11. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
A. Communication relative to Workforce
Development/Higher Education Summit. (Attachments)
Placed on file
12. FIRE:
A. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation from Local 1009 and Leary Firefighters Foundation (A Self Contained
Breathing Apparatus Response Unit). (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
13. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
14. HUMAN
RIGHTS:
15.
INFORMATION SERVICES:
16. LAW:
A. Communication relative to Photographing
Protesters in Public Places. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
17. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
18.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
19. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation of $2,208.00 from Graham, Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors for
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVW) at Green Hill
Park. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted with gratitude
B. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation of $2,208.00 from the American Legion Department of Massachusetts
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) at Green
Hill Park. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted with gratitude
20. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to Plan for
Conducting Neighborhood Sweep. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
B. Communication relative to Recent Assault
on Seward Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to the recent
incidents on College Hill near the College of Holy Cross, with regards to
student disturbances. (Attachments)
Tabled
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH & CODE ENFORCEMENT:
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to Progress Report
on the Accreditation of Worcester Vocational High School. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to Forest Grove
School Site Cleanup. (Attachments)
Placed on file
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation of $1,792.79 worth of materials from the merchants at 70 James
Street to improve pedestrian safety at that location. (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
B. Communication relative to Proposed Parking
Fine Schedule Adjustment. (Attachments)
Referred to Fees & Charges Committee
C. Communication relative to Accessing State
Funds for Construction of Sidewalks on Harriington Way and Franklin Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
25.
PURCHASING:
A. Communication
relative to Towing Issues. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
26. TREASURY:
27. VETERANS
SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
transferred from the
following Personal Services accounts:
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT AMOUNT
660-91000 Treasury $34,000.00
270-91000 Communications 17,000.00
680-91000 Information Services 12,000.00
120-91000 Law 7,000.00
Total $70,000.00
and appropriated to Account
#370-92000, Veterans Service Departments Ordinary Maintenance (Benefits)
account. These funds will supplement
the departments FY02 budget. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Recommend that Two Hundred Sixty Thousand
Dollars ($260,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C739, Sewer Drainage, and
appropriated to Account #44C750, Lateral Sewers, to provide funds for the
payment of contractual obligations related to various sewer improvement
projects, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Recommend that One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C745, Sewer Construction,
and appropriated to Account #44C761, Surface Drainage, to provide funds for the
payment of contractual obligations related to various surface drainage
projects, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
D. Recommend that Twelve Thousand Seven
Hundred and Sixty Four Dollars and sixteen cents ($12,764.16) be transferred
from Account #340-91000, Elder Affairs Personnel Services Account, to Account
#044-91000, Neighborhood Services Personnel Services Account to provide funds
for a Staff Assistant III position authorized but not funded for fiscal 2002. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
28. 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 Governors revised Fiscal 2003 Budget Plan to cut $200 million from local
aid. (Attachments)
h)
#41CC April 23, 2002
James DelSignore, City
Auditor transmitting the Actuarial Valuation and Review for the City of
Worcester Retirement System as of January 1, 2002. (Attachments)
i)
#42CC April 23, 2002
James DelSignore, City
Auditor transmitting a study prepared by The Sega Company of the Early
Retirement Incentive that is currently being debated in the Mass. Senate. (Attachments)
29. Communication of the City Manager recommending that Five Hundred Thirty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Seven Dollars and One Cent ($539,847.01) be transferred from Account #91C790, School Construction and appropriated to Accounts 33C719, Forest Grove Equipment ($67,239.13) and 33C718, Forest Grove Construction ($472,607.88) to provide funds for the purpose of payment for various contractual obligations related to the construction and equipping of Forest Grove School. (Attachments)
Taken off the Table and Order adopted
on a roll call 11-0
SCHEDULED
MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
APRIL 29, 2002 COMMERCE &
DEVELOPMENT
Re:
Certified Project Application for Abbott Bioresearch Center, Inc.
5:00-6:00 P.M. VIEW ABBOTT BIORESEARCH CENTER,
INC.
100 RESEARCH DR.
6:00 P.M. MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBER
APRIL 30, 2002 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30-7:00
P.M.
MAY 1, 2002 TRAFFIC & PARKING COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M.
MAY 2, 2002 YOUTH, PARKS & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. RECREATION
MAY 6, 2002 PUBLIC WORKS COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M. CANCELLED
MAY 7, 2002 LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00-7:00 P.M.
MAY 8, 2002
PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 P.M.
MAY 13, 2002 PUBLIC SERVICE & COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.
TRANSPORTATION
MAY 14, 2002 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30
P.M.
OPERATIONS
MAY 15, 2002 LAND USE LIBRARY
6:007:30 P.M
NELSON PLACE SCHOOL
35
NELSON PLACE
Re: Proposed
Development by Assumption College