CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– MAY 7, 2002
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:08 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:39 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Richard Reidy
St. Paul’s Cathedral
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
2.
ROLL
CALL – All present except Mayor Murray –
Councillor Petty was in the chair
The Chair recognized Mr. Lee and Mr. Shoo from the Peoples Republic of China who were present to observe a City Council meeting
HEARINGS AND ORDERS – 7:00
P.M.
4 & 5 – Hearings held
4. NSTAR ELECTRIC & GAS for gas main location on: BAUER ST. (Attachments)
5. NSTAR ELECTRIC & GAS for gas main locations on: FALCON ST., WILLVAIL ST. (Attachments)
4a & 5a ORDERS ADOPTED
4a. Granting permission to NSTAR ELECTRIC & GAS for gas main
location on: BAUER ST.
5a. Granting permission to NSTAR ELECTRIC & GAS for gas main
locations on: FALCON ST., WILLVAIL ST.
6. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
6a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6b. Michael Galvin et al request Fees & Charges Committee, in
the course of reviewing parking fines, consider raising the fines for
handicapped parking from $100 to $200. Referred to Fees & Charges Committee –
Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
7 REFERRED TO PUBLIC SERVICE &
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
7. Councillor Joseph Petty on behalf of Rick D’Ottavio request
street light at 44 Everton Ave. (corner of Greenfield St.) (Attachments)
8-12 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
8. Richard Bergman et al request private street maintenance on
Yukon Ave. (Attachments)
9. Jadwiga Parzych request sidewalk repair at 19 Cargill Ave.
10. John & Darnell Adams request to extend 2” sanitary force
main for 240’ to 54 Knapp Ave. at owner’s expense and in accordance with a
prior agreement. (Attachments)
11. Councillor Michael Perotto on behalf of State Representative
Robert Spellane request installation of a guard rail in the sidewalk area on
the westerly corner of Pleasant and Mill Sts. in the interest of public safety.
(Attachments)
12. Councillor Michael Perotto on behalf of Katherine Davitt request
the designation of a portion of the public roadway joining Burncoat and Lincoln
Sts. between Brittan Sq. and 300 Lincoln St. to be “Nancy Johnson Way”. (Attachments)
12a. Councillor Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Paul & Linda
Chalifoux request sidewalk repair in front of 284 Burncoat St. Referred
to Public Works Committee– Suspension of Rules
(Attachments)
13 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
13. Eric Lind request Stop sign at the end of I-190 access road and
the beginning of Hockanum Way. (Attachments)
13a. Councillor Stephen Patton request 4-way Stop sign at Amherst St.
and Chippewa Rd. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
13b. Councillor Stephen Patton request pedestrian crosswalk between
Clark St. School and Teamster housing on Clark St. Referred to Traffic &
Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
13c. Albert Caloccia & Frances Balcewicz request handicap parking
at 18 Shamrock St. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
13d. Councillor Philip Palmieri request No Parking signs from 11:00
p.m. to 7:00 a.m. from corner of Gorham St. and Lincoln St. to Expressway. Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
13e. Councillor Barbara Haller request removal of No Parking zone on
Castle St. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
13f. Councillor Barbara Haller request removal of No Parking zone on
King St. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
14-16 FROM HEALTH - ADOPTED
14. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update from
the Public Inebriate Program Task Force concerning the work being undertaken to
determine neighborhood impacts due to the eventual relocating of the program,
an update on the actual resiting of the program and an update on the re-use of
the current building at 701 Main St. (Attachments)
15. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report on
the efforts to establish a partnership between the Central Mass. Oral Health
Initiative and the Worcester Department of Public Health.
16. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of and
comment on the contents of the Evaluation Data Progress Update of the Central
Mass. Oral Health Initiative that is dated April 11, 2002.
17-21 FROM TRAFFIC & PARKING - ADOPTED
17. Request City Manager to request Mass. Highway to consider
installing a pedestrian crossing light at the intersection of Mountain St. West
and I-190 on ramp. (Attachments)
18. Request City Manager report to City Council on recommendations
for an Ordinance change that would prohibit school buses from parking on
residential streets. (Attachments)
19. Request Traffic Engineer report regarding parking infractions at
75 Ward St. (Attachments)
20. Request City Administration, in conjunction with the Department
of Public Works, Traffic, Fire and Police Departments to recommend to City
Council any streets that they would like removed from the current winter
parking ban policy and declared permanently banned.
21. Request City Manager report on what grants are available
relative to traffic control issues. (Attachments)
22. Request City Manager report to City Council on all taxable
properties purchased by UMass Memorial in the City of Worcester since 1995 and
what the current tax loss revenue would total on said properties. (Clancy,
Murray, Palmieri) (Attachments)
Councillor
Irish moved to amend to include all properties purchased by the University of
Massachusetts.
Councillor
Lukes moved to amend to include all properties gifted to UMass Memorial
23. Request City Manager report to City Council on speeding
surveillance on Houghton St. between Grafton and Dorchester Sts. (Clancy,
Murray, Palmieri) (Attachments)
Councillor
Clancy requested that Mayor Murray and Councillor Palmieri be removed as
authors as they were included in error
Adopted, as
amended
24. Request Administration to clear the overgrown brush and tree
limbs from the intersection of West Boylston and Brooks Sts. that is
obstructing the sidewalks and prevents drivers from noticing pedestrians
crossing this busy intersection.
(Petty, Patton)
Adopted
25. Request Administration report to City Council concerning the
structural integrity of the railroad overpasses at Brooks St. and Hermon St. (Petty, Patton, Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
26. Request Administration communicate with the owner of property
located at Mill St. immediately north of the Price Chopper property and request
that they clear their land of accumulated debris. (Petty, Abraham) (Attachments)
Adopted
27. Request Administration to install barriers at the dead end of
Circuit Ave. and Lakeside Ave. to prevent dumping and to disallow motor
vehicles to the beach on the east side of Coes Pond. (Petty, Abraham) (Attachments)
Adopted
28. Request Administration provide City Council with a report on the
construction/rehabilitation of handball courts at Green Hill Park, Harry Sherry
Field and Oread Castle Park. (Petty,
Patton, Haller)
Councillor Patton moved to amend: Request report include information on progress of handball court at Great Brook Valley.
Councillor Perotto moved to amend: Request City Manager look into the use of Block Grant funds for improvements to handball courts within City parks.
29. Request Administration report to City Council concerning
accessibility to restrooms at Harry Sherry Field during the weekend when the
park facilities are in use. (Petty,
Haller) (Attachments)
30. Request City Manager provide City Council with a report
detailing the reported WRTA route changes and fare increases. (Petty)
Adopted, as amended
31. Request Administration report to City Council itemized
expenditures on the Union Station contract and further, report to City Council
on final cost of contract. (Clancy,
Palmieri) (Attachments)
32. Request City Manager report to City Council on whether or not
Police have jurisdiction to confiscate alcohol at illegal parties in college
neighborhoods. (Clancy, Haller) (Attachments)
33. Request City Manager conduct a traffic study of the intersection
of Pleasant and Chandler Sts. at Tatnuck Sq. in the interest of public
safety. (Perotto) (Attachments)
34. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report
concerning the proposed hotel at Central St. and Worcester Center Blvd. that
addresses re-assignment of fire
personnel, timelines for meetings with the developer, meetings with the State concerning skywalks and assessed value of
the land area under discussion. (Perotto) (Attachments)
35. Request City Manager provide City Council with a report
concerning Union Station that sets forth a timeline for the build-out of the
station, designation of a consultant for completion of the work, parking garage
and completed design work for Washington Square. (Perotto, Palmieri, Murray,
Petty, Patton, Clancy) (Attachments)
Adopted, as amended on a roll call 10-1 (Lukes)
36. Request Administration provide City Council with an update on
the State Legislature’s actions with regard to formulating the Fiscal Year 2003
budget, including tax incentives and commitments to specific reimbursements
such as Chapter 70. (Murray) (Attachments)
37. Request Administration consider preparing a
Request-for-Proposals for the handling of the City of Worcester’s financial
assets and service needs, including incentives focused at Brownfields, housing
development and residency for municipal employees. (Murray)
38. Request Administration to contact local arts and other groups
regarding the concept of developing an architectural or artistic design which
would be a symbol of the City and which would be displayed and located at
various gateways entering into the City.
(Lukes)
38a. Request Committee on Commerce and Development to recommend an
economic development plan for the Union Station/Washington Square project. Motion-Lukes
@ #35CC – Tabled under privilege
38b. Request City Manager to update City Council on the status of early
retirement legislation. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with
his recommendations relative to early retirement incentives. Motion-Murray @ #36CC – Adopted (Attachments)
38c. Request City Manager to report if there is any language in any
legislation passed concerning the budget for review of the income tax, either
increase or rollback. Motion-Lukes @ #36CC – Denied on a roll
call 5-6 (Yes-Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes) (No-Clancy, Palmieri,
Patton, Perotto, Petty, Murray) (Attachments)
38d. That the City Council send a note of appreciation to the Regional Environmental
Council for their support of the Burncoat High School’s Horticultural
Program. Motion-Patton @ #42CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
38e. Request City Manager report on current notification, permitting
and inspection process regarding road construction by utilities and
recommendations that might be made to improve said process. Motion-Palmieri
@ #88CC – Adopted (Attachments)
38f. Request City Manager to provide Police enforcement regarding
motor vehicle noise on Main St. and request a plan to reduce vehicular traffic
noise in the long term. Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38g. Request Administration to report on whether an events promotion
activity could be initiated with the City Administration. Lukes
– Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38h. Request Administration to report on the number of alcohol related
licenses and permits located in the Millbury St. area, specifically between the
Brosnihan Sq. area to Kelley Sq. Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38i. Request City Manager report to City Council on the status of
discussions and sale of the landfill. Clancy – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38j. Request Administration to report on progress made to restore
Amherst St. Patton – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
(Attachments)
38k. Request City Manager to provide a comprehensive report relative to
what elements were part of Phase I of the development of Roberto Clemente Park
at Great Brook Valley and provide a detailed account of what has been done and
how long it will take to complete this project. Further, request a detailed outline of costs involved and what has yet to be completed. Gomez
– Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38L. Request Administration to provide City Council with an update on
the project off Salisbury St. on the old Higgins estate abutting the end of
Barrows Rd. Gomez – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38m. Request City Manager to update City Council on the status of SBA
funding for the new Vocational School construction. Haller, Abraham –
Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38n. Request City Manager to update City Council on the status of
annual state allocation for Worcester Medical Center land acquisition
costs. Haller, Abraham – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38o. Request City Manager to consider asking Clark University to fund a
planning grant for the redevelopment of University Park. Haller,
Clancy, Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
(Attachments)
38p. Request Administration to provide recommendations for improvements
to Fairmont Park. Murray, Palmieri, Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
38q. Request Administration to bring forward recommendations as to how
the City might improve communication as to the availability of services to the
African American community, particularly to the African immigrant
community. Irish, Haller, Petty, Patton, Murray, Lukes, Gomez – Suspension of
Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
39 ADOPTED ON A ROLL
CALL 11-0
39. ORDER
PRIVATE STREET BETTERMENT: COTUIT ST. (Attachments)
40. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting Auditors Report –
March 31, 2002. (Attachments)
41. Worcester Regional Research Bureau transmitting communication
addressing the projected budget shortfall in FY03. (Attachments)
42. Helen Friel, Assistant to the Superintendent/Clerk of the School
Committee transmitting communication relative to accepting a donation of $2,000
from the Regional Environmental Council to the Burncoat High School’s
Horticultural Program. (Attachments)
43. Helen Friel, Assistant to the Superintendent/Clerk of the School
Committee transmitting communication relative to the playground to be created
at the site of the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School. (Attachments)
44. NSTAR Gas Co. transmitting Condensed Financial Return for Year
Ended December 31, 2001. (Attachments)
45. 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)
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)
46-50 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
46. Relative to progress on the work being done by the PIP Task
Force.(Attachments)
47. Relative to re-use of the PIP Shelter at 701 Main St. (Attachments)
48. Relative to dental problems of Worcester’s children. (Attachments)
49. Relative to pre-school and school based fluoride rinse and
dental sealant programs. (Attachments)
50. Relative to response to Health Committee Chairman’s Orders #40
and #41 from March 12, 2002 City Council Calendar. (Attachments)
51-55 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
51. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Michael Falish
et al requesting to install sanitary sewer from Sunderland Rd. to 1110 Grafton
St. (Attachments)
52. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Report of the Committee on
Public Works Upon the Petition of John D’Iorio & Kenneth Pecora requesting
to install sanitary sewer from Onset St. to the end of Porter St. (Attachments)
53. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joyce
Deschenes requesting to make public Elton St. (Attachments)
54. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Robert L.
Moylan, Jr., Commissioner of Public Works to make public the private portion of
Burncoat Terrace. (Attachments)
55. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Craig Amaral,
Vice President, Secured Financial Limited Partnership I requesting to make
public Foxmeadow Dr. (Attachments)
56 ACCEPTED & ORDER ADOPTED
56. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Councillor Juan A. Gomez on behalf of Jerry Cordova requesting Director of
Traffic Engineering to install a sign near the corner of Derby St. and Houghton
St.: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Order to install two Children and two Thickly Settled signs with
30 MPH speed advisory signs attached in both directions on Derby St. (Attachments)
57-66 VOTED TO ADVERTISE
PROPOSED ORDINANCES
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Petitions requesting handicap parking: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinances.
57. Councillor Philip Palmieri on behalf of Louis & Luella
DeFalco requesting two handicap parking spaces at the corner of Seward and
Wilson Sts. (Attachments)
58. Elizabeth Matukaitis requesting handicap parking near empty lot
on Preston St. (Attachments)
59. Councillor Philip Palmieri on behalf of Bill Ryan requesting handicap
parking in front of 65 Fairmont Ave. (Attachments)
60. Michael Troutner requesting handicap parking in front of 7
Cutler St. (Attachments)
61. Terry Ann Henry requesting handicap parking in front of 46 Oak
Ave. (Attachments)
62. Councillor Konstantina Lukes on behalf of Paul Nagle requesting
handicap parking in front of 51 Perry Ave. (Attachments)
63. Councillor Michael Perotto on behalf of John Pakula requesting
handicap parking in front of 84 June St. (Attachments)
64. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Riccardi requesting resident permit parking on Plum
St.: recommend passage of the
accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)
65. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Bryan Slack requesting No Parking 6:00-9:00 A.M. on Main St., south side
from Goddard Memorial Dr. to Curtis Parkway:
recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)
66. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Councillor Paul Clancy, Jr. requesting Traffic Engineer to review the No
Parking ban on Vernon St. from Winthrop St. to Millbury St. to allow for
parking on one side excluding emergency winter parking events: recommend passage of the accompanying
proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)
67-86 ACCEPTED – 87 RECOMMITTED TO TRAFFIC
& PARKING COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Petitions: recommend
Petitions be placed on file.
67. Councillor Barbara Haller request to create a 4-way Stop at the
corners of Clifton & Oberlin Sts. (Attachments)
68. Councillor Barbara Haller request to designate Harding St.
between Arwick & Ashmont Sts. as “Not a Truck Route”. (Attachments)
69. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Robert Hollup
request pedestrian lights on Grafton St. at Roosevelt School. (Attachments)
70. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Chairman’s
Order requesting Traffic and Parking Committee to consider installing
pedestrian crossing light on Mountain St. West at the on-ramp to I-190: recommend Chairman’s Order be placed on
file. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Communications of the City Manager:
recommend Communications be placed on file.
71. Relative to regulations regarding street parking of boats,
utility trucks and large tractor-trailers. (Attachments)
72. Relative to issues involving the winter parking ban. (Attachments)
73. Relative to recommended improvements to the declared winter parking
ban. (Attachments)
74. Relative to installation of new electronic parking meters. (Attachments)
75. Relative to parking meters with time limits or no meters. (Attachments)
76. Relative to abandoned motor vehicles. (Attachments)
77. Relative to an update on abandoned vehicles. (Attachments)
78. Relative to abandoned vehicles. (Attachments)
79. Relative to an update on the process for removing unregistered
vehicles from City streets. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Petitions: recommend
Petitioners be given leave to withdraw.
80. Albert Belmonte request No Parking from handicap space at 264
Shrewsbury St. to driveway at 262 Shrewsbury St. (Attachments)
81. Councillor Janice L. Nadeau on behalf of Claude & Kunigunde
Cigan-Dorman request 3-way Stop sign at intersection of Cedar & Sever Sts.
(Attachments)
82. Mayor Timothy Murray request No Parking signs be placed in front
of 4 Richmond Ave. (Attachments)
83. Norma Gonzalez request handicap parking at 127 Eastern Ave. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Petitions: recommend
Petitions be denied.
84. Juan Betancourt request handicap parking in front of 9 Douglas
St. (Attachments)
85. Sharon Sendrowski request resident parking on Wall & Chrome
Sts. (Attachments)
86. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Robert McGinn
request resident parking on Westminster St. from Forestdale Rd. to Northampton
St. (Attachments)
87. Patricia O’Neil request Stop sign on Westinghouse Parkway at
Heroult Rd. (Attachments) Recommitted to Traffic & Parking
Committee
88. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit locations on: BATES AVE., LINCOLN ST., BURNCOAT ST. (Attachments)
88a. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit
locations on: BATES AVE., LINCOLN ST.,
BURNCOAT ST.
89. Communication of the City Manager relative to recent incidents
on College Hill near the College of the Holy Cross with regards to student
disturbances. (Attachments) No
Action Taken
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
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
5:15 P.M. – VIEW – MEET AT NELSON PLACE SCHOOL
6:00-7:30 P.M. – MEETING LIBRARY
NELSON PLACE SCHOOL
35 NELSON
PLACE
Re: Proposed
Development by Assumption College