CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 10, 2002
6:30 P.M. Executive Session for the purpose of discussing litigation
City Council
convened at 6:36 P.M. and recessed to
go into
Executive Session
7:00 P.M. City Council
Meeting
City Council
reconvened in open session at 7:15 P.M.
Adjourned at
8:04 P.M.
1. INVOCATION Rev. Nicholas A. Apostola
St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL All present
Mayor Murray presented a Resolution recognizing Holy Cross College Athletic Department
Mayor Murray read a Proclamation proclaiming December 10, 2002 as Human Rights Day in Worcester
City Council suspended its rules to allow a representative of Habitat for Humanity to address the City Council concerning issues of affordable housing
4 & 5 Denied on a roll call 5-6 (Yes-Abraham,
Haller, Irish, Lukes, Petty) (No-Clancy, Gomez, Palmieri, Patton, Perotto,
Murray) Reconsideration denied on a
roll call 0-11
4. Order
- That the declared winter parking ban is hereby rescinded. (Lukes) (Attachments)
5. Order
- More than two years ago the City Council amended the winter parking ban
ordinance. Despite conscientious
efforts by the Administration to implement and administer the new
"declared" ban, compliance has been problematic. In the interests of public safety, the
chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments, the EMT union, Firefighters Local
1009 and the Commissioner of Public Works have unanimously recommended a return
to the previous winter parking ban methodology. Therefore, request the Council advise the Administration to
immediately declare a snow emergency and impose a parking ban under the terms
of the present ordinance which shall remain in effect as long as deemed
necessary unless a viable alternative ordinance can be instituted. (Irish)
(Attachments)
6. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
6a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
7-9 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
7. Norma Sandison, Executive Director, Mechanics Hall request
that the City remove the CIRCA lettering in the sidewalk in front of
Mechanics Hall. (Attachments)
8. Phil Stone et al request sidewalk repair in front of 37 Front
St. (Attachments)
9. Dolores Trafecante request repair of driveway from end of
sidewalk to end of street at 194 Coburn Ave. (Attachments)
10 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
10. Joseph Borbone, Director, Traffic Engineering request to change
the traffic pattern on Plum St. so as to accommodate two-way traffic at the
southerly end of the street and to extend the No Parking area on the west side
of the street. (Attachments)
11 REFERRED TO
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
11. Michael Grandone That due to the lack of long-term residency
because of permanent winter parking bans set by the City of Worcester, this
petition asks for the consideration of reduction of real estate tax for the
rental property in these areas. (Attachments)
12 PLACED ON FILE (PETITIONER SPOKE)
12. William S. Coleman, III on behalf of the Greater Worcester
Habitat for Humanity request to address City Council to announce the Greater
Worcester Habitat for Humanity 2002 Community Celebration of Lights Program. (Attachments)
13 HEARING SET FOR DECEMBER 17, 20027:00
P.M. Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 9-0 (Abraham absent)
13. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a
joint pole location on: APRICOT ST. (Attachments)
14 GIVEN LEAVE TO
WITHDRAW AT REQUEST OF PETITIONER Councillor Haller recused on a roll call
9-0 (Abraham absent)
14. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a
joint pole relocation on: TUPELO RD. (Attachments)
15. Request City Manager to provide a report on present operations of
Kennedy Fried Chicken on the corner of Main St. and May St. to include actual
hours of operation, status of license (including conditions) and crime
statistics (especially in the rear of the establishment after 2:00 a.m.) (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
16. Request City Manager to provide a report on what other
municipalities have done to restrict litter which is associated with fast food
establishments. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
17. Request City Manager to provide an update on implementing the
$250.00 abandoned vehicle fining system.
(Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
18. Request City Manager to provide a list of organizations and
contact persons who distribute/provide drug injection packages as part of a
harm reduction program. List to
include, if possible, distribution methods and neighborhood sites targeted for
such distribution. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
19. Request City Manager to provide a report on the number of public
safety responses to private security monitoring system alarms over the past
three years, by category. Request report to include the number of false
activations. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
20. Request City Manager report on private security monitoring false
activation charges and collection rate, including a list of those institutions
exempt from charges. Also, request
report to include actual costs to the City for this service vs. collected
charges and to which accounts collected charges are posted. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
21. Request City Manager to provide a report on the successes and/or
failures of Charlotte, North Carolinas on-street parking contract with Central
Parking Corp. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
22. Request City Manager to provide trending report on number and
type of arrests in neighborhoods of local colleges to include Fall Semester
2002. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
23. Request Administration report on what steps are being taken to
acquire the land at 2 Sterling St. as well as a report on A. J. Lanes donation
of land at 40 Venus Dr. to the City of Worcester. (Murray, Patton) (Attachments)
Adopted
24. Request Administration report on why two inspectors ride in one
vehicle during snow storms and salary schedule for said inspectors. (Murray) (Attachments)
Mayor Murray moved to amend to include if this is a result of
contractual obligations. Adopted as
amended
25. Request Administration report on communication system that exists
during snow plow operations between DPW administration, inspectors and snow
plow operators. (Murray) (Attachments)
Adopted
26. Request the Standing Committee on Education and
College/University Relations conduct quarterly meetings with local colleges,
universities and the Administration to discuss the impact that these
institutions have on enhancing the quality of life presently and in the future
in the city. (Petty, Murray, Patton) (Attachments)
Councillor Petty
moved to amend to add Councillors Irish and Haller as authors. Adopted, as amended
27. Request City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion regarding the
ability of a Neighborhood Area Council, created pursuant to the City Charter,
to raise money/obtain funding and, in the event such a council was formed, the
source of any funds to pay expenses incurred by members of said council. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Adopted
28. Request Administration to notify each Neighborhood Crime Watch,
Neighborhood Center/Association and Community Development Corporation of the
City Charter provision regarding Neighborhood Area Councils. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Adopted
29. Request Administration to submit to City Council a report of the
actions of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board regarding waivers of the
City Zoning Ordinances for the past year and thereafter on a quarterly
basis. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Adopted
30. Request Administration to proceed with the hotel project on the
site of the Central St. Fire Station while considering the replacement of the
Brown Square Fire Station. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Adopted
31. Request Administration to present State and Federal legislative agendas
for December 17, 2002 City Council meeting.
(Murray) (Attachments)
Adopted
31a. Request Administration to report on enforcement of the winter
parking ban and recommendations for new signage as old signs are replaced. Motion-Clancy
@ #4 & 5CC Adopted (Attachments)
31b. Request City Manager to report on the cost of signing problem
streets in the City relative to the winter parking ban. Motion-Perotto
@ #4 & 5CC - Adopted (Attachments)
31c. Request City Manager to consider opening the Citys municipal
garages and parking lots during periods of snow emergency and waive the prohibition
on overnight parking so as to permit additional off-street parking to assist
with compliance with the declared winter parking ban. Motion-Irish @ #4 &
5CC Adopted (Attachments)
31d. Request City Manager to report on the cost of winter parking ban
signage and cost of enforcement. Motion-Lukes @ #4 & 5CC Adopted (Attachments)
31e. Request City Manager to form a task force to address parking
issues within the City, perhaps focusing on the winter parking situation. Motion-Haller
@ #4 & 5CC Adopted (Attachments)
31f. Request City Manager to report within thirty days relative to the
statutory ability of the Off-Street Parking Board to finance and acquire new
off-street parking sites. Motion-Murray @ #4 & 5CC Adopted (Attachments)
31g. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a formal
response to the item that was in the December 9, 2002 newspaper regarding
Police Officers who feel they should not be ticketing cars, that it should be
Meter Maid duty. Clancy Suspension of Rules Adopted
(Attachments)
31h. Request City Manager to provide a report on all revenue sources received
by the City broken down by percentages.
Perotto, Murray Suspension of
Rules Adopted (Attachments)
31i. Request City Manager to report if the City has to hire Police Officers
to support the Police Department during a snow emergency. Patton
Suspension of Rules Adopted (Attachments)
31j. Request City Manager to report on blasting that is occurring in
the Dixfield Rd. area. Patton Suspension of Rules Adopted (Attachments)
31k. Request City Manager to report what properties have been taken off
the tax rolls. Petty Suspension of Rules Adopted
(Attachments)
32 ADOPTED
32. SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:
STRASBURG RD. (Attachments)
33. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to the Winter Parking Ban. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
33a. That the City Council hereby recognizes Holy Cross and its
Athletic Department. Murray Suspension of Rules Adopted
Mayor Murray presented Resolution (Attachments)
35 47 ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 10-0 (Gomez
absent)
35. Amending Section 2, Article III of the Zoning Ordinance adopted April
2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of Shrewsbury St.
Amending Section 42 of
Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 1996 providing for handicap parking at the following locations:
36. 27 Enfield St. (Attachments)
37. 33 Cutler St. (Attachments)
38. 16 Hitchcock Rd. (Attachments)
39. 16 Crystal St. (Attachments)
40. Opposite
18 Worth St. (Attachments)
41. 18
Worth St. (Attachments)
42. 101
Kendig St. (Attachments)
43. 16 Vale
St. (Attachments)
44. Exeter
St. (Attachments)
45. 78
Pilgrim Ave. (Attachments)
46. East
side of May St. in front of Temple Emanuel. (Attachments)
47. Opposite
40 Grammont Rd. (Attachments)
48. Recommend that Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) be transferred
when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated
to Account #50C702, Worcester Public Schools Capital Equipment, for the purpose
of purchasing:
(3) 20 Passenger Buses $105,000.00
(1) Ford 350 Pickup/sander $
46,000.00
PC/Printers (Technology Plan) $105,000.00
for the Worcester Public
Schools, as approved in the fiscal 2003 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Tabled
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
DECEMBER 10, 2002 COMMUNITY
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:45
P.M. DEVELOPMENT
DECEMBER 16, 2002 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M.
Tour of City Hall (Meet in Council Chamber)
7:00 P.M.
Meeting
DECEMBER 17, 2002 HEALTH
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30-7:00
P.M.
Presentation by Dr. John Sullivan and HIV/AIDS &
Hepatitis C Task Force