CITY OF WORCESTER

CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 17, 2002

7:00 P.M.

Convened:  7:00 P.M.

Adjourned:  11:15 P.M.

 

 

1.                 INVOCATION –   Rabbi Melech S. Lensky

                                       Congregation Shaarai Torah West

 

2.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER

 

3.                 ROLL CALL – All present except Councillors Gomez and Lukes. Councillor Lukes arrived at 7:10 P.M. and Councillor Gomez arrived at 8:00 P.M.

 

HEARING AND ORDER – 7:00 P.M.

 

          4 & 4a – Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 8-0 (Gomez, Lukes absent)

         

4.       MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole location on:  APRICOT ST. (Attachments)

 

          4a ADOPTED

 

4a.     Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole location on:  APRICOT ST.     

ORDINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING – 7:00 P.M.

 

          5 - Hearing held – Committee accepted the Report of the Planning Board and recommended approval of the Petition

 

5.       REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Beth Schuster, Eastern Point Homes, LLC requesting to extend the BL-1.0 zone in the area of 1173 West Boylston St. (Attachments)

 

6.       ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST

 

6a.     ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

 

PETITIONS

 

          7 REFERRED TO THE PLANNING BOARD

 

7.       John Sposato et al request to make public private portion of Trent Rd. (Attachments)

 

          8-10 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

8.       Bruce & Debra Dauderis request to relocate fire hydrant in front of 26 Dupuis Ave. to southwest corner of Parcel A on Dupuis Ave. at City’s expense. (Attachments)

 

9.       Joseph Panarelli request to extend water and sewer lines approximately 250’ from Circuit Ave. to land marked #15, RS-7 zone, 14-019-00001, Assessors Plan Book 14, Page 19. (Attachments)

 

10.     George Migridichian, Building Director, Armenian Church of Our Saviour request sidewalk repair on the Dean St. side of the Church complex near the side driveway. (Attachments)

 

          11 & 12 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE

 

11.     Wayne Pulsifer request handicap parking at 35 Upsala St. (Attachments)

 

12.     Charlotte Tremblay request No Parking in front of 27 Halmstad St. (Attachments)

 

13.     COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

THOMAS R. HOOVER

CITY MANAGER

 

CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 17, 2002

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

         

A.      Notification of the reappointment of David A. Rawson and Peter B. Schneider, to the Historical Commission. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Notification of the reappointment of Kevin O’Sullivan to the License Commission. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Notification of the reappointment of Eileen Rafferty to the Bancroft, Aaron/Lucretta Scholarship Fund. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

D.               Notification of Constable appointments.

Leo Beaucage, Mark Cranston, Frank Edwards, Derek Evers, William George, Guy Guerry, Lee Hall, William Horan, Paul Kenary, Tomasz Kruszewski, Mary McCauley, Robert McCauley, James McColl, David Meyers, Edward Moynihan, Jeffrey, Richardson, Philip Salmon, Franics Trapasso, Amanda Wilson, Anatoly Yankovsky  (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

TRANSMITTAL

 

3. AIRPORT:

 

4. ASSESSORS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Cost Analysis of Section 51 – Elderly Exemption. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Property Valuation Books to be Distributed to Fire Stations. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

5. BUDGET OFFICE:

 

6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Revenues Collected During Fiscal Year 2002 at Code Enforcement. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to Worcester Vocational High School – Status Report. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Education & College/University Relations Committee

 

7. COMMUNICATIONS:

 

8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to MBTA Capital Investment Program. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to Turnpike Tourism Grant. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Locating Mass. Lottery within any of the proposed commercial spaces planned within Union Station. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

D.               Communication relative to Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

E.      Communication relative to Subsidized Parking Program at the Common Outlet. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

F.      Communication relative to Meeting – Union Station Bus Ports. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

G.      Communication relative to Funding Status - $2.8 Million for Union Station. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

H.      Communication relative to Status Report on the South Worcester Industrial Park. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

I.       Communication relative to the Greenwood Street Landfill. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee for January 2,

2003 meeting

 

J.       Communication relative to the Worcester Public Schools Maintenance Building on Shrewsbury Street. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

K.      Communication relative to Union Station Update. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

L.      Communication relative to CIGNA Letter – Worcester Common Outlets.(Attachments)

 

Tabled

 

M.     Communication relative to Worcester Redevelopment Authority Financial Statements. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

N.               SUPPLEMENTAL – Communication relative to Greenwood St. Landfill/Liberty Properties. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee for January 2, 2003 meeting

 

9. ELDER AFFAIRS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Quarterly report relative to the Homeland Security Grant. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

10. ELECTION COMMISSION:

 

11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Certification/Local Emergency Management Committee (LEPC). (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:

 

13. FIRE:

 

14. HUMAN RESOURCES:

 

A.      Communication relative to Number of City Employees that are on Active Duty Status. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Military Affairs Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in City of Worcester and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 378 v. Labor Relations Commission SJC-08712 (2002). (Attachments)

 

Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

15. HUMAN RIGHTS:

 

16. LAW:

 

A.      Communication relative to Current non-digital alternative with Charter Communications. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Funding for Employee Bargaining Contracts. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

C.      Communication relative to Young vs. the City of Worcester. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

D.      Communication relative to Charter Communications’ Telephone Statistics. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee

 

E.      Communication relative to Tax Classification Vote Taken at the Time of the Budget. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

F.      Communication relative to Construction Projects in the City Over the Past Eight Years. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

17. LICENSE COMMISSION:

 

A.      Communication relative to Present Operations of Kennedy Fried Chicken Corner of Main Street and May Street. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

18. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:

 

A.      Communication relative to the Housing Trust Fund. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to the non-Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) resources that CDBG funded agencies have secured for the current program year. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Community Development Committee

 

C.      Communication relative to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety Programs Division, FY 2003 Local Law Enforcement Public Safety Equipment Grant Program. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Community Development Committee

 

D.      Communication relative to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health FY 2003 HIV Counseling, Testing and Support Services Contract. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

E.      Communication relative to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety Programs Division, FY 2003 Firefighter Public Safety Equipment Grant Program. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

F.      Communication relative to Worcester Colleges and Universities. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Education & College/University Relations Committee

and Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Committee

 

G.      Communication relative to the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Universal Hiring Program. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

H.      Communication relative to HOME Funds Projects and Pipeline Report for Calendar Year 2002-2003. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Community Development Committee

 

I.       Communication relative to the Winter Hill Neighborhood Preserve. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

J.                  SUPPLEMENTAL – Communication relative to choosing Joel J. Fontaine, Jr. as the new Director of Planning for the City of Worcester. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

19. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:

 

A.      Request City Council accept with gratitude a donation of $10,000.00 from the Commonwealth’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Green Hill Park Inc. to benefit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) at Green Hill Park. (Attachments)

 

Resolution adopted with gratitude

 

B.      Request City Council accept with gratitude a Donation of $1,000.00 from John Herron, Architect for the Effort to Stabilize and to Restore the Rogers Kennedy Memorial at Elm Park. (Attachments)

 

          Resolution adopted with gratitude

 

20. POLICE:

         

A.      Communication relative to Speed Surveillance Equipment on Dana Avenue. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Enforcement of Speed Regulations on Lake Avenue. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

C.      Communication relative to Truck Traffic on Melrose Street. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

D.      Communication relative to Speed Regulations on Fairfax Road. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

E.      Communication relative to Enforcing Parking Regulations on Shrewsbury Street. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

F.      Communication relative to Water Safety Officer assigned to Indian Lake. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

G.      Communication relative to Enforcing Speed Regulations on Prouty Lane. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

H.               Communication relative to Noise by Watercrafts, Enforcement on Various Bodies of Water in Worcester and Agreement with the Town of Shrewsbury regarding enforcement on Lake Quinsigamond. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

21. PUBLIC HEALTH:

 

A.      Communication relative to Control and Extermination of Wild Animals. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Financial Needs for Any City Regarding Control or Measures Against West Nile Virus. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

C.      Communication relative to Smallpox Vaccinations. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Health Committee

 

22. PUBLIC LIBRARY:

 

A.      Communication relative to USA Patriot Act Update. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

23. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Chandler Magnet Elementary School HVAC replacement project. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

24. PUBLIC WORKS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Paving Sidewalk under Brooks Street Bridge. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to Sewer-Related Issues and Solutions on Nathaniel Street. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

C.      Communication relative to Status Report #6 – Street Resurfacing Projects. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

D.      Communication relative to Funding to Resolve Issues Regarding Putnam Lane and Repairing of Putnam Lane and Franklin Street. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Works Committee

 

E.      Request adoption of a resolution to file for State Revolving Funds. (Attachments)

 

          Resolution adopted

 

F.      Communication relative to Thanksgiving Day Donations. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

25. PURCHASING:

 

26. TECHNICAL SERVICES:

 

27. TREASURY:

 

A.      Request adoption of an order transferring jurisdiction of land Chapter 40 Section 15A FTT#4840 – 5 Benefit Street to the Executive Office of Neighborhood Services. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted

 

B.      Communication relative to Forensic Investigation – Treasurer’s Office. (Attachments)

 

          Tabled under privilege (Murray)

 

28. VETERANS SERVICES:

 

A.      Communication relative to Homeland Defense Certificate Program. (Attachments)   

 

          Placed on file

 

29. FINANCE:

 

A.      Recommend that Fourteen Thousand Two Hundred and Three Dollars ($14,203.00) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #33C701, Code Department Capital Equipment, for the purpose of purchasing (1) Ford Taurus SE vehicle, as approved in the fiscal 2003 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

B.      Request that Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00) be authorized from the FY03 Unemployment Compensation Account #172-96000 to provide funds for the purpose of payment of a prior year invoice. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

C.      Recommend that Thirty Five Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents (#35,978.75) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C749, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #47C701, Airport Capital Equipment for the purpose of purchasing the runway striping machine. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

D.      Recommend that One Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,450.00) be transferred from Account #470-92000, Airport Department Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #470-93000, Airport Capital Outlay, to provide funds for the purpose of purchasing a copier for the Airport’s police force. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

E.      Recommend that One Thousand Five Hundred Ten Dollars and Fifty Eight Cents ($1,510.58) be transferred from Account #170-92000, Human Resources Department Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #170-93000, Human Resources Capital Outlay, to provide funds for the purpose of purchasing a printer for the Benefits Division. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

F.      Request authorization to pay One Thousand One Hundred Forty Six Dollars and Thirty Eight Cents ($1,146.38) for prior year salary expenses from Account #142-91101. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

G.      Recommend that Two Hundred Eighty One Thousand Nine Hundred Four Dollars and Thirty Cents ($281,904.30) be transferred from Account #91C790, School Construction, and appropriated to the following accounts:

                  

ACCOUNT                   DESCRIPTION                     AMOUNT

                   28C718                 Forest Grove Middle School               $ 36,172.22

                   28C719                 Forest Grove Middle School               $245,732.08

                                                Total                                                  $281,904.30

                  

to provide funds for the purpose of payment of contractual obligations related to the construction and equipment for Forest Grove Middle School. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

H.               Request that Four Hundred Ten Dollars and Zero Cents ($410.00) from Local Law Enforcement Block Grant previous years program income be appropriated for use as follows:

 

                   ACCOUNT                   DESCRIPTION                     AMOUNT

                   18S147       LLEBG Program Income (FY98)             $190.00

                   18S102       LLEBG Program Income (FY97)             $220.00

The purpose of this appropriation is to use the funds to continue the abandoned vehicle and hate and bias crime telephone hotlines. (Attachments)

         

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

I.       Recommend that One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C716, Union Station, and appropriated to Account #04C704, Union Station Rehabilitation to place funds in the Union Station Rehabilitation Account which will allow for the transfer of funds to be made to Account #04C710, Worcester Center Boulevard garage, to fund the repairs at the Worcester Center Boulevard garage, as approved on November 12, 2002, when the changes to the previously approved loan authorization for Union Station was ordained. (Attachments)

Order adopted on a roll all 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

J.       Recommend the adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) to be appropriated to Account #91C711, Building Rehabilitation, for the purpose of remodeling, reconstructing, or making extraordinary repairs to public buildings owned by the City. (Attachments)

 

          Voted to advertise proposed Loan Order on a roll call 10-0 (Gomez absent)

 

K.      Request that One Hundred Twenty Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Five Dollars ($120,455.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #41C704, Building Rehabilitation, for the payment of contractual obligations related to rehabilitation work of the DPW Building Rehabilitation Program. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

L.      Request that One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C738, Reservoir Remodeling, and appropriated to Account #45C728, Reservoir Rehabilitation, for the payment of contractual obligations related to rehabilitation work of the Reservoir Rehabilitation Program. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

M.     Request that Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #45C704, Water Building Rehabilitation, for the payment of contractual obligations related to rehabilitation work of the Water Rehabilitation Program. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

N.      Recommend that Two Hundred Fifty Four Thousand Dollars ($254,000.00) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #68C701, Technical Services Capital Equipment, to provide funding for Phase II of the Windows 2000 Upgrade Program and to purchase a Networked Data Storage System. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

O.      Recommend that Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) currently available in Account #26C704, Fire Department Building Rehabilitation, be reauthorized to pay for a land survey for the permanent site for the Firefighters Memorial. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)

 

30. MISCELLANEOUS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Updated Federal and State Legislative Agendas. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Legislative Affairs Committee

 

CHAIRMAN’S ORDERS

                  

          14-24 FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - Adopted

 

14.     Request Administration to provide City Council with a report concerning Lincoln St. ornamental furniture and plantings. (Attachments)

 

15.     Request Administration to provide City Council with a status report on the funding for installation of traffic signals at the Webster St. and Greendale Fire Stations and further, request a timetable for work to commence. (Attachments)

 

16.     Request Administration to provide Crime Watch groups with a report concerning the availability of mini-grant funds. (Attachments)

 

17.     Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update concerning the funds that remain in the following Block Grant projects: Grant Square Playground, Shale St. Playground, basement renovations at Mt. Carmel Apartments, South Worcester Playground and the Cristoforo Columbo Park. (Attachments)

 

18.     Request Administration to provide City Council with an update on State Senator Chandler’s efforts to have a Land Court sited in Worcester. (Attachments)

 

19.     Request Administration to provide City Council with a report stating whether the City may recoup any of the expenses incurred during the Chapter 139 demolition process. (Attachments)

 

20.     Request Administration to provide City Council with an update on what buildings are being prioritized for demolition. (Attachments)

 

21.     Request Administration to provide City Council with an update on funding and goals of the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts. (Attachments)

 

22.     Request Administration to provide City Council with a report outlining any negative impacts and/or ramifications of an undercount of the population of the City of Worcester during the 2000 Census.

          (Attachments)

 

23.     Request Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools to provide City Council with an update on the creation of the playground behind the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School. (Attachments)

 

24.     Request City Manager to communicate to City Council the final figure for construction/reconstruction of the Webster St. Fire Station.

          (Attachments)

 

ORDERS

 

25.     Request Administration to report on the current and projected pension liability and assessments and their impact on the 2004 budget. (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

Referred to the City Auditor

 

26.     Request Administration to recommend state legislation to relieve the city’s financial constraints resulting from increased costs of health insurance coverage.  (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

Adopted

 

27.     Request Administration to report on the appropriateness of seeking state legislation which bases employee contributions and co-payments on a need basis and upon the salary of the employee so that the amounts would increase depending upon the employee’s higher annual salary.  (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

Adopted

 

28.     Request a legal opinion regarding the violations by public disclosure of duly convened executive sessions of a Council’s Standing Committee’s deliberations.  (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

Adopted

 

29.     Request City Manager to pursue one of the Worcester area colleges or universities to request they undertake an analysis of the various state revenues that are returned to the City of Worcester to determine whether we receive our fair share.  Funds to be examined should include state aid, education funds, highway funds and capital project funds.  (Palmieri) (Attachments)

 

Mayor Murray moved to amend to add: any other grants

 

Tabled under privilege (Palmieri)

 

29a.   Request Assessor to report on $200,000 increments up to $1.2 million as to what the flexibility would be and how the criteria might be changed  relative to the elderly property tax exemption.  Motion-Petty @ #4A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29b.   Request City Manager to allocate funds for the distribution of Property Valuation books to the Fire Stations.  Motion-Clancy @ #4B CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29c.   Request City Manager to provide a report on revenues collected by Code Enforcement over the past few years.       Motion-Palmieri @ #6A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29d.   Request City Manager to report on a timeline in terms of enhanced communications within the Health and Code Departments.  Motion-Palmieri @ #6A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29e.   Request City Manager to report on the projected revenues for the Health & Code Departments for 2002 and how those projections compare to actual revenues so far this year as compared to last year.  Motion-Clancy @ #6A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29f.    Request City Manager to add updates on the subsidized parking program at the Common Outlet to the monthly Union Station report. Motion-Irish @ #8E CM - Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29g.   Request City Manager to report on what happens to the balance of the grant money for the subsidized parking program at the Common Outlet if the entire grant is not expended;  what, so far does the City have in billable amounts that can be given to the State and whether or not there are any alternative uses for these grant funds.  Motion-Clancy @ #8E CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29h.   Request City Manager to report on  eliminating the jersey barriers on Franklin and Harding Sts., installing  proper signage including a dead end sign for  Harding St., cleaning up Harding St. and the potential for long term parking on both Franklin St. at the rear of Union Station and on Harding St. at the dead end section of Union Station.  Motion-Clancy @ #8K CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29i.    Request City Manager to include updates on negotiations with U Mass Medical School relative to the parcel post building in the monthly Union Station report.  Motion-Irish @ #8K CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29j.    Request City Manager to provide City Council with a map of specific areas where improvements will be taking place and what the improvements are relative to the South Worcester Industrial Park.  Motion-Clancy @ #8H CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29k.   Request City Manager to submit, off Calendar to the City Council information that becomes public record to be posted on the web site of the City Clerk or other appropriate site relative to proposals for the re-use of the Greenwood St. Landfill.  Motion-Patton @ #8I CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29L.   Request City Manager report as to the potential cost to the City to repair the City’s portion of property as it abuts the vacuum cleaner parcel and traffic recommendations the City would make if that became a viable entrance and exit regarding the two-way portion of Franklin St.  Motion-Clancy @ #8L CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29m.  Request City Manager report as to what serious discussions the Administration is having with the developer relative to the re-use of the Common Outlet facility.  Motion-Clancy @ #8L CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29n.   Request City Manager to communicate with CIGNA requesting they consider knocking down the middle portion of the mall between the towers and connecting the roadway from Washington Square to Main St.  Motion-Lukes @ #8L CM

 

          Councillor Abraham moved to amend:

 

Request Administration to contact CIGNA relative to the feasibility of linking up Front St. with Washington  Sq. and Shrewsbury St. and explore financial incentives that might facilitate that.

 

Motion of Lukes as amended by Abraham Tabled on a roll call vote of 6 Yeas (Abraham, Gomez, Lukes, Palmieri, Patton, Petty) and 5 Nays (Clancy, Haller, Irish, Perotto, Murray) (Attachments)

 

29o.   Request City Manager to invite the leadership of CIGNA, including Mr. Douglas, Mr. Moschos, Mr. Kalinowski and Mr. Ponce to appear before the City Council or Commerce and Development Standing Committee within a reasonable amount of time to discuss the future of the Common Outlet.  Motion-Palmieri @ #8L CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29p.   Request City Manager to report as to how the City arrived at the assessed value of the Common Outlet, if that value is based on the number of tenants, based on the square footage of the property, and/or based on the additional investment that was made.  Motion-Gomez @ #8L CM – Adopt  (Attachments)

 

29q.   Request City Manager to provide an estimated cost of modifications to the Common Outlet.  Motion-Clancy @ #8L CM – Adopted

          (Attachments)

 

29r.    Request City Auditor to do an analysis  of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority Financial Statements for the years ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 and provide City Council with a written opinion.   Motion-Patton @ #8M CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29s.   Request City Manager to have a reception to properly welcome back employees who have been on active duty in the military.  Motion-Gomez @ #14A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29t.    Request City Manager to provide crime statistics on activities around Kennedy Fried Chicken, particularly the parking lot.  Motion-Haller @ #17A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29u.   Request City Manager to explore the possibility of releasing Community Development Block Grant funds from different organizations that continue to generate revenue and see what the impact would be without Community Development Block Grant funding.  Motion-Perotto @ #18B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29v.   Request City Manager to provide a report on the total contributions to Friendly House.  Motion-Patton @ #18B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29w.  Request City Manager to provide City Council with a description of Project Light.  Motion-Gomez @ #18B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29x.   Request City Manager to report on what City agencies and departments receive Community Development Block Grant funds and for what purpose.  Motion-Gomez @ #18B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29y.   Request City Manager to report on what evaluation methods or processes the City undertakes to determine the deliverables of each agency receiving Community Development Block Grant funds on a yearly basis.  Motion-Gomez @ #18B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29z.   Request City Manager to report on any new fundraising by any of the non-profits.   Motion-Palmieri @ #18B CM – Adopted

(Attachments)

 

29aa.  Request City Manager to provide comparable data from U Mass Medical School as was furnished by other institutions in Item 18E of the City Manager’s Calendar of December 17, 2002.  Motion-Irish @ #18E CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29bb. Request City Manager to consider using 60% of HOME funds for home ownership and 40% for rentals.  Motion-Perotto @ #18H CM -  Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29cc. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report matching income sources for community agencies that receive Block Grant funds and HOME funds and figures in the HOME Funds Projects and Pipeline Report for Calendar Year 2002-2003.  Motion-Patton @ #18H CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29dd. Request City Manager to report as to who donated the $10,000.00 to benefit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Green Hill Park.  Motion-Irish @ #19A CM – Adopted

(Attachments)

 

29ee.  Request City Manager to report as to who removes snow from under the Brooks St. Bridge.  Motion-Patton @ #24A CM – Adopted

(Attachments)

 

29ff.   Request City Manager report to City Council if there is a plan for 5 Benefit St.  Motion-Patton @ #27A CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29gg. Request City Manager to find a way to not evict tenants at 5 Benefit St.  Motion-Gomez @ #27A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29hh. Request City Manager to dedicate some technical assistance to Centro Las Americas in helping them come out of a very difficult time they are experiencing.  Gomez – Suspension of Rules – Mayor Murray recused on a roll call 9-0 (Abraham absent) Order adopted (Attachments)

 

29ii.   Request City Manager to have some budget projections ready for the month of January so that City Council can schedule a budget session for the last City Council meeting in January.  Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Held to be First Item of Business January 7, 2003 (Attachments)

 

29jj.   Request City Manager to report relative to the number of cars towed during the last snow storm, preferably by Council District or alternatively by tow operator.  Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29kk. Request City Manager to report relative to where citizen’s complaints should be submitted relative to sidewalks where snow has not been removed.  Further, who has the obligation to remove snow around bus stops.  Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29LL. Request City Manager to report on the cost of paid Police detail given by the Department of Public Works during the last snow storm. Clancy – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29mm.Request City Manager to report on the delay in removing snow from   in front of City Hall.  Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)

 

29nn. Request City Manager to post School Zone signs throughout the areas contiguously from Wawecus Rd. School, Burncoat Middle and Burncoat High School.  Murray, Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29oo. Request City Manager to report on the cutting of the subsidy as it relates to car insurance as reported in the Boston Globe.  Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

29pp. Request City Manager to report on the plowing of leaves onto the sidewalk on Lake Ave.  Clancy – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)

 

          30-32 ADOPTED

 

30.     SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:  BERNICE ST. (Attachments)

 

31.     SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:  LAKE AVE NORTH (Attachments)

 

32.     SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:  ROCKWELL ST. (Attachments)

 

33.     RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE:  No Items Pending

 

RESOLUTION

 

33a.   That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby thanks Chairman Matthew Amorello, Vice Chairman Jordan Levy and  members of the Board of the Turnpike Authority for the  $75,000.00 tourism grant for the Interpretive Marker and Banner Program for the Blackstone Canal  District. Motion-Clancy & Murray @ #8B CM – Adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Haller absent) (Attachments)

 

REPORTS

 

          34-43 ACCEPTED

 

          REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon the following Communications of the City Manager:  recommend Communications be placed on file.

 

34.     Relative to CDBG funding for tree planting along Lincoln St. (Attachments)

 

35.     Relative to Youth Programs. (Attachments)

 

36.     Relative to Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program. (Attachments)

 

37.     Relative to the term “supplant” as it is used in the federal funding mechanism for Community Development Block Grants. (Attachments)

 

38.     Relative to Block Grant Funding for Tax Title Foreclosures. (Attachments)

 

39.     Relative to a list of priority buildings recommended for demolition by the M.G.L. Chapter 139 Building Inspection Committee. (Attachments)

 

40.     Relative to the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts. (Attachments)

 

41.     Relative to Webster Sq. Fire Station traffic light. (Attachments)

 

42.     Relative to Census 2000 Income Statistics. (Attachments)

 

43.     Relative to briefing material regarding the Gardner/Kilby/Hammond Neighborhood Initiative. (Attachments)

 

          43a ACCEPTED & ORDERS ADOPTED – Suspension of Rules

 

43a.   REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC & PARKING Upon the Petition of Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. requesting to amend 80’ Passenger Zone on Grafton St. at Cutler St. in front of Morin Funeral Home to a 50’ zone and to amend current time of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to a shorter period of 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: recommend adoption of the accompanying two Orders. (Attachments)

 

          43b ACCEPTED AND VOTED TO ADVERTISE PROPOSED ORDINANCE – Suspension of Rules

 

43b.   REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of Rev. Aved Terzian requesting installation of two additional handicap parking spaces on the west side of Dean St. adjacent to the Church of Our Saviour from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)

 

TABLED ITEMNo Action Taken

 

44.     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. (Tabled December 10, 2002) (Attachments)

 

SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

 

DECEMBER 16, 2002       PUBLIC WORKS       COUNCIL CHAMBER

  6:00 P.M. – Tour of City Hall - CANCELLED

  7:00 P.M. – Meeting

 

 

DECEMBER 17, 2002           TRAFFIC &            COUNCIL CHAMBER

        5:15 P.M.                        PARKING

 

 

DECEMBER 17, 2002              HEALTH              COUNCIL CHAMBER

  5:30-7:00 P.M.

Presentation by Dr. John Sullivan and HIV/AIDS & Hepatitis C Task Force

 

 

THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS JANUARY 7, 2003