CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– JANUARY 14, 2003
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:04 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:26 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Frank E. Wismer, 3rd
St. Michael’s on the Heights Episcopal Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3.
ROLL CALL – All present except Councillor Gomez who arrived at 7:08 P.M.
HEARING AND ORDER – 7:00
P.M.
4 - Councillor Haller recused on a roll
call 10-0
Hearing held
4. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole re-location on: WEST MOUNTAIN ST. (Attachments)
4a ORDER ADOPTED
4a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC & VERIZON NEW
ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole re-location on:
WEST MOUNTAIN ST.
5 – ORDER ADOPTED
5. 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) (Attachments)
6 – ORDER ADOPTED
6. Request City Manager consider communications with City bargaining units regarding creation and development of mutual cost saving measures in response to the statewide budget crisis. (Lukes) (Attachments)
7 – REFERRED TO FINANCE – ALSO REFERRED TO
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
7. Communication of the City Manager relative to Preliminary Budget Analysis for Fiscal 2004. (Attachments)
8. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
8a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
9 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
9. Joan Treinas request resurfacing of Maxwell St. from corner of
Vernon & Maxwell Sts. to 24 ½ Maxwell St. (Attachments)
9a. Councillor Barbara Haller & Councillor Stephen Abraham
request repair of potholes on Cambridge St. from Brosnihan Sq. to Webster
Sq. Referred to Public Works Committee – Suspension or Rules (Attachments)
10 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
10. Carlos Fuget, General Manager & Stephen Beatty, Assistant
Manager, Best Western Executive Inn
& Suites et al request No Parking from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday –
Friday be posted on the west side of Oriol Dr. for first quarter mile,
beginning at Lincoln St. (Attachments)
10a. Councillor Barbara Haller, Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of
Dorrina Russell request No Trucks Anytime on section of Apricot St. around
#30. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
10b. Councillor Barbara Haller, Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of
Dorrina Russell request Children signs in the area of 30 Apricot St. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
– Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
10c. Councillor Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Patrick Welch request
handicap parking in front of 21 Sterling St.
Referred to Traffic & Parking
Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
11 REFERRED TO THE
CITY MANAGER
11. Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Scott Babbitt & Barbara
White request a strict application of the laws and fines governing the removal
of snow from walkways within the City. (Attachments)
11a FROM MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS – Suspension of Rules – Tabled under
privilege (Clancy)
11a. That the Mayor on behalf of the City Council of the City of Worcester is hereby authorized to execute an amendment to the employment contract of Mr. Thomas R. Hoover which would extend the term of the contract to January 31, 2005, modify the sick leave provisions consistent with the numeric pay ordinance, exclude any vacation day buy-back, re-write the termination section to provide severance upon the end of the contract term. (Attachments)
11b. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an
organizational chart of budgets presented in Fiscal Years 1991, 1992 and
2003. Motion-Petty @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11c. Request City Manager report as to what options may be available to
the City as relates to preserving the new fire class. Motion-Murray @ #7CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
11d. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an analysis of
local options as presented by Mayor Menino as to what those options might mean in
terms of raising revenue for the City of Worcester. Motion-Murray @ #7CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
11e. Request City Manager report relative to Fiscal Year 2003 assuming a 10% cut in local aid and
sustaining the 32 member fire recruit class.
Motion-Perotto @ #7CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
11f. Request City Manager to provide a report on Fiscal Year 2004
assuming a10% cut in local aid and sustaining the public safety recruit classes
of the 32 member fire class and 31 member police class. Motion-Perotto
@ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11g. Request City Manager to consider self funding for health
insurance. Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
11h. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report on the
cost of fees being charged by the City of Worcester to ensure that the fee is
covering the cost of the service. Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11i. Request City Manager to provide a report on a plan to collect all
outstanding receivables owed to the City of Worcester. Motion-Perotto
@ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11j. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report
outlining the process for allowing properly trained public safety officers
requesting to transfer to the City of Worcester from other municipalities and
what financial impact that might have on the City. Motion-Gomez @ #7CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
11k. Request City Manager to report identifying all of the areas at
which municipal services could be privatized and what financial impact that
could have on the City. Motion-Gomez @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11L. Request City Manager to evaluate what financial impact the
possibility of instituting a one week furlough would have on this year’s budget
as well as next year. Motion-Gomez @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11m. Request City Manager to provide City Council with the Fiscal Year
2002 budget in order to compare it to the 2002 actual. Motion-Patton
@ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11n. Request City Auditor to project where the City is based on current
expenditures to date, projected through the end of the year. Motion-Patton
@ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11o. Request City Manager to report on what the City is doing with
grant revenue. Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11p. Request City Manager to report on the success of the combining of
the Grant Coordinator position with Staff Assistant for Operations in the City
Manager’s office and the volume of grants that are coming through this
year. Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11q. Request City Manager to provide a report comparing the summary of
revenue and expenses that was in the budget presentation last year with the
current itemized report. Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11r. Request City Manager to report clarifying the status of the
reserve fire class. Motion-Palmieri @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11s. Request City Manager to report as to the accuracy of the revenue
forecast. Motion-Irish @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11t. Request City Manager to report, department by department, as to
which projects that were funded in the Fiscal Year 2003 budget have, in fact,
been funded and have started. Motion-Abraham @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)
11u. Request City Manager to make recommendations on the institution of
a pilot program in the City of Worcester to include the steps necessary to
enact revenue projections of such a program regardless of recommendations. Motion-Haller
@ #7CC – Adopted
11v. Request City Manager to provide City Council with supplemental
information on façade grants as to applications submitted but not
approved. Motion-Irish @ #8A CM
Mayor Murray moved to amend: Further, request City Manager provide additional information relative to Item 8A of the City Manager’s Calendar of January 14, 2003 as to a rendering of what the façade would look like in its enhanced state regarding one of the items contained in this report.
Councillor
Patton moved to amend: Further, request City Manager provide dates of the applications and dates of the awards of the
grants.
Councillor
Palmieri moved to amend: Further,
request City Manager provide the guidelines for the façade grant program.
11w. Request City Manager to report as to the pay-outs that the City has
had over the last three years on auto claims and to compare those average
annual pay-outs to what it might cost the City to insure with a company as
opposed to self insurance to see if there might be some potential savings
realized. Motion-Clancy @ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11x. Request City Manager to report as to the pay-outs the City has had
over the last three years on Workman’s Compensation claims and to compare those
average annual pay-outs to what it might cost the City to insure with a company
as opposed to self insurance. Motion-Clancy @ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11y. Request City Manager report as to how many municipalities of the
other thirty-nine cities in the Commonwealth are self insured as opposed to
insured with companies and what the track records are. Motion-Clancy
@ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11z. Request City Manager report as to the cost of any support staff or
services relative to pay-out of auto claims and Workman’s Compensation
claims. Motion-Lukes @ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11aa. Request City Manager to research and report by June 2003 on what
other cities are doing relative to cable rates. Motion-Petty @ #16C CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11bb. Request City Manager to report if the shopping channels produce
revenue for Charter Communications and how much and does that money go to
reduce cost to the consumers. Motion-Lukes @ #16C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11cc. Request City Manager to report if Charter Communications intends to add
back the update on the ten o’clock news in the near future. Motion-Lukes @ #16C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11dd. Request City Manager to report as to the source of the $1,000.00 donation
from Charter Communications for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Green Hill
Park. Motion-Lukes @ #19A CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11ee. Request Administration to report for the past three years before
the declared winter parking ban how many times the winter parking ban was
extended on residential streets beyond snow removal. Motion-Clancy @ #20B CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11ff. Request City Manager to provide a detailed report on the next City
Manager’s Calendar as to exactly what happened with Standard Auto Body relative
to removal of abandoned vehicles, what happened with the Block Grant money
that was allocated, when did it run out
and when does the Administration plan to address the 100+ abandoned vehicles on
the City streets. Motion-Murray @ #20B CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11gg. Request City Manager to provide the best estimate as to what
additional cost the present winter parking ordinance represents to the
City. Motion-Irish @ #20B CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11hh. Request City Manager to report on the cost of snow removal so far
this winter and the cost per unit. Motion-Lukes @ #20B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11ii. Request City Manager to provide the schedule as referenced in Item
24A of the City Manager’s Calendar relative to use of the Green Machine and
MadVac. Motion-Murray @ #24A CM – Adopted
11jj. Request City Manager to report on the feasibility of pavement
markings for Moreland St., Carter Rd. and Brigham Rd. Motion-Abraham @ #24B CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11kk. Request City Clerk to provide a list of all abutters notified for
the January 8, 2003 Traffic and Parking Committee meeting relative to 24 hour
parking on the odd numbered side of King Philip Rd. from Leeds St. to West
Boylston St. Motion-Clancy @ consideration of Traffic & Parking Committee items
under suspension of rules (Attachments)
11LL. Request City Auditor
to provide City Council at the January 21, 2003 City Council meeting with the
costs associated with each proposed change in the City Manager’s contract. Motion-Clancy
at consideration of Municipal Operations Committee item under suspension of
rules (Attachments)
11mm.Request Administration
to provide results of the hearing on merit contractors case involved with the
City’s residency ordinance regarding the new Vocational School. Further, request report on when the
sub-contractors bids were due, were they opened, were they awarded prior to the
settlement. Patton – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
(Attachments)
11nn. Request City Manager to provide a status report on improvements to
negative neighborhood impact associated with the People in Peril shelter. Haller
– Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11oo. Request Administration to provide a detailed report regarding the
status of the City’s A.D.A. Transition Plan.
Report to include a breakout by year since the redo in 1998 to present,
what has been completed, what is in progress, what has yet to be done, how many
of the items in violation were completed by the target date and those that were
not. Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11pp. Request Administration to provide improved traffic enforcement in
the area of 30 Apricot St. to include vehicles violating the one-way regulation
and trucks violating the 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. ban and to provide a report on
findings. Haller, Abraham – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11qq. Request Administration to improve enforcement of parking ban in area
of Washington Heights, especially from 5:00-7:00 a.m. as it has been reported that
busses are having great difficulty in accessing this area. Haller,
Abraham, Suspension of Rules – Adopted
11rr. Request Administration to provide a listing of known cobblestone
streets in the City of Worcester. Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11ss. Request Administration report on the feasibility of incorporating existing
cobblestone streets on Winter, Harding and Franklin Sts. as part of the
Blackstone Canal Study. Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11tt. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the
report from the State Inspector General relative to a complaint against the
Executive Office of Neighborhood Services.
Irish – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR JANUARY 14, 2003
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to Zoning Plan
Revision – Timeline for Submission. (Attachments)
Placed on file
7.
COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to Request for
Applications and Design Plans Presented to the City and the Design Review
Committee for All Facade Grants Approved by the City to Date. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a Rescue One Boat and Trailer and various rescue equipment with a value of $20,000.00
from the Leary Foundation. (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
15. HUMAN
RIGHTS:
16. LAW:
A. Communication relative to Property,
Liability & Boiler/Machinery Insurance. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to New Trial in the
Case of Indian Hill Associates, Inc. v. City of Worcester. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Charter
Communications announcing its rate changes that will be effective in February.
(Attachments)
Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee
D. Communication relative to an opinion
whether a proposed zoning amendment, which would prohibit Single Family
Semi-detached Dwelling Units in RS-7 and RS-10 Districts, is applicable to the
subdivision development known as Roda Estates. (Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
17. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
18. NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to the disposition
of City owned property at 521 North Lake Avenue. (Attachments)
Placed on file
19. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a Donation of $1,000.00 from Charter Communications for the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) at Green Hill Park. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted with gratitude
20. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to How Many
Officers Doing Traffic Enforcement. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
B. Communication relative to Tagging
Illegally Parked Vehicles. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to Jacob Hiatt
Magnet School Playground. (Attachments)
Placed on file
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Use of Green
Machine and MadVac Unit. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Improvement in
Signage and Roadway/Moreland Street,
Carter Road and Brigham Road. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Warrants to
Determine if a Stop Sign would be allowed on Harlem Street at the intersection
with Sterling Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
D. Communication relative to Communication System
that Exists During Snow Plow Operations. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
E. Communication relative to Sewer back-up
problem on Lawnfair Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
25.
PURCHASING:
26. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
27. TREASURY:
28. VETERANS
SERVICES:
29. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Two Hundred Ten Thousand
One Hundred Seventy Four Dollars and Fifty Cents ($210,174.50) be transferred
from Account #33040 Reserve for Appropriation. 1% Federal Reimbursement and
appropriated to the following accounts:
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT AMOUNT
600-91099 Purchasing $51,970.00
650-91099 Auditing 53,237.50
170-91099 Human Resources
1,275.00
680-91099 Information Services 32,148.50
660-91099 Treasury 33,815.00
040-91099 City Manager 35,103.50
040-92099 City Manager 125.00
680-92099 Information Services
2,500.00
TOTAL $210,174.50
to provide funds for the purpose of
providing indirect services related to certain Federal and State Grants. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Recommend that Three Hundred Forty Five
Thousand Two Hundred Eighty Seven Dollars and Forty Eight Cents ($345,287.48)
be transferred from the following accounts:
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
330-01 Pearl
Elm Reserves $191,526.48
330-02 Federal
Plaza Reserves 92,645.25
330-03 Off
Street Reserves 49,080.00
330-04 Parking
Meter Reserves 12.035.75
Total $345,287.48
and appropriated to the following
accounts:
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
46S501 Pearl
Elm Ordinary Maint. $191,526.48
46S502 Fed.
Plaza Ordinary Maint. 92,645.25
46S503 Off
St. Ordinary Maint.
49,080.00
46S504 Parking
Meter Ord.Maint. 12,035.75
Total $345,287.48
This appropriation provide sufficient
operating funds for the Off Street Parking Program for the Third Quarter of
Fiscal 2003. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Recommend that Two Thousand Nine Hundred
Thirty Two Dollars and Forty Eight Cents ($2,932.48) be transferred from
Account #250-92000, Police Department Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to
Account #250-93000, Police Department Capital Outlay, to provide funds for the
purpose of purchasing two high speed floor burnishing machines, for the
Worcester Police Department.(Attachments).
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
30.
MISCELLANEOUS:
13. James A. DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting listing of School
Department Rolling Equipment. (Attachments)
Referred to Education & College/University Relations Committee
14a
VOTED TO ADVERTISE PROPOSED ORDINANCE – Suspension of Rules
14a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of
Mayor Timothy Murray requesting one additional handicap parking space at
Probate Court on Harvard St. located behind the Auditorium: recommend
passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)
14b TABLED – Suspension of Rules
14b REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Dolores Skonieczny et al requesting 24 hour parking on odd numbered side of
King Philip Rd. from Leeds St. to West Boylston St.: recommend passage of
the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)
15. Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter –
Worcester Common Outlets. (Tabled December 17, 2002)
16. Motion Lukes as amended by Abraham – 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. (Tabled December 17, 2002)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
JANUARY 13, 2003
PUBLIC SERVICE COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M. &
TRANSPORTATION
JANUARY 14, 2003 MUNICIPAL
COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M. OPERATIONS
Re: Compensation Package of the City Manager
JANUARY 15, 2003 PUBLIC SAFETY
COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.
JANUARY 28, 2003 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M.
Presentation by the Health Foundation of Central
Mass.
JANUARY 29, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Presentation by Administration & RKG
FEBRUARY 12, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Discussion with DHCD & Area Elected Representatives
FEBRUARY 26, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Public
Hearing: Question & Answer Session
MARCH 19, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Administrative
Recommendations/Revised Document