CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– FEBRUARY 4, 2003
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:07 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:55 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Richard Reidy
St. Paul’s Cathedral
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillor
Abraham
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5 REFERRED TO THE
PLANNING BOARD
5. James & Mary Whalen request zoning for 105 Harrington Way
be changed to RL-7. (Attachments)
5a. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request Public Works accept Dalton Way as public. Referred to the Planning Board – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
6-8 REFERRED TO
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
6. Lee Parent request installation of a catch basin at 31
Houghton St. (Attachments)
7. John Flanagan request abatement of Sewer Assessment #30838 in
the amount of $2,470.00 on Rockwell St. (Attachments)
8. Mr. & Mrs. Donald Vancelette request to extend 8” sewer line
approximately 375’ westerly and 8” water line approximately 450’ westerly from
existing lines in Greenwood St. to service two homes to be built on Strasburg
Rd. (Attachments)
9 & 10 REFERRED
TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
9. Charles Pardee request handicap parking in front of 51 Beaver
St. (Attachments)
10. Louise Godin request handicap parking at 18 Arlington St. (Attachments)
10a. Councillor Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Cheryl Mita request
right turn only on Wawecus Rd. between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
and 2:30 p.m. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
10b. Councillor Barbara Haller on behalf of residents of Ashmont Ave.
and Arwick Ave. request to correct traffic situation on Ashmont Ave. and Arwick
Ave. to prevent trucks from using these residential streets so as to cause
property damage, including consideration of placing posts along property lines
and/or declaring the area resident only parking. Referred to Traffic &
Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules
11-15 FROM HEALTH COMMITTEE - ADOPTED
11. Request City Manager forward to the City Council the comments of
the Commissioner of Public Health concerning oral health. (Attachments)
12. Request City, through our Neighborhood Centers and Community
Development Centers, consider and adopt similar dental outreach efforts as
exist at the South Worcester Neighborhood Center. (Attachments)
13. Request City Manager
consider sponsoring a dental care day February 21, 2003 to promote dental
health awareness in the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
14. Request Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools to advise the
City Council what the complications were that prevented us from being more
aggressive in providing dental services to students in our facilities. (Attachments)
15. Request City Manager to request the Education Committee of the
Central Mass Oral Health Initiative to provide the City Council with
information concerning their efforts in educating parents of the benefits of
encouraging good oral hygiene habits in their children. (Attachments)
16-18 FROM HOUSING
& NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE - ADOPTED
16. Request Administration
address housing issues related to the mobility challenged population
when the revised housing policy document is finalized. (Attachments)
17. Request City Manager provide the City Council with a report
quantifying the number of beds provided on-campus at the nine Worcester
colleges and universities and compare to the number of students enrolled at
each institution. (Attachments)
18. Request Administration provide the City Council with a report
comparing the percentage of tax-exempt property in the City of Worcester as a
percentage of the whole and compare this data to same data for the other forty
cities across the Commonwealth. (Attachments)
19. Request City Manager to review the ability of the Technical
Services Department to include a survey or other research tools to accomplish
better utilization of the Worcester Regional Airport. (Petty)
Adopted
20. Request the Public Service & Transportation Committee
conduct a public forum with the City Manager, Cable TV Advisory Committee and
all interested federal, state and local parties, including the Chamber of
Commerce, area colleges, businesses and community development corporations
concerning the development of a telecommunications master plan for the City of
Worcester. (Petty) (Attachments)
Adopted
21. Request the City Manager to determine the legality in the
Commonwealth of Mass., of the City of Worcester owning wholly, or in part, a
telecommunications network that would provide voice, long distance,
video-on-demand, high speed internet and internet service provider service to
all residents and businesses in Worcester. (Petty, Murray, Perotto, Patton) (Attachments)
Councillor Petty
moved to amend to add Councillors Irish and Haller as authors
22. Request City Manager request the Worcester Marketing Corporation
to update the City Council on the marketing efforts being made by them on
behalf of the City. (Petty, Patton) (Attachments)
Adopted
23. Request Administration to address the safety issues related to
parking problem at Block Buster Video on West Boylston St. (Patton) (Attachments)
Adopted
23a. Request City Manager and Mayor to send letters to their respective
counterparts throughout the country inquiring how they are planning and implementing
a telecommunication plan. Motion-Petty @ #20 & 21CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
23b. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a GIS Map of all
the telecommunication assets located in the City such as the broadband
infrastructure (dark fiber, etc.) including the locations of all the
telecommunication companies located in the City, along with an explanation of
what each company does. Motion-Petty @ #20 & 21CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
23c. Request City Manager to update City Council regarding the
Info-tech project. Motion-Petty @ #20 & 21CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23d. Request City Manager to contact the Mass. Turnpike Authority to
request traffic data from Exit 9 to Exit 15 between 5:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.
(those who have to commute to work in the Boston area that live in Central
Massachusetts). Motion-Petty @ #20 & 21CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23e. Request City Solicitor to report on any affect to the City’s legal
agreement with Charter Communications as far as collecting and remitting fees
to the City of Worcester if Charter Communications restructures their $20
billion debt. Motion-Petty @ #20 & 21CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23f. Request City Manager to contact the Chamber of Commerce relative
to the Info Tech Project and issues concerning a telecommunications network in
the City of Worcester. Motion-Perotto @ #20 & 21CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
23g. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update before
the March 26, 2003 Public Service & Transportation Committee meeting
relative to the activities of the Info Tech Project, number of employees and
any funding for the project. Motion-Patton @ #20 & 21CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
23h. That the Info Tech Council be invited to the March 26, 2003 Public
Service & Transportation Committee meeting relative to development of a
telecommunications master plan for the City of Worcester. Motion-Patton
@ #20 & 21CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23i. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a neighborhood
impact statement regarding loss of services that may result from various budget
reductions or government re-invention options.
Motion-Haller @ #27CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
23j. Request City Manager to work with the neighborhood cabinet to
develop a list of City services, in a priority order, that is reflective of
neighborhood needs. Motion-Haller @ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23k. Request City Manager to consider the possibility of transferring
employees from one department to another, if necessary, for the purpose of
addressing critical City services. Motion-Gomez @ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23L Request City Manager to report relative to the possibility of
looking at sanitary workers and how they could cover additional duties within
the Department of Public Works. Motion-Gomez @ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23m. Request City Manager to report on what kind of impact an additional
$9 million in next year’s budget would have on setting the tax rate; how much
more each property owner would have to pay.
Motion-Gomez @ #27CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
23n. Request City Manager to report why there was no calculation for the possibility of
furloughs in the City Manager’s recommendations for budget cuts. Motion-Gomez
@ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23o. Request City Auditor to provide a similar comparison of income and
revenue for the Centrum’s Arena and Convention Center components. Motion-Lukes
@ #29CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23p. Request City Solicitor to report as to whether the City can
negotiate the expiration of contracts with Spectacor any sooner than 2007 for
the Convention Center Management Agreement and 2012 for the Centrum lease. Motion-Lukes
@ #29CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23q. Request City Manager to request a report from Spectacor why a 40%
loss was generated last year and what they intend to do this year that is any
different from last year. Motion-Lukes @ #29CC – Adopted
23r. Request City Manager to provide a report on the status of the
issue of the sale of naming rights to the Centrum and the Convention
Center. Motion-Irish @ #29CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23s. Request City Manager to report relative to the issue of Spectacor Management
withholding service charges from the employees as to whether this has been
resolved and in what manner. Motion-Irish @ #29CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23t. Request City Manager to report if the service charges withheld
from employees has anything to do with any type of bonus given to SMG for
exceeding a certain amount of revenue in a particular category. Motion-Perotto
@ #29CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23u. Request City Solicitor to provide City Council with a copy of the
contract with Spectacor before it is signed by the City Manager. Motion-Perotto
@ #29CC – Adopted (Attachments)
23v. Request Police Chief to enforce parking regulations on Florence
St. Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
(Attachments)
23w. Request Administration to report on the number of requests for
property tax abatements, the number of abatements granted and the means of
determining property values for each year:
FY01, FY02 and FY03. Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
23x. Request Administration to report on any regulations on sump pump
discharge onto City streets, especially in situations where the temperature is
below freezing. Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
(Attachments)
23y. Request Administration to provide an update on the status of the
January 7, 2003 assault event in front of City Hall, including present status
of the arrested suspects, status of the victim’s identification and any court
dates. Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
23z. Request Administration to provide a report on the status of the
Exeter St. bridge and the Gates St. bridge.
Haller – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
23aa. Request City Manager to provide a detailed report on all costs
expended last year in conjunction with the City’s Earth Day Cleanup in
cooperation with the Regional Environmental Council. Murray, Haller –
Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
23bb. Request Administration to report on the parameters of how Community
Development Block Grant funds may be used, specifically how the definition
would be applied as it relates to when there is a decrease in the level of
service as a result of events that are not within the control of the local
governmental unit. Murray, Haller, Patton – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
23cc. That the City Council
meeting of February 18, 2003 be and is hereby cancelled unless budget issues
require that the City Council meet. Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
24 & 25 ADOPTED
ON A ROLL CALL 10-0 (Abraham absent)
24. ORDER OF TAKING SEWER EASEMENTS: PASADENA PARKWAY &
LINCOLN ST. (Attachments)
25. RESCINDING SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT #30847 ON NORDICA ST. (Attachments)
26. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting the City of
Worcester's 2002 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance
27. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to the Governor’s State budget cuts to the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance
28. David J. Rushford, City Clerk transmitting communication
relative to cost savings measure concerning the paid advertisement of public
meeting notices and other required public notices. (Attachments)
Referred to the City
Solicitor
29. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting reports covering
Worcester’s Centrum Centre Fund – Arena Component and Convention Center
Component. (Attachments)
CHAIRMAN'S RESOLUTION
30 FROM HEALTH COMMITTEE
30. That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby supports
the efforts to eliminate soda and snack machines in the Worcester Public
Schools. (Attachments)
Councillor Irish
moved to amend wording to read:
eliminate soda and snacks from machines
Adopted, as amended
30a. That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby requests the
Central Mass. Delegation to support legislation increasing municipal employee’s
contribution on health insurance to 25%. Motion-Lukes
@ #27CC
Councillor Haller
moved to amend to include early retirement being established and the transfer
of municipal funds to cover deficits
31. RECESS
TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Action Taken
FINANCE
a)
#7CC
January 14, 2003
Communication of the City
Manager relative to Preliminary Budget Analysis for Fiscal 2004. (Attachments)
b) #5C CM
January 28, 2003
Communication of the City Manager
relative to framework for a Local and State Fiscal Recovery. (Attachments)
32-43 ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 10-0 (Abraham
absent)
Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances
of 1996 to provide for handicap parking at the following locations:
32. Harvard St. at the probate Court located behind the Auditorium.
33. Biltmore Rd. behind 1011 Pleasant St. (Attachments)
34. Opposite 44 Fairfax Rd. (Attachments)
35. In front of 93 Sterling St. (Attachments)
36. In front of 10 Fern St. (Attachments)
37. In front of 57 Arlington St. (Attachments)
38. In front of 14 Ayrshire Rd. (Attachments)
Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances
of 1996 to prohibit parking at the following locations:
39. South side of Northboro St. from Plantation St. to driveway of 4
Northboro St. (Attachments)
40. North side of Halmstad St. opposite driveway of 24 Halmstad St.
(Attachments)
41. South side of Salisbury St. from West St. to a point 45’
westerly of West St. (Attachments)
42. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for 15 minute parking on Solferino St. at the corner of
Plantation St. (Attachments)
43. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind handicap parking in front of 9 Maple Tree Lane.
44 GIVEN LEAVE TO
WITHDRAW AT REQUEST OF PETITIONER
44. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 21 Clement St.
45. Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter –
Worcester Common Outlets. (Tabled December 17, 2002)
46. 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)
No Action Taken
47. 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. (Tabled
January 14, 2003) (Attachments)
At the request of Councillor Clancy item
taken off the Table
On a roll call vote 9-0 (Abraham
absent) Councillor Petty was recused
On a roll call vote 9-0 (Abraham absent) Council voted to advertise the proposed Ordinance
48. Communication of the City Manager relative to License
Commission’s Practice – Licensed Liquor Establishments – Alleged Violation of
Laws, Rules, or Regulations. (Tabled
January 28, 2003) (Attachments)
Councillor Gomez requested item be taken
off the Table
On a roll call vote 9-0 (Abraham absent) Councillor Perotto was recused
On a roll call vote 6-3
(Yes-Clancy, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes, Petty) (No-Palmieri, Patton, Murray) the
item was taken off the Table
Councillor Patton then requested the item be Tabled Under Privilege
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
FEBRUARY 10, 2003 MUNICIPAL
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30
P.M. OPERATIONS
FEBRUARY 10, 2003 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00
P.M.
FEBRUARY 12, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Discussion
with DHCD & Area Elected Representatives
FEBRUARY 13, 2003 LAND USE
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30
P.M.
FEBRUARY 26, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Public
Hearing: Question & Answer Session
FEBRUARY 26, 2003 TRAFFIC & COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00
P.M. PARKING
MARCH 19, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Administrative Recommendations/Revised Document