CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– FEBRUARY 11, 2003
7:00 P.M
Convened: 7:11 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:10 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Nancy Strong
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL - All present
except Councillor Gomez and Councillor Lukes.
Councillor Gomez arrived at 7:34 P.M.
The Chair recognized
Girls Scout Troop 835 Cadets who were present to earn the Silver Award Badge.
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5 & 6 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE
5. Jay Pelletz, Mutual Builders, Inc. request to install 620’ of
sewer and 480’ of drain in El Caney Rd. from existing lines in Cuba Rd. Also to
replace 2” water main in El Caney Rd. with 8” water main. Work to be done at Petitioner’s expense. (Attachments)
6. Ida Grosvenor on behalf of Charles, Drew & Donna Grosvenor
request abatement of Sewer Assessment #30839 in the amount of $4,180.00 on
Rockwell St. (Attachments)
7 & 8 REFERRED
TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
7. Maritza Velazquez request handicap parking at 34 Newbury St.
be removed and installed at 78 Russell St. (Attachments)
8. Jacques
Poulin request handicap parking in front of 55 Merrifield St.
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR FEBRUARY 11, 2003
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of Constable Appointments. (Attachments)
Placed on file
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to Properties Taken
Off the Tax Rolls in the past two years. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
B. Communication relative to Assessed Values
on all CIGNA Properties. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
C. Communication relative to Using
$11,000,000.00 of the Unused Tax Levy. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance
D. Communication relative to Providing a Systematic
Increase in the Number of Qualifying Taxpayers for Section 51 of the Elderly
Exemption. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to DRAFT copy of
the Proposed Zoning Ordinance. (Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
7.
COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to Worcester County
Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB) Quarterly Convention Department
Update. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee
B. Communication relative to Another First
for Worcester. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to City-Owned
Brownfield Sites. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee
9. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
A. Communication relative to Comparison of
City of Worcester Health Premiums to Other Employers. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
15. HUMAN
RIGHTS:
16. LAW:
A. Request adoption of the order authorizing
the conveyance of an easement to Philip O. Shwachman, Trustee, Central Thomas
Realty Trust, over approximately 9,307.87 square feet of land utilized by the
city of Worcester for the reconfiguration of Central Street. (Attachments)
Order adopted
8-1 (Yes - Clancy,
Gomez, Haller, Irish, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Murray) (No – Patton) (Lukes absent)
B. Communication relative to Concerns
Relating to Cable Television Rate Increases and Services, and Federal and State
Authorities/Agencies to whom complaints/inquiries are to be made. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee
17. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
A. Communication relative to Monthly Report
Regarding Liquor Licenses Approved. (Attachments)
Placed on file
18. NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to Weed & Seed
Initiative. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
B. Communication relative to the Governor’s
Highway Safety Bureau Statewide Bicycle Helmet Program. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Neighborhood
Impact Re-mediation Measures – PIP Shelter. (Attachments)
Referred to Health Committee
D. Request adoption of a disposition of City
owned property located at 521 North Lake Avenue. (Attachments)
Order adopted
E. Request adoption of a resolution relative
to The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety (MEOPS),
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and Citizen Corps Council
Grant. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
19. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Communication relative to an Invitation to
a Public Meeting – Proposed Improvements to the Family Recreation Area within
Green Hill Park. (Attachments)
Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
B. Communication relative to an Invitation to
a Public Meeting – Proposed Safety Improvements to the Jack Barry Little League
Softball Field at Harrington Way. (Attachments)
Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
C. Communication relative to Status Report –
Kendrick Field Improvements Phase II. (Attachments)
Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation
Committee
20. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to Enforcement of the
Winter Parking Ban on South Flagg Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to Enforcement of
the Winter Parking Ban on Richland Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Condition of
Worcester Police Department Vehicles. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
D. Communication relative to Results of
Investigation into the More Recent Murders Recorded in the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
E. Communication relative to Enforcement of
Speed Regulations on South Flagg Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
A. Notification of appointment of sworn
weighers. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to Organization and
Contact Persons who Distribute/Provide Drug Injection Packages. (Attachments)
Recommitted to City Manager
C. Communication relative to Transmission of
Hepatitis B through Human Excrement. (Attachments)
Referred to Health Committee
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to Charter School
Funding Impacts on School Department Budgets. (Attachments)
Referred to Education and
College/University Relations
Committee
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Cost to-date
Report for Snow Removal. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Copy of the
Re-use Guidelines for Landfills. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
C. Communication relative to Parking
Administration Hours of Operation. (Attachments)
Placed on file
25.
PURCHASING:
A. Communication relative to Last 10 City
Construction Jobs. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
26. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
27. TREASURY:
A. Communication relative to Sullivan Middle
School. (Attachments)
Referred to Education and
College/University Relations
Committee
28. VETERANS
SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to Health Services
Provided to Veterans in the Ten Largest Cities in New England. (Attachments)
Referred to Military Affairs Committee
29. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Ninety One Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($91,700.00) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #41C703, D.P.W. Capital Equipment, to provide funds for the purpose of purchasing traffic signal equipment, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted 10-0
(Lukes absent)
B. Recommend that Seventeen Thousand Six
Hundred Fifteen Dollars and Fifty Cents ($17,615.50) be transferred when and as
received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account
#44C704, Sewer Capital Equipment, to provide funds for the purpose of
purchasing computer related software for the GIS project, for the Sewer
Department, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted 10-0
(Lukes absent)
C. Recommend that One Hundred Seventy Five
Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C745, Sewer
Construction, and appropriated to Account #44C761, Surface Drainage, to provide
funds for the payment of contractual obligations related to improvements to the
Brightwood Avenue Kenberma Road sewer relief, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted 10-0
(Lukes absent)
D. Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C745, Sewer Construction, and
appropriated to Account #44C732, Sewer Systems Control Plan, to provide funds
for the payment of contractual obligations and other related costs, associated
with the combined sewer compliance order with Federal and State regulations, as
approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted 10-0
(Lukes absent)
E. Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand
Dollars ($75,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C741, Street Construction, and
appropriated to Account #41C797, Sidewalks, to provide funds for the payment of
contractual obligations related to various sidewalk construction projects and
other related costs, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted 10-0
(Lukes absent)
F. Recommend that Sixty Four Thousand Seven
Hundred Eighty Seven Dollars and Eighty Six Cents ($64,787.86) be transferred
from Account #280-92000, Code Enforcement Ordinary Maintenance Account, and
appropriated to Account #330-92000, Health Department Ordinary Maintenance
Account. The original transfer dated
October 16, 2002 was erroneously requested for $143,000.00. This transfer will correct the original
requested transfer. (Attachments)
Order adopted 10-0 (Lukes absent)
30.
MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Request approval of a Resolution relative
to Service on Boards & Commissions. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
9a. Request Administration to report on properties taken off the tax
rolls by city departments such as EONS.
Motion Perotto @ #4A CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
9b. Request Administration to communicate with non-profits to
consider taking on certain services, to meet the needs of the community at
large, as a way of giving back to the city when they take properties off the
tax rolls. Motion Perotto @ #4A CM - Adopted
(Attachments)
9c. Request City Assessor to report what the assessed value would be
of the Common Outlet Mall if it was vacant. Motion Clancy @ #4B CM - Adopted
(Attachments)
9d. Request City Assessor to
report what the square footage is of the Outlet Mall, garage, and office
towers. Motion Murray @ #4B CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
9e. Request City Assessor to report on the number of residential
properties in the city and abatements filed, granted or denied and the total
number of commercial properties in the city and abatements filed, granted or
denied for the past three years. Motion
Murray @ #4B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
9f. Request City Assessor to report what the number would be if the
lowest residential rate scenario was used having to do with the use of the
unused tax levy dollars. Motion Perotto
@ #4C CM - Adopted (Attachments)
9g. Request Administration to provide color copies of the re-writes
of Sections 1-6 and 7-13 of the Zoning Ordinance
to the chairpersons of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. Motion Patton @ #6A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
9h. Request City Manager to request the Administration of the PIP
Shelter to clarify their position having to do with the suspension criteria on
how many times an individual is given an opportunity to return after a 30 day
suspension. Motion Perotto @ #18C CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
9i. Request City Manager
to request the Administration of the PIP Shelter to report on video monitor
system costs, sources of funding and a capital implementation plan for the
Shelter. Motion Perotto @ #18C CM - Adopted
(Attachments)
9j. Request Administration
to report how much money it costs the city when the Federal Government
declares a heightened security alert and whether the city was reimbursed by the
Federal Government for the overtime expenses involved after September 11th
. Motion Perotto @ #18E CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
9k. Request City Manager to
report on the possibility of consolidation of collection functions. Motion Clancy @ #24C CM - Adopted (Attachments)
9L. Request Administration
to report on out-of state students who get ticketed on a regular basis in the
neighborhoods and from whom we cannot collect parking fines from, the total amount of parking fines the city
does not collect in a given year and to consider working with the Consortium for Higher Education and
colleges to have guidelines in place to make sure that parking fines are
collected before the students leave the state with a diploma. Motion Clancy @ #24C CM - Adopted (Attachments)
9m. Request City Auditor to report
on the formula used for determining the assessed value of motor vehicles and why they don't reflect the actual resale
value of the vehicle. Motion Clancy @
#10CC - Adopted (Attachments)
9n. Request Administration to update the City Council on the status
of the HELP Bill. Suspension of Rules -
Clancy - Adopted (Attachments)
9o. Request the Administration to report on the legal responsibility
of abutters of a private way as it relates to keeping it clear so that public
safety vehicles can access the street, in particular, Congress Alley. Suspension of Rules - Murray -
Adopted (Attachments)
10. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting schedule of revenues
for the first six months of Fiscal 2003 compared to the same period in Fiscal
2002 and current budget for revenues to be received for the entire year and for
all of Fiscal 2002. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance
11. Roberta Schaeffer, Executive Director, Worcester Regional
Research Bureau transmitting Benchmarking Public Safety in Worcester: 2003.
Referred to Public
Safety Committee
RESOLUTIONS
11a. Conveying to the White House and Federal Elected Officials the
concerns of the city with regards to funding for local public safety. Motion
Murray and Irish @ # 18E CM - Resolution Adopted
11b. That the Legislative Delegation
promptly act on an Early Retirement Bill for municipal employees. Palmieri - Suspension of Rules - Resolution
Adopted
12. 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)
c) #27CC February 4, 2003
Communication of the City
Manager relative to Governor’s State budget cuts to the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
d)
26CC February 4, 2003
James DelSignore, City
Auditor transmitting City of Worcester’s 2002 Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report.
13. 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)
Councillor Patton moved to Table item. On a roll call 6-4 (Yes - Clancy, Palmieri, Patton, Perotto, Petty, Murray (No -
Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish) (Lukes absent) item was Tabled
14. Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter –
Worcester Common Outlets. (Tabled December 17, 2002)
15. 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
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 10, 2003
ETHNIC & MINORITY
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. AFFAIRS
MARCH 19, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Administrative Recommendations/Revised Document