CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– MARCH 4, 2003
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:10 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:00 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Most Reverend George E. Rueger
Auxiliary Bishop of Worcester
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL - All present
4 - Referred to Municipal Operations
Committee Janet Dufault, Insurance Advisory Committee spoke
4. Resolution – That the City Council of the City of Worcester requests the Central Mass. Delegation to support legislation increasing municipal employee’s contribution on health insurance to 25%, early retirement being established and the transfer of municipal funds to cover deficits. (Lukes) (Attachments)
5. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6 & 7 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE
6. Donald & Eleanor Burlingame request abatement of Sewer
Assessment #30863 in the amount of $3,420.00 on Utah St. (Attachments)
7. Joan Crowell request abatement of Sewer Assessment #30840 in
the amount of $3,800.00 on Rockwell St. (Attachments)
8-11 REFERRED TO
TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
8. Terry Pignataro et al request unrestrictive parking on the
east side of Shrewsbury St. between Muskeego St. and Envelope Terrace. (Attachments)
9. Mary Murphy request handicap parking in front of 23 Hitchcock
Rd. (Attachments)
10. Joan M. Desautels request handicap parking at 4 Harlow St. (Attachments)
11. Mary Huard request resident parking on Dayton St. from Fruit St.
to West St. (Attachments)
11a. Leonard Ciuffredo et al - As concerned citizens in our community
we realize and appreciate the value and impact that Community Based Policing has
in our City. We therefore ask that this
concept and all associated programs be maintained and nurtured during these
challenging economic times. Referred to the City Manager - Suspension
of Rules (Attachments)
12 & 13 HEARINGS SET FOR MARCH 11, 2003
– 7:00 P.M.
12. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for
joint pole location on: COBURN
AVE. Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 10-0 (Attachments)
13. FIBER TECHNOLOGIES NETWORKS, LLC to install and maintain fiber
optic telecommunications facilities at:
INTERSECTION OF WEST BOYLSTON ST. AND ANDOVER ST. (Attachments)
ORDERS
13a. Request Administration to provide a zoning map which by color and
shading of colors shows the different zones in the City. Motion-Clancy
@ #6A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13b. Request Director of Planning to provide proposed schedules or
timelines as to finishing up items before the Land Use Committee, the planning
initiatives that have been requested and the master plan process. Motion-Murray
@ #6A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13c. Request City Manager to contact the Board of Directors and
Chairman of the Worcester Info Tech Corp. and invite them to be present at the
March 26, 2003 Public Service & Transportation Committee meeting for
discussion of a telecommunications master plan. Motion-Petty @ #8A CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
13d. Request City Manager report as to where Worcester fits into the
Worcester region relative to info tech advances. Motion-Lukes @ #8A CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
13e. Request City Manager to report on the City's ability to place a
lien on property or some kind of surety to guaranty that once business and
economic situations improve that the City can recoup some of the lost taxes
from businesses that are in non compliance with a TIF because of changes in the
economy. Motion-Lukes @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
13f. Request City Manager to report if substitutions can be made in a
TIF in order to comply if projections are not going to be met. Motion-Lukes
@ #8B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13g. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update on the
Home Depot TIF as it relates to the YouthBuild program. Motion-Lukes
@ #8B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13h. Request City Manager in future Certified Projects (TIF) Reports
that the reports contain more specificity to include the date of the last visit
to a company, the date of the last contact with a company and who made the
contact. Motion-Murray @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
13i. Request City Manager to report if language can be written into a
TIF agreement whereby the City could recoup taxes for non compliance with a TIF
agreement. Motion-Palmieri @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
13j. Request City Manager to provide a cover page, a checklist showing
whether companies are or are not in compliance with requirements of the
TIF. Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM - Adopted
(Attachments)
13k. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update on the
status of expansion of Polar Corp. Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM -Adopted (Attachments)
13L. Request City Manager to update City Council on parking concerns
relative to Presmet on Harding St. Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13m. Request City Solicitor to report on any company, once having
received a TIF, under what circumstances that company can get a release from
the TIF agreement. Motion-Lukes @ #8B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13n. Request City Manager to explore whether Block Grant money could be
used to fund cost of the City's Earth Day Cleanup. Motion-Murray @ #24B CM -
Adopted (Attachments)
13o. Request City Manager to contact colleges, universities and other non-profits in the
City relative to donating funds for the City's Earth Day Cleanup. Motion-Murray
@ #24B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
13p. Request Traffic and Parking Committee to consider requesting the
Off-Street Parking Board to fund the cost of making Pearl St. a two-way
street. Motion-Murray @ #24C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
13q. Request City Manager to provide a status report as to the pending
$1 million in proposed private participation for the Worcester Common
rehabilitation. Motion-Lukes @ #29B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
13r. Request Administration respond to the letter from the Pleasant
St. Neighborhood Association. Petty - Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR MARCH 4, 2003
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to the Impact of $9,000,000.00 Increase to the Tax Levy and the Lowest Residential Rate Scenario. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance
B. Communication relative to Breakdown of Percentage Increases including Commercial Properties. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Percentage of Tax-Exempt Property by City. (Attachments)
Referred to Education &
College/University Relations Committee
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
A. Communication from the City Manager
analyzing Governor Romney’s FY04 Budget. (Attachments)
Referred to Finance
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to Request to extend RL-7 Zone. (Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
7.
COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to Info Tech Program. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee
B. Communication relative to Certified
Projects (TIF) Tracking Report. (Attachments)
Councillor Irish recused on a roll call 10-0
Councillor Petty recused on a roll call 9-0
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
9. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
A. Communication relative to Hauling of
Nuclear Waste through the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to Blasting on
Dixfield Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
15. HUMAN
RIGHTS:
16. LAW:
17. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
18.
NEIGHNBORHOOD SERVICES:
19. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Request adoption of a resolution to File
and Accept a Grant with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Management for the Mass ReLeaf Grant Program. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
B. Request adoption of a resolution to File
and Accept a Grant with and from the Tony Hawk Foundation for the Green Hill
Park Skateboard Facility. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
C. Communication relative to 2003 March
Madness Basketball Tourney. (Attachments)
Michael O'Brien, Parks Commissioner and Kevin
Cummings, General Manager of the Ice Cats spoke
Placed on file
D. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation of $3,900.00 from the Worcester Ice Cats and Allmerica Financial in
Partnership with Sports Alive to benefit the Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery
Department’s Tenth Annual March Madness Basketball Tournament. (Attachments)
Councillor Petty recused on a roll call 9-0
(Palmieri absent)
Resolution adopted with gratitude
20. POLICE:
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
A. Notification of the appointment of sworn
weighers. Delaware Express Co.: John Carlson, Tom LaVallee, Bradley Bocash. Saint-Gobain Abrasives: Chris Rucci, Dan
Dudley, Fran Lefleur. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to Cover the
Uninsured Week. (Attachments)
Placed on file
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Street Sweepings
and Catch Basin Debris. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Costs Expended
in Conjunction with City’s Earth Day Cleanup. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to the Feasibility
of making Pearl Street a Two-Way Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
25.
PURCHASING:
26. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
27. TREASURY:
A. Communication relative to City Owned Real
Estate Conveyances. (Attachments)
Recommitted to the City Manager
28. VETERANS
SERVICES:
29. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Eleven Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($11,800.00) be transferred from Account #91C784, Parks Improvement, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Parks Site Improvement, for Project Management and Consultant contractual obligations related to the Greenwood Park Spray Facility, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($150,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building
Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #72C706, Worcester Common
Rehabilitation, to provide funds for the payment of contractual obligations
related to the improvements of Worcester Common, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
30.
MISCELLANEOUS:
15. Gordon P. Sainsbury, Executive Director, Designer Selection
Board, Commonwealth of Massachusetts transmitting the latest Designer Selection
Board Guidelines for Cities and Towns. (Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
16. RECESS
TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Action Taken
FINANCE
a)
#7
CC 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) #27 CC February 4,
2003
Communication of the City
Manager relative to Governor’s State budget cuts to the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
d)
#26
CC February 4, 2003
James DelSignore, City
Auditor transmitting City of Worcester’s 2002 Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report. (Attachments)
e) #10 CC
February 11, 2003
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 indicates revenues to be
received for the entire year and revenues received for all of Fiscal 2002. (Attachments)
f) #4C CM
February 11, 2003
Communication of the City
Manager relative to using $11,000,000.00 of the unused tax levy. (Attachments)
17. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Paul &
Susan Lenkarski requesting to extend the RL-7 zone westerly to include most of
the property at 35 State Rd. (aka 1200 West Boylston St. or 35 Electric Ct.) (Attachments)
Taken off the Table and referred to Land
Use Committee
18. Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter –
Worcester Common Outlets. (Tabled December 17, 2002) (Attachments)
19. 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) (Attachments)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
MARCH 5, 2003 LAND USE COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00
P.M.
Re: Review
of Proposed Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
MARCH 10, 2003
ETHNIC & MINORITY
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. AFFAIRS
MARCH
10, 2003 PUBLIC SAFETY
FIRE HEADQUARTERS
141 GROVE ST.
View Begins at 5:30 P.M. from South Division @ 180
Southbridge St., continues to Brown Square Station @ 676 Franklin St. and ends
at Fire Headquarters @ 141 Grove St. where the Committee Meeting will convene.
MARCH 11, 2003 YOUTH, PARKS & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30-7:00
P.M. RECREATION
MARCH 19, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Administrative Recommendations/Revised Document
MARCH 20, 2003 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30-7:00
P.M. OPERATIONS
MARCH 26, 2003 PUBLIC
SERVICE & COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 P.M. TRANSPORTATION
Re:
Development of a Telecommunications Master Plan for the City
APRIL 14,
2003 PUBLIC WORKS COUNCIL
CHAMBER
7:00 P.M.
Re: Renaming
of Millbury St. and the ramifications to roadways in the
vicinity of the Blackstone Parkway