CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– MARCH 18, 2003
6:00 P.M. – Executive Session for the purpose of
discussing litigation involving land takings –
Convened: 6:13 P.M. – Mayor’s Office
Recessed: 6:53 P.M. to meet in open session
7:00 P.M. – Regular meeting of the City Council –
Reconvened: 7:06 P.M. Adjourned: 10:00 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. David Crabtree
First Assembly of God
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillor Petty who arrived
at 7:25 P.M.
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING
– 7:00 P.M.
4 - Recessed under personal privilege at the request of Councillor Perotto
4. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication
of the City Manager requesting to amend the Floodplain Overlay District portion
of the City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance to reflect the new Flood Insurance
Rate Maps (FIRM) that are effective January 16, 2003. (Attachments)
5. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6
& 7 REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
6. Joseph Capone, President, Worcester Driving Range request 15
Putnam Lane known as Worcester Driving Range & Learning Center be changed
from a MG-2 to RL-7 zone. (Attachments)
7. Attorneys Todd Rodman & Philip Coppinger on behalf of
Jarmax Realty Trust request the City of Worcester Zoning Map be amended by
changing approximately 18,000 s.f. of land on Northboro St. from MG-1.0 to
RL-7. (Attachments)
8 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
8. Attorney Robert Longden on behalf of Z & H LLC request the
City of Worcester to terminate and abandon City of Worcester sewer and drain
easements on the property at 809 Grafton St.
(Attachments)
9-11 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
9. Evelyn Cardona request removal of handicap parking in front of
11 Stoneland Rd. (Attachments)
10. Daniel Sullivan, National Glass Works, Inc. request No Parking
zone at our existing driveway edge at 103 Winfield St. and extend 15 feet. (Attachments)
11. Daniel Vasquez request handicap parking in front of 5 Maple Tree
Lane be removed or relocated. (Attachments)
ORDERS
11b. Request City Manager to revisit the issue of reducing hours open
to the public in the Treasurer’s Office.
Motion-Murray @ #5A CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11c. Request City Manager to consider when new revenue is received that
public safety personnel be re-hired first.
Motion-Perotto @ #5A CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11d. Request City Manager to report within the next two weeks on the
completion of the Cutover Microwave Project at the Communications
Department. Motion-Perotto @ #7A CM
– Adopted
11e. Request Administration report to City Council on the development
and implementation of a process when there is a change in a TIF agreement that
relates to in-kind services. Motion-Lukes
@ #8A CM
Mayor Murray moved to amend: Further, request
Administration
quantify the value of services that are provided.
11f. Request City Manager to report on the possibility of alternative
siting for the Universal Metal Business and Universal Metal Corp. project. Motion-Palmieri @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11g. Request Commerce and Development Committee to consider as one of
the goals in the TIF for Universal Metal Corp. if the project stays in its
current location, the façade of the building as it relates to Shrewsbury
St. Motion-Murray @ #8B CM –
Adopted
11h. Request City Manager to provide a report concerning funding for
the Union Station garage. Motion-Patton
@ #8C CM – Adopted
11i. Request City Manager to report on the current status of State TIP
funding. Motion-Patton @ #8C CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11j. Request Administration to communicate with the State to make sure
the 25% design meeting for Washington Sq. is held in the vicinity of the
proposed project. Motion-Clancy @ #8C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11k. Request City Manager to provide a Table of Organization from SMG
in order to understand the reporting relationships between SMG Worcester and
other SMG facilities. Motion-Irish @
#16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11L. Request City Manager to provide a report clearly delineating what
the legal nexus is to the contract for the management of the Convention Center
and the lease, specifically whether that lease can be extended and how that impacts
on the contract to manage the Convention Center. Motion-Lukes @ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11m. Request City Manager to provide a report showing all the amendments
to the original lease for the Convention Center, what the relationship between
the lease and management contract is, how long the lease can be extended for
and what the original termination date of that lease was. Motion-Lukes @ #16A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
11n. Request City Manager to include in the report on the management
contract and lease agreement for the Convention Center, the role of the Civic
Center Commission. Motion-Lukes @
#16A CM (Attachments)
Mayor Murray moved to
amend to add: and the Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Adopted, as amended (Attachments)
11o. Request Commissioner of Public Works to provide a further report
detailing what he would like to see in the Transportation Task Force, what he
means by an Asset Management System in terms of implementation and cost and any
other suggestions for dealing with implementation and planning of
infrastructure issues. Motion-Lukes
@ #24B CM - Adopted (Attachments)
11p. Request City Manager to requested each department head to provide
a long range plan within the department of the needs and concerns of the
department and a plan as to how those issues should be addressed. Motion-Abraham @ #24B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11q. Request City Manager to consider including members of the Public Works Committee on the Transportation
Task Force and that the legislative branch of government be appropriately
incorporated into this task force and the planning and implementation of the
issues stated in Item 24B of the City Manager’s Calendar of March 18,
2003. Motion-Murray @ #24B CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11r. Request License Commission to quarterly review whether or not a
Police detail is needed at the new Shaw’s Supermarket on Grafton St. Motion-Palmieri @ #20C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11s. Request City Manager to report on the current condition of the
Federal Plaza Garage, how much of the garage is usable, how long before the
garage is back on line, the total cost of the rehabilitation project, is it a
bonded program and will it be repaid through revenues from the garage. Motion-Patton @ #29D CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11t. Request City Auditor to report on the financial statement of the
Off-Street Parking Board as it relates to the Federal Plaza Garage reserves
and/or profits and how those funds might be expended. Motion-Patton @ #29D CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11u. Request Administration to provide City Council with an impact
report on community policing as a result of the recent budget decisions for
FY03 and FY04. Further, request this
report to be provided at the March 25, 2003 City Council meeting. Perotto, Haller, Lukes, Gomez, Petty,
Clancy, Patton, Murray, Abraham, Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11v. Request Administration to report, off Calendar if necessary, as to
the timetable for clean-up of dumping on two vacant lots on Austin St. Haller – Suspension of Rules - Adopted (Attachments)
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR MARCH 18, 2003
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of the appointment of Keith
T. Higgins to the World War Memorial at Lincoln Square Board of Trustees. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Notification of the appointment of Nadia
Beard and John Deedy to the Trust Funds Commission. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of the appointment of John M.
Wilkes to the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women. (Attachments)
Appointment
confirmed on a roll call 10-0 (Petty absent)
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
A. Communication relative to decision solving
the 2004 Budget. (Attachments)
Speakers: Sandra
Burgoyne, Clerks Association
Anthony
Petrone, Police Officers Union
Mike Lavin,
President, Local 495
Referred
to Finance
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
7.
COMMUNICATIONS:
A. Communication relative to Communication
Department March 8, 2003 Cutover Microwave Project. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to Status of Home
Depot TIF as it relates to the Youth Build program. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to the submittal of
a Certified Project application for 345 Shrewsbury Street Realty, Inc.,
Universal Metal Business Trust and Universal Metal Corp., as well as a
resolution to establish a new Site Specific E.O.A. for 345 Shrewsbury Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
C. Communication relative to Union Station
Update. (Attachments)
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
9. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
A. Communication relative to Current Discussions on Legalizing Casino Gambling. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to Metallic Underground Storage Tanks. (Attachments)
Referred
to Education & College/University Relations Committee
B. Communication relative to Grant Monies to Build a Firefighter Training Facility in the City. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
C. Request City Council accept with gratitude donations of $875.00 from the Angola Professional Firefighters Local 3962, Indiana and $375.00 from the Angola Volunteer Fire Department, Indiana. (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
A. Communication relative to Override Collective Bargaining Language. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
15. HUMAN
RIGHTS:
16. LAW:
A. Communication relative to an agreement
with SMG on the terms of a new Convention Center Management Agreement and to
recommend adoption of an order authorizing the signing of an amendment to the
Centrum Arena Lease that includes a Naming Rights provision. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
B. Communication relative to special
legislation decreasing the number of days abandoned vehicles must be stored by
a tow company prior to disposal. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
C. Communication relative to Charter
Communication Telephone Statistics. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee
D. Communication relative to forthcoming
Telecommunication Forum. (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 Outlining the
Parameters of use for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds. (Attachments)
Referred
to Community Development Committee
B. Communication relative to the Executive
Summary and Resolution regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency FY
2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
C. Communication relative to the Storage of
Abandoned Vehicles. (Attachments)
Placed on file
D. Communication relative to the number of
Abandoned Vehicles that were towed over the past three months along with
corresponding documentation. (Attachments)
Placed on file
19. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
20. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to Speeding &
Illegally Parked Vehicles at 785 Franklin Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to Policy
Concerning the Use of Jet Skis. (Attachments)
Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
C. Communication relative to Police Detail at
the Shaw’s Supermarket on lower Grafton St. (Attachments)
Placed on file
D. Communication relative to Traffic
Enforcement in the Area of 30 Apricot Street. (Attachments)
Placed on file
E. Communication relative to Trending Report.
(Attachments)
Placed on file
21. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
A. Notification
of appointment of Sworn Weighers – Providence
& Worcester Railroad: Jeanne Blackman, James Cox, E. Clarke Brown,
John Killoy, David Rutkowski; Metals Recycling: Kevin Heipt. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to Program
Incorporating the Findings of the HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Task Force. (Attachments)
Referred
to Health Committee
22. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Grimewatch
Program – November 2002 Activity. (Attachments)
Referred to
Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Future DPW
Issues. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Works Committee and Public Service &
Transportation
Committee
C. Communication relative to 15 Minute
Parking Meters. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
D. Communication relative to Traffic Control
on Fairfield Street/Corner of May Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
E. Communication relative to Regulations on
Sump Pump Discharge onto City Streets. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
F. Communication relative to Parking on Park
View Drive. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
25.
PURCHASING:
26. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
27. TREASURY:
28. VETERANS
SERVICES:
29. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000.00), be transferred from Account #91C714, Water Pump
Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #45C726, Water Pump Rehabilitation,
to allow for the payment of current contractual obligations, as approved in the
Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars, ($200,000.00), be transferred from Account #91C745, Sewer Construction, and appropriated to Account #44C764, Sewer Pumping, to allow for the payment of contractual obligations related to various sewer pumping projects as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Recommend that One Hundred Twenty Nine
Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Dollars ($129,580.00) be transferred when and as
received from Account #91C731, Water Capital Equipment, and appropriated to
Account #45C703, Water Department Capital Equipment, for the purpose of
purchasing:
(1) Compressor Truck $99,878.00
(1) ¾ Ton Utility Truck $29,702.00
for the Water Department as
approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call 11-0
D. Recommend that Two Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($250,000.00) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C711,
Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #46C704, Federal
Plaza Rehabilitation, for the payment of contractual obligations related to
improvements at Federal Plaza Garage, as approved in the Capital Improvement
Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
E. Recommend that Ninety Nine Thousand Nine
Hundred Fifty Dollars ($99,950.00) be transferred when and as received from
Account #91C734, Sewer Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #44C704,
Sewer Department Capital Equipment, for the purpose of purchasing a Street
Sweeper, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
30.
MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Communication relative to Areas at which
Municipal Services could be Privatized. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
B. Communication relative to the City’s
actions to prevent a tragedy such as the recent fire in Rhode Island. (Attachments)
13. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting computation of the legal debt margin for the City of Worcester as of February 28, 2003.
Referred to Finance
14. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting communication
relative to the viability of establishing an internal audit function for the
City. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
15. David J. Rushford, City Clerk transmitting notification of designation
by the U.S. State Department as a United States Passport Processing
Center. (Attachments)
Approved
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)
g)
#4A
CM March 4, 2003
Communication of the City
Manager relative to the impact of $9,000,000 increase to the tax levy and the
lowest residential rate scenario. (Attachments)
h)
#5A
CM March 4, 2003
Communication of the City
Manager analyzing Governor Romney's FY04 budget. (Attachments)
17. Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter –
Worcester Common Outlets. (Tabled December 17, 2002) (Attachments)
18. 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
MARCH 19, 2003 HOUSING & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. NEIGHBORHOOD
Re: Housing Study REVITALIZATION
Administrative
Recommendations/Revised Document - CANCELLED
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