CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 25, 2003
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:00 P.M.
Adjourned: 11:25 P.M.
1. INVOCATION Rev. Susan Nachtigal
Trinity Lutheran Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL All present
4. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE SEVEN HILLS
FOUNDATION ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
HEARING AND ORDER 7:00
P.M.
5
Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 10-0 Hearing held
5. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for cable and conduit system on: BELMONT ST. (Attachments)
5a -Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 10-0 Order Adopted
5a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for cable and conduit system on: BELMONT ST.
RECESSED ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
HEARING 7:00 P.M.
6 - Hearing reconvened Committee voted on a roll call
vote of 9 Yeas (Abraham, Clancy, Gomez, Irish, Lukes, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty,
Murray) and 2 Nays (Haller, Patton) to accept the Report of the Planning Board
and recommend Petition be approved
6. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Attorney Elaine Baltas on behalf of Luis Santiago requesting zone change at 128 Piedmont St. from one-half RG-5 and one-half BG-3 to BG-3. (Attachments)
TAX CLASSIFICATION HEARING
7:00 P.M.
7. To determine tax rates for residential, commercial, industrial and personal properties for Fiscal 2004.
Mayor Murray opened the hearing:
Speakers in favor of the lowest
residential tax rate:
1.
Gary Vecchio, 14 Caprera Rd.
2.
Billy Swartz, 8 Bailin Dr.
3.
Aldo Riggieri, 15 Winneconnett Rd.
4.
Brenda Gerow, 2 Homestead Ave.
Speakers in favor of a tax rate favorable to
businesses:
1.
Edwin Coghlin, Shrewsbury
2.
Larry Abramoff, 34 Chiltern Hill Dr.
3.
Paul Kennedy, 30 Westwood Dr.
4.
Jack Healy, 4 Arrowhead Ave., Auburn
5.
Howard Katz, 3 Zenith Dr.
6.
Paul Barber, 24 Brantwood Rd.
7.
Julie Jacobson, 13 Brigham Rd., Paxton
8.
Ed Bourgault, 822 Pleasant St.
9.
Mark Lover, 41 Hancock Hill Dr.
Motion of Councillor Clancy to set the Residential
tax rate at $14.38 and the Commercial tax rate at $31.07
Motion of Councillor Gomez to set the Residential
tax rate at $15.50 and the Commercial tax rate at $26.65
Motion of Councillor Abraham to set the Residential
tax rate at $15.42 and the Commercial tax rate at $26.97
Motion of Mayor Murray to set the Residential tax
rate at $14.58 and the Commercial tax rate at $30.28
Motion of Councillor Irish to set the Residential
tax rate at $15.03 and the Commercial tax rate at $28.51
Mayor
Murray took up the motions in order of the highest tax
rate to the
lowest:
Gomez Residential $15.50 Commercial $26.65
Denied on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 9 Nays
Yes Gomez, Irish
No Abraham, Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Patton,
Perotto, Petty, Murray
Abraham Residential $15.42 Commercial $26.97
Denied on a roll call vote of 4 Yeas and 7 Nays
Yes Abraham, Gomez, Irish, Petty
No Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Patton,
Perotto, Murray
Irish Residential $15.03 Commercial $28.51
Denied on a roll call vote of 5 Yeas and 6 Nays
Yes Abraham, Gomez, Irish, Patton, Petty
No Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Perotto,
Murray
Murray Residential $14.58 Commercial $30.28
Denied on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 8 Nays
Yes Patton, Perotto, Murray
No Abraham, Clancy, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes,
Palmieri, Petty
Clancy Residential $14.38 Commercial 31.07
Denied on a roll call vote of 5 Yeas and 6 Nays
Yes Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Patton
No Abraham, Gomez, Irish, Perotto, Petty, Murray
Councillor Gomez then requested a reconsideration
vote on the motion made by Councillor Irish to set the Residential tax rate at
$15.03 and the Commercial tax rate at $28.51 Withdrawn
Motion Councillor Gomez to set the Residential
tax rate at $15.01 and the Commercial tax rate at $28.59 Denied on a roll
call vote of 4 Yeas and 7 Nays
Yes Abraham, Gomez, Irish, Petty
No Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Patton,
Perotto, Murray
Motion of Councillor Petty to set the Residential tax rate at $14.66 and the Commercial tax rate at $29.97 Denied on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 8 Nays
Yes Patton, Petty, Murray
No Abraham, Clancy, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Lukes,
Palmieri, Perotto
Motion of Mayor Murray to set the Residential tax
rate at $14.75 and the Commercial tax rate at $29.60 Approved on a roll call
vote of 7 Yeas and 4 Nays
Yes Abraham, Gomez, Irish, Patton, Perotto, Petty,
Murray
No Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri
Reconsideration denied on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas
and 8 Nays
Yes Clancy, Lukes, Palmieri
No Abraham, Gomez, Haller, Irish, Patton, Perotto,
Petty, Murray
8. Communication of the City Manager relative to Fiscal Year 2004
tax rate options. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
9. Communication of the City Manager relative to possible
additional Fiscal Year 2004 tax rate options.
(Attachments)
Placed on file
10. Communication of the City Manager relative to valuation
increases Residential vs. CIP. (Attachments)
Placed on file
11. ITEMS OF
CITIZEN INTEREST
11a. ITEMS OF
DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
12
REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
12. Joseph Boynton & Members of the Planning Board having
considered the rezoning of the former St. Vincents Hospital area, the Worcester
Planning Board requests the following two zone changes; 1) Applying an Adaptive Reuse Overlay
District to the Liberty owned property.
2) Changing the zone district designation of parcels in the current IN-H
zone and existing BL-1 zone as depicted on map submitted. (Attachments)
13 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
13. Sharon Poirier request to connect garage located in Millbury to
Worcester sewer system. House is
located at 116 Westborough St., Worcester, garage is located in Millbury. (Attachments)
14 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
14. Jennifer Shea, Co-owner/Manager, Sheas Diner request one hour
parking in front of 301 Grove St. between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
14a-c FROM COMMERCE
& DEVELOPMENTSUSPENSION OF RULES - ADOPTED
14a. Request City Manager work with businesses in and around Pearl St. to open up the street to two-way traffic. (Attachments)
14b. Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the
financing for the Parcel Post Building.
(Attachments)
14c. Request City Manager provide a report to City Council that details
the costs involved in advertising Requests for Proposals in various newspapers
and periodicals, including at a minimum, the Telegram and Gazette, the Boston
Globe and the New York Times. (Attachments)
14d. Request Administration to make a recommendation to the City
Council regarding a fixed line business zone that may result in split zoning of
a lot versus having a zone line match the boundaries of the lot. Motion-Haller @ #6CC Adopted (Attachments)
14e. Request City Manager to add to that portion of the monthly
economic development report relative to the reuse of the mall as it relates to
CIGNA to include all timelines and status reports as relates to the mall and
the master plan for downtown. Motion-Patton
@ #8B CM Adopted (Attachments)
14f. Request City Manager report to City Council on alternatives for funding
the $230,000.00 necessary for replacement windows at City Hall. Motion-Perotto @ #18D CM Adopted (Attachments)
14g. Request City Manager to give a letter of commendation to Public
Works Commissioner Robert L. Moylan, Jr. for his leadership on the Abandoned
Vehicle Program. Motion-Clancy @
#23A CM-Adopted (Attachments)
14h. Request Commissioner of Public Works to notify auto repair shops
and gas stations that the City will not tolerate vehicles being abandoned in
the City of Worcester. Motion-Murray
@ #23A CM Adopted (Attachments)
14i. Request City Manager, Treasurer and the Director of Economic
Development be and are hereby requested to meet relative to funding for
brownfields remediation of property at
722 Plantation St. and further, that the City Manager then consider contacting
DEP. Motion-Perotto @ #26A CM
Adopted (Attachments)
14j. Request City Manager to report on how the City will advertise the
Holiday Parking Program. Motion-Lukes
@ #23D CM Adopted
14k. Request Administration to report on the possibility and
probability of the PIP Shelter and PIP Foundation, Inc. transferring its assets
and programs to another non-profit entity, namely SMOC (South Middlesex
Opportunity Council). Further, request
that the report include details of the SMOC organization: mission, size, types
of programs, locations and reputation, especially for quality of programs and
neighborhood accountability. Haller
Suspension of Rules Adopted (Attachments)
14L. Request Administration to meet with the PIP Board and strategize
options for the PIP remaining a local organization with a local Board of
Directors. Haller Suspension of
Rules Adopted
14m. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the
grant that was filed for hiring of the 50 new Police Officers. Petty Suspension of Rules
Adopted (Attachments)
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2003
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to Twenty-five
Highest Personal Property Taxpayers and Fifty Highest Real Estate Taxpayers. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to House Bill 1980
An Act to Further Regulate Property Tax Classification in Cities and Towns. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
C. SUPPLEMENTAL
Communication relative to Tax Bill
History Fiscal 1996 through Fiscal 2003.
(Attachments)
Placed on file
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
A. SUPPLEMENTAL Communication
relative to Capital Equipment Transfer (Finance Items 28P and 28T) for the
Department of Code Enforcement and the Department of Public Works that were
held under personal privilege. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to 128 Piedmont
Street. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to the Parcel Post
Building. (Attachments)
Recommitted
to the City Manager
B. Communication relative to Planning a Development
Convention. (Attachments)
Recommitted
to the City Manager
9. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
15. LAW:
16. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
17.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to the proposed
Year 30 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocation Process Timetable.
(Attachments)
Referred to Community Development Committee
B. Communication relative to rezoning
alternative for the Vernon Hill Institutional Hospital Zone. (Attachments)
Tabled
C. Communication relative to the requested
zone change at 128 Piedmont Street. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
18. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Respectfully request City Council accept
with gratitude a Donation for the Maintenance and Up-keep of the Mario V.
Zona Administration Building and the Common Facility Garabed Hovhanesian
Hall at Hope Cemetery. (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
B. Respectfully request adoption of a
resolution to file and accept a Grant for the Heritage Tree Care Grant Program
to care for a Heritage Tree at Historic Hope Cemetery. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
C. Communication relative to Year 2003
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
D. Communication relative to Replacement
Windows at City Hall. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Works Committee
19. POLICE:
A. I respectfully recommend that the table of
organization for the Worcester Police Department be amended by adding the title
of Deputy Police Chief paygrade 50Z, and deleting the position of Captain pay
grade 97 for the Worcester Police Department. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)
20. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
21. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
22. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to School Nutrition
Program. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
23. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Abandoned
Vehicle Status Report. (Attachments)
Referred to
Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Clean-up Efforts
in the areas of Franklin Street, Plantation Street, Lake Avenue, Millbrook Street,
Putnam Lane and Hamilton Street. (Attachments)
Referred to
Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
C. Communication relative to Winter Parking
Ban Public Outreach. (Attachments)
Referred to
Traffic & Parking Committee
D. SUPPLEMENTAL
Communication relative to Downtown Holiday Parking Program. (Attachments)
Placed on file
24. PURCHASING:
25. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
26. TREASURY:
A. Communication relative to 722 Plantation
Street. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
27. VETERANS
SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that $293.68 from FY 2002 Local
Law Enforcement Block Grant Round VII program income be appropriated for use as
follows.
ACCOUNT
|
DESCRIPTION
|
AMOUNT
|
|
18S248 |
LLEBG VII Program Income |
$293.68 |
The purpose of this appropriation
is to use funds to support Worcester Police Department overtime detail expenses
for the People in Peril Shelter. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
16. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting a schedule
presenting multiple-year tax levy information as requested. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
17. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting projection of the
actual versus budget expenditures of the Worcester Police Department Salary
Account for fiscal 2004. (Attachments)
Tabled
17a
ACCEPTED AND ORDER ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0 SUSPENSION OF RULES
17a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon the
Communication of the City Manager relative to property sale and redevelopment
of the G.A.R. Memorial Hall: recommend
adoption of the accompanying Order authorizing the City Manager to execute a
deed and such other documents on behalf of the City for the sale of 55 Pearl
St. in accordance with the Citys Request for Proposals and Tianos, Inc.s
response.
17b-d ACCEPTED SUSPENSION OF RULES
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon
the following Communications of the City Manager: recommend Communications be placed on file.
17b. Relative to RFP Title/Property Sale and Redevelopment of G.A.R.
Memorial Hall. (Attachments)
17c. Relative to October Monthly Economic Development Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
17d. Relative to September Monthly Economic Development Initiatives
Report. (Attachments)
18. Communication of the City Manager recommending $40,048.00 be
transferred when and as received from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital
Equipment and appropriated to Account #28C701, Code Enforcement Department
Capital Equipment for the purpose of purchasing the following pieces of
equipment:
(1) 2004 Ford Taurus Sedan $14,203.00
(1) Photocopier $
8,570.00
(10)
Portable Radios $15,475.00
(1) Snow Blower $
1,800.00
Total $40,048.00
for Code Enforcement, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Taken
off the Table and Order adopted on a roll call 10-0
(Abraham
absent)
19. Communication of the City Manager recommending $67,010.00 be
transferred when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment and
appropriated to Account #41C703, DPW Capital Equipment for the purpose of
purchasing:
(2) ½ Ton Trucks (Engineering) $32,786.00
(1) 4WD Crew Cab (Streets Division) $34,224.00
Total $67,010.00
for the Department of Public Works, as approved in the
Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Taken
off the Table and Order adopted on a roll call 10-0
(Abraham
absent)
20. Communication of the City Manager relative to rezoning
alternatives for the Vernon Hill Institutional Hospital Zone. (Tabled November 18, 2003) (Attachments)
Taken
off the Table and placed on file
21. Communication of the City Manager relative to a Zoning Ordinance
Amendment for St. Francis Home. (Tabled
November 18, 2003)
No Action Taken