CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– JANUARY 27, 2004
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:08 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:38 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Thomas Schade
First Unitarian Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillor Palmieri who arrived at 7:11 P.M.
4. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION TO BARBARA J. SINNOTT FOR HER YEARS
OF SERVICE ON THE LICENSE COMMISSION.
5. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION TO EDWARD M. MORIN, D.M.D. FOR HIS
YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE WORCESTER BOARD OF HEALTH.
ORDINANCE
COMMITTEE HEARING – 7:00 P.M.
6 – Hearing held - The Ordinance Committee voted on a
roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Irish absent) to recommend the Petitioner
be given leave to withdraw without prejudice
6. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Attorney Samuel DeSimone on behalf of Norman Vokes requesting to restore to the Official Map of the City a portion of Locust Ave. (Attachments)
7. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
7a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
8
REFERRED TO PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
8. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Dita Hannam request street light in front of 7 Commonwealth Ave. (Attachments)
9 & 10 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
9. Theresa Spinola request handicap parking in front of 9 Shawmut
St. (Attachments)
10. Sandra
Strom request handicap parking at 18 East Worcester St. (Attachments)
10a. Request City Manager to meet with the State delegation within sixty
days relative to their recommendations for an access road to the Worcester
Regional Airport and report back to City Council. Motion-Petty @ #3A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10b. Request City Manager to provide at the February 3, 2004 City
Council meeting clarification of each date mentioned relative to expiration of
the contract with Massport and when Massport’s financial commitment expires for
the operation of the Worcester Regional Airport. Motion-Clancy @ #3A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10c. Request City Manager report as to what the City is doing to make
parking available for the public attending the Development Charrette to be held
at Union Station on Friday, February 6, 2004.
Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
10d. Request City Manager to report on other Police Departments of
similar size and city demographics as Worcester that require their Police
Officers to wear bulletproof vests. Motion-Murray
@ #17A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10e. Request City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion as to whether
Block Grant funding may be utilized for the purpose of assisting individuals
displaced by fire to be used as a down payment on an apartment subsequent to
the fire. Further, request a report as
to whether Emergency Shelter Grant funds may be utilized for this purpose. Motion-Gomez @ #17B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10f. Request City Manager to consider incorporating in the Housing
Trust Fund monies that might be utilized to assist displaced fire victims in
securing housing. Motion-Gomez @
#17B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10g. Request City Manager to report on the City’s ability to provide individuals displaced by fire with a payment in order to secure housing and be reimbursed by the property owner’s insurance and to withhold an occupancy permit until such payment is made. Motion-Murray @ #17B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10h. Request City Solicitor to report on what the parameters are and what restrictions or options the City has legally in terms of the sale, privitization and division of services at Hope Cemetery and how the perpetual care trust fund would impact on the sale. Motion-Lukes @ #18A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10i. Request City Manager to request the Worcester Regional Research Bureau to look at the issue of privitization of Hope Cemetery and provide a report. Motion-Lukes @ #18A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
10j. Request City Manager to consider contacting the business and college community relative to an in-kind contribution for a study of privitization or sale of Hope Cemetery. Motion-Clancy @ #18A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10k. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update relative to the progress of the comprehensive evaluation of the Police Department. Motion-Gomez @ #19A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10L. Request City Manager to report on whether or not the $2,500.00 requested to be appropriated to the Southeast Asian Coalition meets the specifications under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and whether this could be taken from Community Block Grant funds. Motion-Petty @ #28C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10m. Request City Manager to report if the $2,500.00 being paid to the Main South CDC for rent at 875 Main St. for the Southeast Asian Coalition is for the entire year or part of the year. Motion-Perotto @ #28C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
10n. Request City Manager to provide an update on the City Manager’s February 10, 2004 calendar on using the gym at Gates Lane School for voting. Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11. COMMUNICATIONS
OF THE CITY MANAGER
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR JANUARY 27, 2004
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification
of Constable Appointments. (Attachments)
Placed on
file
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
A. Communication relative to several requests
regarding the access road to the
Worcester Regional Airport. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Service & Transportation Committee
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to Indian Hill
School and Park
Properties. (Attachments)
Referred
to Youth, Parks & Recreation
Committee
B. Communication relative to PILOT Program in
New England. (Attachments)
Referred
to joint Municipal Operations and Education & College/
C. Communication relative to Tax Exempt
Organizations. (Attachments)
Referred
to joint Municipal Operations and Education & College/
D. Communication relative to Fiscal 2004 Top
Taxpayers. (Attachments)
Referred
to joint Municipal Operations and Education & College/
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
7.
COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Request adoption of a resolution relative
to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Public
Works Program Grant. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
B. Communication relative to Upcoming
Development Charrette. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
9. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation in the amount of $50.00 to the Worcester Fire Department Equipment
Fund from Susan Osborne. (Attachments)
Order
adopted with gratitude
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
15. LAW:
16. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
17.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Request adoption of the Executive Summary
and Resolution to file and accept a Bullet Proof Vest Partnership Grant with
the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Programs and the
Massachusetts Office of Public Safety. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted and referred to Public Safety Committee for informational purposes
B. Communication relative to the Wall Street
fire and displaced individuals. (Attachments)
Referred to Community Development Committee
C. Communication relative to Worcester’s Weed
and Seed Initiative. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
18. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Communication relative to
Privatization/Lease of Hope Cemetery
Part II. (Attachments)
Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
19. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to Funded and
Unfunded Positions in the Police Department. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
B. Request City Council accept with gratitude
a donation of $50.00 to the Worcester Police K-9 from the Marie Anna Center on
Lincoln Street. (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
C. Communication relative to Crime Statistics
Reports for the Piedmont St./Pleasant St. Area and Crime Statistics Profile for
Neighborhoods. (Attachments)
Referred to
Public Safety Committee
D. Communication relative to Increased Police Presence in the Wildwood Avenue area.
(Attachments)
Referred to
Public Safety Committee
20. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
A. Communication relative to Massachusetts
Medical Society-Press Release. (Attachments)
21. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
A. Request that the City Council adopt the
resolution to accept a grant in the amount of $1,000.00 from the People &
Stories/Gente y Cuentos. (Attachments)
Resolution
adopted with gratitude
22. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to School
Department Programs and Initiatives regarding Oral Health. (Attachments)
Referred
to Health Committee
23. PUBLIC
WORKS:
24. PURCHASING:
25. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to Number of hits
made against City Department’s web pages. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
B. Communication relative to Hit’s made to
Treasurer’s web page relative to foreclosed property. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
26. TREASURY:
A. Communication relative to PILOT
contributions made to the City. (Attachments)
Referred
to joint Municipal Operations and Education & College/
B. Communication relative to Outstanding
Taxes. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
27. VETERANS
SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Fifty Seven Thousand Seven
Hundred Thirteen Dollars ($57,713.00) be transferred from Account #330-08,
Reserve for Appropriation – Premium on Loans, and appropriated to Account
#660-92000, Treasury Department Ordinary Maintenance, to fund the cost
associated with the Bond Anticipation Notes (BAN) issuance for the first and
second quarters of fiscal 2004. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
B. Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($200,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C737, Water Meters, and appropriated
to Account #45C794, Water Meters, to allow for the payment of current and
future water meter improvement project obligations, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
C. Request that Two Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars ($2,500.00) from Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Round VII Interest
be appropriated for use as follows:
ACCOUNT
|
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
18S248 |
Interest |
$2,500.00 |
and
appropriated to:
ACCOUNT
|
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
18S248 |
Southeast Asian Coalition |
$2,500.00 |
Recommitted
to the City Manager
D. Recommend that One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C741, Street Construction,
and appropriated to Account #41C768, Private Street Conversion/Betterments, to
allow for the payment of current and future obligations for various citywide
street conversion/betterment projects, as approved in the Capital Improvement
Program. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
E. Request authorization to pay Five Thousand
Three Hundred Thirty Four Dollars and Forty Cents ($5,334.40) for a prior year
invoice from Account #440-92000, Sewer Department Ordinary Maintenance. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
F. Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($150,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C745, Sewer Construction,
and appropriated to Account #44C732, Sewer Systems Control Plan, for the
purpose of payment of contractual obligations related to the combined sewer
system overflow project in compliance with the Consent Order agreed upon in
Year 2000 with Federal and State regulators, and approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
G. Recommend that One Million Three Hundred
Forty Four Thousand Dollars ($1,344,000.00) be transferred when and as received
from Account #91C745, Sewer Construction, and appropriated to Account #44C761,
Sewer Construction, for the purpose of payment of contractual obligations
related to the Southbridge Street Sewer Separation project, as approved in the
Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
H. Recommend that Three Hundred Twenty Eight
Thousand One Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars and Seventy Six Cents ($328,158.76) be
transferred from the following accounts:
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT
|
|
330-01 |
Pearl Elm Reserves |
$192,912.05 |
|
330-02 |
Federal Plaza Reserves |
94,130.96 |
|
330-03 |
Off Street Reserves |
29,080.00 |
|
330-04 |
Parking Meter Reserves |
2,035.75 |
|
|
Total |
$328,158.76 |
and
appropriated to the following accounts:
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
46S501 |
Pearl Elm Ord. Maint. |
$192,912.05 |
|
46S502 |
Fed. Plaza Ord.Maint. |
94,130.96 |
|
46S503 |
Off St. Ord. Maint. |
29,080.00 |
|
46S504 |
Parking Meter Ord. Maint. |
12,035.75 |
|
|
Total |
$328,158.76 |
This appropriation provides sufficient
operating funds for the Off Street Parking Program for the Third Quarter of
Fiscal 2004. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
I. Recommend that Seventeen Thousand Dollars
($17,000.00) be transferred, when and as received, from Account #91C780,
Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #26C701, Fire
Department Capital Equipment, to purchase scuba dry suits, water rescue
immersion suits, and oxygen system for the Fire Department. (Attachments)
Order
adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rushton, White absent)
29.
MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Request approval of a Resolution relative
to service on Boards and Commissions. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted (Robert Bonin)
B. Communication relative to the Caffrey
Memorial Flag Fund Award. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Tax Increment
Financing Agreement between the City of Worcester and Polar Corporation. (Attachments)
Placed on file
D. Communication relative to thanking all
City employees for all their efforts during our recent cold spells. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
12. Order – Request City Administration prepare an economic development cost benefit analysis of designating Cambridge St. as the preferred route to the airport and how state mitigation money might be linked to neighborhood projects such as housing rehab and construction, the South Worcester Industrial Park clean-up and re-use and other objectives as outlined in the soon to be introduced neighborhood plan. (Murray, Rushton, Petty, Clancy, Perotto, White, Irish, Gomez, Palmieri) (Attachments)
Councillor Lukes requested to Table the item – Denied on
a roll call vote of 3 Yeas (Gomez, Haller, Lukes) and 8 Nays (Clancy, Irish,
Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Rushton, White, Murray)
Order taken off the Table and adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas (Clancy, Gomez, Irish, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Rushton, White, Murray) and 2 Nays (Haller, Lukes)
13. Order – Request Administration to identify those arterial access
routes, that if improved would improve access to the Airport, and to provide
preliminary estimates of what it would cost to make all of those streets more
accessible throughout the City.
(Haller)
Taken off
the Table and adopted
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
JANUARY 27, 2004 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:15
P.M. OPERATIONS
JANUARY 29, 2004 LAND USE COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.
FEBRUARY 3, 2004 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30
P.M. OPERATIONS
FEBRUARY 10, 2004 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30
P.M.