CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– OCTOBER 19, 2004
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:07 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:28 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Richard F. Reidy
St. Paul’s Cathedral
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present except
Councillors Lukes and Perotto
Councillor Lukes arrived at 7:10 P.M.
Mayor Murray read a Proclamation proclaiming Saturday,
October 23, 2004 as Make A Difference Day in the City of Worcester
Councillor Haller spoke relative to a Proclamation
whereby the Mayor proclaimed the week of October 17-23, 2004 as YWCA Week
Without Violence in the City of Worcester – Ginger Navickas from YWCA Daybreak
also spoke
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5
& 6 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
5. Edwin Metcalf request City to erect a barrier and replace berm
in front of 55 West Chester St. (Attachments)
6. Alexander
Bisson et al request sidewalk repair at 54 Freeland St.
7-9
REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
7. Sam Georgiadis, Owner, Uncle Sam’s Pizza request 30 minute
parking on left side of Beaver St. 20’ from Main St. (Attachments)
8. Councillor Barbara Haller request crosswalk be repainted at
the intersection of Harding St. and Lafayette St. (Attachments)
9. Councillor Barbara Haller on behalf of James Freeman request
handicap parking in front of 11 South Buffum St. (Attachments)
10-13
FROM HEALTH - ADOPTED
10. Request City Solicitor to provide the License Commission with a
report regarding smoke-free workplaces and policies regarding private clubs
that still allow smoking. (Attachments)
11. Request Administration to provide City Council with a report
regarding smoke-free laws and how it affects the workplace. (Attachments)
12. Request City Manager to distribute Common Pathways informational
packets to the City Council and that the Common Pathways coalition be requested
to provide updated status reports to City Council. (Attachments)
13. Request Administration to provide City Council with a report
outlining the City’s obligation regarding administering CPR and training for
use of automated external defibrillators.
(Attachments)
14 & 15 FROM MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS - ADOPTED
14. Request City Manager report to City Council any proposed new
means of communications to encourage applications to Boards and Commissions
through the City Advisory Committee and/or the Affirmative Action Advisory
Committee. (Attachments)
15. Request City Manager provide City Council with an up-to-date
Chain of Command document of his Administrators. (Attachments)
16-27 FROM PUBLIC SAFETY - ADOPTED
16. Request Acting Police Chief to provide City Council with a
report detailing noise complaint calls regarding Bravo Café from August 2004
through September 2004. (Attachments)
17. Request Acting Police Chief and Administration to recommit to
enforcing the noise ordinance and ticketing cars inappropriately parking and
blocking ways in the vicinity of the Bravo Café. (Attachments)
18. Request Administration to provide City Council with a report as
to whether there are violations of the entertainment license granted to the
Bravo Café. (Attachments)
19. Request Administration to purchase a yearly subscription to
Criminology & Public Safety Magazine for $125.00. (Attachments)
20. Request Administration to provide City Council with a quarterly
update report regarding how Weed and Seed funds are disbursed. (Attachments)
21. Request Administration to provide City Council with an updated
Anti-Violence Street Crime Unit Report from the inception date of August 23,
2004 through October 2004. (Attachments)
22. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a timetable
for hiring a Crime Analyst. (Attachments)
23. Request City Solicitor to provide City Council with a summary of
speeding and traffic ordinances and fines associated with those
ordinances. (Attachments)
24. Request Acting Police Chief to provide City Council with an
updated traffic violation statistics report specific to speeding, red light and
Stop signs from November 2003 through August 2004. (Attachments)
25. Request Acting Police Chief to provide City Council with a
detailed update regarding the number of noise ordinance citations from May 2004
through September 2004. (Attachments)
26. Request Acting Police Chief to investigate the possibility of
purchasing surveillance cameras, the cost to be absorbed through grant
money. (Attachments)
27. Request Acting Police Chief to provide City Council with an
updated report regarding speed radar and traffic enforcement signs. (Attachments)
28-39
FROM PUBLIC SERVICE &
TRANSPORTATION –
ADOPTED –
EXCEPT 35 WHICH WAS TABLED
UNDER
PRIVILEGE BY COUNCILLOR GOMEZ
28. Request
Parks Department trim trees in vicinity of 99 Monadnock Rd. (Attachments)
29. Request
Parks Department trim trees in vicinity of 34 Somerset St. (Attachments)
30. Request Commissioner of Public Works to request funding for
installation of 10 colonial style streetlights on Monroe Ave. in his FY 2006
budget. (Attachments)
31. Request Commissioner of Public Works to provide a report on the
betterment program for installation of streetlights under consideration by the
Department of Public Works. (Attachments)
32. Request City Manager to consider Block Grant funds for
installation of a streetlight on the odd-numbered side of King St. near Main
St. (Attachments)
33. Request Administration report on how other communities are
handling the issue of handicap accessible taxicabs. (Attachments)
34. Request Administration to update City Council relative to
coordination between taxicab companies and the WRTA to provide handicap
accessible taxicabs. Further, request
Administration provide other recommendation to handle handicap accessible
transportation issues. (Attachments)
35. That the number of taxicab medallions issued in the City of
Worcester be held at 108. Adopted –
Council then voted reconsideration on a roll call 8-2 (No-Clancy, Murray)
(Perotto absent) - Item then Tabled under
privilege by Councillor Gomez
(Attachments)
36. Request Administration report on the criteria used by other
cities of comparable size to Worcester for issuance of taxicab medallions. (Attachments)
37. Request Administration to recommend Ordinances relative to
regulation and penalties applicable to livery vehicles in order to better
control gypsy livery operators. (Attachments)
38. Request Administration to provide City Council with Methuen’s
policies and procedures relative to gypsy livery operators. (Attachments)
39. Request MBTA to update City Council on plans for construction of
a train hotel in the vicinity of Union Station in an effort to minimize noise
from trains left running overnight. (Attachments)
40. Request Administration report on the oversight system used by
the Worcester Police Department to insure that the City Manager is made aware
of citizen complaints about police and public safety officers. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
41. Request Administration to provide the definition of “critical
incident” and to report on policies and procedures of the Worcester Police
Department regarding the handling of a “critical incident” and whether every
“critical incident” triggers an internal investigation by the Worcester Police
Department. Further, request report to
describe the oversight system used by the Worcester Police Department to insure
that the City Manager is made aware of critical incidents that occur between
citizens and the Worcester Police Department.
(Haller)
(Attachments) Adopted
42. Request Administration report on how citizen complaints and
critical incidents involving the Police Department are investigated and the
timeframe in which citizen complaints are expected to be investigated. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
43. Request Administration report on what happens when a State or
Federal Court issues a judgment adverse to the City of Worcester or an officer
of the Worcester Police Department (e.g., does it lead to review of police
procedures, does it lead to disciplinary action of an officer, does it lead to
further training and supervision of an officer). (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
44. Request Administration report on what type of tracking and/or
monitoring system is used by the Internal Affairs Department to track citizen complaints and/or critical
incidents against the Worcester Police Department (e.g., manual, logs,
computerized database, etc.) and if this tracking system always includes the
names of specific officers associated with the complaints or incidents. (Haller) Attachments)
Adopted
45. Request Administration report whether Worcester Police
Department Internal Affairs Department uses an annual “tickler” system that
alerts police officers and administrators if individual officers have had a
certain number of citizen complaints or involvement in critical incidents. Further, request report to include how other
municipalities in the region manage this aspect of complaints and critical
incidents. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
46. Request Administration report on the annual percent of citizen
complaints regarding the Worcester Police Department that have been
investigated by Internal Affairs for each of the past five years. Further, request report to include the
percent resolved and a list of the reasons why complaints were not investigated
and/or resolved. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
47. Request Administration report on how the Worcester Police
Department tracks injured prisoner reports, to include whether all injured
prisoner reports receive review by the Chief, Internal Affairs, or the Training
Division of the Worcester Police Department.
Further, request report to include discussion of how transfers of
prisoners who have been in custody of Worcester Police Department to area
hospitals because of requiring medical care are reviewed. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
48. Request City Solicitor report on legality of implementing a
citywide curfew for young people and what, if any, Massachusetts communities
currently have such a program in existence.
(Murray, Haller, Petty) (Attachments)
Councillor Lukes moved to amend: Further, request Administration report on whether a curfew would require a change in Police deployment. Adopted, as amended
49. Request City Manager to file legislation with the Great and
General Court authorizing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to initiate a pilot
program in Worcester whereby additional Chapter 90 funding would be available
annually to convert private ways to public streets. (Palmieri, Clancy) (Attachments) Adopted
50. Request Administration report on the availability of traffic
enforcement of resident parking during the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
51. Request Administration report on police calls to 119 West St.
for the past month. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
52. Request Administration report on the number of vehicular
accidents for the past year along Fruit St. and the intersecting side streets
between Highland St. and Elm St.
(Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
53. Request Administration to consider dedicating the proceeds from
the DCU Centre naming rights to a perpetual trust fund for the purpose of
making capital improvements in and about the facility and the development of
travel and tourism to the region. This
request anticipates that should such a dedicated trust fund be established that
additional contributions will be solicited from the hospitality industry as
well as neighboring towns and cities whose hotel and motel tax revenue benefits
from the increased travel and tourism which results from trade shows and other
events held at the DCU Centre.
(Irish, Haller, Gomez,
Murray, Lukes, Perotto, Palmieri, Clancy, Rushton) (Attachments) Adopted
54. Request Administration to contact Boston’s CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox
network TV affiliates to explore the establishment of regional news bureau
locations in Worcester. (Irish) (Attachments) Adopted
55. Request City Manager to seek a college intern to be assigned to
the task of identifying purchasers of three-deckers in the city, broken down as
being city residents and being non-city residents. (Palmieri) (Attachments) Adopted
56. Request City Manager seek data from private or non-profit
consumer protection organizations relating to ranking of the fairness of processes used in various states for the
valuing of properties for taxing purposes.
(Palmieri, Clancy) (Attachments) Adopted
57. Request City Manager to prepare legislation to finance, through
state funding, a pilot program for converting private streets to public. (Palmieri,
Clancy, Petty, Perotto) (Attachments) Adopted
58. Request Administration consider presenting some recommendations
to Council regarding reinvesting the funds from the purchase amount of the
naming rights of the Centrum back into the facility. (Gomez, Haller, Perotto,
Rushton) (Attachments) Placed on file
59. Request City Manager and Human Resource Office conduct a survey
of City employees to determine the satisfaction level with the City’s
Retirement Plan Custodian (ING) and further, to evaluate possible alternatives
such as Mass. Mutual and others.
(Gomez, Rushton) (Attachments) Councillor
White moved to amend to delete: such as Mass. Mutual and others. Adopted, as amended
60. Request Parks Commission to consider name change of Middle River
Park to Blackstone Gateway Parkland.
(Clancy) (Attachments) Mayor Murray moved to amend: Further,
request an update on request that Middle River go back to being named the
Blackstone River. Adopted, as amended
61. Request City Manager to update City Council regarding the
implementation of a strategy to reduce the incidence of panhandling throughout
the City of Worcester. (Murray) (Attachments)
Adopted
62. Request City Manager, in cooperation with the Worcester School
Department, consider and make recommendations in regard to the further
development of Foley Stadium so as to accommodate expanded use potential. (Irish)
(Attachments) Adopted
62a. Request City Clerk to provide City Council with a packet listing
all meetings that have been held on the subject of taxicab medallions in the last six or seven years, including
Petitions filed, responses and votes of the City Council. Motion-Lukes @ #35CC – Adopted (Attachments)
62b. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a Table of
Organization of the changes that are being recommended up to this point for the
Police Department, including unfunded
positions. Motion-Lukes @ #65CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
62c. Request City Manager to provide an explanation of the additional
costs that go with the Table of Organization as well as the actual breakdown of
the line of authority and in the units of the Police Department. Motion-Lukes @ #65CC – Adopted (Attachments)
62d. Request City Manager to provide the Crime Watch groups with a copy
of Item #66 of the City Council Calendar of October 19, 2004 relative to real
estate valuations. Motion-Haller @
#66CC – Adopted (Attachments)
62e. Request Administration to report on what judgments were entered in
any courts regarding the City’s Police Department in recent months. Motion Lukes @ #43CC – Adopted (Attachments)
62f. Request Administration to provide a report on the status of the
City of Worcester membership in the Employers Against Domestic Violence (EADV)
collaboration. Further, request report
provide copies of any policies, procedures, handbooks (including those
policies, procedures and handbooks used by any contracted employee services,
such as the Employee Assistance Program) as they relate to violence in the
workplace. Haller – Suspension of
Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
62g. Request Administration report on the present and near future
status of the ATF’s stature and presence in the City of Worcester. Request report in include meeting dates with
the ATF leadership and attendees regarding the ATF’s plan to elevate
Springfield’s ATF status from satellite to headquarters and at the same time
reduce Worcester’s status from ATF headquarters to satellite. Haller – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
63. Roberta Schaefer, Executive Director, Worcester Regional
Research Bureau transmitting Downtown Worcester Office Occupancy: 2004 Survey. (Attachments) Placed
on file
64. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to the appointment of Mr. Gary J. Gemme as Acting Worcester Police
Chief. (Attachments) Placed on file
65. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting communication
recommending changes to the FY 2005 authorized Table of Organization for the
Worcester Police Department. (Attachments) Two Orders adopted on a roll call 8-0
(Irish, Perotto, White absent)
66. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting several reports
regarding FY 2005 real estate valuations.
(Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations
Committee
68-96
ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
68. Relative to Massachusetts smoke-free workplace law. (Attachments)
69. Relative to Massachusetts smoke-free workplace law. (Attachments)
70. Relative to City’s Heart Safe Community Application. (Attachments)
71. Relative to Tobacco Control Program FY05. (Attachments)
72. Relative to Smoking in the Workplace law. (Attachments)
73. Relative to contract award to implement a Tobacco Control
Program. (Attachments)
74. Relative to February 2004 Tobacco Control Program report. (Attachments)
75. Relative to April 2004 Tobacco Control Program report. (Attachments)
76. Relative to Youth Access Compliance Checks. (Attachments)
77. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication
of the City Manager relative to addresses in the area of the PIP Shelter at
which more than one arrest occurred: recommend
Communication be referred to the Health Committee. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
78. Relative to Developing Alternatives for Women Now (DAWN), a
pilot program for prostituted women. (Attachments)
79. Relative to number of murders in New England cities of similar
size to Worcester. (Attachments)
80. Relative to murders in the City 2000-2004. (Attachments)
81. Relative to radar surveillance for Beaver Brook Parkway and
Maywood St. (Attachments)
82. Relative to number of citations issued for violation of the
noise ordinance. (Attachments)
83. Relative to traffic violation statistics from November 2003 to
June 2004. (Attachments)
84. Relative to overview of the Anti-Violence Street Crime Unit. (Attachments)
85. Relative to FY04 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
Grant award. (Attachments)
86. Relative to Worcester Weed and Seed funding allocation. (Attachments)
87. Relative to funds awarded for the Weed and Seed Program. (Attachments)
88. Relative to Zero Tolerance Zone in the Arts District. (Attachments)
89. Relative to highest paid wage earners in public safety. (Attachments)
90. Relative to meeting on August 29th with
representatives from the Executive Office of Public Safety. (Attachments)
91. Relative to Bravo Pizzeria & Restaurant, Inc. regarding
violations pertaining to overcrowding and alcohol. (Attachments)
92. Relative to history of license violations for Bravo Café. (Attachments)
93. Relative to crime statistics for Autumn Woods. (Attachments)
94. Relative to crime statistics for the last 12 months at Autumn
Woods. (Attachments)
95. Relative to communication received from the Worcester Housing
Authority relative to public safety efforts.
(Attachments)
96. Relative to Second-hand Motor Licenses issued over the most
recent two years. (Attachments)
97-103 ACCEPTED & ORDERS ADOPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND
TRANSPORTATION Upon the following Petitions requesting street lights be
upgraded: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Orders.
97. Councillor Barbara Haller of behalf of Eileen Schonberg request
upgrading of streetlight across from 1 Hancock St. (Attachments)
98. Councillor Philip Palmieri on behalf of Wayne Kallio request
upgrading of streetlight at corner of Moen and Henchman Sts. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the following Petitions requesting
installation of streetlights: recommend
adoption of the accompanying Orders.
99. Councillor Paul Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Veronica Martell
request streetlight in front of 62 Arlington St. (Attachments)
100. Councillor Barbara Haller request streetlight on odd-numbered side
of King St. near Main St. (Attachments)
101. Luigi DiGioia request two streetlights on McClintock Ave. (Attachments)
102. Councillor Frederick Rushton on behalf of Maria Drosidis request
streetlight between Tahanto Rd. and Maplewood Rd. (Attachments)
103. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon
the Petition of Fr. Joseph Adamo, Ascension Church et al request installation
of Bus Shelters with seating at the bus stops in front of Ascension Church, 48
Vernon St. as well as across the street:
recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (Attachments)
104-111 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND
TRANSPORTATION Upon the following Petitions:
recommend Petitions be placed on file.
104. Councillor Barbara Haller on behalf of Brenda Payne request
installation of a streetlight in front of 34 Somerset St. (Attachments)
105. Delia Trainor request installation of a streetlight in front of 99
Monadnock Rd. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND
TRANSPORTATION Upon the following Communications of the City Manager: recommend Communications be placed on
file.
106. Relative to taxicabs operating in the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
107. Relative to results of June 2004 and June 2003 inspection of the
fleet of cabs in the City of Worcester.
(Attachments)
108. Relative to whether there are a sufficient number of taxicab
medallions in the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
109. Relative to legality of train engines left running overnight. (Attachments)
110. Relative to request for lease proposal for Park & Ride
facilities by Mass. Turnpike Authority.
(Attachments)
111. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon
the Report of the Committee on Public Service and Transportation upon the
Communication of the City Manager relative to taxicabs: recommend Report and Communication be
placed on file. (Attachments)
112-114
ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 9-0 (Perotto, White absent)
112. Amending the Salary Ordinance relative to Severance Benefit for
Certain Employees Resigning Voluntarily.
(Attachments)
113. Amending Article IV of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance relative to
Table 4.2 - Permitted Dimensions by District, Note 2: The designation 2+
indicates a maximum of 2 habitable stories with a non-habitable attic and
garage underneath, if provided. The
story containing the garage is not considered habitable if the garage area
occupies 50% or more of the entire story.
(Attachments)
114. Amending Article XI of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance relative to
an interim building moratorium within the Airport Environs Overlay
District. (Attachments)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
OCTOBER 18, 2004 5:15
P.M. |
PUBLIC SAFETY |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
OCTOBER
19, 2004 5:30
P.M. |
TRAFFIC & PARKING |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
OCTOBER 21, 2004 6:15
P.M. |
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS |
ROOM 310 CITY HALL |
|
OCTOBER 25, 2004 5:15
P.M. |
PUBLIC SAFETY |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
OCTOBER 25, 2004 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
ROOM 310 CITY HALL |
|
OCTOBER 25, 2004 7:00
P.M. |
HEALTH |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
OCTOBER 27, 2004 7:00
P.M. |
JOINT EDUCATION & COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS & MUNICIPAL
OPERATIONS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 1, 2004 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 3, 2004 5:00
P.M. |
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 8, 2004 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 9, 2004 5:30
P.M. |
TRAFFIC & PARKING |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |