CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– FEBRUARY 15, 2005
7:00 P.M.
Convened 7:04 P.M.
Adjourned 8:50 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 Irish and
Palmieri. Councillor Palmieri arrived at 7:07 P.M.
Mayor Murray read a Proclamation recognizing
February as African-American history month. Councillor Perotto presented the
Proclamation to Carleton Watson, Director of the Henry Lee Willis Center.
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5
& 6 REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
5. Robert Moylan, Jr., Commissioner of Public Works requests
installation of sewers in Windsor St. from McKinley Rd. southerly approximately
151’. (Attachments)
6. Robert Moylan, Jr., Commissioner of Public Works requests
installation of sewers in Shepard St. from end of public sewer northwesterly
approximately 195’. (Attachments)
7
& 8 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
7. Anna Lefner request to change the name of Hadwen Lane Walk to
either Gingerbread Rd. or Sugar Plum Rd.
(Attachments)
8. Anthony Popillo request to extend sanitary main on Franklin
St. a distance of 278’ at owner’s expense.
(Attachments)
9-11 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
9. Polly Harisi request to remove handicap parking sign from in
front of 61 June St. (Attachments)
10. Harry Abrahamian request resident only parking on Elizabeth St. (Attachments)
11. Walter Kennen, Maintenance Manager, Church of Christ request
removal of Friedel St. sign from corner of Stevens Rd. and Friedel St. because
you can no longer enter Friedel St. from Stevens Rd. (Attachments)
12-16
FROM MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS - ADOPTED
12. Request City Manager to provide City Council with quarterly
reports projecting Fiscal Year 2006 residential and commercial property
values. (Attachments)
13. Request City Manager report to City Council concerning recent
commercial real estate sales in the City of Worcester and compare those sales
amounts to their assessed values. (Attachments)
14. Request City Manager provide City Council with an updated report
concerning the MyMedication Advisor prescription drug program. (Attachments)
15. Request City Auditor to provide City Council with a report
itemizing the annual cost of extending pension increases to non-public safety
employees under M.G.L. Chapter 32, Section 90.
(Attachments)
16. Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report
itemizing any projected surpluses that might be realized at the end of Fiscal
Year 2005. (Attachments)
17-21
FROM PUBLIC SAFETY - ADOPTED
17. Request City Manager to provide City Council with conceptual
development plans for the North Main St. district that might include either the
siting and construction of a new Worcester Police Department headquarters
building, substantive improvements to the existing headquarters that bring it
into compliance with current codes or, the creation of a headquarters and
precinct decentralized station. Said
report to include land, infrastructure, moving and construction cost estimates,
if possible. Councillor Lukes moved
to amend: Further, request a report regarding the feasibility of adding
a fourth floor to the Worcester Police Department. Adopted, as amended (Attachments)
18. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report
detailing the current annual expenses for the operation of the Police
Headquarters building. (Attachments)
19. Request City Manager to provide a fair market appraisal of the
Worcester Police Department Headquarters and firing range land in
Shrewsbury. (Attachments)
20. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update
concerning relocation of the Parking Clerk’s function to the City Treasurer’s
Office. (Attachments)
21. Request City Manager to explore with Congressman James McGovern
and the members of our local state delegation any and all sources of funding and/or
grant monies that could be accessed for the upgrade of the existing Police
Headquarters building or the acquisition of a site and construction of a new
facility. (Attachments)
22. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report
concerning the status of Meals Tax
legislation that was introduced for deliberation during the current legislative
session. (Murray) (Attachments) Mayor Murray moved to amend to insert
“Hotel/Motel” in front of word “Meals”.
Adopted, as amended
23. Request City Manager to communicate with the Administrator of
the Worcester Regional Transit Authority to determine to what extent the fleet
of buses they utilize are state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly. (Petty, Palmieri) (Attachments) Councillor Palmieri moved to amend:
Further, request Worcester Regional Transit Authority report on costs of new
buses, feasibility of a new version of a down-sized transportation vehicle and
fuel cost savings. Adopted, as amended
24. Request City Manager to communicate with representatives of the Romney Administration to discuss the City of Worcester’s participation in the permitting process of the Governor’s Economic Stimulus Package. (Petty, Perotto) (Attachments) Adopted
25. Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the
feasibility of assigning parking control officers to enforce the provision of
the City ordinances that requires property owners to keep sidewalks clear of
snow. (Murray, Haller) (Attachments) Councillor Clancy moved to amend: Further,
request the Administration to provide City Council with a list of all public
sidewalks and request that the area in the vicinity of Union Station be better
maintained during the winter months. Adopted, as amended.
26. Request City Manager review and clarify the City Ordinance
concerning plowing of City streets and recommend adjustments to any sections
that adversely impact foot traffic, bus stops and handicapped
accessibility. (Palmieri) (Attachments) Councillor Rushton moved to amend: Further,
request the Administration to recommend a process for clearing sidewalks at
intersections. Adopted, as amended
27. Request City Manager to review and report to City Council
concerning the legal criteria that is used for both the renewal and revocation
of entertainment licenses issued by the City of Worcester. (Palmieri) (Attachments) Adopted
27a. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report
regarding the City’s capacity to pay the non-public safety employee pension
increases and estimate the cost associated with the pension increases. (Attachments) Motion-Gomez @ #15CC – Adopted
27b. Request the City Auditor provide the City Council with the meeting
minutes of the Retirement Board Meeting, which was held in January 1998 to exclude
personal data on retirees. (Attachments) Motion-Gomez
@ #15CC – Adopted
27c. Request the City Auditor provide the City Council with a report on
how the Retirement System assets are valuated and how it deviates if at all,
from any new accounting industry standards. (Attachments)
Motion-Gomez @ #15CC – Adopted
27d. Request the City
Auditor provide the City Council with a report regarding collection rate of tax
titles and the values associated with tax title properties that are sold. (Attachments)
Motion – Haller @ #41CC – Adopted
27e. Request
the City Manager provide a recommendation on consolidating the permitting
process by which committees such as the Zoning Board, Planning Board and
Conservation Commission meet as one group. Luke – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
27f. Request the City Manager as part of the Police Chief’s
re-building efforts, engage the services of a consultant for an audit of
policies and procedures. Gomez – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
27g. Request the City Manager consider the development of a parking
overlay district in the Harding Street section of the canal district bounded by
Green St., Franklin St., Grafton St., and Water St. Clancy, Palmieri and Rushton - Suspension of Rules Councillor
Petty recused on roll call (9-0). Councillor Perotto recused on roll call
(8-0). Adopted (Attachments)
27h. Request Police Chief enforce reduction of speeding on Gardner St.
from Main St to Hollis St., especially in the afternoon and evenings. Haller
– Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
27i. Request Police Chief locate the advisory speeding trailer and
implement a speeding surveillance detail on a regular basis in the vicinity of
both intersections of Chandler and May Streets in the interest of pedestrian
safety. (Attachments)
Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
27j. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report
as to whether the city can incorporate alternative fuel such as bio-diesel and
its purchasing system. (Attachments) Murray – Suspension of Rules - Adopted
28-37
ADOPTED ON ROLL CALL 10-0
28. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: AZALEA DR. (Attachments)
29. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: HIBISCUS DR. (Attachments)
30. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: JASMINE DR. (Attachments)
31. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: NIZAM DR. (Attachments)
32. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: ORIENTAL ST. (Attachments)
33. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: RAINBOW DR. (Attachments)
34. DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC:
RUSSELL CALVIN DR. (Attachments)
35. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: SAFFRON DR. (Attachments)
36. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: SNOWY OWL LANE (Attachments)
37. DECREE TO
MAKE PUBLIC: TAJ DR. (Attachments)
39. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting communication
regarding “Operation Round Up” in the area of Pleasant St. Weed and Seed
Designation. Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
40. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager requesting authorization to file
an application for a Community Development Action Grant (CDAG) in support of
the CitySquare project. (Attachments) Resolution adopted on a roll call 10-0
(Irish absent). Reconsideration denied on roll call 0-10 (Irish absent).
Referred to joint Public Works and Commerce & Development Committee for further review.
41. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting report relative to
tax titles as of and for the seven months ending January 31, 2005. (Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
42. The City Council of the City of Worcester hereby protests the cuts proposed in the Fiscal Year 2006 federal budget concerning Community Development Block Grant funding. (Murray) (Attachments) Resolution adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Irish absent).
43-67
ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the
following Communications of the City Manager:
recommend Communications be placed on file.
43. Relative to assessed value increases in FY05. (Attachments)
44. Transmitting several reports regarding FY 2005 real estate
valuations. (Attachments)
45. Relative to methodology in valuing properties over or under
$25,000. (Attachments)
46. Relative to advertising and disposing of Tax Title (foreclosed)
Property. (Attachments)
47. Relative to state statutes for tax lien sales, the City’s
involvement in assisting with development of the statutes and an estimate of
the potential balance of tax liens that could be sold. (Attachments)
48. Relative to general legislation regarding automobile excise tax
bills. (Attachments)
49. Relative to equitable method of assessing automobile excise tax.
(Attachments)
50. Relative
to MyMedication Advisor prescription drug program. (Attachments)
51. Relative
to MyMedication Advisor. (Attachments)
52. Relative
to various PILOT and State Aid questions. (Attachments)
53. Relative
to DPW Electronic Permitting System. (Attachments)
54. Relative to appointments to Boards and Commissions –
Partisanship Requirements. (Attachments)
55. Relative to Departmental Cash Receipts and City’s Policies and
Procedures – Cash Receipts. (Attachments)
56. Relative to bond rating.
(Attachments)
57. Relative to providing $2 million in immediate tax relief using
supplemental State Aid funds. (Attachments)
58. Relative to Worcester Redevelopment Authority’s Audit Report
entitled “Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for
Years ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 and Independent Auditor’s Report. (Attachments)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the
following Communications of James DelSignore, City Auditor: recommend Communications be placed on
file.
59. Transmitting report relative to increasing pensions for retired
public safety employees under MGL Chapter 32, Sections 90A and C and
demographic information related to those who would receive this benefit
increase. (Attachments)
60. Transmitting additional information regarding potential MGL
Chapter 32, Section 90A and C pension increases specific to former public
safety employees. (Attachments)
61. Transmitting Worcester Retirement System’s Actuarial Valuation
and Review as of January 1, 2004. (Attachments)
62. Transmitting July 2004 Auditor’s Report. (Attachments)
63. Transmitting August 2004 Auditor’s Report. (Attachments)
64. Transmitting September 2004 Auditor’s Report. (Attachments)
65. Transmitting October 2004 Auditor’s Report. (Attachments)
66. Transmitting November 2004 Auditor’s Report. (Attachments)
67. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the
Chairman’s Order from Elder Affairs requesting the Municipal Operations
Committee forward to Elder Affairs Committee the Elder Affairs and Senior
Center section of the Quarterly Report from the City Manager: recommend Chairman’s Order be placed on
file. (Attachments)
68. Order –
Request City Council to vote its opposition to any raises for City Council for
the 2006 term. (Lukes) (Tabled January 18, 2005) (Attachments) No Action Taken
69. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joe Boynton,
Chairman, Worcester Planning Board requesting to amend Article IV, Table 4.2 of
the Worcester Zoning Ordinance relative to Permitted Dimensions by District. (Tabled
February 8, 2005) (Attachments) No Action Taken
70. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joe Boynton,
Chairman, Worcester Planning Board requesting to amend Table 4.2 of the Zoning
Ordinance by adding a note to Permitted Dimensions by District and renumbering
all existing Table 4.2 notes appropriately.
(Tabled February 8, 2005)
(Attachments) No Action Taken
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
5:30 P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
6:00 P.M. |
COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
FEBRUARY 28, 2005
6:00 P.M. |
LAND USE |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 1, 2005
5:30 P.M. |
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 8, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
PLEASE NOTE: THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT MEET ON FEBRUARY 22, 2005