CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– NOVEMBER 22, 2005
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:05 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:25 P.M.
1. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
2. ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillors Clancy, Lukes, Palmieri and Rushton.
Councillor Lukes arrived at 7:09 P.M., Councillor Rushton arrived at 7:20 P.M.,
and Councillor Palmieri arrived at 7:25 P.M.
3. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
3a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
4-7
REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
5. Attorney Patricia Finnegan Gates and Attorney Samuel DeSimone request to change the Zoning Map of the City of Worcester by extending the BL-1.0 zone across Stafford St. over two parcels of land known as 166 Stafford St. and 172 Stafford St. which abut Stafford St., Lavallee Ter. and Eureka St. (Attachments)
6. Attorney Samuel DeSimone request to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Worcester by establishing an Adaptive Reuse Overlay District over a portion of that area of the City presently zoned MG-2 at or near the intersection of Millbrook St. and Highway Route I-190. (Attachments)
7. Attorney Samuel DeSimone request to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Worcester by extending the Limited Business (BL-1) zone line from its present location between Penn Ave. and Barclay St., just southerly of Grafton St. to Clarkson St. The area to be rezoned is currently zoned RG-5. (Attachments)
8
REFERRED TO PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE
8. Stephen Brunelle on behalf of the Winter Heights residents request a street light on the corner of Azalea Dr. and Chester St. by the mailboxes. (Attachments)
9-33a REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE
9. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Congress St. where needed. (Attachments)
10. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Denny St. where needed. (Attachments)
11. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Downing St. where needed. (Attachments)
12. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Florence St. between Charlotte St. and May St. where needed. (Attachments)
13. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Grout Ct. where needed. (Attachments)
14. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Highland St. where needed. (Attachments)
15. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Illinois Ct. where needed. (Attachments)
16. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Main St. where needed. (Attachments)
17. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Park Ave. where needed. (Attachments)
18. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Pleasant St. where needed. (Attachments)
19. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Roxbury St. where needed. (Attachments)
20. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Russell St. between Cedar St. and Highland St. where needed. (Attachments)
21. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Sigel St. where needed. (Attachments)
22. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Southbridge St. where needed. (Attachments)
23. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on William St. where needed. (Attachments)
24. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Winfield St. where needed. (Attachments)
25. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Woodbine St. where needed. (Attachments)
26. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Woodland St. where needed. (Attachments)
27. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Worth St. (Attachments)
28. Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair on Wyman St. (Attachments)
29. Sylvia Scanlon request private street maintenance on Taunton St. (Attachments)
30. Herbert Rafer request sidewalk repair at 25 St. Elmo Rd. (Attachments)
31. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Richard Andrade request sidewalk repair on Greenwood St. from Spofford Rd. to Rt. 20. (Attachments)
32. Maria Gomez, Manager, JCBC Enterprises, LLC request sidewalk repair at 14 Pelham St. (Attachments)
33. Councillor Barbara G. Haller on behalf of DerKazarian family request installation of a guardrail in front of 23 Kingsbury St. (Attachments)
33a. Mayor Timothy P. Murray and Councillor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair to the even side of Cambridge St. between Main St. and the Price Chopper entrance at 50 Cambridge St. (Attachments)
34-41 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
34. Renee Forget request residential parking in front of 12-14 Duxbury Rd. or to remove No Parking sign on opposite side of the street. (Attachments)
35. Anthony Froio request removal of a handicap parking spot in front of 1 Jefferson St. as resident has moved. (Attachments)
36. Bernard Wolanski request to remove resident permit parking on College St. from Kendig St. to Dutton St. (Attachments)
37. Jose Vega et al request removal of two handicap parking signs from in front of 113 Southgate St. (Attachments)
38. Leonard Darling et al request Shepard St. be made two-way from King St. to the parking lot for 5 King St. (Attachments)
39. Lena Barry request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 247 Pilgrim Ave. (Attachments)
40. Councillor Barbara G. Haller on behalf of Richard Doyle & Clark Burritt request to prohibit parking on even side of Beacon St. from Hammond St. to Madison St. (Attachments)
41. Councillor Frederick C. Rushton on behalf of Jack Judge request two Stop signs be installed in Lovell St.; one facing southbound traffic at corner of Maywood St. and the second facing northbound traffic at corner of Ferdinand St. (Attachments)
ORDERS
41a. Request City Manager make sure that their communications regarding appointments list the residential addresses of the appointees. Motion Lukes @ #2A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
41b. Request City Manager provide the City Council with a report which details what measurements will be used to determine the cost efficiency of e-commerce transactions. Motion Lukes @ #33K CM – Adopted (Attachments)
41c. Request Administration provide the City Council with a report which potentially outlines some possibilities for social service site plan approvals relative to conversion of residential properties. Motion Rushton @ #22A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
41d. Request establishment of
additional off-street parking lots on Shrewsbury St. (Murray, Palmieri) –
Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
41e. Request City Solicitor provide the City Council with a report detailing who is authorized to acquire private property in various parts of the City for the sole purpose of establishing public off-street parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Off-Street Parking Board. (Murray, Palmieri) – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
42. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
MICHAEL V. O’BRIEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2005
1.
NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2.
CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of the appointments of Ben K.
Mensah, Allison Alaimo, Ross Altobelli, and George C. Valeri and the
reappointments of David F. Johnson, Maureen B. Schwab, Anthony B. Linn and Dr.
Dan M. Hargrove to the Citizens Advisory Council, subject to City Council
Confirmation. (Attachments) Appointments and reappointments confirmed
on a roll call 8-0 (Clancy, Palmieri, Rushton absent)
B. Notification of the appointments of Carl
F. Gentile and Cecilio Gonzalez to the Worcester Housing Authority, subject to
City Council Confirmation. (Attachments) Appointments
confirmed on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy, Palmieri absent)
3. AIRPORT DIVISION:
4. CABLE SERVICES
DIVISION:
5. ELECTION COMMISSION
DIVISION:
6.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION:
A. Transmitting informational communication
relative to the amendments the Salary Ordinance for the Department of Public
Works and Parks. (Attachments) Voted
to advertise two proposed Ordinances
7. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION:
9.
NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING DEVELOPMENT:
A. Transmitting informational communication
relative to an update on the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA)
program. (Attachments) Referred to Community Development
Committee
B. Transmitting informational communication
relative to the proposed schedule for public hearings, Request for Proposals
and funding recommendations for the year 32 Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG), HOME, Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and Housing for Persons with AIDS
(HOPWA) programs funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). (Attachments) Referred
to Community Development Committee
10. PLANNING AND REGULATORY SERVICES DIVISION:
A. Transmitting informational communication
relative to the Planning Board’s June 14, 2005 Omnibus Zoning Ordinance
Amendment. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
11. ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
DIVISION:
A. Request review and adoption
of an Order to accept and execute a deed of easement for street purposes in the
approved subdivision “Definitive Subdivision, Mink Circle, Worcester, MA”,
owned by Norman A. Vokes and Carol J. Vokes. (Attachments) Order
adopted
B. SUPPLEMENTAL – Transmitting
informational communication relative to the City of Worcester’s East-West
Corridor Projects. Referred to
Public Service & Transportation Committee (Attachments)
12. OPERATIONS DIVISION:
A. Transmitting informational
communication relative to the Downtown Holiday Parking Program. (Attachments) Placed on file
B. Transmitting informational
communication relative to the Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) October Activity
report. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
13. PARKS
DIVISION:
A. Transmitting informational
communication relative to Coes Reservoir Dam. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
14. COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT:
15. FIRE DEPARTMENT:
16. LICENSE COMMISSION:
17. POLICE DEPARTMENT:
18. CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION:
19. DISABILITY DIVISION:
20. ELDER AFFAIRS DIVISION:
21. HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION:
22. HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION:
A. SUPPLEMENTAL – Transmitting
informational communication relative to social service zoning and permitting
enforcement regulations in the Town of Framingham. Referred to Joint Health and Municipal Operations Committee
for November 28, 2005 meeting (Attachments)
23. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION:
24. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
A. Request that the City
Council accept additional funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for
the Worcester Public Library’s Talking Book Library for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. (Attachments) Order adopted with gratitude
25. VETERANS’ SERVICES DIVISION:
26. LEGAL DIVISION:
27. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
28. ASSESSING DIVISION:
A. Transmitting
informational communication relative to Fiscal Year 2006 Tax Rate Options. (Attachments) Tabled to November 29, 2005
B. Request adoption of an Order
relative to the allowance of additional exemptions under Chapter 73, Section 4
of the Acts of 1986 and requisite abatement provisions under Chapter 232 of the
Acts of 1987. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy,
White absent)
C. Request adoption of the
Order relative to an increase in the Elderly Exemption program from $500.00 to
$700.00 for fiscal 2006. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-0 (Clancy,
Rushton, White absent)
29. BUDGET
OFFICE DIVISION:
A. Transmitting informational
communication relative to the decision to delay the implementation of the
necessary health care cost reforms for retirees enrolled in Worcester
conventional health insurance plans until July 1, 2006. Finance Item #33 E coincides with that
recommendation to implement this program at that time. (Attachments) Placed on file
B. Transmitting informational
communication relative to the final finance recommendations to complete the
FY2006 operating budget and approve the City’s FY2006 tax notes. Finance items #33 F through #33 K coincide
with this report.
(Attachments) Placed on file
C. Transmitting informational communication
relative to the final FY 2006 budget recommendations and action items to be
voted and approved prior to the voting of the City of Worcester’s FY 2006 tax
rates. (Attachments) Placed on file
30. PURCHASING DIVISION:
31. TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION:
32. TREASURY & COLLECTIONS DIVISION:
33. FINANCE
DIVISION:
A. Recommend that Fifty Six
Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Seven Dollars ($56,577.00), be transferred when
and as received from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and
appropriated to Account #72C701, DPW Capital Equipment, to funding the
purchasing the following pieces of capital equipment:
|
(1) |
2006 Ford F-550 |
$52,177.00 |
|
(2) |
Computerized Maintenance
System |
$ 4,400.00 |
|
|
Total |
$56,577.00 |
for the Parks Division, as
approved in the fiscal 2005 & 2006 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
B. Recommend that Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000.00) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C780,
Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #34C701, Elder Affairs
Capital Equipment, for the purpose of purchasing various pieces of capital
equipment, as approved in the fiscal 2006 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
C. Recommend that One Thousand Five
Hundred ($1,500.00) be transferred when and as received from Account #91C780,
Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #04C701, City Manager’s
Capital Equipment, for the purpose of purchasing two LaserJet printers for the
Budget Office, as approved in the fiscal 2006 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
D. Request authorization to pay
Two Thousand Four Hundred Eighteen Dollars and Sixty Cents ($2,418.60) for a
prior year invoice from Account #470-92000, Airport Ordinary Maintenance. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
E. Recommend that Four Hundred
Eighty Six Thousand Dollars ($486,000.00) be raised by taxation from new
construction growth revenues and appropriated to Account #663-96000, City
Health Insurance Account, to provide funds to defer for six months the decision
to institute health care reforms for conventional plan retirees which will now
take effect July 2006 where contribution rates will be 80% city and 20% retiree
affording retirees an opportunity to select health care coverage during open
enrollment periods scheduled in April or May 2006 in accordance with Item #29 A
on this weeks calendar. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-0 (Clancy,
Palmieri, Rushton absent)
F. Recommend that Six Hundred
Thirty Eight Thousand One Hundred Forty Eight Dollars ($638,148.00) be
appropriated from Certified Free Cash to Account #663-96000, City Health
Insurance to specifically reduce the tax rate and help address the projected
health insurance deficit in accordance with item #29B on this weeks calendar. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-1
(No-Lukes) (Clancy, Rushton absent)
G. Recommend that Eight Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($850,000.00) be transferred from Account #911-93000,
City Manager’s Contingency for Streets & Sidewalks, and appropriated to
Account #663-96000, Health Insurance. (Attachments) Order
adopted on a roll call 8-1 (No-Lukes) (Clancy, Rushton absent)
H. Recommend that Eight Hundred
Sixty Six Thousand Dollars ($866,000.00) be raised by taxation from new
construction growth revenues and appropriated to Account #900-92000, City
Manager’s Contingency for Energy Costs, to provide funding to establish an
Energy Fund to address anticipated increases in natural gas, unleaded and
diesel fuel expenses, and heating oil costs to hedge against the negative
consequences of the recent energy price volatility in the energy market place
in accordance with item #29 B on this weeks calendar. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-1
(No-Lukes) (Clancy, Rushton absent)
I. Recommend that the sum of
Two Hundred Forty Four Thousand Dollars ($244,000.00) be appropriated from
FY2006 Certified Free Cash and applied to the FY2006 Overlay Reserve Account to
provide funding to increase the Elderly Exemption program from $500 to $700
effectively which will be increased with the approval of the Double Elderly
Abatement program effectively decreasing the property tax burden for
Worcester’s most elderly population by $400 for the FY2006. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-1
(No-Lukes) (Clancy, Rushton absent)
J. Recommend that Two Hundred
Ten Thousand Dollars ($210,000.00) currently available in the Debt Service
Interest Account #662-94000, be appropriated to Account #121-92000, Court
Judgments, to provide funding for additional claims and judgments for fiscal
2006. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-1
(No-Lukes) (Clancy, Rushton absent)
K. Recommend that Ninety
Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) currently available in the Debt Service Interest,
Account #662-94000, from the city’s bond refunding program be appropriated to
Account #660-92000, Treasury Ordinary Maintenance, to finance the credit card transaction
fees associated with the City’s introduction of online payments for water and
sewer bills, motor vehicle excise taxes, birth certificates, marriage licenses,
liquor licenses and other city services which went into effect on November 14,
2005 on the City of Worcester’s website www.ci.worcester.ma.us
in accordance with item #29B on this weeks calendar. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 8-1
(No-Lukes) (Clancy, Rushton absent) – Council voted on a voice vote to
reconsider – Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy absent)
L. Recommend that Three Million
Four Hundred Ninety One Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Eight Dollars and Twenty
Nine Cents ($3,491,468.29) be appropriated from free cash to specifically
reduce the tax rate and eliminate the snow removal deficit in the amount of
Three Million Four Hundred Ninety One Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Eight Dollars
and Twenty Nine Cents ($3,491,468.29) paid by the City of Worcester from FY2005
snow removal operations. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
M. Recommend that Three Million
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,100,000.00) be appropriated from Certified
Free Cash for the purposes of specifically reducing the City of Worcester’s
FY2006 tax rate which originally allocated funds for the purposes of Streets
and Sidewalk improvements, and collective bargaining retroactive agreements. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
N. Recommend that Fifteen
Million Six Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Three Dollars
($15,682,793.00) be reduced from the following Worcester Public School
accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|||
|
500-92000 |
Charter School Tuition Payments |
$14,589,636.00 |
|||
|
500-92000 |
School Choice Tuition Payments |
$ 1,093,157.00 |
|||
|
|
Total |
$15,682,793.00 |
|
|||
to arrive at the bottom
line budget for the Worcester Public Schools in FY2006 in the amount of
$230,478,935.00 for FY2006. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
O. Recommend that the following
revolving fund accounts be approved for use again in FY06 at the limits listed
below in accordance with the report submitted to me by Mr. John P.
Pranckevicius, Chief Financial Officer, to finalize the City of Worcester’s
FY2006 recapitulation documents for Item #29 C.
|
ACCOUNT |
REVOLVING ACCT. NAME |
LIMIT |
|
04S501 |
Technology Revolving
Account |
$ 50,000.00 |
|
41S501 |
Yard Waste Processing |
$132,000.00 |
|
41S502 |
Composting Bins |
$ 2,000.00 |
|
41S507 |
DPW Store |
$ 25,000.00 |
|
41S508 |
Ballard St. Drop Off
Center |
$ 55,000.00 |
(Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy
absent)
P. Recommend the approval of
the salary ordinance in accordance with the enclosed request from Police Chief
Gary Gemme to implement an annual stipend for the classification of Legal
Advisor within the Worcester Police Department. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee for
December 5, 2005 meeting
34. MISCELLANEOUS CALENDAR ITEMS:
43. RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE – No Items Pending
COMMUNICATIONS
44. Barry Walsh, Executive Director, The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc. transmitting Annual Report for 2005. (Attachments) Placed on file
45. Craig A.J. Manseau, Executive Director, Election Commission transmitting results of Municipal Election conducted on November 8, 2005. (Attachments) Placed on file
46. Roberta Schaefer, Executive
Director, Worcester Regional Research Bureau transmitting: Benchmarking Economic Development in
Worcester: 2005. (Attachments) Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee
REPORTS
IRISH AND GOMEZ
RECUSED ON A ROLL CALL 8-0 (WHITE ABSENT) ACCEPTED AND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON A
ROLL CALL 8-0 (WHITE ABSENT) – SUSPENSION OF RULES
46a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager relative to
the submittal of a Certified Project application for Eastern Property Trust,
LLC and New England Endoscopy Center, LLC and the designation of a new Site
Specific Opportunity Area for the site location of 21 Eastern Ave: recommend
adoption of the accompanying two resolutions. (Attachments)
47. DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: MIAMI ST. (Tabled April 12, 2005) (Attachments) No Action Taken
48. Communication of the City Manager relative to the Abatements and Exemptions for Fiscal 2003 through Fiscal 2005. (Tabled July 19, 2005) (Attachments) Taken off the Table and placed on file
49. Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the final report “Worcester Regional Airport: Airport Strategic Planning and Aviation Marketing”, as well as the Executive Summary of that report, as prepared for the City of Worcester by its consultants, Infrastructure Management Group, Inc. (IMG). (Attachments) (Tabled November 15, 2005) Taken off the Table and referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee
50. Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational
communication regarding the implementation of the Health Insurance reforms
commencing on January 1, 2006. (Attachments)
(Tabled November 15, 2005) Taken off
the Table and placed on file
51. Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding litigation involving
property at 103 Holden Street. (Attachments) (Tabled November 15, 2005) Taken off the Table and placed on file
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
NOVEMBER 21, 2005 4:00
P.M. |
LAND USE |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 22, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 28, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
JOINT MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS & HEALTH |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 29, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 30, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
DECEMBER 5, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC SAFETY |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
DECEMBER 12, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
DECEMBER 14, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |