CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– APRIL 4, 2006
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:04 P.M.
Recessed to Executive
Session: 10:05 P.M.
Reconvened to Open Session
to Adjourn: 10:27 P.M.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2.
STAR
SPANGLED BANNER-ALEXANDRA MILLS
3. ROLL CALL - All present except Councillor Haller and
Councillor Lukes - Councillor Lukes arrived at 7:12 P.M. and Councillor Haller
arrived at 7:17 P.M.
Mayor requested suspension of the rules to take up the Report of the Legislative Committee item #17 CC and allow Kelly Paroyian of 82 Wilkinson St, Worcester and Gerard Frew, 8 Tattan Farm Rd., Worcester, Principal of Union Hill School and Chair of the Worcester Principals Association Steering Committee to speak in support of Representative Spellane’s proposed legislation.
4 – TAKEN WITH ITEM #8A-C OF THE CITY MANAGER’S CALENDAR
4. Monthly status reports consistent with Standing Committees on the following economic development initiatives: Union Station garage and tenancy, Massport’s partnership efforts at the Airport, downtown housing development, Mass. Highway road project schedules, Gateway Park grants and tenancy, Gardner-Kilby-Hammond project, SWIP project, brownfield initiatives, Coes Dam rehab, replacement and relocation of Central Garage, Visitor’s Center rehab, telecommunications contract, Wyman Gordon property reuse, CitySquare, the Arts District, the Canal District project, the Franklin St. Fire Station, Citywide & Downtown Marketing, the North Main St. Plan with specific mention of the Vocational School & the Worcester Memorial Auditorium and St. Vincent redevelopment.
5. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6. Barbara White request sidewalk repair in front of 348 Greenwood
St. at pole #66. (Attachments)
7. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request sidewalk repair on the
southern corner of Vernon St. and Fifth Ave. (Attachments)
8. Tony Bianco request to extend sanitary sewer on Middlesex Ave.
approximately 150’ to 96 Middlesex Ave.
At petitioner’s expense and in accordance with DPW specifications.
(Attachments)
9. Jane Pingalore Smith request sidewalk repair in front of 127
Longmeadow Ave. (Attachments)
10. Barbara White request removal of crosswalk sign in front of bus
shelter at 347 Greenwood St. It is no
longer relevant since the reconfiguration of the intersection. (Attachments)
11. Gilbert Parke et al request to install traffic lights at Edward St.
and Belmont St. (Attachments)
12. Frederick Falone request to remove handicap parking space at 36
Mendon St. (Attachments)
13. Kimberly Caldwell request to install “No Parking” signs in front
of 120 Eastern Ave as well as the driveway. (Attachments)
14 –
PETITIONER GIVEN LEAVE TO WITHDRAW
14. Nancy Blanchard & Christine Green
request to appropriate more money to the 2007 School Budget. (Attachments)
– Petitioner Nancy Blanchard spoke
ORDERS
14a. Request City Manager provide City Council with a status report of
the St. Vincent site on its redevelopment. Motion-Clancy @ #8A CM (Attachments)
14b. Request City Manager schedule a meeting with the South Worcester
Industrial Park Task Force to keep them apprised of progress to the SWIP
project. Motion-Haller @ #8A CM (Attachments)
14c. Request City Manager provide City Council a report on how long the
public sidewalk at 64-79 Beacon Street will be blocked by temporary
construction fencing. Motion-Haller @ #8A CM (Attachments)
14d. Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works & Parks
to provide City Council with a report on how much time is left to make use of
the state funding for the construction of the new North High School. Motion-Rosen
@ #11C CM (Attachments)
14e. Request City Manager consider the new North High School as a pilot
program for self sufficiency, green building material and design as well as
energy efficiency and to incorporate these designs as a way to find monies that
are available from any utilities and other entities. Motion-Lukes @ #11C CM (Attachments)
14f. Request City Manager send a copy of the Spring Street Sweeping
Program to all the Neighborhood Associations. Motion-Haller @ #12D CM (Attachments)
14g. Request City Manager send a letter regarding the Backwater Valve
Rebate Program to people who have filed claims relative to sewer backup so they
can be given first priority. Motion-Clancy @ #12G CM (Attachments)
14h. Request City Manager provide a report to City Council on the number
of grants, purposes of such, funded amounts applied for/awarded for programs to
provide permanent housing or for supportive programs for chronically Homeless
individuals or recently released inmates in the City or Worcester and the role
of neighborhood voice in the application for such funds. Motion-Haller @
#17A CM (Attachments)
14i. Request City Manager provide City Council with a breakdown of the
basic salaries and average overtime of the members of the Service Employee
International Union Local 495. Motion-Lukes @ #34D CM (Attachments)
15. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
MICHAEL V. O’BRIEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR APRIL 4, 2006
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of Constable Appointment. (Attachments)
Placed on file
2.
CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT DIVISION:
4.
CABLE SERVICES DIVISION:
5.
ELECTION COMMISSION DIVISION:
6.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION:
7.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:
8.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION:
A. Communication relative to an update of
Economic Development initiatives. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee, Public Service & Transportation
Committee, Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, Commerce & Development
Committee - Citywide Master Plan referred to Land Use Committee and Strategic
Planning Committee
B. Communication relative to the submittal of
a Certified Project application for Poor Farm Brook Development, LLC and IBS
Commodities, Inc. and the designation of a new Site Specific Economic
Opportunity Area for the site location of 722 Plantation Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
C. Communication relative to a redevelopment
at Washington Square. (Attachments) Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee
9.
NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING DEVELOPMENT:
10. PLANNING AND REGULATORY SERVICES DIVISION:
11.
ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DIVISION:
A. Request City Council’s
Adoption of the attached Order authorizing the City Manager to purchase
approximately 1,080 square feet of private property for a purchase price of
Twenty One Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($21,400.00) for a permanent street
easement at the intersection of Belmont Street and Shrewsbury Street. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Request review and adoption
of the attached Order to accept and execute a deed of easement for sewer
purposes for an existing sewer line running through property owned by Mr. Vaios
Theodorakos at the corner of Hooper Street and Catharine Street. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Communication relative to
the status of design and budget for construction of a new North High School. (Attachments)
Referred to Education & College/University Relations Committee
12.
OPERATIONS DIVISION:
A. Communication relative to
options for funding the backlog of streets approved for private street
conversion. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to
the problems associated with the city-owned culvert at #44 St. Anthony Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
C. Request City Council review
and adoption of a summary and resolution to accept a Municipal Waste Reduction
Grant in the amount of $20,446.00 from the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP). (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
D. Communication relative to
the spring street sweeping program. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
E. Communication relative to
the Abandoned Vehicle Status Report. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
F. Communication relative to
abandoned shopping carts. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
G. Communication relative to
the City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks Backwater Valve
Rebate Program.
(Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
H. Communication relative to
City Council’s request for information relative to improving the traffic signal
timing at the intersections of Main Street, Highland Street and Grove Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
13. PARKS
DIVISION:
A. Communication relative to
the City of Worcester being named a Tree City, USA for the twentieth
consecutive year and a recipient of the Growth Award for the seventh
consecutive year.
(Attachments)
Placed on File
14.
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT:
15. FIRE
DEPARTMENT:
A. Request adoption of a
Resolution to file and accept a FY’06 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Domestic Preparedness. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
B. Communication relative to
workforce levels and the resulting impact to the Worcester Fire Department
during the summer months. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
16. LICENSE
COMMISSION:
17. POLICE DEPARTMENT:
A. Request adoption of a
Resolution to file and accept a FY’06 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive
Office of Public Safety (MEOPS), Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community
Safety Initiative grant. (Attachments)
Tabled under privilege – Haller – To be 1st item of business for April 11,
2006
18. CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION:
19.
DISABILITY DIVISION:
20. ELDER
AFFAIRS DIVISION:
A. Request adoption of a
resolution relative to a lease of space at the Senior Center to the Junior
League of Worcester. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted
21. HUMAN
RIGHTS DIVISION:
22. HUMAN
SERVICES DIVISION:
23. PUBLIC
HEALTH DIVISION:
A. Communication relative to
the 2006 Geese Control Project. (Attachments)
Referred to Health Committee
B. Request City Council’s
deliberation, consideration and adoption of a “No Feeding” Ordinance. (Attachments)
Voted to advertise propose ordinance
24. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
A. Request that City Council
accept with gratitude, a gift of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) from Mr. Leo
Curran of Milford, Massachusetts to the Worcester Public Library. (Attachments)
Order adopted
with gratitude
B. Request that City Council
accept with gratitude a bequest of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) from the
Cyril P. McQueen and Blanche S. McQueen Revocable Trust to the Frances Perkins
Branch Library of the Worcester Public Library. (Attachments)
Order adopted with gratitude
25.
VETERANS’ SERVICES DIVISION:
26. LEGAL
DIVISION:
27. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
28.
ASSESSING DIVISION:
29. BUDGET
OFFICE DIVISION:
A. Communication relative to
the breakdown of the proposed use of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance (JAG) Award Funds. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
30.
PURCHASING DIVISION:
31.
TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION:
32. TREASURY
& COLLECTIONS DIVISION:
33. FINANCE
DIVISION:
A. Recommend that Seventy Four
Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Five Dollars ($74,465.00) be transferred from
Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account
#11C703, City Hall Aldermanic Chamber, to pay for contractual obligations
related to the improvements and rehabilitation of the City Hall Aldermanic
Chamber, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Recommend that Sixty Five
Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Six Dollars and Twenty Three Cents ($65,926.23) be
transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and
appropriated to Account #11C702, City Messenger Building Rehabilitation, to pay
for contractual obligations related to the City Hall Window replacement project
as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Recommend that One Hundred
Forty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars and Eighty Four Cents
($147,879.84) be transferred from Account #91C709, Worcester Common
Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #72C706, Worcester Common
Rehabilitation, to pay for contractual obligations related to improvements at
Worcester Common, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
D. Recommend that One Million
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00) be transferred from Account
#91C790, School Construction, and appropriated to Account #28C717, Worcester
Vocational School, to pay for contractual obligations for architectural,
construction management and other related costs associated with the
construction of the Worcester Vocational School. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
E. Recommend that Twenty Three
Thousand Dollars ($23,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide
Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Park Site
Improvements, to pay for contractual obligations related to the replacement of
the roof at the Park Avenue Fire Barn. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
F. Request authorization to pay
Two Hundred Twenty Four Dollars and Fifty Cents ($224.50) for a prior year
invoice from Account #660-92000, Treasury Ordinary Maintenance. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
G. Request that the City
Council accept the award of Fifty Six Thousand Seven Dollars ($56,007.00) from
the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund.
I further recommend that this award be applied to the fiscal 2007
billing cycle since the majority of sewer bills for fiscal 2006 have been
issued. This award will be applied to
the fiscal 2007 sewer rate effectively reducing the amount billed per CCF by
$0.008. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
H. Recommend that Two Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) be transferred from Account #600-91000,
Purchasing Personal Services, and appropriated to Account #600-92000,
Purchasing Ordinary Maintenance, to provide funding to purchase needed office
supplies and address other expenses for the remainder of the year. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
I. Recommend that Twelve
Thousand Eight Hundred Twelve Dollars ($12,812.00) be transferred when and as
received from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to
Account #72C701, Parks Division Capital Equipment, for the purpose of
purchasing the following pieces of capital equipment:
|
(1) Station Survey |
$9,000.00 |
|
(1) Mechanic Tool Box |
$3,812.00 |
for Parks Division, as
approved in the fiscal 2006 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
J. Recommend that Forty
Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C784, Park
Improvements, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Park Site Improvements, to
pay for contractual obligations related to improvements at new playground and
ball field at Ararat Street, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
K. Recommend that Seventy Five
Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C784, Park
Improvements, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Park Site Improvements, to
provide funds for the purpose of payment for contractual obligations related to
improvements to the Roger’s Kennedy Memorial project, as approved in the
Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a
roll call 11-0
L. Recommend that Eight Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C784, Park
Improvements, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Park Site Improvements, to
provide funds to pay for contractual obligations related to the renovations and
improvements to park facilities at Beaver Brook, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
M. Recommend that Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C775, DCU Building
Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #75C702, Civic Center Building
Rehabilitation, to pay for contractual obligations related to the restroom
upgrade at the DCU Center, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
N. Recommend that Twenty
Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C784 Park
Improvements, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Park Site Improvements, to
provide funds for the purpose of payment for contractual obligations related to
improvements at Oakland Heights, as approved in the Capital Improvement
Program. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
O. Recommend that Eleven
Thousand Dollars ($11,000.00) be transferred when and as received from Account
#91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #47C701,
Airport Capital Equipment, for the purpose of purchasing a floor washing
equipment for the Worcester Regional Airport. (Attachments)
Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
34.
MISCELLANEOUS CALENDAR ITEMS:
A. Request that the City
Council schedule an executive session for Tuesday, April 4, 2006 after the City
Council meeting for the purposes of discussing collective bargaining. (Attachments)
Placed on file
B. Communication relative to
the continuing efforts of my administration to keep your Honorable Body
informed of the progress being made in the construction of a new dam at Coes
Pond Reservoir, and the remediation of contaminated soils near the dam site, as
well as future plans for the development of a park on a site adjacent to the
former Coes Knife Factory. (Attachments)
Referred to Youth, Parks and Recreation Committee
C. Communication relative to
the Shrewsbury Street Review Team. (Attachments) Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
and Planning Board
D. Communication relative to
clear and concise facts and figures in response to a recent Bulletin published
by members of the Service Employee International Union Local 495. (Attachments)
Placed on file
16. RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE – No action taken
FINANCE
a. #29a CM January 31, 2006
Communication
of the City Manager regarding a fiscal year 2006 status report on the number
of, and the amount of, Federal and State grants written, awarded, and pending
approval by the appropriate Federal and State agencies. (Attachments)
b. #29b CM January 31, 2006
Communication
of the City Manager relative to Governor Romney’s proposed budget for Fiscal
2007, including his recommendations for local aid for the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
17 ACCEPTED & ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 10-1
(No-Lukes) RECONSIDERATION DENIED ON A ROLL CALL 1-10 (Yes-Lukes) – Suspension of Rules
17. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Upon the Order of
Mayor Timothy P. Murray and Councillor Kathleen M. Toomey requesting that the
City Manager communicate with our local delegation in support of Representative
Spellane’s bill “Funding Schools for Student Success” and support legislation
for local tax options and that these funds would be used solely for education
funding: recommend Order be referred
to the City Council without recommendation.
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
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APRIL 3, 2006 |
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
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6:00
P.M. |
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APRIL 5, 2006 6:00 P.M. |
HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
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APRIL 26, 2006 |
TRAFFIC & PARKING |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
5:30 P.M