CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:05 P.M.

Recessed: 8:30 P.M.
Reconvened: 8:35 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:25 P.M.

Mayor
Timothy P. Murray

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Hearing NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole relocation in: PINE HILL RD.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID AND VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole relocation in: PINE HILL RD.

Hearing NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole relocation in: POCASSET ST.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID AND VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole relocation in: POCASSET ST.

Report of the Committee on Land Use Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of John Shea, Chairman of the Planning Board request to consider the attached Omnibus Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

Report of the Committee on Land Use Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of John Shea on behalf of the Planning Board request to amend the City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance by adding the following limitation to Article IV Sec. 8 (III) (A): External activities, such as deliveries, noise, etc. shall be prohibited prior to 9:00 A.M. and after 5:00 P.M.

Motion-Lukes Request suspension of the rules to allow the members of City Council to recognize Mayor Murray and thank him for all his years of service to the City of Worcester and to offer best wishes for his future as the Commonwealth's new Lt. Governor. Also providing comment and/or presentations were City Manager Michael V. O'Brien, State Senators Edward Augustus and Harriett Chandler, School Committeeman Joseph O'Brien, Ms. Caitlin Moynihan, Peggy Middaugh of the Regional Environmental Council and Frank Raffa and Lt. Don Courtney of Local 1009.

Mayor Murray suspended the rules.

Robert & Raymond Davis request to make public private portion of Knox St.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request Euclid Ave. be repaved.

Kimberly McCarthy request to install "Private Street, Dangerous" signs in Greenleaf Terrace at the intersection of Midland St. and Greenleaf Terrace and the intersection of Pleasant St. and Greenleaf Terrace.

Andrew & Sonia Popelka request to paint a crosswalk in Webster St. in the vicinity of Meena Dr.

Susan Kiely request a moratorium be placed on the building of a playground at 211 Providence St.

Request City Manager provide the City Council with a report outlining all neighborhood initiatives begun since January 1, 2002. (Petty, Rushton, Perotto)

Request City Manager report to City Council regarding existing regulations for protecting consumers at retail laundromats. Request this report to include any requirements for such establishments to have a manager on premises during hours of operation, to have clearly posted information regarding how to receive refunds for malfunctioning machines, to clearly identify malfunctioning machines, and to have a certain percentage of machines properly operating at any one time. Further request that the report include information regarding city inspection schedules, requirements for licensing and renewal of such licenses, and how consumers can report complaints on the operation of such establishments. (Haller)

Request the City Manager report to the City Council concerning the present use of the Henry Lee Willis Center, Inc. property at 6 Wyman Street; the history of use at this property, including any special licenses or permits. (Haller)

Request City Manager coordinate a diverse task force composed of residents, business owners, institutional representatives and elected officials to develop the components of a conceptual plan to bring streetscape, façade and parking improvements to the Main Street corridor between Federal Square and Webster Square. (Petty, Haller)

Request City Clerk report to City Council as to the type, stored information and extent of any data base in the City Clerk's office concerning businesses located in the city and the availability and use of that data by other city departments and the public. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the feasibility and plans regarding a 2007 Worcester Firefighters' class and hiring effort. (Haller)

Request City Manager work with representatives from the private sector, the Worcester Public Schools, our state legislative delegation and executive branch to secure sufficient funding to provide 1,250 summer jobs for Worcester youth in 2007. (Rushton, Murray)

David J. Rushford, City Clerk, transmitting communications relative to Dennis L. Irish assuming the position of Councilor At Large for the balance of the 2006-2007 term.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Robert Norsigian request a handicap parking space in front of 53 Fairfield Rd.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Jason Koutoulas request a handicap parking sign in front of 7 Shawmut St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Paul F. Loach request handicap parking in front of 10 Camp St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance for handicap parking space in front of 9 Camp St.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Rose and Richard Davis request that handicap parking be installed in front of 137 June St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Elba Grajales request handicap parking space at 40 Lakeside Ave. #4: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Ricardo Periera request handicap parking in front of 3 Plane St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Beverly Pietrowicz request handicap parking sign in front of 15 Louise St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Laura Shugart request the existing handicap parking space in front of 51 Beaver St. be extended to two (2) handicap parking spaces: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Margaret Walsh et al request to remove handicap parking signs opposite 26 Branch St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Nicholas G. Mastromatteo request to remove two (2) handicap parking signs in front of 17 Ellsmere St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Carla Mustakangas et al request to remove 2 handicap parking spaces in front of 66 Merrick St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Barbara G. Haller request removal of handicap parking space at 13 Home St. due to original petitioners no longer living on Home St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Heidi Bryant request to remove the handicap parking signs in front of 131 Maywood St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Audra Jones request stop sign be placed at the intersection of Boardman St. and Merrill Rd.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Kathleen Bombredi et al request to have residential parking on Gage St., from Berkley St. to 82 Gage St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance for resident permit parking on Gage St. on both sides from Berkley St. up to and including 80 Gage St.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Gail Zhikowski request to reevaluate parking on Mower St. (Boynton Park section); whether or not to ban overnight parking on both sides of Mower St. or to change the winter parking ban to provide parking on odd side of street to the even side of the street: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to reverse the Winter Ban on Mower St. from Tarrytown Lane to the Paxton Town Line.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Jane Ashley request that the fifteen (15) minute parking in front of 1124 Pleasant St be changed to thirty minutes (30): recommend passage of the accompanying two (2) proposed Ordinances.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Michael Murphy & Kelly Jones, Prosthetic and Orthotic Labs request to remove "No Parking" signs in front of 134 Lincoln St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Evelyn Feraud request 15 minute parking in front of 169 Lincoln St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

Order of Mayor Timothy P. Murray - That the ordinance relative to the Police Department License Board as it relates to taxi regulations be rescinded. (Tabled - Murray April 25, 2006)

Order of Councilor Barbara G. Haller and Councilor Gary Rosen - Request the City Manager take all steps to have the WRTA #11 bus rerouted to serve the Island part of Harding Street (south of Kelley Square) to take residents, especially the elderly, to and from the Route 20 Fair Shopping Plaza. Further request that this service be provided several times in the mornings and again in the afternoons, both outbound and inbound. This service was formerly provided by the old #4 Millbury City Line and eliminated on January 28th, 2006 creating a serious hardship and reduction in the quality of life for residents in the Green Island neighborhood. (Tabled - Haller August 29, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Request for Proposal on two parcels of land currently owned by the Worcester Fire Department. (Tabled - Toomey November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Ownership of Parcels Surrounding the Former St. Vincent's Hospital Property. (Tabled - Clancy 01/02/2007)

Motion-Lukes @ #9e CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report within 30 days responding to the concerns made by citizens relative the Ballard St. Leaf Composting Site at Ballard St. for fire safety, water safety, DEP oversight, security and order containment.

Motion-Clancy to amend: Further, request City Manager include in this report issues concerning the turning of windrows as to when it occurs (it should never be done on a Friday), how often (it should be staggered and not all done at the same time) and deodorizing (should occur everytime it is done).

Motion-Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Clerk invite Representative John Fresolo to the next City Council meeting to discuss his newly filed Bill on Home Insurance, especially for triple deckers and explain how Worcester City Council can best advocate for needed reform to protect property owners for being unfairly billed for coverage.