CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:10 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:17 P.M.

Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole location in: MILL ST. approximately 130 feet south of the centerline of the intersection of Midgley Ave.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole location in: MILL ST. approximately 130 feet south of the centerline of the intersection of Midgley Ave.

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND INC for joint or identical pole location in: MILL ST. approximately 195 feet southwest of the center line of the intersection of Mill Pond Rd. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND INC for joint or identical pole location in: MILL ST. approximately 195 feet southwest of the center line of the intersection of Mill Pond Rd.

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole location in: WIGWAM AVE.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole location in: WIGWAM AVE.

The Mayor read a proclamation proclaiming April 16, 2008 as National Start Walking Day in Massachusetts. Mayor Lukes requested Councilor Rosen to present the proclamation to a representive of the National Heart Association who addressed City Council.

Motion Mayor Lukes: Request to Suspend the Rules to allow Councilor Palmieri to speak to City Council relative to the expansion of the Montvale Historic District. - Approved

Motion Mayor Lukes: Request to recuse City Clerk, David J. Rushford, at his request. - Approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Councilor Palmieri informed City Council of an agreement in principal with all the interested parties involved in the expansion of the Montvale Historic District and he requested time to allow this agreement to develop which will resolve all conflicting issues concerning this expansion.

David Forsberg, Partner of Gateway Park LLC, request to change the street name of Gateway Park St. to Washburn Way.

Steve & Kelly Gopoyan request to install a "Slow Children" signs in the vicinity of 22, 23, 34, 35 & 45 Hickory Dr.

Stephen O'Neil, Administrator of the WRTA, on behalf of David Pinkerton request bus stop sign be erected on the west and east sides of Plantation St. at 377 Plantation St.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request installation of no parking in the east side of Oriol Dr. from the parking lot entranceway at the rear of 591 Lincoln St. to the corner of Lincoln St.

NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC for joint or identical pole location in: KENNEBEC ST.

Cheryl DelSignore request to speak before City Council concerning the budget for Worcester Public Schools.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Norwood Flight Center and Skyline Flight Charter Service Beginning Operations at Worcester Regional Airport.

Recommend City Council Adoption of Two (2) Resolutions to Apply For and Accept Grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC) for the Construction of an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS).

Recommend City Council Adoption of Two (2) Resolutions to Apply for and Accept Grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC) for Runway Reconstruction at Worcester Regional Airport.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Government Channel Program Guide.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to FY09 Health Insurance Changes.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Washington Square Development Process.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Master Lessee of the Commercial Space at the Union Station Parking Garage.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Gardner Kilby Hammond (GKH)Project 108 Debt Service Obligation.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Chapter 43D Expedited Permitting.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Keep Worcester Clean Report for the Month of February 2008.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Neighborhood Clean-Up in the Canal District Neighborhood.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to National Grid's Petition for a Cable and Conduit System in Plantation Street, Clarendon Street and Almont Street.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Public Hearing on Updating the Master Plan for Logan Field.

Recommend City Council Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Donation of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) from the South High Community School Academy of Education, Service and Government.

Request City Council Review, Deliberation, and Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Recent Neighborhood Sweeps Conducted by the Problem Property Resolution Team.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Results of a Survey Given to Senior Center Participants.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Presentation of the Ruth Robinson Award to Elizabeth Connell, Assistant Director of Elder Affairs from the Commonwealth's Department of Mental Health.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Apply for and Accept an Annual Renewal Grant from the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Gift of a Piano from Dr. and Mrs. Satya Mitra for the Worcester Senior Center.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of an Ordinance Amendment Relative to Junk Dealers and Dealers in Second-Hand Articles.

Recommend that Forty Three Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($43,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #11C703, Alderman Chamber Rehabilitation, to allow for anticipated invoices, as approved in the Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 Capital Improvement Programs.

Recommend that Five Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Seven Dollars And Ninety Seven Cents ($5,897.97), currently available in Account # 270-91000, Communications Personal Services, be re-appropriated to the Director of Communications salary.

Respectfully request City Council approval to establish a revolving account entitled "Problem Property Review Team Revolving Fund" with a limit of Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00), pursuant to Chapter 44 Section 53E 1/2 of the MGL.

Recommend that Recommend City Council Approval to Transfer Ninety Three Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($93,000.00) from Account # 470-91000 Airport Personal Services and be appropriated to Account # 470-92000 Airport Ordinary Maintenance to pay for emergency repairs of the runway at the Worcester Regional Airport.

Recommend that Nine Hundred Fifteen Dollars And Twenty Cents ($915.20) be transferred from Account #560-92000, Regional Library Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #560-91000, Regional Library Salary Account, to fund the cost of living increase instituted on January 1, 2008 for non-represented employees.

Transmitting Informational Communication and Invitation to a Rail Summit to be Held on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the DCU.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Worcester Regional Transit Authority Northwest Flex Route Option.

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting the March 2008 Auditor's Report.

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to the Health Insurance Trust Fund accounts for the City's self-insurance pool.

Department of Public Utilities transmitting NStar Gas Company's Condensed Financial Return for the Year Ended December 31, 2007.

That the Loan Order of this Council adopted on September 26, 2006, as amended on July 17, 2007, which authorized the borrowing of the sum of Four Million Seven Hundred Three Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($4,703,000.00), for the purposes of citywide building rehabilitation and street construction is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

That the sum of Four Million Two Hundred and Three Thousand Dollars ($4,203,000.00) be appropriated to Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, for the purpose of making improvements to citywide buildings, and for the payment of all costs including the costs incidental and related thereto.

That the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) be appropriated to Account #91C741, Street Construction, for the purpose of resurfacing citywide streets, and for the payment of all costs including the costs incidental and related thereto.

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)

COMMUNICATION - Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager recommending the Adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) to be appropriated to Account #91C778, Providence Street Tot Lot, for the purpose of funding the construction of the planned playground at Providence Street. (Tabled - Lukes July 17, 2007)

Grant permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit system in KANSAS ST. (Tabled - September 18, 2007)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report to City Council whether a claims process exists which is available to commercial users who experience electric power outages and surges caused by National Grid. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report on the number and location of National Grid equipment stations located on public property, whether the City receives any revenue from the use of public land, and if not, whether the city can charge for said use. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report to City Council regarding National Grid services in the city based on data filed with the Department of Telecommunications and Energy specifically addressing the number of outages, the locations of the outages, causes of the outages and the fines, if any, paid by National Grid in 2007. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Petition of NATIONAL GRID for cable and conduit system in: PLANTATION ST., CLARENDON ST. & ALMONT AVE. (Tabled - Palmieri March 18, 2008)

Proposed Ordinance amending the Montvale Historic District by the adoption of a new map enlarging the District. (Tabled Under Privilege - Palmieri March 25, 2008)

Motion Eddy @ #8.3B & 8.3C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report as to what the city would owe the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal government should the airport cease to operate as a commercial airport and what would the timelines would be for repayment of these funds.

Motion Clancy @ #8.3B & 8.3C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning negotiations with MassPort relative to the sale of the airport. Further, request the report include whether upping the debt ante by accepting grants impact our negotiations for sale with MassPort.

Motion Rushton @ #8.6A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with the current conventional health insurance plan so it could be used to compare to the new health insurance product.

Motion Rushton @ #8.6A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with the formula used to arrive at the figures for the net annual savings of retirees on BCBS MEDEX plan in deductibles/co-payments.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manger requesting City Council advertise a General Ordinance relative to Expedited Permitting for Priority Development Sites: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting a Dynamic Expedited Zoning Ordinance Amendment to comply with provisions of Chapter 43D of the Massachusetts General Laws: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting a Dynamic Expedited Zoning Ordinance Amendment to Comply with Provisions of Chapter 43D of the Massachusetts General Laws: recommend Communication be placed on file.

Motion Toomey - @ #8.12A CM - Request City Manager provide a report comparing the number of abandoned vehicles for this year and last year.

Motion Clancy - @ #8.19A CM - Request City Manager request the Problem Property Resolution Team consider the area from Columbia St. to Fox St. to Jefferson St. to Arlington St. for a neighborhood sweep.

Motion Rushton - @ #9a CC - Request City Auditor provide City Council with a breakdown of operating expenses for the Health Insurance Trust Fund as shown in Item #9a of the City Council calendar for April 15, 2008.

Motion Toomey - Suspension of Rules - Request the Mayor recognize and commend the students at Burncoat High School for their music program and robotics program. They were presented with a Johnson and Johnson Gracious Professionalism award for outstanding sportsmanship and continuous gracious professionalism in the heat of competition for both on and off the field.

Motion Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report on number of arrests, calls for disturbances, and related public safety incidents associate with La Raza Restaurant & Nightclub on Cambridge St. Further, request report span at least one year.

Motion Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager investigate installing surveillance cameras at the parking lot of La Raza restaurant on Cambridge St. and along Sargent St. near Lamartine St. where there is serious and continual illegal dumping.

Motion Petty - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager request Charter Communications explain exactly what needs to be done by Jan 2009, if anything, by residents when television switches from analog to digital.

PETITION - Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request to resurface the basketball courts at Holland Rink.

PETITION - Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of Cliff Goodwin request to rescind resident parking on West St. at the intersection of West St. and Institute Rd.