CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:04 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:59 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Mayor O'Brien requested a moment of silence in honor of the passing of Police Officer Mark Bisnette, a dedicated father, a veteran, and a valued member of the Worcester community.

Councilor Haller moved to suspend the rules to allow a citizen to speak - Approved Mayor O'Brien recognized Nat Needle who provide City Council with a musical tribute.

Richard Kerver, CIO of Worcester Energy Alliance request to amend the Zoning Ordinance Article IV-Use Regulations, Section 13 D (1)(a)(i) Wind Energy Conversion Facilities relative to the height requirements.

Attorney Robert Branca on behalf of Roman Catholic Bishop of Worcester and J&M Batista Family Limited Partnership request the existing BL-1.0 zone at 845, 857 & 865 Main St. be extended to the end of their property line.

Bill Walsh, Sr. request City Council to require a leash law for cats

Helen & Marion Stomski request abatement of street betterment assessment #24845 in the amount of $12,268.00 on Houghton St.

Debra Dame request to install a drain across the street at 32 Lanesboro Rd.

Heidi Reyna request Resident Permit Parking on Harrison St.

Rosa Alarcon-Salazar request Resident Permit Parking for Strathmore Rd.

Nikolin Vangjeli request resident permit parking in Oak Ave. from Kendall St. to Catharine St. between 6pm and 11pm Monday thru Friday except Holidays.

Albert Sam request handicap parking space in front of 7 Gates St.

Fai Tayu request to remove handicap parking space in front of 23 Courtland St.

Katherine Walsh request handicap parking space in front of 111 Grand View Ave.

Request City Council Approval of the Appointment of Theresa Senckowski to the Community Development Advisory Committee.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the Greenwood Street Landfill.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Economic Development and Business Assistance Programs Available to Support New or Existing Businesses.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Disposition and Development of the Buildings at the Former Worcester Technical High School at Wheaton Square.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Zoning Ordinance Amendment Package Related to Renewable Energy Facilities.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Department of Public Works and Parks (DPWP) Annual Christmas Gift Drive.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity Report for the Month of November 2009.

Respectfully Recommend that City Council Accept with Gratitude, a Donation in the Amount of Fifty Dollars and No Cents ($50.00) from the MA Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Inc. to the Worcester Fire Department.

Request City Council Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a State Department of Public Health Partnership for the Enhancement for Regional Preparedness Grant.

Recommend that City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation in the Amount of Thirty Six Thousand and Four Hundred Dollars ($36,400.00) from the George I. Alden Trust through the Worcester Public Library Foundation.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation in the Amount of One Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,000.00) from the Frank and Paula Schultz Trust to Support Library Services.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of a Resolution to Accept Commonwealth of Massachusetts Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Funding in the Amount of Two Million, Five Hundred Eighty Six Thousand, Eight Dollars and No Cents ($2,586,008.).

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Reaffirmation as a "No Place for Hate" Community.

Recommend that City Council Approve the Request of the School Committee, Pursuant to the Provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 30B, Section 12, to Authorize the Purchasing Director of the City of Worcester to Advertise and Award Contracts for Student Transportation Services, Subject to the Approval of the Worcester Public Schools and the City Manager, for a Term of up to Five Years.

Recommend that Twenty Seven Thousand Two Hundred Nine Dollars And Twenty Cents ($27,209.20) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, to Account #26C706, Worcester Fire Department Building Rehabilitation, to fund expenses associated with the Providence Street Fire Station.

Recommend that Sixteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($16,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to Account #04C745, Planning Capital Equipment, for the purchase of a color copier.

Recommend that Two Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($240,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784, Park Improvements, to Parks Account # 72C708, Knights of Columbus for work associated with the Access Road.

Recommend that Twenty Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($20,500.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C709, Worcester Common Rehab, to Parks Account # 72C706, Worcester Common Rehab for work associated with Worcester Common Rehabilitation.

Recommend that Twenty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($20,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C744, Off-Street Parking Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to DPW Account #46C703, Parking Lot Rehabilitation, to allow for payment of current and anticipated obligations.

Recommend that Twenty One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Three Dollars And Twenty Eight Cents ($21,743.28) be transferred from Loan Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to Account #41C703, DPW Capital Equipment, to allow for the purchase and future payment of Central Garage equipment and an Engineering Division truck.

Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Four Dollars And No Cents ($75,374.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C734, Sewer Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #44C704, Sewer Capital Equipment, to allow for the purchase and future payment of capital equipment.

Recommend that Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($25,000.00) be transferred from Account #670-91000, Assessing Personal Services, and be appropriated to Account #670-92000, Assessing Ordinary Maintenance, to provide funding for a recently completed software conversion.

Recommend that Thirty Five Thousand Seven Hundred Twelve Dollars And Ten Cents ($35,712.10) in CDBG prior year unexpended balances be transferred from various accounts and be appropriated to various accounts to provide funding for project costs associated with the completion of the Gardner Kilby Hammond Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative.

Recommend that Eight Hundred Fifty One Thousand Twenty Three Dollars And Seventy Five Cents ($851,023.75) be transferred to and from various accounts to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Parking Program for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2010.

Recommend that One Hundred Ten Dollars And No Cents ($110.00) be reappropriated to Account #7204-92000, Forestry Ordinary Maintenance, to allow contractual obligations for license reimbursements be met with Fiscal 2009 Funds.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Schedule and Locations for Worcester Residents to Drop Off Their Holiday Trees.

Mayor-Elect Joseph C. O'Brien transmitting a communication relative to the 2010 City Council Meeting Schedule.

Amending the Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991, relative to Wind Energy Conversion Facilities, Renewable and Alternative Energy.

Amending the Montvale Historic District by the adoption of a new map enlarging the district.

Order Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for a pole location in: KENILWORTH RD (Tabled - Eddy October 20, 2009)

Motion Lukes @ #11.4B CM - Request City Manager report as to whether the job creation requirement could be eliminated from the Storefront Improvement Program and the Façade and Awning Incentive Program.

Motion Clancy @ #11.4B CM - Request City Manager report to City Council how the administration plans to inform the business community on Blackstone River Road of the various improvement programs as well as informing these businesses on how to access funding for these improvements thru local banks.

Motion Clancy @ #11.4B CM - Request City Manager report as to whether more banks could be encouraged to offer loans, similar to the façade program, for targeting businesses along the city's major corridor streets.

Motion Lukes @ #11.4C CM - Request City Council support more diverse new housing development with an emphasis on market-rate housing with a maximum of 10% affordable units if there are going to any units available for development in the downtown Worcester area.

Motion Lukes @ #11.4C CM - Request City Manager submit a report on plans for more diverse housing in the city, with an emphasis on downtown Worcester, giving a priority to developers who do not depend wholly on public funding and therefore restrictive deeds and restrictive requirements for lease or purchase of housing.

Motion Haller @ #11.4C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with the City's current housing policy.

Motion Clancy @ #11.4C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report previously submitted to City Council relative to the housing stock in city.

Motion Clancy @ #11.4C CM - Request City Manager provide a report relative to an update on the Chevalier building.

Motion Toomey @ #11.4C CM - Request City Manager report to City Council with the developer's definition of what the market-rate rents might be for the Wheaton Square developments on parcels A, B and C.

Motion Lukes @ #11.4C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council, prior to taking any final action, with a recommendation for the disposition of parcel A at Wheaton Square to allow City Council review.

Motion Haller @ #11.29A CM - Request the Administration of the Worcester Public Schools respond whether or not there is any opportunity to involve the WRTA in the busing of students.

Motion Petty - Under Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide a report relative to Direct Air and the activities at the airport over the past two weeks including recommendations for improvements.

Motion Lukes - Under Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide a report relative to security measures in place at the Worcester Regional Airport.

Motion Smith - Under Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager request the Commissioner of Public Works & Parks investigate non-working fire hydrant in vicinity of 11 Monadnock Road.

Motion Toomey - Under Suspension of Rules - Request the City Manager request the Fire Chief report to City Council as to what the impact will be to the Fire Department's Fire Response Plan since the closing of the fire station in the town of Shrewsbury on Route 20.