CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:46 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:11 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Under Suspension of Rules, Mayor O'Brien introduced John Foisy, Finance & Marketing Department Head of the Worcester Vocational Technical High School who in turn introduced Peter Crafts, Director of Vocational/Technical Education and the students who won awards from the Massachusetts Association of Marketing Students 2010 statewide competition:

Josh Patnod and Brittany Zigmont for the Financial Literacy and Promotions Project
Loan Chau, who worked with Luisanna Paulino who was not present, for Entrepreneurship Project
Jennifer Siqueira for Apparel & Accessory Marketing Event

These students were invited to recognize their achievements and show support in their upcoming competition in Louisville, KY.

Hossein Haghanizadeh, PE, H, S & Group, Inc., request portion of Austin St. be discontinued as a public street and removed from the Official Map.

Richard Blasé request City Council consider privatizing the Human Resources functions of the City of Worcester and the Worcester Public Schools.

Kristen Johnson & Scott Renaud request to resurface Fales St.

Kristen Johnson & Scott Renaud request sidewalks in Fales St. be repaired

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request "No Parking" be installed in the even side of Sheridan St.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request the installation of a pedestrian push-button street crossing device in Richmond Ave. for safe pedestrian crossing in front of 2 Richmond Ave. to 821 Pleasant St.

Sherrel Cooley request to remove bus stop at 10 Everett Gaylord Blvd.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointments of Michael Amir and Robert Nemeth to the Airport Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Application to Google for the Installation of High-Speed Fiber Network.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the City's Housing Strategy.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Department of Public Works and Parks Employees' Donations for Haiti Relief.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Candidate List of Petitioned Streets for Future Resurfacing Programs.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Lincoln Street Construction Projects.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Spring 2010 Street Sweeping Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program for FY10.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a FY2010 Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Grant for Coes Pond.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept an FY 2010 Dept. Of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Strategic Enhancement to Mentoring Programs Grant.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Independent Audit Management Letter and the Authority of the City Council as it relates to the Worcester Public Schools and the Office of the City Clerk.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Grant from the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept State Council on Aging Formula and Service Incentive Grants from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Donation of Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Six Dollars ($3,796.00) from the Friends of Worcester's Senior Center, Inc.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Grant in the Amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) from One Family, Inc. and the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the City's Plan to End Homelessness.

Recommend that Four Thousand Two Hundred Ninety Eight Dollars And No Cents ($4,298.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #34C702, Elder Affairs Building Rehabilitation, to provide funding for emergency repairs at the Worcester Senior Center.

Recommend that Two Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($240,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #75C504, DCU Special District , and be appropriated to DCU Account #75C704, DCU Special District Improvements, for contractually obligated payments on the Ice System and Electrical Upgrades at the DCU Center.

Recommend that Two Hundred Seventy Nine Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($279,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #75C504, DCU Special District, and be appropriated to DCU Account #75C704, DCU Special District Improvements, for the purpose of paying contractually obligated commitments for the DCU Center Design.

Recommend that Eleven Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty One Dollars And No Cents ($11,981.00) be transferred from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to Account #26C701, Fire Capital Equipment, to fund the replacement of an older Thermal Imaging Camera.

Recommend that Thirty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Eighteen Dollars And No Cents ($38,318.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C711, Citywide Rehabilitation, and appropriated to City Messenger Account #11C702, City Messenger Rehabilitation ($16,518.00) and Account #11C703, Alderman Chamber ($21,800.00) for anticipated payments associated with City Hall projects.

Recommend that Sixty One Thousand Five Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars And Fifty Five Cents ($61,599.55) be transferred from various citywide capital accounts and appropriated to various citywide capital accounts.

Recommend that Forty Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Two Dollars And Seventy Cents ($49,992.70) be transferred from Sewer Account #440-91101, Salaries, and appropriated to Sewer Account #440-97201, Overtime to allow overtime costs to be paid during the remaining period of Fiscal Year 2010.

Recommend that Seven Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($7,000.00) be transferred from Account # 91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to Account #67C703, Assessing Capital Equipment, for the purchase of a computer and software for the Assessor's Office.

Recommend that Three Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Eight Dollars And Seventy Five Cents ($3,388.75) be transferred from Account #270-92000, Communications Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #270-93000, Communications Capital Outlay, to fund the purchase and installation of an EDACS radio.

Recommend that Three Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Dollars And Ninety Nine Cents ($3,530.99) be transferred from Account #270-92000, Communications Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #270-93000, Communications Capital Outlay, to facilitate the purchase of a desktop and laptop computer.

Recommend that Eight Hundred Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Two Dollars And Fifty Cents ($813,102.50) be transferred as follows so as to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Parking Program for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2010:

Recommend that Twenty Two Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars And No Cents ($22,250.00) be transferred from Account #670-91000, Assessing Personal Services, and be appropriated to Account #670-92000, Assessing Ordinary Maintenance, for ordinary maintenance expenses through FY2010.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Pending Board and Commission Vacancies.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Criteria for the Transfer of Worcester Regional Airport to MassPort.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Richard Kerver, CIO, on behalf of Worcester Energy Alliance, request to amend the Zoning Ordinance by amending Article IV, Section 13, Paragraph E.1.a relative to height requirements.

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

Communication of the City Auditor transmitting Reports on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, Compliance and Federal Awards Programs prepared by Sullivan, Rogers & Company, LLC for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. (Tabled - Haller March 23, 2010)

Communication of the City Auditor transmitting Management Letter prepared by Sullivan, Rogers & Company, LLC for the year ended June 30, 2009. (Tabled - Haller March 23, 2010)

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager provide an organizational chart of city departments showing employee resources in each of the departments.

Mayor O'Brien moved to amend: Further, request City Manager report to City Council the list of current projects and if there are enough staff to move applications and keep project moving forward.

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager report what the city has allocated administration dollars for each of the last five years relative to Community Development Block Grant to support housing development and a description of what HUD allows us to do with these administrative dollars.

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager report what is the percentage of funds the city has allocated to private housing development versus non-profit housing development versus community-based housing development.

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager report how the city has calculated the 14% affordable housing figure.

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager report concerning city allocated NSP 2 funds and how the funds are awarded as well as how much has been distributed.

Motion O'Brien @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with income eligibility charts and guidelines for qualifying for housing assistance.

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager report to City Council the current policy regarding municipal tax and fee abatements.

Motion Haller @ #7.5A CM - Request City Manager report to City Council the city policy relative to foreclosure on delinquent tax liens.

Motion Clancy on behalf of the entire City Council @ #7.14A & 7.14D CM - Request City Manager, in conjunction with the sale of Worcester Regional Airport, come forward to City Council with a report as to how much monies are made available immediately for street and sidewalk repair and what monies could become available through an increase in our bonding capacity for the use of additional infrastructure work.

Motion Eddy @ #7.14A & 7.14D CM - Request City Manager consider moving the operational account for berm repair and replacement into the capital account for sidewalk repair.

Motion O'Brien @ #7.14A & 7.14D CM - Request City Council request City Manager consider funding school plant infrastructure when monies from the sale of Worcester Regional Airport are realized.

Motion O'Brien @ #7.14A & 7.14D CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update to the ESKO contract.

Motion Toomey @ #7.14A & 7.14D CM - Request City Manager address pension liabilities and debt load when considering recommending an appropriation of funds from the sale of Worcester Regional Airport.

Motion Haller - @ #7.27A CM - Request City Manager provide a report showing the figures for the past five years relative to homelessness for individuals and families.

Motion Germain @ #7.15A CM - Request City Manager investigate the possibility of developing a park at the hillside beach area abutting Coes Pond.

Motion Germain @ #7.15A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Dennis J. Reed softball field, and if the field is not formally named in memory of him, that the proposed playground to be located at this field be named in his honor.

Motion Haller @ #7.20A CM - Request City Clerk notify City Council when the financial policy and procedure manual is completed.

PETITION - Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request sidewalk repair in Standish St. from #96 Standish St. southerly to Massasoit Ave. on both sides of the street.

PETITION - Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request resurfacing of Butler St.

PETITION - Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request resurfacing of Allston St from Greenfield St. southerly.

PETITION - Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. request resurfacing of Cargill St.

PETITION - Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request sidewalk resurfacing in Tampa St. where needed.

Motion Toomey - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide police enforcement of corner clearances at the intersection of Atlanta St. and Plantation St.

Motion Rushton - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager request the Police Chief in Hadwen Rd., both directions at the approaches to Havelock Rd., as previous requested by City Council on February 29, 2010.