CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:12 P.M.

Adjourned: 10:09 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager responding to City Council's request to amend the Zoning Ordinance relative to an inclusion of a temporary moratorium on the erection, enlargement and relocation of wall illuminated, digital and non-accessory signs. (Tabled - Lukes April 7, 2010)

Mayor O'Brien read a Proclamation declaring Tuesday, April 20, 2010 as Equal Pay Day in Worcester and presented the proclamation to Dina Tedeschi and Dr. Karen Fine, representatives of the local Chapter for the National Committee for Pay Equity.

Kimberly Abraham request private street conversion of Swan Ave. from Mill St. to Outlook Dr.

Andrew Cariglia, Director of Buildings & Grounds for the American Antiquarian Society, request sidewalk sections be replaced from the right corner of the driveway at 190 Salisbury St. to the bottom of Salisbury St. and Park Ave.

Andrew Cariglia, Director of Buildings & Grounds for the American Antiquarian Society, request broken sidewalk sections be replaced to the left and right of the driveway at 185 Salisbury St. off Regent St. leading to the front entrance.

Trevor McCarthy request street resurfacing for Commonwealth Ave. between Hamilton St. and Crawford St.

Gautam Sharma request resurfacing of Oriol Dr.

Damien Jacob request to remove the incomplete mono-pole structures on city owned sidewalks dotting the length of north Main St.

Richard Rene request repaving of sidewalk in front of 12 Berkshire St.

Pammi Cassanelli request speed limit signs in Ledgecrest Dr., Beatrice Dr., and Goddard Memorial Dr.

Gerald Leonard request to install a crosswalk at the end of I-290 Shrewsbury St. Off Ramp near the VIA Restaurant.

Sarah Erlich request resident permit parking in Flower Hill Dr.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Reappointments of Kathleen Gervais and Mable Millner to the Human Rights Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Nancy Kudzal to the Citizens Advisory Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Beacon/Federal Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of Appendix 102.AA of the Massachusetts State Building Code ("Stretch" Energy Code).

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a U.S. Department of Labor State Energy Sector Partnership Grant for Dislocated Workers.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity Reports for the Months of January and February 2010.

Transmitting Communication Relative to an Update on the Abandoned Vehicle Removal Program.

Recommend City Council Adoption of a Resolution to Accept a Mass Decontamination Unit (MDU) Grant Award in the Amount of Six Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($6,000.00) from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Health.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Crime Statistics in the City for 2009.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Taxi/Livery Services.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Response and Action Plan to the H1N1 Influenza Virus.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Public Health Hazard Created by Canadian Geese.

Recommend that City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) from the Vietnam Veterans for the Community.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C714OA, Water Pumping Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to DPW Account #45C726, Water Pumping Stations to allow for the payment of current and future obligations.

Recommend that Six Thousand One Hundred Twenty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($6,127.00) be transferred when and as received from Loan Account #91C731, Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Water Account #45C730, Capital Equipment to allow for the purchase and future payment of this equipment per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Dollars And No Cents ($9,990.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #04C719, Planning and Community Development, to fund ongoing remediation at the former City Hospital site, as approved in the Fiscal Year 2007 Capital Improvement Program.

Recommend that Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($8,000.00) be transferred when and as received from Loan Account #91C731OA, Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Water Account #45C703, Capital Equipment to allow for the purchase and future payment of this lawn tractor per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7840B, Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70204, Greenhill Landfill, for the purpose of paying contractually obligated invoices.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($150,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C766, Blackstone Visitor's Center, and be appropriated to Account #04C752, Blackstone Visitor's Center, to provide funding for the demolition of the Rome Building; the proposed site of the Blackstone Visitor's Center site.

Recommend that Sixty One Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($61,700.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C784, Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70201, Aquatic Facilities, for anticipated invoices for the Crompton Park Pool Complex.

Recommend that Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) be transferred from Account #14SSFD33, Finance Salary, and be appropriated to Account #14S43233, Main South NRSA, to provide funding assistance to the Ha-Tien Market at 892 Main Street which was severely damaged by fire.

Recommend that Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($40,000.00) be transferred from DPW Account #41040302-92120, Sanitation O.M., and be appropriated to DPW Account #410311-92203, Street Patching - Potholes to allow for the purchase and payment of this much needed street patching material.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Four Thousand Four Hundred Forty One Dollars And Ninety Four Cents ($154,441.94) be transferred from Account #55S621, Pilot Donation, and be appropriated to various Public Library accounts to provide funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2010.

Recommend that One Hundred Twelve Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($92,000.00) be transferred from Account #172-96000, Unemployment Compensation, and be appropriated to Account #170-92000, Human Resources Ordinary Maintenance, to fund expenses related to labor relation arbitration and litigation for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2010.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Wheels to Water Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Public Safety Stimulus Funds.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to CSX.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Jonathan Koop, President of S & K Valet, in the interest of public safety, request the installation of passenger zones for drop-off and pick-up of passengers at the following business locations from 5pm-2am: in Commercial St. in front of One Exchange Place, in front of 166 Shrewsbury St., in front of 82 Winter St., and in front of 50 Front St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying four (4) Orders. (Tabled - Haller April 7, 2010)

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)

Motion Petty @ #8.17B CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report relative to rules concerning out-of-town taxies operating within the city limits.

Motion Germain @ #8.17B CM - Request City Manager provide a report concerning the type and number of violations issued to liveries.

Motion Rushton @ #8.17B CM - Request City Manager request the Police Chief report to City Council how the 12 hour rule was arrived at when drafting livery rules.

Motion Petty @ #8.17B CM - Request City Auditor work with the cab companies to learn their response times and areas served with the proviso confidential data will be excluded.

Motion Petty @ #8.17B CM - Request City Manager and the Mayor bring the issues of taxi and liveries to the attention of the state delegation to see if this could be addressed on a state wide basis.

Motion Haller @ #8.17A - Request City Manager forward City Manager's communication #8.17A to each of the neighborhood associations across the city.

Motion O'Brien @ #8.17A - Request City Manager inform City Council as to what has been the result to community impact, summer impact and community policing services division of WPD in light of the projected funding reductions.

Motion O'Brien @ #8.17A - Request City Manager report to City Council the plans for this upcoming summer impact program.

Motion O'Brien @ #8.17A - Request City Manager request the Police Chief report the number of officers assigned to a Friday night 3-11 tour for the past several years and compare this to the same shift during this current fiscal year.

Motion Eddy @ #8.24B CM - Request City Manager provide a report to City Council concerning whether or not the city could afford to purchase a border collie for geese control and further, request report include costs for purchasing, housing, training and feeding this animal.

Motion Toomey @ #8.24B CM - Request City Manager report as to whether the state hunting season for geese can be extended similar to the extension granted for hunting deer.

Motion Lukes @ #8.24B CM - Request City Manager report how geese waste is cleaned up in the parks.

Motion Lukes @ #8.36D CM - Request City Manager report the names and total amounts paid this fiscal year to outside attorneys for related labor relation arbitration and litigation.

Motion Smith - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager reduce the excessive signage adjacent to Indian Hill Park.

Motion Petty and Palmieri - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager review for street maintenance and repair the street drainage issues at 9 Locust Ave.