CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:10 P.M.

Recessed to Finance Committee: 8:14 P.M.
Reconvened to Open Session: 9:59 P.M.
Adjourned: 10:42 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the transfer of the Worcester Regional Airport (Tabled - Petty May 25, 2010),

The Mayor read a proclamation declaring the week of June 7th, 2010 as Literacy Week. Mayor O'Brien recognized School Committee Member John Monfredo who provided an update of this campaign.

Michael Sylvia request Pine Hill Road be made public.

Nicholas and Lisa Perna on behalf of MFC-JAC Realty Trust request abatement of street betterment assessment #24851 in the amount of $7,407.00 for Billow St.

Josephine Tomasetta request sidewalk repair in front of 21 Berkeley St.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Robert Cotton request to repair the 2 curb cuts on both sides of the driveway on the Chippewa Rd side of house at 41 Chippewa Rd.

Athena Pappas request sidewalk on the right side of 37 Flagg St. be repaired.

John Rondeau request sidewalk repair in front of 381 Lovell St.

Councilor Joseph Petty on behalf of Carolyn Packard request the repaving of Stanton St.

Worcester Sunderland LLC request the guardrail bordering Sunderland Road and the property at 29 Sunderland Rd be replaced.

Jo Hart request the City Council establish procedures so that all materials (paper documents, discs, etc) given to the City Council or to a City Council Committee at public meetings and hearings be more clearly defined.

Susan Ledoux request installation of two "Left Lane Must Turn Left" signs on the I-290 Off Ramp at Burncoat St. and Melrose St., one as you are approaching the traffic lights and one at the traffic lights.

Joyce Kazmierczak request handicap parking signs in front of 27 Ingleside Ave be removed.

Rita Zeffert request City Council adjust the speed limit from 30 mph to 40 mph on Route 122, Pleasant St. between the Paxton line and Chandler St.

Donald Bradway request traffic cams at intersections with pedestrian crossing signals.

VERIZON NEW ENGLAND INC. for a sole pole location: THORNTON ROAD

Norman Guertin et al request City Council consider "Worcester city employee jobs for Worcester residents only".

Leonard Zalauskas request to speak at the June 1, 2010 Budget Hearing.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Eric Goldstein to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Pedro Figueroa to the Citizens Advisory Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Timothy Loew to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Recommend Adoption of an Ordinance to Rename the Worcester Cultural Commission to the Worcester Arts Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Economic Development Activity and Economic Impact at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS).

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2009 Leaf Collection Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Valet Parking Zone Ordinance.

Recommend City Council's Review and Approval to Discontinue Lexington Street and Remove it from the Official City Map.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the Section 319 Non-point Source Pollution Competitive Grant Program to begin the Restoration of Salisbury Pond.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services FY 2010 COPS Hiring Program Grant.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to City Manager Responses to Questions Raised During Finance Committee/Budget Deliberations.

Recommend that Twenty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Nine Dollars And No Cents ($23,989.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C731, Water Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to Account #45C703, Water Capital Equipment, to allow for the purchase and future payment of vehicle.

Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($75,000.00) be transferred from Account #330-54, Greenwood Street Landfill, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C602, Quinsigamond Village Neighborhood Project, to fund various contractual obligations for the construction of an Aquatic Playground at Greenwood Park.

Recommend that Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Twelve Dollars And Fifty Six Cents ($15,312.56) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #04C753, Citywide Energy Improvements, to provide funds for consulting services in conjunction with the Energy Conservation Measures as part of the Investment Grade Audit of all City and School facilities.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($765,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784, Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70201, Aquatic Facilities, to provide funding for design, engineering and construction costs associated with the Crompton Park Pool Complex.

Recommend that Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7930A, Golf Improvements, and be appropriated to Account #71C70201, Green Hill Park Road, to fund construction costs.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's "Green Community" Designation.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Donation in the Amount of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) from Worcester Polytechnic Institute to Support the 2010 Wheels to Water Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Unum Group's Lease Signing with CitySquare II LLC.

Amending Section 8 of Chapter 8 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 relative to Commercial Metal Containers

Amending Chapter 10 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 relative to fees for Fire Department Permits and Services

Amending Chapter 8 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 relative to the licensing and control of Dogs.

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

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. and the recommendation to adopt the accompanying four (4) Orders. (Tabled - Petty April 27, 2010)

Councilor Palmieri, Chairman of the Public Health and Human Services, moved to request to suspend the rules to allow the following Chairman's Orders and Reports be submitted for consideration: FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request the City Manager provide the City Council with the approximate date that the PIP Shelter will be closed.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request the City Manager request the Director of Neighborhood Services prepare appropriate documents to allocate up to $2,500.00 in unexpended funds to Stone Soup for capital startup.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request the City Manager report to the City Council concerning the distribution of percentage of administration and planning caps for CDBG, ESG, and HOPWA as identified in Year 36 funding recommendations, Public Services (15% Cap), Other Services (20% Cap), ESG (5%), HOME Program (10%), and HOPWA (3%).

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request the City Manager request the City Solicitor report to the City Council concerning the eligibility of organizations to receive Community Development Block Grant funds if they are involved in political activities including elections.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager request City Council's Review, Deliberation and Approval of Funding Recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2011 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program: recommend adoption of the accompanying four (4) resolutions.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend that Four Million Nine Hundred Forty Seven Thousand Thirty Six Dollars And No Cents ($4,947,036.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Year XXXVI Community Development Block Grant Program, and be appropriated, when and as received, to various accounts to provide financing for projects and programs as described: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Million Nine Hundred Ninety Three Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Two Dollars And No Cents ($1,993,662.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Fiscal Year 2011 HOME Program, and be appropriated, when and as received, to Account #18S36711, HOME Program: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend that Four Hundred Eight Thousand Two Hundred Eighty Two Dollars And No Cents ($408,282.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS program and be appropriated, when and as received, to various accounts for projects and programs as described: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend that Two Hundred Five Thousand One Hundred Eighty Five Dollars And No Cents ($205,185.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Shelter Grant program and be appropriated, when and as received to various accounts to provide funding for projects and programs as described: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Proposed CDBG Allocation Process Timetable for Year 36 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011): recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to HOME Affordable Housing Development Program: recommend Communication be placed on file.

Councilor Clancy, Chairman of the Public Works Committee, moved to request to suspend the rules to allow the following Report be submitted for consideration - Approved

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Report of the Planning Board upon the Petition of Hossein Haghanizadeh, PE, H.S.& T Group, Inc. request portion of Austin St. be discontinued as a public street and removed from the Official Map: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order

Councilor Haller, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, moved to request to suspend the rules to allow the following Report be submitted for consideration - Approved.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend City Council adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a U.S. Department of Justice FY 2010 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant - Local Solicitation: recommend adoption of the accompanying Resolution

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council the base wage and all sources for employees excluding part time workers. (Rushton)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request the City Manager and the Mayor develop a rule for deciding when a calendar item, with multi page backup materials, should be electronically transmitted as a cost savings measure and report back to City Council. (Clancy)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council the total cost of EM incentive pay and the total cost for step increases and when step increases are pursuant to contract agreements. (Lukes)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manger report to City Council the funding source for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Greenhill Park. (Haller)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request the Mayor prepare a letter on behalf the City Council to the city's state delegation stating their support for the regionalization of the enhanced 911 system and the importance for receiving the state grant award. (Petty)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report of the average salaries for each employee group. (Lukes)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council the feasibility of merging and/or privatizing the city and school's Human Resource Departments (Lukes)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager request the School Administration provide a report concerning the number of employees for the School Administration's Human Resource Department, the functions and what is the budget allocation for this department. (Lukes)

Councilor Toomey moved to amend: Further, request the report include a description of duties performed.

Motion Smith @ #8.12B CM - Request City Manager request City Solicitor to draft a Valet Parking Zone Ordinance.

RESOLUTION @ #8.4B CM - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes Chancellor Collins and the UMMS for their significant economic impact, their strong community partnership and growth and expansion to their Worcester campus. Further, that the City Council and City Manager are grateful for their continue commitment to and investment in the City of Worcester. (Eddy)

Motion Toomey @ #8.4B CM - Request City Manager place item #8.4B CM relative to UMMS on the cities webpage.

Motion Haller @ #8.17A CM - Request the Mayor on behalf of the City Council send a letter of support for the FY2010 Cops Hiring Program (CHP) Grant.