CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:28 P.M.

Recessed to Finance Committee: 6:30 P.M.
Reconvened into Open Session: 7:31 P.M.
Adjourned:7:50 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council meeting of May 17, 2011.

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID for conduit location on: HARLEM ST. and WARD ST.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit location on: HARLEM ST. and WARD ST.

John Budzinski et al request Purchase St. be repaved.

Gail Smith request to relocate three (3) existing handicap parking spaces on east side of May St. from corner of Chandler St. southerly to vicinity of the Auditorium entrance of Temple Emmanuel.

Morris Bergman, Board Member of B'Nai B'rith Cemetery, request permission to install two (2) directional signs at intersection of St. Johns Rd and Cambridge St. for the purpose of identifying by directional arrow the location of the cemetery.

Jennifer Thibault request to install 3-way Stop Signs at the intersection of South Flagg St. and Sherwood Rd.

Jennifer Thibault request to install a "Handicapped Child" Cautionary sign in the vicinity of 160 South Flagg St.

John Colby et al request to extend the existing "No Parking" space on the west side entrance to the Greendale YMCA on Shore Dr. back at least two car lengths to allow for a safer way of exiting from the facility.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Request City Manager report to City Council the impact of the District Improvement Financing for the various future phases of the CitySquare in light of that portion of public monies being accessed for the Vanguard/Saint Vincent Oncology Center building project.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Request City Manager request Vanguard/Saint Vincent provide the City Council with the profit margins they realize from their current oncology care operation.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Request City Manager report to City Council the potential outcomes if the City Council chooses not to support the request for a Certified Project designation for Vanguard/Saint Vincent Hospital in the CitySquare Development Project.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request Worcester Public School Superintendent provide City Council with timetables and details of rehabilitation work to be conducted in school facilities this coming summer. (Petty)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request Worcester Public School Superintendent report to City Council concerning class sizes and the specific schools for those classes that will be realized as a result of the FY 2012 budget. (Haller)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a listing of parks that will not receive maintenance if the FY 2012 budget is approved as submitted. (Haller)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager summarize the impacts to FY 2012 Public Works and Parks budget for distribution to neighborhood watch groups and members of the business community for possible future subsidization. (Haller)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council concerning what constitutes maintenance of our veterans' memorials across the city. (Germain)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide to City Council with a report concerning the contents of the travel budget. (Lukes)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - Request City Manager request the Worcester Regional Transit Authority establish a Relocation Work Group consisting of interested Green Island residents and business owners to provide input to be used in the planning for the siting and construction of the new WRTA maintenance and operations facility on Quinsigamond Avenue.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - Request City Manager request the Worcester Regional Transit Authority provide the City Council with copies of any and all traffic and environmental studies conducted in conjunction with the planning for their new maintenance and operations facility on Quinsigamond Avenue.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - Request City Manager request NStar participate in the establishment of a green landscape in their property in conjunction with the landscaping for facilities to be constructed by both the Worcester Regional Transit Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation along the west side of Quinsigamond Avenue.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request Police Chief provide enforcement of Stop Sign at Derby St. and Houghton St.

Request City Manager report on the days and hours all City departments are open to the public and if not consistent then to report whether feasible to have all departments open at the same time. (Lukes)

Request the Mayor to recognize the Turtle Boy Urban Gardening Group for their efforts to clean up and beautify the Burnside Memorial Fountain known as the Turtle Boy Monument and the adjacent veterans' memorial. (Toomey)

Dr. Roberta R. Schaefer, President & CEO of Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to EPA Stormwater Regulations in Worcester: Will Ratepayers be Drained?

Steve Morawski, Principal Environmental Representative, transmitting Notice of Approval from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources for Tennessee Gas Pipeline's 2011 Vegetation Management Plan.

That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes the College of the Holy Cross on the occasion of being named to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its strong institutional commitment to service and partnerships that produce measurable results for the community. (Toomey)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending City Council's Approval to transfer Janice Nadeau Way from the Office of Economic Development to the Department of Public Works and Parks for Street Purposes.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the St. Vincent Hospital Cancer Center Project - City Square.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Anne O'Connor, Chair of the Worcester Planning Board requesting amendments to the Zoning Ordinance Article VI-Floodplain Overlay District: 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 requesting to re-zone certain properties along Franklin St. from RL-7 and BL-1.0 to MG-2.0: 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 requesting to re-zone the property at 0 Atlanta St. from RL-7 to MG-2.0: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Attorney Nickolas Moudios on behalf of Aikolai USA Inc request property known and numbered as 130 Goddard Memorial Dr. be rezoned from RS-7 to A-1: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager Recommend Adoption of the Attached Resolutions for Funding Recommendations for Year 37 for Annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Entitlement Grants (CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA ): recommend adoption of the accompanying four resolutions.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Petition of Jo Hart request that the City Council or a Standing Committee immediately conduct a well publicized public hearing concerning the WRTA's plan to move its hub to Union Station and to build a two/three story office building directly on Foster St., directly blocking that view of Union Station: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Potential Sites for a New Maintenance and Operations Facility: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission's (CMRPC) Worcester Regional Mobility Study and Scheduled Public Meeting to Discuss the Study: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Proposed Plans for Relocation of its Existing Grove Street Site: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of David and Dasha Perodeau request Derby St. from South Stowell St. to Houghton St. be made one-way in an easterly direction: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Lawrence Mastromatteo request to install "No Parking" on Adams St. from Belmont St. to Johnson St: recommend Petition be placed on file

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Ken Hart, Chief Engineer of Hilton Garden Inn Worcester request a No Parking sign be placed on the east side of Commercial St. near MLK Blvd: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Kenzo Restaurant request changing the winter parking restrictions on Seward St. from a permanent ban to a declared ban: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Sherrie Urena request resident parking from the corner of Vernon/Endicott St. (odd side) down to #135 Endicott St: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Kelly Feliciano, et al request resident permit parking be extended to the bridge on Endicott St. or appropriate signage to deter non-resident parking: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Petition of Councilor Barbara G. Haller request installation of resident permit parking in Canton St., odd side only: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Maria Sheppard request residential permit parking on Vernon St. between Hillside St. and View St.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of John Tekelis request to install resident permit parking on corner of Lincoln St. and Duxbury Rd: recommend Petition be placed on file

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Chairman's Order from the Committee on Public Works - Request the Standing Committee on Traffic & Parking to consider installing additional traffic calming devices in Chandler St. inbound between McClarey Way and Hunthurst Circle, in addition to the repair of the damaged guardrail and any extension of the existing guardrail.: recommend Chairman's Order be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of June Carelli et al request Adams St. become a "one way" street: recommend Petition be denied.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Philip P. Palmieri and State Representative Vincent Pedone request to install a trailer truck ban in Mulberry St. between Shrewsbury St. and East Central St.: recommend the passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled - Petty June 8, 2010)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a Report on the City Council's Authority to Increase Elder Exemption Limits on Annual Income and Asset Limits. (Tabled Under Privilege - O'Brien April 26, 2011 & Tabled - Lukes May 3, 2011)

Motion Rushton - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide City Council with an updated concerning the road surface in Meadow Lane and report recommendations for repair.

Motion Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager respond to concerns from Fifty-four tenants at Wachusett Tower and 42 Vernon Street, a 36 unit elder housing complex, by reviewing the policy for not turning on the central air conditioning when a heat wave occurs prior to June 15th and provide a proposal to resolve this type of situation.

PETITION - Councilor Smith on behalf of John Tekelis request the 30 min parking zone on Duxbury Rd. near Lincoln St. be reduced by one parking space to allow for parking anytime.