CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:12 P.M.

Recessed into Finance Committee: 7:26 P.M.
Reconvened into Open Session: 7:43 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:45 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 24, 2011.

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. (Tabled - O'Brien May 31, 2011)

Mayor O'Brien read a proclamation declaring June 12 through June 18 as Reading in Our City Week and presented it to School Committee Member John Monfredo who commented on the need for children summer reading programs and requested the funding of the Bookmobile be a priority.

Mayor O'Brien read a proclamation declaring June 12, 2011 as Loving Day in Worcester recognizing the 44th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court Decision Loving vs. Virginia overturning Virginia's “Racial Integrity Act”and presented it to Cara Lisa Berg Powers, a member of the Human Rights Commission who thanked the Mayor and City Council for this recognition.

Mayor O'Brien read a proclamation declaring June 18th as Worcester Tornado Day and presented it to of the Worcester Tornadoes CEO Todd Breighner who announced plans concerning a telethon to be held on June 17 & 18 and a portion of the proceeds from Tornado game tickets will be donated to the American Red Cross relief fund for the tornado victims in central and western Massachusetts.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri on behalf of Joann Kane request repair of sidewalks in front of 259 Beverly Rd.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request repair of sidewalks in front of 1 Buckingham Rd.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request repair of sidewalks in front of 4 Buckingham Rd.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request repair of sidewalks in front of 19 Buckingham Rd.

Jo Hart requests an immediate well publicized public hearing for the WRTA to combine its planned two sites (Union Station and Quinsigamond Ave) into one location at the Wyman Gordon property now for sale, thereby saving untold traffic problems and congestion and millions of dollars of public money.

NSTAR for a gas main location: INSTITUTE RD.

MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY dba NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND for a joint pole location: GUILFORD ST.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Nievel Williams to The Mayor Thomas Early Scholarship Committee.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Legal Counsel Rendered for Collective Bargaining Purposes.

Recommend Adoption of the Attached Salary Ordinance Amendment to Comply with Changes Enacted in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.

Recommend Adoption of the Attached Salary Ordinance Amendment to Comply with Changes Enacted in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.

Recommend Adoption of the Attached Salary Ordinance Amendment to Comply with Changes Enacted in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.

Recommend the Adoption of the Attached Salary Ordinance Amendment to Comply with Changes Enacted in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.

Recommend Adoption of the Attached Resolutions to File and Accept FY12 Grants from the State Division of Career Services.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2011 Summer Youth Opportunities Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Charter Communication's 1st Quarter Report on Response Time in Handling Phone Calls to Customer Care.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Communication Relative to the Traffic Impact of Closing Downing Street from Woodland Street to Florence Street.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity Report for the Month of April 2011.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Ribbon Cutting for the Official Opening of the Crompton Park Pool on Friday, July 1, 2011.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept an Emergency Operations Center Grant through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security by Homeland Security/FEMA.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept a 2011 South High Community Service Learning Council Grant in the Amount of Six Hundred and Seventy-Five Dollars ($675.00) for Teen Writing and Teen Manga Programs at the Worcester Public Library.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Donation from the Worcester Women's Club in the Amount of Fifty Dollars and No Cents ($50.00) to the Worcester Public Library's Gaudette Fund.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Activities of the Office of Disabilities.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.

Recommend that One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($140,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C745, Sewers - Holden Street, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C776, Holden Street Sewer Main, to allow for the payment of anticipated obligations associated with this capital project.

Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($200,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C745, Sewers - Granite Street, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C746, Granite Street Improvements, to allow for the payment of anticipated obligations associated with this capital project.

Recommend that Forty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($45,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7110A, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #41C704, DPW Building Rehabilitation, to allow for the payment of current and anticipated obligations.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C737OA, Water Meters, and be appropriated to DPW Account #45C794, Water Meters, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations.

Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($200,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7451A, Sewer Reconstruction, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C744, Sewer Reconstruction, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations.

Recommend that Forty One Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Dollars And No Cents ($41,270.00) be transferred from Account #91C7111B, Fire Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #26C704, Worcester Fire Department Capital Rehabilitation, to fund the purchase of replacement windows for the Grove Street Fire Station.

Recommend that One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($160,000.00) be transferred from Account #250-91000, Police Personal Services, and be appropriated to Account #250-97000, Police Overtime, to cover the cost of an impact patrol for the month of June 2011.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Recommend that Four Million One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Eight Dollars And No Cents ($4,115,308.00) be transferred from the identified Accounts to be appropriated to the Police and Fire Department Salary Accounts to amend the Fiscal 2012 Police and Fire Department Salary budget restoring positions
as identified.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Invitation to a Groundbreaking Ceremony on June 6, 2011 for the new CSX Terminal.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update for the 2011 Wheels to Water Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2011 Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Recommend Adoption of Amendments to the FY'12 Budget.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council the savings being realized as a result of health plan migrations. (O'Brien)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council the number of retirees and the number of employees, within the two unions who have not settled their contracts, who have migrated to GIC like plan. (Clancy)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager appraise City Council of strategies for expending additional resources for the summer impact program, if additional funding is identify, and the areas to apply. (Petty)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning summer jobs for the youth of Worcester. (Haller)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide a report detailing a three year history of the account for special counsel within the Human Resources Department utilized for various collective bargaining units and include the number of hours, hourly rates and retainers, etc. (O'Brien)

Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien transmitting communication requesting City Council to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of $1,500.00 from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation for the Mayor's 4 session Civic Academy in conjunction with the judges of the Worcester Trial Court Complex.

That the City Treasurer, with the approval of the City Manager, is hereby authorized to issue refunding bonds or notes of the City under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 21A of the General Laws, or any other enabling authority, for the purpose of refunding all or a portion of the outstanding amounts for the following enclosed bond issues.

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)

Mayor O'Brien, Chairman of the Finance Committee, requested the following Report be submitted for consideration:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Recommendation: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

Motion Haller @ #10.9A CM - Request City Manager forward a copy of City Manager's item #10.9A to all the neighborhood crimewatch groups and business associations.

Motion Lukes @ #10.14A CM - Request City Manager report to City Council whether or not police are notified when there is an increase of graffiti and report if this is an indication for an increase in violence or other criminal activities.

Motion Smith @ #10.15A CM - Request City Manager inform City Council as to whether the resident permit parking signs approved by the Traffic & Parking Committee for Canton St. will be installed prior to the opening of the Crompton Pool Park.

Motion Haller @ #10.39B CM - Request City Manager forward a copy of City Manager's item #10.39B to all the neighborhood crimewatch groups and business associations.

Motion Lukes @ #10.18A CM - Request the City Council Standing Committee on Public Safety consider holding a public hearing to learn from the Administration the city's local response plans in the event of natural catastrophe such as a tornado.

Motion Lukes - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide City Council with a list of wages for all city employees based on their W-2 form.

PETITION - Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of John Abbe of Zion Lutheran Church request to remove the “No Parking” signs around the Zion Lutheran Church at the corner of Leeds St. and Whitmarsh Ave.

PETITION - Councilor William J. Eddy on behalf of the residents of Olean St. request to install a crosswalk in the vicinity of at 135 Olean St.

PETITION - Councilor William J. Eddy and Councilor Joseph M. Petty request installation of three (3) street lights on Mayfield St. from Chandler St. along side of Beaver Brook Park and Ted Williams Little League.

PETITION - Councilor William J. Eddy on behalf of David O'Toole et al request to repave Wyola Dr.

Motion Eddy - Suspension of Rules - Request the Mayor send a letter on behalf of the City Council thanking Good Sports Inc. for their generous donation of $8,000 in sports equipment to Doherty High School.

Councilor Petty to amend: Further, request the Mayor invite Good Sports Inc. to a City Council meeting for the purpose of recognizing them for this donation as well as a previous donation to the Vocational High School.

Motion Rushton - Request City Manager closely monitor the repairs to benches at the Jesse Burkett “A” Field.