CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:10 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

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 March 27, 2012.

Hearing: NSTAR for a gas main location: CRESCENT ST.

Granting permission to NSTAR for a gas main location: CRESCENT ST.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation designating April 17th as Worcester Animal Rescue League Day in Worcester.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation designating the Week of April 15th, 2012 as Boards, Commissions and Advisory Committees Week and it was presented to Stephen Genduso, a member of the Citizens Advisory Board.

Mayor Petty at the request of Councilor Rushton requested everyone to stand for a moment of silence to honor and recognize the service Edmund J. Tierney gave to this community. Mr. Tierney, who passed away this week, was a former School Committee Member and advocate for public school sports.

Mayor Petty at the request of Councilor Palmieri requested everyone to stand for a moment of silence for Chaveli Baker, a young student at Burncoat Sr. High School and a resident of District 2, who was a victim of an unfortunate car accident.

Trung Cao et al request Brookside Ave. be converted to a public street.

Kathryn Tsandikos request sidewalk repair in front of 158 Southbridge St.

Francis Erickson et al request resurfacing of Osceola Ave.

Lourdes Torres request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 131 Fairfield St.

Mike Delude request installation of flashing lights for crosswalk in front of Mt. Carmel Apartments on Shrewsbury St. and speed enforcement.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Smart Grid Pilot.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Worcester Arts Council Reception for 2012 Grant Awardees.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2012 Opening of the Worcester Windows Community Gallery.

Recommend Acceptance of a Property Easement as part of an Initiative of the Worcester Arts Council for a Public Mural.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept Supplemental Funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Recommend Adoption of an Amendment to Chapter 8, Section 3 (c) of the City's Revised Ordinances Relative to the Allowance of a Hookah Bar to Operate at Union Station.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Pedestrian Safety on Pleasant Street and the Status of a Requested Street Light in Front of the Elm Park Tower.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Chester Street Water Tank Rehabilitation Project.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Year 2012 Street Resurfacing Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Dedication and Naming of the Kevin D. Lyons Baseball Diamond at Rockwood Field.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Vernon Hill Playground Baseball Field.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Arbor Day Celebration at Green Hill Park.

Recommend City Council Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Fire Prevention & Safety Grant.

Recommend Adoption of an Order Authorizing the Filing of Special legislation that would allow the City to Adopt a Reorganization Plan that will Change the Board of Health from Advisory to Regulatory by Empowering it with the Powers of Boards of Health under State Law.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Alcohol Awareness Week.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Request and Accept Funds from the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging in Support of the Osteoporosis Prevention Program at the Worcester Senior Center.

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

Recommend Adoption of an Order to Authorize a Lease of Space at the Worcester Senior Center to Family Service Organization of Worcester, Inc.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Commercial Property Values.

Recommend that Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($60,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C716, Union Station Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #04C704, Union Station Rehabilitation, to provide funding for expenses associated with building improvements at Union Station.

Recommend that Forty Nine Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Two Dollars And No Cents ($49,372.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7312A, Water Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #45C703, Water Capital Equipment to allow for the purchase and future payment of these vehicles per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Five Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Dollars And No Cents ($155,580.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7802A, Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C703, Capital Equipment to allow for the purchase and future payment of this much needed equipment.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7242B, Street Lighting Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C712, Street Lights to allow for the purchase and payment of anticipated lighting equipment and services per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($200,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C7842H, Kendrick Park, and appropriate to Parks Account # 72C70225, Kendrick Park Improvements, to pay for anticipated contractual obligations for this project as per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($60,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C7412D, Street Construction, and be appropriated to Account #41C774, Providence/Winthrop/Heywood Streets to allow for the payment of current and future engineering service obligations per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that One Million Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($1,000,500.00) be transferred from Account #91C7111A, Building Rehabilitation City/School, and be appropriated to Account #04C754, Citywide/School Energy Improvements, to fund anticipated expenses related to the citywide energy improvements.

Recommend that Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($550,000.00) be transferred from various Citywide Building Rehabilitation accounts and appropriated the Account #50C704, Worcester Public School Building Rehabilitation to fund contractual obligations for various school building improvements.

Recommend that Two Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Four Dollars And No Cents ($2,894.00) be transferred from Account #2604-92210 ,Worcester Fire Department Training - Supplies, and appropriated to Account #2604-93301, Worcester Fire Department Training - Furniture and Equipment .

Recommend that Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($7,500.00) be transferred from Account #330-91000, Public Health Personal Services, and be appropriated to Account #330-92000, to provide funding for various operational expenses through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2012.

Recommend that One Hundred Twenty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Three Dollars And No Cents ($128,853.00) be transferred from Account #260-91000, Fire Department Personal Services, and appropriated to Account #260-92000, Worcester Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance .

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Rededication Ceremony of the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Green Hill Park.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a City Manager's Clean Team Event planned for April 14, 2012.

Recommend Adoption of an Order to Accept the Offer of Casella Waste Management for Miscellaneous supplies to be used to support the City Manager's Clean Team Initiative.

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)

RESOLUTION of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in support Senate Bill 610, an act protecting condominium owners filed by Senator Harriette Chandler and Senator Richard Moore. (Tabled - O'Brien July 19, 2011)

RESOLUTION of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in support of the Administration’s efforts to negotiate the maximum hiring of local residents in Tax Increment Financing agreements and other tools used to attract business and to expand our tax base. (Tabled - O'Brien September 13, 2011)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to an update on the status of #5 May Street. (Tabled - O'Brien January 31, 2012)

COMMUNICATION of the City Clerk transmitting communication expanding upon the newspaper article regarding the human error factor which occurred in the city's recount. (Tabled - Lukes February 7, 2012)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Finance for Housing Developments within the City of Worcester. (Tabled - O'Brien February 28, 2012)

Motion Eddy @ #9.8B CM - Request City Manager review and reconsider claims from damages caused by baseball activities at the Vernon Hill baseball field.

Motion O'Brien @ #9.8B CM - Request City Manager reach out to residents in the vicinity of the baseball field at Vernon Hill and notify them when baseball games will begin.

Motion Rushton @ #9.4A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update relative to municipal aggregation efforts.

Motion Rushton @ #9.4C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning Art in the Park that includes future plans, current deficit and funding efforts.

Motion Lukes @ #9.13A CM - Request City Manager forward a copy of the 2009 report concerning the reorganization of the Health Department and the 2010 report relative to the recommendations of the Task Force on Public Health and any reports concerning the implementation of the Task Force recommendations to the current members of the Standing Committee on Public Health & Human Services.

Motion Lukes @ #9.23A CM - Request City Manager report to City Council options that can be offered to property owners for paying, in a short period of time, multiple real estate tax bills and further, request this report for the April 24, 2012 City Council meeting.

Motion Lukes @ #9.4F CM - Request City Manager request the Worcester Redevelopment Authority review in one year the smoking permit at Union Station and report to City Council as to its effectiveness.

PETITION - Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request installation of a crosswalk in Anna St. at Coburn Ave. in the vicinity of Lake View Elementary School.

Motion Toomey - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide City Council with a previously requested report concerning a schedule of crosswalks that require repair.