CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:35 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 December 11, 2012.

Mayor Petty recognized the following persons who spoke:
1. William Breault, Worcester resident
2. Jo Hart, Worcester resident

Wing Kwan request to make public the private portion of High Ridge Rd.

Ann Marie Shea request sidewalk repair in front of 5 Westview Rd. north to corner of Chamberlain Parkway.

Jadranka Perl request installation of handicap parking space in front of 381 Park Ave.

Stephen O'Neil, Administrator of Worcester Regional Transit Authority request bus stops at locations to accommodate a new WRTA Bus Route #8 being added to the service.

Cynthia Wade request the handicap parking space in front of 180 Fairmont Ave be removed.

William Breault on behalf of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety request City Council request the City Manager provide a report concerning the city's policy for dealing with the distribution of Naloxone (narcan) at so called "911 Good Samaritan Law" pilot sites in Worcester and if no policy is in place request the City Manager make recommendations and report as to the role the State Department of Public Health has in the development and implementation of this program in Worcester.

NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: MAYWOOD ST.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Aaron Richman to the G.A.R. Memorial Hall Board of Trustees.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Paul DiDomenico to the Worcester Arts Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointments of Constables for Calendar Year 2013.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Youth Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Fiscal Year 2014 Community Development Block Grant Process and a Community Needs Assessment.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a New Partnership with Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the Reuse of the Former Boys and Girls Club at Lincoln Square.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Private Purchase of 371 and 379 Main Street.

Recommend Approval of Public Street Conversions for Whitla Drive and Woodhaven Lane.

Recommend Approval of Public Sewer Installation on Toronita Avenue Between Barry Road and Pelican Avenue.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Department of Public Works & Parks 2012 Annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Donation Drives.

Recommend Adoption of an Order with the General Court to Authorize the Department of Conservation and Recreation to Utilize the City of Worcester to Create and Operate a Football/Soccer Field at the Lake Avenue Park.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Second Round of Open Space Public Meetings.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FP&S) through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Recommend City Council Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Safe and Successful Youth Initiative Grant from the MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a 2012-2013 U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Preparedness Planning Grant.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation in the Amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars and No Cents ($250.00) for Children's Books at the Frances Perkins Branch Library in Memory of Sophia Kuczarski.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation in the Amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars and No Cents ($250.00) to the Worcester Public Library Foundation in Memory of Joseph Hopkins, Former Head Librarian.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Property Valuations and Notification Process.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($150,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7843C, Park Improvements - Duffy Field, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70232, Duffy Field, to allow for current and anticipated payments as per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that Sixty Thousand Forty Five Dollars And No Cents ($60,045.00) be transferred from Account #91C7803A, Citywide Capital Equipment, when and as Received, and Appropriated to Account #15C701, Election Capital Equipment, for the purchase of voting booths and trailers to store election equipment.

Recommend that One Hundred Six Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars And No Cents ($106,550.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7842C, Parks - Improvement Elm Park, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70223, Newton Hill, to allow for current and anticipated payments for the rebuilding of the Newton Square War Memorial.

Recommend that Thirty One Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Four Dollars And No Cents ($31,994.00) be transferred from Account #270-92000, Communications Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #270-93000, Communications Capital, to fund the purchase and installation of a GPS Oscillator upgrade.

Recommend that the Loan Order in the amount of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($400,000.00), approved by this Council on October 30, 2012, for the purchase equipment to be appropriated to Account #91C7163A, Union Station Capital Equipment, be rescinded.

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to consider adjusting the future annual Fall Leaf Collection Programs so that Black Friday sweeping and the related posting of No Parking is not done in our several commercial districts. (Rivera)

Request City Manager update City Council concerning the feasibility of designating a dog park in the city. (Rivera)

Request City Manager request Police Chief enforce speed limits and crosswalk safety in Elm Street between West and Sever Streets. (Rivera)

Request City Manager find a method to remind and emphasize to the public the importance of clearing sidewalks and request the enforcement of the Snow Removal Ordinance for the sake of citizen safety. (Toomey)

Request City Manager report on the security provided at public buildings. (Lukes)

Request City Manager review zoning ordinances for downtown Worcester to consider a change from business only to mixed residential and business for the purpose of encouraging mixed use of buildings located in downtown. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report whether medical marijuana dispensing sites can be restricted by local zoning ordinances or state regulatory means to established pharmacies. (Lukes)

Request City Council vote a moratorium on allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of Worcester for one year or until the Department of Public Health completes its regulations, whichever comes first. (Lukes)

Request City Council consider amending Council Rules to allow a joint committee to act as an Ad Hoc committee for the purpose of hearing and voting on joint referrals with each committee member casting a single vote for each jointly referred agenda item, rather than casting a vote for each jointly referred item as a member of each separate standing committee. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report on the feasibility of home rule legislation which would make animal control officers eligible for the same injured on duty, death and funeral benefits as are provided to other city public safety personnel. (Germain)

Dr. Roberta Schaefer, President & CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to "Academically Selective High Schools: Should Worcester Public Schools Have One?"

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)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Order of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Council support more diverse new housing development with an emphasis on market-rate housing with a maximum of 10% affordable units if there are going to any units available for development in the downtown Worcester area: recommend Order be placed on file. (Tabled - Lukes May 1, 2012)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Out of State Residents Working on Local Projects and Not Meeting the State's Health Care Mandates. (Tabled Under Privilege - O'Brien August 14, 2012) (Tabled - Lukes September 4, 2012)

ORDER of Councilor Michael J. Germain - Request City Manager recommend to City Council an ordinance similar to the “Unruly Gathering Ordinance” in effect in Narragansett, Rhode Island in light of the fact that recent enforcement actions relied upon to control gatherings have not resulted in a permanent solution to the problems negatively affecting quality of life in our neighborhoods in close proximity to colleges. (Tabled Under Privilege - Germain September 4, 2012) (Tabled - Germain September 11, 2012)

COMMUNICATION of City Clerk transmitting information concerning the current composition of the Library Board of Directors and notice of upcoming vacancies effective January 1, 2013. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes November 13, 2012) (Tabled - Lukes November 20, 2012)

Motion Lukes @ #8.4A CM - Request City Manager request the Board of the Henry Lee Willis Center to provide a report as to the disposition of their assets and services.

Motion Rivera @ #8.8A CM – Request City Manager provide the previously requested report concerning soccer fields and the funds allocated and spent over the past five years.

Motion Russell @ #8.8A CM – Request City Manager conduct a traffic and off-street parking study in conjunction with plans to create and operate a football/soccer field at Lake Park.

Motion O’Brien @ #9f CC – Request City Manager report what would it take to create thru special legislation a specific tax district in downtown for the purpose of providing tax relief for the development of housing.

Motion Rivera @ #8.23A CM – Request City Manager report as to whether or not the Notification letter and postcard relative to property inspections by assessors is written in different languages other than English.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider extending the Christmas tree drop-off period to accommodate all Worcester residents.

Motion Economou – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request the Police Chief to provide enforcement of the winter parking ban in the vicinity of Pasadena Parkway and Wayside Rd.

Motion Economou – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request the Police Chief to provide enforcement of “No Parking” area at the corner of Chino Ave. and Boylston St.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of Stop sign in South Lenox St. where it intersects with Colonial Rd.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of advisory speed limit signs in Camelot Dr.

Motion Rushton – Suspension of Rules - Request the Commissioner of Public Works & Parks ensure the snow is removed up to the curb in the area of the newly modified intersection of Forest and Salisbury Sts.