CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:07 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:25 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council meeting of March 25, 2014.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring the week of April 20, 2014 as US Veg Week. The Proclamation was presented to the organizing team of VegFest: Drew Wilson, Manda Rose, Kaylee O’Neal, Jac Cohn, Greg Opperman, Brie Goldberg, and Emily Fant.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring April 8, 2014 as Equal Pay Day.

Mayor Petty recognized the organizers of “Working for Worcester”. City Manager Augustus expressed his gratitude to this group of college students who organized themselves for the benefit of the community by raising funds and invested those funds for infrastructural improvements at 12 community recreation sites across the city. Mayor Petty invited Jeffrey Reppucci, a senior at Holy Cross and Executive Director of the Group to say a few words. Mr. Repucci introduced Hilary Sullivan, Collette Houssan and Jenna Soiles who were also present.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Scott Ricker, Worcester resident
2. Jo Hart, Worcester resident

Cherry Dupuis request granite curbing be removed in front of 2 Wayne Terrace, in order to install a proper driveway apron.

Chris Angoff request Chiltern Hill Drive North be repaved.

Jillian Kelly request sidewalk repair in front of 22 Hartshorn Ave.

Robert Maki request abatement of street betterment assessment #25274 in the amount of $12,123.30 for Bullard Ave.

Charles Clement request the removal of two (2) handicap parking spaces in front of 71 Fox Street.

Jose Vazquez request installation of resident permit parking for John St.

Jo Hart requests immediately instituting a 24/7 plan for sheltering lost and found animals when the no-kill shelter is closed. Perhaps a mobile "holding cell" at the police station, which could then be delivered to or picked up by the no-kill shelter the next weekday morning.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Reappointment of Isidore Nosike to the Off Street Parking Board.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Andrew Freilich to the Planning Board.

Recommend Approval of the Reappointment of Dana Strong to the Community Development Advisory Committee.

Recommend Approval of the Appointments of Joseph Carlson, Mary Moule and Craig Olson and Reappointments of Diane Mohieldin and Robert Winant to the Election Commission.

Recommend Approval of the Appointment of Jennifer Gaskin to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative the Preliminary Health Insurance Rate Projections for FY15.

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

Transmitting Informational Communication Regarding the Proposed FY15 Water and Sewer Rate Increases and Impact if Rates Are Not Approved.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity Report for the Month of February 2014.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Monthly Progress Report for the Upcoming 2014 Construction Season.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2014 Spring Sweeping Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Master Plan Initiative for Improvements to Castle Park.

Recommend Approval of a Resolution to Accept a Donation in the amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($1,500.00) from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

Transmitting Communication Relative to City-Wide Crime Statistics During 2013, as Requested by City Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Accreditation of the Worcester Crime Scene Unit (CSU).

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update of the Web Based Reporting System, as Requested by City Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Identity of Mutual Aid Communities.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Protections to Prevent the Theft and Resale of Copper, as Requested by City Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Responsibilities of the Members of the Board of Health as requested by City Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Authority of the City to Impose Time Limitations on Handicapped Parking Zones, as requested by City Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Regarding the Granting of Liquor Licenses in the City.

Recommend Review, Consideration, and Adoption of the Attached Ordinance Amendment to Move the Youth Opportunities Office to the Executive Office of the City Manager - Division of Public Health.

Recommend Approval of a communication Regarding an Open Meeting Law Complaint Filed by City Councilor Michael Gaffney.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the activities of the Mass in Motion Municipal Wellness and Leadership Grant.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Four-year Strategic Plan of the Division of Public Health and the Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Grant in the Amount of Sixteen Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($16,000.00) from UMass Memorial Healthy Eating Active Living Promotion.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Prescription Drug Abuse and Opioid Overdose Prevention Efforts.

Transmitting Informational Communication Regarding Two Training Opportunities Available to the Public.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Financial Information on Both the Worcester Retirement System and the City’s OPEB Liability.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Revenues and Expenditures Through February 28th, 2014.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Municipal Electricity Supply Contract with South Jersey Energy Company.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7243B, 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 as per the cash flow procedure.

Recommend that Eighty Five Thousand Nine Hundred Fourteen Dollars And Fifty Five Cents, be transferred when and as received, from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #68C701, Technical Services Capital Equipment.

Recommend that One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($110,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated when and as received to Account #50C702, Worcester Public School, to purchase facilities equipment, as approved in the Fiscal 2014 Citywide Capital Improvement Program, per the request of Melinda J. Boone, Superintendent.

Recommend that Ninety Five Thousand Two Hundred Nineteen Dollars And No Cents ($95,219.00) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, when and as received and be appropriated to Account #26C701, Worcester Fire Department Capital Equipment.

Recommend approval and certify the acceptance of the Commonwealth's Sewer Relief Fund for the sole purpose of a sewer rate reduction being credited during billing cycles in FY2015.

Recommend that Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($250,000.00) be transferred from Account #250,91000, Police Department Salaries, be appropriated to Account #250-97000, Police Department Overtime, to cover deficits in the Police Department overtime accounts.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Response from the State Ethics Commission.

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting two reports on compliance and internal controls and the management letter issued by the Certified Public Accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP for the City of Worcester for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 (FY2013). (Tabled - Lukes April 1, 2014)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS - That the City Council, in the search for a long-term City Manager, shall communicate to the designated search firm that the following attributes be highlighted in the job description for being selected as the successful candidate to serve as Worcester City Manager: 1.) An appreciation for the unique, diverse and distinct neighborhoods in Worcester and support for efforts to strengthen the neighborhoods, 2.) A passion for public education and the Worcester Public Schools, 3.) A vision for the future of the community capitalizing on the development progress to date, and a familiarity with the city that a local person possesses so that she/he may hit the ground running. (Tabled - Lukes April 1, 2014)

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 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)

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)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to parking meters at Rockwood Field. (Tabled Under Privilege - Eddy December 10, 2013 and Tabled December 17, 2013)

Motion Bergman @ #8.7C CM – Request City Manager consider notifying residents, using reverse 911, as to when street sweeping will take place on their street.

Motion Lukes @ #9a CC – Request the City Auditor report what internal audits he plans to take place after the budget has been approved.

Motion Lukes @ #9a CC – Request the Standing Committee on Municipal Operations invite the city’s external Auditors to a committee meeting to discuss their reports, procedures and historical analysis of repeated issues in past audits.