CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:03 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:40 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 April 8, 2014.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring May 12, 2014 through May 16, 2014 Mass Bike Week in the City of Worcester. Dr. Wendy Bergman and Jerry Powers received the Proclamation from the City Council.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring the month of May, 2014 American Stroke Month in the City of Worcester. Allyson Perron and Rachel Henry received the Proclamation from the City Council.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring May 10, 2014 National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive Day in the City of Worcester. Norman LaFlash received the Proclamation from the City Council.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. John Provost, Worcester resident 2. William Feegbeh, Worcester resident

Zachary Bohlen of Something Simple LLC request sidewalk repair in front of 109 Forest Street.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Robert Jarvis request the installation of handicap parking in front of 72 Upsala Street.

Arthur Mooradian request City Council adopt a home rule petition for approval by the Commonwealth to establish a property tax relief program, similar to that established in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that provides an automatic period of abatement on any new taxes generated by the investment in and improvement of real property in key commercial corridors in the City of Worcester in support of the stabilization and revitalization of our city's neighborhoods and in accordance with the goals of the City of Worcester Housing Strategy, endorsed by City Council and its Committee on Economic Development in December 2013, and in furtherance of prior discussions by the City Council and its Committee on Economic Development of the so-called Philadelphia Plan, and that said petition be prioritized and considered an emergency petition.

Jo Hart request City Manager hold immediate and well publicized public hearing to change the City's current method of handling snow to a new and thoroughly workable method to remove snow from public ways for pedestrian access and passage as well as for vehicles.

Jo Hart request City Manager hold immediate and well publicized public hearings on public transportation in Worcester, that he take the role of chair of the WRTA Advisory Board and that he appoint a competent, experienced transportation planner as Administrator of the WRTA to restore and improve Worcester's public city bus service.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request City Manager request City Assessor report to City Council the impact to the assessed values of properties if more than 3 unrelated individuals are allowed to inhabit those residential units with more than 3 bedrooms.

Request City Manager recommend to City Council changes in the traffic signals and/or patterns that will improve the traffic flow at the intersection of Mill and Chandler Streets. (Rosen)

Request City Manager report to City Council any and all problems caused over the years as a result of the annual Fiesta Shows Carnival being permitted at the Greendale Mall. (Rosen)

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the city's policy for restriping crosswalks in a timely fashion. (Rosen)

Request City Manager report to the City Council concerning the various procedures available to homeowners if they wish to opt out of having the city plant a tree(s) in front of their property. (Rosen)

Request City Council suspend its Rules to consider a Report of the Standing Committee on Municipal Operations upon the Order of Mayor Joseph M. Petty forwarding communication from Purchasing Director John Orrell notifying City Council that the city has received three proposals for Consultant Services relative to the Executive Search for City Manager. (Petty)

Request City Manager update the City Council concerning the Theater/Arts District projects with input from the Worcester Business Development Corporation. (Palmieri)

Request the City Manager communicate with the Patrick Administration concerning plans for a 1-hour bullet/express train between Boston and Worcester that will capitalize on the successful, substantial commuter rail service already in place. (Palmieri)

Request City Manager report on what, if any action, will be recommended to investigate the impact of leaking gas lines on public shade trees. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report on what options are available to the city to replace injured and/or dying public shade trees caused by leaking gas lines, at no cost to the city. (Lukes)

DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: MAYFIELD STREET from Chandler St. southerly 230'

DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: MCRAE COURT

DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: STARK ROAD

Edward M. Augustus, Jr., City Manager, requesting the opportunity to make a PowerPoint presentation as an informational overview of the Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Budget.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Marc L'Heureux request installation of handicap parking space in front of 149 Providence St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Hue Luong request removal of handicap parking space in front of 31 Shattuck St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Kelly McNulty request installation of handicap parking space in front of 3 Allen St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Joseph Gallati request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 17-19 Shelby St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Gary Rosen on behalf of Shirley Wright request installation of Resident Permit Parking on both sides of Biltmore Rd.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to provide Resident Permit Parking for Biltmore Road on both sides from 5pm to 7am.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Gary Rosen request resident permit parking in front of 1 to 4 Buckley Rd. be rescinded: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Ronny Terry request resident permit parking be installed in Oak St. between Cedar St. and Elm St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to provide for resident permit parking in front of 2 Oak Street.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Grigorios Psarras request the two Resident Permit Parking spots on Duxbury Road at Lincoln Street be removed and two 30 minute parking spots be put in its place: recommend passage of the accompanying two (2) proposed Ordinances to remove resident permit parking on Duxbury Road adjacent to 273 Lincoln Street and to provide 30-minute parking on Duxbury Road adjacent to 273 Lincoln Street.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Chief Robert Hart of the Department of Public Safety at College of the Holy Cross request installation of "No Parking" signs for the twenty feet adjacent to all the driveway entrances of the Holy Cross campus on College St. to accommodate safe ingress and egress: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to install Tow Away Zones 20' on both sides of all Holy Cross Entrances on College Street.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Vanessa Ramirez, et al request "No Parking" sign in front of 35 Windham St. be removed" recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to rescind No Parking Anytime in front of 36 Windham Street.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Donna Needham request installation of a stop sign on the corner of Nutmeg Dr. and Parson Hill Dr.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Patrick Donahue request installation of a stop sign on Batavia St. as it intersects with Crowningshield Rd.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of the Pulsifer family request a Stop Signs be installed at Mohave Rd. and Navajo Rd. as well as Navajo Rd. and Cheyenne Rd. in the vicinity of Marconi Rd.: recommend passage of the accompanying three (3) proposed Ordinances.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of James Arakelian request to install a stop sign at the intersection of Deepdale Rd. and Dixfield Rd.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Edward Russo request installation of a Stop Sign in Dolly Drive where it intersects with Miscoe Road: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of a Stop or Yield sign at the intersection of Scarsdale St. and Wildwood Ave.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to install stop sign on Scarsdale Street at Wildwood Avenue for westbound traffic.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request installation of a “No Parking” zone on both sides of Pond St. from Water St. to Harding St.: recommend Petitioner be given leave to withdraw.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the recommended FY 2015 Water and Sewer Rate: recommend passage of the accompanying two proposed Ordinances. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes April 29, 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)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of Mayor Joseph M. Petty forwarding communication from Purchasing Director John Orrell notifying City Council that the city has received three proposals for Consultant Services relative to the Executive Search for City Manager: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order authorizing and requesting the Mayor and City Manager to enter into a contract with the firm of Randi Frank Consulting, LLC of Wallingford, Connecticut relative to the search for a City Manager. (See Item #9e).

Motion Economou @ #14a CC – Request and authorize the Mayor to create a preliminary screening committee to review the applicants for the City Manager position.

Motion Lukes @ #14a CC – Request City Clerk provide City Council with the proposals from the recommended search firm, Randi Frank Consulting LLC, once the document is made public.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Dennis O’Connor request crosswalk across Richmond Avenue at Audubon Road be repainted.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou request installation of crosswalk across Ararat Street at Brattle Street, as well as across Brattle Street at Ararat Street.

Motion Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request appropriate staff in the Economic Development Department survey business owners for business losses as a result of the bus route changes.

PETITION – Councilor Philip P. Palmieri on behalf of Alberto Rivera request commercial loading zone in front of 781 Main St. be changed to 15 minute parking.