CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:58 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 29, 2014.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. Raymond Mariano, Worcester resident 2. Carl Gentile, Worcester resident 3. Allen Knoll, Worcester resident 4. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident 5. William Feegbeh, Worcester resident 6. Ed Moynihan, Worcester resident 7. Jo Hart, Worcester resident 8. John Provost, Worcester resident 9. Mesfin Beshir, Worcester resident

Mayor Petty recognized the presence of Janice Weekes, the newly appointed Director of the Worcester Workforce Central Career Center.

Donna Senosk request the manhole covers in front of 396-398 Chandler Street be replaced.

Don Huard request Volkmar Road be resurfaced between West Boylston Street and Croydon Road.

Kenneth Jones of Precision Capital LLC request abatement of street assessment #25207, in the amount of $4,139.07 for Dayton Place.

Maureen Quinn request sidewalk repair in front of 33 to 37 Havelock Road.

Felicio Lana request installation of resident permit parking in front of 27-29 West Street.

Gina Sheeran request Two Hour Parking from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. in front of 59 Hamilton Street be removed and resident permit parking be put in its place.

Elaine Fisher request handicap parking space in front of 7 Richmond Avenue be moved to in front of 11 Richmond Avenue.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request installation of a stop sign at the corner of Wigwam Avenue where it intersects with Frank Street.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Patrick Donahue request "No Turn On Red" sign be installed in Heywood Street onto Massasoit Road.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS for conduit location in: LYON STREET

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Michael O'Neil to Constable.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Robert Hennigan to the Off Street Parking Board.

Recommend Approval of the Appointment of Angela Jones to the Citizens Advisory Council.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2nd Opportunities Fair to be Held at the Great Brook Valley Community Center on Wednesday, May 21, 2014.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Creation of a Taxi Stand at the Union Station Intermodal Facility.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File, Accept, and Expend a Grant of up to Thirty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($30,000.00) Through Massport Community Charitable Giving for the Park Stewards Youth Program.

Recommend Approval of a Revised Zoning Ordinance Amendment Related to Commercial Corridors Overlay District that Encourages Compact, Mixed-Use, Pedestrian Friendly Development.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Philadelphia Tax Abatement Plan and the City’s Efforts to Incorporate Elements of the Plan into Worcester’s Economic Development Strategies.

Recommend Approval of a Request for Easement from Voke Lofts Limited Partnership.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Construction Progress Report for the Month Ending April 30, 2014.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Spring 2014 Residential Waste Collection Events.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a TD Green Streets Grant from the Arbor Day Foundation of up to Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Dollars and No Cents ($19,880.00).

Recommend City Council Adoption of five (5) Resolutions to File and Accept the following grants: FY 2014 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant / Local Solicitation, FFY 2014 Violence Against Women Act STOP Grant, FFY 2015 Underage Alcohol Enforcement, FFY 2015 Traffic Enforcement Program, and the FFY 2015 Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enforcement and Equipment grant.

Transmitting Communication Relative to the Proposed Recodification of the Rules of the City Council.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Apply for and Accept Funds of up to Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($5,000.00) from the Fallon Health Community Benefit Program.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept Seventeen (17) Donations Received During the First Quarter of 2014 that Total Seven Hundred and Thirty Five Dollars and No Cents ($735.00) to Support the Worcester Public Library.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept Funds of up to Fifty Thousand Eighty Five Dollars and No Cents ($50,085.00) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Worcester Fair Housing Project (WFHP) of Community Legal Aid, Inc. (CLA).

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative Requests for Proposals for Banking Services.

Recommend that Four Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($4,000.00) be transferred from Account # 330-09, Real Estate Sales, and be appropriated to Account #11C702, Energy & Asset Management Building Rehabilitation, to fund the build out for the small City Hall Cafe, in the space adjacent to the information desk on the first floor of City Hall.

Recommend that Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($25,000.00) be transferred from Account # 663-96000, Health Insurance and be appropriated to Human Resources, Injured On Duty Account #174-96000, to cover medical costs associated with the City of Worcester, Public Safety Injured on Duty claims through the end of the Fiscal Year 2014.

Recommend that Nineteen Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars And No Cents ($19,579.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account # 663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2014 3rd quarter health insurance expenses for Airport retirees, per the request of Jarrett Conner, Budget Director/Assistant Treasurer .

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Agreement to Renew the Naming Rights Contract of the DCU Arena and Convention Center.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Correspondence from Stephen O'Neil, Administrator of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation in the Amount of Twenty Five Thousand and No Cents ($25,000) From the United Way, to Support Parks Based Youth Recreation Programs.

Transmitting Communication Relative to the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Recommendation.

David J. Rushford, City Clerk, transmitting requested documents relative to the Executive Search for City Manager.

David J. Rushford, City Clerk, transmitting on behalf of the Standing Committee on Public Health and Human Services their request to suspend the rules of City Council to request this body consider their two Reports relative to the Funding for the Fiscal Year 2015/Year 40 Community Development Block Grant Program.

David J. Rushford, City Clerk, transmitting informational communication regarding the immediate resignation of Dante Comparetto as a member of the Worcester Public Library Board of Directors.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager Request City Council Approval of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment Related to Encouraging Compact, Mixed-Use, Pedestrian Friendly Development.

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. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes May 6, 2013)

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 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 and Tabled May 6, 2014)

Motion Petty @ #8.3A – Request City Manager notify various church groups and community organizations throughout the City regarding the 2nd Opportunities Fair to be held at the Great Brook Valley Community Center on Wednesday, May 21, 2014.

Motion Rivera @ #8.4D – Request City Manager consider appointing a member of the Chandler Street Business Association when forming the Philadelphia Tax Abatement Plan Task Force. Councilor Economou moved to amend: to add business owners throughout the City Councilor Palmieri moved to amend: to add business owners in the Main Street and Pleasant Street areas. The Motion will read as follows: Request City Manager consider appointing a member from the Chandler Street Business Association, the Main Street and Pleasant Street areas and business owners throughout the city when forming the Philadelphia Tax Abatement Plan Task Force.

Motion Gaffney @ #8.4D – Request City Manager provide a report to City Council regarding the timetable for the creation of the Philadelphia Tax Abatement Plan Task Force.

Motion Bergman @ #8.4D – Request City Manager look into possible zoning ordinance shifts within the City’s neighborhoods in order to assist the process of opening businesses throughout the City.

Motion Lukes @ #8.6D – Request City Manager provide a report to City Council regarding the liabilities to the City regarding the easement granted to Voke Lofts Limited Partnership.

Motion Russell @ #8.28A – Request City Manager consider advocating for Seven Hills Foundation to plug their workers into the local businesses in the Downtown Worcester area.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending that Four Million One Hundred Eleven Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Dollars And No Cents ($4,111,520.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Block Grant Program and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($25,000.00), in anticipated Year 40 Program Income, be appropriated , when and as received to the following accounts to provide financing for projects and programs as described: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (See Item #9b).

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of Resolutions to File and Accept Entitlement Funding Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Fiscal Year 2015/ Program Year 40 Community Development Block Grant Program: recommend adoption of the accompanying four resolutions. (See Item #9b).

Motion Petty @ #9a – Request City Manager request the City Solicitor provide City Council with a report as to the requirements of the Annual Review of the City Manager.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update regarding the installation of lights and a camera system in University Park.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager look into the dangerous and illegal use of dirt bikes in University Park and its abutting streets, Crystal and Illinois Streets. Councilor Russell moved to amend: to include the Granite Street area.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider meeting at Clark University with their campus police, neighborhood residents and organizations to address an increase of gang activity in their neighborhood.

PETITION – Councilor Frederick C. Rushton request Rich Street be repaved.

RESOLUTION – That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record thanking all those involved in the clean-up activities around Indian Lake, including but not limited to the residents of the neighborhood, students from the Bancroft School, students and faculty of St. John’s High School, Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery Robert C. Antonelli, Jr. and his staff, and the Indian Lake Watershed Association.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider notifying residents through community policing and schools how to safely use dirt bikes and that it is illegal to use dirt bikes on city streets.