CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:33 P.M.

Recessed into Executive Session: 6:34 P.M. Reconvened into Open Session: 7:16 P.M. Adjourned: 8:35 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 February 24, 2015.

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - That the City Council recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining.

Terry Burke Dotson et al request City Council reduce supply rates and to lesson the payments for the consumption of electricity by researching the least expensive and most dependable supplier of electricity in our area for the entire city's use. Further, request City Council negotiate with that supplier, and upon obtaining the required approval, to enter into a contract with that supplier to provide the lowest supplier rates possible for the city-owned facilities, residential homes, non-profit organizations, and business facilities of Worcester.

Jonas Boateng request driveway entrance at 50 Dixfield St. be repaired by making it level with the street.

Thomas & Cheryl Carcione request abatement of street betterment assessment #25344 in the amount of $7,922.00 for Yukon St.

Richard Levitt et al request acceptance of the drainage lines, easements and outlets to the storm drains on Barry Rd. running through the back and side yards of numbers 27, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65 and 69. Thus, the City of Worcester can properly access the drainage system and maintain it.

Kayla Baillargeon request resident permit parking on Gage St. from Ford St. to Berkeley St. be amended to twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

Zaida Otero request handicap parking space in front of 188 Beacon St. be moved to the opposite side of the street and made an adequate size for a standard handicap parking van.

Rosa Dick request installation of a handicap parking space opposite of 11 Glenwood St.

Michael Grandone request making the Shrewsbury St. side of the DPW yard in the vicinity of East Park a metered parking lot to alleviate the parking problems for many residents needing parking in that area.

Mikerlange Jonathas on behalf of Midrack Saint-Fleur request installation of handicap parking space opposite of 16 Oread Pl.

NATIONAL GRID for electric conduit locations in: CAMBRIDGE ST./RICHARDS ST./ILLINOIS ST.

Recommend approval of recently negotiated salary ordinances for NAGE, Local 495 bargaining unit.Refer to CCM Item 9.31D

Recommend approval of salary ordinances for non-represented city employees.Refer to CCM Item 9.31E

Transmitting informational communication relative to quarterly workshops to support small business development.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a cost estimate for the cutting of 5,000 trees in Green Hill Park and disclosure of the contractor hired to complete the cutting.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a new mobile application for the customer service center.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report on the efficiency of the parking program at the Worcester Public Library parking lot.

Transmitting informational communication relative to determining the interest of the Town of Spencer in joining the Regional Emergency Communications Center.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the rules and regulations for the Telephone Emergency Notification System.

Transmitting informational communication relative to request City Manager provide City Council with a report on Uber Ride service and how it relates to our current Cab and Livery ordinances.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the annual 2014 CHIP report.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the announcement of the new Head Librarian, Geoffrey Dickinson.

Transmitting informational communication relative to tax exempt properties at The College of the Holy Cross.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the City's revenues through January for Fiscal Year 2015 per the City's Five Point Plan.

Transmitting informational communication relative to enhanced public notification and education of the rights and responsibilities involving the sale of "Collectors Deeds".

Recommend that the apportionment from the State (MA# 51051-FY2015) in the amount of Two Million Fifty Four Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Dollars And No Cents ($2,054,738.00) be appropriated to DPW Account #41C440, Street Resurfacing, as requested by reimbursements, to provide funding for current and future Chapter 90 obligations.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a State 911 Department FY2014 Development Grant, as received from Mr. Richard H. Fiske III, Director of Emergency Communications.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to Accept and Expend a Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the Worcester Wayfinding Initiative.

Recommend adoption of resolution to apply for, accept, and expend a grant of Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($8,000.00) from the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging as recommended by Amy Vogel Waters, Director, Elder Affairs.

Recommend adoption of resolution to accept with gratitude donations from Abbvie for Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($2,500.00) and Century Healthcare for Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($5,000.00) to support the 2015 Wheels to Water and Beyond Program.

Recommend that Seventeen Thousand Four Hundred Eighty One Dollars And No Cents ($17,481.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2015 2nd Quarter health insurance expenses for Airport retirees, per the request of Thomas F. Zidelis, Chief Financial Officer.

Recommend that One Million Six Hundred Nineteen Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Seven Dollars And Fifty Three Cents ($1,619,557.53) be authorized as the amount to be over expended in this Snow Account #411, so as to allow for current invoices to be processed and paid, and to allow for anticipated future snow costs to be met.

I respectfully request a finance transfer from Account# 14S45240, Affordable Housing Rental Rehabilitation, in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($100,000.00) to be appropriated to Account # 14S46240, Neighborhood Stabilization Opportunities – 21 Aetna Street / Union Hill Initiative.

I respectfully recommend that Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Four Hundred Thirteen Dollars and No Cents ($650,413.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and that Two Hundred Thirty Thousand Four Hundred Two Dollars and No Cents ($230,402.00) be appropriated to fund retroactive payments for six months of fiscal year 2014 and the current fiscal year salary increases necessary to implement the collective bargaining agreement with Local 495.Refer to CCM Item 9.3A

I respectfully recommend that Seven Hundred Eighty Eight Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Dollars and No Cents ($788,560.00) be transferred from Account # 900-92000, City Manager’s Contingency, and that One Hundred Fourteen Thousand Fifty-One Dollars and No Cents ($114,051.00) be appropriated to fund retroactive payments for six months of fiscal year 2014 and the current fiscal year salary increases for non-represented employees. Refer to CCM 9.3B

That the sum of Three Million Two Hundred Fifty-Six Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($3,256,000.00) be appropriated to Account #91C745, Sewer Infiltration/Inflow Lake Avenue Pump, to pay for costs associated with improvements to the City’s sewer systems required as part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sewer Pump Station Project so-called, Lake Avenue Pump Station, including the costs incidental and related thereto.

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 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 and 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)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes request City Manager request the School Department share in the cost for providing police services during the presidential visit. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes June 17, 2014 and Tabled July 22, 2014)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the number of properties in areas surrounding Holy Cross, Clark University, Becker College and WPI that are listed as having true four-bedroom units. (Tabled - Bergman August 19, 2014)

PETITION of Frank Kartheiser et al on behalf of the Worcester Community-Labor Coalition request City Council hold public hearings starting in October on charter change and that at the conclusion of the hearings the Council takes a vote on holding an election to let the voters decide Worcester's future form of government. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes August 19, 2014 and Tabled - Petty September 16, 2014)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager recommending approval of Legislation to Impose a Fine on Motorists that Damage a Bridge that is marked with a Height Restriction. (Tabled - Bergman December 2, 2014)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Brittan Square Parking Lot. (Tabled - Palmieri January 7, 2015 and January 13, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman - Request City Manager provide information from the City Solicitor as to what steps are available to enforce breaches of the Services Agreement with Laz Parking Limited, LLC in regards to City owned parking garages, specifically the Federal Plaza Parking Garage. (Tabled - Petty January 7, 2015, Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 13, 2015 and Tabled - Bergman January 20, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Tony Economou and Councilor George J. Russell - Request City Manager provide information from the City Assessor, Chief Financial Officer and City Solicitor as to the assessed real property values of all City owned parking garages, the amount of debt, if any, the anticipated repairs and/or capital improvements costs for fiscal year(s) 2015/2016 and the existing lease commitments/terms for spaces in these garages. (Tabled - Petty January 7, 2015, Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 13, 2015 and Tabled - Bergman January 20, 2015)

Motion Palmieri @ #9.4A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with the number of businesses who participated in the workshop to support small businesses.

Motion Rivera @ #9.4A CM – Request City Manager reach out to staff at Lutheran Services and Clark University who have their own entrepreneur programs and request they participate in the March 26, 2015 workshop to support small businesses.

Motion Rushton @ #9.17A CM – Request City Manager report how many times Narcan has been administered by public safety personnel since its approved use has been implemented.

Motion Russell @ #9.23A CM – Request City Manager request the City Solicitor and the City Assessor review once again the status as to whether or not 804 & 852 Southbridge St. is tax exempt.

Motion Toomey @ #9.23A CM – Request City Manager consider offering to non-profit agencies who own undeveloped properties an incentive to keep this property undeveloped thereby creating more green space within the city.

Motion Russell @ #9.28B CM – Request City Manager create a flyer concerning property owner’s rights when their tax debt is being offered for sale by public auction and when the notice of the city’s intent to sell is mailed to the owner include this flyer.

Motion Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider exploring the need of another outreach worker to assist with the issues of homelessness in public buildings.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager, as the security plan is put in place relative to homelessness and to make sure this does not result in a band aid effect, ensure all the needs regarding homelessness are addressed simultaneously.

Motion Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with monthly or quarterly updates concerning how the homeless are being assisted, security of the city’s public buildings and non-profits support.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Eric Wells request a “Hydrant Marker” be added to the hydrant between 96 & 98 Bjorklund Ave.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Sandy Meltzer request crosswalk be installed across Salisbury St. in the vicinity of the entrance to Assumption College.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide a schedule of when those streets that are only wide enough for single passing lanes because of snow will be cleared.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager find ways to assist persons who are recovering from opiate abuse with job training and financial literacy by reaching out to local financial institutions to create financial literacy programs.