CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:02 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:50 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 24, 2015.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring April 2015 as Donate Life Month. The proclamation was presented to Jennifer Kramer from New England Organ Bank.

Mayor Petty presented the “Key to the City” to this year’s recipients of the Thomas Green Award. The recipients were Patricia Bruchman, RN, MSN who serves as the Chief Public Health Nurse for the Worcester Public Schools, Pamela Callahan who is the city’s Training Coordinator for the Human Resources Department, Michael Ferguson who is a Principal Civil Engineer for the Department of Public Works & Parks and Michael Lyons who is a Teacher and Site Coordinator for the Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Mauro DePasquale, Worcester resident
2. John Provost, Worcester resident

At the end of the City Councilor meeting Councilor Rosen requested the Mayor have the City Manager say a few words concerning a public/private partnership with the Worcester Tennis Club. City Manager Augustus gave a brief explanation relative to the on-going developments.

Vanessa Martinez et al request street resurfacing in Blaine Ave. between Stafford St. and Main St.

Johny Gil request abatement of street betterment assessment #25381 in the amount of $8,000.00 for Spaulding St.

John Cariglia, Jr. request installation of a handicap parking space across from 6 Gage St.

Recommend the appointment of Benito Vega to the Citizens Advisory Council.

Recommend the appointment of Michael Perotto to the Election Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the FY16 health insurance plan rates and open enrollment information.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Poetry PopUP Event to be held on April 8, 2015 at City Hall, 3rd Floor in the Levi Lincoln Jr. Chamber.

Transmitting informational communication regarding the "Starting a Business in Worcester" workshop held on March 26, 2015.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an electronic copy of the FCC’S new net neutrality regulations and implications as a result.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning a surplus in the City’s cable fund as well as an update regarding a request to put the WCCATV local access channels back to their original slots.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the award of the Historic Preservation Plan Grant.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the recommended FY16 water and sewer rates.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the discontinuance and abandonment of a portion of Franklin Street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the progress of repairing the one way section of Lake Avenue North.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 3rd Annual Worcester Fair Housing Conference on April 18th from 8:30am - 12:30pm at Worcester State University.

Recommend that Twenty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($20,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C7844, Park Improvements - Coes Knife, and be appropriated to Parks Account # 72C70229, Coes Knife, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Four Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($400,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C7844, Park Improvements - Green Hill Park, and be appropriated to Parks Account # 72C707, Green Hill Park, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Thirty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($35,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C7844, Park Improvements - Crompton Park, and appropriated to Parks Account # 72C70236, Crompton Park, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C7844, Park Improvements - Open Space, and be appropriated to Parks Account # 72C70240, Open Space, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784AG, Lake Park, and be appropriated to Parks Account # 72C70211, Lake Park, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784Y, Greenwood Park, and be appropriated to Parks Account # 72C70217, Greenwood Park, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784S, Elm Park, and be appropriated to Parks Account # 72C70220, Elm Park, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

Recommend that Four Hundred Thirty Six Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Six Dollars And No Cents ($436,376.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C780A, Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C703, Capital Equipment, when and as received, to allow for the purchase and future payment of these much needed vehicles.

Recommend that Four Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Three Dollars And No Cents ($4,663.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C731A, Water Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #45C703, Water Capital Equipment, when and as received, to allow for the purchase and future payment of this equipment.

Recommend that Eighty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($85,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C7124, WRA/Urban Renewal, and be appropriated to Account #04C7110C, Urban Renewal, to fund expenses associated with the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan Proposal, through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2015.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Nine Hundred Fifty Dollars and No Cents ($950.00); ($750.00 from Price Chopper Golub Foundation; $200.00 from Webster Square Business Association), as received from the Worcester Public Library Foundation for the 2015 Summer Reading Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($1,500.00) in memory of Dan Rossetti, from his family and friends, to assist in the operation of the Green Hill Golf Course Junior Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude, a donation in the amount of Four Hundred Seventeen Dollars and Fifty Cents ($417.50) from the Skyhawks Sports Academy, Inc. to be used for future recreational youth programs.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude numerous donations received during the 1st quarter of 2015, totaling Two Hundred Thirty Dollars and No Cents ($230.00), as received by the Worcester Public Library.

Recommend approval to apply for, accept and expend a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Technical Services Grant in the amount of Forty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($40,000.00).

Recommend that Four Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($410,000.00) be transferred as follows so as to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Program for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2015.

Recommend that Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($500,000.00) be transferred from Account #250-91000, Police Personal Services, to Account #250-97200, Police Overtime.

Kyle Fair, from TEC Associates, transmitting a copy of the Providence & Worcester Railroad Company's 2015 Yearly Operational Plan for Vegetation Control.

Kyle Fair, from TEC Associates, transmitting a copy of the Keolis Commuter Services, LLC's 2015 Yearly Operational Plan for Vegetation Control.

ORDER: That City Council, at its meeting on March 31, 2015, suspended its Rules in order to place on the agenda for the meeting of April 7, 2015 both the prospective Report of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and the Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of an Order to Authorize the Conveyance of the courthouse, item #9.4E on the City Council agenda for March 24, 2015. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of an order to authorize the conveyance of the courthouse: Recommend adoption of the accompanying Order as amended on April 7, 2015.

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 Rivera @ #9a CC – Request City Manager consider developing a list of local contractors, companies and suppliers so it can be provided to developers thus supporting local interests.

Motion Rivera @ #8.4B CM – Request City Manager report the demographics of the 37 individuals who participated in the March 26, 2015 “Starting a Business in Worcester” workshop.

Motion Gaffney @ #8.4D CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with an outline of expenses, cost estimates and time line for construction of a studio in the City Hall basement.

Motion Russell @ #8.5A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a scenario as to what would be the impact if the requested water and sewer rate increases are not voted.

Motion Economou – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager monitor for public safety concerns the skateboarding activity on the street and sidewalks in the vicinity of Midland St. School.

Motion Gaffney – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager investigate whether or not the lighting is on or off at Bancroft Tower.