CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:04 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:49 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 26, 2016.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Eros Marquez, Worcester resident
2. Leonard Cooper, Worcester resident
3. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident
4. Tanisha Aviles, Worcester resident
5. Janice Yost, Ed. D., Worcester resident
6. Chris Horton, Worcester resident
7. Stuart Loosemore, Leicester resident
8. John Provost, Worcester resident
9. Jo Hart, Worcester resident
10. Leonard Zalauskas, Worcester resident
11. Jack Donahue, Worcester resident

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for conduit location at: VERNON ST. & VERNON TER. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit location at: VERNON ST. & VERNON TER.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit and manhole location at: SCHOOL AND SUMMER STS. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit and manhole location at: SCHOOL AND SUMMER STS.

Norberto Hernandez et al request sidewalk repair from 12 to 16 Rittenhouse Rd.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson on behalf of Valerie Gardner request sidewalk resurfacing for 9 Burncoat Terrace.

Hoc Van Nguyen request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 21 Woodward St.

Councilor George J. Russell request large trucks be prohibited from using Upland St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a “Go Slow” Children’s advisory sign in Channing St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a four (4) way stop at the intersection of Mt. Vernon St. and Channing St.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit and charging station location at: HAWTHORNE ST.

William S. Coleman, III request City Council offer a special tax abatement to property owners who protect their homes with TV surveillance cameras that are linked with the Worcester Police Department.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Lilian Chukwurah and the reappointment of Cara Berg Powers to the Human Rights Commission.

Recommend the reappointment of Andrew Freilich to the Planning Board.

Recommend adoption of revised salary ordinances for seasonal staff from the Department of Public Works and Parks.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2016 Annual Worcester Arts Council Grantee Celebration on Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM at Birch Tree Bread Company.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a public meeting to be held at 6:00 PM on May 12, 2016 at the Preservation Worcester Community Room, 230 Park Avenue, concerning an ongoing study of Historic Preservation.

Recommend adoption of an Order to authorize the disposition of the real property located at 5 May Street.

Recommend adoption of an Order to amend the Site Specific Economic Opportunity Area designation for Parcel E of the CitySquare Project and the Tax Increment Financing Plan for Worcester Trumbull Street Hotel LLC.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the proposed Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan approval process.

Recommend advertisement of a revised draft ordinance relative to 30 Proctor Street Handicap Parking.

Recommend adoption of an Order relative to the bike path located in the Gardner Street and Kilby Street area.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a Department of Environmental Protection Public Water System Award.

Communication Relative to the Discontinuance of a Portion of Bergin Lane as a Public Way

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Construction Progress Report for the month ending April 30, 2016.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Greenwood Park.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the updated two way radio system.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Tobacco 21 (T21) Policy about raising the minimum legal sales age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on Worcester Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (WAASE).

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Senior Center participant survey results.

Recommend that Two Hundred Eighteen Thousand Ninety Eight Dollars And No Cents ($218,098.00) 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 One Hundred Sixteen Thousand Five Hundred Four Dollars And Sixty Three Cents ($116,504.63) be transferred from Account #91C7161A, Union Station Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #04C704, Union Station Building Rehabilitation, to fund various capital improvements at Union Station through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2016.

Recommend that Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars and No Cents ($13,169.00) be transferred from Account #91C780H, Library Capital Equipment Holding Account, to Account #55C701, Library Equipment.

Recommend that Six Thousand Eleven Dollars And Eighty Five Cents ($6,011.85) be transferred from Account #91C711D, Police Building Rehab, to Account #25C702, Police Building Rehab. In addition, recommend that One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($1,500.00) be transferred from Account #91C7114 Citywide Buidling Rehab, to Account #25C702, Police Building Rehab.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C745J, New Sewers, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C750,Truck Sewers, to allow for the current and future obligations to be met.

Recommend that One Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($170,000.00) be transferred as follows: $20,000 from Loan Account #91C713G, Water Accounting & Analysis; $90,000 from Loan Account #91C7133C, Cross Connections; and $60,000 from Loan Account #91C7132C, Cross Connections, and be appropriated to DPW Account #45C720, Water Mains, to allow for the payments of current and future obligations.

Recommend that One Million Five Hundred Twenty Three Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars And Eight Cents ($1,523,550.08) be transferred from various Capital accounts (as listed below), and be appropriated to various capital accounts (as listed below), to make adjustments to city accounts so that payment of current and future obligations can be met.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a Healthy Summer Youth Jobs grant from the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts in an amount not to exceed Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($19,800.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept an FY 2016 Comprehensive Antigang Strategies and Programs Grant from the US Department of Justice in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($300,000.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a grant from the Aetna Foundation's Cultivating Healthy Communities program for One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty One Dollars And Nineteen Cents ($13,831.19) in supplemental funds from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's First Responder Naloxone Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation from the Worcester County Senior Athletic Association in the amount of Three Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($300.00) for use at Logan Field's softball field.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation from the Francis Ouimet Fund in the amount of Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($16,400.00) for use with a youth caddy program at the Green Hill Golf Course.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a grant from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) for the Worcester Park Stewards Program in an amount not to exceed Thirty Six Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($36,000.00).

Recommend that Thirty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($38,800.00) be transferred from Reserve Revenue Account # 330-54, Greenwood Street Landfill, and be appropriated to Accounts # 72S606, Tennis Donation and 72S644, Quinsigamound, to allow for the referenced program by the Tenacity at Greenwood Park and to clean the Quinsigamond War Memorial.

Recommend that Seventy One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Dollars And No Cents ($71,980.00) be transferred from Account #270-91000, Communications Personal Services, to Account #270-92000, Communications Ordinary Maintenance

Recommend that Eight Hundred Thirty Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifteen Dollars And No Cents ($837,315.00) be transferred from DPW Snow Account #411004-92143, and be appropriated to DPW Streets Account #4103-93000, so that the snow plowing equipment listed below can be purchased. This equipment will enhance the fleet that now exists for snow removal of city streets and sidewalks during the winter season.

Recommend that Four Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($400,000.00) be transferred from Account #250-91000, Police Personal Services, and transferred, to Account #250-97000, Police Overtime, so that payments of current and future obligations can be met.

Respectfully Recommend Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($350,000.00) be transferred from Account # 900-92000, Contingency Ordinary Maintenance, to Account #3312-92401, HHS Veterans Office Veterans Benefits, to pay for current and future obligations to year end.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget proposal.

Susan M. Ledoux, City Clerk, transmitting communication recommending the appointment of Stephen Andrew James Pottle as Assistant City Clerk.

Susan M. Ledoux, City Clerk, transmitting informational communication regarding the filling of one vacancy on the Library Board of Directors.

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting the Monthly Report on the Status of the City Budget. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes April 26, 2016 and Tabled Under Privilege - Economou May 3, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting report concerning recommendations as to where cuts may be made in the City's budget. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes April 26, 2016 and Tabled Under Privilege - Economou May 3, 2016)

ORDER of Councilor Michael T. Gaffney request City Manager present a budget that does not raise property taxes or does not raise property taxes the full 2 ˝% as to restore our excess tax levy capacity and preserve our bond rating. (Tabled Under Privilege - Economou May 3, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting a corrected copy of the Monthly Report on the Status of the City Budget. (Tabled Under Privilege - Economou May 3, 2016)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding the City's Tax Increment Financing Policy: recommend adoption of the accompany Order that City Council does hereby approve and support the attached amended City of Worcester’s Tax Increment Financing Policy as submitted to Committee on March 22, 2016. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes May 3, 2016)

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)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Upon the Order of Councilor Michael T. Gaffney request City Manager consider amending the Five Point Financial Plan to require that any increases in local aid received from the Commonwealth be assigned to the Other Post Employment Benefit Trust Fund: recommend Order be placed on file. (Tabled - Gaffney June 16, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen and Councilor Philip P. Palmieri - Request City Manager inform City Council as to whether he and other representatives from the city intend to meet with the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox to see if they have any interest in relocating to Worcester. (Tabled - Gaffney September 29, 2015)

PETITION of Todd Holland request the City Council Calendar available on the City Government web site provide the following: 1) Under description a full and accurate synopsis be placed to properly inform all citizens of the true & accurate purpose of said meeting. 2) Under the Heading of "More Information" a link is provided to available agenda and purpose of meeting. 3) All meeting minutes be available on line in a timely manor and to include accurate details on presenters, attendees and attachments of any proposed plans. 4) A more efficient format making it easier to navigate using a graphical user interface friendly to people who lack full computer literacy. (Tabled - Economou January 12, 2016)

PETITION of Todd Holland request all City of Worcester agendas include the name of the specific person(s) or department presenting on each item in a given agenda. (Tabled - Economou January 12, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication on a quarterly update relative to the City of Worcester’s plan to implement improved strategies and policies that better serve and represent our diverse community. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes January 26, 2016) (Tabled - Petty February 2, 2016)

PETITION of Denise Healey request removal of granite borders placed by the City onto private properties on Plantation St., and placed instead in a City park. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson February 9, 2016)

PETITION of Denise Healey request removal of large planters clumped together on Plantation St. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson February 9, 2016)

PETITION of Denise Healey request the targeted second "makeover" of Shrewsbury St. be placed on hold until other city streets have had their first "makeover". (Tabled - Mero-Carlson February 9, 2016)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell request City Manager consider installation of a camera at the entrance of CSX to monitor the “No Left Turn” prohibition exiting their facilities. – Item #21a Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with the legal opinion concerning the 2010 miscalculated foundation education formula’s statute of limitations at the next City Council meeting. – Item #21b Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the impact reverse mortgages and foreclosures have on the elderly. – Item #21c Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request City Manager set up a neighborhood meeting between the City’s administration, the City Council, the Diocese of Worcester and neighborhood residents to discuss the parcel of land at Our Lady of Carmel and the City’s plans for it moving forward. – Item #21d Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera request City Manager revisit issues concerning the quality of life for the residents at 205 Millbury St. – Item #21e Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera request City Manager request the Police Chief extend foot patrols in the vicinity of Ward St. and Lafayette St. from 12:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M. – Item #21f Order adopted

Motion Lukes @ #8.36A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a list of all new position slots, the salaries of those positions and a list of all current unfilled budgeted slots.

Motion Petty @ #8.4E CM – Request City Council amend the City Council Schedule for June 14, 2016 to begin the City Council meeting at 4:15 P.M. for a public hearing regarding the proposed Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan.

Motion Gaffney @ #8.33C CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with the accounting information concerning the Department of Public Works and Parks’ snow operations.