CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:06 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:45 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Joseph M. Petty provided Paula Bushey and Denise Bilotta with a Certificate of Special Mayoral Recognition for their planting and maintaining the beautiful flowers at the Newton Square Rotary and their invaluable service to the entire community.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 3, 2017.

ELECTION - Jessica Walsh was elected on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Gaffney absent) to fill one vacancy for an unexpired term ending December 31, 2021.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident
2. Joseph Perozitti, Worcester resident
3. Laurie Ross, Worcester resident

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: PLEASANT STREET Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: PLEASANT STREET

NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a jointly-owned pole location at: BOYLSTON ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a jointly-owned pole location at: BOYLSTON ST.

Thomas Gregory request Devens Rd. be resurfaced.

Thomas Gregory request sidewalks on Devens Rd. be replaced.

Henry & Jane Dewey request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31235 in the amount of $18,532.00 for Fenimore Rd.

Jasmine Velez request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31220 in the amount of $3,500.00 for Wendover Rd.

Michelle Kilroy request a "Children" advisory sign be installed on Brantwood Rd.

Gary Peters, Esq. request that a traffic light be installed at the intersection of Shore Drive, Holden St. and Drummond Ave. and further request the intersection be made a 4-way intersection with Shore Dr. being diverted to the left in order to form the 4-way intersection.

Leslie Escobar et al request parking lines be painted on Jacques Ave., from Queen St. to King St. designating parking spaces.

Elizabeth Agramonte request installation of resident permit parking for Fox St.

Elizabeth Agramonte request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 77 Fox St.

Marsha Brown Reale request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 14 South Buffum St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a pedestrian sign at the intersection of Paine St. and Melville St., as well as consideration of a painted grid with “STOP” painted inside.

Sue Philip request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 12 Meade St.

Jo Hart requests immediate forward positive action for getting realistic help for the large homeless population in Worcester to achieve basic functioning; for example, a large office for their use with computer and bathroom, public lockers in parking garages downtown, call mail boxes, larger and cheaper self - storage units, transportation to food sites, public baths and leave existing bus shelters in place for WRTA use.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Joseph Charpentier to the Conservation Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Sandra Bisson and Elizabeth Nguyen to the Elder Affairs Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Jobs Fund Fiscal Year 2017 Report.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Residential Resurfacing Program for FY19 and FY20.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the FY18 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program.

Recommend approval of a rate increase for certain categories of hired equipment for plowing and sanding.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the pavement backlog of the Residential Resurfacing Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to on-street parking in the vicinity of Coes Park on Mill Street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Construction Progress Report for the month ending September 30, 2017.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity Report for the month of August 2017.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2017 Fall Leaf Collection Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the master plan and public hearings for Hadwen Park, Great Brook Valley Playground and Tacoma Street Playground.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update of stump grinding by the Forestry Division.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a growing number of complaints about reckless bicycle riders on public roadways.

Recommend approval for a lease of space at the Worcester Senior Center by a new tenant, Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept and expend funds for up to Forty Two Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($42,000.00) from Commonwealth Corporation’s Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program FY2018 appropriation.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Seventy Nine Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Dollars and No Cents ($79,560.00) from the Alkermes Inspiration Grants Program to support Worcester's AIR Initiative.

Recommend the total of Six Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($6,000.00) be transferred as follows: $3,000.00 from Account #600-92000, Purchasing Ordinary Maintenance, and $3,000.00 from Account #610-92000, Budget Ordinary Maintenance, and that the total be transferred to Account #610-93000, Budget Capital Outlay, to provide required funds to consolidate office space for employees in the Administration and Finance Office.

Recommend that One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($1,200.00) be authorized from Account #331-92000, HHS Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of a prior year invoice.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the License Commission procedures for licensing, permitting and inspecting liquor establishments

COMMUNICATION of City Auditor Robert V. Stearns transmitting a report responding to questions regarding excess funds in the Health Care Trust Fund. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes October 3, 2017; Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson October 10, 2017)

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)

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 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)

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 and Tabled - Petty February 2, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a list of the non-profit agencies who keep their properties on the tax rolls. (Tabled - Gaffney May 24, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a report listing properties that have been converted from commercial or industrial to residential. (Tabled - Gaffney May 24, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting communication responding to City Council inquiry requesting City Manager submit an estimated assessor's recap comparing the proposed FY 17 tax levy with the current real estate assessments and the FY 16 assessed values. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes June 14, 2016 and June 21, 2016 and Tabled - Lukes July 19, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to legislation to regulate and restrict non-profit organizations in residentially zoned districts. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman September 20, 2016 and September 27, 2016 and Tabled - Bergman October 4, 2016)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - That the Worcester City Council does hereby support the initiation of negotiations by the WRA with MassPort or other entities regarding the feasibility of transferring Union Station as an intermodal transportation center to MassPort. The transfer concept is based upon the transfer of the Worcester Airport to MassPort and is necessitated by similar transportation and financial concerns that resulted in the conveyance of Worcester Airport to MassPort. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty February 28, 2017- and Tabled - Lukes March 7, 2017)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a City Solicitor's report concerning the wording of the ordinance voted by the Town of Westborough on March 7, 2017, which banned any recreational marijuana stores, farms or other related businesses in that Town and what, if any, would be the impact of the ordinance on medical marijuana businesses, personal consumption and limited home grown plants and further what is the process for the city to implement a such a ban on commercial, non-medical marijuana business. (Tabled - Lukes May 9. 2017)

HEARING & ORDER to grant permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint or identical pole location at: ST. PAUL DRIVE (Tabled - Bergman May 23, 2017)

ORDER of Councilor Michael T. Gaffney - Request City Council, in Accordance with City Council Rule 52, to discharge from the Standing Committee on Public Safety the item referred to said committee on September 6, 2016 relative to a Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication regarding a draft ordinance relative to the smoking or consumption of marijuana or other drug in public, similar to the City Ordinance concerning drinking in public. (Tabled - Bergman May 23, 2017)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the legality of changes in this year’s tax classification from residential to commercial of several assisted living facilities. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman June 20, 2017 and Tabled June 27, 2017 - Bergman)

Motion Rosen @ #9.5C CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor look into possible exemptions to allow City employees with good driving records and who previously plowed for the City to continue doing so.

Motion Rivera @ #9.8B CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a flyer for social media and neighborhood meetings helping individuals identify any stumps that the City may have missed grinding down, in Spanish and English.

Motion Economou @ 9.8B CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with the process for backfilling holes from a removed tree stump that is in a grass strip.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Kathleen Huntington request speed enforcement in the vicinity of Briarwood Ln. and Clark St.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou request sidewalk repair in front of 27 Indian Lake Pkwy.

Motion Rosen – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager look into allowing residents access to the Mann St. parking lot for use of Beaver Brook Park, including the new dog park in that location.

Motion Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager post the response from Amazon concerning the City’s RFP to locate the company’s second headquarters in Worcester on the City’s website.