CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:38 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:19 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 January 16, 2018.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Gordon Hargrove, Worcester resident
2. John Provost, Worcester resident
3. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident
4. Frederick C. Rushton, Worcester resident
5. May Zottoli, Holden resident
6. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident
7. Chris Webber, Worcester resident
8. Gordon Ward, Worcester resident

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request damaged trees on Franklin St. be replaced.

Ellen Moynihan, Principal West Tatnuck Elementary School request sidewalk be installed in front of 334 & 410 Mower St. and the Mower St. side of 2 Westmorland Dr.

Guy Glodis request installation of a new handicap railing in front of the property at 9 Kelley Square.

Christina MacDonald request the placement of stop signs where Moreland Green Dr. intersects with Ledgewood Ln. and Glenbrook Ln. be reviewed.

Councilor Matthew E. Wally request installation of stop signs in Moreland Green Dr., where it intersects with Glenbrook Ln. and Ledgewood Ln.

Stephen Quist request City Council go on record supporting the opening of the Mann St. parking lot for patrons of the dog park at Beaver Brook Park.

Stephen Quist request City Council go on record supporting the creation of a City of Worcester Charter Commission to review term limits, etc.

Jo Hart request City Council immediately hold two large public meetings at the DCU Center (one on plastic bags and the other on recycling) and invite the author of a book on garbage to speak and show the film about garbage and the floating trash piles in the ocean (presentation at the Worcester Public Library some years ago) in order for everyone to have more accurate information about the danger of plastic bags and garbage before making such important decisions.

William S. Coleman, III request City Council have City Administration consider allowing WorcesterCompanyBulbs.com and partners to illuminate the City of Worcester Citizens of Color Honor Roll.

William S. Coleman, III request City Council consider having City Administration list the primary sources of heat for all housing and building addresses with an E for electric, G for gas, W for wood and S for solar.

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the quality and reliability of WRTA service, including any service cuts and fare hikes being considered by the WRTA Board and Administration. (Rosen)

Request Standing Committee on Youth, Parks and Recreation discuss the feasibility of and determine a process that will lead to the installation of lights at Grant Square Park on Lincoln St. (Rosen, Mero-Carlson)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks explore getting the dams that are outside our city limits off our tax levy and give back to the responsibility to the appropriate abutting town(s). (Rose)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report or status update concerning the property of 321 West Boylston St. aka, “Barber’s Crossing.” (Rose)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what resources, if any, are available through the City for any consumer businesses going through bankruptcy. (Wally)

Request City Manager create an emergency hotline for homeless families to access triage-type services during the hours when the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is not available due to their hours of operation, similar to the services found in communities such as Boston, Lowell, Quincy and Springfield. (Rivera, Wally, Rose, Rosen, Bergman, King, Mero-Carlson)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide additional speed enforcement in the vicinity of Clark St. and St. Nicholas Ave. (Rose)

Request City Council vote to eliminate its automatic cost of living raise based on the consumer price index permanently beginning January 1, 2020. (Lukes)

Request City Council establish a practice of taking a public vote regarding any future increase in its salary. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning what the next steps are to improve the Senior Center that includes the different ways it can be developed such as creating senior housing. Further, request the City Manager report to Council as to how the services at the Senior Center can be expanded. (Petty)

Request City Manager report to City Council regarding the process/steps needed to implement the banning of flavored tobacco products. (Toomey)

Request City Manager request the appropriate departments generate a report to City Council indicating what, if any, marketing efforts are being made to encourage individuals/families/seniors living outside of Worcester to purchase/lease residential properties in Worcester and the current budget for doing so. (Bergman)

Request City Manager clarify the Department of Public Works’ policy and practice concerning the pre-treatment of steep and hilly streets, that are not main arterials, prior to the arrival of snow and ice storms. (Rosen)

Request City Manager provide City Council with an progress update concerning the re-use development plan of the Memorial Auditorium. (Mero-Carlson, Petty)

Request City Manager provide enforcement of the tractor trailer ban on Lake Ave. North. (Mero-Carlson)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the income qualifications for the senior, widow and veteran tax exemptions, as well as any other exemption. (Mero-Carlson, Toomey, Rose, Bergman, King, Lukes, Rivera, Rosen, Russell, Wally, Petty)

Request City Manager schedule an executive session for the purpose of reviewing pending litigation. (Lukes)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review the sanding operations on Forsberg St. and Tatman St. (King, Russell)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support and recognize February 2018, as BLACK HISTORY MONTH in the city of Worcester. Further, The City Council does hereby call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all its citizens to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities and programs in honor of the many achievements and contributions made by African Americans to our economic, cultural, spiritual and political development. (King)

#10e CC July 18, 2017 ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager and City Council reduce the FY18 taxes at the tax recap for 1) 20% of any certified free cash; 2) any amounts determined to be in excess in the Health Insurance Trust and; 3) any new growth in excess of what is currently budgeted.

Transmitting Comprehensive Annual Financial Report - FY 2017.

Transmitting the audited annual financial statements of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) for the years ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.

Transmitting the annual financial statement of the DCU Center for the year ended June 30, 2017 as audited by the outside firm of Clifton Larson Allen, LLP.

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 and Tabled - Rosen December 19, 2017)

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 and Tabled - Lukes December 19, 2017)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager consider reaching out to developers of plastic bags and to grocery stores to discuss the impact of banning plastic bags, as well as consider the usage of the city’s own plastic bags prior to a ban being established. – Item #11a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager report to City Council regarding considerations for individuals who may not be able to afford reusable bags. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing what percentage of municipal waste plastic bags make up. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with information regarding whether there is a strong environmental impact made by plastic bags in the City. – Item #11b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the cost impact made in Shrewsbury after the ban on plastic bags was implemented, taking into consideration the different economic circumstances in Worcester. – Item #11c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager market the former Big Y Lot located on Westborough St. as a place for potential developers. – Item #11d CC Order adopted

Motion Lukes @ #7a CC – Request City Manager draft a resolution voicing the concerns of City Council as it relates to the service of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), which would be distributed to the appropriate Board Members and state officials.

Motion King @ #7f CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what resources the City currently utilizes for homeless families during the hours when the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is not available due to their hours of operations.

Motion Rosen @ #7l CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what hills in the City are and are not pretreated prior to snow and ice storms.

Motion Lukes @ #10b CC – Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report concerning the risks the City faces being uninsured and uncollateralized as it pertains to the WRA and the DCU Center.