CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:31 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:40 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Petty recognized Troop 70 from Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The troop was in attendance earning one of their badges.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring November 28, 2018 as Albanian Independence Day in the City of Worcester. The Proclamation was presented to members of St. Mary’s Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 30, 2018.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9b CC 2. Daniel Dimassa, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9h CC 3. Jo Hart, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition of #8a CC

COMMUNICATION of the City Clerk transmitting Certifications of the City Clerk and City Assessor regarding the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District petition.

Hearing - Establishment of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District

Kristin Sundberg et al request Martha Ave. be made public.

Brian Laforte, V.P., Real Estate & Facilities Management of Polar Beverages request removal of Woolfenden St., a private street, from the Official Map.

Robert Longden, Esq. on behalf of New Garden Park, Inc. request changing the zoning designation of Lot 1, Lot 2 and Lot 4, which is part of 305 Belmont St. from BG-2.0 & ML-0.5 to BG-3.0.

Tuan Ngo request to change the zone for 96-102 May St. from RL-7 to BG 2.0.

Carl Besse request sidewalk repair or replacement in front of 24 William St.

Vincent Ricard request abatement of sewer assessment #31232 in the amount of $2,250.00 for Porto Rico Rd. assessed in the name of Nelllie Swickas.

Councilor Gary Rosen on behalf of Lawrence Jablonski request sidewalk resurfacing at 15 Fiske St.

Gerald Scher request to remove a handicap parking space at 77 Chatham St.

Rebecca Vailfont request installation of an additional handicap parking space in front of 21 May St.

Craig and Monalisa Burns requests installation of Resident Permit Parking on Catharine St., from Channing St. to Hooper St.

Vicki Truelson request a bus stop be installed on Haven Lane at Booth Apartments and opposite the National Guard Building on Lincoln St.

Rita Salman request installation of handicap parking in the vicinity of 5 Townsend St.

Councilor Mero-Carlson on behalf of Eric Wolpert request installation of a flashing pedestrian signal at the crosswalk in Burncoat St. at Wawecus Rd. adjacent to Wawecus Road School.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request City Manager request the Police Chief to report on the cost for funding the Shot Spotter Program.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request City Manager post on the city’s website home page the Crime Statistics Report.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request City Manager report how the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG FY18 Local Solicitation Program grant was expended.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request City Manager request the Fire Chief consider expanding the Sound the Alarm Program, if supply of smoke detectors is adequate, by posting information at the Housing Court and Schools.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request City Manager report the number of vehicle accidents that occurred due to black ice conditions and report whether or not these icy weather conditions were predicted.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - Request the Mayor invite the seven firefighters who were recently recognized by the State for heroism, to the December 4, 2018 City Council meeting to be recognized and honored.

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the urban agricultural proposed ordinance. (Rivera)

Request City Manager report on whether the city is required to award public project construction contracts to the lowest bidder even if his past performance in Worcester or beyond has proven that he is not a qualified or responsible bidder. This report should detail what efforts are made by the city to determine whether a contractor is a qualified/responsible bidder and has the ability, experience and record of past performance to complete the job on time and on budget. (Rosen)

In light of wide-spread concerns from residential and commercial business owners, and from subscribers to the Life Alert and similar systems, request the City Manager and the City Council's Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation investigate the long-standing issues and lapses in land-line phone service offered by Charter Communications/Spectrum since Charter often appears to be unable to rectify the problems that result in, among others, dead phone lines, one-way audio reception, dropped calls mid-conversation, unrecorded voice mail messages, and threats to the operation of telephone-dependent medical alert systems. (Rosen, Wally)

Request City Manager report to City Council the status of two previous requests filed on March 6, 2018 and May 1, 2018 regarding the “Wage Theft Ordinance”. (Mero-Carlson)

In order to further promote our City’s rich history and recognizing the link between a significant portion of that history and Veteran and Military events/affairs, request the Mayor and City Council amend City Council Rule 47 - (Appendix B) (M) (Committee on Veterans’ & Military Affairs) by renaming it to Veterans, Military and Historical Affairs and its jurisdiction expanded accordingly. (Bergman)

Request City Manager request the Commissioner of Public Works & Parks provide a report to City Council as soon as possible regarding the readiness in manpower, materials and equipment for winter weather events in 2018 / 2019. (Bergman)

Request Police Chief provide speed enforcement on Aylesbury Rd. between the 7am and 8:30 am due to increase vehicle traffic going to and from Flagg St. School. (Wally)

Request City Manager have the Commissioner of Public Works & Parks recommend solutions to alleviate the pooling of water runoff on Flagg St. resulting is vehicle accidents and dangerous icing conditions. (Wally)

Request City Manager request the Police Chief to provide a report comparing motor vehicle citations (speeding, stop sign, and traffic light violations) issued in the first year of the re-established Traffic Division to the prior year. (Wally)

Request City Manager have a surveillance camera installed at 2 Blossom St. and abutting Russell St. to address and curb illegal dumping. (Rivera)

Request Police Chief provide traffic enforcement for the crosswalk across 1050-1060 Main St. (Rivera)

Request City Council support Attorney General Maura Healy's opposition to the FCC petition filed by Charter Communications for a Determination of Effective Competition in Massachusetts Communities, Docket No. 18-283. (copy attached) (Lukes)

Request City Manager report on the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a city-wide 25 mph speed limit. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report on the status of a recommendation regarding a prohibition of the distribution of single use plastic bags and further to report on the recently enacted prohibition of the bags in Boston. (Lukes)

Andrew Nilson of Childs Engineering Corp transmitting an update to the Environmental Notification Form for Waterfront Rehabilitation at Regatta Point Park.

City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. transmitting communication recommending adoption of the attached Order to grant exemptions to ten (10) snow plow contractors that are also City employees.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to crime statistics for the calendar year 2017: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the recruitment fair for the Worcester Fire Department: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the offering the an American Heart Association CPR Certification class to the public: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Sound the Alarm Program, a collaborative effort of the Worcester Fire Department, American Red Cross and volunteers to make sure working smoke detectors are installed throughout Worcester: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the status of the existing public safety fleet, including age, condition, life expectancy and plans for budgeting for replacement/repair: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to AlertWorcester and Smart 911 outreach efforts: recommend Communication be placed on file.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to semi-annual TIF reporting. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson November 13, 2018)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Bruce LaBoffa request zone change for the property at 452 Southwest Cutoff from Residential to ML-0.5.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson April 3, 2018)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – That the City Council go on record in favor of supporting the Worcester Bravehearts as they plan for the future. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes August 21, 2018 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty September 12, 2018 and Tabled - Lukes September 25, 2018)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report on what further construction will be performed and the date of completion for June Street. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes September 25, 2018 and Tabled - Lukes October 2, 2018)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the positives and negatives of police officers bringing home their police vehicles. – Item #19a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a graph detailing which vehicles in the Worcester Police Department fleet are good, fair and poor. – Item #19b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager consider allowing police officers who live in the City’s urban neighborhoods to bring home police vehicles if studies show that it may help neighborhood safety. – Item #19c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager forward to City Council the report given by utility companies to the Department of Public Utilities regarding the condition of their infrastructures. Further, if the City does not receive said report, have the report forwarded to the City by DPU on an annual basis. – Item #19d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Sean M. Rose – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the city’s responsibilities to the baseball fields in District 1. – Item #19e CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager consider including more sports for girls when looking at Recreation Worcester programs next year. – Item #19f CC Order adopted

Motion Lukes @ #6b CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning when any properties in the BID district do not pay their entire fee or if fees are waived.

Motion Russell @ #6b CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the Worcester Downtown BID would have the power to foreclose or place a lien on a property that does not pay their entire fee.

Motion Petty @ #6b CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning where other Business Improvement Districts have been established.

Motion King @ #6b CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with periodic reports concerning the status of the Worcester Downtown BID.

Motion Toomey @ #9k – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what additional tools are available to communities to ensure crosswalk safety.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #13a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a more detailed report concerning the status of TIF agreements with various recipients that includes information concerning their compliance with the agreement.