CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:35 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:03 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 December 18, 2018.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7g CC and #9e CC
2. Edward Gardella, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7g CC and #9e CC
3. Elaine Gardella, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7g CC and #9e CC
4. Jo Hart, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #7b CC

William S. Coleman, III request City Council consider adjusting the salary of the Mayor during this current legislative session.

Crystal Jackson request installation of "No Littering" sign underneath the rail road bridge at Southbridge/Southgate St.

Yvette Jackson request installation of handicap parking space in front of 53 Plantation St.

William Stuart request installation of handicap parking space in the vicinity of 40 Great Brook Valley Ave.

Charles Roche, VP of NAPAC Inc. request installation of No Parking on both sides of the Herman St. side of 229 Southbridge St., 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday thru Friday.

Councilor Matthew E. Wally request the installation of a stop sign on High Ridge Rd. at intersection of Flagg St.

Aurelia Baldino request City Council consider putting a dog park in the Belmont St. area.

NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND for a pole location at: BROOKLINE STREET

Grace Ross requesting City Council hold a public hearing regarding illegal foreclosures and foreclosure-related evictions effecting Worcester residents taking place at the Central Housing Court and further request the city administration provide the following in order to assist residents who are faced with evictions without due process and in violation of our laws: 1) Training for public safety or any city employee who assist residents who are affected by illegal foreclosure evictions; 2) Clarify role of local/non-local constables used in the foreclosure eviction process to ensure no abuse of power; and 3) Implementation of city’s ordinance Chapter 9 § 14 “Facilitating Mediation of Mortgage Foreclosures of Owner Occupied Residential Real Property in City of Worcester”.

Request City Council's Standing Committee on Municipal Operations begin negotiations for the City Manager's salary and contract. (Petty, Rosen, Mero-Carlson, Rose, Russell, Wally)

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update regarding potential development plans, if any, for these three privately-owned and long vacant properties in District 5: the former home of Diamond Chevrolet at 520 Park Avenue (9 years vacant); the site of the former Price Chopper Market on Mill St. (16 years vacant); the former and partial site of Harrington Richardson at Park Ave./Chandler St. (32 years vacant). (Rosen, Wally)

Request City Manager request City Solicitor review City Council Rule 10 (d) and report back to City Council whether or not this rule can be amended to allow the City Clerk to add the names of co-sponsors to an order or resolution when the agenda is published prior to the City Council meeting as long as it is the City Clerk who is soliciting the sponsorship to each individual City Councilor. (Rosen)

Request City Manager look into and make recommendations to assist with business development in the Lincoln St. Business Corridor. (Mero-Carlson)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report as soon as possible as to the status of the sewer pumping station replacement on Whitla Dr. to include: projected timetable for completion as compared to the original timetable, projected budget for completion as compared to original budget. (Bergman, Russell)

Request City Manager establish an Economic Development Plan for the West Boylston St. corridor in District 1. (Rose)

Request City Manager consider exploring and identifying space and opportunity to permanently display the city's rich African American history. This potential space can be in the form of a museum or exhibit. (Rose)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Hugo Asamoah request to extend the BG-3.0 zone to include 40 Ellsworth St. (aka 7 Bigelow St.)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Donald J. O'Neil, Esq. on behalf of Gold Star Builders Inc. request to amend Zoning Map in the general vicinity of the intersection of Grand St. and Armory St. by extending the BL-1.0 zone northeasterly across Grand St. to incorporate two parcels of land located at 169 and 179 Grand St.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Vivian Nyantakyi and Margaret Fletcher request to make public Attleboro St.

ORDER - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 11, 2018. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes January 8, 2019)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager - Recommend that Three Hundred Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($313,500.00) be transferred from Account #33090, Reserve for Appropriation PEG Access Cable, and be appropriated to the accounts described to provide sufficient funding for the Cable Services for the third quarter Fiscal Year 2019. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes January 8, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previous Order looking at implementing best practices used by other communities to reduce litter created from miniature alcohol bottles or, “nips.” (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty January 8, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the process that is used for ticketing properties that have consistent problems with litter. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning the follow up strategies that are used to ensure the litter on said properties is cleaned up. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a report outlining which properties have been fined for their litter that can be used for information at neighborhood meetings. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty January 8, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the city’s ongoing efforts to document and edify Worcester’s Black History. (Tabled Under Privilege - King January 8, 2019)

LOAN ORDER - That the balance of Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($850,000.00) from the Loan Order totaling One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) authorized by the City Council on June 10, 2014 and appropriated to Account #91C793A, Golf Rehabilitation, to fund costs associated with Golf Building Rehabilitation projects, including the costs incidental and related thereto is hereby rescinded in it’s entirety; BE IT FURTHER ORDERED: That the sum of Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($850,000.00) be appropriated to Account #91C7934, Golf Improvements, to pay for costs associated with Golf Improvements, including the costs incidental and related thereto, and that to meet this appropriation the City Treasurer, with the approval of the City Manager is hereby authorized to borrow the sum of under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 8, Clause (15) of the General Laws, as amended and supplemented, or any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the City therefore. Any premium received by the City upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 20 of the General Laws, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes January 8, 2019)

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 provide City Council with a report concerning using the revenue of medical marijuana establishments as a means to estimate the excise taxes that will be assessed to those establishments moving forward, per the city’s host agreements with each establishment. – Item #19a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Auditor provide City Council with a detailed breakdown of the specific expenses generated from the Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA). – Item #19b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning signage being put up upon entering the city. – Item #19c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with the Governor Charlie Baker’s administration’s response to the HUD report concerning the 2018 National Point-in-Time homelessness count. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the city plans to access funds allocated by the State dedicated to homelessness issues. – Item #19d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager explore any engagements between those involved with Urban Agriculture and those involved with issues regarding the city’s homeless population. – Item #19e CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the impact the federal government shutdown has in the city of Worcester, with specific information concerning housing imbursements and Union Station repairs. – Item #19f CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen – Request City Manager post a link to the, “Chronicle – What’s Up With Worcester?” story to the city’s website. – Item #19g CC Order adopted

Motion King @ #6i CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning any dialogue the city’s administration has had with the Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team (WAFT).

Motion King @ #6i CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city’s State Delegation has begun any process to address foreclosure-related evictions affecting Worcester residents by the Worcester Housing Court.

Motion Petty @ #6i CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing statistics concerning foreclosures in the city, including information concerning how many foreclosure there are and how many people become homeless as a result of a foreclosure.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #6i CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding the court action after Lynn, Brockton and Springfield enacted foreclosure related ordinances and how the previous ordinance enacted by the city may or may not have to be amended.

Motion Rosen @ #6i CC – Request City Manager consider providing City Council with information concerning actions taken by the Worcester Housing Court.

Motion Lukes @ #7a CC – Request Standing Committee on Municipal Operations consider coordinating the evaluation of the City Manager with any contract and salary increase for the City Manager, so that it is tied to performance in the future.

Motion Lukes @ #7a CC – Request Standing Committee on Municipal Operations consider looking into the appropriateness of having a, “State of the City,” address for the city.

Motion Toomey @ #7b CC – Request City Manager put a plan together regarding the development of properties located on Route 20.

Motion Lukes @ #7c CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning to what extent City Councilors are allowed to discuss City Council related matters outside of City Council meetings.

Motion Toomey @ #7c CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor forward to City Council Open Meeting Law information provided at MMA classes for City Councilors.

Motion Russell @ #7f CC – Request City Manager consider assigning each neighborhood in Worcester a contact person who they could work with on an ongoing basis as more projects are undertaken.