CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:33 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:55 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 22, 2019.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #7.3A CM
2. Conchino Fernando, Leominster resident, spoke in favor of #7.36A CM
3. Laurie Ross, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7.36A CM
4. George Cortes, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7.3A CM
5. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7.3A CM
6. Stacey Luster, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7.3A CM

Jonathan J. Thomas, Manager of Whippoor LLC, request to extend the RL-7 zone to encompass the following Malden Woods subdivision (O Whippoorwill Drive & 0 Castine St.) parcels: 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14B on Map 32 and Plat 011:00010; 00011, 00012, 00013, & 0014B.

Abbas Aldayyeni request installation of handicap parking space in front of 26 New Vista Lane.

Ana Chavez request installation of handicap parking space in front of 6 Clapp St.

Jennifer Pappas request installation of traffic light at the intersection of 21 Hill St and East Central St.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: GRAFTON STREET

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: GROVE STREET

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointments of Edward Moynihan and Angel Santana to Constable.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Priscilla Lippert to the Trust Funds Commission.

Recommend appointment of Coretta McCarter to the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women.

Recommend appointment of Osaghale Aisagbonhi to the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Affirmative Action Plan, Hiring, Recruitment, and Retention Policy Updates and Initiatives.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion concerning the extent of discussion of City Council matters by City Councilors outside of City Council meetings.

Recommend that Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113L, MSBA Rehab - South High, and be appropriated to Account #41C789, South High Improvements, to allow for payments towards current obligations relating to the new school MSBA Project.

Recommend that Twenty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($20,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113M, Chandler MSBA Rehab, and be appropriated to Account #41C747, Chandler Elementary, to allow for the payment of current obligations associated with this project, such as costs relating to windows, doors, and boiler, for the MSBA project.

Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($75,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113N, Gerald Creamer MSBA, and be appropriated to Account #41C748, Gerald Creamer, such as costs relating to windows, doors, and boiler, for the MSBA project.

Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($75,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113O, Belmont Elementary MSBA, and be appropriated to Account #41C749, Belmont Elementary, such as costs relating to windows, and doors for the MSBA project.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113P, Wawecus Rd MSBA Rehab, and be appropriated to Account #41C757, Wawecus Rd Elementary, such as costs relating to windows, and doors for the MSBA project.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113Q, Lincoln St School MSBA, and be appropriated to Account #41C75901, Lincoln St School, to fund current obligations such as costs relating to windows, doors, and roof, for the MSBA project.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113R, Thorndyke School MSBA, and be appropriated to Account #41C75902, Thorndyke Road School, to fund current obligations such as costs relating to windows, and doors, for the MSBA project.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113S, Elm Park School MSBA, and be appropriated to Account #41C75903, Elm Park Community School, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations associated with this project, such as windows and doors for the MSBA project.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation of travel-related expenses, with an estimated value of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($2,500.00) from National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA) for Assistant Commissioner Robert C. Antonelli, Jr. of Department of Public Works & Parks to attend the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP).

Recommend that Nine Hundred Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred One Dollars And No Cents ($912,701.00) be transferred as described, so as to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Parking Program for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019.

Recommend that One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Three Dollars And Nineteen Cents ($138,233.19) be transferred from Tax Levy Account #410-91000, Salaries, and be appropriated to Account Tax Levy Account #410-97201, Overtime, to allow for overtime costs for the winter months.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Forty Four Dollars And Zero Cents ($744.00) be authorized from Account 3314-91000, Youth Office Salaries, for the payment of a prior year payroll expense.

Recommend City Council's review, deliberation and adoption of various Orders for the issuance of refunding bonds, as received from the City Treasurer, and forwarded for the consideration of your Honorable Body.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update regarding the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (WYVPI).

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 Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any taxes owed on the Greendale Mall property. – Item #18a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report comparing whether the value and the assessed value of the Greendale Mall property was similar during its sale. – Item #18b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager consider creating zoning incentives for those developing lots to either keep trees that are existing or add trees where they are not. – Item #18c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager enact a policy to check whether new and old public shade trees have to be replaced due to gas pipe leaks. – Item #18d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning what ordinances and state laws are in place regarding gas pipe leaks and their impact on trees. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning how to ensure gas companies are in accordance with those regulations. – Item #18e CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a list detailing all buildings and parcels owned by the City of Worcester. – Item #18f CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the number of homeless college students in the city. Further, request City Manager include in said report what programs colleges are undertaking to address this issue. – Item #18g CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the city’s history and policies regarding tax liens, including issues of notification. – Item #18h CC Order adopted

Motion King @ #7.36A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with biannual reports analyzing the implementation of actionable items within the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (WYVPI).

Motion King @ #7.36A CM – Request City Manager formally invite City Council to Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (WYVPI) meetings.

Motion King @ #7.36A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the work being done to address the issue of a disproportionate rate at which Latino and black youths are punished in school and in the criminal justice system.

Motion King @ #7.3A CM – Request City Manager create a strategic, affirmative action plan as it relates to the succession of minorities to cabinet and high level positions within the city.

Motion King @ #7.3A CM – Request City Manager provide the city’s departments with a, “Utilization Analysis,” which tracks information on new hires, promotions and departures on a regular basis to determine how the city is growing and improving in regards to its Affirmative Action Plan.

Motion Lukes @ #7.3A CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion as to what City Council’s role is in formulating the city’s Affirmative Action Plan.

Motion Lukes @ #7.3A CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning whether or not the City Council, as a hiring authority, is subject to the city’s Affirmative Action Plan.

Motion Bergman @ #7.13A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a clarification of why cosponsors’ names cannot be added to Orders put forth by City Council until the time of the body’s meeting.

Motion Russell @ #7.13A CM – Request City Manager work with his Director of Intergovernmental Affairs to determine the feasibility of changing the Open Meeting Law to allow for discussion of Items before City Council.

Motion King @ #7.13A CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report determining the feasibility of drafting a home rule petition to exempt City Council from the portion of the Open Meeting Law that does not allow a body to discuss Items with one another.