CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:40 P.M.

Recessed to Executive Session: 8:00 P.M. Reconvened to Open Session from Executive Session to Adjourn: 9:01 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Petty suspended the rules of City Council to read a Proclamation declaring September 20, 2019 as Boricua/Puerto Rican Heritage Day in the City of Worcester. Mayor Petty recognized members of the Puerto Rican community in the audience as well as Maritza Cruz and Councilor Rivera, who spoke concerning the Proclamation.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of September 3, 2019.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Mauro DePasquale, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #10c CC
2. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #10c CC
3. Mark Borenstein, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #14g CC

That the City Council does hereby convene in Executive Session to discuss litigation strategy with respect to the case of Town of Holden vs. Department of Conservation and Recreation and the City of Worcester at the conclusion of the regular City Council meeting.

Theresa Gallagher request sidewalk repair in front of 30 Tatman St. and further that the water shut-off obstacle in sidewalk be leveled.

Theresa Gallagher request street repair in front of 30 Tatman St.

Lillian Delgado request to lower sidewalks at 116 Eastern Ave. including the driveway and area between 116 Eastern Ave. and 118 Eastern Ave. to prevent flooding.

Councilor George J. Russell request resurfacing of sidewalks on Woodford St.

Anthony DeCillis request speed enforcement on Eastern Ave. from Belmont St. to Elliott St. and also at City View School.

Anthony DeCillis request speed limit signs be installed on Eastern Ave. at City View School.

Salah Alzuhairy on behalf of Aday Alzuhairy request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 125 Chino Ave.

Walter Shea request installation of a stop sign on both sides of Institute Rd. at the corner of Wachusett St.

Larry Flowers request handicap parking space in front of 110 Farrar Ave. be removed.

Evan Corrigan request installation of a stop sign at the intersection of Inwood Rd. and Quinapoxet Lane.

Evan Corrigan request the installation of a "Private Street Dangerous" sign for Oden Ave.

Evan Corrigan request to assess the need for a traffic light near Thorndyke Road School.

Van Nguyen request the handicap parking space in front of 13 Tower St. be removed or relocated.

Stephen Krosoczka, President Sem-Tec, Inc. request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage 20 feet beyond the fire hydrant across from the driveway of 62 Jackson St.

Deborah McCrohan et al request Clover St., beginning at South Ludlow St. heading easterly and ending at Heard St. be made a one way street.

NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a jointly-owned pole location at: WYOLA DRIVE

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Police Chief provide enforcement of parking regulations on Armory St. to ensure vehicles from the auto body shops are not parked in the street.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager look into whether or not the auto body shops on Armory St. are complying with zoning laws.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager provide to City Council the process necessary to allow the posting of 20 MPH speed limit signage on city streets.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request Commissioner of Public Works & Parks repave and make level the section of Clover St., at the intersection of Clover St. and Heard St. to eliminate the bump across the road which has resulted in unsafe traveling conditions.

Since millions of homes across the U.S. get their water through pipes made of toxic lead which can leach out and become poisonous if the water isn't treated with the right mix of chemicals, request the City Manager report to the Council concerning whether this is an issue in Worcester and whether the city has an inventory of these buried pipes, which connect homes to water mains and are often on private property. (Rosen)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide traffic enforcement of the “No Parking Anytime” restriction in Marble St. (Rivera)

In light of Charter/Spectrum's sweeping rate increases that will hike the cost of TV packages, internet service, equipment, and fees, request City Council's Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation hold one or more public hearings to: 1) survey customer satisfaction with this provider; 2) review the fairness of their rates for TV, internet and telephone service; 3) review the city's cable franchise agreement with this company and determine what future changes need to be made to lower costs and improve service; 4) determine whether our three PEG (Public, Educational, Government) Access channels are receiving the financial and other support they are entitled to through our franchise agreement and if, in a future contract, they can be located on channels in the “Basic Tier”; and 5) discuss the feasibility of inviting other companies to provide service to the city. (Rosen)

In light of the City Council's recent unanimous vote to declare and respond to a climate emergency, request City Council amend its Committees of the City Council so that a new Environment and Sustainability standing committee be formed. As in Boston, this committee shall concern itself, among others, with the natural resources of the city, issues of air, land, and water pollution, resource recovery efforts and issues related to waste disposal and land reclamation. The committee also shall examine technologies and innovations regarding energy savings and efficiency. (Rosen, Lukes, Mero-Carlson, Bergman)

Request City Manager submit any reports regarding the current estimates for building a new Doherty High School. (Lukes)

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previous Order adopted on June 13, 2017 concerning policing substations, as well as the extension planning of police substations within the various neighborhoods and districts in the city, which would be created in addition to the current substation at Union Station. Further, request City Manager provide in said report the process by which new locations will be selected and the timetable of when new police substations will be coming forward. (King)

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previous Order adopted from Finance Committee on June 12, 2018 regarding the differential between a salaried police officer assigned to the Union Station Substation as opposed to police officers paid with detail work. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a report detecting the hours of operation at the Union Station Police Substation. (King)

Request City Manager provide for an immediate repair of the gate at the Hope Avenue Cemetery, in an effort to insure the sanctity of the cemetery and to eliminate any safety concerns. (King)

Request City Manager request Police Chief work with his traffic enforcement officers to engage with local public and private high school students in the city with respect to safe driving and the dangers of speeding, and notify all high school aged drivers that there will be an increased level of patrols during the hours before and after school on an intermittent basis to ensure public safety. (King)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the process for initiating and implementing city wide 5G technology. (Lukes)

Request City Manager confer with the Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) on ways to develop additional WHA properties in adjacent communities (towns) to eliminate the housing waiting list at the WHA in Worcester and to make available more housing units. (Bergman)

Request the Parking Control Officer provide enforcement of the "No Parking" within 20' of a crosswalk in the vicinity of 193-195 Lake Ave. (Wally)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased traffic enforcement on Harrington Way and Hamilton St. in the vicinity of North High School. (Mero-Carlson, King)

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting an informational communication regarding the passage of time taken to develop the Madison Properties' effect on the timing of the receipt of revenues required to service Series A bonds. (Referred to Finance Committee - #8a CC June 4, 2019)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of John Fresolo request the removal of the bus stop sign on Grafton St. at pole number 26 in the vicinity of Attorney Turo’s office at 177 Grafton St., in the interest of public safety and to facilitate smoother traffic flow.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of a four-way crosswalk at the intersection of Merrick St. and Larch St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of a four-way crosswalk at the intersection of Larch St. and Russell St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of a three-way crosswalk at the intersection of Chatham St. and Newbury St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of crosswalk at the intersection of Congress St. and Newbury St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of Paul Gomes request police surveillance of traffic entering Howland Terrace from Pleasant St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Rocco Leone request installation of a "Dead End" street sign at 35 Natural History Drive: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Matthew E. Wally request installation of signage or blinking yellow lights to alert and warn drivers of the crosswalk at 243 Stafford St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order to install, pending private business funding.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Evan Corrigan request installation of a "Do Not Block Intersection" sign at the junction of Mountain St. East and Triangle St.: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Thomas Vincent request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 14 Lansing Ave.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Gina Redmond request installation of a handicap parking space on the Winneconnett Rd. side of 8 Mohican Rd.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of David Mitchell request installation of resident permit parking in Eastham St. in the vicinity of 343 Hamilton St. and 6 Eastham St.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Leo Audette request resident permit parking be reinstalled in the vicinity of 240 Pilgrim Ave.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Mary Kelly request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage in front of Madulkas Ice Cream, located at 193-195 Lake Ave.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of John Fresolo request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage on both sides of Armory St. from Janice Nadeau Way to Armory Motor Storage or the dead end: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Sarai Rivera request installation of a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Southgate St. and Janice Nadeau Way: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Joanna Loftus, Principal of Wawecus Road School request a crosswalk light be installed at the crosswalk in Burncoat St. and Wawecus Rd.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Kelsey Cummings request installation of a crosswalk in front of 138 &139 Green St.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Sheilagh Crotty request installation of a crosswalk across Grafton St. in the vicinity of its intersection with Standish St.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell request installation of "Turkey Crossing" signage in the vicinity of 500 to 505 Massasoit Rd.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion regarding the process of instituting a residential rent control program and the resulting impact of implementing such a program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes September 17, 2019)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager recommend that One Hundred Forty Four Thousand Three Hundred Twenty One Dollars And No Cents ($144,321.00) be transferred from Account #75C504, DCU Special District, to Account #75C701, DCU Capital Equipment. (Tabled Under Privilege - Russell September 17, 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)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager 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. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman February 5, 2019 and Tabled - Bergman February 26, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes, Councilor Khrystian E. King and Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Council have the City Council Standing Committees on Public Works and Municipal Operations conduct a joint meeting about the future recommended staffing of the City Council office as well as logistics for office space for staff and City Council. Further, request the joint committee discuss potential recommendations regarding the job description and role of the City Council staff persons and further, encourage other City Councilors who are not members of the joint committee to attend and be included in the conversation. (Tabled - Petty February 26, 2019)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to information to assist in the hiring of a City Council staff member. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes March 12, 2019; Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 19, 2019 and Tabled - Petty March 26, 2019)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manger transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion as to the jurisdiction of office space and facilities within City Hall. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson March 12, 2019; Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 19, 2019 and Tabled - Petty March 26, 2019)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Susan Burns & Mary Landry request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31247 in the amount of $36,000.00 for Luther Ave.: recommend Petition be denied. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rose April 23, 2019 and Tabled - Russell April 30, 2019)

TO BE ORDAINED - Amending Section 2 Article III Of The Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991 Relative To Extending The Bl-1.0 And Commercial Corridor Overlay (CCOD) Zoning Districts In The Vicinity Of The Property Located At 57 Highland Street And 33 & 35 Wachusett Street. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 25, 2019 and Tabled - Wally July 23, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – That City Council does hereby support the Comprehensive Clean City Program as submitted to City Council, with the exception of changing the price increase on garbage bags from fifty cents to twenty-five cents and eliminating the clear plastic bag portion of the program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty July 23, 2019 and Tabled - Russell August 13, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - That City Council does hereby support the Comprehensive Clean City Program as submitted to City Council. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a review of the Comprehensive Clean City Program in one year’s time. Further, request City Manager consider providing all neighborhood based clean-up grants to only established neighborhood groups. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty July 23, 2019 and Tabled - Russell August 13, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Matthew E. Wally – That City Council does hereby support the Comprehensive Clean City Program as submitted to City Council, with the exception of implementing an a la carte system for purchasing clear plastic recycling bags and yellow trash bags, which would allow residents to purchase large bags separately from small bags, and yellow trash bags separately from clear plastic recycling bags. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty July 23, 2019 and Tabled - Russell August 13, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera – Request City Manager hold a city coordinated summit at City Hall within the next year concerning the subject of climate change. Further, request City Manager include members of his staff working on green initiatives as well as community leaders on the subject in the plans for the summit. Further, request City Manager increase support for the community on this issue. – Item #19a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any financial and regulatory assistances available concerning climate change. – Item #19b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk provide the city’s State and Federal delegates with a copy of the city’s resolution concerning the declaration of a climate emergency. – Item #19c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Matthew E. Wally – Request City Manager consider reevaluating the city's tree policy in an effort to deal with issues related to city trees more efficiently. – Item #19d CC

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a copy of the contract that was recently entered into by the DCU Center. – Item #19e CC

Motion Toomey @ #10a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with an updated Water Quality report.

Motion Rivera @ #10b CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide traffic enforcement of resident permit parking signage on West St.

Motion Petty @ 10c CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with Charter/Spectrum’s four most recent quarterly service reports.

Motion Lukes @ #10c CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether any companies other than Charter/Spectrum can provide cable services in the city, despite Charter/Spectrum owning the outdated infrastructure.

Motion Rosen @ #10d CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning steps required to initiate the creation of an Environment and Sustainability Committee.

Motion Lukes @ #10d CC – Request City Manager post the city’s various accomplishments concerning environmental issues on the city’s website.

Motion King @ #10f CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with the report made by the Human Rights Commission outlining neighborhood meeting initiatives, in an effort to increase involvement in said meeting.

Motion King @ #10g CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning cost savings incurred from assigning on duty police officers to the Union Station Police Substation instead of paying officers with detail work.

Motion King @ #10k CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing any trends and data available concerning affordable housing vouchers in the city.

Motion Bergman – Suspension of Rules – That the City Council does hereby amend the City Council Meeting Schedule by cancelling the October 8, 2019 City Council Meeting in observance of Yom Kippur.