CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:33 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:48 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Petty presented Massachusetts Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler with a Key to the City for receiving the 2019 Outstanding Woman State Legislator Supporting the Arts Award. State Senator Chandler spoke before City Council concerning the work being done in the city regarding the arts.

Mayor Petty presented Reid Wynja, Kiernan Reilly and Matthew Defeudis with Keys to the City for becoming Eagle Scouts through Troop 37, Christ the King Church in Worcester. Mayor Petty detailed the various Eagle Projects completed by each of the Eagle Scouts.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring the Month of January 2020 as Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Prevention Awareness Month in the city of Worcester. The Proclamation was presented to representatives from Pathways for Change, an organization that addresses the impact of sexual violence by providing quality and multicultural services to those whose lives have been impacted by sexual violence and to provide education geared toward ending violence.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8a CC, #8k CC and #9a CC 2. Bill Raymond, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8c CC 3. Maritza Cruz, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8c CC 4. Casey Star, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8c CC and #9a CC 5. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8a CC 6. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9a CC 7. Fred Taylor, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9a CC 8. Nicole Postala, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to #9a CC 9. Emily Linhares, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9a CC 10. Matt Feinstein, Grafton resident, spoke in favor of #9a CC 11. Jack Donahue, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9a CC

CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC for a conduit location at: MAIN ST.; and Granting permission to CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC for a conduit location at: MAIN ST.

CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC for a conduit location at: BELMONT ST.; and Granting permission to CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC for a conduit location at: BELMONT ST.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: GROVE ST.; and Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: GROVE ST.

Councilor Donna M. Colorio request repainting of the crosswalk located at 835 Pleasant St. in front of Shaarai Torah West Temple.

Councilor Sean M. Rose request installation of a street light at 715 West Boylston St, in the vicinity of the cross walk that connects to Roycroft Rd.

Councilor Candy F. Mero-Carlson request installation of a pedestrian flashing light at the crosswalk in vicinity of the Canal Lofts at 48 Water St.

Councilor Candy F. Mero-Carlson request install on “No Parking” signs in front of 65 Kenwood Ave.

Linda Kareem request installation of handicap parking space in front of 118 Coburn Ave.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: 32 DAYTON ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: 37 DAYTON ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: SALISBURY ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: MERRICK ST.

Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation invite to an upcoming meeting and offer support to the owners of Ride The Woo, a 6-trolley experience, marketing and transportation service company that will serve the downtown business district beginning in 2021. (Rosen)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the pending launch of the City of Worcester's 34-month contract with Direct Energy Services, LLC to buy electricity for the Worcester Community Choice Electricity Aggregation program. (Rosen)

Request City Council’s newly created Standing Committee on Urban Technologies, Innovations, and Environment schedule a meeting to discuss the Committee's goals for the next two (2) years. As the Committee oversees matters pertaining to smart city solutions, process engineering, technology, telecommunications, strategic planning, green spaces, blue spaces, urban agricultural, urban trees, climate change and electric aggregation, the invitation should be extended to the appropriate staff in the Energy and Asset Management, Technical Services, and Urban Innovations Departments. (Wally)

Request City Manager provide City Council with the following: 1) a list of the current outstanding unpaid water and sewer bills; 2) provide the cash reserve in the water and sewer account; and 3) provide a five (5) year overview of the water and sewer enterprise account, including payments, outstanding liabilities and cash reserve. (Colorio)

Request City Manager provide a status report regarding a previous filed order requesting the Police Chief to increase foot patrols in and around the Main South area, from Piedmont St. to Freeland St. (Rivera)

Request City Manager provide to City Council the accident reports for the Clover St. and Heard St. area. (Colorio)

Request City Manager have the traffic signage on Water St. reviewed and replace any missing signage. (Mero-Carlson)

Request City Manager have the three way intersection at the crossroads of 598 Plantation St., I-290, Natural History Rd./Lake Ave. North reviewed and develop a plan to make this area safer and further, request speed enforcement for this area. (Mero-Carlson)

Request Police Chief provide speed enforcement in Lincoln St. in vicinity of AdCare, 107 Lincoln St. Further, request City Manager have the button on the pedestrian crossing pole near 107 Lincoln St. repaired and operational. (Mero-Carlson)

Request Police Chief provide speed enforcement in Lincoln St. in vicinity of Benson Ave. and the roundabout. (Mero-Carlson)

Request Board of Election Commissioners and School Superintendent work together collectively to move voting locations into the Worcester Public Schools and declare election day a teacher development day. (Mero-Carlson)

Edward M. Augustus, Jr., City Manager transmitting Ballpark Financing Update.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Petition of Donald J. O'Neil, Esq. on behalf of Worcester Affordable Housing LLC request to amend the Zoning Map by adding 70, 80, 86, 88 and 91 Webster St. to the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of a proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment relative to parking and paving in residential front yards.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Donald Dupre et al request Whitla Dr. be made a dead end at Sunderland Rd., allowing access only from Lake Ave.

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 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 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)

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 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 and September 24, 2019 and Tabled - Lukes October 15, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - In light of recent events, request City Manager consider establishing a process to inspect rental apartments, which would help to confirm structural changes are done to the standards set by Inspectional Services, in the interest of public service. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a recommendation as to how often these inspections should take place. (Tabled - King December 17, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk provide a copy of Item #14a CC on the City Council agenda for January 7, 2020 be sent to the decision makers for the location of the Little League Softball World Series. - item #14aCC Order adopted

Order of Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks look into the feasibility of using Parsec Roadway Application Systems and whether it would be an appropriate system for the city. Item #14b CC Order adopted

Motion Russell @ #9a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a detailed report concerning the short term and long term projections of cash flow associated with the construction of the new ballpark.

Motion Russell @ #9a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report including a financial breakdown of costs incurred by the city regarding relocation of businesses in the vicinity of the ballpark, as well as new businesses and properties included in the construction projects surrounding the ballpark.

Motion Colorio @ #9a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether a DIF district can be discontinued prior to the normal expiration period of thirty (30) years.

Motion King @ #9a CC – Request City Manager keep City Council appraised of activities in regard to the ballpark and complimentary projects on an incremental basis.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #8g CC – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with recommendations concerning speed calming measures that can be taken on Water St.

PETITION – Councilor Sarai Rivera request installation of a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Park Ave. and Mason St.