CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:44 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:48 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 14, 2020.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to #8c CC 2. Martha Assefa, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #9a CC

Sayuri Lopez request installation of a streetlight at the intersection of Brightwood Ave. and Firth St.

Pamela Stefallari request sidewalk repair in front of 22 Neptune Rd.

Iris Estrada request removal of a handicap parking space in front of 7 Irene St.

Iris Estrada request relocation of the handicap parking space in front of 53 Upsala St.

Lois Giguere request removal of a handicap parking space in front of 51 Perry Ave.

Anthony Bartley et al request installation of resident permit parking on Townsend St.

Anthony Bartley et al request resident permit parking on Hudson St.

John Baltus et al request installation of a left turn signal at the end of James St., turning onto Stafford St.

John Baltus et al request traffic signal include a delayed green light at the intersection of Grandview Ave. crossing over Stafford St.

William S. Coleman, III request City Administration promote and encourage every resident of the City of Worcester to be a promotional part of our City 2020 US Census count.

Idella Hazard request City Council request City Administration ensure the placing of the front row seats in the Esther Howland (South) Chamber has enough room for wheelchair accessibility.

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the progress that has been made since the City Council in 2015 voted to support a needle-exchange program. The Council's support of a resolution to back a Department of Public Health and Board of Health Response to the Opioid Epidemic plan included lifting a moratorium on allowing intravenous drug users to turn in used hypodermic needles in exchange for clean needles. (Rosen)

Request City Council’s Standing Committee on Education recommend ways in which the city side of government, our local colleges and non-profit agencies, among others, can promote and encourage civic engagement and education for city youth. (Rosen)

Request City Council’s Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation discuss the feasibility of having WRTA buses transport more Worcester Public School students to and from school. (Rosen)

Request City Manager request Parking Administrator and Commissioner of Inspectional Services work with the Chief Information Officer to develop procedures for virtual hearings for individuals looking to appeal parking ticket and housing code violations. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with periodic updates. (Wally)

Request City Manager work with the city's local state delegation to advocate for an appointee representing Worcester’s interests on the Governor’s newly proposed MBTA governing board to ensure proper representation for ridership in this area. (Wally)

Request the Standing Committee on Public Safety meet with the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Director of Communications and Commissioner of Inspectional Services to discuss goals and objectives for the upcoming year. (Toomey)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Worcester Police Department's past enforcement policy results against youth bicycle “swerving” and/or “ride-outs” and update same regarding policy for 2020. (Bergman, Colorio, Toomey)

Request City Manager for a legal opinion as to whether or not Worcester Colleges and Universities who receive public funds are allowed to have groups to use college facilities that may be engaging in illegal activities. (Colorio)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks have the traffic light at the corner of Pleasant and Moreland St. between the hours of 2:30 - 5:30pm be recalibrated to assist the traffic flow into Tatnuck Square during peak hours more efficiently. (Colorio)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks replace the missing stop sign at the corner of Stockholm St. And Tatman St. (Colorio)

That the Worcester City Council goes on record as vehemently opposed to the proposed move of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance office from its present downtown Worcester location of 13 Sudbury St. to the former Big Y Market location in the Southwest Commons, 50 SW Cutoff, Worcester. (Rosen, Toomey, Rose, Mero-Carlson, Bergman)

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)

Transmitting an informational communication concerning the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the year ended June 30, 2019.

Transmitting a communication relative to the retirement and resignation of the City Clerk.

Amending Section 2 Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to the extension of the Adaptive Reuse Overlay Zoning District to include 70, 80, 86, 88 and 91 Webster Street.

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 George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the anticipated timeline for work being done for the Grafton Street Improvement Project. Further, request City Manager provide City Council in said report both a short term and long term plan for making Grafton Street more passable for motorists and pedestrians. – Item #13a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Donna M. Colorio – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update following the completion of the FY19 Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Grant to determine the successes of the program, including any outreach and education completed as a result of said grant. – Item #13b CC Order adopted

Motion Rosen @ #9a CC – Request City Manager report to City Council concerning whether the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind plans to move out of their downtown Worcester location.

Motion King @ #9a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with periodic updates concerning efforts to keep government programs and entities such as the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance located in the downtown area.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review sewer drainage on Natural History Dr., which is draining into Lake Quinsigamond. Further, request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks identify why sewers were not installed approximately ten years ago when such an action was approved. Further, request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks find a solution to drainage issues in the area.