YOUTH, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

MONDAY, MAY 22, 2006

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 6:03 p.m.

Adjourned: 7:55 p.m.

 

Present were:      Chairperson Councilor Michael C. Perotto

                             Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey

                             Councilor Frederick C. Rushton

                             Councilor Gary Rosen

 

Also:                    DPWP Assistant Commissioner Robert Antonelli

                             Parks Commissioner Michael Doherty

                             Parks Commissioner Gary Vecchio

                             City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

All Items in City Council

 

COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

1.       Relative to Worcester Common Restoration Master Plan.

          #18G CM July 6, 2004

          In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order Request the City Manager report to the City Council within 30 days concerning the financing and design for the new granite building on the Worcester Common.

 

2.       Relative to an update on the Worcester Common Restoration Project.

          #18A CM July 19, 2005

          In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

3.       Relative to status report – Kendrick Field Improvements Phase II.

          #18E CM August 17, 2004

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report at the time of the completion of improvements to Kendrick Field.

 

4.       Relative to a Grant Award for $400,000.00 for the renovations of Beaver Brook Park from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Department of Conservation Services Urban Self Help Program in Cooperation with the Worcester Department of Public Works Daylighting of the Culvert at Beaver Brook.

          #18C CM February 8, 2005

          In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

Jim Moore, 15 Rich Street, Worcester and President of the Worcester Vikings appeared and spoke. Also speaking was John Pepi, Director of Athletics for the Worcester Public Schools, 305 Chandler Street. Andy O’Keefe, 3 Lafayette Street, Manager of the Worcester Farmer’s Market appeared and spoke concerning the cooperation his organization receives from City Departments.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager consider recommending to the City Council sufficient funding to include new batting cages, restroom and concession facilities at Beaver Brook Park.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to request that representatives of Worcester Public Schools Athletics and the Worcester Vikings continue to work together to mitigate any scheduling difficulties with regard to Beaver Brook Park and Foley Stadium.

 

5.       Relative to Beaver Brook Culvert and Park Improvements.

          #18C CM March 22, 2005

          In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

6.       Relative to itemization of costs for daylighting Beaver Brook Culvert.

          #58 CC June 21, 2005

          In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

7.       Relative to the Beaver Brook Daylighting and Field Renovation Project.

          #13A CM January 31, 2006

          In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

8.       Relative to Phase 2 of Duffy Field Improvements.

#18C CM March 8, 2005

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager consider recommending to the City Council sufficient funds to locate boulders around the perimeter of certain areas of Duffy Field that have realized vandalism in the way of vehicles being driven onto the field and also for installation of additional walkways in the field.

 

9.       Relative to the release of permits and field availability for Spring 2005.

          #18B CM March 22, 2005

Recommend File

 

10.     Relative to Worcester’s Open Space and Recreation Plan.

          #23D CM April 5, 2005

Recommend File

 

11.     Relative to the Elm Park Fire Alarm and Telegraph Building.      

          #11B CM February 14, 2006

Recommend Hold

 

12.             Relative to a building study of the Fire Alarm and Telegraph Building on Park Avenue.

#11A CM March 21, 2006

Recommend Hold

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with plans for several phases of work that will need to take place to restore and reuse the Fire Alarm and Telegraph building.

 

13.     Relative to the Elm Park (Newton Hill) stone retaining wall renovations.

          #13A CM February 14, 2006

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a report for the July meeting of the City Council concerning the written commitments that were made in the 2005-06 winter for corrective action to the retaining wall at Elm Park.

 

14.     Relative to Open Space/Parkland Acquisition – K of C Property (Alhambra Council) and Fenton Parcel.

#18F CM July 6, 2004

In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

14a.   Relative to an updated report on Parks Division projects in the City.

          #13B CM May 16, 2006

Recommend Hold

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager consider providing the City Council with 3-5 park projects per year as priorities for future capital funding considerations.

 

PETITIONS

 

15.     Thomas Gingras request to install and maintain a memorial on city property at intersection of Flagg St., Richmond Ave. and Aylesbury Rd. in honor of Firefighter James F. Lyons, III who died in the line of duty on December 3, 1999. 

#14 CC February 8, 2005

Recommend Leave to Withdraw

 

Thomas Gingras, 17 Benson Street, Worcester appeared and spoke to inform the Committee that the memorial in honor of Firefighter James F. Lyons, III has already been erected on the grounds of Flagg Street School and requested that the petition be withdrawn.

 

16.     William Coleman, III request City Council honor the life of Howard Gleason by naming part of the park in his honor.

          #39 CC September 20, 2005

Recommend Refer to the City Manager and request that he consider recommending to the City Council a green space in honor of Howard F. Gleason, Jr considering the comments of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

 

William S. Coleman III, 4 Brownell Circle, Worcester appeared and spoke.

 

ORDER

 

17.     Councillor Clancy – Request City Manager consider putting a spot light in the Greenwood Park parking lot for safety reasons.

          #37 CC July 1, 2003

In Committee March 31, 2004 – Held

In Committee June 29, 2004 – Held

In Committee March 13, 2006 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

COMMUNICATIONS OF ROBERTA SCHAEFER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORCESTER REGIONAL RESEARCH BUREAU

 

18.     Transmitting:  Benchmarking Municipal Youth Services in Worcester 2004.

#15 CC May 4, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

19.    Transmitting: Report regarding Benchmarking Youth Services in Worcester 2005.

          #79 CC July 19, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

Haskell Morin, 48 Midland Street, Worcester appeared and spoke concerning his efforts to reconstruct flower containers in the rotary at Newton Square.