CITY OF WORCESTER | Economic Development Committee Meeting | Tuesday, April 7, 2020 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:30 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:07 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Vice Chairperson Sean M Rose | | Councilor Matthew E Wally |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, who participated remotely through digital means
Councilor Sean M. Rose, who participated remotely through digital means
Councilor Matthew E. Wally, who participated remotely through digital means | | | | | Also: | Councilor Morris A. Bergman
Director of Housing and Health Inspections Amanda Wilson
Assistant Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer Stephen Rolle
Inspectional Services Commissioner John Kelly
Chief Development Officer / City Solicitor Michael Traynor
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Economic Development hereby approves the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting on March 24, 2020. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
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| | | 2a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Donald J. O'Neil, Esq. on behalf of Anthony Rossi request to amend the Worcester Zoning Map to add the land parcels of 26, 33 and 39 Hermon St. to the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District.
# 15b CC February 25, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the following speaker:
1. Donald J. O’Neil, Esq., Worcester resident, who spoke on behalf of the petitioner in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to accept the recommendation of the Planning Board and Recommend Approval.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a status update concerning 65 Kenwood Ave.
# 8.16A CM June 19, 2018
In Committee June 25, 2019 - Held
In Committee October 15, 2019 - Held
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 2, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and took the item up collectively with #3b.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the City Solicitor, who explained that no further legal action had occurred in relation to this property, as the courts have been closed due to COVID-19.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Director of Housing and Health Inspections, who spoke to additional inspections that occurred at the property since the previous meeting on the subject on March 2, 2020.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson spoke to Chairman’s Orders that were requested on March 2, 2020 concerning 65 Kenwood Ave. and asked for information concerning the requested reports.
Chairperson Mero-Carlson recognized the City Solicitor, the Inspectional Services Commissioner and the Director of Housing and Health Inspections, who all provided information concerning the previously requested information and stated reports would be forthcoming.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson put forth the following Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager provide City Council with a copy of the preliminary injunction that was granted to the property on Forest Street; and 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the previously requested information as to how many times public safety officials have provided services for 65 Kenwood Avenue and 17 Germain Street and concerning the property taxes collected at 65 Kenwood Avenue and similar properties.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to adopt the Chairman’s Orders and recommend items #3a and #3b be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a copy of the preliminary injunction that was granted to the property on Forest Street | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the previously requested information as to how many times public safety officials have provided services for 65 Kenwood Avenue and 17 Germain Street and concerning the property taxes collected at 65 Kenwood Avenue and similar properties. | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a status report on 65 Kenwood Street.
# 10.13A CM August 13, 2019
In Committee October 15, 2019 - Held
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 2, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a). | |
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| | | 4a. | Order of Councilor Morris A. Bergman - Request City Manager consider implementing a moratorium in the interpretation/application and enforcement of that part of the definition of a LODGING HOUSE under the City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (As amended through May 2, 2017) where “A dwelling or that part of a dwelling where sleeping accommodations are let, with or without kitchen facilities, to four (4) or more persons not within the second degree of kindred to the person conducting it…” that is being applied to pre-existing multi-family homes with 4 or more existing bedrooms.
# 10a CC April 10, 2018
In Committee March 19, 2019 - Held
In Committee May 29, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the City Solicitor, who spoke concerning the item, and also stated he would provide a report on the matter for the committee.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Bergman, who provided the reasoning for the request and spoke to the State of Massachusetts lodging house definition and its relationship to the City of Worcester’s definition.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Wally and Councilor Rose, who both were thankful for Councilor Bergman’s request and looked forward to the forthcoming information concerning the issue.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call to hold the item.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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