CITY OF WORCESTER | Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, May 12, 2009 | Esther Howland Chamber | Convened: 4:35 P.M. | Recessed: 6:35 P.M.
Reconvened: 7:06 P.M.
Adjourned to Open Session: 8:20 P.M. |
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Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes | 
www.ci.worcester.ma.us |
Clerk of the City Council
David J. Rushford | Committee Members | | Chairperson Konstantina B Lukes | | Councilor Paul P Clancy Jr | | Councilor William J Eddy |
| | Councilor Michael J Germain | | Councilor Barbara G Haller | | Councilor Philip P Palmieri | | Councilor Joseph M Petty | | Councilor Gary Rosen | | Councilor Frederick C Rushton | | Councilor Joffrey A Smith | | Councilor Kathleen M Toomey |
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | All committee members present with Mayor Lukes in the Chair | | | | | Also: | City Manager Michael V. O'Brien
Chief Financial Officer Thomas Zidelis
City Auditor James DelSignore
Interim Superintendent of WPS Dr. Deirdre Loughlin
Superintendent Elect of WPS Dr. Melinda Boone
CFO of WPS Brian E. Allen
Assistant City Manager Julie A. Jacobson
Director of Economic Development Timothy J. McGourthy
Director of Planning & Regulatory Serivces Joel J. Fontane, Jr.
Director of Neighborhood & Housing Development Dennis Hennessy
City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk
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| 1. | Economic & Neighborhood Development Budget Hearing | |
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| | | 1a. | Economic Development - VII-1 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 1b. | Neighborhood & Housing - VII-2 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 1c. | Worcester Redevelopment Authority/Union Station - VII-3 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 1d. | Planning & Regulatory Development - VII-4 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 1e. | Workforce Development - VII-5 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 1f. | Marketing Campaign - VII-6 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide an updated report concerning the progress and achievements over the last several years of the Choose Worcester entity. Further, request City Manager report to City Council what oversight Economic Development will have over future marketing. (Rosen, Lukes) | | | | Request City Manager provide an impact statement for Destination Worcester since the marketing budget was reduced from $500,000 to $250,000. Further, request statement to also indicate the effect of a reduction in the budget from $500,000 to zero funding. (Haller, Lukes) | | | | Request City Manager submit a list of the type of assistance from agencies/organizations and non-profit organizations that could be provided for marketing. (Toomey) | |
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| | | 1g. | Airport - VII-7 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 1h. | Cable Services - VII-8 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| 2. | Worcester Public Schools Budget Hearing | |
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| | | 2a. | Worcester Public Schools - XIII-1
Mayor Lukes moved to suspend the rules to allow speakers:
1. Karen Valentine Goins, Worcester resident
2. Stephanie Yuhl, Worcester resident
3. Deborah Steigman, Worcester resident
4. Isabel Gonzalez, Worcester resident
Mayor Lukes recognized the presence of Deputy Superintendent Dr. Stephen E. Mills and School Committee members Jack L. Foley, John F. Monfredo, Robert A. Bogigian and Dorothy J. Hargrove | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools provide a report concerning cost savings measures in the WPS Budget. (Rushton) | | | | In the FY 2009 Budget funds were appropriated for specific school programs, request City Manager request the Superintendent of Public Schools provide a report concerning as to whether the funds were allocated and the impact these funds had to those specific programs. (Rushton)
| | | | Request City Manager request a report from the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools regarding it's baseline budget and it's future needs. (Petty) | | | | Request City Manager provide a report indicating when the state will provide funding for school construction projects. (Smith) | | | | Request City Manager request the Superintendent of Public Schools report to City Council the impact of the WRTA route changes will have on WPS transportation costs. (Haller) | |
| 3. | Five Point Plan Funds Budget Hearing | |
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| | | 3a. | Five Point Plan Funds - XVI-1 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide to City Council with a report within the next two weeks concerning a previous City Council request relative to the city's fleet of cars. (Toomey) | |
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| | | 4a. | Communication of the City Manager transmitting Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Recommendation
# 8.34C CM March 31, 2009
At the request of the Finance Committee (see Chairman's Order below) City Manager verbally recommended the following adjustments to the proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Budget to transfer $90,000 from Health Insurance Account #663-96000 to City Manager's Contingency Account #900-91000. Further, request City Council vote to accept the amendment prior to approval of the budget. - Approved on a voice vote. | Attachments | | | | | | | Budget Approved as amended on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager consider recommending the transfer of $90,000 from Health Insurance Account and appropriate it City Manager's Contingency Account for the purpose of reinstating three (3) Public Health Nurse positions for a time period from July 1st to September 30th . (Rushton) (Approved in Committee on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas (Clancy, Eddy, Germain, Palmieri, Petty, Rosen, Rushton, Smith, Toomey) and 2 Nays (Haller, Lukes)
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| | | 4b. | Communications of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Departmental Fee Increases. Furthermore, Request City Council Adoption of Ordinances Relative to Fees for Parking Fines and Dog Licenses.
# 7.34B CM April 28, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinances on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 5. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting Five Year Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2009.
# 9.30A CM June 17, 2008 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the City's Fiscal Year 2009 Commonwealth Capital Program Submission.
# 8.42B CM December 16, 2008 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5c. | Transmitting communication relative to the City's Response to a request for Infrastructure Projects.
# 11b CC January 13, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5d. | Transmitting communication regarding the City Budget.
# 14b CC January 13, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5e. | Transmitting communication relative to a mid-year Local Aid reduction.
# 14a CC January 27, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5f. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the City's Budget
# 8.34A CM February 03, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5g. | Transmitting communication relative to a continued analysis and assessment of all facets of the City's current FY09 Budget and the accelerated development of City's FY2010 Budget.
# 21b CC February 10, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5h. | Transmitting Status Report on Projected Budget Deficits.
# 8.42D CM February 24, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5i. | Transmitting informational communication relative to Positions Held Vacant.
# 7.34A CM March 03, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5j. | Transmitting communication relative to Employee Health Insurance Costs.
# 7.34B CM March 03, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5k. | Transmitting Report of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation as presented at this Evening's Forum
# 7.42A CM March 03, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5l. | Transmitting update regarding the City's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget
# 8.34A CM March 17, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5m. | Transmitting informational communication relative to Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding and Federal Supplemental General Appropriation Funding
# 8.34B CM March 17, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5n. | Transmitting informational communication relative to Layoff Notices and Support Services Available for Displaced Employees
# 8.4A CM March 31, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5o. | Transmitting Fiscal Year 2010 Impact Statements for the Department of Administration and Finance, Worcester Police Department, Worcester Fire Department, and Department of Public Works and Parks.
# 9a CC April 07, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5p. | Transmitting informational communication relative to Fiscal Year 2010 Impact Statements for Department of Emergency Communications, Department of Inspectional Services, and Law Department.
# 10.42B CM April 14, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5q. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget.
# 7.42D CM April 28, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5r. | Transmitting informational communication relative to recent actions by the State's House of Representatives Regarding the FY 2010 Budget.
# 7.42E CM April 28, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5s. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Division of Public Health
# 9.28A CM May 05, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5t. | Transmitting responses to questions posed at Finance Committee Meetings of April 7, 2009 and April 14, 2009.
# 9.34A CM May 05, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5u. | Transmitting update relative to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.
# 9.34B CM May 05, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5v. | Transmitting communication relative to Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Impact Statements for the Division of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Division of Elder Affairs, Office of the City Manager, and Worcester Public Library.
# 9.42A CM May 05, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5w. | Transmitting communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Impact Statement for the Office of Economic and Neighborhood Development.
# 8a CC May 12, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 5x. | Transmitting communication relative to requests for information regarding the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Recommendation.
# 8b CC May 12, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
| 6. | Communications of the City Auditor | |
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| | | 6a. | Transmitting October 2008 Auditor's Report.
# 14a CC November 25, 2008 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6b. | Transmitting November 2008 Auditor's Report.
# 7a CC December 23, 2008 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6c. | Transmitting City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.
# 7c CC December 23, 2008 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6d. | Transmitting December 2008 Auditor's Report.
# 7a CC January 27, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6e. | Transmitting the Auditor's Report for January 2009.
# 9a CC February 24, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6f. | Transmitting March 2009 Auditor's Report.
# 8a CC April 28, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6g. | Transmitting February 2009 Auditor's Report
# 7a CC March 24, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 6h. | Transmitting report concerning the contractual agreements between the City and SMG for managing the DCU Center.
# 4a CC May 12, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 7a. | Order of Councilor Michael J. Germain, Councilor Frederick C. Rushton and Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request the City Manager to consider at a minimum delaying the laying-off of the Public Health Nurses at least until the swine flu threat has either subsided or been addressed comprehensively by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
# 13c CC May 05, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 7b. | Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - Request the City Manager refer the future model of public health services in Worcester, including all recommendations made by the Task Force, to the City Council for community input through public hearings by the Council's Public Helath & Human Services Committee.
# 13h CC May 05, 2009 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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