PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

FEBRUARY 27, 2006

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 6:02 p.m.

Adjourned: 7:15 p.m.

 

Present were:      Chairperson Councilor Joseph M. Petty

                             Councilor Gary Rosen

                             Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey

 

Also:                     Assistant City Manager Thaddeus Jankowski

                             DPW Staffperson Robert Fiore

                             WRTA Staffperson Richard Glavin

                             CMRPC Executive Director Lawrence Adams

                             CMRPC Transportation Planner Suzanne LePage

                             City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

Transportation

 

1.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Federal Transportation Funding.

          #34B CM February 14, 2006

Recommend File

 

2.       Communication of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission transmitting 2004 Annual Report.

          #15 CC January 4, 2005

Recommend File

 

CABLE

 

Communications of the City Manager

 

3.       Relative to government channel policies.

          #16A CM  May 28, 2002

          In Committee January 13, 2003 – Held

          In Committee May 3, 2004 –Held

          In Committee January 12, 2005 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

4.       Relative to issues regarding Charter Communications.

          #15B CM  May 20, 2003

          In Committee May 3, 2004 – Held

          In Committee January 12, 2005 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

5.       Relative to outstanding Charter Communications items.

          #15B CM  July 1, 2003

          In Committee May 3, 2004 – Held

          In Committee January 12, 2005 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

6.       Relative to a supplemental list of items concerning cable television.

          #15D CM  August 12, 2003

          In Committee May 3, 2004 – Held

          In Committee January 12, 2005 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

7.       Relative to a notice from Charter Communications concerning its introduction of CableCARDS beginning on July 1, 2004.

          #15A CM  June 1, 2004

          In Committee January 12, 2005 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

8.       Relative to services provided under the terms of the current Charter Communications Contract.

          #15A CM  March 1, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

9.       Relative to annual report of the Worcester Community Cable Access, Inc.

          #29A CM  March 22, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

10.     Regarding the feasibility and cost to provide closed captioning of the Government Channel 12.

          #29B CM April 5, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

11.     Relative to the use of assisted listening devices for public agency meetings broadcasted on cable television.

          #29C CM April 5, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

12.     Relative to Charter Communications’ new rate schedule.

          #34C CM  January 17, 2006

Recommend Hold

 

Speakers:

1.     Mauro DePasquale, 146 Morningside Road, Worcester

2.     Rev. Michael Bafaro, 53 East Central Street, Worcester

 

STREET LIGHTS

 

Petitions

 

13.     Francis Rutigliano et al request street lights be turned on at night at Plantation Street and Wigwam Hill Drive.

          #12 CC September 6, 2005

Recommend Leave to Withdraw (named street is actually a private driveway wherein the City has no rights)

 

14.     Stephen Brunelle on behalf of the Winter Heights residents request street light on corner of Azalea Drive and Chester Street by the mailboxes.

          #8 CC  November 22, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request the Postmaster to consider relocating the gang mailboxes off Azalea Drive closer to one of the existing streetlights so that residents are able to retrieve their mail during the hours of darkness in a safer environment. Further, request that a response be provided by the Postmaster within 60 days.

 

15.     Thamarai Chelvan, President, London Billiards Club, request to fix street light near the parking lot across from 70 James Street.

          #10 CC  January 10, 2006

Recommend Leave to Withdraw (work is completed)

 

16.     Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Thomas Medlinskas request a street light on Pole #1 on Thenius Street.

          #6 CC  January 24, 2006

Recommend Hold (Public Works will contact petitioner and report back to Committee)

 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 

Communications of the City Manager

 

17.     Relative to forthcoming Telecommunication Forum.

          #16D CM  March 18, 2003

          In Committee March 26, 2003 – Held

          In Committee April 23, 2003 – Held

          In Committee June 23, 2004 –Held

Recommend File

 

18.     Relative to a Telecommunications Master Plan.

          #15H CM  September 16, 2003

          In Committee June 23, 2004 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

19.     Relative to the City of Worcester Telecommunications Analysis.

          #15A CM  April 5, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

20.     Relative to Real Property and Excise Tax Status of Wireless Service Equipment.

          #4A CM  June 14, 2005

Recommend File

 

21.     Relative to an update on the cable renewal process and the related implementation of a Telecommunications and Information Task Force.

          #4A CM  February 14, 2006

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Orders:

1.     Request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a report comparing the Worcester Regional Roadways Planning Project transportation plan with that offered by Secretary of Transportation John Cogliano.

2.     Request the City Manager to obtain copies of the records of the meetings of the Worcester Regional Roadways Planning Project and forward them to the City Council so that the Council is informed about the dialogue between the members of this task force.

3.     Request the City Manager to communicate with Congressman Edward J. Markey that the City Council is in support of his efforts to ensure that local governments remain in control of local cable television licensing.