CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Works Committee Meeting | Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:03 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:13 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson George J Russell | | Vice Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Jenny Pacillo |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor George J. Russell
Councilor Cady Mero-Carlson
Councilor Jenny Pacillo | | | | | Also: | Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery Robert C. Antonelli, Jr
Assistant Commissioner of Engineering Richard Saltrick
Commissioner of Transportation & Mobility Stephen Rolle
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Works Committee Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98928800472
Public Works Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Works Committee Zoom Access Code: 989 2880 0472 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee on Public Works hereby approves the minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting on April 24, 2024. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order Adopted | |
| 3. | Street Discontinuance Item | |
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| | | 3a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Jim Chacharone request Southgate Pl. from Southgate St. to railroad property be discontinued as a public way and removed from the official map.
# 10a CC January 23, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
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| 4. | Sidewalk Repair and Resurfacing Items | |
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| | | 4a. | Cheryl Laporte request sidewalk resurfacing on Park Terrace Rd.
# 10f CC March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | |
Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item, moved to take items #4a and #5a collectively.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the following speaker:
1. Cheryl Laporte, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the items
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review road and sidewalk conditions on Park Terrace Rd. to address any immediate resurfacing needs at the location.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recommended approval of the items.
Recommend Approval
| | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review road and sidewalk conditions on Park Terrace Rd. to address any immediate resurfacing needs at the location. | |
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| | | 4b. | Roy John Moore III request sidewalk resurfacing in the vicinity of 10 Berkshire St.
# 10e CC March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and provided a recommendation to grant the Petitioner leave to withdraw, as the repairs can be completed under a separate contract.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Orders: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks complete any necessary sidewalk resurfacing repairs in the vicinity of 10 Berkshire St.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to accept the recommendation.
Recommend Leave to Withdraw | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks complete any necessary sidewalk resurfacing repairs in the vicinity of 10 Berkshire St. | |
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| | | 4c. | Lorraine Adams request sidewalk resurfacing on Jaques Ave.
# 7a CC March 19, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to recommend approval of the item.
Recommend Approval
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| | | 4d. | Councilor Jenny Pacillo request sidewalk resurfacing on both sides of King Philip Rd. between 170 King Philip Rd. and 41 Hillcroft Ave.
# 7h CC March 26, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to recommend approval of the item.
Recommend Approval | |
| 5. | Street Repair and Resurfacing Items | |
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| | | 5a. | Cheryl Laporte request street resurfacing on Park Terrace Rd.
# 10g CC March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Approval (See Item #4a) | |
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| | | 5b. | Gokhan Yildiz request street resurfacing from 84 Andrews Ave. to 82 Andrews Ave.
# 7b CC March 19, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Gokhan Yildiz, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Russel spoke concerning the portion of Andrews Ave. in question being a private road with Speaker #1 and the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be denied.
Recommend Deny | |
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| | | 5c. | Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of William Hinson request Jennings St. from Commonwealth Ave. to Orton St. be repaved.
# 7g CC March 26, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved.
Recommended Approval | |
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| | | 5d. | Evan Corrigan request resurfacing of the public portion of Hastings Ave.
# 7e CC March 26, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to recommend the item be approved.
Recommended Approval | |
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| | | 5e. | Valeria Claret request Moreland St. be resurfaced.
# 7f CC April 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke concerning adding Moreland St. from Moreland Green Dr. to Salisbury St. to the street resurfacing list, as the other portion of the road is already scheduled for reconstruction.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved as amended.
Recommended Approval As Amended | |
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| | | 5f. | Sandra Pike request Goddard Memorial Dr. be resurfaced.
# 7e CC April 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Sandra Pike, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke with Speaker #1 concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility evaluate the road conditions on Goddard Memorial Dr. for the purpose of providing City Council with recommendations concerning next steps for repairing the road; and 2) Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide long patches on Goddard Memorial Dr. as needed to ensure the road is passable by motor vehicles and pedestrians.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility evaluate the road conditions on Goddard Memorial Dr. for the purpose of providing City Council with recommendations concerning next steps for repairing the road. | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide long patches on Goddard Memorial Dr. as needed to ensure the road is passable by motor vehicles and pedestrians. | |
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| | | 5g. | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request Casco St. be resurfaced.
# 7d CC April 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved.
Recommended Approval | |
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| | | 5h. | Councilor Jenny Pacillo request Southwood Rd. be resurfaced.
# 7c CC April 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved.
Recommended Approval | |
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| | | 5i. | Councilor Jenny Pacillo request Westinghouse Pkwy. be resurfaced.
# 7b CC April 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved.
Recommended Approval | |
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| | | 5j. | Evan Corrigan request Alexander Rd. between Huntington Ave. and Gifford Rd. be resurfaced.
# 8a CC April 2, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommended Hold | |
| 6. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 6a. | Recommend that Eight Hundred Twenty Six Thousand Seven Hundred Ten Dollars And No Cents ($826,710.00) be transferred from various Snow accounts, and be appropriated to Cost Center #CC1051-699399, Snow Capital Outlay, to fund the purchase of snow equipment.
# 13c CC April 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery, who discussed the need for collecting snow equipment to supplement existing equipment and the importance of considering most of the equipment as necessary for year-round maintenance.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who spoke with the Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery concerning the connectivity on Albany St. and different opportunities for remaining funds from the snow budget to be used towards parks or other city uses other than equipment only.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery, who discussed historically how funds from the snow budget have been utilized.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo and councilor Mero-Carlson, who spoke concerning holding out $75,000.00 to address connectivity issues and provide additional funding for street resurfacing.
Chairperson Councilor Russell spoke with the Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery concerning department vehicles and a listing of the junk vehicles.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Orders: Request City Manager consider bringing forward a new transfer item relative to the Snow Ordinary Maintenance and Snow Overtime accounts that reappropriates $75,000.00 to address connectivity issues on Albany St. and provide additional funding for street repairs.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager consider bringing forward a new transfer item relative to the Snow Ordinary Maintenance and Snow Overtime accounts that reappropriates $75,000.00 to address connectivity issues on Albany St. and provide additional funding for street repairs. | |
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| | | 6b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to pavement management and selection of streets and sidewalks for resurfacing or reconstruction.
# 8.10A CM November 14, 2023
In Committee March 13, 2024 - Held
In Committee April 10, 2024 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who discussed the street resurfacing selections.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the feasibility of moving forward with the selections for street resurfacing without the sidewalk selections.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager authorize and request the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to resurface the attached list of streets, as selected by the District City Councilors, during Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager authorize and request the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to resurface the attached list of streets, as selected by the District City Councilors, during Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026. | |
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| | | 6c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report on the utility company pavement guarantees.
# 11.7A CM March 12, 2024
In Committee April 24, 2024 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to take items #6c and #7a collectively.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering who provided an overview of the utility company pavement guarantees.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who discussed the completion of a new survey for paving conditions for the entire street network, utilizing new PCI data, and collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Parks concerning a strategized maintenance program.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 7a. | Order of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Standing Committee on Public Works conduct a meeting with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to discuss what policy, if any, exists in writing, which mandates any construction work completed by utility companies on city streets does not deteriorate.
# 12g CC June 7, 2022
In Committee September 7, 2022 - Held
In Committee December 6, 2023 - Held
In Committee April 24, 2024 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #6c) | |
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