CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– JANUARY 23, 2001
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:09 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:43 P.M.
1. INVOCATION
– Rev.
David Crabtree
First Assembly
of God Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
The members of Cub
Scout Pack 70 of St. Stephen’s Church assisted in the Pledge of Allegiance and
presented the Council with token gifts.
3. ROLL
CALL
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING
– 7:00 P.M.
4
Hearing Held – Ordinance Committee accepted the Report of
the Planning Board and
recommended approval of the Petition
4. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Attorney Richard Silver on behalf of Albert Gould III request that Carter Way be added to the Official Map since it was left off in error when the Official Map was adopted by the City of Worcester in 1953.
FIRST ITEMS OF BUSINESS
5. Request City Manager to provide City Council with an analysis of the percentage increases given employees in the DH pay scale who qualify for merit increases without individual names. (Lukes)
Placed on file
6. Request
City Manager report to City Council comparing merit pay to the process used for
determining what other employees receive as salary increases and as other
economic benefits. (Lukes)
Placed on file
7. Request
City Manager report as to who in the City family earns over $70,000.00 a year
and also a list of who in the School Department, by job description, earns over
$70,000.00 a year. (Lukes)
Placed on file
8. Request City
Manager to provide City Council with a report on the previous pay from each
department, including the School Department, the percentage increase and the
new increase. Further, request Administration and the City Clerk, if he has any
documentation, report to City Council relative to the parameters as established
by the City Council. Further, request
City Solicitor outline the role of the City Council. Further, request City Auditor and City Manager report as to how merit
increases were budgeted. (Mariano)
Placed on file
9. Request
City Manager to provide a comparison of department head salaries in other
like-sized municipalities in the Commonwealth and New England. (Murray)
Placed on file
10. Request
City Manager report if any employee on the DH pay scale also get step grade
increases and if the School Department does merit evaluation of any or all
employees in management positions. (Patton)
Placed on file
11. Request City Manager provide City Council with a report, absent information on individuals, describing his merit pay policy and methods that he followed. (Irish)
Placed on file
12. Request
City Auditor to be part of the process of determining the calculation and
figures for the merit pay increases submitted to the City Council by the City
Manager. (Lukes)
Placed on file
13. Request
City Manager report on merit pay increases for the past five years. (Clancy)
Placed on file
14. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a comparison of merit versus non-merit employees in terms of general pay increases for the last five years. (Lukes)
Placed on file
15. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
15a. ITEMS OF
DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
15b. Councillor Michael C. Perotto & Councillor Paul P. Clancy Jr.
on behalf of Jean Gray request street light be installed at 23 Ida St.
Suspension of Rules –
Refered to Public Service & Transportation Committee
16 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
16. Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Francis X. Sena, Jr. request Traffic Engineer consider a “Caution Children” sign in the vicinity of Rudolph St. and Simone St.
17 HEARING SET FOR JANUARY 30, 2001 – 7:00 P.M.
17. NSTAR
GAS for a gas main location on: HIGH
STREET.
18 REFERRED TO CITY
MANAGER
18. John
A. Carnegie request that the City Council work with the City Manager, Chief
Development Officer, State Representatives and State Senators to develop and
implement policies and procedures that will enable motivated parties to provide
qualified new business leads and personal contacts.
19 PLACED ON FILE
19. Jordan
Levy request to speak before the January 23, 2001 City Council meeting
regarding changes to the City of Worcester Ordinance requiring the shoveling of
snow from sidewalks and sidewalk areas. – Petitioner spoke
20. COMMUNICATIONS
OF THE CITY MANAGER
APPOINTMENTS
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of
Constable appointments.
Placed on file
2.
CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET OFFICE:
A. Communication
relative to the City Manager’s Contingency account.
Referred to Finance Committee
6. CIVIC CENTER:
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. DEVELOPMENT:
A.
Communication
relative to proposed reorganization plan for the development agencies of
the City.
Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee
B.
Communication relative to Worcester Common Outlets.
Placed on file
AA. Communication
relative to Brownfields Initiative.
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
WORCESTER REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
A.
Request
adoption of a Resolution to file and accept a Grant from the
Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
Resolution
Adopted
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SERVICES:
12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:
A.
Communication
relative to Retaining and Placement of the Employees of the Bradlee’s
Department Stores.
Placed on file
B.
Communication relative to Workforce Development Plan.
Referred to
Commerce & Development Committee
13. FIRE:
A.
Communication relative to Increase of Accidental Fires.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
B.
Communication relative to $108,000.00 of grant money to be used
for the purchase of firefighting
equipment.
Referred to Public Safety Committee
C.
Communication relative to the Worcester Fire Department Board
of Inquiry Report.
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
14. HUMAN RESOURCES:
A. Communication
relative to Merit Pay.
Placed on file
15. HUMAN RIGHTS:
16. INFORMATION SERVICES:
17. LAW:
A.
Communication relative to Charter Communications’ rate setting
and programming.
Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee
B.
Request
adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter Thirteen, Section 39 of the Revised Ordinances of 1996 Relative to
Handicap Parking.
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
18. LICENSE COMMISSION:
19. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A.
Communication relative to the Ty Cobb Field Complex – Status
Report.
Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
B.
Communication relative to the Goddard Memorial Project.
Referred to Youth, Parks &
Recreation Committee
20. POLICE:
A.
Communication relative to Enforcement of Speeding Ordinances –
Sunderland Road.
Placed on file
B.
Communication relative to Speeding Ordinances on Crystal Street.
Placed on file
C.
Request
that a donation to the D.A.R.E. program in the amount of $40.00
from Richard Kotosky be accepted with gratitude.
Order adopted with gratitude
D.
Request
that a donation to the D.A.R.E. program in the amount of $25.00 from Brian and Beth Crowley be accepted with gratitude.
Order adopted with gratitude
E.
Communication relative to Speeding Ordinances on Millbury
Street.
Placed on file
F.
Communication
relative to the publication of names and pictures of people who have been convicted of soliciting prostitutes.
Placed on file
21. PUBLIC HEALTH & CODE ENFORCEMENT:
A.
Communication
relative to Community Health Program Monthly Report – December 2000.
Referred to Health Committee
B.
Communication
relative to 16-18 Crystal Street being in compliance with all city codes.
Placed on file
22. PUBLIC LIBRARY:
23. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS:
24. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A.
Communication relative to Walpole Street/Gates Street closed
for the past two years.
Placed on file
B.
Communication
relative to Left Turn Arrows – Intersection of Granite Street and Sunderland Road.
Recommitted to City Manager
C.
Communication
relative to Winter Storms – December 30-31, 2000 & January 5, 2001 – Report
on Parking Compliance.
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
D.
Communication
relative to the Possibility of Converting Grove Street Terrace to a Public
Street.
Referred to Public Works for hearing
E.
Communication relative to Snow Deficit – FY2001.
Referred to Finance Committee
25. PURCHASING:
26. TREASURY:
A.
Request
City Council accept with gratitude a payment in the amount of $250.00 in appreciation for the services provided the
Worcester – Pleasant Street Friends meeting
by the City of Worcester.
Order adopted with gratitude
27. VETERANS' SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A.
Recommend
that Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) be transferred from
Account #900-92000, City Manager’s Contingency, and appropriated to
Account #040-92000,City Manager’s
Ordinary Maintenance, to provide funds for the purpose of funding the
appraisal costs for the Bailin property, an important addition, to connect with
the Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary properties.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
B.
Recommend
that One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C793, Green Hill Park
Improvements, and appropriated to Account #71C702, Green Hill Park
Improvements, to provide funds for the purpose of payment for contractual obligations associated with
the complete reconstruction, reorientation, and expansion of the tees, at
the Green Hill Golf Course, as approved in the Fiscal 2001Capital Improvement
Program.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
C.
Recommend
that Three Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($335,000.00)
be transferred from Account #91C711, Building Rehabilitation, and
appropriated to Account #72C705, Hope Cemetery Administration Building, to
provide funds for the purpose of
payment for contractual obligations associated with the construction of the Hope Cemetery Administration Building
as approved in the Capital Improvement Program.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
D.
Recommend
that Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) be transferred from the following accounts:
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
91C711 Building Rehabilitation $10,000.00
2G-331-00 Golf Course Retained Earnings 20,000.00
Total $30,000.00
and
appropriated to the following accounts:
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
72C702 Park Site Improvements $10,000.00
710-93000 Golf Capital Outlay 20,000.00
Total $30,000.00
to
provide funds, for the purpose of completing the state mandated upgrades and/or
removal of underground storage
tanks at the department’s facilities citywide.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
E.
Request
that the City Council accept the award of One Hundred Forty Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Four Dollars ($148,604.00)
from the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief
Fund. I further recommend that this award be applied to the fiscal 2002
billing cycle since the majority of sewer bills for fiscal 2001 have been
issued. This award will be applied to
the Fiscal 2002 sewer rate effectively reducing the amount billed per CCF
by $0.02.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
F.
Recommend
that Six Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($612,500.00) be transferred from Account #91C711,
Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #75C702, Civic Center
Rehabilitation, to provide funds for the purpose of payment for contractual obligations
associated with the seat replacement and riser repairs at the Centrum
Centre.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
G.
Recommend
that Ninety Five Thousand Dollars ($95,000.00) be transferred from
Account #91C711, Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account
#72C703, Parks Department Building Rehabilitation, to provide funds for
the purpose of payment for contractual obligations associated with the
complete roof replacement, renovation
of the existing roof systems, and the replacement of various structural
elements at the Green Hill Farm.
Order adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
H.
Recommend
that Twenty-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Dollars ($27,460.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City
Manager’s Contingency Account and appropriated
to Account #330-91000, Department of Public Health & Code Enforcement
Personal Service account. This money will be used to fund a
Principal Building Inspector and a Sr. Clerk Typist within the Department
of Public Health & Code Enforcement.
(2) Orders adopted on roll call vote of 11-0
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
A.
Communication relative to Goals for the New Millenium – Beyond
Strategic Plan 2000.
Referred to Strategic Planning Committee
B.
Communication
relative to implementation status of the recommendations made by the Community
Task Force on Vacant and Abandoned Buildings.
Referred to Public Safety Committee
C. SUPPLEMENTAL – Communication relative to
“Musical Image” donated by Citadel Communications to the City of Worcester.
Order adopted with gratitude
20a. Request City Manager, in the formulation of the upcoming Municipal
Budget, include funding for no more than a 3% average, a total, for Department
Head Merit increases across the board. Motion
Mariano @ #5-14 CC – Adopted
20b. Request City Manager to include a separate, specific line item in
the upcoming Municipal Budget for merit pay increases. Motion Clancy @ #5-14 CC – Adopted
20c. Request City Manager to provide the City Council with information
on why proportionally large across the board increases occurred in this
particular year. Motion Clancy @ #5-14 CC – Adopted
20d. Request City Manager to provide City Council with information on
the management process for obtaining data for the awarding of merit pay
increases. Motion Patton @ #5-14 CC – Adopted
20e. Request City Manager to continue the comparison breakdown survey
of department head salaries to include Springfield and Hartford and report back
to the City Council. Motion Murray @
#5-14 CC
Councillor Petty moved
to amend: That when the information is received it also include a comparison of
the responsibilities and duties of those department heads.
Order adopted, as
amended
20f. That the City Council adds an item relative to the Manager’s
handling of Merit Pay increases to the annual City Manager’s Evaluation. Motion Mariano @ #4-15 CC – Adopted
20g. Request Administration to contact our State Delegation to consider
providing incentives for the reuse of Brownfields as part of our effort to
control urban sprawl and preserve open space.
Motion Petty @ #8AA CM – Adopted
20h. Request City Manager, as part of the financing plan of the
Brownfields initiative, to contact banks and lending institutions to explore
creating a community loan pool to augment federal and state funds received for
Brownfields cleanup and reuse. Motion Murray @ #8AA CM – Adopted
20i. Request City Manager to look at a parcel of publicly owned
Brownfield land and report back to City
Council what the costs would be to clean up the property and redevelopment. Motion Perotto @ #8AA CM - Adopted
20j. Request City Manager contact Professor Lance
Schachterle of WPI regarding Brownfield Study presentation “Interactive
Qualifying Plan”. Motion Petty @ #8AA CM – Adopted
20k. Request City Manager report to the City Council on the vacancy factor at the Worcester Common Outlets. Motion Clancy @ #8B CM – Adopted
20l. Request City Manager contact State Department of Telecommunications to review the recent Charter Communications rate increase. Motion Perotto @ #17A CM – Adopted
20m. Request City Manager report if city buildings are adequately wired for internet access. Motion Petty @ #17A CM – Adopted
20n. Request City Manager report the cost to install proper signage for towing of vehicles illegally parked in handicap parking spaces. Motion – Irish @ #17B CM – Adopted
20o. Request City Manager report on the appeal to the previous owner of Ty Cobb Fields concerning clean-up costs. Motion Irish @ #19A CM – Adopted
20p. Request City Manager report if Goddard Memorial Project is Block Grant eligible. Motion Perotto @ #19B CM – Adopted
20q. Request City Manager forward to the City Council the cost for each snowstorm as it occurs. Motion Clancy @ #24C CM – Adopted
20r. Request City Solicitor forward to the Public Works Committee how the city can legally accomplish a paper trail stating that the city didn’t waive any requirement of the private street acceptance program regarding Grove Street Terrace. Motion Lukes @ #24D CM – Adopted
20s. Request City Manager to provide an organizational chart for the Abandoned Building Task Force for the February 9, 2001 Public Safety Committee meeting. Motion Petty @ # 29B CM - Adopted
20t. Request City Manager to provide the City Council with a copy of the state regulations relative to tattooing and body piercing. Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
20u. Request Administration have the sidewalks around Elm Park sanded after each snow storm. Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
20v. Request Administration report on Social Service sitings throughout the city on a GIS map and by street address. Nadeau & Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
21. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting City of Worcester’s Auditors’ Report for December 31, 2000.
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
22. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting Schedules as of December 31, 2000 as follows: Schedule of Bonds Payable, Schedule of Bonds Authorized and Unissued, Computation of Legal Debt Margin, and Summary of Principal and Interest Due.
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
22a. That the City Council hereby informs the City Manager that recent
Merit Pay increases were excessive. Motion Mariano @ #5-14 CC – Leave to withdraw
22b. That the City Council recognizes the efforts of the City Manager for requesting Police Chief James Gallagher, Commissioner of Public Works Robert Moylan and Assistant City Manager for Special Projects and Legislation Paul LaCava to attend a meeting in Great Brook Valley last week. Gomez – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
23-30 ORDAINED ON ROLL CALL VOTE (11-0)
23.
Amending
Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 1996 to provide for
handicap parking in front of 19 Mendon St.
24. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 11 Hudson St.
25. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 78 Pilgrim Ave.
26. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind handicap parking in front of 121 Eastern Ave. and provide for
handicap parking in front of 120 Eastern Ave.
27. Amending Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for stop sign on Mabelle St. at Newton Ave. North to face
eastbound traffic on Mabelle St.
28. Amending Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for stop sign on Everton St. at Greenfield St. to face
westbound traffic on Greenfield St.
29. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for No Parking Anytime ten feet from either side of driveway in
front of 123 Fairfield St.
30. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for 15 Minute parking meters on the east side of Norwich St.
near Foster St.
Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances
of 1996 to provide for 15 Minute parking meters on the south side of Foster St.
near Norwich St.
Amending Section 42 of
Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind handicap parking on the east side of Norwich St. near
Mechanic St.
31. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Order of Councillor Paul
P. Clancy, Jr. requesting approval of the attached Ordinance amending the
Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to Non-Accessory
Signs. (Tabled May 30, 2000)
No action taken
32. Resolution – That the City Council of the City of Worcester
hereby supports an amendment to MGL Chapter 32, Section 3(4) proposed by Mrs.
Mary Genaske, a Worcester Public School Teacher to allow teachers from Puerto
Rico to buy back into the Mass. Teachers Pension Fund at the same level as
other teachers coming from other states in the union. (Gomez) (Tabled October 17, 2000)
No action taken
33. Order – Request Rules Committee to review the procedure used by
City Council for election of individuals to the Library Board of Trustees. (Abraham)
(Tabled December 19, 2000)
No action
taken
34. Chairman’s Proposed Ordinance –Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13
of the Revised Ordinances of 1996 to rescind handicap parking on the north side
of Pleasant St. near Main St. (Tabled January 16, 2001)
Taken off
table and voted to advertise
JANUARY 22, 2001 LAND
USE COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00 – 7:30
P.M.
(Rescheduled
from January 17, 2001)
JANUARY 22, 2001 LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:30
P.M.
AFFAIRS
(Rescheduled
from January 17, 2001)
JANUARY 24, 2001 PUBLIC SERVICE
& COUNCIL CHAMBER
4:00
P.M. TRANSPORTATION
(Note Change
in Time)
JANUARY 24, 2001 ETHNIC & COUNCIL
CHAMBER
6:30
P.M. MINORITY AFFAIRS
Re: Americans With Disabilities
Act Compliance Report
JANUARY 29, 2001 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
4:00 – 6:00
P.M.
JANUARY 29, 2001 PUBLIC WORKS COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.
FEBRUARY 9, 2001 PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL
CHAMBER
3:00 – 4:30
P.M.
Re: Abandoned Buildings Task Force Report
FEBRUARY 12, 2001 RULES & COUNCIL
CHAMBER
4:00
P.M. REGULATIONS