CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – JANUARY 30,
2001
7:00 P.M.
Convened:
7:08 P.M.
Adjourned:
8:00 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Pastor George A. Kohl
Belmont Baptist Church
2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED
BANNER
3. ROLL CALL – All present
HEARING & ORDER – 7:00 P.M.
4
Hearing Held
4. NSTAR Gas for a gas main location
on: HIGH STREET.
4a
ORDER ADOPTED
4a. Granting
permission to NSTAR Gas for a gas main location on: HIGH STREET.
5. ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6. Attorney
Jonathan Finkelstein on behalf of Francis Madigan, Jr. request the City of
Worcester amend the Zoning Map by changing the zoning designation of property fronting Mason St. and
shown on the Assessors Map as Map 6, Block 19, Lots 26 & 27 from
RG-5 to MG-1.0.
7-9
REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
7. Catherine Cargill
request Wakefield St. be paved.
8. Councillor
Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Bonnie Gibbs, Upland Gardens Resident Service
Coordinator request sidewalk repair of an approximate 225’ section in front of
Building #7 on Upland Gardens Dr.
9. Councillor
Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Bonnie Gibbs, Upland Gardens Resident Service
Coordinator request sidewalk repair of an approximate 250’ section in front of
Building #6 on Upland Gardens Dr.
9a. Councillor
Janice L. Nadeau on behalf of Bernard Thebodo request Department of Public
Works resurface Merrick St. between Elm St. and Pleasant St. Referred
to Public Works Committee – Suspension of Rules
10-12
REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
10. Elizabeth
Johnson Tsang et al request handicap parking in front of Upsala Elder Apartments at 36 Upsala St.
11. Michael
Murphy, Deputy Director for Administration, Worcester Housing Authority request
removal of a portion of the No Parking Zone on the south side of Lakeside Ave.
in the vicinity of the Worcester Housing Authority Office at 30 Lakeside Ave.
and install two handicap parking spaces and six one-hour parking spaces.
12. Councillor
Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Lorraine Fleming request handicap parking at 2
Earle St.
13 REFERRED TO HEALTH COMMITTEE
13. Samuel
Rosario request City Council to impose a temporary moratorium of six months on
the Body Art Establishments (Body Piercing, Tatooing &
Branding/Scarification).
14
& 15 HEARINGS SET FOR FEBRUARY 6,
2001 – 7:00 P.M.
14. NSTAR Gas for a gas main location on: DIXON AVENUE
15. NSTAR Gas for a gas main location on: FRANKLIN STREET
16-26
FROM ETHNIC & MINORITY AFFAIRS- Adopted, Except 22
16. Request the City Charter and the City Ordinances be made available in tape format to the sight impaired members of the public by the Worcester Public Library.
17. Request
Administration report to the City Council what actions have taken place to date
and any future plans being proposed for improving the ease with which the
exterior doors at City Hall might be opened.
18. Request
the City’s Department of Public Health and Code Enforcement evaluate compliance
with the ADA guidelines when renovations or new construction work is inspected.
19. Request
City Manager to request the Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools
report to the City Council on their progress in the implementation of their ADA
Compliance Plan in the facilities occupied by the public schools.
20. Request
the Worcester Redevelopment Authority to report to the City Council within 60
days any steps that they have taken to bring their facility into compliance
with the ADA requirements.
21. Request
City Manager report to the City Council concerning why, regardless of the
ownership of the Union Station and land on which it is constructed, it cannot
be included in the ADA compliance plan as are other facilities owned by the
City of Worcester.
22. Request
City Manager report to the City Council on accelerating the requirements of the
ADA compliance plan.
Councillor
Lukes moved to amend to add “or any portion thereof”. Adopted as amended
23. Request
Parks Commissioner report to the City Council concerning any progress in
providing Park Rangers with keys to the restroom facilities in each of our
parks.
24. Request
City Manager to request the new Administrator of the Worcester Regional Transit
Authority report to the City Council concerning their policy on clearing snow
from their bus stops.
25. Request
City Manager to do all he can within reason to locate funds to double the
amount of money currently allocated to installing curb cuts in the city’s
public sidewalks.
26. Request
City Manager consider having his Department Heads and the general workforce
undergo additional sensitivity training concerning the needs of the disabled
communities.
27-33 FROM LAND USE - Adopted
27. Request
City Manager provide a report to the City Council clarifying the guidelines and
process on the Community Preservation Act, including any mandates, the benefits
for participating and how the funds are distributed.
28. Request
City Manager provide a report to the City Council
on the rules and regulations of the City Ordinances pertaining to outdoor
advertising.
29. Request
City Manager provide a report to the City Council from the Outdoor Advertising
Board on the criteria used in outdoor advertising.
30. Request
the City’s Planning Coordinator provide the City Council with an updated report
on the progress, process and procedure relative to the revisiting of the
Worcester Zoning Ordinance.
31. Request
City Manager provide a report to the City Council within 30 days concerning
abandoned properties. Said report to
include the name of the purchasers, resale price, size of the property, if they
are still on back tax rolls, how many are used for gardens and/or parking lots
abutting property.
32. Request
the Department of Public Works, Planning Board and the Conservation Commission
work together to review and improve the process by which waivers are given for
the use of a Registered Planning Site Engineer relative to the Drainage
Mitigation – Allowed Uses.
33. Request
City Manager to have all Boards and Commissions that issue citations, to
provide a report relative to fees not collected on citations issued.
34. Request
City Solicitor to file Special Legislation relative to Street Betterment
Assessments in the City of Worcester.
35-39
FROM PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION – Adopted
35. Request
City Manager communicate with the College of the Holy Cross to request that
they assist in the funding for the installation of street lights in McKeon Rd.;
said work is estimated to cost $248,000.00.
36. Request
the Worcester Regional Transit Authority provide the City Council with a copy
of their policy concerning the use of air conditioning in their fleet of
busses.
37. Request
City Manager and the Chief Development Officer to work to plan a community-wide
MBTA service delivery plan for improvements between South Station and Union
Station.
38. Request
City Manager communicate with the MBTA to request they consider the
following: To adjust the morning
reverse commute train so that it leaves Boston at a time later than the current
4:55 A.M. and to add a late night (Midnight) outbound train on weekends.
39. Request
the Traffic & Parking Committee to consider concerns raised at a meeting of
the Committee on Public Service & Transportation concerning the enforcement
of on-street parking regulations in Suffolk St.
ORDERS
40. Request
Administration report within two weeks on status of the possible sale of
Centrum naming rights. (Irish)
Adopted
41. Request
Administration report concerning the feasibility and procedure of providing
more resources and services to the Parks Department to maintain public parks
and grounds by using the resources of the Public Works Department or any other
city department or any other sources of funding than currently designated.
(Lukes)
Councillor Abraham moved to amend: Further, request City Manager report as to
what resources and services are presently provided to the Parks Department.
Adopted, as amended
42. Request
City Manager and Administration develop a plan to spray in the City of
Worcester in 2001 against mosquito deposits and to combat the spread of the
West Nile Virus. (Gomez)
Adopted
43. Request
City Manager consider the use of CDBG monies to fund a food pantry at
Quinsigamond Village Community Center. (Clancy)
Adopted
44. Request
City Manager consider hosting a meeting with our Federal and State Legislators
and the CEO’s of Holy Cross, P & W, Liberty Properties and the Heritage Park Corridor to discuss the current designs
and plans for the 146 Corridor, Visitors Center and the expansion of a
community development corporation in a designated Canal District. (Clancy, Nadeau, Murray)
Adopted
45. Request City Manager consider funding six (6) unfunded vacancies within the Worcester Police Department. (Perotto)
Councillor Perotto moved to amend: Further, request City Manager to consider
funding the 10 unfunded vacancies in the Fire Department. Also to add Councillor Petty as author of
the Order.
Adopted, as amended
46. Request
City Manager provide a report on the amount of tax levy and grant dollars spent
on all neighborhoods across the City of Worcester, report to include streets,
sidewalks, parks, schools and lighting. (Perotto)
Councillor Irish moved to amend to change
to Districts rather than neighborhoods.
Mayor Mariano amended to request the City Manager to define
neighborhoods across the City in a term other than District.
Adopted, as amended.
47. Request
City Manager provide a report on the cost of mounted police patrols in the
center city area. (Perotto, Petty)
Denied on a roll call 5-6
Yes: Abraham, Irish, Murray, Perotto,
Petty
No:
Clancy, Gomez, Lukes, Nadeau, Patton, Mariano
48. Request
City Manager provide the City Council with data from communities that have
enacted local programs designating safe hours for children for door-to-door
Halloween trick-or-treating activity. (Murray)
Adopted
49. Request
Administration report to the City Council on MassPort’s solicitation for a
consultant to perform a twenty-year Master Plan for the Worcester Regional
Airport. (Murray, Abraham, Petty)
Adopted
50. Request
the Chief Development Officer to investigate with the MBTA the feasibility of
them redirecting to South Station for overnight storage one of their trains
currently stored overnight in Worcester so that a reverse-commute train may be
implemented during the weekday rush hour arriving at Union Station between 7:45 and 8:00 A.M. (Murray)
Councillor Abraham moved to amend: Further, request Chief Development Officer
to continue his dialogue with the MBTA and seek more trains and re-examine the
present train schedule as it will exist at the end of April.
Adopted, as amended
51. Request
City Manager’s Office to consider assisting Oak Hill CDC and Worcester Academy
in scheduling a community meeting to discuss common issues. (Clancy)
Placed on file – meeting set
52. Request
Administration report to the City Council on New Haven, Connecticut’s snow
emergency towing policy and further advise City Council as to whether the
Administration recommends a similar policy.
(Clancy)
Adopted
53. Request
City Manager communicate to the Massachusetts Highway Department the City’s
support of including benches along the Blackstone River in the Hurley Square
design. (Clancy)
Adopted
54. Request Administration report on the number of positions in this year’s fiscal budget authorized but not filled and the number of new positions that have been created since the approval of the budget, the cost of the positions budgeted, created and/or voted, whether tax levy or other funding, and the title of the positions reported. (Lukes)
Adopted
55. Request
Administration report on whether sewer and water rates will be increased in the
next fiscal year. (Lukes)
Adopted
55a. Request
City Manager to report as to his plans for another Firefighter class and if the
City will be forty (40) firefighters short at the end of this year. Motion
– Petty @ #45 CC – Adopted
55b. Request Administration to contact the public and City Council in the event that MassPort or anyone else takes action with respect to development of the Worcester Regional Airport or the surrounding area. Motion-Abraham @ #49CC – Adopted
55c. Request City Manager report to City Council on the outreach efforts to bring seniors into the Senior Center. Said report to focus on (1) seniors who do not have access to private transportation, (2) seniors who live in public and subsidized housing. Mariano – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
55d. Request Administration to consider the use of Marketing Department funds to attract additional amateur athletic events and their consequent economic benefits to the City. Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
55e. Request Administration report on the source and reasons for noxious chemical odors which have occurred nightly for the past six (6) weeks in the Burncoat/Ararat St. area. Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
55f. Request City Manager to follow up and report back to City Council on the possibility that some of the $125 million that has been allocated for the new Court House may not be available because of the fact that the Probate Court and Registry of Deeds is going to stay in the existing structure. Abraham – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
55g. Request City Manager to contact the business at the corner of Piedmont St. and Murray Ave. to ask for snow removal from their roof as this is a safety hazard for children attending the Jacob Hiatt School. Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted
55h. Request
Public Safety Departments to report concerning some of the issues pro and con
to date relative to the new winter parking ban in comparison to previous
years. Murray – Suspension of Rules
Councillor Lukes moved to amend –
Further, request a report on the capacity of the City’s facilities, private and
public, for towing vehicles on any particular night or weekend.
Adopted, as amended
55i. That the City Council meetings of February 20, 2001 and April 17, 2001 are hereby cancelled. Mariano – Suspension of Rules - Adopted
COMMUNICATIONS
56. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager requesting
the adoption of a resolution to file and accept a
Waste to Energy Grant Program from the Massachusetts Technology Park
Corporation.
57. James
DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting report on the policy of the Worcester
Regional Transit Authority concerning employee benefits, if any, accruing from
unused sick time.
Recommitted to the City Auditor to check on whether there has been or
is less sick pay used by the older employees who are closer to retirement
58. Department of Telecommunications and Energy
– Notice of Investigation into the appropriate pricing, based upon Total
Element Long Run Incremental Costs, for unbundled network elements and
combinations of unbundled network elements to be charged by Verizon New
England, Inc. d/b/a Verizon Massachusetts, as well as Appropriate Avoided Cost
Discount for Verizon’s Resale Services, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Referred to Public Service
& Transportation Committee
59. RECESS TO FINANCE & ORDINANCE: No
Action Taken
FINANCE
a) #5A
CM January 23, 2001
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to the City Manager’s Contingency Account.
b) #24E
CM January 23, 2001
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Snow Deficit FY2001.
60. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON ETHNIC & MINORITY AFFAIRS Upon the Communication of the
City Manager transmitting communication relative to Americans with Disabilities
Act Transition Plan: recommend
adoption of the accompanying order.
61-70
ACCEPTED
61. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE Upon the Petition of Joan L. Crowell, President of
Leesville Pond Watershed and Neighborhood Association in order to protect and
preserve our neighborhoods, will the City Council go on record to support a
petition that would oppose involuntary taking of properties, providing there
are no long term municipal liens on the property: recommend Petition be placed on file.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE Upon
the following Orders: recommend
Orders be placed on file.
62. Mayor
Raymond V. Mariano request Land Use Committee to look at rules and regulations
limiting outdoor advertising in certain sections of the City.
63. Councillor
Stacey DeBoise Luster request City Manager to provide a report relative to
resale price, size of property and names of purchasers of abandoned lots.
64. Councillor
Janice L. Nadeau request City Manager to provide a report on abandoned lots
including if properties are back on the tax rolls, how many were transferred
without cost and how many are for gardens.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE Upon
the following Communications of the City Manager: recommend Communications be placed on file.
65. Transmitting
communication relative to the criteria used to determine whether a street is legally
on the Official Map.
66. Transmitting
communication relative to Drainage Mitigation – Allowed Uses.
67. Transmitting
communication relative to Lamar Advertising application to install billboards
in the Route 146 corridor.
REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Upon the following Communications of
the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
68. Transmitting
communication relative to House Bill 3210.
69. Transmitting
communication relative to property tax exemption on mixed use development.
70. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Upon the Report of the Committee on
Public Works upon the Order of Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes request Public
Works Committee invite comment and review by the Property Owners Association
and the Bar Association of the Special Legislation for financing of Street
Betterment Assessments: recommend the Report
and Order be placed on file.
71
ACCEPTED & ORDER ADOPTED ON ROLL CALL 11-0
71. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON ORDINANCES Upon the 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: recommend adoption of the accompanying
order.
72-79 ACCEPTED & ORDERS ADOPTED
REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the following Petitions requesting street lights
be upgraded: recommend adoption of
the accompanying order.
72. Councillor
Timothy P. Murray and Councillor Michael C. Perotto request lighting on Suffolk
St. be upgraded to 9600 h.p.s.
73. Ann
Baily request a brighter street light in the vicinity of 67 Lovell St.
74. Councillor
Timothy P. Murray and Councillor Stephen G. Abraham request to increase lumens
in Lovell St. area from May St. to Park Ave., Englewood, Ferdinand and Maywood
Sts. where they intersect with Lovell St.
75. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the Petition of
David J. Rushford request installation of two street lights in Drury Lane
between Park Ave. and Regent St.:
recommend adoption of the accompanying order to install one 9600 lumen
h.p.s. colonial style street light in Drury Lane between Park Ave. and Regent
St., subject to funding.
76. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE
& TRANSPORTATION Upon the Petition of Councillor Joseph M. Petty request
installation of a street light on existing pole at 18 Peacedale Ave.: recommend adoption of the accompanying
order.
77. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the Petition of
Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of Eric Lind request City grant
permission to me to have Mass. Electric relocate street light #15 in front of
43 Indian Hill Rd. ten feet to the western side of the property. The existing street light is now directly in
the middle of my newly constructed home driveway. To be done at the expense of the petitioner: recommend adoption of the accompanying
order.
78. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the Report of the
Traffic & Parking Committee upon the Petition of Councillor Timothy P.
Murray on behalf of Marion Morin request to extend the terminus of the #21 WRTA
Highland/Assumption College bus to Barry Rd. and to install a new bus stop at
that terminus, the corner of Salisbury St. and Barry Rd: recommend the adoption of the accompanying
order.
79. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the Petition of
Councillor Janice L. Nadeau on behalf of residents of 1050-1060 Main Street
request WRTA replace the bus shelter in front of 1050-1060 Main St. with a new
shelter that has benches: recommend adoption of the accompanying order.
80-88 ACCEPTED
80. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the Petition of
Mayor Raymond V. Mariano on behalf of Richard Robinson request WRTA to erect a
bus shelter on Chandler St. at Queen St. in the vicinity of Community Health
Link: recommend Petition be placed on
file.
REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
81. Transmitting
communication regarding the commencement of the commuter rail service by the
MBTA from Worcester’s Union Station to Boston.
82 Transmitting
communication relative to Commuter Rail Service.
83. Transmitting
communication relative to Expansion of Commuter Rail Service.
84. Transmitting
communication relative to the extension of MBTA Commuter Rail Service to our
Union Station.
85. Transmitting
communication relative to conducting a hearing in the City of Worcester with
regards to the MBTA 2001 – 2006 Capital Improvement Plan.
86. Transmitting
communication relative to the Capital Investment Program Report received from
the MBTA.
87. Transmitting
communication relative to the policy of the WRTA regarding bus air conditioning.
88. REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION Upon the Communication
of Helen Friel, Assistant to the
Superintendent/Clerk of the School Committee transmitting report on the number
of Worcester Public School students who reside in Great Brook Valley and are
issued bus passes to use the WRTA:
recommend Communication be placed on file.
89. 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)
90. 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)
91. 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)
SCHEDULED
MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
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
26, 2001 RULES & COUNCIL
CHAMBER
4:00 P.M. REGULATIONS
(Rescheduled from February
12, 2001)