CITY OF WORCESTER

CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 20, 2001

7:00 P.M.

Convened:  7:10 P.M.

Adjourned:  9:35 P.M.

 

 

1.       INVOCATION –  Rev. Glen Rounseville

Bethlehem Covenant Church

 

2.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER

 

3.                 ROLL CALL – All present except Councillors Murray and Patton. Councillor Patton arrived at 8:05 P.M.

 

FIRST ITEMS OF BUSINESS

 

4.       Order – Request City Manager report to City Council how the decision by the Department of Environmental Protection judge effects the Vocational High School accreditation.   (Petty, Murray)

 

          Adopted

 

5.       Order – Request City Manager report to City Council on all costs incurred both directly and indirectly in relation to the siting of the Vocational High School at Bell Hill, including staff time, legal fees and public school costs.   (Petty, Murray)

 

          Mayor Mariano moved to amend to include the issue of reimbursement.  Further, request Administration spell out clearly what the current law says and what, if any, exemptions they are seeking from the current law.  Order adopted, as amended

 

6.       Order – Request City Manager to provide a report concerning options for the proposed Vocational School at the Bell Hill site.  (Perotto)

 

          Adopted

 

7.       Communication of the City Manager relative to a progress report on the Vocational High School.

 

          Placed on file

 

SECOND ITEMS OF BUSINESS

 

          City Manager’s response to:  Orders adopted March 13, 2001

 

8.       Order – Request Administration report on what the process is for selection of Deputy Collectors, how bills to be collected are assigned and the compensation of Deputy Collectors.   (Lukes)

 

9.       Order – Request Administration report on the procurement process for outside tax collection services, terms and conditions of any and all such contracts including, but not limited to compensation and performance (i.e. collection rates).  (Irish, Abraham)

 

10.     ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST

 

10a.   ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

 

PETITIONS

 

          11 REFERRED TO PARKS DEPARTMENT

 

11.     Michael Grandone request relocation of the tennis courts at Cristoforo Columbo Park (East Park), removal of the six pine trees to the right of the entrance and paving of the current tennis courts for a parking area.

 

          12 REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD

 

12.     Maria Turner request to change the zone of property at 81 Harrison St. from residential/commercial to strictly commercial.

 

          13 & 14 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

13.     Chris Fourkas request Public Works to repair or replace sidewalk in front of 725 Pleasant St.

 

14.     Michael Grandone request removal of the fence along Shrewsbury St. which is the rear of the Public Works vehicle yard and take one-third of this area for a parking lot.

 

          15-20 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE

 

15.     Michael Grandone request removal of trees on the center median strip that runs the length of Shrewsbury St., widening, paving and curb removal of said median, then allowing diagonal parking down the center of the boulevard.

 

16.     Robert & Paula Wisell request a traffic light at the intersection of June St. and Mill St. or at least a no left turn sign.

 

17.     Marianne Wood request handicap parking sign at 159 Austin St.

 

18.     David Carey request removal of handicap sign in front of 1 Suffolk St. and replace with 15 minute parking.

              

19.     Paul & Maureen McNeil et al request a four-way Stop sign or blinking yellow light at the corner of Airport Dr. and Prouty Lane.

 

20.     Joseph Rossetti request No Parking Ban from Button St. to West Boylston St.

 

20a.   Councillor Michael C. Perotto request a public hearing concerning residential parking on Creston St.   Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules

 

          21 REFERRED TO THE CITY MANAGER

 

21.     John F. McNabb, Jr., Vice President, Finance & Administration, Rand-Whitney Group, LLC request City Council to sell City-owned land at the rear of our Agrand St. plant, equivalent to approximately 6 acres for the purpose of protecting the existing plant and future expansion.

 

ORDERS

 

21a.   Request Administration report to City Council within the next 35-40 days as to where the process is on downtown campuses.  Motion-Perotto @ #7A CM – Adopted

 

21b.   Request Administration report if the façade improvement program applies to the building on Franklin St. and what assistance the City might provide.  Motion-Clancy @ #7A CM – Adopted

 

21c.   Request City Manager report what portion of the building on Franklin St that is being considered for a Collegiate Learning Center is occupied.  Motion-Gomez @ #7A CM – Adopted

 

21d.   Request Administration to consider changing the references from Center City to Downtown Worcester.  Request report in two weeks.  Motion-Mariano @ #7A CM – Adopted

 

21e.   Request City Manager to consider the feasibility of incentives to downtown property owners for mixed use of downtown properties.  Motion-Lukes @ #7C CM – Adopted

 

21f.    Request City Manager to coordinate tree plantings and installation of benches and trash receptacles along Lincoln St.  Motion-Perotto @ #7F CM – Adopted

 

21g.   Request Administration report if the Super Stop & Shop is going to move from its current location and to provide City Council with a footprint of the Lincoln Plaza project.  Motion-Petty @ #7G CM – Adopted

 

21h.   Request Administration to hold a community chat with the Lincoln Village Tenants Association relative to the Lincoln Plaza project.   Motion-Patton @ #7G CM – Adopted

 

21i.    Request Administration to notify the Worcester Arts Magnet School of any community chat that is scheduled relative to the Lincoln Plaza project.  Motion-Clancy @ #7G CM – Adopted

 

21j.    Request Administration to consider making the announcement for parking at the Worcester Center Boulevard Parking Garage that is placed in the ticket envelope by the Centrum be a discount coupon.  Motion-Irish @ #7H CM – Adopted

 

21k.   Request Administration to provide City Council with an update on the status of the Fallon permitting process at the Worcester Center Boulevard Parking Garage.  Motion-Patton @ #7H CM – Adopted

 

21L.   Request Administration report on the arrangement with Spectacor for operation of the Worcester Center Boulevard Parking Garage.  Is it a percentage, is it a flat fee, how much is the City paying them?  Motion-Patton @ #7H CM – Adopted

 

21m.  Request Administration report on Spectacor’s contract for operating the Worcester Center Boulevard Parking Garage as to who the Centrum’s answering service web site is being charged to.  Further, request a report on the rehab of the retail/office units at the garage as to the cost to tenants for electricity and water, what has the City done, what the tenants are required to do and what Spectacor’s role is.  Motion-Lukes @ #7H CM – Adopted

 

21n.   Request Administration report on the number of assigned personnel who are on sick leave, I.O.D., military or other leave during the past year at the Worcester Police Department.  Motion-Lukes @ #20A CM – Adopted

 

21o.   Request City Manager to include the Vocational School in future School Projects Reports.  Motion-Mariano @ #21A CM – Adopted

 

21p.   Request City Manager to provide a full report on the status of North High School.  Motion-Clancy @ #21A CM – Adopted

 

21q.   Request Administration report on how the $101 cost per unit was calculated to provide trash and recycling services to private residential units.  Further, what would it cost to pick up an additional housing unit of more than six.  Further, what would be the cost to pick up trash only.   Motion-Irish @ #24A CM – Adopted

 

21r.    Request Administration report on the status of the Town of Natick court case relative to trash pick up from condominiums.   Motion-Clancy @ #24A CM – Adopted

 

21s.   Request Administration report at the March 27, 2001 City Council meeting on the status of the agreement between the WRA, the City, the MBTA, EOTC and the handicapped community relative to a parking lot that the WRA used for its employees.  Motion-Lukes @ #24C CM – Adopted

 

21t.    Request Administration to submit to City Council a proposed process concerning a public selection process for Deputy Tax Collectors done on a periodic basis.  Further, request Administration also submit an evaluation process for City Council review.  Motion-Lukes @ #8CC – Councillor Gomez moved to amend – Further, if the City considers a bidding process, that the overriding concern be will the City get the same results as we are currently getting.  Order adopted, as amended.

 

21u.   Request Administration to provide City Council with a copy of the contract between the City and Deputy Tax Collectors.  Motion-Petty @ #9CC – Adopted

 

21v.   Request Administration report on the location, total cost and source of funds (e.g. tax levy) of the 800 acres of new park and conservation land acquired over the past 12 years.  Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted

 

21w.  Request Administration provide  City Council with a report on the expected cost to repair the tremendous number of new pot holes that have developed in the City.  Patton – Suspension of Rules - Adopted

 

22.     COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

THOMAS R. HOOVER

CITY MANAGER

 

CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR FOR MARCH 20, 2001

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

TRANSMITTAL

 

3. AIRPORT:

 

4. ASSESSORS:

 

A.      Communication relative to City’s 25 Highest Commercial Tax Payers.

 

Recommitted to the City Manager for what last year’s values were and what the taxes were

 

5. BUGET OFFICE:

 

6. COMMUNICATIONS:

 

7. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Opening “Downtown Campuses”.

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to Comprehensive Plan Regarding the “Greening” of the City.

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Feasibility of Downtown Office Space to be used for Residential Purposes.

 

Placed on file

 

D.      Communication relative to Potential Sale of Ice Cats.

 

Placed on file

 

E.      Communication relative to Replacement of a Bus Shelter at 1050 – 1060 Main Street.

 

Placed on file

 

F.      Communication relative to Funding of the Installation of Benches and Trash Receptacles along Lincoln Street.

 

Placed on file

 

G.      Communication relative to Update on the Progress  for Redevelopment of Lincoln Plaza.

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

H.      Communication relative to the Worcester Center Boulevard Parking Garage.

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

I.       Recommend approval of an amendment to the Union Station Urban Revitalization Plan (USURP).

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee for April 9,

2001 meeting

 

8. ELDER AFFAIRS:

 

9. ELECTION COMMISSION:

 

10. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES:

 

11. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:

 

A.      Communication relative to Graduating College Students Starting Careers with Companies located in Worcester.

 

Placed on file

 

12. FIRE:

 

13. HUMAN RESOURCES:

 

A.      Communication relative to Residency Policy for City Employees.

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to Adding Two Additional Recruits to the Police Class that is starting on March 26, 2001.

 

Placed on file

 

14. HUMAN RIGHTS:

 

15. INFORMATION SERVICES:

 

16. LAW:

 

          A.      Communication relative to Mercury Fever Thermometers.

 

          Referred to Health Committee

 

17. LICENSE COMMISSION:

 

18. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:

 

A.      Communication relative to Census 2000 Re-precincting – Additional Public Hearings.

 

          Placed on file

 

19. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:

 

A.      Communication relative to Invitation to a Public Hearing on Improvements to Cookson Field.

 

Placed on file

 

20. POLICE:

 

A.      Communication relative to Staffing Levels in the Police Department.

 

Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Data from Communities Designating Safe Hours for Halloween Trick-Or-Treating Activity.

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Constable Photos.

 

Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

21. PUBLIC HEALTH & CODE ENFORCEMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to School Projects Report First Quarter 2001.

 

Referred to Education Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Flashing Caution Lights in all Existing School Zones.

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Community Health Program, Monthly Report – February 2001.

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

D.      Communication relative to Proposed Regulation of Mercury Thermometers.

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

E.      Communication relative to Housing Developments of Twelve Units or more that have been applied for in the city over the last ten years.

 

Placed on file

 

F.                Communication relative to Pre-school and School Based Fluoride Rinse and Dental Sealant Programs.

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

G.               Communication relative to the Health/Code Body Art Regulations.

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

H.               Communication relative to Minors Successful in Purchasing Tobacco via Sting Operations in their Communities.

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

I.                   Communication relative to Compliance Check, per quarter.

 

Referred to Health Committee

 

22. PUBLIC LIBRARY:

 

23. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

 

A.     SUPPLEMENTAL – Communication relative to Worcester        Vocational High School.

 

          Placed on file

 

24. PUBLIC WORKS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Cost to Provide Trash and Recycling Service to all Private Residential Units.

 

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Proposed Speed Hump Construction Program.

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

C.      Communication relative to Location and Number of Parking Spaces Available to People Accessing Union Station and Number of 10-Hour Parking Meters and Handicapped Parking Spaces.

 

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

D.      Communication relative to Grime Watch Program – January and February, 2001 Activity.

 

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

25. PURCHASING:

 

26. TREASURY:

 

          A.      Communication relative to Utilization of Deputy Collectors.

 

Placed on file

         

27. VETERAN’S SERVICES:

 

28. FINANCE:

 

A.      Recommend that Four Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars  ($4,700.00) be transferred from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #26C701, Fire Department Capital Equipment, to provide funds for the purchase of (10) Bouyancy Compensators, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program.

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Murray absent)

 

B.      Recommend that Eighty Three Thousand Dollars ($83,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #25C701, Police Department Capital Equipment, to provide funds for the purchase of various pieces of capital equipment, for the police recruit class scheduled to begin on March 26, 2001, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program.

 

Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Murray absent)

 

29. MISCELLANEOUS:

 

A.      Communication relative to a copy of the Testimony on Brownfields that was presented on March 15, 2001 in Washington, D.C. to the Sub-Committee on Water Resources and Environment.

 

          Placed on file

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

23.     James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting Auditors Report – February 28, 2001.

 

          Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

 

 

24.     James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting City’s Management Letter for the year ended June 30, 2000, prepared by KPMG LLP.

 

          Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

25.     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.

 

TABLED ITEMSNo Action Taken

 

26.     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)

 

27.     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 29, 2000)

 

28.     Order – Request City Manager report on the decision to not place a polling location within Great Brook Valley and Curtis Apartments until 2003.  (Gomez, Irish, Nadeau, Patton, Clancy, Perotto, Murray, Petty)   (Tabled February 27, 2001)

 

29.     Resolution – That the Worcester City Council go on record requesting the Election Commission to take whatever steps are necessary to insure that the polling site for Ward 2, Precinct 5 goes back into Great Brook Valley prior to the next election.  (Gomez)  (Tabled February 27, 2001)

 

SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

 

 

MARCH 27, 2001            PUBLIC WORKS           COUNCIL CHAMBER

     5:30 P.M. – Tour of North Chamber

                          Meeting to follow