CITY OF WORCESTER

CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – JANUARY 14, 2003

7:00 P.M.

Convened:  7:04 P.M.

Adjourned:  9:26 P.M.

 

 

1.                 INVOCATION – Rev. Frank E. Wismer, 3rd 

                                              St. Michael’s on the Heights Episcopal Church

 

2.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER

 

3.          ROLL CALL – All present except Councillor Gomez who arrived at 7:08 P.M.

 

HEARING AND ORDER – 7:00 P.M.

 

          4 - Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 10-0

 

          Hearing held

 

4.       MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole re-location on:  WEST MOUNTAIN ST. (Attachments)

 

          4a ORDER ADOPTED

 

4a.     Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole re-location on:  WEST MOUNTAIN ST.

 

FIRST ITEMS OF BUSINESS

 

          5 – ORDER ADOPTED

 

5.       Request City Manager to have some budget projections ready for the month of January so that City Council can schedule a budget session for the last City Council meeting in January.  (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

          6 – ORDER ADOPTED

 

6.       Request City Manager consider communications with City bargaining units regarding creation and development of mutual cost saving measures in response to the statewide budget crisis.  (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

          7 – REFERRED TO FINANCE – ALSO REFERRED TO MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES

 

7.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Preliminary Budget Analysis for Fiscal 2004. (Attachments)

 

8.       ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST

 

8a.     ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

 

PETITIONS

 

          9 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

9.       Joan Treinas request resurfacing of Maxwell St. from corner of Vernon & Maxwell Sts. to 24 ½ Maxwell St. (Attachments)

 

9a.     Councillor Barbara Haller & Councillor Stephen Abraham request repair of potholes on Cambridge St. from Brosnihan Sq. to Webster Sq.   Referred to Public Works Committee – Suspension or Rules (Attachments)

 

          10 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE

 

10.     Carlos Fuget, General Manager & Stephen Beatty, Assistant Manager,  Best Western Executive Inn & Suites et al request No Parking from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday be posted on the west side of Oriol Dr. for first quarter mile, beginning at Lincoln St. (Attachments)

 

10a.   Councillor Barbara Haller, Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of Dorrina Russell request No Trucks Anytime on section of Apricot St. around #30.   Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules  (Attachments)

 

10b.   Councillor Barbara Haller, Councillor Stephen Abraham on behalf of Dorrina Russell request Children signs in the area of 30 Apricot St. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)

 

10c.   Councillor Michael C. Perotto on behalf of Patrick Welch request handicap parking in front of 21 Sterling St.  Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules  (Attachments)

 

          11 REFERRED TO THE CITY MANAGER

 

11.     Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Scott Babbitt & Barbara White request a strict application of the laws and fines governing the removal of snow from walkways within the City. (Attachments)

 

CHAIRMAN’S ORDER

 

11a FROM MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS – Suspension of Rules – Tabled under privilege (Clancy)

 

11a.   That the Mayor on behalf of the City Council of the City of Worcester is hereby authorized to execute an amendment to the employment contract of Mr. Thomas R. Hoover which would extend the term of the contract to January 31, 2005, modify the sick leave provisions consistent with the numeric pay ordinance, exclude any vacation day buy-back, re-write the termination section to provide severance upon the end of the contract term. (Attachments)

 

ORDERS

 

11b.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with an organizational chart of budgets presented in Fiscal Years 1991, 1992 and 2003.  Motion-Petty @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11c.   Request City Manager report as to what options may be available to the City as relates to preserving the new fire class.  Motion-Murray @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11d.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with an analysis of local options as presented by Mayor Menino as to what those options might mean in terms of raising revenue for the City of Worcester.  Motion-Murray @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11e.   Request City Manager report relative  to Fiscal Year 2003 assuming a 10% cut in local aid and sustaining the 32 member fire recruit class.  Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11f.    Request City Manager to provide a report on Fiscal Year 2004 assuming a10% cut in local aid and sustaining the public safety recruit classes of the 32 member fire class and 31 member police class.  Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11g.   Request City Manager to consider self funding for health insurance.  Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11h.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report on the cost of fees being charged by the City of Worcester to ensure that the fee is covering the cost of the service.  Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11i.    Request City Manager to provide a report on a plan to collect all outstanding receivables owed to the City of Worcester.  Motion-Perotto @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11j.    Request City Manager to provide City Council with a report outlining the process for allowing properly trained public safety officers requesting to transfer to the City of Worcester from other municipalities and what financial impact that might have on the City.  Motion-Gomez @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11k.   Request City Manager to report identifying all of the areas at which municipal services could be privatized and what financial impact that could have on the City.  Motion-Gomez @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11L.   Request City Manager to evaluate what financial impact the possibility of instituting a one week furlough would have on this year’s budget as well as next year.  Motion-Gomez @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11m.  Request City Manager to provide City Council with the Fiscal Year 2002 budget in order to compare it to the 2002 actual.  Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11n.   Request City Auditor to project where the City is based on current expenditures to date, projected through the end of the year.  Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11o.   Request City Manager to report on what the City is doing with grant revenue.  Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11p.   Request City Manager to report on the success of the combining of the Grant Coordinator position with Staff Assistant for Operations in the City Manager’s office and the volume of grants that are coming through this year.  Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11q.   Request City Manager to provide a report comparing the summary of revenue and expenses that was in the budget presentation last year with the current itemized report.  Motion-Patton @ #7CC – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11r.    Request City Manager to report clarifying the status of the reserve fire class.   Motion-Palmieri @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11s.   Request City Manager to report as to the accuracy of the revenue forecast.  Motion-Irish @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11t.    Request City Manager to report, department by department, as to which projects that were funded in the Fiscal Year 2003 budget have, in fact, been funded and have started.  Motion-Abraham @ #7CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11u.   Request City Manager to make recommendations on the institution of a pilot program in the City of Worcester to include the steps necessary to enact revenue projections of such a program regardless of recommendations.  Motion-Haller @ #7CC – Adopted

          (Attachments)

 

11v.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with supplemental information on façade grants as to applications submitted but not approved.  Motion-Irish @ #8A CM

 

Mayor Murray moved to amend:  Further, request City Manager provide additional information relative to Item 8A of the City Manager’s Calendar of January 14, 2003 as to a rendering of what the façade would look like in its enhanced state regarding one of the items contained in this report.

 

Councillor Patton moved to amend: Further, request City Manager provide dates of the applications and dates of the awards of the grants. 

 

Councillor Palmieri moved to amend:  Further, request City Manager provide the guidelines for the façade grant program.

 

Adopted, as amended   (Attachments)

 

11w.  Request City Manager to report as to the pay-outs that the City has had over the last three years on auto claims and to compare those average annual pay-outs to what it might cost the City to insure with a company as opposed to self insurance to see if there might be some potential savings realized.  Motion-Clancy @ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11x.   Request City Manager to report as to the pay-outs the City has had over the last three years on Workman’s Compensation claims and to compare those average annual pay-outs to what it might cost the City to insure with a company as opposed to self insurance.  Motion-Clancy @ #16A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11y.   Request City Manager report as to how many municipalities of the other thirty-nine cities in the Commonwealth are self insured as opposed to insured with companies and what the track records are.  Motion-Clancy @ #16A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11z.   Request City Manager report as to the cost of any support staff or services relative to pay-out of auto claims and Workman’s Compensation claims.  Motion-Lukes @ #16A CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11aa.  Request City Manager to research and report by June 2003 on what other cities are doing relative to cable rates.  Motion-Petty @ #16C CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11bb. Request City Manager to report if the shopping channels produce revenue for Charter Communications and how much and does that money go to reduce cost to the consumers.  Motion-Lukes @ #16C CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11cc. Request City Manager to report if Charter Communications intends to add back the update on the ten o’clock news in the near future. Motion-Lukes @ #16C CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11dd. Request City Manager to report as to the source of the $1,000.00 donation from Charter Communications for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Green Hill Park.  Motion-Lukes @ #19A CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11ee.  Request Administration to report for the past three years before the declared winter parking ban how many times the winter parking ban was extended on residential streets beyond snow removal.  Motion-Clancy @ #20B CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11ff.   Request City Manager to provide a detailed report on the next City Manager’s Calendar as to exactly what happened with Standard Auto Body relative to removal of abandoned vehicles, what happened with the Block Grant money that  was allocated, when did it run out and when does the Administration plan to address the 100+ abandoned vehicles on the City streets.  Motion-Murray @ #20B CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11gg. Request City Manager to provide the best estimate as to what additional cost the present winter parking ordinance represents to the City.  Motion-Irish @ #20B CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11hh. Request City Manager to report on the cost of snow removal so far this winter and the cost per unit.  Motion-Lukes @ #20B CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11ii.   Request City Manager to provide the schedule as referenced in Item 24A of the City Manager’s Calendar relative to use of the Green Machine and MadVac.  Motion-Murray @ #24A CM – Adopted

(Attachments)

 

11jj.   Request City Manager to report on the feasibility of pavement markings for Moreland St., Carter Rd. and Brigham Rd.  Motion-Abraham @ #24B CM – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11kk. Request City Clerk to provide a list of all abutters notified for the January 8, 2003 Traffic and Parking Committee meeting relative to 24 hour parking on the odd numbered side of King Philip Rd. from Leeds St. to West Boylston St.  Motion-Clancy @ consideration of Traffic & Parking Committee items under suspension of rules (Attachments)

 

11LL. Request City Auditor to provide City Council at the January 21, 2003 City Council meeting with the costs associated with each proposed change in the City Manager’s contract.  Motion-Clancy at consideration of Municipal Operations Committee item under suspension of rules  (Attachments)

 

11mm.Request Administration to provide results of the hearing on merit contractors case involved with the City’s residency ordinance regarding the new Vocational School.  Further, request report on when the sub-contractors bids were due, were they opened, were they awarded prior to the settlement.  Patton – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11nn. Request City Manager to provide a status report on improvements to negative neighborhood impact associated with the People in Peril shelter.  Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11oo. Request Administration to provide a detailed report regarding the status of the City’s A.D.A. Transition Plan.  Report to include a breakout by year since the redo in 1998 to present, what has been completed, what is in progress, what has yet to be done, how many of the items in violation were completed by the target date and those that were not.  Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)

 

11pp. Request Administration to provide improved traffic enforcement in the area of 30 Apricot St. to include vehicles violating the one-way regulation and trucks violating the 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. ban and to provide a report on findings.  Haller, Abraham – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11qq. Request Administration to improve enforcement of parking ban in area of Washington Heights, especially from 5:00-7:00 a.m. as it has been reported that busses are having great difficulty in accessing this area.  Haller, Abraham, Suspension of Rules – Adopted

(Attachments)

 

11rr.   Request Administration to provide a listing of known cobblestone streets in the City of Worcester.  Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11ss.  Request Administration report on the feasibility of incorporating existing cobblestone streets on Winter, Harding and Franklin Sts. as part of the Blackstone Canal Study.  Murray – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

11tt.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the report from the State Inspector General relative to a complaint against the Executive Office of Neighborhood Services.  Irish – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

12.     COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

THOMAS R. HOOVER

CITY MANAGER

 

CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 14, 2003

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

TRANSMITTAL

 

3. AIRPORT:

 

4. ASSESSORS:

 

5. BUDGET OFFICE:

 

6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Zoning Plan Revision – Timeline for Submission. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

7. COMMUNICATIONS:

 

8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Request for Applications and Design Plans Presented to the City and the Design Review Committee for All Facade Grants Approved by the City to Date. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

9. ELDER AFFAIRS:

 

10. ELECTION COMMISSION:

 

11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

 

12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:

 

13. FIRE:

 

A.      Request City Council accept with gratitude a Rescue One Boat and Trailer and various rescue equipment with a value of $20,000.00 from the Leary Foundation. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted with gratitude

 

14. HUMAN RESOURCES:

 

15. HUMAN RIGHTS:

 

16. LAW:

 

A.      Communication relative to Property, Liability & Boiler/Machinery Insurance. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to New Trial in the Case of Indian Hill Associates, Inc. v. City of Worcester. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Charter Communications announcing its rate changes that will be effective in February. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee

 

D.      Communication relative to an opinion whether a proposed zoning amendment, which would prohibit Single Family Semi-detached Dwelling Units in RS-7 and RS-10 Districts, is applicable to the subdivision development known as Roda Estates. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Land Use Committee

 

17. LICENSE COMMISSION:

 

18. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:

 

A.      Communication relative to the disposition of City owned property at 521 North Lake Avenue. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

19. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:

 

A.      Request City Council accept with gratitude a Donation of $1,000.00 from Charter Communications for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) at Green Hill Park. (Attachments)

 

          Resolution adopted with gratitude

 

20. POLICE:

 

A.      Communication relative to How Many Officers Doing Traffic Enforcement. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Tagging Illegally Parked Vehicles. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

21. PUBLIC HEALTH:

 

22. PUBLIC LIBRARY:

 

23. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Jacob Hiatt Magnet School Playground. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

24. PUBLIC WORKS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Use of Green Machine and MadVac Unit. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Works Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Improvement in Signage and  Roadway/Moreland Street, Carter Road and Brigham Road. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Warrants to Determine if a Stop Sign would be allowed on Harlem Street at the intersection with Sterling Street. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

D.      Communication relative to Communication System that Exists During Snow Plow Operations. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

E.      Communication relative to Sewer back-up problem on Lawnfair Street. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Works Committee

 

25. PURCHASING:

 

26. TECHNICAL SERVICES:

 

27. TREASURY:

 

28. VETERANS SERVICES:

 

29. FINANCE:

 

A.      Recommend that Two Hundred Ten Thousand One Hundred Seventy Four Dollars and Fifty Cents ($210,174.50) be transferred from Account #33040 Reserve for Appropriation. 1% Federal Reimbursement and appropriated to the following accounts:

          ACCOUNT                   DEPARTMENT                     AMOUNT

          600-91099                       Purchasing                                $51,970.00

          650-91099                       Auditing                                     53,237.50

          170-91099                       Human Resources                         1,275.00

          680-91099                       Information Services                   32,148.50

          660-91099                       Treasury                                     33,815.00

          040-91099                       City Manager                              35,103.50

          040-92099                       City Manager                                   125.00

          680-92099                       Information Services                      2,500.00

          TOTAL                                                                          $210,174.50

         

          to provide funds for the purpose of providing indirect services related to certain Federal and State Grants. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 11-0

 

B.      Recommend that Three Hundred Forty Five Thousand Two Hundred Eighty Seven Dollars and Forty Eight Cents ($345,287.48) be transferred from the following accounts:

          ACCOUNT                   DESCRIPTION                     AMOUNT

          330-01                            Pearl Elm Reserves                  $191,526.48

          330-02                            Federal Plaza Reserves                92,645.25

          330-03                            Off Street Reserves                     49,080.00

          330-04                            Parking Meter Reserves                12.035.75

                                                Total                                        $345,287.48

          and appropriated to the following accounts:

 

          ACCOUNT                   DESCRIPTION                     AMOUNT

          46S501                           Pearl Elm Ordinary Maint.       $191,526.48

          46S502                           Fed. Plaza Ordinary Maint.          92,645.25

          46S503                           Off St. Ordinary Maint.                49,080.00

          46S504                           Parking Meter Ord.Maint.             12,035.75

                                                Total                                        $345,287.48

          This appropriation provide sufficient operating funds for the Off Street Parking Program for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2003. (Attachments)

 

Order adopted on a roll call 11-0

 

C.      Recommend that Two Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty Two Dollars and Forty Eight Cents ($2,932.48) be transferred from Account #250-92000, Police Department Ordinary Maintenance, and appropriated to Account #250-93000, Police Department Capital Outlay, to provide funds for the purpose of purchasing two high speed floor burnishing machines, for the Worcester Police Department.(Attachments).

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 11-0

 

30. MISCELLANEOUS:

 

COMMUNICATION

 

13.     James A. DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting listing of School Department Rolling Equipment. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Education & College/University Relations Committee

 

14.     RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE:  No Items Pending

 

REPORTS

 

          14a VOTED TO ADVERTISE PROPOSED ORDINANCE – Suspension of Rules

 

14a.   REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Mayor Timothy Murray requesting one additional handicap parking space at Probate Court on Harvard St. located behind the Auditorium: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)

          14b  TABLED – Suspension of Rules

 

14b    REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Dolores Skonieczny et al requesting 24 hour parking on odd numbered side of King Philip Rd. from Leeds St. to West Boylston St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)

 

TABLED ITEMSNo Action Taken

 

15.     Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter – Worcester Common Outlets.  (Tabled December 17, 2002)

          (Attachments)

 

16.     Motion Lukes as amended by Abraham – Request Administration to contact CIGNA relative to the feasibility of linking up Front St. with Washington Sq. and Shrewsbury St. and explore financial incentives that might facilitate that.  (Tabled December 17, 2002)

          (Attachments)

 

SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

 

JANUARY 13, 2003     PUBLIC SERVICE           COUNCIL CHAMBER

      6:00 P.M.                              &

                                       TRANSPORTATION

 

JANUARY 14, 2003          MUNICIPAL               COUNCIL CHAMBER

      6:00 P.M.                     OPERATIONS

Re: Compensation Package of the City Manager

 

JANUARY 15, 2003      PUBLIC SAFETY           COUNCIL CHAMBER

      6:00 P.M.

 

JANUARY 28, 2003             HEALTH                   COUNCIL CHAMBER

      5:00 P.M.

Presentation by the Health Foundation of Central Mass.

 

JANUARY 29, 2003          HOUSING &                COUNCIL CHAMBER

      5:00 P.M.                  NEIGHBORHOOD

Re: Housing Study         REVITALIZATION

       Presentation by Administration & RKG

 

FEBRUARY 12, 2003        HOUSING &                COUNCIL CHAMBER

      5:00 P.M.                  NEIGHBORHOOD

Re: Housing Study         REVITALIZATION

       Discussion with DHCD & Area Elected Representatives

 

FEBRUARY 26, 2003        HOUSING &                COUNCIL CHAMBER

      5:00 P.M.                  NEIGHBORHOOD

Re: Housing Study         REVITALIZATION

       Public Hearing:  Question & Answer Session

 

MARCH 19, 2003               HOUSING &               COUNCIL CHAMBER

      5:00 P.M.                  NEIGHBORHOOD

Re: Housing Study         REVITALIZATION

       Administrative Recommendations/Revised Document