CITY OF WORCESTER

CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – JUNE 24, 2003

7:00 P.M.

Convened:  7:10 P.M.

Adjourned:  8:13 P.M.

 

 

1.       INVOCATION – Rev. Aved Terzian

                                     Armenian Church of Our Saviour

 

2.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER

 

3.       ROLL CALL – All present except Councillors Clancy, Palmieri, Patton and Perotto.  Councillors Palmieri and Perotto arrived at 7:12 P.M. and Councillor Patton at 7:15 P.M.

 

Mayor Murray introduced Rayan Meersman of Boy Scout Troop 334 who was attending the City Council meeting for his Communication Merit Badge

 

HEARING & ORDER – 7:00 P.M.

 

          4 Hearing held

 

4.       CLARK UNIVERSITY to install two hot water lines and two chilled water lines across MAYWOOD ST.  to supply heat and air conditioning to new biology building from existing power plant.

          (Attachments)

 

          4a ORDER ADOPTED

 

4a.     Granting permission to CLARK UNIVERSITY to install two hot water lines and two chilled water lines across MAYWOOD ST. to supply heat and air conditioning to new biology building from existing power plant.

 

5.       ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST

 

5a.     ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

 

PETITIONS

 

          6 REFERRED TO LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – Petitioner spoke

 

6.       William S. Coleman III request City Council place before the voters on the November 4, 2003 municipal election the following non-binding survey question:  Do you support the recommendation of the Commissioner of Public Health to the Worcester City Council regarding smoking in public places?  (Attachments)

 

          7-9 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

         

7.       Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Dominic Dipilato request private street maintenance on Seattle St.   (Attachments)

 

8.       Barbara Welch et al request private street maintenance on Frederickson Ave.  (Attachments)

 

9.       Charles D. Flanagan request abatement of Sewer Betterment Assessment  #30883 in the amount of $8,355.44 on Norton St.  (Attachments)

 

10-13 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE

 

10.     Kenneth Ricard request handicap parking on Reeves St. at light pole #8.  (Attachments)

 

11.     Nora Missiewicz & Rose Rodrique et al request to save the traffic light at Main and Sylvan Sts. (Attachments)

 

12.     Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Joseph Pearson & Donald Bradway request that parking be allowed on one side of  Benson Ave. year round.  (Attachments)

 

13.     Minor Loving request to have resident permit parking on the corner of Jackson and Main Sts.  (Attachments)

 

13a.   Mayor Timothy Murray request installation of Deaf Child signage along Bailey St. as well as the rotary near the entrance of Bailey St.  Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules

          (Attachments)

 

          14 & 15  Councillor Haller recused from #14 on a roll call 8-0 (Clancy, Patton absent) - HEARINGS SET FOR JULY 1, 2003 – 4:00 P.M.

 

14.     MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint pole location on:  COBURN AVE.  (Attachments)

 

15.     NSTAR for gas main locations on:  WEST BOYLSTON ST. & WILBUR ST. (Attachments)

 

ORDERS

 

16.     Request City Manager consider putting a spot light in the Greenwood Park parking lot for safety reasons. (Clancy)  (Attachments)

 

          Held to July 1, 2003

 

17.     Request Administration report on whether there are any grants or other funding available to fund the continuance of the collaboration with the Worcester Regional Research Bureau on performance measurement, including ComNet.  (Lukes)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

18.     Request Administration report on the feasibility of initiating a CitiStat pilot program within a municipal department.  (Lukes)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

19.     Request Administration report on the solutions and problem solving strategies used by other urban police departments to deal with typically urban crimes, including prostitution.  (Lukes, Patton, Gomez, Irish)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

20.     Request Administration to report on the process that would be recommended for a review of the structure and functions of the Police Department.    (Lukes, Patton, Clancy, Perotto, Petty, Gomez, Murray, Palmieri, Haller)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

21.     Request Administration to report on the availability of an outside professional entity to conduct an overview of the structure and operations of the Police Department.  (Lukes, Gomez)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

22.     Request Administration to make a recommendation, for the purpose of treating appointed members of Boards and Commissions equitably who serve as volunteers, regarding the elimination of payment of stipends and/or wages, including health insurance and pension benefits.  (Lukes)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

23.     Request Administration review the feasibility of using land at the South Worcester Industrial Park to relocate the Central Garage.  (Clancy, Perotto, Murray, Patton, Palmieri, Petty, Lukes, Abraham, Gomez)  (Attachments)

 

          Held to July 1, 2003

 

24.     Request City Council Sub-Committee on Traffic & Parking review those problem streets with many parking ban violations and amend Revised Ordinances from a declared ban to a permanent ban.  (Clancy, Perotto, Murray, Patton, Palmieri, Gomez, Petty, Haller, Irish, Lukes, Abraham)  (Attachments)

 

          Held to July 1, 2003

 

25.     Request City Manager work with Project Partners to name the multipurpose field of the Kilby, Gardner and Hammond Revitalization Area in memory of Janice Nadeau.  (Clancy, Murray, Perotto, Petty, Patton, Palmieri, Lukes, Irish, Gomez, Haller, Abraham)  (Attachments)

 

          Held to July 1, 2003

 

26.     Request City Manager report to City Council on the status of development plans for the municipal parking lot behind the Library building.  (Clancy, Palmieri, Petty)  (Attachments)

 

          Held to July 1, 2003

 

27.     Request Administration report on total cost savings relating to conversion of fully functioning traffic lights to blinking lights.  (Murray)    (Attachments)

 

          Councillor Haller moved to amend:  Further, request report include whether said conversion takes into account traffic patterns in summer months versus school months.

 

          Councillor Petty moved to amend: Further, request Administration provide safety records of those intersections where traffic were changed to blinking lights.

 

          Mayor Murray moved to amend:  Further, request Administration provide recommendations as to prioritization of turning lights back on for safety reasons.

 

          Adopted, as amended

 

28.     Request Administration report on negotiations with CIGNA regarding the removal of ramps over Worcester Center Boulevard.  (Murray)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

29.     Request Administration report on the daily efforts being undertaken regarding tenant/airline recruitment.  (Murray)  (Attachments)

 

          Councillor Gomez moved to amend: Further, request report identify what type of air traffic the City is trying to recruit, passenger or cargo.

 

          Adopted, as amended

 

30.     Request Administration report on the status of RFP for Airport Industrial Park parcels.  (Murray)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

31.     Request Administration to distribute to the City Council the report of the State Department of Public Health, issued in May 2003, regarding overdose deaths in Massachusetts and to request Administration to comment on what, if any, Worcester data was included in the report and the process by which the data was collected.  (Lukes)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

32.     Request Administration to provide a comprehensive report regarding utility poles used by Massachusetts Electric and Verizon, including the definition of ownership and municipal gain. (Petty, Perotto, Murray, Patton)  (Attachments)

 

          Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy absent)

 

          Adopted

 

33.     Request City Manager immediately contact Massachusetts Electric Co. and Verizon to determine whether their (and their affiliates) lines and equipment connected to utility poles present an immediate threat of death or severe bodily injury to the citizens of Worcester and employees of companies coming in proximity to such lines.  (Petty, Perotto, Murray, Patton)   (Attachments)

 

          Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy absent)

 

          Councillor Petty moved to amend to add:  as defined by the four prongs in the court case of Verizon/Mass. Electric versus Fiber Technologies.  Further, request document signed under pains and penalties of perjury.

 

          Adopted, as amended

 

34.     Request an Executive Session be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 with the City Manager and the School Superintendent to discuss progress made for determining our strategy for contract negotiations with Charter Communications.   (Petty, Perotto, Murray, Patton)

          (Attachments)

 

          Adopted

 

34a.   Request Administration to approach NSTAR concerning their property on Quinsigamond Ave. and the use of that property as a campus for municipal services.  Patton – Suspension of Rules – Adopted   (Attachments)

 

34b.   Request Administration report on the feasibility of placing a trash receptacle at 16 Norwich St.  Murray, Abraham – Suspension of Rules – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

34c.   Request Commissioner of Public Works to report regarding sewer problems at 51 and 43 Denmark St.  Lukes, Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Adopted   (Attachments)

 

34d.   Request City Manager to report at the July 1, 2003 City Council meeting relative to the policy of cable buy through on cable TV as to cost and what Charter Communications is doing to advertise this. Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Adopted   (Attachments)

 

          35 – Councillor Perotto recused on a roll call 8-0 (Clancy, Haller absent) – ORDER ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 9-0 (Clancy absent)

 

35.     DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: MODRED COURT. (Attachments)

         

          36 ADOPTED

 

36.     SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:  ANDREWS AVE. (Attachments)

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

37.     Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager requesting adoption of a resolution authorizing the filing of a Grant Application with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $1,000,000 under the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative Program in conjunction with the HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program. (Attachments)

 

          Resolution adopted – Reconsideration filed by Councillor Clancy

 

38.     Thomas R. Hoover, City  Manager transmitting communication relative to Stop Loss Insurance. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

39.     Roberta Schaefer, Executive Director, Worcester Regional Research Bureau transmitting communication relative to Use and Abuse of User Fees and Charges.  (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Fees & Charges Committee

 

40.     Worcester Regional Research Bureau transmitting 2002-2003 Annual Report.   (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

41.     That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby endorses state legislation under consideration that, if enacted, would prohibit the use of cellular telephones and other hand-held devices by people while operating a motor vehicle with a junior operator’s license.  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy absent)

 

42.     That the City Council of the City of Worcester recognizes and congratulates the Worcester Rugby Football Club for finishing in 4th place nationally in Division One of the 2003 season of the USA Rugby Football Union.   (Irish, Petty, Murray)   (Attachments)

 

          Adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy absent)

 

43.     That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes Worcester resident Steve Teasdale for his accomplishments as Coach of the Boston Irish Wolfhounds and their 1st place Division One National Championship in the USA Rugby Football Union.  (Irish, Haller)  (Attachments)

 

          Adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy absent)

 

44.     RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE:  No Items Pending

 

REPORTS

 

          45 – Councillor Petty recused from Natick St. on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy absent) – Natick St. approved on a roll call 9-0 (Clancy absent) – All other streets approved on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy absent)

 

45.     REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Report of the Committee on Public Works upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting List of Candidate Petitioned Streets for FY 2004 Resurfacing Program:  recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.    (Attachments)

 

          46 – Accepted & Order adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Clancy absent)

 

46.     REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to FY03 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program:  recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.  (Attachments)

 

          47 ACCEPTED

 

47.     REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to FY03 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program:  recommend Communication be placed on file.   (Attachments)

 

TO BE ORDAINED

 

          48-50 ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 10-0 (Clancy absent)

 

48.     Reorganizing various Boards and Commissions of the City of Worcester.  (Attachments)

 

49.     Amending Section 2, Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of Northboro St.     (Attachments)

 

50.     Amending Section 2, Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of Putnam Lane.    (Attachments)

 

TABLED ITEMS – No Action Taken

 

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

 

52.     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)

 

53.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Annual Evaluation and Performance Report.  (Tabled June 17, 2003 to July 1, 2003)

          (Attachments)

 

SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

 

 

JULY 2, 2003   HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD   COUNCIL CHAMBER

5:30-7:00 P.M.          REVITALIZATION

 

 

JULY 2, 2003                   HEALTH                           COUNCIL CHAMBER

   7:00 P.M.

SUMMER SCHEDULE

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

 

JULY 1, 2003 – 4:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M. – ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

AUGUST 12, 2003 – 4:00 P.M.