CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– OCTOBER 14, 2003
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:09 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:45 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Jose Andres Rodriguez
St. Joan of Arc Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL – All present except Councillors Gomez and Perotto. Councillor Gomez arrived at 7:17 P.M. Councillor Perotto arrived at 7:25 P.M.
HEARINGS AND ORDERS – 7:00
P.M.
Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 8-0 (Gomez, Perotto absent)
Hearings held
4. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. for cable and conduit system on: MORELAND ST. (Attachments)
5. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for
joint pole location on: TORY FORT LANE.
4a & 5a – Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 8-0 (Gomez, Perotto absent) Orders adopted
4a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. for cable and
conduit system on: MORELAND ST.
5a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. and VERIZON
NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole location on:
TORY FORT LANE.
6. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
6a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
7
- REFERRED TO HEALTH COMMITTEE
7. Wyatt Wade et al request all action be taken to immediately
close the operation of the People in Peril Shelter, 701 Main St. (Attachments)
8 & 9 - REFERRED TO PLANNING BD.
8. Clifford Santley et al request private street conversion on
Billow St. (Attachments)
9. Antonio Corapi request private street conversion of Ansonia
Rd. from Belcourt Rd. to Chequessett Rd.
(Attachments)
10 & 11a -
REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
10. Ann Costello request sidewalk repair at 776 Pleasant St. (Attachments)
11. Kevin Lobisser, President, Lobisser Building Corp. request
municipal water service from the Worcester Water Department for the residential
subdivision known as Park Hill Village in Millbury. (Attachments)
11a. Ken Curry request to extend sewer line in Windsor St. to lot on
Perkins St. Referred to Public Works
Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
12-17e–REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
12. Mary MacInnes, Administrator, WRTA request removal of Bus Stop
sign which is located on pole #4 in front of 11 Lake Ave. and repost the sign
on pole #5 which is approximately 20’ before the stop line on Lake Ave. and
before the entrance to 11 Lake Ave. (Attachments)
13. Obinna Agonmoh request No Parking within 15’ of driveway sign at
4 Winslow St. (Attachments)
14. Nancy Ewaskio request handicap parking in front of 23 Courtland
St. (Attachments)
15. Chris Kokalis request to add Christy’s Pizza directional sign on
existing directional sign at intersection of Lincoln St./Boylston St. (Attachments)
16. June Andrade request handicap parking at 7 Washburn St. (Attachments)
17. Mayor Timothy Murray request Stop signs be placed at the
intersection of Green Hill Parkway and Paine St. (Attachments)
17a. Councillor Michael Perotto on behalf of John DiTullio request
right hand turn at corner of Belmont St. and Shrewsbury St. Referred to Traffic & Parking
Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
17b. Councillor Philip Palmieri request to be able to park on the even
numbered side of Hermitage Lane during snow storms. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of
Rules (Attachments)
17c. Councillor Juan Gomez request No Parking on northerly side or
opposite side of Plantation St. across from Roberto Clemente Field. Referred to Traffic & Parking
Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
17d. Councillor Michael Perotto on behalf of Representative Robert
Spellane request “cautionary signs” in Moreland Green Dr./Glenbrook Lane
area. Referred to Traffic &
Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules
(Attachments)
17e. Councillor Paul Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Nancy Roy request Caution
Children sign on Kenberma Rd. near Massasoit Rd. Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee – Suspension of
Rules (Attachments)
18 - Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 8-0
(Gomez, Perotto absent) - HEARING SET FOR OCTOBER 21, 2003 – 7:00 P.M.
18. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. for cable and conduit system on: SOUTHBRIDGE ST. (Attachments)
18a. Request City Manager to report on the dynamics of the
Transportation Bond Bill, how often that money is available to the City, the
process for discussing things on a project by project basis, what is the
likelihood of the City accessing that money for the Blackstone Canal
project. Motion-Lukes @ #8C CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
18b. Request City Manager to provide a report on exactly how a Transportation
Bond Bill works, including discussions that took place on the items contained
in Item 8C of the City Manager’s Calendar of October 14, 2003. Motion-Perotto @ #8C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18c. Request City Manager to report on what projects could be included
in a Transportation Bond Bill. Motion-Clancy
@ #8C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18d. Request City Manager report as to the per square foot build-out
cost to date at Union Station and what that means if the per foot cost were
applied to the remaining space to be built out. Motion-Clancy @ #8F CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18e. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the
North Main St. Charrette report. Motion-Lukes
@ #8G CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18f. Request City Manager report as to how the City might post the
names of property owners on public land who refuse to remove debris from their
premises. Motion-Clancy @ #15A CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
18g. Request City Manager to include in report relative to parking
tickets given out in the past twelve months, tickets issued by Meter Maids. Motion-Irish
@ #19A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18h. Request City Manager to provide a more detailed report as to crime
statistics in the Piedmont St./Pleasant St. area. Motion-Perotto @ #19B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18i. Request City Manager report as to a plan for sustained Police
presence in the next two months in the Main St./Chandler St. corridor up to
Park Ave., over to Pleasant St. and over to Elm St. to stop crime in these
areas. Motion-Murray @ #19B CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
18j. Request City Solicitor to report on whether a program still exists
to take over ownership of a property due to nuisance and a certain number of
complaint calls. Motion-Murray @
#19C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
18k. Request City Manager report as to whether the City can go after a
particular asset of a person who is a drug dealer and whether legal action
would be through the District Attorney’s Office or the Attorney General’s
Office. Motion-Perotto @ #19C CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
18L. Request City Manager to report on the feasibility of bonding to do
a major street and sidewalk repair program.
Motion-Murray @ #21CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
18m. Request City Auditor to report as to the impact on the City’s bond
rating in terms of any new indebtedness to include an analysis of a
consistent pattern of updating
infrastructure and those types of projects.
Motion-Lukes @ #21CC – Adopted (Attachments)
18n Request City Manager to provide, off calendar and before the next
Commerce and Development Committee meeting, a copy of Camp, Dresser &
McKee’s last report relative to the Greenwood St. Landfill. Irish –
Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
THOMAS R. HOOVER
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR OCTOBER 14, 2003
1. NON-CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2. CITY
COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to a new supplemental tax assessment on new residential and commercial building construction based on the issuance of an occupancy permit by the Department of Code Enforcement. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
5. BUDGET
OFFICE:
6. CODE
ENFORCEMENT:
7.
COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
A. Request for an Executive Session on
October 14, 2003. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to RFP
Title/Property Sale and Redevelopment of G.A.R. Memorial Hall. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
C. Communication relative to Transportation
Bond Bill. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee and
Legislative Affairs Committee
D. Communication relative to Blackstone Canal
Feasibility Study. (Attachments)
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
E. Communication relative to Property Sale
and Redevelopment of the G.A.R. Memorial Hall. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
F. Communication relative to Union Station –
Update – Loan Order. (Attachments)
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
G. Communication relative to An Economic
Development Action Plan. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
H. Communication relative to the preparation
for the November 9, 2003 dedication and formal ceremony of the Korean War
Memorial, and the need to perform additional work at the site. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
9. ELDER
AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION
COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
14. HUMAN
RESOURCES:
A. Request adoption of an ordinance amending
the Salary Ordinance of the City of Worcester to Eliminate Severance Pay
(Sec.3.7) and to provide Vacation Pay to separating employees. (Attachments)
Voted to advertise proposed Ordinance on a roll call 9-0
(Abraham,
Lukes absent)
B. Communication relative to Medical
Insurance Opt-Out Program. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
C. Communication relative to Cost of Health
Insurance Premiums for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
D. Communication relative to Canadian Drug
Plan. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
E. Communication relative to General recap of
rehires of previously laid off employees. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
15. LAW:
A. Communication relative to Property Owners’
Refusal to Remove Debris from Premises. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to the Status of
the case of Worcester vs. Carlos Cintron. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to Charter
Communication’s compliance with the requirement under the Cable License to
provide locally originated news programming, in particular regular updates of
news and sports at the 10:00 p.m. hour. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Service & Transportation Committee
16. LICENSE COMMISSION:
A. Communication relative to New Licenses
Issued – September Report. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
17.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Request adoption of a Resolution relative
to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety (EOPS)
Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau (GHSB) FY’2004 Traffic Enforcement and
Equipment Grant program. (Attachments)
Resolution
adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)
B. Communication relative to the 2003 Youth
Job Fair. (Attachments)
Placed
on file
18. PARKS,
RECREATION & CEMETERY:
19. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to Parking Tickets
given out by Shift in the Traffic Division in the past 12 months. (Attachments)
Recommitted to the City Manager
B. Communication relative to Recent Shooting
at Vehicles on Fruit and Newbury Street. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
C. Communication regarding the Number of
Complaint Calls and Arrests made relative to several addresses in the City. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
D. Communication relative to Can Worcester
Police enforce noise laws when patrolling Lake Quinsigamond. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
E. Communication relative to Addresses where
Arrests have occurred year to date in 2003. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
F. Communication relative to addresses where
letters have been sent to property owners regarding the eviction of tenants
arrested for certain crimes. (Attachments)
Referred
to Public Safety Committee
20. PUBLIC
HEALTH:
21. PUBLIC
LIBRARY:
22. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
A. Communication relative to Leaky Roof at
South High Community School. (Attachments)
Referred
to Education & College/University Relations Committee
23. PUBLIC
WORKS:
A. Communication relative to Status Report #4
– Street Resurfacing Projects. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
B. Communication relative to Proposed
Increase in Infrastructure Inspection and Sewer Connection Permit Fees. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
C. Communication relative to Construction
Progress Report. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
D. Communication relative to Abandoned
Vehicle Status Report. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
E. Communication relative to Closing of the
Franklin Street Parking Lot. (Attachments)
Councillor Perotto recused on a roll call 9-0 (Abraham absent) Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
24.
PURCHASING:
25. TECHNICAL
SERVICES:
26. TREASURY:
27. VETERANS
SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend the adoption of an amendment of
the Loan Order on January 29, 2002 that appropriated the sum of Two Million
Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,850,000.00) to Account #91C716, Union
Station, and authorized the borrowing of said sum pursuant to Chapter 121 B of
the General Laws, or any other enabling authority, is hereby amended to provide
that Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) of said sum for the purpose of
relocating the electrical control box at the Korean War Memorial.
Also, that the sum of Twenty
Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C716, Union
Station and appropriated to Account #04C711, Korean War Memorial, when and as
received, to provide funds for the relocation of the electrical control box at
the Korean War Memorial site, including costs incidental and related thereto,
and that the said Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) shall be raised by
borrowing the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) pursuant to the said
Loan Order adopted on January 29, 2002. (Attachments)
Voted to advertise proposed amended Loan Order and
adopted Order approving $20,000.00 transfer on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham
absent)
29.
MISCELLANEOUS:
20. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting schedules of the
City’s capital expenditures for the last ten years. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
21. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting City’s legal debt
margin as of September 30, 2003. (Attachments)
Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee and Public Works Committee
23
& 24 Adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)
23. That the Loan Order adopted on January 29, 2002 that appropriated the sum of $2,850,000.00 to account #91C716, Union Station is hereby amended to provide that $180,000.00 of said sum be transferred from Account #91C716, Union Station and appropriated to Account #04C710, Worcester Center Blvd. Garage, when and as received, to provide capital rehabilitation funds at the Worcester Center Blvd. Garage, including costs incidental and related thereto. (Attachments)
24. That the Loan Order adopted on January 29, 2002 that
appropriated the sum of $2,850,000.00 to Account #91C716, Union station is
hereby amended to provide that $385,000.00 of said sum be transferred from
Account #91C716, Union Station and appropriated to Account #04C744, Ramp
Demolition, when and as received, to provide capital rehabilitation funds for
the Union Station Bus Port rehabilitation project, including costs such as ramp
demolition and other costs related thereto.
(Attachments)
25 & 26 Ordained on a
roll call 10-0 (Abraham absent)
25. Amending Section 2, Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance
adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the area of 442 Southwest
Cutoff. (Attachments)
26. Amending Section 21 of Chapter 12 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 relative to encroachments in public ways (bus shelters).
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
OCTOBER 14, 2003 TRAFFIC & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 P.M. PARKING
OCTOBER 15, 2003 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.
OCTOBER 21, 2003 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M.
OCTOBER 23, 2003 JOINT
COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT
&
PUBLIC WORKS
4:30 P.M. – VIEW FORMER GREENWOOD ST. LANDFILL SITE
6:00 P.M. – MEETING – AUTUMN WOODS COMMUNITY ROOM
15 UPLAND GARDENS DR.
OCTOBER 27, 2003 YOUTH, PARKS &
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30
P.M. RECREATION
OCTOBER 28, 2003 TRAFFIC & COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00
P.M. PARKING
OCTOBER 28, 2003 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:45
P.M.
NOVEMBER 12, 2003 HEALTH COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.
Re: Smoking in public places and work places