CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– DECEMBER 21, 2004
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:08 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:39 P.M.
1. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
2. ROLL
CALL – All present
HEARINGS AND ORDERS – 7:00
P.M.
3
& 4 – Hearings held
3. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole location on: ORIENT ST. (Attachments)
4. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for
joint pole relocation on: ROMOLA RD. (Attachments)
3a & 4a – Orders adopted
3a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON
NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole location on:
ORIENT ST.
4a. Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON
NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole relocation on: ROMOLA RD.
5. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6 - REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
6. John
MacKoul request to make public Tattan Farm Rd. (Attachments)
7
– REFERRED TO PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
7. Mr. & Mrs. Bessa request streetlight in vicinity of 50
Green Hill Parkway. (Attachments)
8 & 9 – REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
8. Valorie Huset request abatement of Sewer Assessment #30952 in
the amount of $1,900.00 on Alpine St.
(Attachments)
9. Attorney Donald O’Neil on behalf of Tatnuck Terrace LLC
request City accept easements from Tatnuck Terrace LLC or its nominee for water
and sewer utilities installed in Howe Ave., a private street, pursuant to a
prior agreement with the City. (Attachments)
10 – REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
10. Ron & Susan Howard request removal of handicap parking in
front of 19 Wilson St. (Attachments)
10a. Councillor Paul Clancy, Jr. request to amend “No Parking” sign on
Dewey St. to read: “No Parking from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Dewey St.” Voted to advertise proposed Ordinance –
Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
11
- FROM TRAFFIC & PARKING - ADOPTED
11. Request City Clerk forward a letter of gratitude to the Memorial
Foundation for the Blind for the donation of audible crossing signals.
12. Request City Manager to request the Acting Parks Commissioner to
provide City Council with an update concerning the proposed partnership between
Tufts University and the City of Worcester to realize certain improvements at
the Green Hill Park Barnyard Zoo.
(Palmieri) (Attachments) Adopted
13. Request City Manager to request the Acting Parks Commissioner to
provide City Council with a schedule of that department’s usage of the
extended-arm machinery that has been purchased to clear brush from public
ways. (Palmieri) (Attachments) Adopted
14. Request Administration report to City Council on all vendors
used for public works private contracting of streets, sidewalks, sewer and
water repairs for the last three calendar years, including amounts paid to
each. (Palmieri, Clancy) (Attachments) Adopted
15. Request City Manager to request the Executive Director of the
East Side Community Development Corp. to provide City Council with a detailed
itemization of the various and many real property transactions that have
resulted from the relationship between the CDC and the UMass/Memorial Medical
Center. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Adopted
16. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a detailed
outline of the process the Administration follows once the City Council
finishes it’s statutory obligations in voting to make a street public. Said report to include departments involved
and timeframes that need to be adhered to.
(Murray) (Attachments) Councillor Lukes moved to amend: Further, request a legal opinion as to
City’s authority to decree a street public and rights of abutting owners as to
whether their consent is necessary and what their responsibilities are. Adopted, as amended
17. Request City Manager report to City Council the amount of
acreage owned by and the amount of real estate taxes paid by CSX Corp. to the
City of Worcester. Said report to
include GIS maps of all referenced properties.
(Murray) (Attachments) Councillor White moved to amend: Further, request report include who owns all
railroad tracks in the City and who maintains said tracks and land abutting
tracks. Adopted, as amended
18. Request City Council to name the north mere at Elm Park the
“William D. Cahill Memorial Pond” in honor and memory of Bill Cahill whose life’s
work and accomplishments in the sport of ice hockey found it’s beginnings at
the hockey pond near the corner of Highland St. and Park Ave. Further, request the Parks and Recreation
Commission approve and locate a marker in conjunction with the family to this effect at an appropriate location
near this popular recreational spot.
(Murray, White, Rushton, Haller, Irish) (Attachments) Adopted
on a roll call 11-0
19. Request that the Zoning Ordinance be amended to add a new
section that would disallow the demolition of a single family and creation of a
new two-family structure on those lots in RL-7 and RG-5 zones where a single
family unit already exists.
(Murray) (Attachments) Referred to the Planning Board
20. Request that the Zoning Ordinance be amended so that in all new
construction of one-family through four-family residential buildings, there be
a requirement added stating that the front door or main entrance door to each
dwelling unit face the street on which the property is numbered. (Murray)
(Attachments) Referred to the Planning Board
21. Request City Manager to institute a Management in Training
Program in collaboration with local colleges and businesses. (Petty)
(Attachments) Adopted
22. Request City Manager to contact our State delegation in regards
to pursuing legislation that would allocate a certain amount of the 1% of the
state sales tax that is earmarked to the City of Boston’s MBTA service so that
it is earmarked for the WRTA. (Petty,
Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
22a. Request City Auditor report as to the City’s borrowing capacity
after the $1,000,000.00 Loan Order for the scoreboard at the DCU Center. Motion-Perotto @ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22b Request City Auditor report as to what the City’s potential
liability is as opposed to the City’s actual issued debt. Motion-Lukes @ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22c. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a copy of the
Arena Lease Agreement between the City and SMG. Motion-Lukes @ #27CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22d. Request City Manager report on ticket sales at the CentrumCentre
from 1999 through 2004 and estimate for 2005.
Motion-Clancy @ #27CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
22e. Request City Manager to provide a detailed breakdown of all costs
associated with the scoreboard at the DCU Center, including structural
changes. Motion-Clancy @ #27CC –
Adopted (Attachments)
22f. Request City Manager to report on other communities that have
constructed skywalks with cables as to all aspects of the project from
beginning to end. Motion-Clancy @
#28CC – Adopted
22g. Request City Auditor to report on the figures presented by the
Administration regarding the Worcester Center Boulevard garage financing as
relates to the skybridge/hotel/garage connections. Motion-Clancy @ #28CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22h. Request City Manager report on the advantages and disadvantages of
a Designer Review Board and how they have operated in other cities. Motion-Lukes @ #20CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22i. Request City Manager to report on the status of changes to the
City’s Zoning Ordinance. Motion-Clancy
@ #20CC – Adopted
22j. Request City Manager to contact the WRTA and ask them to report
on State funding to the WRTA in recent years.
Motion-Haller @ #22CC – Adopted
(Attachments)
22k. Request Administration and Mayor’s Office to contact our State
delegation and the WRTA to see how the City might effectively advocate for
additional resources for the WRTA. Motion-Haller
@ #22CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22L. Request City Manager to report on cost savings realized from the
six year maintenance contract for the Green Hill Municipal Golf Course. Motion-Palmieri @ #58CC – Adopted (Attachments)
22m. Request Administration to report on process followed regarding
response to winter storms with regard to school closings and initiation of snow
removal and salting. Lukes –
Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
23 & 24 ADOPTED
23. SEWER ASSESSMENT:
DELAWANDA DR. (Attachments)
24. SEWER ASSESSMENT: NOME
ST. (Attachments)
25
ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0
25. DECREE
TO MAKE PUBLIC: ROSEVILLE LANE. (Attachments)
26. RECESS
TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Items
Pending
27. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to the scoreboard at the DCU Center.
(Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 10-1
(Lukes-No) authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to
originally-called Centrum Lease Agreement renaming the facility as the DCU
Center and amend the Arena Lease to allow imposition of a ticket surcharge to
create an account dedicated solely to funding purchase and installation of the
new electronic center-ice scoreboard.
Voted to advertise proposed $1,000,000.00 Loan Order for installation of
scoreboard for DCU Center on a roll call 11-0
28. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to the Worcester Center Boulevard skybridges. (Attachments) Councillor Irish recused on a roll call
10-0. Order adopted, as amended to
include: “and the deed resulting therefrom” on a roll call 9-1 ((Lukes-No) –
Reconsideration denied on a roll call 0-10.
Voted to advertise proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Revised
Ordinances of 1996 relative to Central St. Hotel Permit Fees on a roll call
10-0 – Reconsideration denied on a roll call 0-10.
29. Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to Civic Center/Convention Center naming rights. (Attachments) Councillor Irish recused on a roll call
10-0 relative to vote to appropriate $975,000.00 to Account #75C501, Sky Bridge
Hotel/Garage Connection and $285,000.00 to Account #75C501, Sky Bridge
Hotel/Garage Connections Contingency.
On a roll call 10-0 Council voted that of the $4,800,000.00 received
from the sale of the DCU naming rights currently available in Account #75S503,
that $975,000.00 be appropriated to Account #75C501, Sky Bridge Hotel/Garage
Connection and $285,000.00 be appropriated to Account #75C501, Sky Bridge
Hotel/Garage Connections Contingency – Reconsideration denied on a roll call
0-10. The remainder of the item was
referred to Commerce & Development Committee.
30. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting November Auditor’s
Report. (Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations
Committee
31. Roberta Schaefer, Executive Director, Worcester Regional
Research Bureau transmitting Citizen Satisfaction with Municipal Services: 2004 Survey. (Attachments) Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
31a ACCEPTED & RESOLUTION ADOPTED – SUSPENSION OF RULES
31a. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon the
Communication of the City Manager relative to the Blackstone Canal Feasibility
Study: recommend adoption of the
accompanying Resolution that the City Council hereby goes on record in support
of the concepts included in the Blackstone Canal Feasibility Study. (Attachments)
31b ACCEPTED – SUSPENSION OF RULES
31b. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT Upon the
Communication of the City Manager relative to Fallon Community to remain I
downtown Worcester: recommend
Communication be placed on file. (Attachments)
31c ACCEPTED & ORDER ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0
RECONSIDERATION DENIED ON A ROLL CALL 0-11 –
SUSPENSION OF RULES
31c. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication
relative to Snow and Ice Hired Equipment Rates: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (Attachments)
32
ACCEPTED & ORDER ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0
32. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of
Charles Flanagan requesting abatement of Sewer Assessment #30883 in the amount
of $8,355.44 on Norton St.: recommend
adoption of the accompanying Order to abate to $3,800.00 subject to deferred
payment covenant. (Attachments)
33
ACCEPTED & ORDER ADOPTED WITH GRATITUDE
33. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
Communication of the City Manager requesting City Council accept with gratitude
a donation of twenty-six audible pedestrian signal units to the City: recommend adoption of the accompanying
Order. (Attachments)
34 VOTED TO ADVERTISE PROPOSED ORDINANCE
34. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of Councillor Barbara Haller on behalf of Helen Wondoloski requesting handicap
parking across from 146 Perry Ave.: recommend
passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Attachments)
35-43 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
following Petitions: recommend
Petitions be placed on file.
35. Councillor Barbara Haller request No Parking signs be replaced
on Benefit St. near Faucher’s Liquor Store. Further, once signs are replaced,
request increased enforcement of parking regulations along this area of Benefit
St. (Attachments)
36. Councillor Barbara Haller request crosswalk be repainted at
intersection of Harding St. and Lafayette St.
(Attachments)
37. Councillor Barbara Haller request crosswalk repainting at
Princeton St. and Southbridge St. (Attachments)
38. Councillor Barbara Haller request crosswalk repainting at
Russell St. and Park Ave. (Attachments)
39. Councillor Barbara Haller request crosswalk repainting at
Sheridan St. and Cambridge St. (Attachments)
40. Councillor Barbara Haller request crosswalk repainting at
Washburn St. and Cambridge St. (Attachments)
41. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the
Communication of the City Manager relative to number of accidents during the
last five years at the intersection of May and June Sts.: recommend
Communication be placed on file. (Attachments)
42. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Report
of the Committee on Traffic and Parking upon the Petition of Councillor Michael
Perotto requesting crosswalk at the corner of Putnam Lane and Shrewsbury
St.: recommend Report and Petition
be placed on file. (Attachments)
43. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition
of State Representative John Fresolo on behalf of Philip Potenti requesting
handicap parking on the west side of Dana Ave. beside 610 Grafton St.: recommend Petitioner be given leave to withdraw. (Attachments)
44-57
ORDAINED ON A ROLL CALL 11-0
44. Amending Part Two of the Revised Ordinances of 1996 reorganizing
Departments, Boards and Commissions of the City of Worcester. (Attachments)
45. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 14 Dartmouth St. (Attachments)
46. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 179 Delmont Ave. (Attachments)
47. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 11 South Buffum St. (Attachments)
48. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind No Parking in front of 22 Tampa St. (Attachments)
49. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for handicap parking in front of 12 Wyman St. (Attachments)
50. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind handicap parking in front of 43 Hadwen Rd. (Attachments)
51. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind handicap parking in front of 11 Pattison St. (Attachments)
52. Amending Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 providing for a Stop sign on Claffey Rd. at Whitmarsh Ave. to face traffic
on Claffey Rd. (Attachments)
53. Amending Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 providing for a Stop sign on Granville Rd. at Whitmarsh Ave. to face
traffic on Granville Rd. (Attachments)
54. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for two hour parking 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Frothingham Rd.,
east side, from Lincoln St. to a point 200’ north of Lincoln St. and on the
west side from Lincoln St. to a point 140’ north of Lincoln St. (Attachments)
55. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to provide for two hour parking
meter on the south side of Chandler St. in front of 104 Chandler St. (Attachments)
56. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to prohibit parking on the south side of Downing St. 20’ on either side of
the entrance driveway to Clark University’s Parking Garage. (Attachments)
57. Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of
1996 to rescind left turn only for westbound traffic on Dix St. at the
intersection of Dix St. and Lancaster St.
(Attachments)
TABLED
UNDER PRIVILEGE
58. Communication of the City Manager requesting City Council’s
consideration and approval of a Maintenance Contract for a period of up to six
years for the Green Hill Municipal Golf Course, which will provide for a
greater competition among the bidding firms.
Chapter 30B of M.G.L. requires the approval of City Council for any
contract for services in excess of three years. (Attachments) Taken
off the Table and Order adopted on a roll call 10-1 (Rushton-No)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
DECEMBER 20, 2004 6:00
P.M. |
COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
DECEMBER 21, 2004 5:30
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
ROOM 310 CITY HALL |
|
JANUARY 10, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
ETHNIC & MINORITY AFFAIRS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
JANUARY 11, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
TRAFFIC & PARKING |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
JANUARY 12, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
JOINT PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION & CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMTE. |
COUNCI L CHAMBER |
|
JANUARY 18, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
JANUARY 19, 2005 6:30
P.M. |
HEALTH |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |