CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– MARCH 1, 2005
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:03 P.M.
Adjourned: 10:40 P.M.
1. INVOCATION - Most Reverend George E. Rueger
Auxiliary Bishop of Worcester
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL – All present except Councillors Lukes, White and
Petty. Councillors Lukes & White arrived at 7:04 P.M. and Councillor Petty
at 7:07 P.M.
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5
& 6 REFERRED TO PARKS DEPARTMENT
5. Councillor Barbara Haller request the removal of a dead city
shade tree in front of 2 Ely St. (Attachments)
6. Fred and Athena Pappas request the removal of a tree on the
Rittenhouse Rd. side of 37 Flagg St. (Attachments)
7
REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
7. Gail LaGoy et al request zone change from RG-5 to RL-7 for North St, Milton St., and Byron St. (Attachments)
8-16 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE
8. Mark O’Connor request to extend the sewer main from 11 to 15
Carleton St. a distance of 73 linear feet at full expense to the developer. (Attachments)
9. Councillor Barbara Haller request sidewalk repair in front of
2 Ely St. (Attachments)
10. Councillor Paul Clancy request City Administration repair and/or
replace the stairway railings on the Hamilton St. median. (Attachments)
11. Esther Moynagh request sidewalk repair at 26 Abington St. (Attachments)
12. Michael
McDade request Hillside St. to be repaved. (Attachments)
13. Fred and Athena Pappas request sidewalk repair on the
Rittenhouse Rd. side of 37 Flagg St. (Attachments)
14. Roger and Patricia Albrecht request sidewalk repair at 32 South
Flagg St. (Attachments)
15. Attorney Robert Longden on behalf of Antanavica Construction
Company, Inc. request to accept an easement for a turn-around for fire &
emergency vehicles on Willvail St. (Attachments)
16. Shayne Grier request abatement of sewer assessment #30947 in the
amount of $2,090.00 on Alpine St. (Attachments)
17-21
REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
17. Carlos Nieves request handicap parking in front of 144 Dorchester St. (Attachments)
18. Paul and Patricia Stuczynski request winter parking ban on
Payson St. be amended so that parking is allowed on one side of street. (Attachments)
19. Mary Climes request handicap parking in front of 49 Charlotte
St. (Attachments)
20. Mayor Timothy Murray and Councillor Barbara Haller request
installation of 30-minute parking meters along the easterly side of Main St.
from Madison St. to Charlton St. and along westerly side of Main St. from
Madison St. to Wellington St. (Attachments)
21. Councillor Philip Palmieri request installation of one 30-mph sign facing southbound traffic in Alvarado Ave between Wigwam Ave. and Lake View St. (Attachments)
22
REFERRED TO MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
22. Gary Vecchio on behalf of Shrewsbury St. Neighborhood Association request the City Council to conduct the Fiscal Year 2006 Tax Classification hearing prior to the November 8, 2005 Municipal Election. (Attachments)
23. COMMUNICATIONS
OF THE CITY MANAGER
MICHAEL V. O’BRIEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR MARCH 1, 2005
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to the assessed values of properties located at 40-180 Ballard Street. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
B. Communication relative to Properties Owned by Social Service Agencies. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
5. BUDGET OFFICE:
6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
A. Request adoption of a
resolution to file and accept the donation of $5,580.00 from the Friends of
Worcester’s Senior Center, Inc. in support of the osteoporosis prevention
program. (Attachments) Resolution adopted with gratitude
10. ELECTION COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to
the Investigated Structure Fires for the Calendar Year 2004. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
B. Request City Council file and accept a
grant in the amount of Three Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Six Dollars and
Eighteen Cents ($3,726.18) from the Central Massachusetts Regional Citizen
Corps Program. (Attachments) Resolution
adopted
14. HUMAN RESOURCES:
15. LAW:
A. Communication relative to
services provided under the terms of the current Charter Communications
contract. (Attachments) Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee
B. Communication clarifying the
width, degree of clearance, and the use of unsolicited enforcement for snow
removal from the city’s sidewalks, as defined in the Sidewalk Snow Removal
Ordinance. (Attachments) Placed on file
C. Request adoption of an ordinance amendment, which would increase the number of taxicab licenses in the City by two, from 108 to 110, and restrict those licenses to taxicabs meeting city handicapped accessibility requirements. (Attachments) Voted to advertise proposed Ordinance on a roll call 11-0
16. LICENSE COMMISSION:
17. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to a
Proposed Zone Change in the Vicinity of Saybrook Road and Southwest Cutoff. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
B. Communication relative to
transferring jurisdiction of the twenty seven (27) surplus tax title properties
from Neighborhood Services to the City Treasurer’s Office. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
C. Communication relative to
the timelines associated with the recent funding awards from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Worcester Continuum of
Care and to Community Healthlink’s Leased Housing Project. (Attachments) Councillor Perotto recused on a roll call
10-0. Communication referred to Health
Committee
D. Communication relative to
the Mason/Winfield Street Request for Proposals. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
18. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:
19. POLICE:
A. Request adoption of the
Executive Summary and Resolution to file and accept an FY’05 Edward Byrne
Memorial Grant with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety. (Attachments) Resolution adopted
B. Communication relative to
“Parking at Police Headquarters”. (Attachments) Referred
to Public Safety Committee
C. Communication relative to
the reallocation of $12,600.00 of Round VIII Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
funds that was originally targeted toward purchasing two police canines, to
fund and support a pilot minority youth mentoring program. (Attachments) Approved in concept – Also referred to
Public Safety Committee for informational purposes
20. PUBLIC HEALTH:
21. PUBLIC LIBRARY:
22. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
23. PUBLIC WORKS:
A. Communication relative to
the Acceptance of Easements for Drainage Purposes, Massasoit Village
Subdivision. (Attachments) Order adopted
B. Communication relative to
Abandoned Vehicle Status Report. (Attachments) Referred
to Public Works Committee
C. Communication relative to Stop Signs in
the Vicinity of the Intersection of Franklin and Harding Streets. (Attachments) Placed on file
D. Communication and order relative to a deed
of easement for the extension of sanitary sewer, surface sewer and drainage
detention areas throughout the Chase Estates Subdivision. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
24. PURCHASING:
25. TECHNICAL SERVICES:
26. TREASURY:
A. Request City Council review,
consideration, and adoption of an order requesting the Transfer of Jurisdiction
of Land. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
27. VETERANS SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that Two Hundred
Twenty Five Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents
($225,657.50) be transferred from Account #33040 Reserve for Appropriation, 1%
Federal Reimbursement and appropriated to the following accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DEPARTMENT |
AMOUNT |
|
600-91099 |
Purchasing |
$ 45,982.50 |
|
650-91099 |
Auditing |
58,522.50 |
|
170-91099 |
Human Resources |
2,102.50 |
|
680-91099 |
Information Services |
38,473.50 |
|
660-91099 |
Treasury |
35,862.50 |
|
040-91099 |
City Manager |
32,562.50 |
|
040-92099 |
City Manager |
125.00 |
|
680-92099 |
Information Services |
12,026.50 |
|
|
Total |
$225,657.50 |
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 One Hundred
Twelve Thousand Dollars ($112,000.00) be transferred from the following
accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
900-91000 |
CM Contingency Personal
Serv. |
$100,000.00 |
|
900-92000 |
CM Contingency Ord.
Maint. |
12,000.00 |
|
|
Total |
$112,000.00 |
And appropriated to
Account #260-92000, Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance, for the payment of
additional maintenance and repair, automotive supplies, and several other
ordinary maintenance expenditure categories. (Attachments) Order
adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Recommend that Thirty
Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C784, Parks
Improvement, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Parks Site Improvements, for
the purpose of payment for contractual obligations relative to design services
and project management for Rockwood Field, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
D. Recommend that Two Million
Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,900,000.00) be transferred from Account
#91C790, School Construction, and appropriated to Account #28C717, Vocational
School Construction, to provide funds for the purpose of payment of contractual
and other obligations related to the construction of the Worcester Vocational
School, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
E. Recommend that One Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C739,
Lateral Sewers, and appropriated to Account #44C750, Lateral Sewers, to provide
funds for the purpose of payment for contractual obligations related to various
sewer construction projects, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
F. Recommend that Nineteen
Thousand Four Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars and Ten Cents ($19,479.10) be
transferred when and as received from Account #91C731, Water Capital Equipment,
and appropriated to Account #45C703, Water Department Capital Equipment, for
the purpose of purchasing:
(5) Personal Computers $ 7,013.60
(6) Portable Radio
w/accessories $12,465.50
for the Water Department,
as approved in the fiscal 2005 Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
G. Recommend that Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C752, Union
Station Garage, and appropriated to Account #04C748, Union Station Garage, to
provide funds for the Demolition of the Parcel Post Building and the Design of
the Union Station Garage. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
H. Recommend that Seventy Five
Thousand Dollars and Thirty Cents ($75,000.00) be transferred when and as
received from the following accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
91C780 |
Capital Equipment |
$33,000.00 |
|
91C734 |
Sewer Capital Equipment |
42,000.00 |
|
|
Total |
$75,000.00 |
And appropriated to the following accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT
|
|
41C703 |
DPW Capital Equipment |
$33,000.00 |
|
91C734 |
Sewer Capital Equipment |
42,000.00 |
|
|
Total |
$75,000.00 |
This
appropriation along with One Hundred Sixteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Four
Dollars and Thirty Cents ($116,384.30) currently available in Account #41S501,
Yard Waste Processing, will be used to purchase a new recycler/composting
machine at a cost of $191,384.30 to replace the 1993 Willabald yard waste
shredder. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
I. Recommend that Thirty Eight
Thousand Dollars ($38,000.00) be transferred when and as received from Account
#91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #41C703, DPW
Capital Equipment. This appropriation
along with Seventeen Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Dollars ($17,530.00)
currently available in Account #41S472, Solid Waste MRIP, will be used to
purchase a telescoping forklift truck at a cost of $55,530.00, to be utilized
at the Ballard Street Drop-Off Center. (Attachments) Order
adopted on a roll call 11-0
J. Recommend that One Hundred
Thirty Four Thousand Dollars ($134,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C780,
Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #26C701, Fire
Department Capital Equipment, for the payment of contractual obligations
related to the establishment of the McKeon Road Communications Center, as
approved in the FY2005 Capital
Improvement Budget. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
24-28 FROM COMMERCE &
DEVELOPMENT - Adopted
24. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a detailed drawing of the bus ports as completed. (Attachments)
25. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning the correction of water damage and façade degradation at Union Station. (Attachments)
26 Request the City Manager provide the City Council with an itemization of any Union Station tenant account arrearages. (Attachments)
27. Request the City Manager report to the City Council whether the CitySquare project would qualify for transportation bond bill money. (Attachments)
28. Request the City Manager report to the City Council within 90 days concerning Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund progress on the Mason St. and Gateway properties. (Attachments)
29 FROM PUBLIC WORKS - Adopted
29. Authorize and request the City Manager direct the Commissioner of Public Works to:
1.
Change
the name of Ballard Street to Millbury Street,
2.
Change
the name of a section of Millbury Street between Ashmont Avenue and Harding
Street to Olde Millbury Street,
3.
Change
the name of a section of Millbury Street between McKeon Road and Wray Square to
Blackstone River Road,
4.
Re-number
properties on the newly established Millbury Street where needed,
5.
Re-number
properties on the newly established Blackstone River Road beginning with #1,
6.
Notify
immediately any and all agencies and electronic mapmakers such as MapQuest,
Rand McNally and AAA of the aforementioned changes that will become effective
July 1, 2005.
30. Request the City Manager consider developing a parking overlay zone on Millbury/Greenwood Streets in Quinsigamond Village. (Clancy) (Attachments) Adopted
31. Request the City Manager recommend to the City Council alternative sources of funding for the City’s Neighborhood Centers in light of the intended and significant reduction in the federal Community Development Block Grant award for Fiscal Year 2006. (Haller, White, Irish, Murray) (Attachments) Adopted
32. Request the City Manager with assistance from the MBTA and MassBike, expand the number of bicycle parking racks at Union Station in the Spring of 2005. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
33. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a status report for placing sewers in Route 20 from Massasoit Rd. to Grafton St. (Clancy) (Attachments) Adopted
34. Request the City Manager report to the City Council concerning the estimated cost to the City of providing sidewalk snow removal; report to include a listing of any nearby communities that provide this service and to what extent the number of sidewalks in the community are cleared. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
35. Request the City Manager work jointly with area community agencies to develop a sidewalk snow removal service, for either a volunteer or for-hire basis, to be made available to those property owners who cannot clear their own sidewalks. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
36. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning occupancy restrictions in Single-Occupancy Homes (SROs); report to include the manner in which occupancy is determined, i.e.: singles, couples, families with children, etc, and what process ensues when a determination is made that more than one person is residing in an SRO. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
37. Request the City
Manager provide the City Council with information regarding a recently filed
state bill: “An Act to Prevent Loss of Life Due to Fires Caused by Cigarettes”.
(Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
38. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report and recommendation regarding the possible adoption of a City ordinance that would require carbon monoxide detectors in residential properties. (Haller) (Attachments) Adopted
39. Request the City Manager report to the City Council concerning the funding history of the neighborhood centers. (Haller, White, Irish, Murray, Lukes) (Attachments) Adopted
40. Request the City Manager establish a neighborhood signage program that would include the installation of decorative signage and/or banners highlighting the many unique and historical aspects of the distinct neighborhoods across the City. (Murray) (Attachments) Adopted
41. Request the City Manager report to the City Council regarding the cost and feasibility of uncovering the cobblestone surface of a portion of either Water St. or Millbury St. between Union Station and Brosnihan Sq. as a pilot beautification project. (Lukes) (Attachments) Adopted
42. Request the City Auditor report to the City Council regarding the current status, including the present value of the City’s liability and the long term financial impact of post retirement benefits, specifically the post employment cost of healthcare and life insurance benefits. (Lukes) (Attachments) Adopted
43. Request the City Manager report to the City Council regarding the outstanding mortgages held by the City on residential properties, the addresses and description of the properties, history of collection and payments of mortgages and waivers or forgiveness of any mortgages, including the sources of funding for said liens or mortgages, commencing with 1995. (Lukes) (Attachments) Adopted
44. Request the City Manager report to the City Council regarding the status of completion of the remaining phases of the improvements at Logan Field. (Lukes) (Attachments) Councillor Lukes moved to amend: Further, request a list of all ongoing park improvement projects, what phases they are in, completed or pending and cost attached. Adopted, as amended
45. Request the City Manager to update the City Council concerning state legislation that would address the pilot program regarding the conversion of private streets to public streets. (Palmieri, Petty) (Attachments) Adopted
46. Request the City Manager to re-start the downtown façade program for the purpose of further encouraging economic development. (Perotto) (Attachments) Councillor Lukes moved to amend: Further, request Administration make a recommendation as to how the City can coordinate any façade improvements in the downtown area. Adopted, as amended
47. Request the City Manager report to the City Council regarding progress in the hiring of an economic development director for the City. (Perotto) (Attachments) Adopted
48. Request the City Manager report to City Council concerning the recent initiatives implemented under the direction and supervision of the new police chief. (Perotto) (Attachments) Adopted
49. Request the City Manager to provide the City Council with an update concerning the previously approved recommendations to improve traffic flow and safety in North Parkway as well as the study for future recommendations to install additional improvements in the same street and in Melrose St. and Davidson Rd. (Palmieri) (Attachments) Adopted
50. Request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a status report on the funding for the construction of the Franklin St. fire station. (Palmieri, Petty) (Attachments) Adopted
51. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report detailing any legal obstacles, city policy, or any other barriers to leasing-out space on city-owned land, in city-owned facilities (including school department facilities), or through telephone pole access or other City-owned rights-of-way to any private company, non-profit entity, or public authority for the purpose of expanding bandwidth availability or increasing competitive options for telecommunications services in the community. (Petty) (Attachments) Adopted
52. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning the proposed Transportation Bond Bill that was to address the Department of Public Works property, and further, if this property was included, how, and to what extent is was designated. (Palmieri) (Attachments) Adopted
53. Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report as to whether or not a new police recruit class can be included with the fiscal 2006 budget. (Petty, Perotto) (Attachments) Adopted
54. Request the City Manager meet with representatives of Verizon to discuss the availability of cable television and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services for the City of Worcester and its residents. (Petty) (Attachments) Adopted
55. Request the City Manager assemble a diverse contingent of engaged local activists from the public and private sectors who would agree to join the Manager, Mayor, Councillors, the Administration and our own delegation to participate in a day-long effort to lobby statehouse decision makers to gain support for the approved revitalization plan for the central business district (Sasaki plan); and further that this involve a pre-arranged PowerPoint presentation in the rotunda of the statehouse, allowing a full-court press to explain our plans for the future. (Palmieri & Petty, Perotto) (Attachments) Councillor Gomez moved to amend: That such presentation not include any reference relative to City Square if the City of Worcester has not benefited from public input as required by the state law relative to the project itself – Denied on a roll call vote of 1 Yea (Gomez) and 9 Nays (Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Rushton, White, Murray) (Irish-absent)
55a. Request City Manager to request a report from the Assessor as to
the process and procedure for setting the Tax Classification Hearing and
whether said hearing could be set before the November municipal election. Motion-Murray @ #22CC – Adopted (Attachments)
55b Request City Manager to provide additional information as to why
increasing the taxicab medallions from 108 to 110 is the solution to
handicapped accessible taxicabs. Motion-Haller
@ #15C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55c. Request City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion as to whether
the City can bar current taxicab owners from bidding on the two additional taxicab
medallions to be made available to service the handicapped. Motion-Gomez @ #15C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55d. Request City Manager report as to establishing a policy that all
taxicab medallions sold by the City from this time forward, whether restricted
or not, be sold according to an RFP process and that any restricted medallion
maintain those restrictions upon resale and not be converted to another use. Motion-Lukes @ #15C CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55e. Request City Manager to provide plot plans for each property
listed in Items 17B and 26A on the City Manager’s Calendar of March 1,
2005. Motion-Clancy @ #17B & 26A
CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55f. Request City Manager to provide a breakdown of the 195 fires in
Worcester in 2004 as to severity. Motion-Clancy
@ #13A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55g. Request City Manager report as to any changes in arson statistics
in the City and if so, in which direction.
Further, request report include if there is a way within the Fire Department
where significant changes in types of fires are flagged. Motion-Haller @ #13A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55h. Request City Manager to report of the 31 arson fires in 2004, what
percentage are classified as malicious intent, arson for profit or simple
vandalism. Motion-White @ #13A CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
55i. Request City Manager to consider, in negotiations, instead of
I-Net the City do some type of telecommunications account for purchasing needed
equipment. Motion-Petty @ #15A CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
55j. Request City Manager to consider one person to oversee both the
School and City side relative to purchasing of telecommunications
equipment. Motion-Petty @ #15A CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
55k. Request City Manager to send a copy of Item 15B of the City Manager’s Calendar of March 1, 2005 relative to sidewalk snow removal to
Neighborhood Crime Watch Associations and Neighborhood Centers. Motion-Haller @ #15B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55L. Request City Manager report as to current use of canines in the
Police Department. Further, request
Police Chief report as to his long term
vision for the Police Department relative to the use of canines. Motion-Murray @ #19B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55m. Request City Manager to report on snow plowing towing
operations. Motion-Irish @ #23B CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
55n. That the Stop signs at the intersection of Franklin and Harding
Sts. be removed as the second leg of the project to make Franklin St.
two-way. Motion-Clancy @ #23C CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
55o. Request City Manager to report within two weeks as to a plan to
address the façade situation at Union
Station. Motion-Perotto @
#28G CM – Adopted (Attachments)
55p. Request City Manager to report relative to the design
specifications for the Union Station garage.
Motion-Irish @ #28G CM – Adopted
55q. Request City Manager to report on any projects built in the last
five years under Project Labor Agreements as to whether they have been done on
time, on budget and whether there have been any irregularities regarding the
quality of workmanship on said projects. Motion-Gomez @ #25CC – Adopted (Attachments)
55r. Request City Manager to provide a list of all tenants and rents
being paid at Union Station, including arrearages. Motion-Lukes @ #25CC – Adopted (Attachments)
55s. Request City Manager report as to how much of the Block Grant has
fixed costs. Report to include a
listing of all debt. Motion-Clancy @
#39CC – Adopted (Attachments)
55t. Request City Manager to report on the cost and feasibility of an actuarial review of the City’s unfunded liability. Motion-Lukes @ #42CC – Adopted (Attachments)
55u. Request City Auditor to report to City Council regarding the
current status of the City’s pension system, including all liabilities in the
long term financial report. Further, report to include recommendations from the
City Auditor as to how to solve the problem and clearly identifying the $1
billion liability relative to the City’s pension system and whether or not it
includes the projected age of each retiree and what the encumbrance would be on
an annual basis for the health insurance that they might have on a year-to-year
basis until they die. Motion-Lukes @
#42CC – Adopted (Attachments)
55v. Request Administration to consider engaging an independent body to
perform a comprehensive evaluation of the state of the City’s retirement system
as it exists today. Motion-Gomez @
#42CC – Adopted on a roll call vote of 6 Yeas (Gomez, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri,
Petty, Rushton) and 4 Nays (Clancy, Perotto, White, Murray) (Irish-absent)
Councillor Gomez requested his second 5 minutes to speak – granted on a roll
call vote of 8 Yeas (Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Rushton, White,
Murray) and 1 Nay (Clancy) (Irish-absent) – Councillor Rushton requested
reconsideration of the vote – Council voted to reconsider on a roll call vote
of 7 Yeas (Clancy, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty, Rushton White, Murray) and 3 Nays
(Gomez, Haller, Lukes) (Irish-absent) – Motion then denied on a roll call vote
of 3 Yeas (Gomez, Haller, Lukes) and 7 Nays (Clancy, Palmieri, Perotto, Petty,
Rushton, White, Murray) (Irish-absent)
(Attachments)
55w. Request City Manager to report on the feasibility of televising
Retirement Board meetings. Motion-Rushton
@ #55CC - Adopted
55x. Request City Treasurer to report regarding the City’s ability to
give notice to property owners of their right to redeem by payment directly to
the City in spite of the sale of a tax title lien to a private entity. Lukes – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
COMMUNICATIONS
56. Roberta Schaefer, Ph.D., Executive Director, Worcester Regional Research Bureau transmitting report titled “Condition Serious, Prognosis Uncertain: The Impact of Municipal Employee Health Insurance in Massachusetts”. (Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
57. James DelSignore,
City Auditor transmitting the Auditor’s Report for January 2005. (Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations
Committee
58. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting
responses to questions at the February 15, 2005 meeting regarding the
collection of tax titles and property taxes. (Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations
Committee
RESOLUTION
58a. Recognizing the Rotary Club. (Irish) Suspension of Rules – Adopted on a roll call 11-0 (Attachments)
59. RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Items Pending
REPORTS
60-68
ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND
DEVELOPMENT Upon the following Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
60. Relative to July 2004 Economic Development
Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
61. Relative to August 2004 Economic
Development Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
62. Relative to September 2004 Economic
Development Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
63. Relative to November 2004 Economic Development
Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
64. Relative to December 2004 Economic
Development Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
65. Relative to January 2005 Economic Development Initiatives Report. (Attachments)
66. Relative to School Maintenance Building. (Attachments)
67. Relative to EPA
Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund SWIP Project. (Attachments)
68. Relative to G.A.R. Hall (Attachments)
69
ACCEPTED & ORDERS ADOPTED
69. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Matthew Smith of Bohler Engineering, P.C. request to construct approximately 580’ of sewer line in Shore Dr. to service proposed office development. To be done at the expense of the Petitioner: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (Attachments)
70 ACCEPTED
70. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manger relative to timeline for renaming Millbury St. and Ballard St: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Attachments)
71-73
– NO ACTION TAKEN
71. Order –
Request City Council to vote its opposition to any raises for City Council for
the 2006 term. (Lukes) (Tabled January 18, 2005) (Attachments)
72. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joe Boynton,
Chairman, Worcester Planning Board requesting to amend Article IV, Table 4.2 of
the Worcester Zoning Ordinance relative to Permitted Dimensions by District. (Tabled
February 8, 2005) (Attachments)
73. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joe Boynton,
Chairman, Worcester Planning Board requesting to amend Table 4.2 of the Zoning
Ordinance by adding a note to Permitted Dimensions by District and renumbering
all existing Table 4.2 notes appropriately.
(Tabled February 8, 2005)
(Attachments)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
LAND USE |
COUNCIL CHAMBERS |
|
|
MARCH
1, 2005 5:30 P.M |
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS |
COUNCIL CHAMBERS |
|
MARCH
8, 2005 5:30 P.M |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBERS |
|
MARCH
22, 2005 5:30 P.M |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBERS |