CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:04 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:50 P.M.

Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

RESOLUTION - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes and thanks Gerry Bergeron and the employees of GM Bergeron Inc for the generous construction of dugouts at the ball fields on Ararat Street in the Indian Hill neighborhood. (Smith)

RESOLUTION - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes May 7, 2008 as SCHOOL NURSE DAY in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and encourages all Worcester residents to take special note of their contributions to all of our residents. (Rosen)

Mayor Lukes read a Proclamation declaring the month of May to be Children's Mental Health Month - Councilor Eddy presented the proclamation to Cindy Cesaitis, Director of PAL and Meri Viano a representative of PAL and Chris White and Ricky Simone members of a teen youth group called the Others addressed City Council and Reginald Prayor also a member of this group presented green ribbons to City Council.

Mayor Lukes read a Proclamation declaring and endorsing Saturday May 10th as National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive Day in the City of Worcester - Councilor Clancy presented the proclamation to Norm LaFlash a representative of this association and he addressed City Council.

Mayor Lukes read a Proclamation that the City of Worcester is proud to endorse and participate in the smoking cessation program “Ready, Set, Quit!” from May 6th thru the month of June - Councilor Petty presented the proclamation to Barbara Grimes-Smith a representative of Tobacco Free Partnership program of Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. and Beth Ewy a representative of UMass Medical School and UMass Medical Healthcare.

Mayor Lukes suspended the rules to allow Stephanie Yuhl, a Worcester resident and a representative of Worcester Stands for Children to speak before City Council relative to funding Worcester Public Schools.

Councilor Philip P. Palmieri request sidewalk repair in front of 29 Elnora Dr.

Osvaldo Mercado request resident permit parking only on both sides of Shirley St. from Birch St. to Park Ave.

Liudmila Bedricovschi request a crosswalk be installed across Highland St. at the intersection of Highland St. and Wachusett St. or Highland St. and Dean St.

Yvonne DiBenedetto request to remove the "Declared Winter Parking Ban" from the right side of Cameron St.

Sarah Loy et al of Real Solutions request City Manager report on the decline in the number of licensed lodging houses in Worcester, as well as the total number of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units in licensed lodging houses in Worcester for each year from 1998 through March 2008, excluding school dormitories and fraternity houses.

Sarah Loy et al of Real Solutions request City Manager report on the total amount of federal and state funds that the City of Worcester has disbursed solely for the purpose of providing Single Room Occupancy (SR) housing each year from 1998 through 2007.

Notification of Appointment of Dr. Wayne Glazier to the Board of Health.

Notification of Appointment of Timothy McCann to the Historical Commission.

Notification of Appointment of Kathleen Gervais and Sean Rose and Reappointment of Maria Florez and Cheryl Pope to the Human Rights Commission.

Notification of Appointment of Alvin Goldsmith to the Off Street Parking Board.

Notification of Appointment of Olufunke Akinbuli and Calvin Hill to the Affirmative Action Advisory Committee.

Notification of Appointment of Clifford J. Hirschman to the Cable Television Advisory Committee.

Notification of Appointment of John H. Budd to the Civic Center Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Employee and Retiree Health Insurance Benefits.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Employee and Retiree Vision Benefits.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Gateway Cities Compact

Transmitting Informational Communication relative to the Summer Youth Employment Program

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Funding Recommendations for Year 34 CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA. Further, recommend Adoption of Attached Resolutions to File and Accept CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA and ADDI Grant Funds. Further, Recommend Adoption of Appropriation Orders.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Converting Private Streets to Public Streets in Various Subdivisions in the City.

Recommend that City Council Refer the Attached Communication Relative to the Discontinuation of a Portion of the Washington Square Rotary Layout to the Planning Board.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a List of Arterial and Collector Streets that are Included in the FY 2009 Resurfacing Program.

Recommend Adoption of Orders Relative to Drainage Easements at 1241-1243 Millbury Street and 450 Granite Street.

Transmitting Informational Communication relative to Recommended FY2009 Water and Sewer Rates.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Requesting Business Owners to Help Keep Worcester Clean.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Nuisance Team Activities.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation of Services for the Cosgrove Golf Tournament at Green Hill Park from Maxwell Silverman's Restaurant.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Status of the Worcester Common Renovations.

Recommend City Council Review, Deliberation and Adoption of the Attached Resolution to File and Accept a Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for Communication Upgrades to the City's Mobile Command Unit.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Worcester Police Department's 4th Annual Youth Summit.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's "Ready, Set, Quit!" Program.

Recommend City Council Approval of the Attached Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.

Recommend that Eighty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($88,899.97) be transferred from Loan Account #91C744, Off-Street Parking Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to DPW Account #46C704, Federal Plaza Garage Rehabilitation, to allow for payment of current and anticipated obligations.

Recommend that Seventy Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($78,000.02) be transferred from Loan Account #91C735, Sewer Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C705, Capital Outlay, to allow for payment of anticipated obligations.

Recommend that Ninety Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars and Ninety Seven Cents ($99,999.97) be transferred from Loan Account #91C741, Street Construction, and appropriated to DPW Account #41C732, Street Construction, to allow for the payment of anticipated project obligations related to Main Street and Gateway I.

Recommend that Thirty Four Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty Five Dollars And No Cents ($34,885.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C722, North Lake Ave Bridge, an appropriated to DPW Account #41C721, Bridges, so as to provide necessary funding for this much needed bridge work.

Recommend that Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($10,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784, Park Improvements, to Parks Account # 72C708, Knights of Columbus.

Recommend that Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($60,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C784, Park Improvements , to Parks Account # 72C709, Cookson Field Project.

Recommend that Four Million Five Hundred Eighty Six Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Eight Dollars And No Cents ($4,586,468.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Year XXXIV Community Development Block Grant Program and appropriated, when received, to various accounts to provide funding for projects and programs as described.

Recommend that One Million Eight Hundred One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Four Dollars And No Cents ($1,801,694.00) and Twelve Thousand Two Hundred Two Dollars And No Cents ($12,202.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the FFY2008 HOME Program and American Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI) Program, respectively, and appropriated, when and as received, to Account # 18S36709, Home Program.

Recommend that Two Hundred Four Thousand Eight Hundred Nine Dollars And No Cents ($204,809.00) be accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the FFY 2008 Emergency Shelter Grant Program and be appropriated, when and as received, to various accounts to provide funding for projects and programs as described.

Recommend that Three Hundred Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($368,000.00) be accepted from the FY 2009 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program and be appropriated, when and as received, to various accounts to provide funding for projects and programs described.

Recommend that Four Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($4,000.00) be transferred from Account # 330-09, Reserve for Appropriation Real Estate Sales, to Account # 043-92000, to provide fuinding for compliance assurance fees assessed upon the City by the Department of Enivornmental Protection.

Recommend that Forty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($45,000.00) be transferred from Account #660-91000 , Treasurer's Office Salary Account , to Account #660-91000 , Treausurer's Ordinary Maintenance to prepare and mail Water/Sewer bills, Real Estate tax bills and other all City Mail for the remainder of FY08.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Account # 900-92000, City Manager's Contingency and appropriated to Account #260-92000 , Worcester Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance.

Recommend that City Council Accept with Gratitude Various Gifts that have been Donated to the City and are Presently Kept in the City Clerk's Office and Vault.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Notification of the Premium Holiday to City of Worcester Employees and Retirees.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation of Labor and Materials from Keating Enterprises, Inc. (KEI) for the Maintenance and Beautification of the City's Memorials and Green Spaces.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.

Transmitting Informational Communication Regarding Scheduled Power Outages in the Chandler, Pleasant, June, Amherst and Newton Square Neighborhoods.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joseph Minkos et al request to make public Arrowsic St. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of David Seibold request private street conversion of private portion of Carter Rd. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Hoang Do & Anna Hinh request to convert Laureldale St. from private to public street. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Robert Dupre of W.B. Realty, LLC request the acceptance of Marissa Circle as a public way. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Nancy Tibbetts et al request to make public Onset St. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Sylvia Cousins request to make public Sherer Trail. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of James Venincasa request to accept as a public street developer's portion of Winifred Ave. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Chairman's Order from the Committee on Traffic & Parking request that private portion of Revere St. be made public. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORTS OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Lisa Buteau request to make public Heroult Rd. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Councilor Juan Gomez on behalf of Rosa Rosabal request that the private portion of Lakewood St. be converted to a public street. (Tabled Under Privilege - Clancy April 29, 2008)

Order of Mayor Timothy P. Murray - That the ordinance relative to the Police Department License Board as it relates to taxi regulations be rescinded. (Tabled - Murray April 25, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommending the Adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) to be appropriated to Account #91C778, Providence Street Tot Lot, for the purpose of funding the construction of the planned playground at Providence Street. (Tabled - Lukes July 17, 2007)

Grant permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit system in KANSAS ST. (Tabled - September 18, 2007)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report to City Council whether a claims process exists which is available to commercial users who experience electric power outages and surges caused by National Grid. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report on the number and location of National Grid equipment stations located on public property, whether the City receives any revenue from the use of public land, and if not, whether the city can charge for said use. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report to City Council regarding National Grid services in the city based on data filed with the Department of Telecommunications and Energy specifically addressing the number of outages, the locations of the outages, causes of the outages and the fines, if any, paid by National Grid in 2007. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Petition of NATIONAL GRID for cable and conduit system in: PLANTATION ST., CLARENDON ST. & ALMONT AVE. (Tabled - Palmieri March 18, 2008)

Proposed Ordinance amending the Montvale Historic District by the adoption of a new map enlarging the District. (Tabled Under Privilege - Palmieri March 25, 2008)

Motion Rushton @ #8.30A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report of all unexpended balances in city accounts as of May 1st for the May 13th Finance Committee meeting.

Motion Clancy @ #8.6A & 8.6B CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the health coverage meetings taking place at the Senior Center as to how many are attending and how they are being conducted so that attendees are receiving the information they need to make informed choices.

Motion Rushton @ #8.12A CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning methods that could tie the appropriation of funds for construction of streets to the actual spending of funds as a means for cost savings.
(Rushton)

Motion Petty @ #8.38D CM - Request City Manager provide City Council with a progress report concerning the WRTA Flex Routes at the end of the 3rd quarter and if this plan can be spread through other parts of the city.

RESOLUTION of Councilor Rushton - Suspension of Rules - That City Council of the City of Worcester urges State Representative Kevin Honan, State Senator Susan Tucker, and the Joint Committee on Housing to secure passage of House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 772; That the City Council of the City of Worcester calls upon the Worcester legislative delegation to the Statehouse to make a renewed effort to secure passage of House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 772; That the City Council of the City of Worcester urges Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes to contact legislative leaders, assign city resources, and meet with tenant and housing advocacy groups and Council supporters to coordinate strategies to ensure passage of House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 772, and to preserve Lincoln Village and other at-risk developments as affordable housing.

Motion Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide City Council with copies of the House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 772 mentioned in the Resolution presented to City Council by Councilor Rushton.