CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:05 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:37 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Hearing for CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit location on: CANTERBURY ST.

Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for conduit location on: CANTERBURY ST.

Hearing for CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: LINCOLN ST.

Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: LINCOLN ST.

Mayor O'Brien read and presented a Proclamation declaring October 5, 2010 as Worcester World Cup Soccer Day. Mayor O'Brien invited Laura Suroviak to address City Council. Also present were team members of Team Iran and Team Colombia.

Mayor O'Brien read and presented a Proclamation declaring October 6, 2010 as International Walk to School Day. Mayor O'Brien invited Karen Valentine to say a few words relative to this event.

Phang Ho request sidewalk repair at 79 Sylvan St.

Dimitrios Ptohos et al request Vesper St. be resurfaced.

Maritza Rodriguez request guardrail in front of 9 Ludlow St. be expanded.

Luanne Pond request the street in front of 335 Granite St. be resurfaced.

Michael Sampson request abatement of street assessment #24901 in the amount of $9,498.87 for Tamar Ave.

Attorney Christopher Tully request sidewalk repair in front of 651 West Boylston St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 8, 10 and 22 Trowbridge Rd.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair at 23 and 67 Cedar St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair at 80, 90, 146 and 152 West St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request repair to sidewalks in both corners of the intersection of Park Ave. and Townsend St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request repair of the sidewalks in both corners of the intersection of Fruit and Williams Sts. and at both corners of the intersection of Ashland and William Sts.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in both corners of the intersection of Russell and William Sts.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 103 through 143 Pleasant St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 4 Home St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 53 Hermon St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 6 Wachusett St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 7 and 19 Schussler Rd.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Highland St. from 142 to the corner of Schussler Rd., from 155 to 179 and in the vicinity of 193.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Berkshire St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Boynton St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Elbridge St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Elm St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in John St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Jaques Ave., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Ashland St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Chatham St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Dewey St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Fruit St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Mason St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Oxford St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in King St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Woodland St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Beacon St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Gardner St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Hammond St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Lagrange St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Ripley St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Valley St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in North Ashland St., even side only.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in William St., even side only.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Crown St., even side only.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Bancroft St., even side only.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Queen St., 40 block, odd side only.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Hampton St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Hampton St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Hudson St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Hudson St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks be repaired in Roxbury St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Roxbury St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Sever St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Sever St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks be repaired in Somerset St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Somerset St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks be repaired in Denny St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Denny St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks in Austin St. be repaired, both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Austin St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks be repaired in Larch St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Larch St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks be repaired in Piedmont St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Piedmont St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalks be repaired in Quincy St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Quincy St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Russell St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Russell St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Winslow St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Winslow St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Davis St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Davis St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Hathaway St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Hathaway St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Preston St., both sides.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Preston St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request sidewalk repair in Winfield St., even side only.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Winfield St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request street repaving at the intersection of Bluff and Bancroft Sts.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Institute Rd. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Blossom St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Dayton St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Howe St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller request Wellington St. be repaved.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller on behalf of Andrew Goddard request the City Manager to provide Council with draft changes to the Resident Parking ordinance to remove the requirement for a vehicle to be registered in Worcester. This petition is filed in support of resident parking but to expand the ordinance to include those bona fide residents who do not own their own car but rather borrow or lease a vehicle such that they can receive resident parking privileges.

Transmitting a response to a request of the City Council requesting to know the number of civil marriage ceremonies that took place in City Hall during calendar 2009 by the City Clerk and the Assistant City Clerks.

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the impact of modifying the Resident Parking ordinance to remove the requirement for the vehicle to be registered in Worcester. (Haller)

Request City Manager obtain and forward to City Council the following documents that relate to property located at 180-184 Main Street: a.) a dated copy of the completed Tax Increment Financing application, including any and all supporting documents, including but not limited to letters, email and notes, b.) a dated copy of the $2.8 million loan application made to Mass Development and its corresponding commitment letter, c.) a dated copy of the application for lease of the premises made to the Department of Capital and Asset Management, d.) a dated copy of the lease between the property owners and the Department of Capital and Asset Management, e.) copies of the financing instruments or notes relied upon for renovations to the premises, and f.) a dated copy of the application for historic tax credits and documents supporting the worth of the tax credits to be awarded if the application was approved. (Rushton)

Request City Council's Standing Committee on Municipal Operations meet to initiate employment contract negotiations with the City Auditor. (Germain, Petty, Clancy, Lukes)

Request City Manager report on the development of a "crowdsourcing" program to be initiated on a pilot basis on the City's website as a web based collaborative for polling and problem solving based on citizen input. (Lukes)

Request City Manager provide a legal opinion as to what controls, if any, can be used by the City regarding inappropriate responses to a "crowdsourcing" project and whether the identities of responders can be required. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report on the removal of Utility Pole #33 MBCO in the June/Glendale Streets area. (Lukes)

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the feasibility and estimated cost of placing an available lunch car diner on McKeon Road at the drive to the former Washburn Moen building that would serve as a seasonal visitor stop. Said estimate would include rehabilitation of diner, addition of restrooms, and preparation of pad. Further, include percentage of available federal dollars that could be applied to said project. (Clancy)

Request City Manager report which city departments and officials use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter etc., and the process and criteria used in determining which department or individual uses social media and what purpose and accomplishments result from the usage. (Lukes)

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication relative to the impact of the 2010 Statewide Ballot Questions 1 and 3.

That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in opposition to question #1 appearing on the November 2, 2010 state election ballot. (O'Brien)

Order of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Council refer all information submitted by the City Clerk regarding weddings performed by him and his staff at City Hall and income earned from said weddings to the Standing Committee on Municipal Operations. (Tabled - Lukes September 28, 2010)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the 2009 Leaf Collection Program. (Tabled - Haller June 1, 2010)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Philip P. Palmieri and State Representative Vincent Pedone request to install a trailer truck ban in Mulberry St. between Shrewsbury St. and East Central St.: recommend the passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled - Petty June 8, 2010)

Order to grant permission to NATIONAL GRID for pole location on: BATES AVE. (Tabled - Palmieri September 28, 2010)

Order to grant permission to NATIONAL GRID for pole locations on: LINCOLN ST. (Tabled - Palmieri September 28, 2010)

Order to grant permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for eight joint pole locations on: LINCOLN ST. (Tabled - Palmieri September 28, 2010)

Order to grant permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole location on: MARSH AVE. (Tabled - Palmieri September 28, 2010)

Resolution of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in opposition to question #3 appearing on the November 2, 2010 state election ballot. (Tabled - Lukes September 28, 2010)

Motion Haller @ #4a & 4b CC - Request City Clerk request Charter Communications, in preparation for the recessed hearings on October 12, 2010, to provide information as to the intent of the spur, why they are doing this work and if future work should be expected.

Motion Haller @ #12a CC - Request City Manager send a copy of City Council item #12a to all neighborhood and business associations.

Motion Haller - Suspension of Rules - presented the following motion on behalf of the entire City Council - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding a plan to end Homelessness in Worcester with particular details on the progress to close the PIP Shelter at 701 Main St. and outstanding barriers to closing it within 30 days. Further, request this report to be provide at the October 12, 2010 City Council meeting.

PETITION - Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Mary Williams request resurfacing of sidewalks in Lynnwood Lane where necessary.

PETITION - Councilor Joseph M. Petty request resurfacing of sidewalks in Temple St. between Harding St. and Green St.

PETITION - Councilor William J. Eddy and Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Susan Ames request installation of a “Go Children Slow” sign in vicinity of 164 Flagg St.