CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:10 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:21 PM

Mayor
Joseph C. O'Brien

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council meeting of October 18, 2011.

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID for pole location: MILLBURY STREET

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for pole location: MILLBURY STREET

Mayor O'Brien read and presented a Proclamation declaring November 1, 2011 as Worcester World Cup Soccer Day.

Mayor O'Brien moved to suspend the rules to allow a citizen to speak. Scott Ricker, a Worcester resident, was recognized and he made a request to move the handicap parking spaces in Foster St. (see item #17q)

Steven Chin et al request to install additional street lights in Eden St.

Kevin Dang request to install street light in front of 27 Chicopee St.

Ana Freeman request street repair in Radmore St.

Ana Freeman request sidewalk repair in Radmore St.

Councilor Barbara G. Haller on behalf of Ben Houston request installation of a four-way Stop at the intersection of Canterbury and Gardner Streets in the interest of public safety.

State Representative John Fresolo on behalf of Arlene Castle request the installation of a handicapped parking space in front of 9 Esther Street.

Tara & Christopher Gervais request "Children" signs in Tyson Rd.

Devin Coleman request an investigation to be conducted by City Council into the current location of Mayoral Records as defined by the Massachusetts Public Records Law for all mayors to whom the law is applicable; that being those mayors who left office between 2004 and present day as the law states that records must be retained for public access for seven years.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks install Children Cautionary Signs and repaint crosswalk in Erie Ave. at Country Club Blvd.

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update on the work being done by the Worcester Police Department and community partners as part of the Shannon Grant Program and Safe and Successful Youth Grant Program. (O'Brien)

Request the Mayor and the Latino Education Institute Commission present their report to the Standing Committee on Education. (Toomey)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report revealing the number of motor vehicle accidents at or near the intersection of Canterbury and Gardner Streets over the past twelve months. (Haller)

Request City Manager report on the city policy concerning public art and wall art and the definition of each including graffiti. (Lukes)

Request City Manager provide City Council with clarification of the city’s policy concerning the selling of tax title liens. Further, request an explanation be made concerning the process that led to the reported sale of residential property and eviction of a family on Harrison Street. (O'Brien)

Request City Manager arrange for the re-installation of American flags on the exterior of the Memorial Auditorium in time for the Veterans’ Day exercises. (Petty)

Request City Manager provide City Council with an report detailing the proposed new bus routes that will be implemented when the downtown terminal is brought online; the impacts to the elderly, students and employers who all rely on public transportation. (Petty)

Request City Manager work with community partners to develop a gourmet food truck festival for May 2012. (Rushton)

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication relative to the City to sign a two-year municipal electricity supply contract with the low bidder ConEdison Solutions.

Dr. Roberta Schaefer, President & CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to "Downtown Worcester Office Occupancy: 2011 Survey".

That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby opposes the “Strengthening Our Schools” amendment to the state casino bill. (Rushton, Petty, O'Brien)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes the coaches and players of the St. Peter-Marian Guardian and Doherty Memorial High School Highlander football teams for the real-life display of inclusiveness during their game on Friday, October 21, 2011. (Rushton)

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending approval to discontinue a portion of the area between the sidewalk of Foster St. and the railroad that abuts Union Station pursuant to Mass. General Law, Chapter 40, Section 15, 15A

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Frank Fechner, MD, request McRae Court be made public.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Michael Lanava request to make public the private portion of Oriol Dr.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joan Green, Trustee of Samrae Realty Trust request the developer's portion of Rustic Drive be accepted as a public way.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of John Lynch et al request Sierra St. be made public.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Tracey Walles request Stearns St. be made public.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Howard & Thelma Lockwood request Sunnyview Heights be made public.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Donna Catanese request installation of crosswalk in Outlook Dr. near the playground: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Sheida DelRio request to install handicap parking space in front of 15 Blanche St.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Cindy Wyman request handicap parking signs in front of 23 Larch St. be removed: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Sandra Seith request handicap parking space in front of 45 Parsons Hill Dr.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Tina Rodriguez request the handicap parking space in front of 3 Home St. be removed: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor William J. Eddy on behalf of Joshua Webb request to install a stop sign at Longfellow Rd. as it intersects with Coolidge Rd.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Francis Brother request installation of a children cautionary signage and crosswalk at the intersection of Flagg St. and Meadowbrook Rd.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Steven Stella request to install handicap parking space on the Carlstad St. side of 43 Kosta St.: recommend Petitioner be given leave to withdraw.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Deborah Vincequere request to install two (2) handicap parking spaces in front of 3 Almont St.: recommend Petitioner be given leave to withdraw.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Wendell Wills request the intersection of Sigel St. and Bigelow St. be made a 4-way stop: recommend the Petition be denied.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Roll Your Own Tobacco Machines. (Tabled - Germain October 25, 2011)

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)

RESOLUTION of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in support Senate Bill 610, an act protecting condominium owners filed by Senator Harriette Chandler and Senator Richard Moore. (Tabled - O'Brien July 19, 2011)

ORDER of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the legal authority that college police officers have in patrolling non campus areas of the city and in questioning non-students as part of off campus patrols. (Tabled - O'Brien September 6, 2011)

RESOLUTION of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in support of the Administration’s efforts to negotiate the maximum hiring of local residents in Tax Increment Financing agreements and other tools used to attract business and to expand our tax base. (Tabled - O'Brien September 13, 2011)

COMMUNICATION of Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, recommending City Council's confirmation of the Appointment of David Lapierre to the Election Commission.

COMMUNICATION of Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting informational communication relative to the City's Snow Storm of October 29-30, 2011.

Motion Petty @ #17b CC - Request City Manager request NGrid to report to City Council what needs to be invested to stabilize the city's infrastructure. This report should include where the weak spots are in the infrastructure, plans for tree trimming around power lines, do they have enough employees to handle a storm and a plan for future installations such as placing lines underground.

Motion Eddy @ #17b CC - Request City Manager request NGrid detail what investments have been made in the three key distribution sub stations in the west side (Tatnuck, Cooks Pond/Tory Fort Lane and Assumption).

Motion Eddy @ #17b CC - Request City Manager contact other surrounding towns and jointly send a letter to the State DPU and request them to ask NGrid to prove what investments they've made in infrastructure, show their return on their investments and to make a firm commitment to proactively address their aging infrastructure. (Eddy)

Motion Toomey @ #17b CC - Request the School Administration find a better plan to inform the public of any emergency situations concerning school operations and have them become more involved in emergency operations.

Motion Rushton @ #17b CC - Request the Committee on Public Service and Transportation explore the feasibility of the long term benefits in creating a Worcester municipal utility for electrical power generation and distribution.

Motion Rushton @ #17b CC - Request City Manager conduct a study of municipal utility operations in other communities that includes learning when and why they chose to supply their own electrical power.

Motion Lukes @ #17b CC - Request the Mayor invite the city's Central Massachusetts Delegation to discuss legislation that would make available tax incentives for capital improvements to utility infrastructure. Further, request the delegation to pursue pending legislation that would make it easier for municipalities to provide their own utilities.

Motion Lukes @ #17b CC - Request City Manager request NGrid to provide City Council with their plan to address utility outages and further, request a report as to how many outages have occurred in the last two years.

Motion Palmieri @ #17b CC - Request City Manager request NGrid provide a proposal that identifies the areas where trees can be cut to prevent the future outages and have NGrid fund the cutting of these trees by foresters.

Motion Haller @ #17b CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the alert notifications, that were put in place after the 2008 ice storm, where effective, the means they were employed and why, how these alerts penetrated the community as well as the languages that where used in communicating information.

Motion Lukes @ #12a CC - Request City Clerk provide City Council with the Strengthening Our Schools amendment to the state casino legislation.

Motion Toomey @ #12a CC Request City Clerk ensure that back up be provided to City Council whenever a reference in a petition or order is made to a document or legislation, etc…

Motion Clancy @ #8h CC - Request City Manager request the City Solicitor report what role the City Council would have in an investigation as requested in calendar item #8h. Further, request guidance from the Secretary of State concerning this petition.

Motion Smith @ #11a CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a six month progress report regarding the implementation of ESCo that is being conducted by Honeywell.

PETITION - Scott Ricker request handicap parking spaces in the south side of Foster St. adjacent to the parking garages be relocated to the north side of Foster St. adjacent to the DCU to the due to the lack of a curb cuts in Foster St.

Motion Rushton - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager remove the storm debris in Howatson Way so the street may be opened to traffic.

Motion Rushton - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide a report concerning the appropriateness of eighteen wheeler trucks driving on the residential portion of Pleasant Street.

Motion Rushton - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager report to City Council as to whether 25 Ellis Drive has complied with orders issued by the Conservation Commission.

PETITION - Councilor Frederick C. Rushton on behalf of Jane Boggs request sidewalk repair in front of 45 Circuit Ave East.

Motion Palmieri - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager investigate the problem concerning a developer not plowing LaSalle Avenue.

PETITION - Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien request a crosswalk be installed in Prouty Lane and Bailey Street at Spillane Field.

Motion O'Brien - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager have the problem properties team investigate the code enforcement concerns at 37 Tirrell Street and report to City Council the results of the investigation and any police actions that may have occurred.