CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 12:00 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of February 28, 2017.

Tony Nguyen of Goldstar Builders Inc. request to remove a portion of Benoit St., a private way from the Official map

Stephen Madaus, Attorney for Agrand Realty LLC request to change the zoning designation of a portion of property located at 241 Greenwood St., also known as 1 Agrand St. from RS-7 to ML-0.5.

Stephen Madaus, Attorney for 207 Greenwood Street LLC request to change the zoning designation of a portion of the property located at 207 Greenwood St. from RL-7 to ML-0.5

John Staples request abatement of street betterment assessment #25444 in the amount of $13,101.45 for Stark Rd.

Frances Turbitt request the resurfacing of street in front of 8 Commodore Rd.

Frances Turbitt request sidewalk repair in front of 8 Commodore Rd.

Jennifer Rajecki, Property Manager Voke Lofts, request installation of a guardrail on Salisbury St. near Lincoln Square at the turn that leads into the tunnel.

Councilor Gary Rosen request sidewalk repair in front of 11 Knox St.

Olga Cardenas request installation of handicap parking space in front of 13 Halmstad St.

Rosa Morales request installation of handicap parking space across from 4 Clapp St.

Jennifer Hutchinson request parking be reinstalled on Harrison St., right next to the People's Market.

Najlaa Kareem request installation of handicap parking space in front of 12 William St.

Abbas Aldayyeni request installation of handicap parking space in front of 26 New Vista Lane.

Councilor Khrystian E. King on behalf of Joanne Simoncini, et al requesting installation of School Zone signage in Blackstone River Road in the vicinity of Quinsigamond Elementary School.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Gustafson Plumbing, 1035 Millbury St., request installation of "No Parking" signs from Pole #19 to Pole #21 on Millbury St.

William S. Coleman III request City Council to encourage all citizens and visitors to Worcester to commit a random act of kindness in our City.

William S. Coleman III request City Council encourage citizens to participate and clean up our City in Worcester's Spring Cleaning 2017. We want Worcester to be the cleanest City in New England.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS LLC for a conduit location at: INSTITUTE RD. AND PARK AVE.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Albert M. Toney, Jr. to Constable.

Recommend appointment of Benjamin Roberts to the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women.

Recommend appointment of Michael Murphy to the Community Development Advisory Committee.

Transmitting informational communication regarding the next employment recruitment event.

Transmitting informational communication regarding the City of Worcester top 250 wage earners for calendar year 2016.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2017 Worcester Arts Council Grantee Reception, scheduled for 5:30PM on March 23, 2017 at Bull Mansion Restaurant.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Economic Development Quarterly Report.

Transmitting Informational Communication relative to the #Worcester100 Initiative.

Transmitting informational communication relative to FY 2018 water and sewer rate recommendation.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the drought status.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the policy and procedure for donations of gifts, plaques, benches, and monuments.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2016 crime statistics.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion on the use of hospitals and sanatoriums and how the Dover Amendment applies.

Recommend that the City Manager be authorized to continue to work with the Town of Leicester as set forth in the Public Health Inter-Municipal Agreements.

Recommend that Three Million Three Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($3,335,227.00) be transferred from Account #91C7111A, Building Rehabilitation City & Schools, and be appropriated to Account #04C754, Citywide/School Energy Improvements, to fund current and anticipated expenses relative to the citywide ESCo project through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2017.

Recommend that Twenty Nine Thousand One Hundred Thirty Seven Dollars And Eight Cents ($29,137.08) be transferred from Loan Account #91C734A, Sewer Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C704, Sewer Capital Equipment, to allow of the payment of this vehicle.

Recommend that One Hundred Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($105,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehab, to Account #11C70204, Energy & Asset Management City Hall, to provide funding for the City Hall Elevator Project approved by City Council.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept a donation in the amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($7,500.00) from the Digital Federal Credit Union for the Worcester Police Department's Mounted Patrol program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of up to Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($500,000.00) from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support the Hiring of People with Criminal Records Technical Assistance Grant.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of up to Six Hundred Two Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Four Dollars and No Cents ($602,854.00) from the Commonwealth Corporation for the YouthWorks 2017 Summer Jobs for Youth Placed at Risk Grant.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Three Thousand Twenty Dollars and No Cents ($3,020.00) from the Worcester Cultural Council to the City of Worcester in its efforts to increase public engagement on the Worcester Common.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($400,000.00) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Program for the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Supplemental Grant.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of up to Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($14,500.00) from AmeriCorps for their Massachusetts Promise Fellowship Program in support of Recreation Worcester.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of up to Thirty Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Five Dollars and No Cents ($30,735.00) from the McCarthy Family Foundation Charity Fund in support of the Recreation Worcester program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept a gift offer from the Parks & Recreation Summit to pay all travel expenses for Assistant Commissioner Robert C. Antonelli to attend the Recreation Summit from April 10-12, 2017 in St. Augustine, Florida.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of up to One Hundred Forty Thousand and No Cents ($140,000.00) from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA-DPH) for the Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program (CLPPP).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept and expend a grant of up to Twenty Seven Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Six Dollars and No Cents ($27,466.00) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for the FY2017 604b Water Quality Management Planning Program Grant.

Recommend that Two Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($2,000.00) be transferred from Account #680-91000, Technical Services Personal Services, to Account #680-97000, Technical Services Overtime, to cover overtime costs for shift coverage and after hours work.

Recommend that Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($300,000.00) be transferred from Account #250-91000, Police Personal Services, to Account #250-97000, Police Overtime, to fund projected overtime costs through June 30, 2017.

Recommend adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($750,000.00) for Holmes Field.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the selection of Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Karen Powers as this year’s recipient of the Caffrey Memorial Award.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update to the long term financial plan of the City.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of a zoning ordinance map amendment for parcels in the James Street and South Ludlow Street area.

Amend The Salary Ordinance Of August 20, 1996 Relative To Members Of Local 1009, IAFF International Association Of Firefighters ((Equity Adjustment)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the number of properties in areas surrounding Holy Cross, Clark University, Becker College and WPI that are listed as having true four-bedroom units. (Tabled - Bergman August 19, 2014)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Brittan Square Parking Lot. (Tabled - Palmieri January 7, 2015 and January 13, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman - Request City Manager provide information from the City Solicitor as to what steps are available to enforce breaches of the Services Agreement with Laz Parking Limited, LLC in regards to City owned parking garages, specifically the Federal Plaza Parking Garage. (Tabled - Petty January 7, 2015, Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 13, 2015 and Tabled - Bergman January 20, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Tony Economou and Councilor George J. Russell - Request City Manager provide information from the City Assessor, Chief Financial Officer and City Solicitor as to the assessed real property values of all City owned parking garages, the amount of debt, if any, the anticipated repairs and/or capital improvements costs for fiscal year(s) 2015/2016 and the existing lease commitments/terms for spaces in these garages. (Tabled - Petty January 7, 2015, Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 13, 2015 and Tabled - Bergman January 20, 2015)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Upon the Order of Councilor Michael T. Gaffney request City Manager consider amending the Five Point Financial Plan to require that any increases in local aid received from the Commonwealth be assigned to the Other Post Employment Benefit Trust Fund: recommend Order be placed on file. (Tabled - Gaffney June 16, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen and Councilor Philip P. Palmieri - Request City Manager inform City Council as to whether he and other representatives from the city intend to meet with the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox to see if they have any interest in relocating to Worcester. (Tabled - Gaffney September 29, 2015)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication on a quarterly update relative to the City of Worcester’s plan to implement improved strategies and policies that better serve and represent our diverse community. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes January 26, 2016 and Tabled - Petty February 2, 2016)

PETITION of Denise Healey request removal of granite borders placed by the City onto private properties on Plantation St., and placed instead in a City park. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson February 9, 2016)

PETITION of Denise Healey request removal of large planters clumped together on Plantation St. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson February 9, 2016)

PETITION of Denise Healey request the targeted second "makeover" of Shrewsbury St. be placed on hold until other city streets have had their first "makeover". (Tabled - Mero-Carlson February 9, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a list of the non-profit agencies who keep their properties on the tax rolls. (Tabled - Gaffney May 24, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a report listing properties that have been converted from commercial or industrial to residential. (Tabled - Gaffney May 24, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting communication responding to City Council inquiry requesting City Manager submit an estimated assessor's recap comparing the proposed FY 17 tax levy with the current real estate assessments and the FY 16 assessed values. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes June 14, 2016 and June 21, 2016 and Tabled - Lukes July 19, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to legislation to regulate and restrict non-profit organizations in residentially zoned districts. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman September 20, 2016 and September 27, 2016 and Tabled - Bergman October 4, 2016)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - That the Worcester City Council does hereby support the initiation of negotiations by the WRA with MassPort or other entities regarding the feasibility of transferring Union Station as an intermodal transportation center to MassPort. The transfer concept is based upon the transfer of the Worcester Airport to MassPort and is necessitated by similar transportation and financial concerns that resulted in the conveyance of Worcester Airport to MassPort. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty February 28, 2017- and Tabled - Lukes March 7, 2017)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Morris A. Bergman and Councilor Khrystian E. King - That the City Council does hereby go on record to firmly stand in opposition of the closing of the 13 psychiatric beds at the UMass Memorial Medical Center. Further, request City Manager request UMass Memorial Medical Center to not proceed with their implementation of phasing out of the closing of the psychiatric beds.- Item #18a Resolution adopted on roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request City Manager report to City Council the best practices used by other municipalities for displaying health inspection reports and what are the pros and cons. - Item #18b Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager request the City Solicitor provide a legal opinion regarding the use of Hospitals or Sanatoriums as it applies to Zoning and how the Dover Amendment impacts this definition. - Item # 18c Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request City Manager to provide the City Council with a report concerning other municipalities, who have golf courses that were leased to private entities to manage and any resulting ramifications. - Item #18d Order adopted

RESOLUTION of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - That the City Council does hereby recognize Rodney Agyare-May, a Burncoat High School Senior, who won the New England indoor track and field championships and with a best in the nation time. - Item #18e Resolution adopted

RESOLUTION of Councilor Kathleen M. ToomeyThat the City Council does hereby recognize Adja Sackor, a Worcester Vocational Technical High School student, for winning the New England Long Jump Championship. Item #18f Resolution adopted

RESOLUTION of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - That the City Council does hereby recognize the Burncoat High School Dance Team for performing the First-Place hip-hop dance at the MSSAA State Dance Team Tournament and qualified for Nationals next year in Walt Disney World, Florida. Item #18g Resolution adopted

ORDER of Councilor Tony Econmou - Request Commissioner of Public Works & Parks repair holes by doing a long patch on Brooks St. under the bridge where it intersects with West Boylston St. - Item #18h Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Commissioner of Public Works & Parks repair the pot hole in front of 190 Grafton St. - Item #18i Order adopted