CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:37 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:41 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 March 27, 2018.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Michael Papagni, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8.36A CM
2. Stuart Loosemore, Leicester resident, spoke in favor of #8.35A CM and #10a CC
3. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #7f CC
4. Russell Haines, Wayland resident, spoke in favor of #10a CC
5. Jo Hart, Worcester, spoke in favor of #7f CC
6. Leonard Vero, Holden resident, spoke in favor of #10a CC
7. Noah Jefferies, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #10a CC
8. Nathan Gavel, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #10a CC
9. David Branigan, Douglas resident, spoke in favor of #10a CC

Councilor George J. Russell request sidewalk on the even side of Cohassett St., between Ingleside Ave. and Fairmont Ave. be repaved.

CHARTER COMMUNICATION for a conduit location at: SALISBURY ST.

VERIZON NEW ENGLAND INC. for a solely-owned pole location at: GREENWOOD ST.

Xristian De'Jesus et al request City Manager appropriate $1,000,000.00 to the Worcester Public Library to expand books in the business section, world language books, classrooms, charging stations, recording studios and video game stations to utilize the benefits of the library.

Gordon T. Davis request City of Worcester to adopt a policy of body camera use by the Worcester Police Department.

Gordon T. Davis request the City adopt policy for releasing public statistics sent to the Commonwealth regarding hate crimes in Worcester and further, request a public hearing on the methods used by the police regarding the prevention and investigation of hate crimes.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Aaron Richman to the Human Rights Commission.

Recommend the appointments of John Stewart and Kimberley Vanderspek to the Election Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Proposed Amendment #3 to the Union Station Urban Renewal Plan Approval Process.

Recommend adoption of special legislation to authorize a long term lease of the Nurses’ Building at 128 Providence Street, for a term in excess of thirty years.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the City’s efforts over the last seven years to create and preserve the city’s supply of affordable housing.

Transmitting informational communication relative to FY 2019 water and sewer rate recommendation.

Transmitting informational communication relative to National Public Health Week.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($75,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the 2018 Enhance Worcester Police K9 Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) from the Central MA Agency on Aging, under the Title IIID Health Promotion program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Three Hundred Fifty Two Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($352,000.00) from MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs under the Council on Aging program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Twelve Dollars And No Cents ($9,812.00) from Mass Mentoring Partnership under the Mass Mentoring Partnership - James Connolly Tribute Fund program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars And No Cents ($850.00) from Dell-EiE (Engineering is Elementary) District Scholarship Program through the Museum of Science (MOS) in support of Recreation Worcester.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept a donation in the amount of Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Two Dollars And Fifty Cents ($7,352.50) from JFM & Associates, Inc., to the City of Worcester Recreation Worcester for the City Hoops Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($40,000.00) from MassPort under the 2018 Community Summer Jobs Grant program.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand One Hundred Forty Eight Dollars And Thirty Cents ($150,148.30) be transferred from Account #410-91000, DPW Personnel Services, and be appropriated to DPW Account #410-97201, Overtime, to allow overtime costs to be paid through June 30, 2018.

Recommend that Fourteen Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Nine Dollars And No Cents ($14,429.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2018 December 2017-February 2018 health insurance expenses for Airport retirees.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Account #29-33007, Damage Settlement Funds, and be appropriated to DPW Account # 410 - 92000, DPW Ordinary Maintenance, for expenses in excess of the fiscal year 2018 Budget.

Recommend that Two Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($225,000.00) be transferred from Account #250-91000, Police Personal Services, to Account #250-97000, Police Overtime.

Recommend the adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($3,500,000.00) be appropriated to Account # 91C744B, Off Street Building Rehabilitation, to fund repairs and improvements for all the parking garages and open-air lots.

Recommend adoption of an order to approve the filing of a petition with the general court to authorize the Retirement Board of the city of Worcester to grant a “Section 100” retirement to a firefighter.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the celebration of hundreds of volunteers for the City of Worcester.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of the Transportation Advisory Group of the Complete Streets Policy.

Amending The Salary Ordinance Of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group S – Custodial (Plant Engineer, Union Station)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman - Request City Manager consider implementing a moratorium in the interpretation/application and enforcement of that part of the definition of a LODGING HOUSE under the City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (As amended through May 2, 2017) where “A dwelling or that part of a dwelling where sleeping accommodations are let, with or without kitchen facilities, to four (4) or more persons not within the second degree of kindred to the person conducting it…” that is being applied to pre-existing multi-family homes with 4 or more existing bedrooms. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman April 3, 2018)

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 and Tabled - Rosen December 19, 2017)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Donald O'Neil, Esq. on behalf of Plaka Realty, LLC request to amend the Zoning Map by extending the BL-1.0 zone in the vicinity of 57 Highland St. to include two additional parcels of land in their entirety located 35 and 33 Wachusett St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson April 3, 2018)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Bruce LaBoffa request zone change for the property at 452 Southwest Cutoff from Residential to ML-0.5.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson April 3, 2018)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning why Boston University has discontinued the Worcester based Masters in Social Work Program currently run by Wheelock College. – Item #19a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen – Request Mayor with City Clerk compose and send a letter to the President of Boston University to reconsider his decision to discontinue the Worcester based Masters in Social Work Program currently run by Wheelock College from the City Council. – Item #19b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager consider posting inspections of food service entities on the City’s website. – Item #19c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the status of the Joe DiMaggio Little League Field and what discussions, if any, have taken place to allow patrons to play baseball at the field. – Item #19d CC Order adopted

RESOLUTION of Councilor Khrystian E. King – That the Worcester City Council does hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and encourage the citizens of the City and the Commonwealth to observe this solemn occasion, to recall the legacy of Dr. King, and to heed his call for unity, love, and compassion. – Item #19e CC Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion Russell @ #10a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with possible changes to the Lodging House zoning ordinance, which could include applying for variances that would allow for more than three non-related occupants to live together in a dwelling unit.