CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:29 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Richard Cavalieri and Daniel Cahill were recognized as winners of the Thomas S. Green Award, an award given out by the Worcester Research Bureau for outstanding public service, and also received Keys to the City for their hard work and dedication to the City of Worcester. Mr. Cavalieri has worked for the Department of Public Works and Parks for nearly forty years, and Mr. Cahill works as part of the Quality of Life Team working with Worcester’s homeless population.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty read a Proclamation declaring May 12, 2018 as National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive in the City of Worcester. The Proclamation was presented to Norman LaFlash, who spoke concerning the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of April 24, 2018.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. John Provost, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
2. Lisa Bilotta, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
3. Frank Zitomersky, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
4. Randy Feldman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
5. Joe Reavo, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to #8m CC
6. Toni Ostrow, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
7. Susan Lozoraitis, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
8. Moe Perkins, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
9. Dale Wickenheiser, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
10. Jonathan Ostrow, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
11. Barbara Haller, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
12. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
13. Jo Hart, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC
14. Brian Leonard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor #8m CC
15. Teri Kelly, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8m CC

Hearing: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: FOREST ST. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: FOREST ST.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Proposed Amendment #3 to the Union Station Urban Renewal Plan Approval Process.

Patricia Soucie request to make public Havana Rd.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson on behalf of Jackie Kamenetsky request street lights be installed on Yukon Ave.

Elliot Honig et al request two trash receptacles be placed in the vicinity of 22 Newton Ave.

Tefta & Marjus Gremaj request sidewalk repair in front of 9 South Flagg St.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty request replacement of existing sidewalks on both sides of Benedict Rd.

Donna LaMura et al request an opening cut in the traffic barrier opposite 175 Lake Ave. North to permit access to the dock at that location.

Bob Richard of Worcester Investment Group request a sidewalk be constructed from the corner of Tacoma St and Clark St. extending to the entrance of 326 Clark St. (see attached).

Councilor Sean M. Rose request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 326 Burncoat St.

Councilor Sean M. Rose request Sagamore Rd. be repaved from Park Ave. to Whitman Rd.

Councilor Sean M. Rose request repaving of Burncoat St. from Mountain St. East to Apthorp St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request the One Hour Parking on Draper St. be changed to Two Hour Parking 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS for conduit location: FREMONT STREET

Ted Conna request City Council go on record in support of a three-month delay of any and all irreversible destructive demolition activity at the former Notre Dame des Canadiens Church and request City Manager to convey this request to Hanover on the city's behalf.

Recommend adoption of an Order relative to the proposed Union Station Urban Revitalization Plan amendment approval process.

Recommend adoption of an Order to amend the Tax Increment Exemption Plan for Branded Realty Group, LLC for the Housing Development Certified Project at 100 Wall Street

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Adopt-An-Island Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an Integrated Plan Community Meeting to provide input as to the priorities of infrastructure needs to address our water resource systems.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the selection of the Nelson Place Elementary School replacement project to receive an achievement award from the New England Chapter of Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update concerning the Worcester Police Traffic Division.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the results from the Worcester Senior Center Participant Survey.

Transmitting informational communication relative to groups that would be willing and able to provide spring cleaning assistance to elder residents in the City.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a mechanism for community input to improve the Worcester Senior Center.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update of a previous report concerning what the impact would be if 4 to 8 unit properties and 9 or above unit properties were moved to a commercial tax rate using the current valuations and the rational the state used to classify income properties and how many buildings have 9 or above units in the city.

Recommend adoption of an Order to solicit and award a three (3) year Banking Services contract with an option for two (2) additional years.

Recommend that Forty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($45,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C784AT, Hadwen Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70245, Hadwen Park, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations associated with this capital project.

Recommend that Three Hundred Eighty Three Thousand Four Hundred Forty One Dollars And Thirty Eight Cents ($383,441.38) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, to Account #25C701, Police Capital Equipment.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($10,000.00) from Office of Massachusetts Attorney General under the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation of admission with a value of Twenty Five Dollars And No Cents ($25.00) per person from Central Rock Gym for Public Service Weekend free climbing event for WFD and WPD employees and their families.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($8,000.00) from the Central Mass Homeland Security Council under the Homeland Security program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant of up to One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,500,000.00) from the U.S. Department of Labor's Reentry Project Grant.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Thirty Six Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Three Dollars And No Cents ($36,743.00) from US Dept of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($500.00) from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, under the 2018 Festivals Grant Award program, for the Worcester Art Council's international Make Music Day event on Thursday, June 21, 2018.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) from the Worcester Public Library Foundation for the Worcester Public Library.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($500.00) from Texas Roadhouse, for the Worcester Fire Department.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Ninety Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($95,000.00) from the Mass Attorney General's Office under the FY19 LCP grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($125,000.00) from the Kresge Foundation, under the Emerging Leaders in Health Program program, to support the Youth Division.

Respectfully request that a total of Seven Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Three Dollars And No Cents ($7,373.00) be transferred from Account #043-92000, Economic Development Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #043-93000 Economic Development Capital Outlay, pursuant to Chapter 44 Section 63 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The proceeds will be utilized as part of the remediation effort at 152 Chandler Street for which the City of Worcester is responsible due to down-gradiant migration of hazardous materials from the former Worcester City Hospital.

Recommend that One Hundred Twenty Two Thousand Five Hundred Four Dollars And Forty Eight Cents ($122,504.48) be transferred from Account #260-91000, Worcester Fire Department Salaries, to Account #260-92000, Worcester Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance and Account #260-97000, Worcester Fire Department Overtime.

Recommend that Three Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($3,000.00) be transferred from Account #040-92000, City Manager Ordinary Maintenance, to Account #040-93000, City Manager Capital.

Recommend that Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) be transferred from Account #411-92000, Snow Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to DPW Account #410-92000, DPW Ordinary Maintenance, for expenses in excess of fiscal year 2018 budget.

Recommend that Five Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($500,000.00) be transferred from Account #121-92000, Court Judgments Ordinary Maintenance, to Account #250-97000, Police Overtime.

Recommend the transfer of Fifty Two Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Dollars and Forty Eight Cents ($52,980.48) from EAM, Fire and DPW, for the payment of prior year invoices to Direct Energy.

Department of Public Utilities transmitting Condensed Financial Return for year ended December 31, 2017 from NStar Gas Company.

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances Of 2008 To Provide Handicap Parking Across From 26 Vinson Street..

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances Of 2008 To Provide Handicap Parking Front Of 30 Russell Street

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinance Of 2008 To Rescind Handicap Parking In Front Of 3 Benefit Terrace

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinance Of 2008 To Amend Handicap Parking In Front 46 Sylvan Street

Amending Section 29 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances Of 2008 Providing For Stop Sign On Stevens Road At Maywood Street

Amending Section 29 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances Of 2008 Providing For Stop Sign On Westbrook Road At Chippewa Road.

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 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 request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion as to what jurisdictions are in place that deal with Wage Theft, as well as what requirements and rights are in place for employers and employees. - Item #16a CC Order adopted

Motion Toomey @ #9.10A CM – Request City Manager consider creating a way to track public requests made of the Worcester Police Traffic Division as a way of reporting back to people whether their requests have been investigated.

Motion Toomey @ #9.10A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a definitive plan to address traffic accidents involving pedestrians in the city.

Motion Rivera @ 9.10A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the Worcester Police Traffic Division plans to address traffic concerns related to school arrivals and dismissals.

Motion King @ #9.10A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing how the Worcester Police Traffic Division is teaming up with Worcester Public Schools to educate students on bicycle safety. Further, request City Manager include in said report how many students have been reached as a result of this initiative.

Motion Russell @ #9.5A CM – Request City Manager consider not allowing advertising through the Adopt-An-Island Program at any location with significant historical and memorial value.

Motion Russell @ #9.5A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the repairs at the Billing Square Monument.

Motion Toomey @ #9.18B CM – Request City Manager consider advertising the various groups providing spring cleaning assistance to the elderly community through neighborhood groups and local newspapers.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager look into any recent sign pollution that has gone up throughout the City.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request Mayor recognize Isaac Yiadom, a former student at Doherty Memorial High School and Boston College, for being selected by the Denver Broncos in the NFL Draft.