PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

JUNE 12, 2006

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 7:01 p.m.

Adjourned: 9:31 p.m.

 

Present were:       Chairperson Councilor Joseph M. Petty

                             Councilor Gary Rosen

                             Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey

 

Also:                    DPWP Staffperson Robert Fiore

                             Police Chief Gary Gemme

                             Assistant City Solicitor John O’Day

                             Police Department representatives:

                             Anthony Petrone, Joseph D’Andrea, Edward McGinn,

                            

STREET LIGHTS

 

1.       Petition of Councillor Barbara G. Haller request installation of three street lights along Illinois St. near Gates St. and in vicinity of 92 Grand St. in the interest of public safety.

          #12 CC October 4, 2005

          In Committee November 30, 2005 – Held

Recommend Approval of the installation of 3 street lights (to be done by developer of the University Lofts)

 

2.       Petition of Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Maryann Borjeson request a street light be installed in front of 591 Burncoat Street.

          #16 CC April 25, 2006

Recommend Approval to be installed on existing wood pole

 

3.       Petition of Mayor Timothy P. Murray on behalf of Maryann Borjeson request a street light be installed in front of 589 Burncoat Street.

          #17 CC April 25, 2006

Recommend Approval to be installed on existing wood pole

 

4.       Petition of Dennis Dominguez et al request the installation of street lights on Third Street.

          #18 CC April 25, 2006

Recommend Approval of installation of lights on poles # 7, 9 and 11

 

5.       Petition of Councillor Barbara G. Haller request that lumens be increased in the existing streetlights in Harding Street between Lafayette Street and Kelly Square in the interest of public safety.

          #10 CC May 23, 2006

Recommend File

 

6.       Petition of Councillor Barbara G. Haller request that lumens be increased in the existing streetlights in Millbury Street between Lafayette Street and Kelly Square in the interest of public safety.

          #11 CC May 23, 2006

Recommend File

 

TAXICAB RELATED ITEMS

 

7.       Report of the Committee on Public Service and Transportation upon the Communication of the City Manager relative to taxicabs that are handicap accessible.

          #89 CC July 6, 2004

          In Committee September 30, 2004 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

8.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Owners of Taxicab Medallions in the City of Worcester.

#19I CM August 17, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

9.       Communication of the City Manager relative to Accessible Taxi Cabs.

          #9B CM October 12, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

10.     Communication of the City Manager relative to Clarification of report on Taxicab Medallions.

          #19A CM October 12, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

11.     Communication of David J. Rushford, City Clerk, Transmitting report relative to request for records of City Council and the Public Service and Transportation Committee relative to instances when the issue of taxicab medallions were discussed.

          #60 CC November 9, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

12.     Communication of the City Manager relative to how other communities are handling the issue of handicapped accessible taxicabs.

          #19B CM December 14, 2004

Recommend Hold

 

13.     Communication of the City Manager relative to an update on the progress made to date on issuing handicapped accessible taxicab medallions intended to serve those members of our community who require the use of wheelchairs.

          #14A CM March 22, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

14.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the ordinance authorizing two additional taxicab medallions for accessible taxicabs.

          #14B CM March 22, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

15.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the Report and the Proposed Order from the Committee on Public Service and Transportation relative to new taxicab regulations.

          #26A CM September 27, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

16.     Communication of the City Manager relative to City Council request to research, review and analyze existing taxicab policies and procedures.

          #17F CM April 25, 2006

Recommend Hold

 

17.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the Worcester Police Department’s Taxi and Livery Regulations.

          #17B CM May 2, 2006

Recommend Refer to the City Manager and Adoption of the Accompanying Order:

That the City Manager be and he is hereby requested to redraft the Proposed Revised Rules and Regulations for the Taxi and Livery Business to include the following revisions:

1. Add liveries to the requirement for two-way radio communication (Article IV, section 2).

2. Change the language concerning the maximum age of cabs (Article IV, Section 5)

3.  Change the period of time for a vehicle to be deemed to be in “unassigned status” from 60 days to 6 months

 

Speakers:

1.     Attorney Robert Longdon, 50 Plymouth Road, Holden

2.     Sam Rosario, 42 Forest Street, Worcester

3.     Antoinette Donovan, Alstead Path, Millbury

4.     Bill Clark, 67 Malden Street, West Boylston

5.     Paul Abdella, Merriam Road, Oxford

 

Chairman’s Order request that the City Manager request the City Solicitor to prepare an amendment to the Revised Ordinances that will provide that the Revised Rules and Regulations for the Taxi and Livery Business and any and all future proposed revisions thereto, shall not become effective until such time as they are reviewed and approved by City Council and filed in the Office of the City Clerk.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to request the Police Chief to investigate and report to the City Council the reasons why a certain number of taxi medallions have not been utilized to provide for public conveyance.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a report concerning an expansion of the membership of the License Board.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with an explanation of the appeals process criteria that the Police Chief will rely upon regarding taxicabs or liveries in unassigned status for more than 60 days (Article 2, Section 8).

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Clerk to request from both Red and Yellow cab companies specific information about the training they provide to their drivers and also concerning how they handle the pick-up of minor children.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request the City Solicitor to provide the City Council with an opinion concerning the prohibition of bumper stickers on taxicabs and liveries.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with an explanation of the condition in the proposed revised rules and regulations for the taxi and livery business concerning footwear worn by taxi and livery drivers when operating their vehicle (Article VI, section 8).