CITY OF WORCESTER

CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 4, 2003

7:00 P.M.

Convened:  7:10 P.M.

Adjourned:  9:00 P.M.

 

1.                 INVOCATION – Most Reverend George E. Rueger

                                       Auxiliary Bishop of Worcester

 

2.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER

 

3.       ROLL CALL - All present

 

FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS

 

          4 - Referred to Municipal Operations Committee Janet Dufault, Insurance Advisory Committee spoke

 

4.       Resolution – That the City Council of the City of Worcester requests the Central Mass. Delegation to support legislation increasing municipal employee’s contribution on health insurance to 25%, early retirement being established and the transfer of municipal funds to cover deficits.  (Lukes) (Attachments)

 

5.       ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST

 

5a.     ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

 

PETITIONS

 

          6 & 7 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

6.       Donald & Eleanor Burlingame request abatement of Sewer Assessment #30863 in the amount of $3,420.00 on Utah St. (Attachments)

 

7.       Joan Crowell request abatement of Sewer Assessment #30840 in the amount of $3,800.00 on Rockwell St. (Attachments)

 

          8-11 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE

 

8.       Terry Pignataro et al request unrestrictive parking on the east side of Shrewsbury St. between Muskeego St. and Envelope Terrace. (Attachments)

 

9.       Mary Murphy request handicap parking in front of 23 Hitchcock Rd. (Attachments)

 

10.     Joan M. Desautels request handicap parking at 4 Harlow St. (Attachments)

 

11.     Mary Huard request resident parking on Dayton St. from Fruit St. to West St. (Attachments)

 

11a.   Leonard Ciuffredo et al - As concerned citizens in our community we realize and appreciate the value and impact that Community Based Policing has in our City.  We therefore ask that this concept and all associated programs be maintained and nurtured during these challenging economic times.  Referred to the City Manager - Suspension of Rules   (Attachments)

 

          12 & 13 HEARINGS SET FOR MARCH 11, 2003 – 7:00 P.M.

 

12.     MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole location on:  COBURN AVE.  Councillor Haller recused on a roll call 10-0  (Attachments)

 

13.     FIBER TECHNOLOGIES NETWORKS, LLC to install and maintain fiber optic telecommunications facilities at:  INTERSECTION OF WEST BOYLSTON ST. AND ANDOVER ST. (Attachments)

 

ORDERS

 

13a.   Request Administration to provide a zoning map which by color and shading of colors shows the different zones in the City.  Motion-Clancy @ #6A CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13b.   Request Director of Planning to provide proposed schedules or timelines as to finishing up items before the Land Use Committee, the planning initiatives that have been requested and the master plan process.  Motion-Murray @ #6A CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13c.   Request City Manager to contact the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Worcester Info Tech Corp. and invite them to be present at the March 26, 2003 Public Service & Transportation Committee meeting for discussion of a telecommunications master plan.  Motion-Petty @ #8A CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13d.   Request City Manager report as to where Worcester fits into the Worcester region relative to info tech advances.  Motion-Lukes @ #8A CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13e.   Request City Manager to report on the City's ability to place a lien on property or some kind of surety to guaranty that once business and economic situations improve that the City can recoup some of the lost taxes from businesses that are in non compliance with a TIF because of changes in the economy.  Motion-Lukes @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)     

 

13f.    Request City Manager to report if substitutions can be made in a TIF in order to comply if projections are not going to be met.  Motion-Lukes @ #8B CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13g.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update on the Home Depot TIF as it relates to the YouthBuild program.  Motion-Lukes @ #8B CM - Adopted  (Attachments)

 

13h.   Request City Manager in future Certified Projects (TIF) Reports that the reports contain more specificity to include the date of the last visit to a company, the date of the last contact with a company and who made the contact.   Motion-Murray @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

13i.    Request City Manager to report if language can be written into a TIF agreement whereby the City could recoup taxes for non compliance with a TIF agreement.  Motion-Palmieri @ #8B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

13j.    Request City Manager to provide a cover page, a checklist showing whether companies are or are not in compliance with requirements of the TIF.  Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM - Adopted  (Attachments)

 

13k.   Request City Manager to provide City Council with an update on the status of expansion of Polar Corp.  Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM -Adopted  (Attachments)

 

13L.   Request City Manager to update City Council on parking concerns relative to Presmet on Harding St.   Motion-Clancy @ #8B CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13m.  Request City Solicitor to report on any company, once having received a TIF, under what circumstances that company can get a release from the TIF agreement.   Motion-Lukes @ #8B CM - Adopted  (Attachments)

 

13n.   Request City Manager to explore whether Block Grant money could be used to fund cost of the City's Earth Day Cleanup.   Motion-Murray @ #24B CM - Adopted   (Attachments)

 

13o.   Request City Manager to contact colleges,  universities and other non-profits in the City relative to donating funds for the City's Earth Day Cleanup.   Motion-Murray @ #24B CM - Adopted (Attachments)

 

13p.   Request Traffic and Parking Committee to consider requesting the Off-Street Parking Board to fund the cost of making Pearl St. a two-way street.  Motion-Murray @ #24C CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

13q.   Request City Manager to provide a status report as to the pending $1 million in proposed private participation for the Worcester Common rehabilitation.   Motion-Lukes @ #29B CM – Adopted (Attachments)

 

13r.    Request Administration respond to the letter from the Pleasant St. Neighborhood Association.   Petty - Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)

 

14.     COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

THOMAS R. HOOVER

CITY MANAGER

CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR FOR MARCH 4, 2003

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:

 

TRANSMITTAL

 

3. AIRPORT:

 

4. ASSESSORS:

 

A.      Communication relative to the Impact of $9,000,000.00 Increase to the Tax Levy and the Lowest Residential Rate Scenario. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Finance

 

B.      Communication relative to Breakdown of Percentage Increases including Commercial Properties. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to Percentage of Tax-Exempt Property by City. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Education & College/University Relations Committee

 

5. BUDGET OFFICE:

 

A.      Communication from the City Manager analyzing Governor Romney’s FY04 Budget. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Finance

 

6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Request to extend RL-7 Zone. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Land Use Committee

 

7. COMMUNICATIONS:

 

8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Info Tech Program. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Public Service & Transportation Committee

 

B.   Communication relative to Certified Projects (TIF) Tracking  Report. (Attachments)

 

Councillor Irish recused on a roll call 10-0

Councillor Petty recused on a roll call 9-0

Referred to Commerce & Development Committee

 

9. ELDER AFFAIRS:

 

10. ELECTION COMMISSION:

 

11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

 

A.      Communication relative to Hauling of Nuclear Waste through the City of Worcester. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Safety Committee

 

12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:

 

13. FIRE:

 

A.      Communication relative to Blasting on Dixfield Street. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

14. HUMAN RESOURCES:

 

15. HUMAN RIGHTS:

 

16. LAW:

 

17. LICENSE COMMISSION:

 

18. NEIGHNBORHOOD SERVICES:

 

19. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:

 

A.      Request adoption of a resolution to File and Accept a Grant with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management for the Mass ReLeaf Grant Program. (Attachments)

 

Resolution adopted

 

B.      Request adoption of a resolution to File and Accept a Grant with and from the Tony Hawk Foundation for the Green Hill Park Skateboard Facility. (Attachments)

 

Resolution adopted

 

C.      Communication relative to 2003 March Madness Basketball Tourney. (Attachments)

 

Michael O'Brien, Parks Commissioner and Kevin Cummings, General Manager of the Ice Cats spoke

Placed on file

 

D.      Request City Council accept with gratitude a donation of $3,900.00 from the Worcester Ice Cats and Allmerica Financial in Partnership with Sports Alive to benefit the Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Department’s Tenth Annual March Madness Basketball Tournament. (Attachments)

 

          Councillor Petty recused on a roll call 9-0 (Palmieri absent)

          Resolution adopted with gratitude

 

20. POLICE:

 

21. PUBLIC HEALTH:

 

A.      Notification of the appointment of sworn weighers. Delaware Express Co.: John Carlson, Tom LaVallee, Bradley Bocash.  Saint-Gobain Abrasives: Chris Rucci, Dan Dudley, Fran Lefleur.  (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

B.      Communication relative to Cover the Uninsured Week. (Attachments)

 

          Placed on file

 

22. PUBLIC LIBRARY:

 

23. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

 

24. PUBLIC WORKS:

 

A.      Communication relative to Street Sweepings and Catch Basin Debris. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Public Works Committee

 

B.      Communication relative to Costs Expended in Conjunction with City’s Earth Day Cleanup. (Attachments)

 

Placed on file

 

C.      Communication relative to the Feasibility of making Pearl Street a Two-Way Street. (Attachments)

 

Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee

 

25. PURCHASING:

 

26. TECHNICAL SERVICES:

 

27. TREASURY:

 

A.      Communication relative to City Owned Real Estate Conveyances. (Attachments)

 

          Recommitted to the City Manager

 

28. VETERANS SERVICES:

 

29. FINANCE:

         

A.      Recommend that Eleven Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($11,800.00) be transferred from Account #91C784, Parks Improvement, and appropriated to Account #72C702, Parks Site Improvement, for Project Management and Consultant contractual obligations related to the Greenwood Park Spray Facility, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)

 

          Order adopted on a roll call 11-0

 

B.      Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #72C706, Worcester Common Rehabilitation, to provide funds for the payment of contractual obligations related to the improvements of Worcester Common, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments)

 

          Tabled under privilege (Lukes)

 

30. MISCELLANEOUS:

COMMUNICATION

 

15.     Gordon P. Sainsbury, Executive Director, Designer Selection Board, Commonwealth of Massachusetts transmitting the latest Designer Selection Board Guidelines for Cities and Towns. (Attachments)

 

          Referred to Land Use Committee

 

16.     RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE:  No Action Taken

 

          FINANCE

 

a)                 #7 CC  January 14, 2003

Communication of the City Manager relative to Preliminary Budget Analysis for Fiscal 2004. (Attachments)

 

          b)      #5C CM  January 28, 2003

Communication of the City Manager relative to framework for a Local and State Fiscal Recovery. (Attachments)

 

c)       #27 CC  February 4, 2003

Communication of the City Manager relative to Governor’s State budget cuts to the City of Worcester. (Attachments)

 

d)                #26 CC  February 4, 2003

James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting City of Worcester’s 2002 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. (Attachments)

 

          e)       #10 CC  February 11, 2003

                   James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting schedule of revenues for the first six months of Fiscal 2003 compared to the same period in Fiscal 2002 and indicates revenues to be received for the entire year and revenues received for all of Fiscal 2002. (Attachments)

 

 

f)       #4C CM  February 11, 2003

                   Communication of the City Manager relative to using $11,000,000.00 of the unused tax levy. (Attachments)

 

TABLED UNDER PRIVILEGE

 

17.     REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Paul & Susan Lenkarski requesting to extend the RL-7 zone westerly to include most of the property at 35 State Rd. (aka 1200 West Boylston St. or 35 Electric Ct.) (Attachments)

 

          Taken off the Table and referred to Land Use Committee

 

TABLED ITEMS - No Action Taken

 

18.     Communication of the City Manager relative to CIGNA – Letter – Worcester Common Outlets.  (Tabled December 17, 2002) (Attachments)

 

19.     Motion Lukes as amended by Abraham – Request Administration to contact CIGNA relative to the feasibility of linking up Front St. with Washington Sq. and Shrewsbury St. and explore financial incentives that might facilitate that.  (Tabled December 17, 2002)  (Attachments)

 

SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

 

MARCH 5, 2003                 LAND USE                 COUNCIL CHAMBER

       7:00 P.M.

Re:  Review of Proposed Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

 

MARCH 10, 2003      ETHNIC & MINORITY      COUNCIL CHAMBER

       5:00 P.M.                        AFFAIRS

 

MARCH 10, 2003               PUBLIC SAFETY      FIRE HEADQUARTERS

                                                                                      141 GROVE ST.

View Begins at 5:30 P.M. from South Division @ 180 Southbridge St., continues to Brown Square Station @ 676 Franklin St. and ends at Fire Headquarters @ 141 Grove St. where the Committee Meeting will convene.

 

MARCH 11, 2003           YOUTH, PARKS &        COUNCIL CHAMBER

   5:30-7:00 P.M.                RECREATION

 

MARCH 19, 2003               HOUSING &              COUNCIL CHAMBER

      5:00 P.M.                  NEIGHBORHOOD

Re: Housing Study         REVITALIZATION

       Administrative Recommendations/Revised Document

 

MARCH 20, 2003              MUNICIPAL                COUNCIL CHAMBER

    5:30-7:00 P.M.              OPERATIONS

 

MARCH 26, 2003           PUBLIC SERVICE &     COUNCIL CHAMBER

       6:00 P.M.                  TRANSPORTATION

Re:  Development of a Telecommunications Master Plan for the City

 

 APRIL 14, 2003               PUBLIC WORKS        COUNCIL CHAMBER

       7:00 P.M.

Re:  Renaming of Millbury St. and the ramifications to roadways in the                                    

        vicinity of the Blackstone Parkway