CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– JANUARY 20, 2004
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:10 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:27 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Richard F. Reidy
St. Paul’s Cathedral
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
4a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
5
REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
5. Councillor Thomas White on behalf of Cindy Prosser request
resurfacing of Button St. where needed.
(Attachments)
6
& 7 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
6. Mayor Timothy Murray on behalf of Gary Wilcox request Stop
sign at the end of Cowden St. where it intersects with Edlin St. (Attachments)
7. Councillor Frederick Rushton on behalf of Patricia Weldon
request a Stop sign on Timrod Dr. across from the other Stop sign that is there
now. (Attachments)
8 REFERRED TO THE CITY MANAGER
8. David McMahon et al request the City provide emergency shelter
beds for all those who seek shelter this winter. (Attachments)
9 PLACED ON FILE
9. Samuel Rosario request to address City Council relative to
eliminating all compensation paid or provided to all Boards and Commissions,
Regulatory, Executive and Advisory. (Attachments)
10 REFERRED TO THE CITY MANAGER
10. Samuel Rosario request to address City Council relative to
providing compensation to all Regulatory Boards (Planning Board, Zoning Board
of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Election Commission and License
Commission) at equal compensation and benefits. (Attachments)
11
& 12 FROM HEALTH - Adopted
11. Request Administration to begin developing Code Blue criteria
for the PIP Shelter and to provide City Council with updates. (Attachments)
12. Request Administration to provide City Council with periodic
updates on the implementation of the PIP 15-point work plan. Attachments)
13. Request Administration develop an RFP for future acquisition of
computers through computer take back programs, requiring computer take back for
environmental purposes, which would require a one for one exchange of computers
and monitors purchased. (Murray, Clancy, Palmieri, Lukes, Haller) (Attachments)
Council suspended its rules to allow Peggy Middaugh,
Director of the Regional Environmental Council to speak on Items 13 & 14
Adopted
14. Request Administration report on the percentage of total waste
produced by City Departments that is driven by the disposal of computers and
monitors. (Murray, Clancy, Palmieri,
Lukes, Haller)
Adopted
15. Request City Manager report to City Council on the feasibility
of providing abatements to three decker landlords who reside in their
building. (Clancy) (Attachments)
16. Request City Manager report to City Council on any suggestions
to reorganize and reform the Community Block Grant funding for neighborhood
services. (Palmieri, Clancy,
Rushton) (Attachments)
Adopted
17. Request City Manager to consider the Grafton St. area corridor
as a candidate for a pilot Main Street Program. (Clancy, Murray, Palmieri)
(Attachments)
Adopted
18. Request City Manager report to City Council on whether or not
Greater Media Cable offers HDTV transmission.
(Clancy) (Attachments)
Adopted
19. Request City Manager contact representatives of NSTAR concerning
the status of property located on South Quinsigamond Ave. (Perotto) (Attachments)
Councillor Perotto moved to amend to request report in
30 days.
20. Request Administration provide an update on families displaced
at 39 Wall St. ((Palmieri, Clancy) (Attachments)
Adopted
21. Request Administration work with Friendly House and staff of Red
Cross to develop a response plan for displaced victims of fires and other
emergencies. (Palmieri, Clancy) (Attachments)
Mayor Murray moved to amend: Further, request
Administration report on what, if any, protocol exists within the City’s
emergency management relative working with agencies to provide services to fire
and other emergency victims. Adopted,
as amended
22. Request Administration provide a report on noise at Indian Lake from weekend
snowmobiling. (Palmieri, White) (Attachments)
Councillor Palmieri moved to amend to also include
Little Indian Lake. Adopted, as amended
23. Request Administration to provide an update on the guardrail at
the junction of Burncoat Terrace and Barnard Rd. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Adopted
24. Request Administration provide an update on street sign and
streetlight on Brookdale St.
(Palmieri) (Attachments)
Adopted
25. Request Traffic Division or Police monitor speeds on Beverly Rd.
and Rexhame Rd. (Palmieri) (Attachments)
Councillor Clancy moved to amend: Further, request report on the speed hump
program. Adopted, as amended
26. Request City Manager provide a report on traffic flow problems
in the Grafton St. corridor. (Perotto,
Clancy, Palmieri) (Attachments)
Adopted
27. Request City Manager to consider a traffic study in the Tatnuck
Square/Pleasant St. corridor to alleviate traffic congestion. (Perotto,
Rushton) (Attachments)
Adopted
28. Request City Manager consider T.I.P. (Transportation Improvement
Program) funds for improving traffic flow in the Tatnuck Square/Pleasant St.
corridor. (Perotto, Rushton) (Attachments)
Adopted
29. Request City Manager to provide a status report on the process
for developing a Citywide Master Plan.
(Lukes, Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
30. Request City Manager respond to an Order originally filed on
October 7, 2003 which reads as follows:
Request Administration submit a report from the Parking Administrator
listing the total amount of accounts receivable as of September 30, 2003 and
also, a listing for aging of accounts due more than 30 days, 60 days and
everything over 90 days old. (Lukes) (Attachments)
Adopted
31. Request City Manager to inform the Massachusetts Port Authority
that the City Council is committed to working with the Massachusetts Port
Authority and the Mass. Highway Department to develop a plan for implementation
and design of a roadway to improve accessibility to the Worcester Regional
Airport in accordance with specifications enumerated in the agreement between
the City of Worcester and the Massachusetts Port Authority regarding operation
of the Worcester Regional Airport.
(Rushton, Palmieri, White, Petty, Murray, Lukes, Gomez, Perotto,
Irish) (Attachments)
Adopted
32. Request Administration work with the neighborhood organizations
and residents of the Piedmont neighborhood relative to redevelopment of the
Institutional Linen property into low and moderate income housing. (Gomez, Haller, Murray) (Attachments)
Adopted
33. Request Administration to provide a report that lists the
primary airport access routes presently used in the City by travelers coming
into the City to include I190, I290 (coming from the North, coming from the
South, Rte. 146 (as configured from the Rte. 146 project), Rte. 9, etc. and
Union Station. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
34. Request Administration to provide a report that lists the number
of housing units, businesses, churches, nursing homes, social service agencies,
bridges, play areas, utility substations, etc. that have a property line on
Cambridge St., separated into Brosnihan Square to Southbridge St., even and odd
sides, and Southbridge St. to Webster Square, even and odd sides. (Haller)
(Attachments)
Councillor Haller moved to amend: and the number of side
streets. Adopted, as amended
35. Request Administration to provide a report that estimates the
cost of providing an airport shuttle service from Union Station, to include
assumptions made on number and times of such trips. (Haller) (Attachments)
Adopted
35a. Request City Administration prepare an economic development cost benefit
analysis of designating Cambridge St. as the preferred route to the airport and how state mitigation
money might be linked to neighborhood projects such as housing rehab and construction,
the South Worcester Industrial Park clean-up and re-use and other objectives as
outlined in the soon to be introduced neighborhood plan. Motion-Murray,
Rushton, Petty, Clancy, Perotto, White, Irish, Gomez, Palmieri – Suspension of
Rules – Tabled under privilege – Lukes (Attachments)
35b. Request City Manager to report on his January 27, 2004 Calendar as
to what the City Manager thinks would be involved in preparing an economic
development cost benefit analysis of
designating Cambridge St. as the preferred route to the airport and how state
mitigation money might be linked to neighborhood projects such as housing rehab
and construction, the South Worcester Industrial Park clean-up and re-use and
other objectives as outlined in the soon to be introduced neighborhood
plan. Motion-Murray – Suspension of
Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
35c. Request City Auditor to provide a
schedule of pensions for all municipal departments. Motion-Palmieri @ #39CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35d. Request City Manager to
provide an update on legislation relative to the City’s ability to require
employees to contribute different percentages for health insurance premiums in
accordance with an employee’s salary. Motion-Lukes
@ #41CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35e. Request City Manager to provide a report on any other businesses
in the City that have been granted reduced water and sewer rates. Motion-Irish @ #43CC – Adopted (Attachments)
35f. Request Administration to report on whether cable subscribers who
do not take the digital cable option would receive an automatic $4.00 a month
increase. Palmieri – Suspension of
Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
35g. Request Administration to identify those arterial access routes,
that if improved would improve access to the Airport, and to provide
preliminary estimates of what it would cost to make call of those streets more
accessible throughout the City. Haller
– Suspension of Rules – Tabled under privilege (Haller) (Attachments)
36 ADOPTED
36. SEWER ASSESSMENT:
BURGESS RD. (Attachments)
37. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting monthly Auditors
Report for December. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
38. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting update relative to
lawsuit of James Richardson versus the Worcester Retirement Board. (Attachments)
Placed on file
39. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting schedule of pensions
for retired Police Officers. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
40. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting Police Salary
Account Projection. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
41. Roberta R. Schaeffer, Executive Director, Worcester Regional
Research Bureau transmitting The FY04 Budget: Did Worcester Make the Tough
Choices? (Attachments)
Placed on file
42. Roberta R. Schaeffer, Executive Director, Worcester Regional
Research Bureau transmitting Job Flight From Worcester report. (Attachments)
Placed on file
43. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting communication
relative to previous water and sewer abatements for Polar Corp. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee
44. Thomas R. Hoover, City Manager transmitting summary of previous
TIF’s for Polar Corp. (Attachments)
Referred
to Commerce & Development Committee
46
& 47 ACCEPTED
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH Upon the following
Communications of the City Manager: recommend
Communications be placed on file.
46. Relative to Smoking Ordinance.
(Attachments)
47. Relative to a vote of the Board of Health recommending a ban on
smoking in workplaces Citywide. (Attachments)
48-51 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
48. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Report of the Public Works
Committee upon the Petition of Councillors Paul Clancy, Jr. and Philip Palmieri
on behalf of Joseph DiPersia requesting extension of sewer line to property at
496 Hamilton St.
49. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Christi
McQuade et al requesting to make public Gaylord St. (Attachments)
50. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Peter &
Denise Farnsworth et al requesting to make public Diana St.
51. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Mirick Perkins
requesting to make public Waycross St.
(Attachments)
52
– Taken off the Table and referred to Public Safety Committee
52. Communication of the City Manager relative to staffing in the
Worcester Fire Department. (Tabled
January 13, 2004)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
JANUARY 20, 2004 PUBLIC WORKS
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:00 P.M.
JANUARY 22, 2004 COMMERCE &
COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M. DEVELOPMENT
JANUARY 27, 2004 MUNICIPAL
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:15
P.M. OPERATIONS
JANUARY 29, 2004 LAND USE COUNCIL CHAMBER
6:00
P.M.