CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– NOVEMBER 16, 2004
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:10 P.M.
Adjourned: 8:55 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Fr. Dean Paleologos
St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox
Cathedral
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillor Gomez who arrived at 7:20 P.M.
4
– Taken up with 8A of the City Manager’s Calendar
4. Monthly status reports consistent with Standing Committees on the
following economic development initiatives:
Union Station garage and tenancy, Massport’s partnership efforts at the
Airport, downtown housing development, Mass. Highway road project schedules,
Gateway Park grants and tenancy, Gardner-Kilby-Hammond project, SWIP project,
brownfield initiatives, Coes Dam rehab, replacement and relocation of Central
Garage, Visitor’s Center rehab, telecommunications contract, Wyman Gordon
property reuse, Worcester Center tenancy, the Arts District and the Canal
District project.
5. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5a. ITEMS
OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST
6
- REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
6. Nelly Perez et al request installation of a guardrail at the corner of Princeton St. and Lewis St. (Attachments)
7 & 8b – REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
7. Diane Driscoll request resident permit parking on Shaffner St.
(Attachments)
8. Thomas Allen request Blind Driveway sign at 16 Sears Island
Dr. (Attachments)
8a. Mayor Timothy Murray and Councillor Barbara Haller on behalf of
Anne Russo request pedestrian crossing signal at intersection of Piedmont and
Chandler Sts. Referred to Traffic
& Parking Committee – Suspension of Rules
(Attachments)
8b. Mayor Timothy Murray and Councillor Barbara Haller on behalf of
Liz Orozco request resident parking in vicinity of 183 ½ Austin St. Referred to Traffic & Parking
Committee – Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
8c. Request City Manager to include in the December Economic
Development Initiatives Report an update relative to negotiations taking place
with Berkeley Investments, Inc. relative to the Worcester Center Mall. Motion-Perotto @ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
8d. Request City Manager to report listing the average tax that was
calculated pursuant to each tax classification vote since 1995, State funding
received in each year, inflation rate for each year and the increase in health
insurance costs for each year. Motion-Lukes
@ #4A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
8e. Request City Manager report as to what is the City’s formal
Abutters Program. Motion-Murray @
#17B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
8f. Request City Manager to report for those tax title properties that
will have direct negotiations, what methodology will be used to determine how
properties are valued under or over
$25,000.00. Motion-Murray @
#17B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
8g. Request City Manager report as to when, over the last three
years, the Chapter 58A abatement application process has been used. Motion-Rushton @ #17B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
8h. Request City Manager to consider periodic speed traps on Coburn
Ave. Motion-Palmieri @ #19A CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
8i. That $2,000,000.00 of the $5,500,000.00 be set aside for tax
relief against the tax levy budget and request the City Manager apportion the
balance of that money to the appropriate priorities as he sees fit. Motion-Lukes
@ Finance Items – Adopted (Attachments)
8j. Request City Manager to look into solutions to traffic and
speeding on Bailey St. near the Paxton/Worcester line. Rushton-Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
8k. Request
City Manager to report if any strategies for the Airport use have been
initiated in the event the Big Dig is closed for repairs. Lukes – Suspension
of Rules - Adopted (Attachments)
9. COMMUNICATIONS
OF THE CITY MANAGER
MICHAEL V. O’BRIEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR NOVEMBER 16, 2004
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION
2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
A. Request adoption of a resolution
to accept a donation of an Automated Weather Station/Video Equipment from CBS 4
of a computerized Weather Station and video camera to be located at the
Worcester Regional Airport. (Attachments) Resolution adopted. Also referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee for informational purposes
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to the Top Twenty-Five Taxpayers in fiscal 2004 and a History of Average Tax Bills. (Attachments) On a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays Councillor Irish was excused from discussion relative to St. Vincent Hospital. Referred to Finance
B. SUPPLEMENTAL – Communication relative to identifying purchasers of three-deckers. (Attachments) Placed on file
5. BUDGET OFFICE:
A. SUPPLEMENTAL –
Communication relative to Summary of Available Revenues to FY 2005. (Attachments) Tabled
under privilege (Lukes)
6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to an
analysis of the structural stability of the façade of the 1927 building at
Nelson Place School. (Attachments) Referred to Education and
College/University Relations Committee
B. Communication relative to
completing the architectural design of a new North High School and that ground
breaking will be scheduled for the first phase of this project in the Spring of
2005. (Attachments) Referred to Education and
College/University Relations Committee
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to
Economic Development Initiative Report November 2004. (Attachments) Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee, Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, Public Service
& Transportation Committee and Public Works Committee
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
14. HUMAN RESOURCES:
15. LAW:
16. LICENSE COMMISSION:
17. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to
the City’s application for the FY’05 Community Policing Grant from the Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety. (Attachments) Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to
the re-issuance of Request for Proposals (RFPs) for ten (10) City-owned Tax Title
properties. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee and
Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Committee
18. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:
19. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to
Speeding Surveillance for Lake Avenue. (Attachments) Referred
to Traffic & Parking Committee
B. Communication relative to
Worcester’s award of $132,000.00 in federal funds to support six traffic
enforcement mobilizations and the purchase of traffic-related equipment. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
20. PUBLIC HEALTH:
A. Communication relative to
Tobacco Control Program – Contract Expansion. (Attachments) Referred to Health Committee
21. PUBLIC LIBRARY:
22. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
23. PUBLIC WORKS:
A. Communication relative to
Grove Street Parking Lot. (Attachments) Placed on file
B. Communication relative to
Downtown Holiday Parking Program. (Attachments) Placed
on file
24. PURCHASING:
25. TECHNICAL SERVICES:
26. TREASURY:
27. VETERANS SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that One Million
One Hundred Thirty Two Thousand Twenty Seven Dollars ($1,132,027.00) be raised
by taxation and appropriated to Account #500-91000, Worcester Public Schools
Personal Services to provide funding to hire additional teaching personnel in
the Worcester Public Schools. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
B. Recommend that Fourteen
Million Five Hundred Seventy Eight Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars
($14,578,279.00) be reduced from the following Worcester Public School
accounts:
|
Account |
Reason |
Amount |
|
500-92000 |
Charter School Tuition
Payments |
$12,595,983.00 |
|
500-92000 |
School Choice Tuition
Payments |
1,093,296.00 |
|
500-96000 |
Health Insurance Deficit
Share |
889,000.00 |
|
|
Total |
$14,578,279.00 |
to
arrive at a bottom line budget for Worcester Public Schools in FY2005 in the
amount of $222,868,164.00. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
C. Recommend that Eight Hundred
Eighty Nine Thousand Dollars ($889,000.00) be raised by taxation and
appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance. This amount represents the Worcester Public School’s (WPS) share
of the FY2004 health insurance deficit.
Further recommend that Two
Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Two Dollar ($266,752.00) be
raised by taxation and appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance.
Also recommend that Five
Hundred Three Thousand Two Hundred Forty Seven Dollars and Seventy Eight Cents ($503,247.78)
be appropriated from Free Cash to specifically reduce the tax rate and assist
in eliminating the FY2004 health insurance deficit and appropriate to Account
#663-96000, Health Insurance.
Lastly,
recommend that Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Twenty Five Dollars ($656,025.00)
currently available in Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, be appropriated
for the purposes of eliminating the FY2004 health insurance deficit. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
D. Recommend that Two Million
Dollars ($2,000,000.00) be raised by taxation and appropriated to Account
#663-96000, to establish a health insurance reserve for FY2006. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Gomez)
E. Recommend that Six Hundred
Forty One Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Dollars and Twenty Two Cents
($641,738.22) be appropriated from Free Cash to specifically reduce the tax
rate and eliminate the snow removal deficit in the amount of $641,738.22
incurred by the City of Worcester from FY2004’s snow removal operations. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
F. Recommend that Two Hundred
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($225,000.00) be raised by taxation and applied to
the FY2005 Overlay Reserve Account to provide funding to initiate the Double
Elderly Abatement Program for FY2005. (Attachments) Tabled
under privilege (Lukes)
G. Recommend that the City
Council approve the attached order that effectively implements the Double
Elderly Abatement Program for Fiscal 2005. (Attachments) Tabled
under privilege (Lukes)
H. Recommend that Sixty Eight
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($68,500.0) be raised by taxation and
appropriated to Account #043-92000, Economic Development Department Ordinary
Maintenance, to engage professional consulting services to assist the City in
evaluating the funding options, zoning requirements, and urban design
components of the Berkeley Investments project. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
I. Recommend that Fifty Two Thousand Eight
Hundred Eighteen Dollars and Seventy Nine Cents ($52,818.79) be raised by taxation
and appropriated to Account #280-91000, Code Enforcement Department Personal
Services to fund two positions (one senior building inspector/Pay Grade 39HC
and one building inspector/Pay Grade 35 HC), both of which currently exist in
the Department of Code Enforcement’s table of organization, but were unfounded
in the FY2005 Budget. (Attachments) Tabled
under privilege (Lukes)
J. Recommend that Fifty Two
Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($52,800.00) be raised by taxation and
appropriated to Account #680-91000, Technical Services Department Personal
Services, to provide funding for two production support specialist positions. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
K. Recommend that Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) be raised by taxation and appropriated to Account
#370-92000, Veterans Services Department Ordinary Maintenance to pay for
additional benefit expenses that may accrue in FY2005 due to legislative
changes. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
L. Recommend that Thirty Six
Thousand Fifty Six Dollars ($36,056.00) be raised by taxation and appropriated
to Account #040-92000, City Manager Ordinary Maintenance to provide funding for
membership in the Massachusetts Municipal Association ($24,036.00) for 2005,
and holiday lighting implementation and community events ($11,120.00) for FY2005. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
M. Recommend that Thirty Three
Thousand Eight Hundred Eight Dollars ($33,880.00) be raised by taxation and
appropriated to Account #550-91000, Worcester Public Library Personal Services
($30,250.00) and Account #550-92000, Worcester Public Library Ordinary
Maintenance ($3,630.00) to open the main library on 11 Sundays from January 9,
2005 through March 20, 2005. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
N. Recommend that Twenty Six
Thousand Dollars ($26,000.00) be raised by taxation and appropriated to Account
#411-92000, Snow Plowing Ordinary Maintenance, to allow the City’s Department
of Public Works (DPW) to monitor the activity of their snow operations assets
to better allocate the equipment, making DPW snow operations more efficient and
effective during snow emergencies. (Attachments) Tabled
under privilege (Lukes)
O. Recommend that Twenty
Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) be raised by taxation and appropriated to Account
#470-92000, Worcester Regional Airport Ordinary Maintenance to provide funding
for the City’s matching share to a federally funded Department of
Transportation marketing grant. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
P. Recommend that Fifteen Thousand
Eight Hundred Forty Three Dollars and Twenty One Cents ($15,843.21) be raised
by taxation and appropriated to Account #260-93000, Fire Department Capital
Outlay, to restore safety equipment funding into the Fire Department Budget to
purchase personnel safety items for all firefighting personnel as stipulated in
Part L of the collective bargaining agreement. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
Q. Recommend that One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) be raised by taxation and appropriated to
Account #900-92000, City Manager’s Contingency Account, to fund unforeseen
expenses that may occur for the remainder of FY2005. (Attachments) Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
R. Recommend that Eight
Thousand Sixty Six Dollars ($8,866.00) be transferred when and as received from
Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account
#04C701, City Manager’s Capital Equipment, for the purpose of providing funding
for the purchase of a Computer Laptop and Copy Machine for the City Manager’s
Office. These funds represent available
capital equipment contingency funds. (Attachments) Order
adopted on a roll call 11-0
S. Recommend that the following revolving accounts be approved for use again in FY05 at the limits listed below:
|
Revolving Account Name |
Number |
Limit |
|
Technology Revolving
Account |
04S501 |
$50,000.00 |
|
Yard Waste Processing |
41S501 |
$132,000.00 |
|
Composting Bins |
41S501 |
$2,000.00 |
|
D.P.W. Store |
41S507 |
$25,000.00 |
|
Ballard Street Drop Off
Center |
41S508 |
$55,000.00 |
(Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
T. Recommend that Thirty Two
Thousand Two Hundred Forty Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($32,247.50) be
authorized from capital equipment funds available in Account #91C780, Capital
Equipment, and appropriated to Account #26C701, Fire Department Capital
Equipment, to provide funds for the repair of Ladder 9, which was damaged in an
accident. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
U. Request authorization to pay
Two Hundred Twenty Two Dollars and Three Cents ($222.03) for a prior year
invoice from Account #720-92000, Parks Department Ordinary Maintenance. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
V. Recommend that One Hundred
Thirty Four Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Dollars ($134,890.00) be transferred
from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to
Account #75C702, Civic Centre Building Rehabilitation, to provide funds for the
payment of contractual obligations related to various improvements and
rehabilitation projects at the Centrum Centre, as approved in the Capital
Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
W. SUPPLEMENTAL –
Recommend that One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) be
raised by taxation and appropriated to Account #161-96000, Contingency
Pensions, to provide funding to implement a Chapter 32, Section 90A and C
pension increase for Public Safety retirees only. (Attachments)
Tabled under privilege (Lukes)
X. SUPPLEMENTAL –
Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) be raised by taxation
and appropriated to Account #900-92000, City Manager’s Contingency Account, to
fund unforeseen expenses that may occur for the remainder of FY 2005. (Attachments) Tabled
under privilege (Lukes)
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Communication relative to the
Worcester Government Channel winning first place in the Alliance for Community
Media Northeast Video Festival for it Bulletin
Board Rotation. (Attachments) Placed
on file
B. Communication relative to
the City’s Holiday Festival of Lights
for the “City where Culture Shines”, to be held on Thursday,
December 9, 2004 at 4:00 P.M. on the City Hall Plaza at the back of the hall. (Attachments) Placed on file
C. SUPPLEMENTAL – Request
adoption of the final Citywide Reorganization plan. (Attachments) Referred
to Municipal Operations Committee
10. RECESS TO
FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Action
Taken
FINANCE
#4A CM November 9, 2004
Communication of the City
Manager relative to Fiscal Year 2005 Tax Rate Options. (Attachments)
11 – REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
11. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Ali Soffan on behalf of Indy Lake Trust request to make public Pickwick Circle. (Attachments)
12 - ACCEPTED
12. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Judith Fuller
requesting 151 ft. of Emile St. easterly from Inverness Ave. be removed from
the Official Map. (Attachments)
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
NOVEMBER 16, 2004 5:30
P.M. |
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 16, 2004 5:30
P.M. |
HEALTH |
ROOM 310 CITY HALL |
|
NOVEMBER 23, 2004 5:30
P.M. |
STRATEGIC PLANNING |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 29, 2004 5:30 –
6:30 P.M. |
ETHNIC & MINORITY AFFAIRS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
NOVEMBER 29, 2004 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
ROOM 310 CITY HALL |
|
NOVEMBER 29, 2004 6:30
P.M |
REGIONAL AFFAIRS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |