CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– MARCH 8, 2005
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:03 P.M.
Adjourned 9:35 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Pastor Josimar Salum Gouvea
World Outreach Evangelical Community
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL CALL – All present except Councillor Gomez who arrived
at 7:16 P.M.
FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS
4- Taken
up with Item 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 PLANNING BOARD
6. Maria-Elaina
Riggieri request to make public Hazel St. (Attachments)
7. Alden L. Goldstein request
resurfacing of Longfellow Rd. (Attachments)
8-11a
REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING
8. Zelpher
Mensah request handicap parking at 12 Wabash Ave. (Attachments)
9. Carla Jost request to have winter parking ban alternate sides of the street each “snow winter”. Odd side one year – even side following year. If this cannot be done we would like parking to change to even side of Warner Ave. (Attachments)
10. Lilith Andersen request portion of Elm St., between Chestnut St.
and Linden St., be redesignated as residential parking. (Attachments)
11. Lilith Andersen request Linden St. to be designated as
residential parking during the day and parking be allowed in the evening. (Attachments)
11a. Mayor Timothy Murray and Councillor Thomas White on behalf of
Melanie Willett et al request making the intersection of Burncoat St. and
Fairhaven Rd. a four way stop. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking – Suspension of Rules
12. Cheryl DelSignore, President EAW request to speak before City
Council relative to health insurance. (Attachments)
Leave to Withdraw without prejudice
12a. Request City Manager to communicate with the Champlain Valley
Chamber of Commerce to inquire about the unique visitor centers that have been
erected by the State of Vermont along both sides of I-89 in Williston and to
arrange for a possible visit, also. Motion-Clancy @ #8A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
12b. Request City Auditor to review cost effectiveness of a garage with 1,000 spaces would be in terms of spaces as it related to the payoff of debt services and maintenance. Motion-Lukes @ #8A CM - Adopted (Attachments)
12c. Request City Manager report on funding for
improvements to Duffy field. Motion-Lukes @ #18 CM – Adopted (Attachments)
12d. Request City Manager report if the City receives only 10% funding to purchase bulletproof vests for the Police Department, how will the City compensate for the remaining costs of the vests. Further, is there a requirement in the Police contract that bulletproof vests be worn. Further is there a stipend in the Police contract for the use of a bulletproof vest. Motion-Lukes @ #19A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
12e. Request City Manager request the City Solicitor to report as to whether the City has a policy concerning privacy & confidentiality versus the right to know; what is public information & what is not and what should be on the City’s webiste and what should not. Motion-Lukes @ #25A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
12f. Request City Manager
request a report from Technical Services as to whether they have the staffing
to go in and find out what is taking some departments so long to initiate
technological advancements and why they are not at the same level as other
departments. Motion-Murray @ #25A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
12g. Request City Manager report in thirty days as to where in the pipeline all departments are that need to be plugged in to the departmental receipting process. Motion-Lukes @ #26A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
12h. Request City Manager report as to if and when he intends to recommend an actuarial review of the City’s post employment liability. Motion-Lukes @ #15CC - Adopted (Attachments)
12i. Request City Manager request the City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion as to what the status of the law is on pro rating and a suggestion as to any amendments and current laws. Motion-Lukes @ #15CC – Adopted (Attachments)
12j. Request City Manager send copies of Item 3A of the City Manager’s Calendar of March 8, 2005 to neighborhood associations and business associations. Motion-Haller @ #3A – Adopted (Attachments)
12k. Request City Manager to report if the City of Worcester Department of Public Health has a plan in place to assist women with problem pregnancies. White – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
12L. Request City Manager to report on polling of the various social service agencies that are involved with housing transitional support or shelters as to what their stated position on locating sexual offenders, particularly level 3, but also level 2 as part of their housing programs. Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
12m. Request City Manager immediately correct water pressure problems in hydrants in Cheever St. in the interest of public safety. Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
12n. Request City Manager repair the intersection of Mill St. and Chandler St. where island is. Petty – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
MICHAEL V. O’BRIEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR MARCH 8, 2005
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
A. Notification of Constable
Appointment. (Attachments)
Placed on file
2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
A. Communication
relative to a survey intended to gauge travel patterns and preferences of both
business and leisure air travelers throughout the Worcester region. Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee (Attachments)
4. ASSESSORS:
5. BUDGET OFFICE:
6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to
the Economic Development Initiatives Report for March 2005. (Attachments)
Referred to Commerce & Development Committee, Public Works Committee,
Public Service & Transportation Committee, Housing & Neighborhood
Revitalization Committee, Land Use Committee and Strategic Planning Committee
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to
the location of equipment received under the Homeland Security Grant. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Safety Committee
14.
HUMAN RESOURCES:
A. Communication
relative to the status of the administrations effort to meet and resolve
collective bargaining issues. (Attachments) Place
on file
15. LAW:
A. Communication relative to
the timelines for conducting hearings on proposed zoning ordinance amendments
referred to the Land Use Committee. (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
16. LICENSE COMMISSION:
17. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to
GIS Location Maps: Supplement to Item
17B, March 1, 2005, on the City Manager’s Calendar. (Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
18. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:
A. Request adoption of a resolution
to file and accept a donation in the amount of $2,000.00 from the Chandler
Business Association for tree plantings on Chandler Street in the Chandler
Street Business District. (Attachments)
Resolution adopted with gratitude
B. Communication relative to
the success of the Mass ReLeaf Tree Planting Project. (Attachments)
Placed on file
C. Communication relative to
Phase 2 of Duffy Field Improvements. (Attachments) Referred to Youth, Parks and Recreation
Committee
19. POLICE:
A. Request adoption of a Resolution
to file and accept a FY’05 Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant with the
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Programs and the Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety. (Attachments) Resolution adopted
20. PUBLIC HEALTH:
21. PUBLIC LIBRARY:
A. Request adoption of a
resolution to file and accept a gift in the amount of $700.00 from Erhart
Muller, to the Worcester Public Library. (Attachments) Resolution adopted with gratitude
B. Request adoption of a
resolution to file and accept a gift in the amount of $1,000.00 from Pelma
Gallant to the Worcester Public Library. (Attachments) Resolution adopted with gratitude
22. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
23. PUBLIC WORKS:
A. Communication relative to a
review of the lane configuration near the off-ramp at Hope Avenue. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
B. Communication relative to
the rights of a property owner on a private street to have a vehicle towed. (Attachments)
Recommitted to the City Manager
C. Communication relative to
Abandoned Vehicle Status Report. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
D. Communication relative to
the List of City Council Approved Petitions for Residential Streets
Resurfacing. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
E. Communication regarding the Rideability
Issue relative to the I-290 Redecking Project. (Attachments)
Placed on file
F. Communication relative to a
change in the selection of sidewalk to be reconstructed as part of the FY’05
Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program. (Attachments) Placed on file
G. Communication relative to
traffic conditions at the corner of Main Street and Airport Road. (Attachments)
Referred to Traffic & Parking Committee
H. Communication relative to
the Downtown Parking Study. (Attachments)
Referred to joint Public Works and Commerce & Development Committee.
I. Communication relative to
installation of traffic signal on Plantation Street at the new hotel. (Attachments)
Placed on file
J. Communication relative to
North Parkway Area Traffic Study. (Attachments) Mayor Murray and Councillor Petty recused
on roll call 9-0. Referred to Public Works Committee meeting for March 22,
2005.
K. Communication relative to
status of ongoing repairs at the Pearl Elm Garage. (Attachments)
Placed on file
L. Communication relative to
the snow removal budget account for FY’2005. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
M. Communication relative to the
Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) October 2004 Activity report. (Attachments)
Referred to Public Works Committee
N. Communication
relative to notification of the increase in abandoned vehicle penalty to cover
indirect costs. (Attachments) Referred
to Public Works Committee for April 5, 2005 meeting.
24. PURCHASING:
25. TECHNICAL SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to
the technological advancements made in the city to date, the projects currently
underway, and those that are planned for the future. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
26. TREASURY:
A. Communication relative to
Departmental Receipts. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
27. VETERANS SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Communication relative to a Media
Advisory issued by the College of Holy Cross, the City of Worcester, and
Worcester Professional Baseball. (Attachments) Placed on file
14. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting year-to-date budget
projections. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
15. James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting report regarding
post retirement cost of healthcare and life insurance. (Attachments)
Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
16-17
TO ORDINANCE COMMITTEE FOR HEARINGS
16. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Katherine Robertson, Project Manager, Gardner-Kilby-Hammond LLC request City of Worcester close, abandon and remove from the Official Map that portion of Ripley St. from southeast lot line of #41 to its terminus with current Tainter St. to facilitate construction of the proposed new Boys & Girls Club and Clark University athletic fields.
17. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Katherine Robertson,
Project Manager, Gardner-Kilby-Hammond LLC request City of Worcester close,
abandon and remove from the Official Map that portion of Tainter St. between
#34 and #60 Tainter St. to facilitate construction of the proposed new Boys
& Girls Club and Clark University athletic fields. (Attachments)
18. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City
Manager relative to comprehensive review of inspection procedures for mechanical
amusement rides. (Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
19. Order – Request City Council to vote its opposition to any
raises for City Council for the 2006 term.
(Lukes) (Tabled January 18,
2005) (Attachments)
No Action Taken
20. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joe Boynton, Chairman,
Worcester Planning Board requesting to amend Article IV, Table 4.2 of the
Worcester Zoning Ordinance relative to Permitted Dimensions by District. (Tabled
February 8, 2005) (Attachments) Referred to Land Use Committee
21. REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Joe Boynton,
Chairman, Worcester Planning Board requesting to amend Table 4.2 of the Zoning
Ordinance by adding a note to Permitted Dimensions by District and renumbering
all existing Table 4.2 notes appropriately.
(Tabled February 8, 2005)
(Attachments)
Referred to Land Use Committee
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
MARCH 8, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 21, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
LAND USE |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 22, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 23, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC SAFETY |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 29, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
TRAFFIC & PARKING |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
MARCH 30, 2005 6:00
P.M. |
PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
APRIL 5, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |