CITY OF WORCESTER
CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
JOURNAL
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
– APRIL 5, 2005
7:00 P.M.
Convened: 7:05 P.M.
Recessed to go into
Executive Session: 9:27 P.M.
Reconvened in open session
to adjourn: 10:14 P.M.
1. INVOCATION – Rev. Monsignor Edmond T. Tinsley
St. John’s Church
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER
3. ROLL
CALL – All present except Councillor White who arrived at 7:10 P.M.
4. ITEMS
OF CITIZEN INTEREST
5
– Taken up with 8A of the City Manager’s Calendar
5. 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.
6
& 7 - REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD
6. Councillors Barbara Haller, Michael Perotto & Dennis
Irish, Mayor Timothy Murray on behalf of Chandler St. Business Association
request a Parking District Overlay Zone be installed along both sides of
Chandler St. corridor between Main St. and Park Ave.
7. Mark Lindstrom request to rezone land at 7 Riley St. from RG-5
back to MG-2.0 so owner of said lot can erect a commercial metal building for
storage use. (Attachments)
8 – REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
8. Mark O’Connor request to extend sewer line approximately 73’
from 11 Carleton St. to lot at 15 Carleton St.
To be done at Petitioner’s expense. (Attachments)
9 & 9a REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
9. Megan Leazes request handicap parking in front of 67 Stanton
St. (Attachments)
9a. John Driscoll et al request both sides of Sagamore Rd. extending
easterly from Whitman Rd. to Park Ave. be marked “No Parking Anytime”. Suspension of Rules (Attachments)
10
– HEARING SET FOR APRIL 12, 2005 – 7:00 P.M.
10. MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC CO. & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a
joint pole location on: ORRISON ST. (Attachments)
11 – REFERRED TO CITY MANAGER
11. Rose & Steve Morrow et al request to stop any and all
blasting in Malvern Rd. neighborhood.
(Attachments)
11a. Request City Manager to investigate blasting in the Malvern Rd.
neighborhood and report back to the City Council in two weeks. Report to include permitting process, issues
raised by the neighborhood regarding the company performing the blasting and
damage done to neighborhood homes. Motion-Murray
@ #11CC
Councillor Haller moved to
amend to add: and the time schedule for the latest
development and permits that have already been granted. Adopted, as amended (Attachments)
11b. Request City Manager report as to remaining funds in the Union
Station operating account. Motion-Perotto
@ #8D CM – Adopted
11c. Request City Manager to do whatever is necessary to get funds in
order to begin repairs to the façade of Union Station in the very near
future. Motion-Perotto @ #8D CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11d. Request City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion on the façade
failure at Union Station as to whether there might be any manufacturer or
contractor liability. Motion-Irish @
#8D CM – Adopted
11e. Request City Manager report as to what efforts to date have taken
place relative to plans for scheduling events on the renovated Common. Motion-Murray @ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11f. Request City Manager to report regarding the parcels of land
involved in the South Worcester Industrial Park as to present ownerships and
the anticipated transfer of those properties into the City’s domain. Report to also include any businesses
operating within those parcels and plans for relocation or inclusion in the
industrial park. Motion-Haller @
#8ACM – Adopted (Attachments)
11g. Request City Manager to provide an update, to include a timeline,
relative to cleaning up contamination at the City Hospital site. Motion-Haller @ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11h. Request City Manager to consider holding a neighborhood meeting
with the developer of the Wyman Gordon property within the very near future to
provide an update as far as where this project is going and what things are
being considered. Motion-Haller @
#8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11i. Request City Manager to provide a more detailed report on the
Quinsigamond Ave. Gateway One project in terms of what the re-activation means
and what we might look for in the near future in terms of getting those new
plans and taking action to make the new roadway happen. Motion-Haller @ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11j. Request City Manager to report on the affect of baseball coming
to Worcester at Fitton Field as it relates to the four corners to see if
additional design considerations and scheduling should be done. Motion-Haller
@ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11k. Request Administration to consider not having the Union Station
garage higher than the level of Union Station.
Motion-Palmieri @ #8A CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11L. Request City Manager to report on the consequences of lowering the
Union Station garage one floor; does that mean the number of parking spaces
would be reduced, retail is eliminated, the garage is built down another level
and does the cost increase. Motion-Lukes
@ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11m. Request City Manager to provide a
report relative to replacement of the electrical design in the front of
Union Station and would the cost of replacing it with standard lights improve
the appearance of the building and ultimately reduce the cost. Motion-Lukes @ #8A CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11n. Request City Manager to present two designs for the Union Station
garage; one above the roof of Union Station and one level with the roof and the
cost of each. Motion-Perotto @ #8A
CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11o. Request City Manager to provide a follow-up report as relates to arson fires in the City and
arrests made. Motion-White @ #13A CM
– Adopted (Attachments)
11p. Request City Manager to provide City Council with a spreadsheet
for the current fiscal year of grants awarded to the Police Department. Motion-Petty @ #19B CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11q. Request City Manager report as to how the City can accelerate the
conversion of private streets to public and how much money is needed to do all
current streets within the next few years.
Motion-Clancy @ #23E CM – Adopted
(Attachments)
11r. Request City Manager report as to how the City might step up
information and education of property
owners on private streets as to their options and to encourage them to file
petitions to convert their streets to public.
Motion-Murray @ #23E CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11s. Request City Manager to report on the possibility of developing a
schedule for days of operations for the City’s residential yard waste drop-off
sites that is more flexible. Motion-Clancy
@ #23F CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11t. Request City Manager to consider offering same day bulk
drop-off. Motion-Haller @ #23F CM –
Adopted (Attachments)
11u. Request City Manager to request a report from consultants
verifying the statement made in Item 23L of
the City Manager’s Calendar of April 5, 2005 – Communities have always
used their closed landfill sites for continuing solid waste operations such as
a transfer station to serve the needs of the residents as well as commercial
ventures – as to what communities have done this, how long ago and what the
results were. Further, request City Council be provided with the
Norton Company transfer station site proposal of 1985. Motion-Lukes @ #23L CM – Adopted (Attachments)
11v. Request City Clerk to notify all neighbors in the area of the
Franklin St. collapse that the Administration is looking at ways to resolve
this problem. Palmieri – Suspension
of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)
11w. Request City Manager to perform emergency manhole repair on Paris
Ave. Murray – Suspension of Rules –
Adopted (Attachments)
MICHAEL V. O’BRIEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
FOR APRIL 5, 2005
1. NON-CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
2. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION:
3. AIRPORT:
4. ASSESSORS:
A. Communication relative to commercial property sales in the City of Worcester. (Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations Committee
B. Communication relative to the fair market appraisal of the Worcester Police Department Headquarters and the Worcester Police Department rifle range located in the town of Shrewsbury. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
5. BUDGET OFFICE:
6. CODE ENFORCEMENT:
A. Communication relative to a
new brochure for the Human Rights Commission. (Attachments) Placed on file
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
A. Communication relative to
Monthly Economic Development Initiatives Report. (Attachments) Referred to Commerce & Development
Committee, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, Public Service
and Transportation Committee and Public Works Committee. Citywide Master Plan portion referred to
Land Use Committee and Strategic Planning Committee
B. Request adoption of a
resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a $2,500,000.00 grant from
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Public
Work Program. (Attachments) Resolution adopted. Also referred to Commerce & Development
Committee for informational purposes
C. Request City Council
approval of a resolution authorizing the filing of an application and
acceptance of funds from the Urban River Vision Implementation Grant. (Attachments) Resolution adopted
D. Communication relative to
the repairs needed to the Edison Covering on terra cotta at Union Station. (Attachments) Placed on file
9. ELDER AFFAIRS:
10. ELECTION COMMISSION:
11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:
12. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING:
13. FIRE:
A. Communication relative to
arson statistics for the past five (5) calendar years in the City of Worcester. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
B. Communication relative to
the severity of fires in the City of Worcester in 2004. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee. Also referred to Health Committee for
informational purposes for April 13, 2005 meeting
C. Request City Council
approval of a resolution to file and accept a FY’05 Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Office for Domestic Preparedness Assistance to Firefighters
Grant (AFG) in the amount of Five Hundred Thirty Two Thousand Two Hundred Sixty
Three Dollars ($532,263.00). (Attachments) Resolution adopted. Also referred to Public Safety Committee for
informational purposes
D. Request that City Council
accept with gratitude a conditional gift of a field communications unit from
the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association. (Attachments) Order
adopted with gratitude. Also referred
to Public Safety Committee for informational purposes
14. HUMAN RESOURCES:
15. LAW:
A. Communication relative to
The City of Worcester Telecommunications Analysis. (Attachments) Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee
16. LICENSE COMMISSION:
17. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES:
A. Communication relative to
copies of applications received for designation of Neighborhood Revitalization
Strategy Areas under the Year 31 Community Development Block Grant program. (Attachments) Referred to Joint Commerce &
Development and Community Development Committee meeting on April 26, 2005
18. PARKS, RECREATION & CEMETERY:
19. POLICE:
A. Communication relative to
how the Worcester Police Department tracks injured prisoner reports. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
B. Communication relative to an FY05 Justice
Assistance Grant (JAG) resolution and summary that was forwarded to City
Council for review on March 29, 2005. (Attachments) Referred to Public Safety Committee
20. PUBLIC HEALTH:
A. Communication relative to a
new environmental and public health project designed to protect and preserve
the city’s recreational resources and provide a safe environment for citizens. (Attachments) Referred to Health Committee
21. PUBLIC LIBRARY:
22. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
23. PUBLIC WORKS:
A. Request review and adoption
of an Order authorizing the City Manager to accept a street and drainage
easement for the extension of public surface sewers through the approved
subdivision, Wildwood Circle. (Attachments) Order adopted
B. Communication relative to
Snow Removal Expenses incurred during the January 22-23, 2005 snowstorm. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
C. Communication relative to water pressure concerns with the hydrants on Cheever Street. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
D. Communication relative to Worcester’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. (Attachments) Referred to Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee
E. Communication relative to refiling special legislation to allow a balloon payment option for private to public street conversion. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
F. Communication relative to the scheduled hours of operation for the city’s residential yard waste drop-off sites and the residential bulk waste drop-off site. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
G. Communication relative to the I-290 Viaduct Bridge Rehabilitation Project – Phase II. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
H. Communication relative to FY’06 Water and Sewer Rates Recommendation. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
I. Communication relative to the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District Upgrade Project. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
J. Communication relative to the Spring Street Sweeping Program. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
K. Communication relative to the Abandoned Vehicle Status Report. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
L. Communication relative to the long term uses of Greenwood Street Landfill site. (Attachments) Referred to Public Works Committee
24. PURCHASING:
A. Communication relative to
city contract assignments. (Attachments) Placed on file
25. TECHNICAL SERVICES:
26. TREASURY:
A. Communication
relative to a schedule for departmental receipting (central cash)
implementation.
(Attachments) Referred to Municipal Operations
Committee
27. VETERANS SERVICES:
28. FINANCE:
A. Recommend that One Hundred
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711,
Citywide Building Rehabilitation and appropriated to Account #11C702, City
Messenger Building Rehabilitation, to provide funds for the payment of
contractual obligations related to improvements and rehabilitation of the City
Hall Toilet Rooms, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order
adopted on a roll call 11-0
B. Recommend that Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711,
Citywide Building Rehabilitation and appropriated to Account #11C702, City
Messenger Building Rehabilitation, to provide funds for the payment of
contractual obligations related to the rehabilitation of the City Hall windows,
as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
C. Recommend that Four Hundred
Forty Thousand Two Hundred One Dollars and Sixty Five Cents ($440,201.65) be
transferred from Account #91C702, Land Acquisition, and appropriated to Account
#45C786, Water Land Acquisition, for the purpose of funding the acquisition of
75 acres of watershed preservation land at Holden #1, as approved in the
Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
D. Recommend that Three
Thousand Four Hundred Twenty One Dollars and Forty Four Cents ($3,421.44) be
transferred when and as received, from Account #91C780, City Capital Equipment,
and appropriated to Account #41C703, DPW Capital Equipment, for the purchase of
street signs, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
E. Recommend that Forty Two
Thousand Nine Hundred Forty Four Dollars ($42,944.00) be transferred when and
as received, from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated
to Account #72C701, Parks Department Capital Equipment, to provide funds to
purchase the following pieces of capital equipment:
Sweeper $28,000.00
Permit Tracking System $
5,870.00
Computer Systems Upgrade $
6,579.00
Cemetery Tamper $
2,495.00
for
Parks Department, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
F. Request City Council accept
the award of Forty Two Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Nine Dollars ($42,959.00)
from the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund.
Further
recommend that this award be applied to the fiscal 2006 billing cycle since the
majority of sewer bills for fiscal 2005 have been issued. This award will be applied to the fiscal
2006 sewer rate effectively reducing the amount billed per CCF by $0.006. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
G. Recommend that Five Hundred
Forty Two Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty Six Dollars ($542,766.00) be transferred
from the following accounts:
ACCOUNT
|
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT
|
|
330-01 |
Pearl Elm Reserves |
$228,062.69 |
|
330-01 |
Pearl Elm Reserves |
$ 77,811.31 |
|
330-02 |
Federal Plaza Reserves |
$100,000.00 |
|
330-03 |
Off Street Reserves |
$106,194.50 |
|
330-04 |
Parking Meter Reserves |
$ 30,697.50 |
|
|
Total |
$542,766.00 |
and appropriated to the
following accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
46S501 |
Pearl Elm Ord.
Maintenance |
$228,062.69 |
|
46S502 |
Federal Plaza Ord.
Maintenance |
$ 77,811.31 |
|
46S502 |
Federal Plaza Ord.
Maintenance |
$100,000.00 |
|
46S503 |
Off Street Ord.
Maintenance |
$106,194.50 |
|
46S504 |
Parking Meter Ord. Maintenance |
$ 30,697.50 |
|
|
Total |
$542,766.00 |
This appropriation
provides sufficient operating funds for the Off Street Parking Program for the
Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2005. This
request includes additional funding for Federal Plaza Garage, which is not
generating sufficient funds due to the Phase II renovation project. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
H. Recommend the current
apportionment from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the amount of Two
Million Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Four Hundred Thirty Eight Dollars
($2,470,438.00) be appropriated to Account #41C440, DPW Street Resurfacing, to
provide funding for current and future street resurfacing obligations. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
I. Recommend that One Thousand
Eight Dollars ($1,008.00) be transferred when and as received from Account
#91C780, Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #28C701, Code
Enforcement Capital Equipment, to provide funding towards the purchase of 25
Hand Held Computers including software and training for Code Enforcement. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
J. Recommend that Fifty
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($50,500.00) be transferred from Account #330-40,
Reserve for Appropriation, 1% Federal Reimbursement and appropriated to the
following accounts:
|
ACCOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
|
680-91099 |
Technical Services |
$38,473.50 |
|
680-92099 |
Technical Services |
$12,026.50 |
|
|
Total |
$50,500.00 |
to
provide funds for the purpose of providing indirect services related to certain
Federal and State Grants. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
K. Recommend that Seven
Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Three Dollars and Twenty-Six Cents ($7,523.26) be
transferred from Account #91C711, Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to
Account #11C702, City Messenger Building Rehabilitation, to fund the
replacement and installation of new carpeting in the Mayor’s Office. (Attachments) Order adopted on a roll call 11-0
L. Request City Council
authorization to file and accept an amendment regarding lighted wind cones to
an FAA and MAC grant for the Install Runway 11-29 High Intensity Runway
Lighting System (HIRLS) and Airport Rotating Beacon project.
Furthermore, recommend
that Nineteen Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Dollars Twenty Cents ($19,420.20) be
transferred from Account #91C797, Airport Improvements and appropriated to
Account #47C432, High Intensity Runway Lighting System (HIRLS). (Attachments) Two Resolutions and one Order adopted on
a roll call 11-0
29. MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Request that the City
Council schedule an executive session for Tuesday, April 5, 2005 for the
purpose of collective bargaining. (Attachments) Council
voted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays to go into Executive Session at
the conclusion of the regular meeting
B. Communication regarding the
feasibility and cost to provide closed captioning of the Government Channel 12. (Attachments) Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee
C. Communication regarding the
use of assisted listening devices for public agency meetings broadcast on cable
television. (Attachments) Referred to Public Service &
Transportation Committee
13. RECESS
TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE: No Items
Pending
14. Chairman’s Order from Public Works Committee - Request City
Manager to recommend that the placement of the Cristoforo Colombo statue be at
the front of Union Station and
placement of the benches at the corner of Shrewsbury St. and Mulberry
St. (Lukes) (Attachments) Tabled on a roll call 11-0
15. 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
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEES
|
APRIL 5, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
PUBLIC WORKS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
APRIL 12, 2005 5:30
P.M. |
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |
|
APRIL 13, 2005 5:00
P.M. |
HEALTH |
COUNCIL CHAMBER |