CITY OF WORCESTER

CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – MAY 10, 2005

7:00 P.M.

Convened:  7:05 P.M.

Adjourned:  9:13 P.M.

 

1.       INVOCATION –  Deacon Paul Audette

Our Lady of Loreto Church

 

2.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/STAR SPANGLED BANNER

 

3.       ROLL CALL – All present except Councillors Gomez & Perotto. Councillor Perotto arrived at 7:11 P.M. and Councillor Gomez arrived at 7:26 P.M.

 

FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS

 

4.       Communication of the City Manager relative to the CitySquare Project and the District Improvement Financing (DIF) law. (Attachments) Councillor Irish recused on a roll call 9-0 (Gomez absent) - Communication referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works Committee

 

5.       ITEMS OF CITIZEN INTEREST

 

5a.     ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

 

PETITIONS

 

          6 & 7 REFERRED TO PLANNING BOARD

 

6.       Anthony Dascanio, Christine & James Bruso & Alice Lareau request to extend BL-1 zone to include 800, 828 and 830 Grafton St. (Attachments)

 

7.       Attorney Samuel DeSimone on behalf of owner of property at 651 Plantation St. request to change the Zoning Map of the  City of Worcester from BL-1 to RG-5 by extending the RG-5 zone from its current location on the property at 651 Plantation St. easterly to property’s frontage on Plantation St.  (Attachments)

 

          8-14 REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

8.       Joan Daughney request sidewalk repair in front of 2 Cardinal Rd. (Attachments)

 

9.       Sebouh & Ani Mardirossian request sidewalk repair on Edgewood St. (Attachments)

 

10.     Martha Grace request Cardinal Rd. be resurfaced. (Attachments)

 

11.     Dat Huynh request sidewalk repair at 69 Fairfax Rd. (Attachments)

 

12.     Hossein Haghanizadeh request to extend 8” sewer main and water main on Orono St. for approximately 230’ at Petitioner’s expense. (Attachments)

 

13.     Wayne Griffin request Public Works Department to reconstruct sunken granite curbs in front of 994-996 Pleasant St. at corner of Dellwood Rd. so as to disallow motor vehicles from driving up onto and across sidewalk area and endangering pedestrians waiting at the Bus Stop. (Attachments)

 

14.     Karen Carreiro request sidewalk repair on Cottage St. at corner of 16 West St.  (Attachments)

 

          15 & 16 REFERRED TO TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE

 

15.     Madeline Guardado request Blind Driveway sign at 48 ˝ Providence St. (Attachments)

 

16.     David Hampton, Sr. request handicap parking at 20A Crescent St. (Attachments)

 

CHAIRMAN’S ORDERS

 

          17 & 18 FROM JOINT COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - ADOPTED

 

17.     Request City Manager to consider use of Block Grant and/or other grant sources to fund all five Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area applications.  (Attachments)

 

18.     Request City Manager report as to how he might fund more Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area applications. (Attachments)

 

ORDERS

 

19.     Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the real property and excise tax status of wireless service equipment that is mounted atop tax-exempt structures and, assuming that taxes are assigned, to include a description of the formula employed to calculate taxed amounts.   (Haller)  (Attachments)  Adopted

 

20.     Request Administration to consider an amendment to the parking requirements of the Zoning Ordinance so as to allow a relaxation of the parking mandates for site specific businesses by establishing a special permit process which provides for review and consideration of such criteria as neighborhood needs and whether the business will be housed in new or old construction.  (Lukes)  (Attachments) Councillor Lukes moved to amend to read: Administration report on the feasibility of adopting an amendment.  Order adopted, as amended

 

21.     Request City Manager to post on a daily basis on the front page of the City of Worcester web site the whereabouts of road closings and lane reductions across the City due to construction; highlighting those activities in the Central Business District that impede rush hour commutes.  (Petty)   (Attachments)  Adopted

 

22.     Request City Manager to consider establishing a Landfill Fund Advisory Committee that would make recommendations on how revenues would benefit the area.  (Clancy)   (Attachments)  Adopted

 

23.     Request Administration to contact the salvage yard owners on Granite St. to determine if cooperative efforts could be developed to clear the area of automotive debris that litters the street.  (Clancy) (Attachments)  Adopted

 

24.     Request Administration report on what methods and strategies will be implemented to produce 20% of the electricity used for municipal operations from clean renewable sources by the year 2010.  (Lukes) (Attachments)  Adopted

 

25.     Request Administration report on the feasibility of adopting Green Building Zoning Ordinances, including adoption of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program (LEED) for all new projects, buildings, including city owned facilities and leaseholds. (Lukes) (Attachments)   Adopted

 

26.     Request Administration report on what corporate entities will be parties to the CitySquare Project and what collateral or assets each entity has and will bring to the project.  (Lukes)   (Attachments) Adopted – Also referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works Committee

 

27.     Request Administration to provide a breakdown of the $470 million that will be dedicated to the CitySquare project by the developer. (Lukes)   (Attachments)  Adopted – Also referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works Committee

 

28.     Request Administration report on whether any successors in interest or new fee or lease holders of any parcel located in the CitySquare Project will be obligated to perform the same contractual responsibilities as the original developer.  (Lukes)   (Attachments)  Adopted – Also referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works Committee

 

29.     Request the Worcester Retirement Board to consider augmenting the loan pool that is available for first-time home-buyers in Worcester through the neighborhood center network so that the investments of the Board are more thoroughly diversified to include a re-investment into the community of Worcester and so that the current impact and success of the existing program is expanded so that our community is populated by an increasing number of homeowners.  (White) (Attachments)  Adopted

 

30.     Request City Manager conduct the annual review of fees citywide and provide City council with any recommendations for increase with the additional revenue to be dedicated to the expanded and improved hours of operation of the main and branch public libraries. (Murray, White)  (Attachments)   Adopted

 

30a.   Request City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion as to upon what basis fees can be increased.   Motion-Lukes @ #30CC – Adopted (Attachments)

 

30b.   Request City Manager report as to reason for excluding 123 properties from the initial tax lien sale list. Further, request Law Department report as to the cost to take a single case through Land Court.  Further, how many other properties have been excluded from the initial tax lien sale list and how many properties are under the control of the Executive Office of Neighborhood Services.   Motion-Rushton @ #34CC – Adopted  (Attachments)

 

30c.   Request City Manager report as to what is anticipated in tax liens next year.   Motion-Haller @ #34CC – Adopted   (Attachments)

 

30d.   Request City Manager to repair potholes in Kenwood Ave., Davidson Rd., Franklin St. and Wawecus Rd.   Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Adopted   (Attachments)

 

30e.   Request City Manager to report on the type of criminal activity around Main St., Stafford St. and Grandview Ave. area and Police response.  Petty, Rushton – Suspension of Rules – Adopted (Attachments)

 

          31 & 32 ADOPTED

 

31.     SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:  CLEGG ST. (Attachments)

 

32.     SEWER BETTERMENT ASSESSMENT:  PINELAND AVE. (Attachments)

 

33.     RECESS TO FINANCE AND ORDINANCE:  No Action Taken

         

          FINANCE

A.      #21A CM  May 3, 2005

Communication of the City Manager concerning hours of operation at the Frances Perkins Branch Library.  (Attachments)

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

34.     Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting report relative to status of the City of Worcester’s selling of Tax Liens in accordance with MGL Chapter 60, Section 52.   (Attachments)  Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

35.     Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager requesting adoption of four Orders:  Designating the DIF District Boundary, approving the DIF Development Program, authorizing the filing of Special Legislation and an Order of Taking acquiring the easements for the new public streets. Further, advertisement of a DIF Loan Order authorizing the borrowing of $89.085 million and advertisement of an Ordinance establishing permit and inspection fees.  (Attachments)   Referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works Committee

 

35a.   Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager transmitting information on the impact of the Responsible Employer Ordinance on the CitySquare project.  (Attachments)  Suspension of Rules - Referred to Joint Commerce & Development and Public Works Committee

 

RESOLUTION

 

35b.   The City Council of the City of Worcester hereby recognizes the staff, students and those individuals involved in bringing the public/private partnership between Clark University and the City of Worcester to the forefront  producing the University Park High School.  Rushton, Haller – Suspension of Rules – Adopted on a roll call 10-0 (Irish absent)   (Attachments)

 

LOAN ORDER TO BE ADOPTED

 

          36 - ADOPTED ON A ROLL CALL 10-0 (Irish absent)

 

36.     Watershed Land Acquisition - That the sum of $1,380,000.00 be appropriated to Account #91C702, Land Acquisition for the acquisition of land for open space, including costs incidental and related thereto.  (Attachments)

 

TABLED ITEMS

 

37.     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

 

38.     DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: MIAMI ST. (Tabled April 12, 2005) (Attachments)  No Action Taken

 

 

39.     REPORT ON THE COMMITTEE ON ORDINANCES Upon the 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 and Girls Club and Clark University athletic fields: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.       (Tabled April 12, 2005) (Attachments)  No Action Taken

 

40.     REPORT ON THE COMMITTEE ON ORDINANCES Upon the 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 and Girls Club and Clark University athletic fields: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.  (Tabled April 12, 2005) (Attachments)   No Action Taken

 

41.     Communication of the City Manager relative to opportunities for the re-allocation of office space within City Hall to best serve our citizens and to improve/enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of City government.  (Tabled May 3, 2005)   (Attachments)  Taken off the Table and referred to Public Works Committee

_____________________________________________________________

 

SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

 

 

MAY 16, 2005

    5:30 P.M.

 

ETHNIC & MINORITY

AFFAIRS

 

COUNCIL CHAMBER

 

 

MAY 17, 2005

   5:30 P.M.

 

TRAFFIC & PARKING

 

COUNCIL CHAMBER

 

MAY 18, 2005

   6:00 P.M.

 

JOINT PUBLIC WORKS AND

COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT

 

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Re: CitySquare & DIF

 

MAY 26, 2005

   6:00 P.M.   

 

JOINT PUBLIC WORKS &

COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT

 

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Re: CitySquare & DIF