CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:08 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:50 P.M.

Mayor
Timothy P. Murray

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Hearing - ADCARE HOSPITAL OF WORCESTER, INC. for conduit location in: CATHARINE ST.

Granting permission to ADCARE HOSPITAL OF WORCESTER, INC. for conduit location in CATHARINE ST.

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint or identical pole location in: PINEHILL RD.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint or identical pole location in: PINEHILL RD.

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID for pole location in: SKYLINE DR.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for pole location in: SKYLINE DR.

Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Million Forty Seven Thousand and Fifty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($1,047,057.00) be raised by taxation from new construction growth revenues to finance operations for the City of Worcester. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that Thirty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($39,500.00) be raised by taxation from new construction growth revenues, and appropriated to Account #04D803, City Square DIF Bond Stabilization Fund. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Million Two Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty Three Dollars ($1,265,863.00) be reduced from the Capital Campaign Account #04D802, to balance the variance between budgeted Free Cash and actual Free Cash for fiscal 2007. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Million Seven Hundred Ninety Nine Thousand Twenty Dollars And Three Cents ($1,799,020.03) be appropriated from Certified Free Cash for the purpose of specifically reducing the fiscal 2007 tax rate and eliminating the snow removal deficit for the City of Worcester for the Fiscal 2006 snow removal operations. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that Three Hundred Two Thousand Five Hundred Eight Dollars And Ninety Seven Cents ($302,508.97) be appropriated from Certified Free Cash for the purposes of reducing the City of Worcester's tax rate, to support the fiscal 2007 operating budget to fund collective bargaining agreements. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be reduced from the Destination Worcester Account #041-92000, to balance out the reduction in other revenue sources to finalize the fiscal 2007 budget. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Million One-Hundred Thirty Seven Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,137,000.00) be transferred from Account #04D802, Capital Campaign Stabilization Fund and appropriated to Account #250-91000, Police Department Personal Services, to provide funds for costs associated with police overtime, elimination of the vacancy factor, fund training, equipment and employee benefit costs for the new recruits of the Worcester Police Department. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($250,000.00) be transferred from Account #04D802, Capital Campaign Stabilization Fund and appropriated to Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, to replenish funds used for a legal settlement and support funding for the remaining collective bargaining agreements. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend that One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($175,000.00) be reduced from Account #04D802, Capital Campaign Stabilization Account and increasing the Overlay Reserve to fund local share of the recently enacted increase in property tax relief for eligible Veteran's. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager recommend adoption of the attached Elderly Exemption Double FY 2007 Tax Abatement Orders. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting information regarding adjustments to the Fiscal 2007 Budget which are required prior to setting the Fiscal 2007 tax rates. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager respectfully request adjustments to the Fiscal 2007 Budget Prior to Setting the Fiscal 2007 Tax Rates, including recommended funding for Police Overtime and Recruit Class, funds for an increase in Veteran's Tax Benefits, and a refund to the City Manager's Contingency Account. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding the Tax Classification Hearing on November 21, 2006. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

HEARING: To determine tax rates for residential, commercial, industrial and personal properties for Fiscal Year 2007.

The Mayor opened the hearing.

Speaking in favor of the lowest residential tax rate:

Gary Vecchio, 14 Caprera Rd.
Charlotte Tremblay, 24 Halmstad St.
Billy Swartz, 8 Bailin Dr.

Speaking in favor of a more favorable business tax rate:

Richard Kennedy, 12 Rutland Terrace
Donald Mancini, 28 Snowy Owl Lane

Motion Rosen-That the tax rate for Fiscal 2007 be set at $12.10 for Residential property and $25.32 for Commercial, Industrial and Personal property.

Motion Rushton-That the tax rate for Fiscal 2007 be set at $12.27 for Residential property and $24.53 for Commercial, Industrial and Personal property.

Councilor Rushton's motion denied on a roll call vote of 4 Yeas and 7 Nays. (Yes-Perotto, Petty, Rushton, Murray) (No-Clancy, Haller, Lukes, Palmieri, Rosen, Smith and Toomey) (See item 12b)

Councilors Rosen's motion Adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays. Reconsideration denied on a roll call vote of 0 Yeas and 11 Nays. (See item 12c)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Fiscal Year 2007 budget. (Tabled-October 17, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager relative to a comprehensive fiscal policy strategy relative to the City Council's requests for financial forecasts, quarterly reports, a five point plan to improve Worcester's bond rating, and a funding strategy for the construction of North High School, including the following elements:

1) Report of the City Manager on five year forecast and fiscal policies
2) FY 2007 Budgeted Free Cash Resolution plan
3) FY 2007 Quarterly Report

Be it further recommended that the accompanying order be adopted by the Worcester City Council to effectuate this comprehensive fiscal policy strategy. (Tabled - October 24, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Six Sections of the Five Year Financial Plan. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting review of the City Manager's Five-Point Plan to improve the City's fiscal health. (Tabled - November 14, 2006)

The Mayor read a proclamation regarding November 23 - 26, 2006 as Health Care Proxy Weekend in Worcester and presented it to Christine McCluskey of the Central Mass Partnership to Improve Care, Inc.

Roy Lucas Jr., Founder and President of the Arena Football Team New England Surge, appeared and spoke regarding the team coming to Worcester in April 2007.

Order of Mayor Timothy P. Murray - That the ordinance relative to the Police Department License Board as it relates to taxi regulations be rescinded. (Tabled Murray - April 25, 2006)

Order of Councilor Barbara G. Haller and Councilor Gary Rosen - Request the City Manager take all steps to have the WRTA #11 bus rerouted to serve the Island part of Harding Street (south of Kelley Square) to take residents, especially the elderly, to and from the Route 20 Fair Shopping Plaza. Further request that this service be provided several times in the mornings and again in the afternoons, both outbound and inbound. This service was formerly provided by the old #4 Millbury City Line and eliminated on January 28th, 2006 creating a serious hardship and reduction in the quality of life for residents in the Green Island neighborhood. (Tabled - Haller August 29, 2006)

Order of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report on the cost savings, if any, of redesigning and relocating the new North High School to the new Technical High School campus. (Tabled - Lukes September 26, 2006)

Communication of Roberta R. Schaefer, Executive Director of Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to Dial 911: Whose Call Is It, Anyway? (Tabled - Murray October 10, 2006)

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Request for Proposal on two parcels of land currently owned by the Worcester Fire Department. (Tabled - Toomey November 14, 2006)

Motion-Haller @#5a CC - Request City Manager provide the State Legislative delegation with copies of Dr. Caradonio's Five Year Report dated November 9, 2006.

Motion-Rushton @#6b CC - That the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2007 be set at $12.27 for Residential property and $24.53 for Commerical, Industrial and Personal property.

Motion-Rosen and Clancy @#6b CC - That the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2007 be set at $12.10 for Residential property and $25.32 for Commercial, Industrial and Personal property.

Motion-Rushton - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager contact the WRTA to consider reestablishing the bus route that travels from Lakeside Apartment areas to Webster Square areas.

Petition - Councillor Barbara G. Haller on behalf of Jane Ferris request handicap parking in front of 23 Canton St.

Resolution - Haller - Suspension of Rules - That the City Council of the City of Worcester go on record in opposition to the drastic budget cuts imposed by Governor Romney, and further, request that $2,000,000 cut from the Rental Assistance to Families in Transition Program (RAFT) and $3,100,000 cut from the State Retnal Voucher and the $80,000 cut from the Donations Clearing House be restored immediately.

Motion-Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager distribute copies of the resolution, item 12f of the November 21, 2006 calendar, pertaining to opposition of drastic budget cuts to the State Legislative delegation and the Governor's Office.