CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 10:25 P.M.

Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Hearing - NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole relocation in: LINCOLN ST.

Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole relocation in: LINCOLN ST.

Chairman's Order from the Military Affairs Committee - Request City Manager consider communicating to City Council a recommendation for funding section 2 of Chapter 157 of M.G.L. in the amount of $1.1 million. (Tabled Under Privilege- Lukes February 27, 2006)

Resolution - That the City Council of the City of Worcester go on record in support of the Governor and Lt. Governor’s Municipal Tax Relief Proposal concerning meals and hotel taxes, the closing of corporate tax loopholes and the options involving the Group Insurance Commission. (Rushton, Toomey, Smith, Petty, Perotto, Clancy, Irish) (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes February 27, 2007)

Resolution - That the City Council of the City of Worcester support the municipal aid package filed by the Patrick-Murray Administration and urges support by Worcester's State Legislative Delegation. (Irish, Rushton, Petty, Perotto, Palmieri) (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes February 27, 2007)

Teri Kleinberg and Bernt Tore Bratane request abatement of street assessment #50179 in the name of Shawn and Alex Santiago in the amount of $3682.70 in Belcourt Rd.

Marchia Frangiosa request (5) five private directional signs for residents of Vernon Hill at 30 Rice Lane to be placed in Heywood St. and Vale St.

Richard Simard of Blackstone Harvest request (1) one parking space at 18 Harrison St. as a commercial loading zone for deliveries.

Appointment of Kevin O'Sullivan as Chairperson of the License Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Creation of a Worcester Lights Program.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Grant Through the MassDevelopment Brownfields Redevelopment Fund Asbestos and Lead Paint Abatement Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Cost for Repaving the Entirety of Monadnock Road.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Gateway Park Public Street Decree.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Hazardous Condition of the Private Sewer on Perkins Street.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Parking Plan for the Area of Chandler St. between May St. and Rockwood Field.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Structural Integrity of the Light Poles at the Worcester Technical High School Athletic Fields.

Recommend City Council Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a FY07 Firefighter Equipment Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety.

Recommend City Council Accept with Gratitude a $1000.00 Donation from Sam's Club to be Utilized for the WPD Water Carrier Award.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Definition of City Areas for the Purposes of Crime Statistics Gathering.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Staffing of Police Liaisons to the School Department to its Full Complement for FY07.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the WPD's 2007 Summer Impact Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Range and Activity of Breaking and Enterings of Private Property Throughout the City.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a FY07 Statewide Bicycle Helmet Distribution Program Grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau.

Transmitting Request of the Worcester Housing Authority for a Waiver of Building Permit Fees.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Process and Requirements for Obtaining a Street Vendor’s License.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Availability and Affordability of Housing for our City's Senior Population.

Recommend City Council's Review, Consideration and Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Donation of $2,500.00 from the American Library Association.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Status of the City's Internet Bill Payment System.

Transmitting Informational Communication Regarding an Update on the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.

Recommend that Ninety Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($95,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #68C701, Technical Services Capital Equipment to fund the purchase of Data Center Environmental units.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($150,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C739, Sewer Drainage, an be appropriated to DPW Account #44C750, Lateral Sewers to allow for the payment of sewer drainage improvement obligations.

Recommend that Twenty Two Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Dollars And No Cents ($22,720.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C780, Capital Equipment, when and as received and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C703, Capital Equipment to allow for the purchase of a 4X4 truck for the Streets Division.

Recommend that Eighty Four Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Two Dollars And No Cents ($84,462.00) be transferred when and as received from Loan Account #91C734, Sewer Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Sewer Account #44C704, Capital Equipment to allow for the purchase of backhoe loader.

Recommend that a One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C749, Airport Capital Equipment and be appropriated to Account 47C701, Airport Capital Equipment for parking lot equipment and automated controls.

Recommend that Three Hundred Fifty One Thousand Nine Hunded Thirty Dollars and Fifteen Cents ($351,930.15) be transferred from Account #91C790, School Construction and be appropriated to Account #28C720 FF&E Worcester Technical High School to pay for furniture and fixtures.

Recommend that Eight Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Six Dollars and Forty Two Cents, ($866,426.42) be transferred from Account #91C790, School Construction and be appropriated to Account 28C717, Worcester Technical School Construction.

Recommend that Three Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($325,000.00) be transferred from Account 91C711 ,Citywide Capital Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account 25C702, Police Capital Rehabilitation, for the reconstruction of the parking lot and parking lot lights at police headquarters.

Recommend that Fourteen Thousand One Hundred Fifty One Dollars And No Cents ($14,151.00) be transferred from 91C780, Capital Equipment and be appropriated to Account #04C746, Economic Development Capital Equipment to fund the purchase of a color copier for Economic Development.

Recommend that Six Thousand Fifteen Dollars And No Cents ($6,015.00) be transferred from Account #330-07, Reserve for Appropriation Damage Settlements, and be appropriated to DPW Account #410318, Sidewalk Repairs O.M. to allow for payment of sidewalk improvements at 90-92 Bellevue Street.

Recommend that Thirty Six Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($36,000.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency and be appropriated to Account #150-92000, Elections Ordinary Maintenance to fund the Special Elections to fill the 14th Worcester Representative District.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of a Task Force on Homelessness.

#9.37A CM November 28, 2006
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding the Five-Year Financial Plan for the Worcester Public Schools.

#11a CC December 19, 2006
Communication of James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006.

#11b CC December 19, 2006
Communication of James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to the City's fiscal 2006 Management Recommendation Letter.

#12e CC January 2, 2007 Communication of James A.DelSignore transmitting communication relative to November 2006 Auditor's Report.

#11a CC January 16, 2007
Communication of James A. DelSignore transmitting communication relative to the Reports on Federal Award Programs - the City's Single Audit - for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2006.

#12b CC January 23, 2007
Communication of James A. Delsignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to the December 2006 Auditor's Report.

#5a CC January 23, 2007
Communication of James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting a financial analysis of the City's General Fund and Enterprise Funds as of December 31, 2006.

#5b CC January 23, 2007
Communication of City Manager Michael V. O’Brien regarding a presentation on the status of the Fiscal Year 2007 budget at the Finance Committee meetings on January 23, 2007 and February 27, 2007.

#10a CC February 27, 2007
Communication of James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to January 2007 Auditor's Report.

#10b CC February 27, 2007
Communication of James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to the schedule of the City's authorized and unissued bonds gross and net of bond anticipation notes as of January 31, 2007.

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to a financial analysis of the City's General Fund and Enterprise Funds as of January 31, 2007.

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to accidental disability applicants who had either no pre-employment physical or an examination that was not adequate.

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to updated information regarding the current cost of accepting MGL Chapter 157, Section 2 of the Acts of 2005.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Attorney Joe Boynton on behalf of Holy Cross Hill Realty, LLC request to remove from the official map the portion of Coonan St. from the easterly terminus of the opening of said way approved by the Planning Board on November 30, 2005, westerly approximately 90' to a line that extends from the northerly boundary of the petitioner's land.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Allyn Jones request the property located at 1097 Pleasant St. currently zoned RS-7 and BL-1.0 be changed in its entirety to BL-1.0.

Amend Section 2 Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance adopted April 2, 1991 relative to a zone change in the Greenwood Street Area.

Order of Councilor Dennis L. Irish, Councilor Frederick C. Rushton, Councilor Joseph M. Petty, Councilor Michael C. Perotto, Councilor Joffrey A. Smith and Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request City Manager prepare home rule legislation which would permit Worcester to offer employee health benefits through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Commission. (Tabled - Lukes February 27, 2007)

Order of Councilor Frederick C. Rushton - Request the City Manager request Great and General Court consider as part of their review of the Governor's "municipal relief package" to make the hotel tax applied to Worcester, Boston, Springfield, and Lowell of 12.45 percent be applied uniformly across the state. (Tabled - Rushton February 27, 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)

Motion-Haller @ #12a CC- Request City Manager forward a copy of item #10.30B CM, City Manager's Informational Communication Regarding an Update on the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget and item #12a CC, City Auditor's Communication Relative to a Financial Analysis of the City's General Fund and Enterprise Funds as of January 31, 2007, from the March 7, 2007 agenda to the local state delegation.

Motion-Lukes @ #12a CC - Request City Manager provide the City Council with a report which lists the table of organization and the vacant positions within each department.

Motion-Clancy @ #12a CC - Request City Auditor provide the City Council with a report which divulges the advantages and disadvantages of migrating retirees into the Medicare Program such as the costs, benefits and in particular, the prescription plan.

Motion-Irish @ #10.17B CM - Request City Manager provide a map for item 10.17 B on the March 7, 2007 agenda pertinent to a Communication Relative to the Definition of City Areas for the Purpose of Crime Statistics Gathering.

PETITION - Councilor Frederick C. Rushton request to change the winter parking ban on Carter Rd. to only one side of the street.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Bohler Engineering, P.C. request to construct a 120 ft. minor sewer extension on Lanesboro Rd. at petitioner's expense: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Stephen Begonis, President of SPB Contracting, Inc., request permission to extend the sewer main on Oriental St. from Chester St. approximately 370 linear feet to the southwest subject to a prior agreement at the contractor's expense: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Philip Morgan request extension of 2" sanitary force main approximately 180' south easterly along Wheeler Ave. at the owner's expense: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petiton of Bryan Goodall request to install a sewer extension by gravity and low pressure sewer in Farm St. 129' to service 1 existing residential lots and 2 proposed residential lots. All work to be done at petitioner's expense and DPW's specifications: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Bryan Goodall request to install a sewer extension by gravity and low pressure sewer in Swan Ave. 463' to service 4 existing residential lots and 3 proposed residential lots. All work to be done at petitioner's expense and DPW's specifications: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.