CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:06 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:35 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: JOLMA RD. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint pole relocation in JOLMA RD.

Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2007 Evaluation of the City Manager.

Motion-Smith - Suspension of Rules - Request the Vice-Chairman Councilor Perotto to suspend the rules to request the City Manager address City Council concerning the land and war memorial in Indian Hill Road.

Councilor Frederick C. Rushton on behalf of Stephen Kalinowski request erecting a Memorial Square for Private Richard A. Day, U.S. Army, 110th Division, who was born in Worcester on December 6, 1919 and was killed in action on or about November 14, 1944 during a battle in the Herkin Forest in Germany. Request memorial be located in the vicinity of the YMCA where Mr. Day grew up.

Kwame Asante request removal of tree in front of 139 Allston Ave.

Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of David Dick request sidewalk repair in front of 39 Thorndyke Rd.

Pasquale Turano request sidewalk and curb repair in front of 12 Somerset St.

Gary & Catherine Lawton request abatement of street assessment #24551 in the amount of $3,952.81 in Gaylord St.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith request sidewalk repair in front of 70 Richmond Avenue.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith request sidewalk repair in front of 82 Richmond Avenue.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith request sidewalk repair in front of 84 Richmond Avenue.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith request sidewalk repair in front of 90 Richmond Ave.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Gilbert Skidmore request sidewalk repair in front of 322 Highland St.

Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Chris Chaves request sidewalk repair in the Elmwood St side of 757 Pleasant Street.

Eric Lane, Facilities Manager of Great Brook Valley Health Center, request to rescind the "residential permit parking" to allow public parking in front of 7 & 9 Tacoma St.

David Nergararian request a stop sign on the corner of Lafayette St. and Washington St.

Daniel Stack, Adjutant for the Department of Massachusetts Disabled American Veterans, request the City of Worcester consider approval of a casino on land owned by the city, 3,516,163 sq. feet, known as 260 Granite St.

Susan Kiely et al request that the building of a playground at 211 Providence St. be halted immediately.

Helen A. Friel, Assistant to the Superintendent/Clerk of the School Committee, transmitting communication relative to a motion made at the School Committee meeting held on June 7, 2007 requesting that the Administration forward a letter on behalf of the School Committee to the City Council requesting a reconsideration of their vote for funding to the Worcester Public Schools in order to be able to bring back the 110 positions that will be lost to the system.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication regarding the Orders necessary to make the appropriate Budgetary and Table of Organization changes once the Special Legislation is enacted by the State and the City Council approves the proposed reorganization plan for the Elections Commission Office.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication regarding responses from the Administration to the orders from the City Council Standing Committee on Municipal Operations.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting informational communication relative to "Operation Round-Up" that was conducted by the Worcester Police Department this past week.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager transmitting communication relative to a legal opinion of David M. Moore, City Solicitor, regarding the effect the proposed name change of Front St. to JFK Boulevard has on the CitySquare Development Agreement.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication regarding new requirements from the Massachusetts School Building Authority requiring that the Worcester Public School submit a Statement of Interest on prioritized school construction.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication requesting City Council adopt the attached amended Five Hundred Thousand Dollar ($500,000) FY2007 Loan Order requesting that funds originally allocated for the Levi Lincoln Chamber project (Building Rehabilitation) be reappropriated to fund street and sidewalk repair and construction (Infrastructure).

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. and Mayor Timothy P. Murray request that Front St. from Main St. to Washington Sq. be renamed JFK Boulevard: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (Tabled - Lukes June 12, 2007 and Tabled - Irish June 19, 2007)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. and Mayor Timothy B. Murray request that Front St. from Main St. to Washington Sq. be renamed JFK, Boulevard.(Tabled - Lukes June 12, 2007 and Tabled - Irish June 19, 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)

Chairman's Order from the Committee on Military Affairs - 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 - Clancy March 6, 2007)

Order of Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby cancels the August 7, 2007 City Council meeting. (Tabled - Rushton June 12, 2007)

Motion-Clancy @#9n CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report relative to the land at 260 Granite St. that would include an assessor's map identifying the property, ownership and what land is available for sale.

Motion-Clancy @#9o CC - Request City Manager provide a report to City Council as to the cost of the playground at 211 Providence St. and the number of meetings that were held relative to this playground between the Assistant Commissioner of Parks and the Parent groups at Vernon Hill School as well as the number of people who were in attendance.

Motion-Clancy - Suspension of Rules - Request City Council to include the following streets for resurfacing in Fiscal Year 2008: Wachusett St. from Dix St. to Highland St. at an estimated cost of $72,000, and the entire length of Wesby St. at an estimated cost of $29,000.

PETITION - Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr. on behalf of Dennis Clark request the City View St. be made a dead end street without access through to property owned by Holy Cross College.

Motion-Irish @#10c CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the City could vary its health care contribution based on the residency of the retiree.

Motion-Toomey @#10c CC - Request City Manager determine if savings from health care reform can be used to augment health insurance payments for retirees who are living under the poverty level. Further, request City Manager look at how other communities are addressing health care for these retirees.

Motion-Rushton @#10c CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with facts concerning how other cities and towns in Massachusetts have implemented health care reform in their communities.

Motion-Perotto @#10f CC - Request the City Council Standing Committee on Education & College/University Relations determine why Chandler Magnet School is not on the list of school construction projects.

COMMUNICATION - Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting communication recommending City Council adoption of a resolution to Apply for and Accept a FY2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the U.S. Department of Justice.

PETITION - Councilor Joffrey A. Smith request sidewalk repair in Burncoat St. from Mayflower Circle to Randall St.

Motion-Palmieri - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager request the Police Chief provide enforcement of speed limit in Chatham St.

PETITION - Councilor Frederick C. Rushton request immediate sidewalk repair in front of 1060 Main St.

Motion-Rushton - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report pertaining to the timeline for the unblocking of Whitney St. & Diamond St. in relation to the Rte. 146 reconstruction.

PETITION - Councilor Joseph M. Petty request emergency sidewalk repair in front of 2 Frontenac Rd.

PETITION - Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of Nicholas Fusaro request sidewalk repair in front of 474 Burnocat St.