CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:02 P.M.

Recessed to Finance Committee: 8:14 P.M.
Adjourned from Finance Committee and Reconvened to Regular Session: 9:05 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:10 P.M.

Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

The City Council of the City of Worcester hereby expresses condolences to the family of Arthur Sullivan who recently passed away. - Introduced in City Council by Councilor Michael J. Germain The City Council of the City of Worcester hereby expresses condolences to the family of Al Cotton, former City Council member, who recently passed away. - Introduced in City Council by Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes

Councilor William J. Eddy request that street lighting be installed in Howe Avenue between the parking lot of the Congregational Church and the terminus of this new street.

Councilor Paul P. Clancy Jr. request to repair the sidewalk and piping that is protruding from the sidewalk in the vicinity of 17 Euclid Ave.

Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of Shyam Sharma request to change the name of Institute Rd., running from 45 to 65 Institute Rd., to Institute Road Way.

Scott Babbitt request the sidewalk be reconstructed and widened on Belmont St., from Bell Pond to the entrance to Seabury Heights.

Henry Rouba request that the City of Worcester implement a snow ban violators accounting system.

Marion Moriarty request to remove handicap parking space at 34 Florence St.

Laura Shugart request one of the handicap parking signs in front of 51 Beaver St. be removed.

Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of Shyam Sharma request to exempt the horseshoe portion of Institute Rd. from the mandates of the winter parking ban.

Paulette Lacoste request to build an ice skating rink in Crompton Park.

NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for joint or identical pole relocation in: WEST BOYLSTON ST.

Request the City Manager communicate with the Massachusetts Highway Department to request that they comprehensively remove snow from the sidewalks that are their responsiblity, in the interest of the public's safety, especially in West Tatnuck along the westerly side of Pleasant St. so that children do not need to walk in the roadway that is a busy state highway. (Eddy)

Request City Manager forward a report to City Council listing the highest 250 wage earners for the year 2007. (Lukes)

Request City Manager provide a status report on the implementation of the Climate Action Plan. (Lukes)

Request City Manager communicate with Wyman Gordon Company regarding maintaining and upgrading its parcel located on the Madison Ave. boundary to improve the aesthetic appearance of the neighborhood. (Lukes, Palmieri, Haller)

Request City Manager report on the EPA's recent announcement of the 18.2 million dollar compliance costs of pending draft storm water permit. (Lukes, Palmieri)

Request City Manager prepare special legislation for a home rule petition under section 100 of Massachusetts pension benefits for Worcester firefighter Mark Stomski who suffered catastrophic injury on duty causing irreversible heart and lung damage. (Clancy, Petty, Palmieri, Rushton, Toomey, Smith, Rosen, Haller, Eddy, Germain, Lukes)

Request City Manager contact Verizon in order to determine if and when FiOS television service would become available in Worcester. (Palmieri, Clancy)

Request City Manager report to City Council on the shortest term possible for a new cable contract and respectfully consider that no contract be longer than a five year period. (Palmieri, Clancy)

Request City Manager report to City Council on the feasibility of having language in the storm water permit with EPA that sets a limit to the costs associated with mandates, and further pursue language that would have EPA stand by their own estimates of costs. (Clancy)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the number of structure fires, by month, for the period November 2006 through January 2007. (Haller)

James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to Worcester's DCU Center Fund - the Arena Component and Convention Center Component financial statements with supplemental schedules for the years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 plus the independent auditor's report.

Elizabeth A. Early, Executive Secretary, Worcester Retirement Board, transmitting letter of notification that the City of Worcester Retirement Board will consider granting Cost of Living increases to all eligible retirees at a Board Meeting on February 21, 2008.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, respectfully recommend transfer of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty One Dollars And Eighty Three Cents ($172,781.83) for Budgeted Pay Raises for Non-Represented Employees.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, request City Council adoption of Salary Ordinance Amendment to Implement the Fiscal Year 2008 Non-Bargaining Unit Employee Wage Package Effective January 1, 2008.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting informational communication relative to a Plan to SAVE our Neighborhoods.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, respectfully request City Council’s adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to File and Accept Applications for Assistance and to Take Any and All Actions Necessary to Implement an Interdepartmental Strategy for Foreclosure Education, Prevention, Management, and Enforcement.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, recommend that Sixteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($16,000.00) be Transferred from Account # 900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be Appropriated to Account # 280-92000, Code Enforcement Ordinary Maintenance, to Fund Relocation Costs Associated with the Displacement of Families Due to Inadequate Heating and Other Utilities.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, recommend that Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($8,700.00) be Transferred from Account # 14S48526, Code Enforcement, and be Appropriated to Account # 14S43626, Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, to Fund Housing Placement Services.

Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, respectfully request City Council Review, Consideration, and Adoption a Reorganization of the Departments, Boards, and Commissions of the City of Worcester.

#8.30A CM July 17, 2007
Communication of the City Manager transmitting the City's Five Year Capital Improvement Program.

#10.37C CM August 14, 2007
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.

#8.6A CM August 28, 2007
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding the adoption and implementation of Chapter 32B, Section 18.

#8.28A CM August 28, 2007
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion as to the City Council's legal jurisdiction and powers regarding the City budget for FY 2008 which has been previously voted by City Council.

#5b CC September 25, 2007
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding a Financial Update of the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.

#9a CC December 18, 2007
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting communication relative to the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

#8.30A CM December 3, 2007
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding an update on the City's Five Year Plan and Quarterly Report.

#16a CC January 8, 2008
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting communication relative to the November 2007 Auditor's Report.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding Union Station Parking Garage: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting information communication regarding the Union Station Garage Memo that was submitted to the City Council and approved on December 5, 2006: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the Order of Councilor Frederick C. Rushton - Request City Manager consider outsourcing the management of Worker’s Compensation issues similar to the program used by the City of Springfield, where the overall Worker’s Compensation costs were reduced by 47%, and in the City of Methuen where a savings of more than $4 million was realized: recommend Order be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of David J. Rushford, City Clerk, transmitting communication relative to the type and extent of information filed with the City Clerk concerning businesses operating in the City of Worcester: recommend Communication be placed on file.

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)

Communication of the City Manager recommending the Adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) to be appropriated to Account #91C778, Providence Street Tot Lot, for the purpose of funding the construction of the planned playground at Providence Street. (Tabled - Lukes July 17, 2007)

Grant permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit system in KANSAS ST. (Tabled - September 18, 2007)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Daniel Leland request installation of a mirror at the end of Rosamond St. so that he will be able to see vehicles coming around corner: recommend Petition be denied. (Tabled - Clancy January 8, 2008)

COMMUNICATION - Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, transmitting informational communication regarding the Five Point January 2008 Financial Plan Update.

COMMUNICATION - James A. DelSignore, City Auditor, transmitting communication relative to a financial analysis of the City's General Fund and Enterprise Funds.

Motion Lukes @#8f CC - Request City Manager verify all qualifications and medical status of this particular firefighter and request the City Auditor give a comparison as to the benefits of section 100 IOD and what would be the financial outcome and what any other medical or legal issues that need to be addressed.

Motion Petty @ #8g & 8h CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how Peg Access fees work. (Petty)

Motion Rosen @ #8g & 8h CC - Request City Manager consider including language in the new contract that would allow subscribers to purchase cable TV converter boxes rather that rent them from the franchise holder.

Motion Petty @ #8g & 8h CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report explaining the rules for converting from analog to digital and how Charter plans to implement the changes and provide the rights of the subscribers and associated costs for this conversion.

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a detailed report concerning the reasons for the increase in motor vehicle excise taxes. (Haller)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager submit to City Council a report with the number of trash bags sold last and number sold this year to date as a means to compare and determine the reasons for the decline in trash bag fee revenues (Rushton)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report relative to the annual subsidy for trash collection program and projected costs for FY2008. (Clancy)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the plans for implementing the upcoming police class. (Petty)

PETITION - Councilor Barbara G. Haller on behalf of Quat Tran, Representative of the Vietnamese Community of Greater Worcester, request to display and hang the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag during the Vietnamese New Year in front of City Hall February 4, 2008 through February 11, 2008.

PETITION - Councilor Gary S. Rosen on behalf of Jeannine Gemme request sidewalk repair in front of 772 Pleasant St.

PETITION - Councilor Joffrey A. Smith on behalf of the Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts request to install private directional signs on public ways.