CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Council Chamber

Convened: 7:18 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:44 P.M.

Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

After the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Lukes asked everyone in the Chamber to remain standing requesting a moment of silence in memory of Samuel DeSimone, a respected city attorney and dedicated resident of Worcester who passed away earlier in the day. Councilors Rushton, Clancy, Palmieri, Haller and Mayor Lukes spoke about Attorney DeSimone’s contributions to Worcester over the span of his career.

Councilor Rushton expressed his deepest appreciation and admiration for Senator Kennedy years of service to the Commonwealth and wished him a speedy recovery.

Barbara & Wayne Adams request to install signs to pick up dog waste in various locations in Burncoat St. from Thorndyke Rd. north to Clark St. at the convenience store.

Idella Hazard request sidewalk repair in front of 75 Providence St.

David Sadowski request City Council to authorize the construction of 170' of sanitary sewer, 8" main, in Svea St. from the end of the existing trunk to proposed new construction.

Grace Claprood request sidewalk repair in front of 6 & 8 Hillsboro Rd.

Barbara White on behalf of the Autumn Woods Neighborhood Watch Group request the city patch/repair sunken curb cuts where needed to meet ADA code on both sides Upland Gardens Dr.

Angel Medina & Carmen Medina request abatement of street assessment #24659 in the amount of $8,427.42 for Chino Ave.

James Soffan request City Council amend the re-naming of Southbridge St. so that the portion between Myrtle St. and Burnside Court remain Southbridge St.

Samuel Aning et al request street repair of Vinson St. from Rodney St. to Everard St.

Samuel Aning et al request street repair to Rodney St.

Michael Butler request sidewalk repair in front of 6 Cardinal Rd.

Barbara & Wayne Adams request to install Stop Signs at all streets intersecting the right side of Burncoat St. beginning at Monterey Rd. continuing north to Clark St. at the convenience store and Bluehill Rd. and King Philip Rd. on the left side of Burncoat St.

Barbara Adams request bright yellow "Children Crossing" signs in Burncoat St. on both sides for Thorndyke Rd. Elementary School.

Melanie Hayward et al request a "Go Children Slow" sign at the intersection of Trinity Ave. and Bryn Mawr Ave. and at the intersection of Trinity Ave. and Gaucher Ave.

Antonio Rivera request to remove handicap parking space in front of 16 Channing St.

Barbara White on behalf of the Autumn Woods Neighborhood Watch Group, request the City to move the existing 30mph signs to the poles with children signs on Upland Gardens Dr. at both the north and south ends of the street for better visibility by motorists.

Barbara White on behalf of the Autumn Woods Neighborhood Watch Group request the city to re-stripe the existing six (6) crosswalks in Upland Gardens Dr.

Barbara White on behalf of the Autumn Woods Neighborhood Watch Group request the city or appropriate party trim back brush on both corners of Upland Gardens Dr. and Upland St. to improve sight line and safety at the intersection.

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

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Cable Television Advisory Committee's Review of Public, Educational and Government Access Programming.

Respectfully Recommend City Council's Adoption of an Order of Taking for Watershed Preservation Land in the Town of Rutland.
Refer to CCM Item 7.35B

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Installment of Worcester Fire Chief Gerard Dio as President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Fire Recruit Class 2008-1 Graduation.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Tenants and Leased Space in the Senior Center.

Recommend that City Council Accept with Gratitude, the Donation of a New Lawn Mower for the Worcester Senior Center.

Recommend that City Council Accept with Gratitude, the Donation of a Nintendo Wii for the Worcester Senior Center.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Presentation of the Massachusetts Outstanding Older Americans Award to Rosemarie Highlands of the Division of Elder Affairs Senior Support Team.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to an Update on the Implementation of the Operation Yellow Box Initiative.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude the Donation of a Statue of Major Taylor and $15,000.00 for Maintenance of said Statue to the Worcester Public Library by the Major Taylor Association.

Transmitting Communication Relative to the City's Memorial Day Ceremonies

Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($200,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C766, Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, and appropriated to Account #04C752, Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, to pay invoices associated with design services as well as Phase I clean up and installation of lighting at the Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center.

Recommend that Twenty Four Thousand Fifteen Dollars And No Cents ($24,015.00) be transferred from Account #330-91101, Public Health Personal Services, and appropriated to Account #330-92000, Public Health Ordinary Maintenance, to fund expenses associated with the Animal Rescue League and telephone charges.

Recommend that Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($500,000) be transferred from Loan Account #91C702, Land Acquisition, and be Appropriated to Capitol Account #45C786, Land Acquisition to provide necessary funding for watershed land acqusition.
Refer to CCM Item 7.12A

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Requests Made at the April 28, 2008 Standing Committee on Education Meeting.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Movie Being Filmed in the City.

Request City Council Adopt the Attached Amendment to the CitySquare General Development Agreement.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of a Resolution to Accept with Gratitude a Donation of $10,000.00 from the Attorney General's Office in Support of the City's Youth Initiatives.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Impact Area VIII.

Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes transmitting communication requesting adoption of an order accepting a gift from The Mayors’ Institute on City Design, a private organization funded by The National Endowment for the Arts, The United States Conference of Mayors and the American Architectural Foundation, to cover the travel, lodging, meals, conference admission and related expenses for the attendance of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes at the Mayors’ Institute on City Design conference in Chicago from May 21 to May 23, 2008.

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)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report to City Council whether a claims process exists which is available to commercial users who experience electric power outages and surges caused by National Grid. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report on the number and location of National Grid equipment stations located on public property, whether the City receives any revenue from the use of public land, and if not, whether the city can charge for said use. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Order of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report to City Council regarding National Grid services in the city based on data filed with the Department of Telecommunications and Energy specifically addressing the number of outages, the locations of the outages, causes of the outages and the fines, if any, paid by National Grid in 2007. (Tabled - Lukes February 26, 2008)

Petition of NATIONAL GRID for cable and conduit system in: PLANTATION ST., CLARENDON ST. & ALMONT AVE. (Tabled - Palmieri March 18, 2008)

Proposed Ordinance amending the Montvale Historic District by the adoption of a new map enlarging the District. (Tabled Under Privilege - Palmieri March 25, 2008)

Motion Palmieri - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager request the Commissioner of Public Works & Parks inspect the repaving of Greenhill Parkway and report to City Council as to the reasons for its deplorable condition after having been recently resurfaced.

Motion Palmieri - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager consider applying the $250,000 in potential airport savings for additional operating hours at the Main Public Library and provide City Council with a report relative to the effect this could have to the operation of the library.

Motion Lukes - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager report to City Council the impact of using the $250,000 in potential airport savings if applied towards water rates, streets and sidewalks.

Motion Haller - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager report on the early morning shooting incident on May 18, 2008 in the vicinity of the Alta Cafe and El Delicioso. Request report include information regarding paid details in the area and whether they were in place at the time of the incident. Additionally request report include the number of incidents in the area of Benefit St., Oread Place and Main St. over the past 6 months.

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council concerning issues relative to equity pay as it relates to gender issues in the management level of the administration before the end of Finance Committee's deliberation of the budget. (Clancy)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report concerning comparative salaries between the city and school administration before the end of Finance Committee's deliberation of the budget. (Clancy)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request the City Council's Standing Committee on Municipal Operations review the salaries for the City Auditor and the Assistant City Clerks and report to City Council before the end of Finance Committee's deliberation of the budget. (Clancy)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report inventorying the quality, condition and future needs for equipment at the Worcester Fire Department. (Rosen)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager report to City Council with periodic updates for solutions relative to decreasing the response times for emergency vehicles to the Salisbury St. area; including the possibility of using the Town of Holden as a resource for personnel and equipment and the siting of a new fire station. (Smith)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a historical report before the end of the Finance Committee's budget deliberation regarding the reasons for not participating in a contract for locking a fixed rate for the purchasing of fuel. (Toomey)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding the analysis of costs, benefits and timeline for implementing wireless technology for city departments. (Smith)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with the status of the pending legislation concerning surveillance cameras. (Palmieri)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the condition, design and functionality of the police headquarters building and its deficiencies as well as future needs for a new facility. Further, request the report include the cost of a precinct station. (Clancy, Haller)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding the breakdown of telephone calls to 911 as to the number that are true emergency calls and the number that are non emergency calls. (Rushton)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide a report to City Council concerning the ability to apply inspection fines and costs for enforcement to the owners of problem properties, known as the green ticket legislation. (Haller)

COMMUNICATION - Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, submitting an amendment of the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.