CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:20 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:27 P.M.

Mayor
Konstantina B. Lukes

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for pole location on: FAIRHAVEN ROAD

Granting permission to MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY for pole location on: FAIRHAVEN ROAD

The Mayor read a Proclamation declaring April 2009 to be named Big Read Month and requested Councilor Rosen to present the proclamation to Mora McAvey, Community Services Librarian.

Virginia Ryan, et al request the City Council pay all of Part B Medicare for all it's retirees enrolled in Medicare.

Carl Persson et al request to make public Myrick Ave.

Steven Tankanow of Oxford Realty Trust request sidewalk repair on Putnam Lane side of 333 Shrewsbury St.

Sharon & Paul Healy request to install a larger clay pipe from brook under driveway to catch basin at 11 Ronald Drive.

Kristina Wieslander request that Monticello Dr. be paved from Brookline St. to Delawanda Dr.

Michael Seaver request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 20 Commonwealth Ave.

Matthew Morse request a "School Zone" or other appropriate speed limit sign at either side of North High School property on Harrington Way.

Mary Lou Irene and Jose Serrano request the removal of parking meters in front of 57 Chatham St. and install resident permit parking.

Kevin Ksen request the City Council request the City Manager respond to the previously approved requests for a report on the feasibility of rebuilding nine pools in 10 years; request for a report on the number of days closed and reason for closure of the Greenwood Park spray park in Summer 2008; and request for an update on the Administration's efforts to secure private funding to rebuild Worcester's pools. Further, request a detailed plan for each of the proposed $525,000 spray parks.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Layoff Notices and Support Services Available for Displaced Employees

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Disposition Process for the Fire Alarm and Telegraph Building located at 230 Park Avenue.

Request City Council Adoption of an Order to Convey Surplus Property to the Owner of Abutting Property at 191 Burncoat Street

Request City Council review, consideration and approval of the attached resolution to file and accept funds from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Clean Energy Choice Program.

Request City Council Review, Deliberation and Adoption of the Attached Resolutions to File and Accept Federal Stimulus Grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009.

Transmitting Information Communication Relative to the Impact of Proposed Transportation Reform upon Worcester Regional Airport.

Communication Relative to Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity Report for the Month of February 2009.

Transmitting Communication Relative to the Storm Debris Clean-Up Efforts and the Annual Street Sweeping Program.

Request City Council Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a Central MA Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council Grant.

Request City Council Accept with Gratitude a Donation of $250.00 for the Police Athletic League.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Worcester Police Department's 5th Annual Youth Summit.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Request City Council Adoption of the Attached Resolution to File and Accept a FY 2010 Federal Byrne Grant Application.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept Grant Funding from the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging.

Recommend City Council's Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a State Council on Aging Formula and Incentive Grant Funding.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to National Public Health Week.

Recommend City Council's Review and Deliberation Relative to a Proposed Unruly Parties Ordinance.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports.

SUPPLEMENTAL: Respectfully Request City Council Review, Consideration, and Adoption of a Reorganization of the Departments, Boards, and Commissions of the City of Worcester.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Salaries of Worcester Public School Personnel

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Salaries of City Administration Personnel

SUPPLEMENTAL: Transmitting Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Recommendation

Recommend that Eighty Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($89,987.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C774, DCU Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to DCU Account # 75C701, Civic Center Equipment, to fund the purchase of a new dishwasher unit.

Recommend that Nine Thousand Seven Hundred Ten Dollars And No Cents ($9,710.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #04C719, Planning and Community Development, to fund ongoing remediation at the former City Hospital site, as approved in the Fiscal Year 2007 Capital Improvement Program.

Recommend that One Hundred Forty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Four Dollars And No Cents ($148,374.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated, when and as received, to DPW Account #41C703, DPW Capital Equipment ,to allow for the purchase and future payment of a Sanitation truck.

Recommend that Two Hundred Fifty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($255,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #11C703, Alderman Chamber Rehabilitation, to fund ongoing contractual obligations.

Recommend that Two Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($225,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C711, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #25C702, Police Building Rehabilitation, to provide funding for various rehabilitation projects in Police Headquarters.

Recommend that Seventy Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($70,000.00) be transferred from Account #280-91000, Inspectional Services Personal Services, and be appropriated to Account #280-92000, Inspectional Services Ordinary Maintenance, to provide additional funding for unanticipated ordinary maintenance expenses incurred during Fiscal Year 2009.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Buy Worcester Now Program and Citywide Open Houses.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Funding for the Worcester Regional Transit Authority.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Eradication of the Asian Longhorned Beetle

#9.30A CM June 17, 2008 Communication of the City Manager transmitting Five Year Capital Improvement Plan for the Fiscal Year 2009.

#14a CC November 25, 2008
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting the October 2008 Auditor's Report.

#8.42B CM December 16, 2008
Communication of the City Manager transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City's Fiscal Year 2009 Commonwealth Capital Program Submission.

#7a CC December 23, 2008
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting November 2008 Auditor's Report.

#11b CC January 13, 2009
Communciation of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to the City's Response to a request for Infrastructure Projects.

#7c CC December 23, 2008
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.

#14b CC January 13, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication regarding the City Budget.

#7a CC January 27, 2009
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting December 2008 Auditor's Report.

# 14a CC January 27, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to a mid-year Local Aid reduction. to cities and towns for FY 2009.

#8.34A CM February 3, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the City's Budget.

#21b CC February 10, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to a continued analysis and assessment of all facets of the City's current FY09 Budget and the accelerated development of City's FY2010 Budget.

#9a CC February 24, 2009
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting the Auditor's Report for January 2009.

#8.42D CM February 24, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting Status Report on Projected Budget Deficits.

#7.34A CM - March 3, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Positions Held Vacant.

#7.34B CM March 3, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting Communication Relative to Employee Health Insurance Costs.

#7.42A CM March 3, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting Report of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation as Presented at this Evening's Forum.

#8.34A CM March 17, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting Update Regarding the City's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget

#8.34B CM March 17, 2009
Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding and Federal Supplemental General Appropriation Funding

#7a CC March 24, 2009
Communication of the City Auditor transmitting February 2009 Auditor's Report

Dr. Roberta Schaefer, President & CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to Public Employee Pensions: Is It Time to Retire the System?.

Amend Section 43 Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 by adding after Zone “D” a new subsection (b)(6) Zone “E” “Streets With Extraordinary Parking Conditions” and inserting in said a new provision “Indian Lake Parkway in Front of #10 Indian Lake Parkway to #34 Indian Lake Parkway No Ban”.

Amend Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 to provide for handicap parking on South St. adjacent to 8 Chapin St.

Amend Section 42 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 to provide for 30 minute parking 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday in front of 482 Park Ave.

Amend Section 43 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 to revise the winter ban on Zenith Drive from May St. to Quissett St. from a permanent ban on both sides of the street to a declared ban.

Amend Section 40 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 to provide for resident permit parking on the north side of Harlow St. from #2 thru #12 Harlow St.

Amend Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 providing for stop sign on Congress St. at Newbury St. faces westbound traffic on Congress St.

Amend Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 providing for stop sign on Vincent Circle at Massasoit Rd. faces eastbound traffic on Vincent Circle.

Amend Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 providing for stop sign on Lorraine Road at Massasoit Rd. faces eastbound traffic on Lorraine Rd.

Amend Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 providing for stop sign on Greenbush Rd. and Massasoit Rd. faces westbound traffic on Greenbush Rd.

Amend Section 29 of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 providing for stop sign on Wyola Dr. and Tallawanda Dr. faces southbound traffic on Wyola Dr.

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)

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)

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)

Order of Councilor Michael J. Germain - Request City Manager consult with the Worcester Sharks regarding the possible management and redevelopment of the Charles Buffone Arena Ice Skating Rink on Lake Ave. (Tabled - Palmieri October 1, 2008)

Order of Councilor Michael J. Germain - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby accept and adopt Section 19 of the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32B, allowing for coalition bargaining for health benefits in the City of Worcester. (Tabled - Lukes October 21, 2008)

Order of Councilor Frederick C. Rushton - Request City Manager request the City Solicitor to report to City Council what basis the City is using to delay the public records request by the Worcester Telegram in light of the Globe Newspaper Company v. Commissioner of Education, 439 Mass. 124 (2003) ruling whereby the Supreme Judicial Court ruled public records must be released for inspection and copying without unreasonable delay, that is, within ten days of the receipt of a request for them. (Tabled - Haller November 25, 2008)

Resolution of Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby supports the City Manager in seeking 0% increases in the FY2010 collective bargaining contracts; and be it further resolved that the City Council supports the City Manager in seeking the previously detailed 75/25 contribution rate and the co-pay changes.(Tabled - Haller January 27, 2009)

Motion Clancy @ #8.34C CM - That City Council schedules the Administration & Finance and Worcester Public Schools Budget Hearings on May 12th at 6:30 P.M. and conclude the hearing with the final vote on budget.

Motion Haller @ #8.14A CM - Request City Manager provide to City Council a report clarifying the city's participation in Earth Day activities.

Motion Toomey @ #8.14A CM - Request City Manager post the map associated with the DCR limb and storm debris pick up be posted onto the city's cable television channel.

Motion Lukes @ #8.34A CM - Request City Manager obtain the Worcester Public Schools 1099 forms for personnel services and independent contracts.