CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:07 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:53 P.M.


Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

 

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Michael V. O'Brien

City Auditor
James A. DelSignore

Councilors

Tony Economou William J. Eddy
Michael J. Germain Konstantina B. Lukes
Joseph C. O'Brien Philip P. Palmieri City Clerk
David J. Rushford
Sarai Rivera Frederick C. Rushton
George J. Russell Kathleen M. Toomey
 

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts


1.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2.

STAR SPANGLED BANNER - DOHERTY MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL MADRIGAL SINGERS

3.

ROLL CALL - All present with the Mayor in the Chair except for Councilor O'Brien

4.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

4a.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council meeting of August 20, 2013.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

5.

HEARINGS & ORDERS

5a.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location in: DARTMOUTH ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location in: DARTMOUTH ST.

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

5b.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: GODDARD MEMORIAL DR. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: GODDARD MEMORIAL DR.

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

5c.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: HAMILTON ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: HAMILTON ST.

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

5d.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: SALISBURY ST. at BURGESS RD. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: SALISBURY ST. at BURGESS RD.

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

5e.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: SALISBURY ST. at PINE TREE DR. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for conduit location in: SALISBURY ST. at PINE TREE DR.

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

5f.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location in: WEST BOYLSTON ST. at HUNTINGTON AVE. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location in: WEST BOYLSTON ST. at HUNTINGTON AVE.

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

6.

FIRST ITEMS OF BUSINESS - Quarterly Economic Development Reports - see items #10.4B & #10.4C

7.

ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST

7a.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. Judy Wisboro, Worcester resident 2. Rosalie Tirella, Worcester resident 3. William Feegbeh, Worcester resident 4. John Provost, Worcester resident 5. Chris Horton, Worcester resident 6. Lori Kearns, Worcester resident 7. Juan Alvarez, Worcester resident 8. Jo Hart, Worcester resident

 

8.

ITEMS OF DEPARTMENTAL OR EMPLOYEE INTEREST

9.

PETITIONS

9a.

Marie Grady request abatement of street betterment assessment #25143 in the amount of $5,103.24 for Chicopee St.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

9b.

Cynthia Cohen request sidewalk at 33 Lynnwood Lane be repaired.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

9c.

Robin LaHair request sidewalk in front of 24 Thorne St. be repaired.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

9d.

Don Huard request Volkmar St. be repaved.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

9e.

Don Huard request Hastings Rd. be repaved.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

9f.

Robin LaHair request removal of (2) two of (3) three handicap parking spaces on Thorne St., leaving the space in front of 21 Thorne St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

9g.

Mary DiSilvestro request to install Resident Permit Parking in Lyons St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

9h.

Eftim Milkani request to install Resident Permit Parking for Cottage St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

9i.

Marcos Naranjo et al request Resident Permit Parking for Catharine St. between Channing St. and Windsor St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

9j.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request crosswalk stings in all crosswalks within Washington Square.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

9k.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location in: CLAPP ST.

Attachments

Hearing set for October 1, 2013 - 7:00 P.M.

 

9l.

Jo Hart request the City of Worcester take seriously the human civic displacement caused by the WRTA, and, further, request the City also especially invite the 1,000-plus people who signed Neighbor-to-Neighbor's petition about the WRTA to an open-ended 5:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall, televised, about the WRTA, widely publicized to the general public, a true public discussion.

Attachments

Petitioner spoke. Referred to City Manager

 

10.

COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

10.1

APPOINTMENTS
Non-City Council Confirmation
 

10.2

APPOINTMENTS
City Council Confirmation
 

10.3

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
 

10.4

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A.

Informational Communication Relative to the Issuance of a Request for Proposals for Urban Renewal Consultant Services.

Attachments

Referred to Economic Development Committee

 
B.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Quarterly Economic Development Report.

Attachments

Referred to Economic Development Committee

 
C.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Report from Economic Development Relative to Small Business Recruitment and Retention Efforts

Attachments

Referred to Economic Development Committee

 
D.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Foreclosure Complaints and Foreclosure Deeds.

Attachments

Referred to Economic Development Committee

 
 

10.5

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Administration Division
 

10.6

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Engineering and Architectural Services Division
 

10.7

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Operations Division
A.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Request of Christine Brown to Plant a New Tree in Front of 25 Pomona Road.

Attachments

Placed on file

 
 

10.8

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Parks Division
A.

Informational Communication Relative to the Parks & Recreation Master Plans Schedule Update.

Attachments

Referred to Youth, Parks and Recreation Committee

 
 

10.9

FIRE DEPARTMENT
 

10.10

POLICE DEPARTMENT
 

10.11

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
 

10.12

LICENSE COMMISSION
 

10.13

LAW DEPARTMENT
 

10.14

DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Administration
 

10.15

DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Building and Zoning Division
 

10.16

DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Housing and Health Inspections Division
 

10.17

DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
 

10.18

DIVISION OF ELDER AFFAIRS
 

10.19

WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
 

10.20

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Human Services Division
 

10.21

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Election Commission Division
 

10.22

PUBLIC SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
 

10.23

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Assessing Division
 

10.24

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Budget Office Division
 

10.25

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Purchasing Division
 

10.26

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Technical Services Division
 

10.27

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Treasury and Collections Division
 

10.28

FINANCE ITEMS
Capital Transfers
A.

Recommend that Seventy Two Thousand One Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars And No Cents ($72,179.00) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated when and as received, to Account #28C701, Department of Inspectional Services Capital Equipment.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (O'Brien absent)

 
 

10.29

FINANCE ITEMS
Operational Transfers
A.

Recommend that $41,750.00 be transferred from Account #043-91000, Regular Salaries, and appropriated to Account #18S3910, Lead Abatement Grant, to repay the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for activities deemed ineligible and to close out the Lead Hazard Control Grant MALHD0194-09.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (O'Brien absent)

 
B.

Recommend that One Thousand Two Hundred Ninety Dollars And No Cents ($1,290.00) be transferred from Account #270-92000, Communications Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #270-93000, Communications Capital Outlay, for the purchase of a replacement laser printer for the Communications Department.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (O'Brien absent)

 
C.

Recommend that One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($1,500.00) be transferred from Account #120-92000, Law Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #120-93000, Law Capital for the purchase of a color printer.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (O'Brien absent)

 
 

10.30

FINANCE ITEMS
Prior Year
 

10.31

FINANCE
Loan Orders
 

10.32

MISCELLANEOUS AGENDA TRANSMITTALS
A.

Informational Communication Relative to the WRTA performance update.

Attachments

Referred to Public Service and Transportation Committee

 
11.

COMMUNICATION

11a.

David J. Rushford, City Clerk, transmitting communication relative the re-activation of the Student Poll Worker Program and the process to become a Student Poll Worker.

Attachments

Mayor Petty moved to hold this item. Tabled - Petty

 

12.

TABLED ITEMS

12a.

RESOLUTION of Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby goes on record in support of the Administration’s efforts to negotiate the maximum hiring of local residents in Tax Increment Financing agreements and other tools used to attract business and to expand our tax base. (Tabled - O'Brien September 13, 2011)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12b.

COMMUNICATION of the City Clerk transmitting communication expanding upon the newspaper article regarding the human error factor which occurred in the city's recount. (Tabled - Lukes February 7, 2012)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12c.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Order of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Council support more diverse new housing development with an emphasis on market-rate housing with a maximum of 10% affordable units if there are going to any units available for development in the downtown Worcester area: recommend Order be placed on file. (Tabled - Lukes May 1, 2012)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12d.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to Out of State Residents Working on Local Projects and Not Meeting the State's Health Care Mandates. (Tabled Under Privilege - O'Brien August 14, 2012) (Tabled - Lukes September 4, 2012)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12e.

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty request recess to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending litigations. (Tabled - Petty April 2, 2013)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12f.

ORDER of Councilor Joseph C. O'Brien - Request City Council request the Mayor consider appointing a working group to create a policy recommendation for the City Administration with regards to establishing priorities for the expenditure of future Community Development Block Grant federal funds allocated to the City of Worcester. (Tabled - Petty August 20, 2013)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12g.

ORDER of Councilor Joseph C. O'Brien - Request City Manager provide City Council with a brief report concerning the process for insuring compliance with local and state laws in regards to all construction projects funded with city funds. (Tabled - O'Brien September 17, 2013)

Attachments

No action taken

 

13.

NEW BUSINESS UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES

13a.

Motion Palmieri @ #10.32A – Request City Manager request the WRTA provide weekly updates concerning problem areas occurring on bus routes.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13b.

Motion Rushton @ #10.4B CM – Request City Manager provide City Council by the October 8, 2013 City Council meeting the previously requested food truck ordinance modifications.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13c.

Motion Lukes @ #10.4B – Request City Manager develop a marketing strategy for all the events taking place in the city and bring it to council within three months.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13d.

Motion Russell @ #10.4B CM - Request City Manager when drafting the new modifications to the food trucks ordinance, report whether or not Worcester residents who own food trucks can be prioritized relative to licensing and define how far a food truck can operate its business from any bricks & mortar businesses.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13e.

Motion Lukes @ #10.4B - Request City Manager, as a way to streamline the permitting process, develop a protocol to obtain feedback from business owners as well as administrative staff.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13f.

Motion Petty, Russell and Toomey - Suspension of Rules - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update for the next agenda regarding issues concerning CSX and how the noise resulting from the trains complies with the noise ordinance and how it is affecting businesses in Lake Ave. and the neighborhood.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13g.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Sandy Meltzer request installation of a crosswalk at Audubon Rd. and Richmond Ave.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13h.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Sandy Meltzer request installation of a crosswalk across Salisbury St. at Assumption College.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13i.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf Michael Desrosiers request installation of a 4-way Stop at Bay State Rd. and Squantum St. in the interest of public safety.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13j.

Motion Economou - Suspension of Rules - Request Police Chief provide traffic enforcement at Nelson Place school and all schools throughout the districts.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13k.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of residents of Tyson Rd. request a weight limit restriction be placed on the Tyson Rd. and install “Not a Truck Route” signs at both ends and request continued speed enforcement.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13l.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request tree trimming on the even side of Tatnuck Gardens alongside of Cooks Pond.

Attachments

Referred to Department of Public Works and Parks

 

13m.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy on behalf of Virginia Ryan request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 19 Marwood Rd.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13n.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy installation of “Do not Block Intersection” and street line paving in Pleasant St. where it intersects with Dellwood Rd.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13o.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request review of drainage at intersection of Marwood Rd. and Dorsett St.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13p.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of a crosswalk sign at Pleasant St. and Moore Ave.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13q.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy on behalf of Doreen Kittredge request sidewalk repair at 62 Moore Ave.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13r.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request street light repair at corner of Dellwood Rd. and Pleasant St.

Attachments

Referred to Public Service and Transportation Committee

 

13s.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy on behalf of Fiore Dell’Aquilla request sidewalk repair at 52 Havelock Rd.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13t.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request berm repair at 2 Monica St. that resulted from private street conversion at the intersection of Cascade Rd. and Monica Rd.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13u.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of 30 MPH signs on Willard Ave.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13v.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of house numbered signs, “1-92” and “93-104”, at both end of Chicopee St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13w.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request emergency sidewalk repair at 5 Hunthurst Circle.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13x.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of “Go Slow” children advisory signs in the vicinity of 1 & 19 Patch Reservoir Dr.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13y.

PETITION – Councilor William J. Eddy request installation of “No Parking from here to corner” signs on Chandler St. where it intersects with Hunthurst Circle.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

13z.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request the Police Chief conduct crosswalk stings at 1050 & 1060 Main St., Main St. at Marble St., Elm Park Towers at 425 Pleasant St., and 50 Murray Ave.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13aa.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider repaving Jacques Ave. between Wellington St. and Piedmont St. as soon as possible.

Attachments

Order adopted