CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:42 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 14, 2014.

Mayor Petty thanked Major Steve Godin and Petty Officer 2nd Class Rafael Aguila, North High School JROTC, for their participation in the re-enactment of the Worcester Revolution of 1774 and Councilor Bergman provided them a Certificate of Recognition.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speaker:
1. John Provost, Worcester resident

Thomas Quinn request installation of No Parking during the winter on the odd side of Sierra St.

Miguel Miranda request installation of handicap parking space in front of 36 Gates St.

Rember Parada request installation of resident permit parking in Beacon St. from Ripley St. to Hammond St.

Bismark Yaw Torsu request removal of handicap parking space in front of 28 Lodi St.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Sandra Brouillard request installation of a handicap parking space in the vicinity of 2 Cohasset St.

Matthew Bansfield et al request installation of a streetlight at the edge of Oread Castle Park, halfway between the Alden/Castle St. streetlight and the bend below Ely St. at 32 Castle St. in the interest of public safety and deterring prostitution, drug use, illegal dumping and vandalism.

Scott Ricker request City Council request City Manager to require all Boards & Commissions under his jurisdiction, when preparing and publicly posting agendas for public meetings, to include any and all attachments that are a part of each agenda item being considered, including but not limited to correspondence, charts, maps, graphs and/or plans.

William Breault request City Council and City Manager work with the City Solicitor and the Chief of Police to see if more aggressive sentencing, similar to those that apply to homicide, manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter, can be applied to unlawful distribution of a Class A controlled substance, namely heroin which results in an individual's death.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS for a conduit location in: ELM ST. AT LINDEN ST.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS for conduit location in: PARK AVE./TOWNSEND ST.

NSTAR for a gas main location in: JUDSON RD.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Elizabeth Nguyen to the Elder Affairs Commission.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Appointment of Shirley Konneh to the Human Rights Commission.

Recommend Approval of the Appointment of Susan Fahlbeck to the Commission on Disabilities.

Recommend Adoption of the Attached Resolution to File and Accept an Assessment Grant of up to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($400,000.00) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Small Business Programs and Services Offered by the Executive Office of Economic Development.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Apply for, Accept, and Expend the AMP it up! Grant of up to Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Mass Development Office.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Apply for, Accept, and Expend a Grant of up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($300,000.00) from the Hospitality Sector Pipeline Training Grant Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Series of Community Input Meetings regarding the City’s FY16/Program Year 41 U.S. HUD Entitlement Programs and Five Year Consolidated Plan Development Process.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept a Gift from National Environmental Health Association for Travel to a Workshop Being Held in Denver, Colorado for One (1) Staff Person from the Executive Office of Economic Development, Housing Development Division

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the CDBG Program Year 40 – Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan. Refer to CCM Item 8.29A

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the 2014 Fall Leaf Collection Program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Keep Worcester Clean Activity Report for the Month of September 2014.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to File and Accept a FY 2015 Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative Grant of up to Five Hundred Sixty Three Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars and Ninety Cents ($563,858.90).

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the City’s State of Preparedness to Respond to Large Scale Disasters and as it Relates to a Public Health Emergency.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Ebola Virus.

Recommend Adoption of a Resolution to Accept an In-Kind Donation with an Approximate Value of One Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,000.00) from the American Public Health Association.

Recommend Adoption of an Order Establishing an Elderly Tax Exemption Program.

Recommend that Two Hundred Nine Thousand Two Hundred Eleven Dollars And Ninety Two Cents ($209,211.92) be transferred from Loan Account #91C734A, Sewer Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #44C704, Sewer Capital Equipment, to allow for the purchase and future payment of this Catch Basin Cleaner.

Recommend that Seventy Eight Thousand Three Hundred Forty Eight Dollars And No Cents ($78,348.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C731A, Water Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #45C703, Water Capital Equipment, to allow for the purchase and future payment of this equipment.

Recommend that Forty Three Thousand Five Hundred Forty One Dollars And Thirty Four Cents ($43,541.34) be transferred from Account #91C780B, Fire Capital Equipment, to Account #26C701, Worcester Fire Department Capital Equipment for repair of the Rescue Truck.

Recommend that Thirty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($30,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7440B, Building Rehabilitation, to DPW Account #46C704, Federal Plaza Garage, to allow for payment of current and anticipated obligations.

Recommend that Twenty Five Thousand One Hundred Twenty Six Dollars And Twenty Five Cents ($25,126.25) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7440A, Off-Street Parking Building Rehabilitation, to DPW Account #46C702, Pearl Elm Garage, to allow for the payment of current and anticipated obligations associated with this garage.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7244, Traffic Signal Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #40C704, Traffic Signals, to allow for the purchase and payment of anticipated new equipment.

Recommend that Sixty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Eighteen Dollars And Seventy Three Cents ($67,818.73) be transferred from Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and appropriated to Account #26C704, Worcester Fire Department Capital Rehabilitation .

I respectfully request that Sixty Seven Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Three Dollars And Fourteen Cents ($67,463.14) be transferred from the capital rehab holding account, to Account 25C702, police rehab for the design and installation of audio visual equipment in the real time crime center.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7451C, Beaver Brook, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C762, Beaver Brook Drainage Area to allow for the payment of current and future obligations.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7844 Park Improvements - Blackstone Gateway Park and be appropriated to Account #04C755 - Blackstone Gateway Park, to allow for current and anticipated contractual obligations.

SUPPLEMENTAL: I Respectfully Recommend that Twenty Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($25,500.00) be Transferred from Account #04C644, Neighborhood Improvements, to Account #50C70215, CSX-Worcester East Middle, as Requested by Melinda J. Boone, Superintendent of Schools, for the Payment of Signage and 15-Passenger Van for Worcester East Middle School Related to the Donation from CSX.

Recommend that Two Million Nine Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($2,975,000.00) be transferred from CDBG unexpended balances accounts and be transferred to various CDBG accounts to provide funding for numerous projects that were approved as part of the City of Worcester's Year 40 Action Plan Substantial Amendment.Refer to CCM Item 8.4G

Recommend that Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Six Dollars And No Cents ($17,856.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2015 first quarter health insurance expenses for Airport retirees, per the request of Thomas F. Zidelis, Chief Financial Officer .

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a Needs and Resources Assessment and Strategic Process to Address Issues Surrounding Youth and Gang Violence in the City.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the DCU Naming Rights Extension Agreement .

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting the Independent Auditors Report on Financial Statements and Supplementary Information and the Management Letter of the DCU Center for the year ended June 30, 2014. (Tabled - Lukes October 21, 2014)

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)

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)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to parking meters at Rockwood Field. (Tabled Under Privilege - Eddy December 10, 2013 and Tabled December 17, 2013)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes request City Manager request the School Department share in the cost for providing police services during the presidential visit. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes June 17, 2014 and Tabled July 22, 2014)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the number of properties in areas surrounding Holy Cross, Clark University, Becker College and WPI that are listed as having true four-bedroom units. (Tabled - Bergman August 19, 2014)

PETITION of Frank Kartheiser et al on behalf of the Worcester Community-Labor Coalition request City Council hold public hearings starting in October on charter change and that at the conclusion of the hearings the Council takes a vote on holding an election to let the voters decide Worcester's future form of government. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes August 19, 2014 and Tabled - Petty September 16, 2014)

Motion Russell @ #7h CC – Request City Manager request the Police Chief provide data to City Council revealing drug busts of drug dealers over the past two (2) years.

Motion Rosen @ #8.32A CM – Request City Manager report to City Council the existing mentoring programs within the city.

Motion Toomey @ #8.4B CM – Request City Manager encourage a college study the demographics for the city and assist in presenting them in a more accurate light.

Motion Russell @ #8.4B CM - Request City Manager communicate to City Council the efforts to inform local businesses when the city puts out bids to purchase products that they may sell.

Motion Lukes @ #8.32B CM – Request City Auditor report the reasons behind the development of the agreement for the naming rights of the DCU Center.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide a timeline for when the solar blinking lights will be installed at 1050-1060 Main St.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request Police Chief conduct crosswalk stings at 1050-1060 Main St.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager investigate the reasons an excessive number of street lights are not operating in the area of Gardner and Hollis Streets and remedy this in the interest of public safety.

Motion Rushton – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider the town of Shrewsbury as a possible cable services provider for Worcester.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager contact Worcester Polytechnic Institute to discuss their cable service and perhaps have the school offer a program to audit cable services.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of the Winter Heights Subdivision off of Chester St. request the granite markers be reset to be at grade with the sidewalks at the following locations as soon as possible: 1, 13, 15, 23, 27, 28, & 29 Jasmine Dr.; 14, 18 & 32 Oriental St.; 3 & 18 Nizam Dr.; 4, 3, 24, 25, & 27 Snowy Owl Lane and both corners of Snowy Owl Lane & Jasmine Dr.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Sheila Reed and the Greater Hammond Heights Neighborhood Association request two (2) bollards be installed on either side of the fire hydrant at the corner of Beechmont St. and Howatson Way, one on Beechmont St. and one on Howatson Way, as soon as possible.