CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:12 P.M.

Recessed to Executive Session: 7:58 P.M. Reconvened into Open Session from Executive Session to Adjourn: 8:43 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 May 26, 2015.

Councilor Lukes recognized the following speakers:
1. George Valeri, Worcester resident
2. Grace Ross, Worcester resident
3. John Provost, Worcester resident
4. Mildred Collins, Worcester resident

Mayor Petty recognized Cub Scout Troop 70 for their attendance at the City Council meeting.

Attorney Joel Greene on behalf of Edward Salloom, Jr., President Salloom Realty Corporation, request City Council to authorize the City Manager to execute any documents necessary to accept a deed of conveyance, grant an easement and a release of certain air rights for the property located at 17 Mill St.

Clifford Vera request tree in front of 16 Barnes Ave. be removed.

Carl Foley, President Botany Bay Construction Co., Inc. request to accept from the developer that portion of Botany Bay Road from June St. to the cul de sac on Botany Bay Road as a public street.

Joan Smiley request street light at the park area adjacent to 18 Newbury St. be repaired or replaced.

Clifford Vera request sidewalk be replaced in front of 16 Barnes Ave.

Nicholas Delianedis request resident permit parking in front of 49 Marsh Ave. be removed.

Kathy Edmonds request the handicap parking space for Fern St. adjacent to 488 Park Ave. be removed.

Charity Amoah Kwatia request installation of handicap parking space in front of 52 Dixfield St.

Austin Brown request handicap parking space in front of 5 Montague St. be removed.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS for a conduit location in: GARDNER STREET

NATIONAL GRID for conduit, vault and manhole locations in: LINDEN STREET

NATIONAL GRID & VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for (3) pole locations in: VALLEY VIEW LANE

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Amanda Amory to the Conservation Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Scott Cashman to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2015 Out to Lunch concert series.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Summer 2015 cultural events.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Casella contract extension and the Clear Bag Pilot Program update.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity report for the month ending March 31, 2015.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Activity report for the month of April 2015.

Transmitting communication relative to the improvements and enhancements of the World War II Memorial on Worcester Common.Refer to CCM Item 8.30J

Recommend adoption of an amended Property Maintenance Ordinance.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an estimated assessor's tax recap using the proposed FY16 tax levy with current real estate assessed values and actual FY15 assessed values.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Bond Anticipation Notes (BAN) rating.

Recommend that Twenty Five Thousand One Hundred Ninety Two Dollars And Seventy Nine Cents ($25,192.79) be transferred from Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, to Account #26C704, Worcester Fire Department Capital Rehabilitation.

Recommend that Four Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($400,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7412K, North Lake Ave Slope Failure, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C763, North Lake Ave Slope Failure, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations associated with this project.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($150,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7414, Street Construction, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C768, Private Street Conversion, to provide funds for current and future expenditures.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7454, Sewer Construction, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C778, Green Island Flooding, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations.

Recommend that Thirty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($30,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C744B, Off Street Garages, and be appropriated to DPW Account #46C707, Parking Garages - Improvements, to allow for payment of current and anticipated obligations.

Recommend that Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($350,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7453C, Lake Ave Pump Station, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C724, Belmont Street/Lake Ave Sewer Project, to allow for the payment of anticipated obligations associated with this capital project.

Recommend that Ten Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Five Dollars And No Cents ($10,725.00) be transferred from Account #91C711D, Police Capital Rehabilitation, to Account #25C702, Police Department Building Rehabilitation.

I respectfully recommend that One Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Eight Dollars And No Cents ($149,688.00) be transferred from Account #04C644, CSX Playground Capital, to Account #50S696, CSX- Grafton Street School.

I respectfully recommend that Sixty Thousand One Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars And Seventy Five Cents ($60,158.75) be transferred from Account #91C711E, Worcester Public School Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #50C70415, Worcester Public School Building Rehabilitation, to pay for various rehabilitation projects for the Worcester Public Schools, as approved in the Capital Improvement Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Four Thousand Four Hundred Thirty Four Dollars and Sixty Cents ($4,434.60) from the Worcester Public Library Foundation for the 2015 Summer Reading Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept a donation in the amount of Twenty Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($28,000.00) from the Friends of Worcester's Senior Center, Inc.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of One Hundred Thirty Five Dollars And No Cents ($135.00) be deposited to Account #26S601, Worcester Fire Department Donation Account.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a grant in the amount of One Hundred Fifty Two Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Dollars and No Cents ($152,970.00) from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services Safe and Successful Youth Initiative - FY 15 Summer Program Supplemental Funding.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a grant of up to One Hundred Forty Five Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Dollars and No Cents ($145,970.00) from the FY 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept a grant of up to Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($19,800.00) from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office for the purpose of promoting employment opportunities and supporting healthy youth.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend funds from three (3) FY 16 grants from the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) including, DESE Connecting Activities ($94,900.00), DESE Career Pathways ($218,460.00), and DESE MCAS ($78,000.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend funds from fourteen (14) grants from the Commonwealth’s Division of Career Services (DCS).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend funds of up to Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00) from MassDevelopment’s [TDI] Places – Placemaking Grant Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept a donation of in-kind services with a monetary value of approximately Thirty Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($35,000.00) from Weston & Sampson Engineering, Inc.Refer to CCM Item 8.8A

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for, accept and expend a grant of up to Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($3,500,000.00) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

Recommend that Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy Three Dollars And No Cents ($17,873.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2015 3rd quarter health insurance expenses for Airport retirees, per the request of Thomas F. Zidelis, Chief Financial Officer..

Recommend that Two Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Dollars And No Cents ($2,490.00) be transferred from Account #29-33007, Damage Settlement Account, to Account #2602-92210, Worcester Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance.

Recommend that Thirty One Thousand Nine Hundred Three Dollars And Eight Cents ($31,903.08) be transferred from Sewer Account #440-91000, Salaries, and be appropriated to Sewer Account #440-97201, Overtime, to allow overtime costs to be paid through June 30, 2015.

Recommend that Twenty Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Eighteen Dollars And Seventy Seven Cents ($29,918.77) be transferred from Account #720-91000, Parks Regular Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #720-97201, Parks Overtime, to cover the anticipated projected deficit at year end, primarily due to costs associated with the many snow storms this past winter.

Recommend that Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($40,000.00) be transferred from Account #170-91000, Human Resources, Personal Service Account, to Account #170-92000, Human Resources, Ordinary Maintenance Account.

Recommend that Seventy Nine Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($79,000.00) be transferred as follows: $14,000 from Account #171-92000, Workers Compensation-Ordinary Maintenance, to Account #171-96000, Workers Compensation- Fringe Benefits and $65,000 from Account #170-91000, Human Resources- Personal Services to Account #171-96000, Workers Compensation-Fringe Benefits.

Recommend that Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($5,500.00) be transferred from Account #610-91000, Budget Regular Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #660-97000, Treasury Overtime, to fund overtime expenses through the remainder of Fiscal 2015. The overtime shortfall is mainly due to a high employee turnover in the past few months and these funds are necessary to maintain daily departmental operations.

Transmitting informational communication and recommend City Council recognition of the dedication and work of participants during the 2015 Earth Day activities.

Transmitting communication relative to a recommendation to hold Executive Session on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 immediately following the public comment period.

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 and 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)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager recommending approval of Legislation to Impose a Fine on Motorists that Damage a Bridge that is marked with a Height Restriction. (Tabled - Bergman December 2, 2014)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Brittan Square Parking Lot. (Tabled - Palmieri January 7, 2015 and January 13, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman - Request City Manager provide information from the City Solicitor as to what steps are available to enforce breaches of the Services Agreement with Laz Parking Limited, LLC in regards to City owned parking garages, specifically the Federal Plaza Parking Garage. (Tabled - Petty January 7, 2015, Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 13, 2015 and Tabled - Bergman January 20, 2015)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Tony Economou and Councilor George J. Russell - Request City Manager provide information from the City Assessor, Chief Financial Officer and City Solicitor as to the assessed real property values of all City owned parking garages, the amount of debt, if any, the anticipated repairs and/or capital improvements costs for fiscal year(s) 2015/2016 and the existing lease commitments/terms for spaces in these garages. (Tabled - Petty January 7, 2015, Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 13, 2015 and Tabled - Bergman January 20, 2015)

Motion Rosen @ #8.5A CM – Request City Manager consider using larger recycling bins with covers for curbside recycling.

Motion Rivera @ #8.5A CM – Request City Manager consider introducing an option for residents to buy rain barrels for recycling purposes.

Motion Rivera @ #8.5A CM – Request City Manager consider increasing the amount of days where fees for disposing of large items such as mattresses are waived in order to promote more responsible disposal.

Motion Bergman @ #8.13A CM – Request City Manager provide those interested in occupying property purchased from foreclosure with further opportunities to do so.

Motion Petty @ #8.13A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how many homes purchased from foreclosure have owners occupying the property.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Donald Ouellette request speed enforcement in the vicinity of 116 Chester St.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou on behalf of Judy Maple request Children Advisory signage be installed on Idalla Rd.

PETITION – Councilor Tony Economou request fire hydrant at the intersection of Lansing Ave. and Holden St. be replaced as quickly as possible.

Motion Rivera – Suspension of Rules – Request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks conduct a survey of South Cambridge Street surface drainage and make recommendations to alleviate the perennial problems encountered by private property owners in that neighborhood.

PETITION – Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Aria Everts request city shade trees along Freeland St. be trimmed so that existing street signage is visible to motorists.

PETITION – Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Aria Everts request speed enforcement in Freeland St. in the interest of children and families living in the neighborhood of the elementary school.

PETITION – Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Gail Webster request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 28 Sigel St.

PETITION – Councilor Gary Rosen request installation of speed limit signage of 20 MPH be posted on Victor Ave.

PETITION – Councilor Gary Rosen request installation of speed limit signage of 20 MPH be posted on Grandview Ave.

PETITION – Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request a long patch street repair in Lamartine St.

RESOLUTION – That the City Council hereby recognizes all Worcester high school student athletes who participated in the Massachusetts State Championships, especially Rodney Agyare-May of Burncoat Senior High School, who placed first in the 400 meter and set a school record of 48 minutes and 35 seconds; Adja Sackor of Worcester Tech/North High co-op squad who placed second in the long jump and triple jump with the team finishing with 16 points, the most of any Central Massachusetts school, and also to Bernice Mensah of the co-op squad who finished eighth in the triple jump. (Toomey)

Motion Palmieri – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks repair playground equipment area at Holmes Field.