CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 7:33 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

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring November 1, 2017 as the Fortieth Anniversary of the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women in the City of Worcester. The Advisory Committee on the Status of Women continues to work to improve the quality of life for women in Worcester. The Proclamation was presented to Jennifer Madson from Girls Inc.

Mayor Petty recognized the various high school and college students who were in attendance at the City Council meeting.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 17, 2017.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers: 1. John Provost, Worcester resident 2. Stephen Genatossio, Worcester resident

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit and manhole location at: CHANDLER ST. Granting permission to: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit and manhole location at: CHANDLER ST.

James White request removal of city owned tree in front of 9 Dallas St.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of John Giangregorio request installation of a street light in the area of 83 or 88 Ernest Ave.

Elizabeth Slinsky request installation of a new sidewalk on Sunderland Rd. from Dalton St. to 382 Sunderland Rd.

Dana Knight request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31190 in the amount of $6,400.00 for Wheeler Ave.

Lori Hauver on behalf of the Heirs of Steven P Geneva request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31268 in the amount of $11,000.00 for Phoebe Way.

Craig R. Hopkins request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31266 in the amount of $18,809.00 for Phoebe Way.

Craig R. and Hazelwood Hopkins request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31263 in the amount of $15,623.00 for Phoebe Way.

Mary Landry request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31249 in the amount of $12,000.00 for Knapp Ave.

Amy Friend and Joan Sturtevant request abatement of street betterment assessment #25522 in the amount of $18,900.00 for High Ridge Rd.

James White request sidewalk repair in front of 9 Dallas St.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Harvey Paris request sidewalk repaving in Oakwood Lane as funding becomes available.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Harvey Paris request street resurfacing in Oakwood Lane as funding becomes available.

Heidi Lashua request installation of resident permit parking on Edward St, from Laurel St. to Elliott St. Further, request installation of resident permit parking on Elliott St., from Edward St. to Eastern Ave.

Heidi Lashua request installation of a stop sign at Elliott St. and Edward St.

Anthony Belcher et al request installation of Children advisory signage in Willow St.

Anthony Belcher request the winter parking ban in Willow St. be a standard ban, when declared.

Joan Smiley request installation of additional handicap parking space in front of 18 Newbury St.

Councilor Gary Rosen on behalf of Irene Pietrowicz request installation of a traffic light on Clover St. at South Ludlow St.

Bernadette Forget request installation of handicap parking space in front of 9 Merrifield St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson and Councilor Kathleen Toomey request the bus stop located in front of 366 Shrewsbury St. be relocated.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request police enforcement of the No Parking on both sides of West Boylston Terrace.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request police enforcement of the No Right Turns from Belmont St. onto Granby Rd. from 6am - 8 am and 3 pm - 6 pm.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a blinking yellow light at crosswalk on Lake Ave at the entrance to the park.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson on behalf of Gina Cariglia request One Hour Parking from 8AM to 7PM, seven days a week, be installed for the Draper St. side of 373 Shrewsbury St.

LIGHTOWER FIBER NETWORKS LLC for a conduit location at: GARDNER AND SOUTHGATE STS.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Todd Salmonsen to the Memorial Auditorium Board of Trustees.

Transmitting informational communication relative to recent economic development awards and rankings.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the World War I Memorial Grove in Green Hill Park.

Transmitting informational communication relative to monuments and memorials throughout Worcester.

Transmitting informational communication relative to possible exemptions to the conflict of interest laws regarding city snowplow contracts.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the September 2017 Quarterly financial update.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Moody's credit opinion.

Recommend that Six Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($600,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113C, Nelson Place MSBA, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C780, Nelson Place School, to fund the Nelson Place MSBA project construction costs, as previously approved by Council in the FY17 CIP.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Ninety Thousand One Hundred Ten Dollars And No Cents ($790,110.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C744B, Off Street Parking Building Improvements, and be appropriated to DPW Account #46C707, Parking Garages - Improvements, to fund the Off Street Parking improvement projects such as design of stairways at the Federal Plaza Garage, as previously approved by City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C745N, Route 20 Sewer, and be appropriated to DPW Account #44C722, Route 20 Sewer, to fund the Rt. 20 Sewer project costs such as engineering services, as previously approved by City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113O, Belmont Elementary MSBA, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C749, Belmont Elementary School, to fund the Belmont Elementary MSBA project construction costs, as previously approved by City Council in the FY17/FY18 CIP.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113N, Gerald Creamer Center MSBA, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C748, Gerald Creamer Center, to fund the Gerald Creamer MSBA project construction costs, as previously approved by City Council in FY17/FY18 CIP.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113M Chandler Elementary MSBA, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C747, Chandler Elementary, to fund the Chandler Elementary MSBA project construction costs, as previously approved by the City Council in the FY17/FY18 CIP.

Recommend that One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7113P, Wawecus Road MSBA, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C757, Wawecus Road, to fund the Wawecus Road MSBA project construction costs, as previously approved by the City Council in the FY17/FY18 CIP.

Recommend that the total of Seventy Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Three Dollars and Seventy Eight Cents ($79,833.78) be transferred from the following accounts: Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehabilitation ($37,833.78), Account #29-33008, Premium on Loans ($42,000.00), and be transferred to Account #68C702, Technical Services Building Rehab, for the Sidewalk Canopy Project, approved by Council in the Fiscal 2017 Capital Improvement Plan.

Recommend that One Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($165,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7414A, Private Street Conversion, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C768, Private Street Conversion, to fund the Private Street Conversion project construction costs, as previously approved by the City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Four Hundred Six Thousand Five Hundred Eleven Dollars And Sixty Six Cents ($406,511.66) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7414, Street Construction, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C732, Main Street Construction, to fund the Main St project construction costs, as previously approved by the City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C741F, Guardrails, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C798, Guardrails, to allow for the payment of future obligations towards guardrail repairs, as approved by the City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Three Hundred Eighty Five Thousand Five Hundred Forty Nine Dollars And Seventy Nine Cents ($385,549.79) be transferred from Loan Account #91C793A, Golf Course Rehab, and be appropriated to DPW Account #71C702, Greenhill Golf Improvement, to fund the Greenhill Golf renovation construction costs, as previously approved by the City Council in the FY16/FY17 CIP.

Recommend that Ten Thousand Four Hundred Forty Three Dollars And Nine Cents ($10,443.09) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7844, Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Account #72C70233, Northampton Street, to allow for the payment of current and future obligations for engineering services at Grant Square, as approved by the City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred Four Dollars And Nine Cents ($14,704.09) be transferred from Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, to Account #26C704, Worcester Fire Department Capital Rehabilitation.

Recommend that One Million Four Hundred Seventeen Thousand One Hundred Thirty Two Dollars And No Cents ($1,417,132.00) be transferred from Account #91C7111A, Building Rehabilitation City/Schools, and be appropriated to Account #04C754, Citywide/School Energy Improvements, to fund anticipated ESCo project expenses in the 2nd quarter of Fiscal Year 2018.

Recommend that Forty One Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Two Dollars And Forty Cents ($41,562.40) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, to Account #26C701, Worcester Fire Department Capital Equipment .

Recommend that Three Hundred Eighty Nine Thousand Twenty Seven Dollars And Forty Eight Cents ($389,027.48) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7414, Street Construction, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C762, Central Business District, to fund the Central Business District streetscape improvements engineering project costs, as previously approved by the City Council in FY17/FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Two Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Six Hundred Two Dollars And Ninety Eight Cents ($235,602.98) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7844, Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Account #72C70250 Dog Park, to fund the Dog Park project construction costs, as approved by the City Council in the FY17/FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Eight Hundred Twenty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty One Dollars And Fifty One Cents ($829,831.51) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7844, Park Improvements, and be appropriated to Account #72C70242, Playground Assessment, to allow for the payment of future obligations for the playground safety construction costs, as approved by the City Council in the FY18 CIP.

Recommend that Thirty Thousand Four Hundred Thirty Six Dollars and Seventy Four Cents ($30,436.74) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, to Account #68C701, Technical Services Capital Equipment, to process payment for the following previously approved capital equipment purchases:

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation of a dumpster and waste disposal with a value of One Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,000.00) from Casella Waste Management for a Cleanup Effort at Blackstone Gateway Park.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of $5,000 from ABBVIE to support Recreation Worcester.

Recommend that Fourteen Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($14,427.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2018 1st quarter health insurance expenses for Airport retirees.

Recommend that Twenty Two Thousand Two Hundred Ninety Two Dollars And No Cents ($22,292.00) be transferred from Account #330-08, Reserve for Appropriation on Loans, to Account #660-92000, Treasurer's Office Ordinary Maintenance, to fund the costs associated with the City of Worcester's $10,709,000.00 Bond Anticipation Note Sale dated September 27, 2017.

Recommend that Four Thousand Three Hundred Sixty Five Dollars And Thirty Two Cents ($4,365.32) be be authorized from Account #412-92000, Street Lights Ordinary Maintenance, for the payment of prior year invoices, to be met with Fiscal Year 2018 funds.

Recommend that the total of Three Hundred Eighty Two Dollars And Eighty Cents ($382.80) be authorized from Account #450-91000, Water Personal Services, and Account #450-97000, Water Overtime, for the payment of prior year payroll, to be met with Fiscal Year 2018 funds.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the development and announcement of the City of Worcester Strategic and Master Plan, and Lean Management.

#10e CC July 18, 2017 ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager and City Council reduce the FY18 taxes at the tax recap for 1) 20% of any certified free cash; 2) any amounts determined to be in excess in the Health Insurance Trust and; 3) any new growth in excess of what is currently budgeted.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Paul Blanchard, Jr. request the portion of St. Marks Rd. abutted by 43 and 47 Prudential St. be removed from the Official Map and subsequently deeded to Paul Blanchard, Jr.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend approval to discontinue and convey a portion of the Washington Square Layout.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend approval to discontinue a portion of Foster Street as a public way.

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Council to vote on an amount of dollars for tax relief for taxpayers prior to the election. (Tabled Under Privilege - Economou October 24, 2017)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication regarding a draft ordinance relative to the smoking or consumption of marijuana or other drug in public, similar to the City Ordinance concerning drinking in public: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Gaffney October 24, 2017)

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)

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen and Councilor Philip P. Palmieri - Request City Manager inform City Council as to whether he and other representatives from the city intend to meet with the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox to see if they have any interest in relocating to Worcester. (Tabled - Gaffney September 29, 2015)

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

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication on a quarterly update relative to the City of Worcester’s plan to implement improved strategies and policies that better serve and represent our diverse community. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes January 26, 2016 and Tabled - Petty February 2, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a list of the non-profit agencies who keep their properties on the tax rolls. (Tabled - Gaffney May 24, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a report listing properties that have been converted from commercial or industrial to residential. (Tabled - Gaffney May 24, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting communication responding to City Council inquiry requesting City Manager submit an estimated assessor's recap comparing the proposed FY 17 tax levy with the current real estate assessments and the FY 16 assessed values. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes June 14, 2016 and June 21, 2016 and Tabled - Lukes July 19, 2016)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to legislation to regulate and restrict non-profit organizations in residentially zoned districts. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman September 20, 2016 and September 27, 2016 and Tabled - Bergman October 4, 2016)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - That the Worcester City Council does hereby support the initiation of negotiations by the WRA with MassPort or other entities regarding the feasibility of transferring Union Station as an intermodal transportation center to MassPort. The transfer concept is based upon the transfer of the Worcester Airport to MassPort and is necessitated by similar transportation and financial concerns that resulted in the conveyance of Worcester Airport to MassPort. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty February 28, 2017- and Tabled - Lukes March 7, 2017)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a City Solicitor's report concerning the wording of the ordinance voted by the Town of Westborough on March 7, 2017, which banned any recreational marijuana stores, farms or other related businesses in that Town and what, if any, would be the impact of the ordinance on medical marijuana businesses, personal consumption and limited home grown plants and further what is the process for the city to implement a such a ban on commercial, non-medical marijuana business. (Tabled - Lukes May 9. 2017)

HEARING & ORDER to grant permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a joint or identical pole location at: ST. PAUL DRIVE (Tabled - Bergman May 23, 2017)

ORDER of Councilor Michael T. Gaffney - Request City Council, in Accordance with City Council Rule 52, to discharge from the Standing Committee on Public Safety the item referred to said committee on September 6, 2016 relative to a Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication regarding a draft ordinance relative to the smoking or consumption of marijuana or other drug in public, similar to the City Ordinance concerning drinking in public. (Tabled - Bergman May 23, 2017)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the legality of changes in this year’s tax classification from residential to commercial of several assisted living facilities. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman June 20, 2017 and Tabled June 27, 2017 - Bergman)

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what effect, if any, utility pole hotspots may have on the human body. – Item #18a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Michael T. Gaffney – Request City Manager provide City Council with a full proposal outlining what the City is doing and plans to do for the citizens from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands resettling in Worcester. – Item #18b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council does hereby amend the 2017 City Council Meeting Schedule by designating the meeting of Tuesday, October 31, 2017 to include the Recess to Finance section. – Item #18c Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager include any information received from the Inspector General in any report provided to City Council concerning whether or not any exemptions exist that would allow City employees the opportunity to plow. – Item #18d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager plant three replacement shade trees in front of 25 Trent Rd. – Item #18e CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Tony Economou – Request City Manager work to cut overgrowth back along Norton Dr. and West Boylston Dr., working with the state if needed. – Item #18f CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what the process is in regards to identification and permitting for people soliciting door to door in neighborhoods. – Item #18g CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning what methods and means are available to prevent people profiting privately from things taken on by City Council in a public manner. – Item #18h CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council does hereby amend the time of the Tuesday, October 31, 2017 City Council meeting to 7:30 p.m. – Item #18i CC Order adopted

Motion Lukes @ #7a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report describing any conversations National Grid had with various businesses surrounding their work on Chandler St.

Motion Bergman @ #9.13A CM – Request City Manager distribute information concerning exemptions available for city snowplow contracts to those who may be interested in applying or reapplying for the positions.