CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:37 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:16 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 September 25, 2018.

Speakers: 1. Sandra Katz, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to #11b 2. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke to #8.13A

Hearing: CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC for conduit location at: PRESCOTT ST./GARDEN ST. Granting permission to CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC for conduit location at: PRESCOTT ST./GARDEN ST.

Hearing: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: MASSASOIT RD./GREENFIELD ST. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: MASSASOIT RD./GREENFIELD ST.

Donald J. O'Neil, Esq. on behalf of Gold Star Builders Inc. request to amend Zoning Map in the general vicinity of the intersection of Grand St. and Armory St. by extending the BL-1.0 zone northeasterly across Grand St. to incorporate two parcels of land located at 169 and 179 Grand St.

Donald J. O'Neil, Esq. on behalf of Worcester Affordable Housing LLC request to amend the Zoning Map to extend the BG-2.0 zone southerly from its current terminus at the northerly line of Curtis Pond as shown on the attached map.

Jimmy Georges request street repair in front of 77 Amherst St.

Richard Gram request a No Turn on Red sign be installed on Park Ave. at Highland St. as you drive south.

Ercilia Carreno request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 47 Orne St.

Ercilia Carreno request installation of a passenger drop off zone for Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. in the vicinity of 47 Orne St.

Zoe D'Apollo request a traffic light be installed at the intersection of Burncoat St., Lincoln St. and Shattuck St.

Amy Petrucelli request installation of a handicap parking space in the vicinity of 15 Fifth Ave.

John McCabe request City to prohibit registered boats on trailers from parking on a public street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Alliance for Community Media-Northeast Region Awards.

Transmitting informational communication relative to clarification concerning whether the city can create a home rule petition to change the definition of residential units.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion as to the applicability of the City Council rules, specifically Rule 11, which states that matters not within the general supervision and/or relating to City Government are not appropriate for the City Council agenda, and whether the Rule 11 disqualifies a vote by the City Council on the pending resolution regarding DACA and TIP which are federal immigration issues.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the status of the construction progress and building permit status at the gas station located at 1128 Pleasant Street, Thomas Energy Center.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update concerning how the City of Worcester is implementing Early Voting for the State Election on November 6, 2018.

Transmitting informational communication relative to various orders assigned to the Worcester Public School Department.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report containing samples of taxes for properties in each district and throughout the City if the City were to initiate a process for moving 5 or more unit properties from the residential tax rate to the commercial tax rate.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a the effects of the residential exemption available to owner occupied residential properties.

Recommend that One Hundred Forty Six Thousand Seven Hundred Six Dollars And Ninety Cents ($146,706.90) be transferred from stagnant MSBA Project Accounts, to active MSBA School Project Accounts as described.

Recommend that Four Thousand One Hundred Forty Dollars And No Cents ($4,140.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C711C, Parks Building Rehab, and be appropriated to Parks Account #72C70223, Newton Hill, to allow for the payment of current contractual obligations associated with the Newton Hill Storage Shed Project.

Recommend that One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($150,000.00) be transferred from Account #91C7161A, Union Station Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #04C704, Union Station Building Rehabilitation, to provide funding for ongoing building improvements at Union Station.

Recommend that Twenty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Fourteen Dollars And No Cents ($27,814.00) be transferred from Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehab, to Account #26C704, Fire Capital Rehab.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Seventeen Thousand Four Hundred Two Dollars And No Cents ($717,402.00) be transferred as described so as to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Parking Program for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019.

Recommend that Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Dollars And No Cents ($12,720.00) be transferred from Account #04T803, OPEB Trust Reserve, and be appropriated to Account #663-96000, Health Insurance, to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2019 first quarter health insurance expenses for Airport retirees.

Recommend adoption of a Loan Order in the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($3,500,000.00) to fund a potential building improvement project through the MSBA at the Challenge & Reach Academy.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Communication of the City Manager request to remove Allen Court from the Official Map.

HEARING for CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: LOVELL ST./JUNE ST. and BROWNELL ST./BERKMANS ST. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: LOVELL ST./JUNE ST. and BROWNELL ST./BERKMANS ST. (Tabled Under Privilege - Wally October 2, 2018)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Bruce LaBoffa request zone change for the property at 452 Southwest Cutoff from Residential to ML-0.5.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled - Mero-Carlson April 3, 2018)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to an update of a previous report concerning what the impact would be if 4 to 8 unit properties and 9 or above unit properties were moved to a commercial tax rate using the current valuations and the rational the state used to classify income properties and how many buildings have 9 or above units in the city: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order to request the City Manager to initiate process for moving 5 or more unit properties from residential tax rate to commercial tax rate. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rose September 12, 2018) and (Tabled - Petty September 25, 2018)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – That the City Council go on record in favor of supporting the Worcester Bravehearts as they plan for the future. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes August 21, 2018 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty September 12, 2018) and (Tabled - Lukes September 25, 2018)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager report on what further construction will be performed and the date of completion for June Street. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes September 25, 2018 and Tabled - Lukes October 2, 2018)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with a list of all private subcontractors that are working on city streets and sidewalks, including where each private subcontractor is working on. – Item #15a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager provide City Council with any data concerning how long it takes public utility companies to complete new installations on various roads. Item #15b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning what the fees are for connecting to public utilities. – Item #15c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager review the sidewalk repairs occurring at Kenwood Ave., as concrete was expected to be used to make the repairs, however, blacktop has been used. – Item #15d CC Order adopted

PETITION of Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ronald Holbrook request installation of a handicap parking space in the vicinity of 229 Millbury St. – Item #15e CC Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks address water and gutter issue in front of 134 Southbridge St. – Item #15f CC Order adopted

PETITION of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request sidewalk repair in front of Union Music, Guertin Graphics and A1 Wholesale Window and Siding on Southbridge St. – Item #15g CC Referred to Public Works Committee

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks address water that is continually running in the vicinity of the Teamsters building on Route 20. – Item #15h CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager reach out to those responsible for the construction on Route 20 so that more signage and lighting is added in the area. – Item #15i CC Order adopted

Motion Lukes @ #8.13A CM - Request City Manager provide the responses to the orders listed within City Manager’s item #8.13A from the October 9, 2018 agenda.