CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Esther Howland Chamber

Convened: 6:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:26 P.M.


Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

 

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Morris A. Bergman Khrystian E. King
Konstantina B. Lukes Candy Mero-Carlson
Sarai Rivera Sean M. Rose City Clerk
Susan M. Ledoux
Gary Rosen George J. Russell
Kathleen M. Toomey Matthew E. Wally
 

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts


1.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & STAR SPANGLED BANNER

2.

ROLL CALL - All present with the Mayor as the Chair except for Councilor Toomey.

3.

PROCLAMATIONS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, MOMENTS OF SILENCE

3a.

Mayor Petty recognized the Cub Scout Pack from Epworth United Methodist Church and Webelos Den Leader Dan Arnold, who led the City Council in their pledge of allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.

 

3b.

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring January 21, 2019 at Jewish Arbor Day in the City of Worcester, a day honoring Tu Bi Shvat, which is a day recognizing the importance of trees in the Jewish community. The Proclamation was presented to Steven Schimmel, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts.

 

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 January 8, 2019.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

5.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

5a.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speakers:
1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident
2. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #8.17A CM
3. Alex Guardiola, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8.7A CM
4. Joseph C. O’Brien, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8.7A CM
5. Shawn Manson, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8.7A CM
6. Jo Hart, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #8.7A CM
7. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #8.7A CM

 

6.

HEARING & ORDER

6a.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND for a pole location at: BROOKLINE STREET; and Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND for a pole location at: BROOKLINE STREET

Attachments

Hearing Held & Order adopted

 

7.

PETITIONS

7a.

Dafni Tsolakidis request the installation of guardrails at four corners of May St. and June St. intersection.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

7b.

Dafni Tsolakidis request traffic lights at the May St. and June St. intersection be left on all night.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

7c.

Laurey Cousins request installation of "no parking here to corner" signage at the intersection of Hartshorn Ave. and Rupert St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

7d.

Frank Santa Maria request "One Hour Parking 7 A.M. to 6 P.M." on the odd side of Casco St. from Shrewsbury St. to utility pole #7 be removed and replaced with "No Parking Anytime 7 A.M. to 6 P.M." signage being installed in its place.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

7e.

Frank Santa Maria request installation of a "Commercial Loading Zone" in Casco St. from a point 105" south of Shrewsbury St. to a point 165" south of Shrewsbury St.

Attachments

Referred to Traffic and Parking Committee

 

7f.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: PARKER and DEWEY STREETS

Attachments

Hearing set for January 29, 2018 at 6:30 P.M.

 

8.

COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

8.1

APPOINTMENTS
Non-City Council Confirmation
A.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Tomi Stefani to the Historical Commission.

Attachments

Placed on file

 
 

8.2

APPOINTMENTS
City Council Confirmation
 

8.3

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
 

8.4

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Arts Council 2019 Grant Awards.

Attachments

Placed on file

 
 

8.5

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Administration Division
 

8.6

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Engineering and Architectural Services Division
 

8.7

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Operations Division
A.

Transmitting communication relative to the Comprehensive Clean City Program.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 
 

8.8

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
Parks Division
 

8.9

FIRE DEPARTMENT
 

8.10

POLICE DEPARTMENT
A.

Requesting an additional permanent lieutenant position to be added to the table of organization to allow for more training and oversight of new specialized units.

Attachments

Order adopted by roll call vote of 10 yeas and 0 nays (Toomey absent)

 
 

8.11

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
 

8.12

LICENSE COMMISSION
 

8.13

LAW DEPARTMENT
 

8.14

DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Administration
 

8.15

DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Building and Zoning Division
 

8.16

DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES
Housing and Health Inspections Division
 

8.17

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Public Health
A.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning any and all actions being taken by the city in regards to the Hepatitis A outbreak.

Attachments

Referred to Public Health and Human Services Committee

 
 

8.18

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Elder Affairs
 

8.19

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Human Rights and Disabilities
 

8.20

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Veterans Services
 

8.21

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Youth Services
 

8.22

WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
 

8.23

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Election Commission Division
 

8.24

PUBLIC SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
 

8.25

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Assessing Division
 

8.26

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Budget Office Division
A.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.

Attachments

Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 
 

8.27

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Energy and Asset Management
A.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning efforts for municipal preparedness and building resilience to natural as well as human-made shocks.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 
B.

Transmitting communication relative to Worcester's draft Community Choice (Electricity) Aggregation Plan.

Attachments

Referred to Economic Development Committee

 
 

8.28

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Purchasing Division
 

8.29

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Technical Services Division
 

8.30

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Treasury and Collections Division
 

8.31

FINANCE ITEMS
Capital Transfers
A.

Recommend that a total of One Million One Hundred Seventy Eight Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,178,000.00) be transferred from and to various Public School Accounts as described.

Attachments

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

 
B.

Recommend that One Million Twenty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,025,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C744B, Off Street Parking Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to DPW Account # 46C707, Parking Garage Improvements to allow for contractually obligated payments associated with the Pearl-Elm Municipal garage restoration project.

Attachments

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

 
C.

Recommend that Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($40,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehab, to Parks Account #72C70251, Stearns Tavern, to allow for the payment of current contractual obligations.

Attachments

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

 
 

8.32

FINANCE ITEMS
Grants and Donations
A.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend award funds in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($500.00) from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) Festivals Grant Program the 2019 Out to Lunch event series.

Attachments

Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 
B.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude, a donation in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($500.00) from Trachtenberg Family for the Victoria Trachtenberg Fund to support the Worcester Public Library Children’s Room and Programming.

Attachments

Resolution adopted with gratitude on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 
C.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in an amount up to Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($40,000.00) from Emergency Shelter/Solutions Grant (ESG) under the Homeless Outreach & Engagement: Quality of Life Task Force program.

Attachments

Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 
D.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($15,000.00) from the United Way through the Fred Daniels Foundation for the WDPH Regional Youth Health Survey.

Attachments

Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 
 

8.33

FINANCE ITEMS
Operational Transfers
A.

Recommend that Twenty Four Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Dollars and Five Cents ($24,980.05) be transferred from Account #330-08, Reserve for Appropriation on Loans, to Account #660-92000, Treasurer’s Office Ordinary Maintenance.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent, Wally recused)

 
B.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Account #270-91000, Communications Personal Services, to Account #270-97000, Communications Overtime.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent, Wally recused)

 
C.

Recommend that Fourteen Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Dollars And One Cent ($14,990.01) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager Contingency, to Account #040-92000, City Manager Ordinary Maintenance, to pay for the cost of Firefighter Christopher Roy's funeral expenses per MGL 41 CH 100G 1/4.

Attachments

Order adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent, Wally recused)

 
 

8.34

FINANCE ITEMS
Prior Year
A.

Recommend that Nine Thousand One Hundred Fifty Nine Dollars And Fourteen Cents ($9,159.14) be authorized to allow these obligations to be met with Fiscal Year 2019 funds.

Attachments

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

 
 

8.35

FINANCE
Loan Orders
 

8.36

MISCELLANEOUS AGENDA TRANSMITTALS
9.

LOAN ORDER TO BE ADOPTED

9a.

That the sum of Two Million Dollars And No Cents ($2,000,000.00) be appropriated to Account #91C7161A, Union Station Rehab, to pay for costs associated with Union Station Cannabis Commission Fit out, including the costs incidental and related thereto.

Attachments

Loan Order adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent, Wally recused)

 

10.

TO BE ORDAINED

10a.

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinance Of 2008 To Rescind Handicap Parking In Front Of 4 Anderson Ave.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10b.

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinance Of 2008 To Amend Handicap Parking In Front Of 119 Chino Ave.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10c.

Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13of the Revised Ordinance of 2008 to Rescind Handicap Parking in Front of 13 Whipple St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10d.

Amending Section 42 of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances of 2008 To Provide Handicap Parking In Front of 21 May St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10e.

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinance Of 2008 To Rescind Handicap Parking In Front of 77 Chatham St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10f.

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances of 2008 To Provide Handicap Parking In Front Of 5 Townsend St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10g.

Amending Section 42 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances of 2008 To Install No Parking Anytime In Front Of 340 May St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10h.

Amending Section 40 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances Of 2008 To Provide For Resident Permit Parking on Catharine St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10i.

Amending Section 29 Of Chapter 213 Of The Revised Ordinances of 2008 Providing For Stop sign on Hawthorne Street and Woodland St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

10j.

Amending Section 43 Of Chapter 13 Of The Revised Ordinances of 2008 To Amend The Winter Parking Ban on Berkeley St.

Attachments

Ordained on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

 

11.

TABLED ITEM

11a.

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)

Attachments

No action taken

 

12.

BUSINESS UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES - Items brought forth under suspension at the January 15, 2019 City Council meeting.

12a.

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning any dialogue the city’s administration has had with the Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team (WAFT). – Item #12a CC Order adopted

 

12b.

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city’s State Delegation has begun any process to address foreclosure-related evictions affecting Worcester residents by the Worcester Housing Court. – Item #12b CC Order adopted

 

12c.

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing statistics concerning foreclosures in the city, including information concerning how many foreclosure there are and how many people become homeless as a result of a foreclosure. – Item #12c CC Order adopted

 

12d.

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding the court action after Lynn, Brockton and Springfield enacted foreclosure related ordinances and how the previous ordinance enacted by the city may or may not have to be amended. – Item #12d CC Order adopted

 

12e.

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen – Request City Manager consider providing City Council with information concerning actions taken by the Worcester Housing Court. – Item #12e CC Order adopted

 

12f.

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request Standing Committee on Municipal Operations consider coordinating the evaluation of the City Manager with any contract and salary increase for the City Manager, so that it is tied to performance in the future. – Item #12f CC Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

12g.

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request Standing Committee on Municipal Operations consider looking into the appropriateness of having a, “State of the City,” address for the city. – Item #12g CC Referred to Municipal Operations Committee

 

12h.

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager put a plan together regarding the development of properties located on Route 20. – Item #12h CC Order adopted

 

12i.

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning to what extent City Councilors are allowed to discuss City Council related matters outside of City Council meetings. – Item #12i CC Order adopted

 

12j.

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager request City Solicitor forward to City Council Open Meeting Law information provided at MMA classes for City Councilors. – Item #12j CC Order adopted

 

12k.

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager consider assigning each neighborhood in Worcester a contact person who they could work with on an ongoing basis as more projects are undertaken. – Item #12k CC Order adopted

 

13.

NEW BUSINESS UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES - Items brought forth under suspension at the January 24, 2019 City Council meeting.

13a.

Motion Rivera @ #8.7A CM – Request City Manager consider looking into programs in Minneapolis, MN such as their Clean City Classroom program as a means to enhance the city’s program and educate the community.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13b.

Motion Wally @ #8.7A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a ten (10) year breakdown of the per ton costs associated with recycling and trash removal.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13c.

Motion King @ #8.7A CM – Request Standing Committee of Public Works consider looking into additional drop off locations for recyclables, including Millbury St. and more as possible as part of the Comprehensive Clean City Program.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13d.

Motion King @ #8.7A CM – Request Standing Committee of Public Works consider the feasibility of a hybrid recycling system that would allow single family home areas and multifamily home areas to use either a two-wheeled recycling bin or plastic recycling bags depending on what is more appropriate as part of the Comprehensive Clean City Program.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13e.

Motion King @ #8.7A CM – Request Standing Committee on Public Works consider any and all ways that the city could reduce or mitigate price increases for plastic bags as part of the Comprehensive Clean City Program.

Attachments

Referred to Public Works Committee

 

13f.

Motion Lukes @ #8.7A CM – Request City Manager consider looking into ways to increase the responsibility of packaging and manufacturing producers to use recyclable materials.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13g.

Motion Russell @ #8.7A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the pros and cons of allowing very small businesses to use the city’s recycling program.

Attachments

Order adopted

 

13h.

Motion Petty – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager create a task force to assist residents affected by the federal government shutdown with resources such as food and housing.

Attachments

Order adopted