JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING ON

MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND HEALTH

DECEMBER 19, 2005

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 6:15 p.m.

Adjourned: 8:15 p.m.

 

Present were:                Co-Chairperson Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr.

                                      Co-Chairperson Councilor Barbara G. Haller-

                                      Councilor Philip P. Palmieri

                                      Councilor Joseph M. Petty

                                      Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes

                                      Councilor Juan A. Gomez

                                     

 

Also:                              City Solicitor David M. Moore

                                      City Treasurer Thomas F. Zidelis

                                      Cmsnr. of Health & Human Services Jill Dagilis

                                      NUD Staffperson Donna McGrath

                                      Director of Public Health Jay Gardiner

                                      Assistant City Clerk Lisa M. Thomas, clerk

 

 

The Committee Co-chairs reconvened the hearing @ 6:16 p.m. Several speakers were heard. They were:

 

          1. Marge Purves, 8 Congress St., Worcester

          2.Larry Gottlieb, Newton

          3. Michael True, 4 Westland St., Worcester

          4. Kathleen Winsor, 6 Haviland St., Worcester

          5. Chris Comeaux, 290 Highland St., Worcester

          6. Bill Breault, 4 Hathaway St., Worcester

          7. Lynne Simonds, 45 Grand St., Worcester

          8. Ronal Madnick, 4 Pine Tree Dr., Worcester

          9. Premtina Thamel, 52 Fruit St., Worcester

          10. Claire Schaefer-Duffy, 52 Mason St., Worcester

          11. Gwen Davis, 416 Lake Ave., Worcester

          12. Jenn Knight, 180 Lincoln St., Worcester

          13. Larry Hendry, Framingham resident

          14. Jacqueline Norton, 245 Fairmont Ave., Worcester

          15. Sandra Katz, 26 Lee St., Worcester

          16. Dianne Rocheleau, 45 Hollywood St, Worcester

          17. Roberta Schaefer, 8 Cricket Lane, Worcester

          18. Peter Stefan, 838 Main St., Worcester

          19. James Eber, 10 Midland St., Worcester

          20. Mary Sweeney, 38 Cedar St., Worcester

          21. Anthony Colon, 67 Illinois St., Worcester

 

The hearing was declared closed @ 8:15 p.m.

 

1.       Communication of Mayor Timothy P. Murray transmitting a report concerning the siting and tax impact of taking properties off the tax roll

          #60a CC October 11, 2005

In Committee November 28, 2005

          Recommend Hold

 

2.       Communication of Roberta Schaefer, Exec. Director of Worcester Regional Research Bureau transmitting report Regarding Siting Residential Social Services Programs:  The Process and the Options.

          #99 CC October 4, 2005

In Committee November 28, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

3.       Communication of the City Manager relative to social service zoning and permitting enforcement regulations in the Town of Framingham.

          #22A CM November 22, 2005

In Committee November 28, 2005

Recommend Hold

 

Chairman's Orders:

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a definition of “disability” as used by the FHA and the Massachusetts Dover Amendment.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning the applicability of enforcing Worcester’s Zoning Ordinance restricting more than three unrelated adults from occupying one dwelling unit with regard to social service programs.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning what duties a Social Service Liaison could be assigned.

 

Request the City Manager consider conducting an independent study of the social and economic impacts of social service programs on neighborhoods.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning the procedures used to determine if a program being considered for siting is eligible for Dover Amendment exemption, both as a first time applicant and as an annual renewal, to include a definition of educational use.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a listing of sites that have been granted a Dover Amendment exemption.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with options for excluding/limiting Level 3 sex offenders from social service programs, and/or requiring notification to local schools, program providers to children, and households when Level 3 sex offenders are in residence.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning the numbers, types, and granting agencies for rental vouchers/leased housing programs.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning the locations of “wet” shelters in Central Massachusetts, and, if any such shelters have restrictions regarding who can stay at such shelters, including a history of local residency.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report concerning protective custody; how it is used and administered, the number of cases each year, the costs, and possible alternative options.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a year-to-year projection concerning the 5-year needs for emergency shelter beds, group homes, sober housing, and voucher/leased housing.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report that advises on the legality of City Council endorsement of any and all recommendations from the Mayor’s Social Service Task Force and of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau.

 

Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report outlining what authority the City has regarding the regulation, siting, management, etc. of “wet” shelters.

 

Request the City Manager report to the City Council concerning whether supersaturating particular neighborhoods with social service programs, or, by siting such programs in high-crime neighborhoods, violates FHA by denying the rights of certain persons to live in the location of their choice.

 

The next meeting of the committee is tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2006 @ 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber pending appointment of Committees for the 2006-2007 term by the Mayor.