Entries from April 2008

April 29, 2008

Orders under suspension

-Palmieri wants consistency in street sweeping, and wants the streets actually sweeped if tow trucks are going to come through honking their horns.  Apparently, cars are being moved, but streets aren’t getting sweeped.
-Germain is asking Lukes to talk to the School Committee about (here comes an oldie but goodie) no longer bussing students who don’t [...]

April 29, 2008

Should ORH stay or should it go?

If the city doesn’t apply for the $10 Million FAA grant for the improvements to the airport by May 1, we be screwed, and will be faced with the entire cost ourselves.
And how much will the airport cost us if we decide to close it?  It looks to be about $9 million, give or take.
Rushton says [...]

April 29, 2008

UMass Worcester Law School

Joff Smith, once again bringing up the issue of a UMass Law School.  He wants the state delegation to get involved.
But while Smith is gung-ho about the possibility, the reality is that it would be a potentially difficult project with some serious history.  In 2005, a UMass-Dartmouth Law School was shot down by the state [...]

April 29, 2008

Hanover’s Hood

The neighborhood around the Hanover Theatre is still a bit rough, and Germain and Rosen want something to be done.
“There are a lot of businesses that need sprucing up…maybe some new businesses,” says Rosen.  ”I’m not saying we strong arm business owners…but maybe the administration should talk to the [business] owners…and try to make that [...]

April 29, 2008

Legal Weed

Decriminalizing weed?
The legislature has to act on a proposal that would do that very thing by May 7, or it goes on the ballot as a non-binding referendum this fall.
Gary Rosen wants the city to have hearings on the issue…he obviously opposes decriminalization, but he’s speaking in vague third-person terms.
8:14

April 29, 2008

PILOT from the military?

The council just referred an item to committee that, if passed, would ask the City Manager to go after PILOT monies from military bases and recruiting offices in town, the same as non-profits.
The item was proposed by Gordon Davis, on behalf of Worcester PeaceWorks.
7:56

April 29, 2008

Conflict on a Conflict of Interest

Interesting dilemma: Two orders had been sent to Municipal Operations—both deal with retiree benefits.  (Also, some employees, in the case of 19B)
The only problem is that Paul Clancy and Rick Rushton - two thirds of the committee- have to recuse themselves, according to what Clancy heard from Rushton, who said he heard from City Solicitor [...]

April 29, 2008

Education for all

The fourth speaker in as many weeks - this a grandparent taking the mic with her young grandson - asking the city to concentrate on giving more money to education, and consider raising the funding level above the foundation level.
A student, Daniel Lebouef of South High, is speaking eloquently on the same topic.  ”This is [...]

April 29, 2008

Adult Entertainment Zoning

The new adult entertainment ordinance, designed to make sure the city complied with the 1st amendment, is on the table right now.  It’s been a four month process to get to this point.
Councilor Haller is quoting Police Chief Gemme’s comments that there is a “multiplier” effect when adult entertainment is located near pouring establishments/bars.  That [...]

April 29, 2008

Council Time

No City Council preview today; we’re just going to dive right in.
It’s a packed house today—representatives supporting teachers/education dominate the crowd once again.  We’ll be here until the bitter, bitter end.  Hope you’ll join us.