9:42: We’ve just endured a 30 minute conversation on the potential creation of two new city employees to deal with HUD and foreclosure issues, despite the fact that Palmieri held the item for a week. Now, a discussion on how quick we need to move on this.
9:13: Little “Robert’s Rules” intrigue for all you sticklers out there. Rosen asked Lukes to step down while her proposed items were being discussed; she refused. Actually, she just ignored him.
9:11: On the other side, Lukes wants to look at housing incentives to get college graduates and employees to buy homes. As long as they don’t throw parties with more than 5 people.
9:05: Lukes wants to regulate hookah bars and signage “before it gets out of control.”
9:02: Local ACLU head Ron Madnick: “There are other ways to carry out [enforcement] of this problem.” Colleges, use of current nuisance ordinances, etc are all possibilities. BUT, says Madnick, the ACLU will withhold comment until an official ordinance is proposed.
8:59: Listening to Councilor Palmieri and some of his colleagues, you’d think Worcester was ranked as one of the top party school cities in the country.
8:54: Lukes says she didn’t sign on because of the way the proposal was worded, but that she supports the intent.
8:53: Rosen says that if colleges don’t like this, they can either accept a PILOT program, or crack down on students.
8:50: Councilor Smith says this is a “good starting point,” acknowledging that it could effect everyone from grandparents to college kids.
8:49: Councilor Clancy criticizes the Holy Cross administration for not actually meeting with the Caro Street neighbors after Councilor Haller’s press conference following the party there a few weeks ago.
8:46: Acknowledging some of the potential pitfalls, Councilor Toomey calls for more discussion and, perhaps, an appeal board for fined parties to have a recourse.
8:44: Councilor Haller, who represents more college neighborhoods than anyone else, says this is about “more than college parties.” She says “unruly parties” are one of the largest complaints she gets from constituents. “We need to find a tool to bring these disturbances under control.”
8:43: Councilor Petty wants the legal report to include a discussion about enforcement.
8:40: Councilor Eddy on the ordinance: He was one of two councilors not to sign on. “I share Councilor Germain’s concerns…about absentee landlords…I worry that his order captures a lot of people we aren’t aiming this at.” That includes responsible landlords in nicer neighborhoods and have only occasional problems, he says, or who run into problems when they are trying to evict tenants in housing court.
8:36: The party ordinance. Essentially, Germain is talking about the Narragansett, RI ordinance that fines landlords when unruly parties are held. Not being said exactly, but Germain is discussing a side benefit: Making absentee landlords more aware of what is going on in properties they own. It’s about making everyone more aware of each other in general, says Germain. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” says Germain, mentioning students, landlords, neighbors, cops.
8:27: Screw getting pedestrians on the street. Councilor Germain wants a shuttle service from the new Union Station Garage to the Canal District and Shrewsbury Street.
8:23: Councilor Rosen, revisiting an oooooolllld item, asks if we’re still planning on putting out an (request for proposals) RFP for the fire alarm building on Park Ave. Apparently there is an interested agency.
8:21: An order we love from Toomey: asking for a report and update of some of the parking signage/restrictions in the Blackstone/Green Island hood. Right now, a lot of the restrictions are based on old manufacturing needs.
8:20: Councilor Toomey asks how does the Wall Street collapse fallout effect the city’s investments? A report from the auditor on all investments forthcoming.
8:13: An item on the agenda from the Municipal Operations committee .asking the city to contribute 25% to SectionB retirees. THAT MONEY IS NOT COMING, at all. Simply, says Barbara Haller, there is no relief at this time. A little blowup when Mayor Lukes refuses allowing Joe Casello to speak on behalf of the retirees. Gary Rosen asks for a suspension of rules to allow him a chance. Lukes says that no matter what, the retirees are not going to prevail, there is no relief, there is no money, there is no hope for these retirees.
8:09: What about last year’s concept of local option meals/hotel taxes? Gary Rosen wants to know. City Manager Michael O’Brien says it’s unlikely to pass at the state level, but other fiscal relief is being discussed by the legislature.
This is one of the most bizarre conversations we’ve heard, albeit probably needed: 11 councilors talking about how to handle state aid cuts that we don’t even know are real yet. Better than talking about after the fact, but it sure is hard to make plans without knowing the variables.
7:59: Councilor Rushton is asking for a report in the next month or so asking the City Manager for where he is going to be looking to cutback or curtail spending, based on the overall economic sense that we’re screwed, and in all liklihood will be looking at a cut in aid. Sounds like almost unanimously, the counciors who are speaking are in agreement that the city will likely be facing aid cuts. Petty is questioning if we even know what potential cuts will be though, and worries about panicking the public.
7:46: And Councilor Paul Clancy remembers the anticipated problems with locating the Tornadoes at Lake Park, leading to their building at Holy Cross. “We have to be sensitive to the neighborhoods…moreover, be sensitive to the park…I’m not sure any of this is even feasible.” Councilor Toomey calls for more conversation about exactly what the project would entail, on every end. Huge crowd here from the neighborhood opposing the plan.
7:43: Talking about the proposed Lake Ave sportsplex–lot of people not too happy with this idea, especially the concept of using park land. Councilor Germain, who sponsored the item, is holding it for a week, but says we still need to look at ways of retaining the Sharks.
7:22: We’re live and in person—right now the conversation is all about Penny Johnson, retiring librarian. Stay tuned
3 Comments
October 2, 2008 at 10:33 am
Awww…you didn’t include that great line about how the Sharks need more “tentacles” in the city! It was such a great image…
And that wasn’t all neighborhood people that were there on Lake Park…they’ve stirred up the park advocacy groups on this one, too.
You know, it’s DARK down in the Canal District at night…
October 6, 2008 at 10:06 am
Here are the audio and video of this meeting:
http://worcesteractivist.org/wiki/City_Council_Meeting%2C_2008-10-01
October 6, 2008 at 10:24 am
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