City Council

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes Date: Feb 17, 2015 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA MAYOR’S BUSINESS 1. - MAYOR'S BUSINESS 1.1. 2015 / 82 - Presentation - Robert Christakos, a life-long Lowell resident and former boxing champion, regarding book: "Fighting Spirit: Lowell, The Acre and Bobby 'The Brawler'". Roll Call showed 8 present, 1 absent (C. Samaras). Mayor Elliott Presiding. M. Elliott offered remarks regarding the book about the life of Robert Christakos. Mr. Christakos commented on the book and growing up in Lowell. CITY CLERK 2. - CITY CLERK 2.1. 2015 / 78 - Minutes of City Council Meeting February 10th; Economic Development SC February 10th, for acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1. 2015 / 53 - Order of Taking and Acceptance of Asbury Way nd In Council, Given 2 reading. Hearing held. No Remonstrants. Motion to refer to Clerk’s Office for 7 days by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 5) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2015 / 86 - Motion Responses A. Explore DPD Working With Commercial/Downtown Broker B. Broadcast of Historic Board Meetings C. Paving List and Procedures D. Available Snow Removal Programs for Seniors/Disabled In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response A regarding DPD working with commercial real estate brokers noting the effort by DPD and the City in assisting new business and also noting the flyers use by the City on vacant store fronts. C. Kennedy noted that there could be additional resources used to make the downtown flourish and that a flourishing downtown would benefit all taxpayers. C. Milinazzo commented on Motion Response B regarding televised Historic Board Meetings noting they would be on television in the near future by LTC. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response C regarding paving lists and procedures noting the report and questioning if there could be more added for next year. C. Leahy noted his concerns with Industrial Avenue, Market Street and Varnum Avenue commenting on the condition of the mixing product and condition of the work area. Manager Murphy noted that the lists were those to be paved under Chapter 90 money and more will be added in the Capital Plan. Manager Murphy noted there was no payment on Industrial Avenue and that Varnum Avenue will be addressed for any deficiencies. C. Leahy noted that contractors should pick up as they move along. M. Elliott commented on the issue with the mix components on some streets. Lisa Demeo (City Engineer) noted there were some issues and they are being addressed and there have been no payments to contractors with these issues. C. Mercier raised the issue with safety and snow removal noting how effective the operation has been and requested exploring the possibility of making some streets one-way as clean continues. Manager Murphy noted he would explore that possibility commenting that the removal of snow has been challenging. Manager Murphy commented on Motion Response D regarding snow removal programs for elderly and disabled noting that the UTEC organization has volunteers for such work and that his office will get their information out there. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 5) 4.2. 2015 / 83 - Communication - City Mgr. request approval Out of State Travel (2) LPD; (1) DPD; and (1) Parking Dept. In Council, read and adopted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Leahy, John J. x x Martin Jr., William F. x x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. 2015 / 77 - Vote-Auth CM Execute Easement (8-10 Mill Street) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. C. Mercier noted that the vote is a fair resolution to the Camara family. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Leahy, John J. x Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 5) CONSTABLE BONDS 6. - CONSTABLE BONDS 6.1. 2015 / 85 - Communication - City Mgr. request approval for Constable Bonds for George M. Carreiro and Giovanni Bloise-Freyre. In Council, read and adopted. C. Mercier noted that some letter of references were dated and questioned the reason for same. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x x Leahy, John J. x Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 7. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 7.1. 2015 / 79 - Personnel SC February 17, 2015. In City Council, C. Belanger noted that the Personnel SC was cancelled and rescheduled for March 10, 2015 at 5:30 PM. C. Milinazzo noted that the Transportation SC will meet February 24, 2015 at 5:30 PM. M. Elliott noted he would be setting up Finance SC meeting shortly. PETITIONS 8. - PETITIONS 8.1. 2015 / 84 - Claim - (1) Property. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Martin, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 5) CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 9. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 9.1. 2015 / 80 - C. Rourke - Req. Flood Issues SC receive Lowell's Flood Plan for preparation, review and discussion. In Council, seconded by C. Milinazzo, read and referred to Flood Issues SC. So voted. C. Rourke noted the need to be prepared in case a flood would happen. 9.2. 2015 / 81 - M. Elliott - Req. City Mgr./CFO present to City Council report on debt schedule and impact of costs of new high school on taxpayers. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Elliott, without objection, spoke from the Chair and noting the need for information regarding cost effect of new school on all financial aspects of the City including Capital Plan and debt schedules. C. Rourke questioned time frame of MSBA decision and Manager noted it would be sometime in March. C. Kennedy questioned if it would be advantageous to name a site to narrow the scope of any feasibility study. Manager noted that if City is chosen for next level then a meeting should be held with MSBA for input on best practice to proceed. M. Elliott noted any study would take from 6-8 months. C. Belanger noted that if the costs have a significant effect on the taxpayers then it should be on the ballot for decisions. ADJOURNMENT 10. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 7:19 PM Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov