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: Mar 03, 2015 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2015 / 98 - Minutes of City Council Meeting February 24th; Transportation SC February 24th, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Elliott Presiding. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. CITY AUDITOR 2. - CITY AUDITOR 2.1. 2015 / 107 - Communication - Snow and Ice Report. In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. Auditor York noted the current outstanding amounts regarding snow removal. C. Leahy questioned if loss of parking revenue can be included in costs calculations. Auditor informed that they could not. Manager Murphy commented that the Governor is attempting to have FEMA reimburse for every storm at one hundred percent and that the City has begun that filing process. C. Milinazzo requested that City explore any possible relief for lost income of businesses due to storms. C. Samaras questioned Manager concerning probabilities of reimbursement. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 7) GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1. 2015 / 72 - Ordinance-Amend s.222.15 entitled Panhandling In Council, Given 2nd reading. Hearing held. No Remonstrants. Hearing closed. Adopted per Roll Call vote. 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 x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x x COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2015 / 115 - Motion Responses (A) Motion Response - Drug Overdoses in City (B) Motion Response - Update on Estimated Billing System (C) Motion Response - City Wi-Fi Downtown (D) Motion Response - Petition to Governor for Financial Relief Snow Removal (E) Motion Response - Letter to Surrounding Communities to Join Petition for Financial Relief Informational Reports (F) Informational - Timetable for Constable Appointments In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response A regarding drug overdoses in the City noting the amount of resources that are available for help. Manager Murphy commented on the report and noted the assistance of Health Department and Trinity Ambulance. C. Belanger City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 7) commented on the issue and how prevalent it is and that outreach is necessary and continued discussions are needed. Motion by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Kennedy to refer report to the Substance Abuse SC. So voted. C. Belanger noted that several organizations should be invited. M. Elliott relinquished Chair to Vice-Chair Leahy at 6:45 PM. M. Elliott questioned Trinity Ambulance representative regarding lifesaving elements being used on the streets. Mr. John Chemaly of Trinity Ambulance commented on the statistics with the overdoses and the need to put added resources to the problem as well as caregivers creating new programs that are proven effective. M. Elliott noted the need for closer facilities. Frank Singleton (Dir. Health Dept.) commented on fatal overdoses and the state wide epidemic and the amount of resources available. C. Milinazzo questioned the role of the new Drug Court in Lowell. C. Rourke outlined that program as per his experience in the court system. C. Milinazzo commented that a representative from Tewksbury State Hospital should be included in discussions of the subcommittee. C. Kennedy commented on recent spiking of overdoses. Mr. Singleton commented on increasing problem with prescription drug use and the ease in which they can be obtained. C. Mercier questioned use of NARCAN and the availability of further immediate medical treatment after use. Mr. Singleton noted the refusal by client for further medical assistance is an immediate problem. C. Rourke commented on the affordability of drugs in today’s society as well as legislative changes to mandate medical treatment. C. Samaras noted the all programs should be reviewed to see how effective they are and that continued education to young people is needed. C. Samaras requested the Manager coordinate all services that are available. City Solicitor O’Connor commented that current legislation does not allow forced treatment of individuals. M. Elliott commented that the problems that are present drain a tremendous amount of resources needed for other areas of concern and requested that LPD weigh in on that issue at subcommittee. C. Leahy noted the State Delegation should be included in discussions as well. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response B regarding water billing noting the report and progress being made. C. Leahy noted the effort being made and that there were a small percentage of users effected. Manager Murphy commented on Motion Response C regarding downtown Wi-Fi noting it will be an attractive commodity downtown and introduced Miran Fernandez (MIS Dir.) to discuss issue further. Mr. Fernandez noted that there would be no costs for the service and that the recommendation would be using Comcast as the provider. C. Rourke noted urban Wi-Fi is a plus for downtown. Motion by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke to refer matter to Technology & Utilities SC for further action. So voted. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Martin to suspend rules for discussion of census survey. So voted. C. Mercier commented on the census survey sent out as well as attached information that would be helpful to citizens. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 7) Motion by M. Elliott, seconded by C. Belanger to suspend rules for discussion of recent shooting in City. So voted. M. Elliott requested update report as well as discussion of use of gang unit by the LPD. Manager Murphy noted that there should be a further executive session to discuss the strategies and that police and District Attorney should be involved. Vice-Chair Leahy returned Chair to M. Elliott at 7:30 PM. 4.2. 2015 / 104 - Communication-Reappoint James Wilde (Historic Board) 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 Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x 4.3. 2015 / 105 - Communication-Reappoint Richard Lockhart (Historic Board) 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 Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x x City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 7) REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5.1. 2015 / 100 - Auditor & Clerk Oversight SC March 3, 2015. In City Council, C. Kennedy presented the report noting the purpose of the meeting regarding salary of Clerk and that the committee will gather more information with respect to other clerks in the Commonwealth. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. PETITIONS 6. - PETITIONS 6.1. 2015 / 110 - Claims - (2) Property. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 6.2. 2015 / 99 - Misc. - Leo Sheridan c/o Soucy Trust request City abandon/convey 30 Glenwood Street to adjacent abutters. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Martin, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. C. Mercier questioned if the lot were buildable. Manager Murphy noted they would review the matter. 6.3. 2015 / 106 - Misc. - Yu Zhou (Mandarin Asian Bistro) request approval to install overhanging sign at 24 Market Street. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 6.4. 2015 / 108 - Misc. - Luis Delossantos request appeal and reimbursement for towing. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. 6.5. 2015 / 101 - Comcast Southern NE – Request installation of 3" underground conduit at 202 Chelmsford St. In Council, read and Motion to refer to public hearing on March 24, 2015 at 7 PM by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 7) CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7.1. 2015 / 102 - C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. find ways and means of providing glass cases to display present and previous Mayor's items that can be placed in the Mayor's Reception Room so that the public can view gifts to each Mayor. In Council, seconded by C. Milinazzo, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Mercier noted that the display was important and that gifts should be shared with City. M. Elliott noted that the gifts should be able to be viewed. Manager Murphy commented that the display case is being delivered. 7.2. 2015 / 103 - C. Mercier - Req. Parks & Recreation SC convene a meeting to discuss the naming of a park in the Hamilton Canal District that is referenced as Point Park. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to Parks & Recreation SC. So voted. C. Mercier noted the land and location as well as involvement of the art community. C. Mercier noted the meeting will by March 17, 2015 at 5:30 PM and requested Manager to invite interested parties. 7.3. 2015 / 111 - C. Belanger/C. Rourke - Req. City Mgr. work with DPD on a comprehensive marketing plan to promote "Lowell Week" to assist Lowell businesses due to sluggish winter economy. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Belanger noted the loss of business due to weather and need to look at ways to assist the businesses. C. Rourke commented it was a promotional opportunity for local businesses. 7.4. 2015 / 112 - C. Belanger/C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. organize a festival to take place in April along Cupples Square corridor to celebrate Cambodian New Year. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras requested assistance for residents in organizing events. C. Belanger commented on that area and the businesses that are being developed and expanding and that the City should work with the community. 7.5. 2015 / 114 - M. Elliott/C. Belanger - Req. City Mgr./City Solicitor provide a report on zoning ordinance relative to "grandfather" provision for issuance of building permits (for multi units at burned out properties) and establish City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 7) procedure to review current zoning to reduce housing density. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to City Manager/City Solicitor. So voted. M. Elliott relinquished Chair to Vice-Chair Leahy at 7:50 PM. M. Elliott commented on rebuilding efforts at the site of the Branch Street fire and that there is a need to reduce density in the area and requested report regarding grandfather status and rehabilitation in the City. C. Belanger noted the grandfather clause protection should be reviewed to lessen density to avoid future problems. C. Milinazzo noted the information is needed and commented on prior instances that grandfather protection was afforded by the City. C. Kennedy noted the issue should be reviewed and that the focus should be on parking as it relates to the density. 7.6. 2015 / 113 - M. Elliott - Req. Finance SC discuss recent report on overtime usage. In Council, seconded by C. Belanger, read and referred to Finance SC. So voted. M. Elliott noted the need to discuss matter as a tight budget year approaches. ADJOURNMENT 8. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov