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 10, 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 / 122 - Communication - Representative Rady Mom discussion of legislation regarding making the firing of a gun into a dwelling a felony. Roll Call showed 8 present, 1 absent (C. Kennedy). Mayor Elliott Presiding. In City Council Representative Mom addressed the Council regarding legislation concerning the firing of guns at dwelling houses. Representative Mom noted the sponsors of the bill and requested support of the Council as the bill moves forward. C. Mercier noted the goal for a safer city and that legislation should be forwarded regarding drug offenses. C. Samaras commented on the District Attorney involvement and offered added resources of the City to address the issue. C. Belanger commented on the need to focus on safety in the City. Supt. Taylor (LPD) commented on the legislation noting the increase in penalties and the need for such a law. C. Martin commented on latest incident and noted that the vast majority of citizens in Lowell are law abiding and that if you choose to be involved in criminal action then serious things can result. C. Martin noted the City should be portrayed in a more favorable light. Supt. Taylor noted that there is an ongoing investigation and that the parties have been less than cooperative. C. Leahy commented that certain actions will have consequences and that the City should ensure that the building is not part of the problem. C. Milinazzo commented on the legislation and the mandatory sentencing attached to it. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo to refer matter to Law Department to draw up resolution in support of the legislation. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) CITY CLERK 2. - CITY CLERK 2.1. 2015 / 117 - Minutes of City Council Meeting March 3rd; Auditor & Clerk Oversight SC March 3rd, for acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. Motion to suspend rules by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Mercier to allow speaker to address the body. So voted. Mr. Patrick McPhillips addressed the Council concerning fallen war hero Pfc. John Francis Landry, Jr. and the memorial breakfast for him at Lowell Catholic High School. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3.1. 2015 / 124 - Motion Responses (A) Motion Response- Temporary One Way Streets (B) Motion Response - Report on Debt Schedule, Impact of New High School, and Feasibility Study Reimbursement (C) Motion Response - Utilizing Civilians vs. Officers for Some Departmental Job In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Manager Murphy commented on Motion Response B regarding debt schedule concerning construction of new high school and introduced CFO Conor Baldwin to do presentation. Mr. Baldwin presented power point entitled “$249,145,949 Existing Outstanding Debt – All Funds.” Mr. Baldwin outlined existing net outstanding debt; projected debt service of 30 year bond payment; and tax impact of $55 million 30 year bond. C. Milinazzo questioned current debt level. Mr. Baldwin noted debt service is 8% of the budget and commented on bond rating. C. Leahy noted the impact on other capital projects. Manager Murphy noted debt will grow and also be retired during the payout time. C. Belanger noted need to balance costs with need for new high school. C. Rourke commented on costs verses the need for the school. C. Milinazzo commented on the 8% debt service in budget. Mr. Baldwin noted that debt covered all funds in the City. C. Milinazzo noted as the school system goes as goes the community and there is a need for the school. C. Samaras questioned the payment of the feasibility study. Mr. Baldwin noted the study is reimbursed at the conclusion of the project. C. Samaras noted a city is City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) judged by its school system. Manager Murphy noted the project is manageable it is just a matter of costs. C. Mercier questioned the location of possible new high school. M. Elliott relinquished Chair to Vice-Chair Leahy at 7:30 PM. M. Elliott noted the various meetings and discussions leading up to this point and moving along in the process as well as discussing costs of the project. Mr. Baldwin outlined the effect on taxes in the City. M. Elliott noted that this project would take away from the City doing other major capital projects including increasing middle school space. M. Elliott noted that there is no reimbursement for land acquisition. M. Elliott noted subcommittee meeting to tour high school and gather information. C. Martin noted the need for information and that this discussion did not discuss the revenue potential side of the argument. C. Leahy returned Chair to M. Elliott at 7:37 PM. C. Leahy commented on potential future revenue and that a good hard look is needed at the outset of the project. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response C regarding use of civilian personnel at the police department noting the report and the progress made. Supt. Taylor (LPD) commented on transfers pursuant to the reorganization and provided examples of future plans. 3.2. 2015 / 123 - Communication - City Mgr. request approval Out of State Travel (1) LPD. 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. 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 x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2015 / 116 - Vote-License Agreement (24 Market St) Overhanging Sign - Mandarin Asian Bistro City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. Leahy, John J. x Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x x REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5.1. 2015 / 121 - Personnel SC March 10, 2015. In City Council, C. Belanger presented the report noting the purpose of the meeting and outlining attendance as well commenting on the amendments to the Personnel Ordinance which would bring union and non-union personnel more in line with each other. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. C. Leahy noted that the Neighborhoods SC would take up flood review issue that had been referred to Flood Issues SC. Motion to refer to Neighborhoods SC from Flood Issues SC by C. Martin, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. C. Milinazzo noted Arts/Culture SC scheduled for March 24th. PETITIONS 6. - PETITIONS 6.1. 2015 / 118 - Claims - (2) Property. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. C. Mercier commented on the claim regarding damage from lamp post and requested that matter be looked into as to ensure safety. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) 6.2. 2015 / 119 - Misc. - Carmen Rivera request (1) handicap parking sign at 127 Sixth Street. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. 6.3. 2015 / 120 - Misc. - Jose E. Rodriquez request (1) handicap parking sign at 12 C Street. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Martin, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7.1. 2015 / 125 - C. Martin - Req. DPD provide a report as to the status of 2 for Lowell loans and possible funding sources to expand the program. In Council, seconded by C. Samaras, read and referred to City Manager/DPD. So voted. C. Martin commented on the program and its success even in a difficult real estate market. C. Martin noted the need of the program and to gather information on it so that added funding can be sought. C. Belanger commented on the program and noted the attractiveness of owner- occupied. C. Milinazzo noted the possible involvement of LDFC for funding. 7.2. 2015 / 126 - C. Belanger - Req. City Mgr. update Council regarding new synthetic drug ordinance. In Council, seconded by C. Leahy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Belanger noted the need to combat this drug situation. C. Leahy questioned the availability of grant money. Manager Murphy noted the use of grant money. Motion to refer to Substance Abuse SC as well by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 7.3. 2015 / 127 - C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. have Parks & Recreation Commissioner (Tom Bellegarde) report as to what will be needed to have area parks ready for youth activities. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted concern of parks due to severe winter. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) 7.4. 2015 / 128 - C. Leahy/C. Rourke - Req. City Mgr. provide quarterly reports with input from Health and Fire Departments regarding drug overdoses in the City. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to stay on top of issue. C. Rourke noted the need to keep up with information. M. Elliott noted the upcoming Ad/Hoc School Building Construction SC meeting. C. Leahy noted the excellent work of the DPW in preparation for Winterfest. ADJOURNMENT 8. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov