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: Apr 14, 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 / 222 - (1). Citation - Recognizing Patricia Guziejka, Title I Director of the Lowell Public Schools, as receiving the National Assoc. of Federal Education Program Administrators State Leadership Award. (2). Communication - Africa America Alliance regarding Nelson Mandela Monument. Roll Call showed 8 present (C. Samaras arrived at 6:55PM). Mayor Elliott Presiding. C. Mercier requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Lawrence “Larry” Martin, former member of City Council. M. Elliott presented citation to Patricia Guziejka who addressed and thanked Council for the recognition. M. Elliott recognized the Africa America Alliance and its President, Bowa Tucker, who addressed the Council and updated them on the Nelson Mandela Monument. Motion to suspend rules to recognize member of police department by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. M. Elliott presented Officer Chad Collins with a citation recognizing his life saving efforts on a young child. Officer Collins and Dept. Supt. Ryan addressed the Council regarding the incident. C. Rourke recognized his contribution. C. Mercier noted he was a credit to the department. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) CITY CLERK 2. - CITY CLERK 2.1. 2015 / 214 - Minutes of City Council Meeting April 7th; Public Safety SC April 7th; Finance SC April 6th, for acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. CITY AUDITOR 3. - CITY AUDITOR 3.1. 2015 / 216 - Communication - Audited Financial Statements and FY15 year-to-date budget report. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. C. Martin clarified what the report contained. C. Milinazzo questioned Manager’s budget for sick leave incentive. Rodney Conley (STAT) noted the deficit would have to be eliminated by end of fiscal year. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 4.1. 2015 / 176 - Order-Discontinue a portion of Eaton Street In Council, Given 2nd reading. Hearing held. No Remonstrants. Hearing closed. Motion to refer to Clerk’s Office for 7 days by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. Veterans, James Golden and Joe Dussault spoke in favor of the petition. C. Kennedy commented on concerns by neighboring businesses regarding access. Manager Murphy noted the access would not be affected and would improve as area is redeveloped. C. Martin questioned the location of the road. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. 2015 / 228 - Motion Responses: City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) (A) Motion Response - Parking Issues in East Pawtucketville Neighborhood (B) Motion Response - Maintenance of City Infrastructure (C) Motion Response - Loading Zone Ordinance (D) Motion Response - Pedestrian Friendly Lord Overpass Design (E) Motion Response - Changes in Health Care Benefits Informational Reports: (F) Informational - LowellSTAT Report – DPD In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response A regarding parking in East Pawtucketville noting quality of the report. C. Kennedy requested report from Manager regarding a project located on Mammoth Road describing issues with lessening parking requirements. C. Leahy noted there were options in the report. Michael McGovern (Asst. City Mgr.) noted he would follow the direction of the Council regarding options. Motion by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Leahy to have the Manager move forward with parking options in the report. So voted. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response B regarding infrastructure noting the repair of sidewalks. C. Leahy commented on future efforts for maintaining roadways. Lisa Demeo (City Engineer) noted that sealing of roads is not fully effective and costly. C. Leahy commented on road mix issues that have arisen. Ms. Demeo noted the issues. C. Leahy commented on clean- up of the sites and the need to do a better job on the roads. C. Martin noted the streets need better work. C. Belanger commented on Motion Response D regarding Lord Overpass noting the plan update. Craig Thomas (DPD) explained the new plan and the need to meet the concerns of the funding source which is the Commonwealth. C. Mercier noted that the area is well populated and used often. C. Samaras noted the need to have connection with art community especially on Western Ave. Mr. Thomas made note of the public meetings concerning the project. Motion to suspend rules to allow filing of a petition by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. Sarah White, Lowell resident, supplied petition from Western Ave. community regarding use of railroad tracks for easier access. Mr. Thomas noted the dealings with the rail company. C. Samaras questioned status of dealing with rail company. City Solicitor O’Connor provided update. C. Mercier, while still under suspension of the rules, commented on the safety concerns around East Merrimack Street. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response E regarding health benefits. Mary Callery (Human Relations) outlined the changes in costs and coverages. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) 5.2. 2015 / 215 - Communication-City Mgr. request Out of State travel (1) Wastewater; (1) City Mgr.; (1) Career Center; (2) LPD; and (1) DPD. In Council, read and adopted. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo to take all requests together. So voted. 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 5.3. 2015 / 217 - Communication-Reappt Debra Grossman to Lowell Historic Board In Council, read and adopted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x 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 ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 6. - ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 6.1. 2015 / 219 - Order-60 day trial City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. 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 x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 7. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 7.1. 2015 / 218 - Neighborhoods SC April 14, 2015. In City Council, C. Leahy presented the report noting the purpose of the meeting and outlining attendance commenting Lowell’s Flood Plan. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. PETITIONS 8. - PETITIONS 8.1. 2015 / 223 - Claims - (7) Property. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. C. Mercier commented on a claim that occurred in Tewksbury and should not be honored by the City. C. Martin noted that Tewksbury should be cooperative with Lowell as Lowell has been helpful to Tewksbury. 8.2. 2015 / 224 - Misc. - Atty. Brian Shea request City abandon/convey 30 Glenwood Street (end of Guild St.) to adjacent abutters. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) 8.3. 2015 / 225 - Misc. - Michael Regis request installation of (1) handicap parking sign at 58 Clare Street. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 9. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 9.1. 2015 / 220 - C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. obtain the five minute fire prevention video funded by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation so that it may be shown at the April 21, 2015 Council meeting. In Council, seconded by C. Martin, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Mercier noted the video is critical because it conveys information to all different cultures. 9.2. 2015 / 221 - C. Belanger - Req. City Mgr. update Council regarding the redevelopment of the Lowell 5 corporate headquarters. In Council, seconded by C. Kennedy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Belanger commented that property is valuable to the profile of the City. ADJOURNMENT 10. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:46 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov