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: May 12, 2015 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2015 / 278 - Minutes of City Council Meeting May 5th; Substance Abuse SC May 5th, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 7 present, 2 absent (C. Leahy, C. Mercier). Mayor Elliott Presiding. Motion to suspend rules to have moment of silence in darkened chamber by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. C. Rourke requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Giannoula “Joann” Zaharoolis. Still under suspension of the rules C. Milinazzo was granted a point of personal privilege to thank the Council for their response to the passing of his father. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 1.2. 2015 / 290 - Vote-Reappoint Michael Q. Geary to City Clerk and establish Salary In Council, read twice and Motion to delay to next week’s meeting for full membership to be present by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) 2.1. 2015 / 258 - Ordinance-Amend Ch. 266-47 Vehicles and Traffic re: Rosemont neighborhood In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Public hearing held and closed. No remonstrant. Adopted by Roll Call vote. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Leahy, John J. Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x UTILITY PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. - UTILITY PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1. 2015 / 248 - National Grid – Request installation of 2 poles, 1 transformer and overhead conductor at 94 Canada Street. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Public hearing held and closed. Speaking in favor was Sam Eang from National Grid. Speaking in opposition was Betty Guy of 33 Main Street. Motion to refer matter to Wire Inspector and City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 3.2. 2015 / 249 - National Grid - Req. installation of forty feet +/- of PVC conduit from Riverside St. to property line of 84 University Ave. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Public hearing held and closed. Speaking in favor was Sam Eang of National Grid. No remonstrant. C. Milinazzo made note the address of the building getting the service is 72 University Ave and that UMass-Lowell is supportive of the petition. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2015 / 294 - Motion Responses: (A) Motion Response - Committee to Plan a Major Art Festival in the City (B) Motion Response - Security Policies in City Parking Garages In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. C. Belanger commented on Motion Response A regarding art festival in the City noting the prior organizational meeting and requested time line for the festival. Susan Halter (COOL) commented on meetings and noted they were shooting for the festival to be in Fall of 2016. C. Belanger noted that the festival would include all types of artists. C. Samaras requested quarterly reports of progress from the committee. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response B regarding parking garage security noting safety concerns. James Troup (Parking Director) commented on the safety report noting 24/7 security at the garages. C. Kennedy recommended better wording on the poster indicating safety escort services at the garages. 4.2. 2015 / 291 - Communication-Reappt Vincenzo Milinazzo and Suellen O'Neill to Council on Aging In Council, read and adopted. 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. Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) 4.3. 2015 / 292 - Communication-Appoint Brian Toner and Geoffrey McDonough to Conservation Commission In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. Manager Murphy introduced Mr. Toner and Mr. McDonough. 4.4. 2015 / 280 - Communication - City Mgr. request Out of State Travel (3) LPD; (1) LFD; (1) Health Department. 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. Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. 2015 / 293 - Ordinance-Amend Ch. 150 entitled Fees (Police Dept.) In Council, Given 1st Reading and Motion to refer matter to Public Hearing on May 26, 2015 at 7 PM by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6.1. 2015 / 289 - Auditor & Clerk Oversight SC May 12, 2015. In City Council, C. Kennedy presented the report noting the purpose of the meeting and outlining attendance commenting on the recommendation of the subcommittee to set the City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) salary of the Clerk at Level 2, Step 4 of the City salary grid. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Martin, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. 6.2. 2015 / 288 - Youth Services SC May 12, 2015. In City Council, C. Samaras presented the report noting the purpose of the meeting and outlining attendance commenting on the summer job programs in the City. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Martin, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. PETITIONS 7. - PETITIONS 7.1. 2015 / 281 - Claim - (1) personal injury. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 7.2. 2015 / 282 - Misc. - Andrew Crowther request reimbursement for towing. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. 7.3. 2015 / 287 - Misc. - Dr. Sandra Beltran request acquisition of abandoned land between 535 and 557 Varnum Avenue. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. Registered speakers addressed the Council in opposition to the petition: Louisa Varnum and John Hamblet. C. Kennedy questioned if the matter had been before Council prior. City Solicitor O’Connor noted that it was and that there is new information for the department to review. C. Martin commented that there should be some finality to the matter. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8.1. 2015 / 283 - C. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. have proper department explore relocating crosswalk in front of St. Anthony's Parish in Back Central Neighborhood to line-up with Parish Hall. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) In Council, seconded by C. Belanger, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Kennedy noted it was a request from neighborhood and that the belief was that the crosswalk would be more functional in a different location. 8.2. 2015 / 284 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. get a report from Neighborhood Services regarding update on status of fire damaged buildings located throughout various neighborhoods. In Council, seconded by C. Kennedy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Elliott moved motion forward on behalf of C. Leahy. ADJOURNMENT 9. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov