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: Nov 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 / 680 - Vote-Appoint City Auditor and Establish Salary Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Elliott presiding. C. Mercier requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Betty Decker and all of the victims of the Paris terror attacks. C. Leahy noted the position of Auditor should be reposted. C. Belanger noted that the salary should include the $4500 stipend for being on the Retirement Board and that there are costs with reposting. M. Elliott outlined prior process. C. Kennedy noted the salary should include the stipend and it should be posted as negotiable. C. Milinazzo noted the salary was posted as negotiable in prior advertising. M. Elliott noted that the salary survey shows the City is in line with surrounding communities. Motion by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Martin to post salary to include the stipend which would total $101,800 and note it is negotiable. Adopted by Roll Call vote, 9 yeas. So voted. M. Elliott questioned when the dead line would be. Motion by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Kennedy to advertise immediately and run for three weeks along with bringing forward current applicants. So voted. M. Elliott requested City Manager have Ms. Callery (Human Resources) provide Council with resumes as they come in weekly. CITY CLERK 2. - CITY CLERK 2.1. 2015 / 682 - Minutes of City Council Meeting November 10th; Education Partnerships November 10th, for acceptance. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 2.2. 2015 / 681 - Vote-Cancel Council Meeting 12/01/15 In Council, read twice 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 x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1. 2015 / 655 - Ordinance-Amend Chapter 266 entitled "Vehicles and Traffic" (Loading Zones) In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Motion to waive full reading by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So vote. Public hearing held. Adopted by Roll Call vote. No remonstrants. C. Leahy questioned enforcement of the ordinance. Manager Murphy noted the ordinance would assist small businesses with deliveries. C. Mercier noted the contribution of the traffic engineer. C. Belanger noted it was a good compromise on zoning and that it can be enforced as outlined. 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 x City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2015 / 684 - Motion Responses: (A) Loading Zone Wording Change (B) Striping the Lord Overpass (C) National Grid Gas Leaks (D) Street Light on Jacques Street (E) Plans for Replacement of the Rourke Bridge Informational: (F) Permit Enforcement Hotline (G) LHS Fieldhouse Roof In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Martin, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Regarding Motion Response A (Loading Zone), Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo to discuss matter at scheduled public hearing this date. So voted. C. Milinazzo commented on Motion Response B regarding Lord Overpass noting the project was completed. C. Kennedy commented on Motion Response C regarding gas leaks noting the report of National Grid was lacking. Manager Murphy noted that it was sent back to National Grid for more information which they refused to supply. M. Elliott requested that updates to the report should be done. Manager Murphy commented that National Grid should get the same level of cooperation that is afforded to the City and that there business should be referred to his office. C. Samaras questioned the legality of the response of National Grid. Solicitor O’Connor noted her office would explore the legal consequences. C. Kennedy commented that simple questions were not answered by National Grid. C. Kennedy commented on Motion Response D regarding Jacques Street lighting noting that the fixture was in place now it needs to be turned on. Regarding Motion Response E (Rourke Bridge), Beverly Woods of Northern Middlesex Council of Governments presented report to City Council entitled “Corridor Study and Feasibility Analysis – Rourke Bridge Project”. Ms. Woods outlined different options open and costs City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) associated with the project noting that MDOT has the project and the next step would be an environmental study. C. Samaras commented on the temporary element of the bridge and noted the Council would support the project fully. Manager Murphy noted there would be a letter to support the funding. C. Mercier commented on the accepted design. M. Elliott noted a letter to MDOT to move quickly on environmental permitting of the project would be beneficial. C. Rourke commented on the speed of completion of the Howe Bridge. M. Elliott commented on the number of reports done on the Rourke Bridge. Lisa Demeo (City Engineer) noted that MDOT do numerous inspections of the bridge as well as maintenance repair. Motion to have City Manager prepare report as to where MDOT is in the process and timeline of same by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Kennedy. Adopted on Roll Call vote, 9 yeas. So voted. C. Kennedy suggested that other stakeholders like UMass-Lowell, Lowell General Hospital and Trinity Ambulance be involved in showing support of the project. C. Martin noted the need to be advocates of the project and best to do that with knowledge. C. Mercier commented on Informational Response F regarding permit hotline noting it was in place and supplied information. C. Mercier commented on Informational Response G regarding LHS Fieldhouse noting work has been done and continues to be worked on. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. 2015 / 678 - Order of Taking and Acceptance of Adie Way and Ecklund Drive In Council, Given 1st Reading and Motion to refer matter to Public Hearing on December 8, 2015 at 7 PM by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 5.2. 2015 / 679 - Order-60 day trial (various) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Samaras. 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 City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6.1. 2015 / 686 - Transportation SC November 17, 2015. In City Council, C. Milinazzo presented the report noting the purpose of the meeting and outlining attendance commenting on work being done to address safety issues at Andover Street cross walk. C. Milinazzo requested report filed at meeting is placed on City website. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. PETITIONS 7. - PETITIONS 7.1. 2015 / 683 - 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. 7.2. 2015 / 685 - Comcast - Request installation of new vault and conduit at 59 Technology Drive. In Council, Given 1st Reading and Motion to refer matter to Public Hearing on December 8, 2015 at 7 PM by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. C. Mercier questioned when meeting would be taking concerning gun control. Manager Murphy noted the time of the meeting. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) ADJOURNMENT 8. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov