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: Jan 05, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2015 / 730 - Minutes of Substance Abuse SC December 15, 2015; City Council Meeting December 15, 2015, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Kennedy presiding. C. Mercier requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for John “Doc” Janas. C. Rourke requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Wanda Rurak. C. Milinazzo requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Bessie Samaras, mother of C. Samaras. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 2. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 2.1. 2015 / 741 - Motion Responses: (A) Letter of Thanks (B) No Parking Signs on Charles Street (C) Pedestrian Traffic Signal on the Corner of Mammoth Road and Fourth Ave In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 7) C. Samaras commented on Motion Response A regarding thank you letter to John Power for his contribution in decorating the smoke stack during the holiday. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response B regarding parking signs on Charles Street noting the improvement in the area as well as the mall owner appreciation for the assistance. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response C regarding traffic signals on Mammoth Road noting they are operating after some early difficulty. Motion to Suspend Rules to take Item #7.7 out of order by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 2.2. 2015 / 742 - Communication-Accept Resignation of Patrick T. McCartin - Election Commission In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. 2.3. 2015 / 743 - Communication-Appoint Beverly Anthes to Election Commission In Council, read and adopted. C. Mercer commented on the appointment. Mrs. Anthes was present and thanked the Council. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James x x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x 2.4. 2015 / 744 - Communication-Reappoint Robert Malavich to the Planning Board In Council, read and adopted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 7) VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x x Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x 2.5. 2015 / 745 - Communication-Reappoint Rosaline J. Willie-Bonglo to LHA (tenant rep) In Council, read and adopted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3.1. 2015 / 746 - Vote-Apply/Accept/Expend $12,500 Green Communities Grant (LRWU) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 7) VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. Leahy, John J. x x Leary, James x x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x CONSTABLE BONDS 4. - CONSTABLE BONDS 4.1. 2015 / 738 - Communication - City Mgr. request approval for Constable Bond for Darryl C. Hines. In Council, read and adopted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James 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) None City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 7) PETITIONS 6. - PETITIONS 6.1. 2015 / 737 - National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. permission to relocate pole at the intersection of Broadway Street and Madonna Circle. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer matter to Public Hearing on January 19, 2015 at 7 PM by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. Manager Murphy noted the importance of the work so that the Broadway Street Bridge can be repaired. C. Elliott questioned the time frame for bridge repairs. C. Mercier noted the importance of getting started. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7.1. 2015 / 731 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have proper department explore establishing a minimum standard of habitability for all commercial and residential properties in the City. In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to be uniform with the codes. C. Belanger noted that there should be focus on illegal activities in residential homes. C. Mercier commented on current ordinances and their requirements. 7.2. 2015 / 732 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have proper department prepare a report regarding buildings in the City which are in total disrepair, especially the property at the corner of Fletcher and Broadway Streets. In Council, seconded by C. Mercier, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy commented on the need to focus on buildings which have been eyesores for quite some time. C. Mercier commented on the Fletcher Street property and status of rebuilding. 7.3. 2015 / 733 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have proper department explore means to completely rehab the existing Lowell Police Headquarters, including methods of funding same. In Council, seconded by C. Belanger, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy commented on the need to find funding and just doing what is affordable to enhance the building. C. Elliott noted the building is in awful shape and unsafe and needs major repairs. Manager Murphy noted the feasibility study and the huge price tag that would be on a new building and commented they would have to scale down the project if moving forward. C. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 7) Elliott noted the need to look at all options. C. Leahy commented on regionalization. Manager Murphy noted that approach does not benefit the City. C. Elliott noted that UMass-Lowell uses the facility as well and there should be some costs shared. C. Milinazzo noted the request of the Sherriff’s Department for holding cells. 7.4. 2015 / 734 - C. Elliott - Req. City Mgr. provide a report on status of property at 155 Mansur Street. In Council, Substitute Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Belanger to delay matter until next meeting on January 12, 2016. So voted. C. Samaras was not present in Chamber during discussion. 7.5. 2015 / 735 - C. Elliott - Req. City Mgr. have Traffic Engineer address timing of lights during evening traffic at the Rourke, O’Donnell and Howe Bridge crossings. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Elliott noted the improvement in the area and commented on the need to further improve as the university grows. C. Belanger noted the issue is the surrounding towns driving through City to get to interstates. Manager Murphy noted there would be a complete traffic report coming before the Council. C. Leahy noted such report will have vast coverage. C. Elliott noted there should be some solutions to help out with current issues. 7.6. 2015 / 739 - C. Elliott - Req. City Mgr. report on the status of the Wounded Warrior parking spot at City Hall. In Council, seconded by C. Mercier, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Elliott noted the request was from Veterans’ Commission. 7.7. 2015 / 740 - C. Elliott/M. Kennedy - Req. City Council discuss resolution to support legislation (House Bills 2870 and 2871) regarding natural gas leaks. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to Mayor/Law Department. So voted. The following registered speakers addressed the Council: Senator Jamie Eldridge; Derek Pelotte; Dan Tuttle and; Nicole Wilcott. C. Elliott noted the need to pressure utilities and that there exists a safety issue with these gas leaks. Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Mercier to refer to Mayor and Law Department to draft resolution including Senate Bill language. So voted. C. Milinazzo commented on attached resolution. C. Mercier thanked speakers for the information given. C. Leahy noted it was a money issue and a safety issue. C. Elliott noted all of the towns and cities who support similar resolutions. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 7) 7.8. 2015 / 736 - C. Milinazzo - Req. City Mgr. provide a report on open and hold over seats on Boards and Commissions. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Milinazzo requested the Manager review to see what openings there are. Manager Murphy made public plea for all interested people who wish to serve on boards and commissions to contact him. C. Elliott noted publication seeking volunteers would be helpful. C. Milinazzo under point of personal privilege wished his mother a happy 85th birthday. Motion to Suspend Rules to discuss recent snow removal in City by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. C. Leahy requested update regarding clean-up of latest storm. Manager Murphy noted it was a tough storm but there was room for improvement. ADJOURNMENT 8. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Leahy. 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