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 01, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2016 / 124 - Minutes of Finance SC February 23rd; City Council Meeting February 23rd, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Kennedy presiding. M. Kennedy recognized WinterFest Soup Contest winners as 1st place Kevin McQuire of Wamesit Lanes; 2nd Place 110 Grille and 3rd place Cobblestones. M. Kennedy recognized Prof. Sue Kim and James Ostis as recipients of the Cultural Council Gold Star award. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2.1. 2016 / 16 - Ordinance-Amend Zoning s .11.4 Site Plan Review (sidewalk standards to schools not operated by School Dept.) In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Waived full reading with no objection. Public hearing held. No remonstrants. Eric Slagle (Inspectional Services) outlined the ordinance and the reasoning behind it. Adopted per Roll Call vote. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 8) 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 Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x 2.2. 2016 / 96 - Loan Order-Bridge Repair Bonds In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Waived full reading with no objection. Public hearing held. No remonstrants. Armand Hebert spoke in favor of the loan order. C. Milinazzo noted that the speaker was off topic. M. Kennedy informed the speaker he was off topic. C. Elliott commented on the hiring of local laborers for public jobs and that they must follow bidding laws. C. Belanger requested terms of loan. Manager Murphy noted the loan has not been set but it would be competitive pricing. Manager Murphy noted that UMass-Lowell would be paying back large majority of the loan. Motion to adopt and referred to Clerk’s Office for 20 days. Adopted by Roll Call vote. 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 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 8) 3.1. 2016 / 133 - Motion Responses: (A) Update Regarding the Property at 58 Mammoth Rd (B) Four Way Stop Signs at Aiken Ave and Moody St and Cabot St and Moody St (C) Relocating the Dog Park (D) Petition for Easement on Fairview St In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. C. Rourke commented on Motion Response A regarding 58 Mammoth Road commenting that assistance should be given to owner. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response B regarding four way stop signs commenting that they should still be oversight of the area for safety reasons. C. Leary commented on Motion Response C regarding dog park noting the need to accelerate the process of identifying and relocating the park. Motion by C. Leary, seconded by C. Mercier to refer matter to Parks & Recreation SC for discussion. So voted. C. Mercier noted the need to get new sites for the animals. C. Samaras was not present in the Chamber nor took place in any discussion of Motion Response D regarding easement on Fairview Street. The following registered speakers addressed the Council regarding this item: Klas Romberg; Ruth Murray and Alice Hussey by way of letter read into record by Ms. Murray. Gail Picard and Joseph Trapani were not present in the Chamber but made written submission regarding the issue. C. Elliott questioned the water issues in the area and when they began. M. Kennedy noted that C. Samaras was not present during the discussion. Motion to accept the communication and place on file by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. 3.2. 2016 / 127 - Communication - Report and Recommendation - Planning Board -Amend Zoning Ordinance Art. II (Definitions), Art. XI (Administration) specifically Section 11.4 Site Plan Review. In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. C. Mercier noted that the amendment to the ordinance is worthwhile. 3.3. 2016 / 136 - Communication-Appoint Christopher Roux-Board of Parks In Council, read and adopted. C. Mercier recognized the appointment. C. Elliott noted that the Board of Parks should look to inclusion of a woman as there are many female leagues in the City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 8) City. Manager Murphy commented on the review of the many boards in the City and noted the diversity present and that is a goal for placing appointments. Mr. Roux 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 Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2016 / 137 - Vote-Auth CM Ex. Lic.Agmt. ACDC Wireless LLC d/b/a Cricket Wireless (overhanging sign) 120 Merrimack Street In Council, read twice and adopted. Full reading waived without objection. So voted. 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 Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 8) 5.1. 2016 / 126 - Technology & Utilities SC March 1, 2016. In City Council, C. Leary commented on the meeting noting the attendance and discussion regarding a master agreement with Verizon in place of individual petition; fiber connections; FIOS; and costs for service. C. Belanger commented on fighting for the citizens of Lowell regarding cable service. C. Leahy commented on master agreement and that terms should be more beneficial to the City. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Leary, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. C. Mercier was granted a point of personal privilege to apologize to C. Elliott for failing to second a motion from the prior week. PETITIONS 6. - PETITIONS 6.1. 2016 / 125 - Claim - (1) property. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 6.2. 2016 / 128 - Misc. - Patrick Hamilton request to address City Council regarding improved use of social media by the City. In Council, read and Motion to refer to City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. Mr. Hamilton commented on social media and how it can be best used and noted frustration with current set up by the City. C. Rourke commented on social network of the City. Manager Murphy noted the comments were timely as the City is going to use outside vendor to enhance the current website. C. Leary noted the need update the website. C. Mercier commented on the need to bring in different ideas. C. Elliott noted the need to identify the problems and improve on them. 6.3. 2016 / 132 - Misc. - Living Waters Center of Hope (Ryan White/Diane Waddell) request to provide information to the City Council regarding new program the Catalyst, a new street paper. In Council, read and Motion to refer to City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. Ms. Waddell commented on the organization and Mr. White outlined the Catalyst program. C. Milinazzo noted his disappointment with the City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 8) organization and commented that in his opinion the program was merely panhandling with a newspaper and was not supportive of it. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7.1. 2016 / 129 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. facilitate a meeting between LPD and UML Police to discuss safety issues and collaborative projects between both groups. In Council, seconded by C. Elliott, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. Motion to amend and refer to Public Safety SC by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. C. Elliott noted that there should be a discussion about traffic as well. C. Mercier noted prior motion to meet with Pawtucketville group. Manager Murphy noted there have been a number of attempts to set up that meeting that the group has not responded. C. Belanger noted the presence of the UML police at UML Crossing is beneficial to the neighborhood. 7.2. 2016 / 130 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have proper department develop a plan to restore/repair Andover Street. In Council, seconded by C. Milinazzo, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need for direction in that area. C. Mercier noted the sidewalks in that area are in substandard shape. 7.3. 2016 / 134 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have proper department examine the intersection at Princeton Blvd. and Baldwin Street for possible light upgrades and sidewalks. In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to make it a safer area for families. 7.4. 2016 / 131 - C. Rourke - Req. City Council name access road at LeBlanc Park in honor of Robert and Pauling Vivier for their many years of service to the Pawtucketville Youth Organization. In Council, seconded by C. Mercier, read and referred to Board of Parks. Adopted by Roll Call vote. So voted. Registered speakers for this item were Joseph Chabouk and Ray Boutin. C. Mercier requested roll call and that she would attend Board of Parks meeting with request. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 8) 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 Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x 7.5. 2016 / 138 - C. Belanger - Req. Substance Abuse SC review First Watch Program and COOP Program both of which combat opiate addiction. In Council, seconded by C. Elliott, read and referred to Substance Abuse SC. So voted. C. Belanger noted they were important programs that the City should know about. C. Belanger noted First Watch is through Trinity Ambulance and COOP is through the Lowell Police Department. 7.6. 2016 / 139 - C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. have proper department seek to remove tents, trash and drug paraphernalia from the area under the Lord Overpass on the Middlesex Street side. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted it is a dangerous area in need of clean-up and that it is gateway to City that should remain in good order. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8. - ANNOUNCEMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT 9. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 8 of 8) Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov