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 29, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2016 / 198 - Minutes of Public Safety SC March 22nd; City Council Meeting March 22nd, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Kennedy presiding. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. 1.2. 2016 / 212 - Vote-Cancel Council Meeting 4/19/16 In Council, read twice and adopted. Waived full reading 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 Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x x City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 7) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 2. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 2.1. 2016 / 208 - Motion Responses: (A) Sweeney Veteran Memorial (B) Speeding on Pawtucket Blvd (C) ICSC Conference (D) Water Department Building on Hampshire St (E) Future Use of the Mack Building (F) Feasibility for a Cross Walk on Stevens St (G) Paving Melrose and Shirley Avenues (H) Cross Walk on Chelmsford St Informational: (I) FY17 Budget In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response D regarding water department building noting the costs for demolition and creating new use as green space. C. Belanger noted the change of use is a better fit in the neighborhood. C. Rourke noted interests of the CNAG neighborhood organization. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response E regarding Mack Building noting the premises were completely occupied and that the owners would enhance the surrounding areas of the building as it is in an important location. C Leary commented on Motion Response F regarding cross walk on Stevens Street noting the need for them in the area. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response G regarding paving of streets and questioned the drainage plan for the repaving. Lisa Demeo (City Engineer) noted the height of the road will not change but the street will be raised in middle for drainage. Manager Murphy commented on the street acceptance program. Ms. Demeo outlined the procedure and spoke of future plans to accept streets. C. Leary commented on Motion Response H regarding cross walk on Chelmsford Street requesting time frame for installation. Ms. Demeo noted the process has not started at this point and that there are tree removal issues that need to be addressed. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 7) Manager Murphy commented on Informational Response I noting time line for upcoming budget as well as a summary of challenges and the plan to meet those challenges. C. Milinazzo questioned the status of state funding. Manager Murphy commented when the state would finalize its budget numbers. C. Milinazzo commented that the revenue to support budget from City taxpayers is substantially lower than the average throughout the Commonwealth. Conor Baldwin (CFO) noted the sixteen million dollar gap and the plan to lessen same for balanced budget. C. Belanger commented on Cherry Sheet and Charter Funding. Manager Murphy commented on issues with Charter School reimbursement. C. Leary questioned school side of the budget. Manager Murphy noted they were given a number 1 million dollars more than prior year and that would be firm and they would have to close any deficit. C. Leary noted that bussing costs would have to be reviewed for budget purposes. C. Leary questioned on status of new-comer grants for the schools from the federal government. Manager Murphy noted that they would follow up on the request. 2.2. 2016 / 200 - Communication - City Mgr. request Out of State Travel (1) LPD; and (1) DPD. 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 Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3.1. 2016 / 210 - Vote-Declare Surplus 799 Gorham Street (min bid $156,000) In Council, read twice and adopted. Waived full reading without objection. So voted. C. Leahy questioned location of premise. 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. 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 ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2016 / 211 - Order-60 day trial (various) In Council, read twice and adopted. Waived full reading 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 x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5.1. 2016 / 201 - Flood Issues SC March 29, 2016. In City Council, C. Mercier provided the report noting the attendance and outlined the discussions regarding submission of comments to FERC and the results of the Clay Brook City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 7) Backwater Study. Ms. Demeo noted that she had more information on the study indicating that flooding at Clay Brook would begin at a river level of 96 feet. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Rourke to refer matter to City Manager to inform FERC of added information in the backwater study as well as requesting Enel amend its license to begin process of releasing water at level of 48 feet from 50 feet. So voted. C. Leahy spoke to bladder dam being installed on river. Ms. Demeo noted that there have been no updates regarding schedule to complete work. Motion by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leary to accept the report as a report of progress. So voted. C. Belanger noted there would be a Youth Services SC on April 6, 2016 at UTEC to discuss summer job programs. PETITIONS 6. - PETITIONS 6.1. 2016 / 213 - Claim - (1) property. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 6.2. 2016 / 199 - Misc. - Ahmed Mohammed request installation of handicap parking sign at 110 Chapel Street. In Council, read and Motion to refer, as amended, to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. C. Mercier requested that it be amended to 60 day trial without objection. So voted. 6.3. 2016 / 202 - Misc. - Daniel Proulx, Jr. request City Council abandon Rural and Montreal Streets. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. 6.4. 2016 / 203 - Misc. - Champa Pang request permission to discuss visit of Hun Manet to the City of Lowell. In Council, read and the following registered speakers addressed the Council: Kamara Key; Saroun Chea (by interpreter); Tolayuth Ok; Sophin Phin; Adam Pril; Richman Yauk; Daniel Lee; Seantseng Sok (by interpreter); Tony Son (by interpreter); Chuck Sart; Ed Shoemaker; Ruthy Uong; Vesna Noun; Ginana Chan; Joseph Boyle; Vannak Kann; John MacDonald; Vannak Men; Champ Pang; and Pheng Ang. C. Elliott commented on relationship with the Cambodian City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 7) community and his visit to the country during his term as Mayor and that he remains committed to the community. C. Mercier commented on democracy and the need to voice opinions and that she would support the majority of people in the chamber. C. Milinazzo commented on Cambodian community as an important part of the fabric of the City and that the City government should stand as one. C. Leary commented on democracy in action and support rescinding the invitation to the delegation. C. Samaras noted democracy allows people to voice differing opinions and supported not allowing delegation to be recognized in City Hall. C. Leahy noted that the democratic process works and supports rescinding invitation. C. Rourke noted he would stand with the people who have voiced their concerns with the visit. M. Kennedy noted that Cambodian politics is very complex not understood by everyone. M. Kennedy outlined the genesis of the visit and noted that it is a much larger delegation than one person. M. Kennedy commented on statute and its origins as well as outlining the proposed visit would have been very brief. M. Kennedy noted that he would abide by unanimous direction of the Council. C. Belanger noted the position of the Mayor and respected his approach. Motion by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Elliott to renounce visit and gift concerning visit of Hun Manet to City of Lowell. Adopted per roll call vote, 8 yeas, 1 abstain (M. Kennedy). So voted. City Council recessed at 9:17 PM and resumed at 9:24 PM. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7.1. 2016 / 204 - C. Mercier - Req. City Council support the naming of the island at the corner of Jackson and Canal Streets the “David H. McNerney Memorial Square” and refer to the Board of Parks for the proper vote. In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to Board of Parks. So voted. C. Mercier noted the request came from Veterans’ Council and further commented on the service of the honoree. 7.2. 2016 / 205 - C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. provide an update on what steps have been taken to implement the College Town Initiative. In Council, seconded by C. Milinazzo, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras requested update and noted that the college atmosphere would be economically beneficial. 7.3. 2016 / 206 - C. Milinazzo - Req. City Mgr. provide a report regarding the Granite United Church use of the Sullivan School as their Greater Lowell Campus. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 7) In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Milinazzo requested information regarding how the Church leased the building and that there is a traffic concern when they using the school. 7.4. 2016 / 214 - C. Rourke - Req. City Mgr. explore returning speed bumps on June Street. In Council, seconded by C. Samaras, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Rourke commented on the concern in that area and the need to slow down near the school zone. 7.5. 2016 / 207 - M. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. provide a report regarding how much has been spent on snow removal this winter and compare it to the past several years. In Council, seconded by C. Mercier, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Kennedy noted motion was straight forward. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8. - ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Mercier noted that the federal government re-implemented the program which allows the Lowell Police to garner resources from drug forfeitures. ADJOURNMENT 9. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov