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: Aug 23, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA MAYOR’S BUSINESS 1. - MAYOR'S BUSINESS 1.1. 2016 / 545 - Communication - Ty Chum regarding drug addiction awareness event to be held at Sampas Pavilion on August 27, 2016. Roll Call showed 9 present. Roll Call at 6:45 PM. Mayor Kennedy presiding. C. Mercier requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Yvonne Rawson-Bozek and Daniel P. Leahy, Esq. (former City Councilor; State Senator; and father of current City Councilor John Leahy). In City Council, Mr. Chum addressed the body concerning upcoming event at Sampas Pavilion regarding drug addiction. In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. CITY CLERK 2. - CITY CLERK 2.1. 2016 / 529 - Minutes of City Council Meeting August 9th, for acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 8) GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1. 2016 / 490 - Ordinance-Amend Zoning by including regulations of Manufactured (mobile) homes in City of Lowell In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and adopted. Public hearing held. Speaking in favor was Deb Forgione. C. Milinazzo noted the effort in moving ordinance forward. C Mercier supported this version of ordinance as the definitions are much clearer. M. Kennedy noted that the Planning Board recommendation is no agenda as well. No Remonstrants. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x UTILITY PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. - UTILITY PUBLIC HEARINGS 4.1. 2016 / 510 - National Grid/Verizon New England - Request installation of pole and anchor located at 691 Stevens Street. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and referred to Wire Inspector. Public hearing held. Speaking in favor was a representative from National Grid. No Remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Milinazzo. Adopted per Roll Call vote, 8 yeas, 1 nay (C. Leahy). So voted. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 8) 5.1. 2016 / 544 - Motion Responses: (A) Data from the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office (B) Multimodal Transportation (C) Operation Triple Play (D) Out of State Plates Informational: (E) Lowell Police Department 2015 Annual Report (F) May 2016 NIBRS Report In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. C. Belanger commented on Motion Response B regarding report on Multimodal Transportation by Motion to refer to Transportation SC, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response D regarding out of state plates noting the amount of citations that were issued. C. Belanger noted that it is a concern of the neighborhoods. Supt. Taylor (LPD) commented on the importance of reporting by the neighborhoods as it assists with tracking. C. Elliott commented on the requirements under Massachusetts law. C. Leahy commented that there are a number of complaints regarding cars. C. Milinazzo questioned if discretion is used for certain circumstances. Supt. Taylor noted there was an amount of discretion. C. Belanger commented on Informational Response F regarding NIBRS report noting the excellent work by the LPD in combatting crime. 5.2. 2016 / 540 - Communication-Reappoint Thomas O'Brien and Beverly Anthes to Election Commission 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 x Mercier, Rita M. x x 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 8) 5.3. 2016 / 535 - Communication - Report and Recommendation - Planning Board - Proposed Ordinance amending Lowell Zoning Ordinance Article 2: Definitions and various points within Sec. 9.1 by inserting either the word "Manufactured" or "mobile". In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 5.4. 2016 / 534 - Communication - City Mgr. request Out of State Travel (3) LPD; (2) DPW; (1) LRWWU; (1) Library; (1) Career Center. 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 Samaras, William x x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 6. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 6.1. 2016 / 541 - Vote-Accept Gift from The Friends of Lowell Council on Aging (2016 Chevrolet Express 2500 Van) In Council, read twice, waived full reading and adopted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 8) VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x 6.2. 2016 / 543 - Vote-Execute Temporary Construction Easements with Commonwealth of MA to facilitate the construction of the new Lowell Trial Court at 370 Jackson Street. In Council, read twice, waived full reading 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 x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x x ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7. - ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. 2016 / 539 - Order-60 day trial (various) In Council, read twice, waived full reading and adopted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 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 Milinazzo, James L. x x Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8. - ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. 2016 / 537 - Ordinance-Create new section 167-7 entitled Mobile Food Vendors In City Council, waived full reading, Motion to refer to Public Hearing on September 13, 2016 at 7 PM by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 8.2. 2016 / 538 - Ordinance-Create 2 new full time grant funded positions (Financial Asst and Asst. Career Center Manager) and establish salaries in the Career Center Div. of Managers Office. In City Council, waived full reading, Motion to refer to Public Hearing on September 13, 2016 at 7 PM by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. 8.3. 2016 / 542 - Ordinance-Create 1 new full time grant funded position entitled MOAPC Coalition Coordinator and establishing salary and deleting 2 positions and salaries entitled Outreach Workers in the Health and Human Services Dept. In City Council, waived full reading, Motion to refer to Public Hearing on September 13, 2016 at 7 PM by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 9. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 9.1. 2016 / 532 - Economic Development SC August 23, 2016. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 8) In City Council, C. Samaras reported on the Economic Development SC meeting noting the attendance and the discussion Lowell Waterway Vitality Project, transformation of the CrossPoint facility the moving of Kronos to the building. C. Leary commented on the CrossPoint transformation and how it has enhanced the neighborhood. C. Elliott commented on the ability to do business in the City as well as partnering with UMass-Lowell. C. Mercier noted the positive business attitude in Lowell. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. PETITIONS 10. - PETITIONS 10.1. 2016 / 530 - Claims - (2) property; (1) personal injury. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. 10.2. 2016 / 531 - Misc. - Berta Soto (for Aurelinda Duran-Gonzalez) request installation of handicap parking sign at 4 Ware Street. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 10.3. 2016 / 546 - Misc. -Olga Zayas request installation of handicap parking sign at 43 Avenue A. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 11. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 11.1. 2016 / 533 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have Inspectional Services review permitting fees to ensure they are comparable to surrounding communities. In Council, seconded by C. Elliott, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to be competitive with surrounding communities. 11.2. 2016 / 547 - C. Leary - Req. City Mgr. provide a report to the city council outlining the status of the new firearms licensing policy since its implementation from February 11, 2016 to date, report should include the number of firearm license to carry request made and how many have been approved. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 8 of 8) In Council, seconded by C. Mercier, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leary noted the need to see results after changes were made to the policy. 11.3. 2016 / 548 - C. Leary - Req. City Mgr. have the appropriate city department review the vacant property located between 110-119 Chelmsford Street for pick-up of trash and appropriate site management. In Council, seconded by C. Leahy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leary noted the need to keep property in decent shape as it is located on a main throughway. ANNOUNCEMENTS 12. - ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Leahy noted the Peach March beginning at City Hall on August 28th. C. Mercier commented on the upcoming Lowell Collegiate Charter School opening, the African/American outing at Shedd Park and the Lowell Community Health dance for peace event. ADJOURNMENT 13. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov