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 22, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2016 / 732 - Minutes of City Council Meeting November 15th, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Kennedy presiding. C. Rourke requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Mary Donovan. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2.1. 2016 / 708 - Ordinance-Create one (1) new grant funded position entitled Substance Abuse Coordinator and establish salary in the Health and Human Services Department In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and adopted. Public hearing held. No Remonstrants. Speaking in favor was Kerran Vigroux (Health and Human Services) who outlined the ordinance noting the need and purpose of the position. C. Belanger noted the importance of the position to deal with current drug epidemic and the money will attract qualified applicants. C. Belanger noted the person filling the position should also be a member of the Task Force as well. Motion by C. Rourke seconded by C. Milinazzo to bundle Utility Public Hearings (Items 3.1; 3.2; 3.3 and 3.4) as one. So voted. 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 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 UTILITY PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. - UTILITY PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1. 2016 / 596 - National Grid - Request installation of (1) SO pole located at corner of Gorham and Livingston Streets. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Public hearing held. Speaking in favor was Ken Dobe (National Grid). No Remonstrants. C. Leahy noted the issue concerning abutter had been resolved. 3.2. 2016 / 702 - National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. permission to relocate pole 4 at 35 Carter Street. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Public hearing held. Speaking in favor was Ken Dobe (National Grid). No Remonstrants. 3.3. 2016 / 703 - National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. permission to relocate pole 23 at corner of Westford and School Streets. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Public hearing held. Speaking in favor was Ken Dobe (National Grid). No Remonstrants. 3.4. 2016 / 704 - National Grid/Verizon NE - Request permission to install (1) joint owned pole at corner of Willie and Franklin Streets. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 8) In City Council, Given 2nd Reading and Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Public hearing held. Speaking in favor was Ken Dobe (National Grid). No Remonstrants. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2016 / 743 - Motion Responses: (A) Swamp Locks Lighting (B) Increase Illegal Dumping Fines (C) Western Avenue Informational: (D) LowellSTAT Public Report for Economic Development (E) 2016 MassWorks Grant Petition Response: (F) Hampshire Street In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. C. Rourke commented on Motion Response B regarding illegal dumping fines requesting overview procedure. Manager Murphy commented on the new fines and how they will help prevent future dumping. C. Rourke noted the use of portable camera to monitor sites. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response C regarding Western Avenue noting they should still look for ways to connect this area with the downtown. Manager Murphy noted the reluctance on the part of the railroad company to install crossing in that area. C. Samaras noted the need to connect this parcel and that the administration should still continue to seek out funding to install a crossing. C. Milinazzo commented on Informational Response D regarding LowellSTAT report on economic development requesting it be put on website and further commented on the rate of unemployment contained in the report. Rodney Conley (STAT) commented on the unemployment rate. C. Belanger commented on Class C office space downtown and noted that the second and third floors in buildings are not being used and there should be more attention to filling those spaces. Manager Murphy commented on the outreach being used to fill the vacancies. Registered speaker, Armand Hebert, commented on Informational Response E MassWorks Grant. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 8) C. Mercier commented on Petition Response regarding Hampshire Street noting information should be made available to abutters. 4.2. 2016 / 740 - Communication - City Mgr. request Out of State Travel (1) LFD. In Council, read and adopted. C. Milinazzo questioned if vendor was paying for travel should City accept that as a gift. Manager Murphy noted that travel was part of the bid. C. Mercier commented that cost of truck should include the inspection of same. 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 x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. 2016 / 738 - Vote-Declare Surplus 682 Lawrence St (min. bid $50,000) In Council, read twice, waived full reading and adopted. C. Belanger questioned the use. C. Leahy questioned the amount. 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 City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 8) 5.2. 2016 / 739 - Vote-Authorize City Manager Execute Lease of Cemetery Building Space at Westlawn Cemetery I to Edward Weza d/b/a Weza Landscaping & Construction In Council, read twice, waived full reading and adopted. C. Leahy noted it would be helpful with maintaining the cemeteries. Manager Murphy noted same entity was awarded the contract. 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) 6. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6.1. 2016 / 733 - Finance SC November 22, 2016. In Council, C. Elliott provided report regarding the new high school building project noting updating estimates and having early discussions of how the project should develop. C. Leary noted it was a good meeting and the body needs to be proactive with the time frames as well as seeking other options. Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Leary to accept the report as a report of progress. So voted. C. Milinazzo requested suspension of the rules to discuss zoning matter. No objection. So voted. Motion by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Mercier forward section 5 of proposed zoning changes which improve permit efficiency to law department to draft as ordinance. So voted. 6.2. 2016 / 679 - Wire Insp. - National Grid - Request permission to install (1) SO Pole on east side of intersection of Lawrence and Andrews Streets near 706 Lawrence St. In Council, Motion to accept and adopt accompanying order by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 8) PETITIONS 7. - PETITIONS 7.1. 2016 / 734 - Claim - (1) 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. 2016 / 742 - Misc. - Generation Citizen Program (LHS students) request permission to speak to City Council regarding lighting in the downtown area. In Council, read and Motion to refer to Youth Service SC for report and recommendation by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. The following members of the Generation Citizens Program addressed the Council; Pichanny Som, Ian Kiuna and Nicole Chennett. C. Belanger was impressed with the energy of the group. C. Elliott commented on the work being done by group. C. Leahy noted the group made excellent points. C. Samaras commented that these are the students who deserve a quality place to learn. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8.1. 2016 / 735 - C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. find ways and means to illuminate the cross walk on Broadway Street in front of Senior Center with possibly reflectors or a solar light for vehicular and pedestrian safety. In Council, seconded by C. Leahy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Mercier noted it was a safety issue that needed to be addressed. 8.2. 2016 / 736 - C. Rourke - Req. City Mgr. establish an E-Commerce position at the LPD to provide a safe location for legal E-Commerce transactions. In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Rourke noted increase in online trading and that it should be monitored for fraud. 8.3. 2016 / 741 - C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. invite members of the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust to update City Council regarding the Concord River Greenway and its connections to other trails. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted there should be a review of existing and completed trails and Economic Development SC City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 8) should be a forum to research same. C. Leary noted the need to see what can be taken and the funds that would be needed for such a venture. 8.4. 2016 / 744 - C. Leary - Req. City Mgr. invite Lowell Telecommunication Corporation’s (LTC) new Director; Wendy Blom, to present before the City Council regarding LTC’s current objectives and new initiatives for 2017. In Council, seconded by C. Leahy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leary noted the need to discuss direction and goals of the LTC as the City is the main source of funding for that entity. C. Elliott recognized that local programming is critical for the area. 8.5. 2016 / 745 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have DPD provide a report regarding Franklin Park development with Habitat for Humanity. In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted it would be area around Rock Street. C. Rourke requested update in Chelmsford Street area. 8.6. 2016 / 746 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have Parks Dept. repair fence on Moody Street near St. Josephs. In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted it was a neighborhood concern. 8.7. 2016 / 747 - C. Leahy/C. Rourke - Req. City Mgr. explore possibility of reducing speed limits throughout the City, especially in densely populated areas, in accordance with the Innovative Cities Grant. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted it may be needed to satisfy certain grants given to City. C. Elliott requested suspension of the rules to discuss recent crime in City. No objection. So voted. C. Elliott commented on crime at Westminster complex and outlined the various problems in that area. C. Belanger noted it was ongoing problem and the police are called there often. Manager Murphy noted there is a meeting scheduled with management company of the complex. C. Rourke note a small police precinct at site may resolve some issues. C. Leahy commented that there were several code violations at the site. C. Milinazzo noted some cities have a police officer living on the premises. Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Leary to refer to City Manager for report. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 8 of 8) ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. - ANNOUNCEMENTS In Council, C. Mercier mentioned City of Lights Parade. Manager Murphy noted City Hall hours for holiday. ADJOURNMENT 10. - 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