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: November 14, 2017 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 1. ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 8 present, 1 absent (C. Rourke). M. Kennedy presiding. C. Leahy requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Lisa Noonan Panteleakis. C. Mercier requested Item #10.1 be taken out of order so that business owners may address the Council. No objections. So voted. M. Kennedy requested Items #4.2 and #11.1 be taken out of order. No objections. So voted. 2. CITY CLERK 2.1. Minutes of City Council Meeting November 7th, for acceptance. In City Council, read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 3. AUDITOR BUSINESS 3.1. Communication - October YTD 2018 Budget Report. In City Council, read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4.1. November 7, 2017 Motion Responses. In City Council, read, 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 8) A) Beech Street – C. Mercier noted need to stay on top of the issues. C. Elliott questioned any code violations on the building as well as adherence to noise ordinance. Manager Murphy commented on violations and enforcement actions against owner of the building in a more aggressive manner. Supt. Taylor (LPD) commented on issues and procedures being used to combat them. C. Elliott noted the use of many resources of the City to address the many calls concerning the property. Supt. Taylor noted that such calls are tracked by police software. B) Effect of TIFs on Economic Development – C. Samaras commented on the report and requested information. Manager Murphy commented on program and how it works, how it is used and how it can create jobs in the City. C. Elliott questioned if there were a threshold concerning size of business to take advantage of the program. Maria Dickinson (DPD) commented on the program and how sometimes the State would be involved as well. Conor Baldwin (CFO) commented on tax revenue generated by the program. C. Elliott questioned how the program is made available to businesses. Manager Murphy commented on outreach programs to potential users. C. Belanger noted program was valuable resource for the City. C. Milinazzo commented on success of the program and noted that businesses are keeping up their end of the bargain. C. Mercier requested that public hearing begin and to return to items after the hearings. No objections. So voted. C) Christian Hill Reservoir Passive Park – C. Leary noted use of grant money for a passive park and that filling in that reservoir is not an option. D) Middlesex Street – C. Samaras noted the report and the concern with pan handling downtown. C. Leahy noted the need to clear area of pan handling in fairness to the businesses. C. Leary noted the need to make City inviting to people with disposable income. E) Flag Drop Box – C. Mercier commented on proper procedure to dispose of a flag. C. Elliott noted the proper protocol in handling a flag. C. Milinazzo noted the locations of the boxes and suggested that Lowell High ROTC may be of some assistance with this program. F) Status of 318 Andover Street – C. Mercier commented on the condition of the property. G) Stormquist Ave and South Street 60 Day Trials – None. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 8) H) Central and Middle Street Recommendations – C. Leahy noted the need to clean up area for local businesses. C. Milinazzo noted issues with Living Waters Program downtown. C. Samaras noted issues need to be addressed and programs need to be run properly. C. Leahy noted the need for all partners downtown to assist with resolving issues. C. Belanger noted changes must be made to organizations to assist with the problems. C. Samaras noted that some areas are simply overburdened. C. Leary noted the need to study these areas so that changes can be made. I) Polling Locations Preliminary Election – None. J) LHS Ancillary Cost Comparison – C. Milinazzo requested time table for repairs needed in the Winward Street area. Manager Murphy introduced two new employees of the Health and Human Services Department. 4.2. Misc. - Michelle Foote request installation of traffic light at intersection of Perkins Street and Aiken Avenue. In Council, Motion to refer to Law Department/Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. Ms. Foote addressed the body. C. Leahy noted discussion regarding lights as opposed to pedestrian crossing. 5. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 5.1. Vote-Accept MGL c.59 s.5 Fifth C increase exemption for veterans’ organizations to 1.5M. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was James Holden (VFW); Joe Dussault (VFW); and Sam Poulton. No remonstrants. Motion to adopt by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Leary. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Rourke). So voted. C. Mercier commented on history of the vote noting the exemption will give relief and City would not suffer as a result of it. C. Elliott noted it was important to adopt the vote in order to keep organizations vibrant. C. Milinazzo commented on the need to explore further cost savings for these organizations. 6. UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING 6.1. Comcast - Request permission to install underground conduit at manhole at 43 Market Street. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 8) In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor were Dave Fallion (Comcast), Frank Tehada (owner) and Nicolas Bosonetto (City Engineer). No remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. M. Kennedy requested that Items #6.2 to #6.5 be bundled and heard together. No objection. So voted. 6.2. National Grid - Request permission to install (1) pole at corner of Pawtucket and Merrimack Streets. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Nicolas Bosonetto (City Engineer). No remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 6.3. National Grid - Request permission to install (1) stub pole and anchor at 590 Pine Street. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Nicolas Bosonetto (City Engineer). No remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 6.4. National Grid/Verizon NE - Request permission to install (1) pole and 10 feet of conduit at East Merrimack and Park Streets. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Nicolas Bosonetto (City Engineer). No remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 6.5. National Grid/Verizon NE - Request permission to install (1) pole and 30 feet of conduit at 357 Pawtucket Street. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Nicolas Bosonetto (City Engineer). No remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Leary, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 7. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 7.1. Motion Responses: In City Council, read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 8) A) Sizzling Kitchen Sidewalk – C. Samaras commented on the effort by the City to resolve issue. B) Letter of Support for Lowell Community Health Center – C. Samaras recognized the Administration for the letter of support. C) Vacancies and Holdover Seats on Boards and Commissions – C. Mercier requested update of the boards and commissions. 7.2. Communication-Appoint Michael L. Peaslee to Veterans Commission. In City Council, read, Motion to adopt by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Leary. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Rourke). So voted. 7.3. Communication-Reappoint Crystal Arnott and Appoint Christopher Husgen, Lt Gendreau and Rodney Elliott to Animal Advisory Committee. In City Council, read, Motion to adopt by C. Leary, seconded by C. Elliott. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Rourke). So voted. 8. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. Vote-Accept Parcels 1A and 1B also known as certain portions of 190 Plain Street, Lowell from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Leary, seconded by C. Milinazzo. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Rourke). So voted. 8.2. Vote-Auth Mgr Ex. License Agreement with Massachusetts Electric Co. - 4 Lowell Connector. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Rourke). So voted. 8.3. Vote-Auth Mgr. Ex. Temporary Access Agreement with Landplex LLC for 1254 Varnum Ave-soil testing for drainage design. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 8) In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Leary, seconded by C. Leahy. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Rourke). So voted. 9. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 9.1. Order-Abandon portion of Montreal Street. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to refer to public hearing on December 5, 2017 at 7 PM by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. 10. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 10.1. Economic Development SC November 14, 2017. In City Council, C. Samaras provided report commenting on attendance and discussion of the Lowell Development & Financial Corporation Incubator Loan Fund and the participants of that fund. The following participants introduced themselves to body; Moule Ramani (Horsepower Tech); Abiche Dewilde (Invitrometrix); and Rajia Abdeaziz (Invisawear). James Cook (Executive Director) outlined the loan program. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. M. Kennedy thanked the businesses. 11. PETITIONS 11.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. In Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 11.2. Misc. - Michael Califano request replacement of one-way sign on Whidden Street. In Council, Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. 11.3. Misc. - Randall Murphy request repair of handicap crosswalk between RiverPlace and Lowell High School. In Council, Motion to refer to City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leary. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 7 of 8) 11.4. Misc. - Alison Laraba request permission to address the Council regarding public service in the City. In Council, Motion to refer to City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Ms. Laraba addressed the Council. 12. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 12.1. C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. investigate and report on any problem activities in the vicinity of Kirk and Merrimack Streets as well as Merrimack and Central Streets. In City Council, second by C. Milinazzo, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted prior discussion in dealing with issues in that area. M. Kennedy relinquished Chair to C. Mercier at 8 PM. 12.2. M. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. install a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Havilah and Remington Streets. In City Council, second by C. Leary, referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Kennedy noted it was a constituent request. 12.3. M. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. instruct the proper department to provide the City Council and the School Committee with the schedule of regular periodic maintenance at all schools in Lowell. In City Council, second by C. Leahy, referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Kennedy noted the need to have a schedule to have a proactive approach. C. Leary questioned status of possible reorganization of departments to enhance maintenance program. C. Milinazzo requested copy of maintenance policy of the City. C. Mercier returned Chair to M. Kennedy at 8:07 PM. 13. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 8 of 8) 14. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM. _____________________________ Michael Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov