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: October 23, 2018 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. Elliott). M. Samaras presiding. C. Leahy requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Alfred Savard and William Faulkner. C. Nuon requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Bon Thoeun. 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Recognition - Merrimack Repertory Theatre 40th Anniversary. In City Council, M. Samaras noted the event for the theatre in the Mayor’s Reception Room and introduced following to address the body regarding 40th anniversary: Nancy Donahue; Sean Daniels; and Bonnie Butkus. 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes of Finance SC Joint With Lowell School Committee Finance SC October 16th; City Council Meeting October 16th, for acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. Motion to suspend rules to take Item #8.1 out of order by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 5) 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 4.1. Motion Responses. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. A) Syringe Pickup – Manager Donoghue outlined the response noting the approach that will be taken and the formation of the team to move forward with pickup; identifying Trinity Ambulance. Manager Donoghue noted the funding source and the hiring of full time personnel to oversee this project. C. Conway commented on the effort of Trinity Ambulance as well as noting the need to have a lead person for this endeavor. C. Noun commented on team approach and the work of Trinity Ambulance. John Chemaly (Trinity Ambulance) noted the team effort which included the Health Department, Police Department and Fire Department. Chief Winward (LFD) noted the effort makes City a safer place. B) Emergency Management Plan – C. Conway outlined the plan. Chief Winward provided history of the plan. George Rose (LFD) commented on the communication needed to develop plan and inform the public of the plan noting the plan was still being developed and will be before Council once completed. Chief Winward outlined four aspects of the plan: 1. Preparedness; 2. Response; 3. Mitigation; and 4. Recovery. C. Nuon noted the work remaining on the formal plan. C. Cirillo suggested use of an APP when plan is finalized. Manager Donoghue noted the effort of all involved. 4.2. Communication-Reappoint eight members of Council on Aging. In City Council, read, Motion to adopt by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Cirillo. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. The following were reappointed: Joyce Dastou; Sidney Liang; Suellen O’Neil; Vincenzo Milinazzo; Andrew Hostetler; Eric Lamarche; Joan Bedford; and John Lawlor. 5. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. Vote-Accept and Expend FY2018 Earmarked state funds of 100,000 for Bicycle and Pedestrian Study to Support Rourke Bridge Design. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Cirillo, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. 5.2. Vote-Accept and Expend FY2018 Earmarked state funds of 250,000 for the creation of an Economic Development Grant Program. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 5) In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Nuon. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. M. Samaras requested information regarding vote. Manager Donoghue outlined vote and noted the assistance of Representative Golden in the matter. 5.3. Vote-Accept gift from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Inc. of labor and materials for construction of a park at 16 Franklin St. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. 5.4. Vote-Accept Gift from Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. of 5,000 for the 2018 City of Lights Holiday Celebration. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Conway, seconded by C. Cirillo. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. C. Mercier requested letters of appreciation be forwarded to donors. 6. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 6.1. Order-60 day trial (various). In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections, Motion to adopt by C. Conway, seconded by C. Kennedy. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. 7. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 7.1. Environment & Flood Issues SC October 23, 2018. In City Council, C. Cirillo provided the report noting attendance and discussion regarding use of plastic straws in the City and the effect on the environment. Motion by C. Cirillo, seconded by C. Kennedy to refer to DPD to develop program to discourage the use of plastic straws in the City. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. C. Mercier noted was not in favor of ban but would support providing information to the public regarding use of plastic straws. C. Conway noted ban would have issues in the medical community and that providing information would be better approach. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Conway. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 5) 8. PETITIONS 8.1. Misc. - Brenda Gould (Habitat for Humanity) extend appreciation regarding pocket park on Franklin Street in the Acre and request permission to name the park Franklin Street Green. In Council, Motion to refer to City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. Ms. Gould provided report and thanked the administration for their support. Ms. Gould noted the upcoming dedication and the request to name the park. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Cirillo to name park Franklin Street Green. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Elliott). So voted. 8.2. Misc. - JR Management for benefit of Marilyn Ortiz request installation of handicap parking sign at 276 West Sixth Street. In Council, Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. 8.3. Misc. - Ronald Namwanja request installation of street light on existing pole located at 914 Lakeview Avenue. In Council, Motion to refer to Traffic Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Cirillo. So voted. 8.4. Misc. - Victory Chapel (Craig Gardner) request permission to use public building for community event. In Council, Motion to refer to City Manager for report and recommendation by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Conway. So voted. Mr. Gardner addressed the Council. 9. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 9.1. C. Mercier/C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. place Andover Street on schedule to replace and/or repair sidewalks to handicap specifications. In City Council, no second needed, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Mercier provided packet request from neighborhood noting the number of signatures and pictures provided. C. Conway noted the work was overdue and that there are safety issues and not compliant with ADA requirements. C. Kennedy noted that funding could be available to assist with ADA compliance. C. Milinazzo commented on possible funding noting it was a State road under local management. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 5) 9.2. C. Leahy/C. Elliott - Req. City Mgr. provide a report regarding the status of the development on Ellis Avenue and in addition provide process on how Council is informed of the actions of the various regulatory boards in the City. In City Council, no second needed, referred to City Manager/Zoning SC. So voted. C. Leahy noted it was neighborhood concern and he noted that boards should be in line with zoning vision of the City. Motion by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Milinazzo to refer to Zoning SC. So voted. 9.3. C. Milinazzo - Req. City Mgr. review the potential to privatize some or all of the custodial and/or maintenance services at school buildings. In City Council, seconded by C. Cirillo, referred to City Manager/Auditor, Clerk & Personnel SC. So voted. C. Milinazzo commented on the motion and the intent to keep dialogue in place to change a system which is not functioning as it should. C. Milinazzo noted he would delete privatize element from the motion as the intent is to look at all factors that may improve the system. C. Mercier noted the need to generate the discussion regarding all possible solutions and requested friendly amendment to refer to Auditor, Clerk & Personnel SC upon completion of report by Manager. C. Milinazzo accepted the amendment. C. Nuon noted the number of work orders to be completed. C. Kennedy supported the motion and noted the system must be changed. C. Conway noted the discussion must continue and that a preventative maintenance plan needs to be in place with any new system. Manager Donoghue noted the need to verify the amount of work orders, prioritize those orders, see if there are Capital projects in those orders and look at MSBA funding for any repair or maintenance. C. Conway noted employees must be educated in a new system implemented. C. Leahy noted the need to discuss the creation of second shift jobs to be part of any system. 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. 11. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Conway. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM. _____________________________ Michael Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov