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: February 5, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 1. ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 9 present. M. Samaras presiding. 2. CITY CLERK 2.1. Minutes of City Council Meeting January 29th, for acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Cirillo. So voted. C. Leahy requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Philip S. Maloney and George D. Kouloheras. 3. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 3.1. Motion Responses. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Cirillo. So voted. A) Motion response - Inspection of City Pedestrian Signs – Manager Donoghue noted the inventory contained in the report. C. Leahy questioned school zone lighting. Natasha Vance (Transportation Engineer) noted that the lights were older and could not be programmed to stop flashing during certain times. B) Motion Response - Trees at Leo Roy Garage – C. Cirillo commented on the plantings that will done in the spring. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 5) C) Motion Response – Manger – C. Mercier commented on the restoration plan for the manger and the efforts of Youth Build organization. 3.2. Informational Reports D) Informational - Inspector Staffing and Inspections – Manager Donoghue noted the report which set out staffing and the number of inspections done by the department. C. Leahy questioned training of various board members of the City. Eric Slagle (Inspectional Services) noted that the department is developing training sessions for members. C. Leahy commented on recent petition before Zoning Board of Appeals that lacks sufficient square footage. Mr. Slagle noted that petition can be before the board with any request for relief. C. Conway noted the number of inspections and questioned if that was an up to date list. Mr. Slagle commented on the various types of inspections being done. C. Milinazzo questioned the certifications of the inspectors in the City. Mr. Slagle commented on the license requirements and the status of the department regarding the requirements. C. Mercier commented on the number of building inspectors. C. Nuon commented on license requirements. C. Kennedy commented on the rental unit inspections done in the City and the ability to get them completed in timely fashion. Mr. Slagle commented on the process against owners of buildings for non-compliance with inspections schedules. E) Informational - Marijuana Revenues – Manager Donoghue commented on tax earmarks to general fund along with the fees collected and how they are distributed. Mr. Slagle outlined the statutory uses allowed for tax and fees collected from sale of the product. C. Mercier noted City was only allowed to collect fees for five years. Manager Donoghue noted that was correct and that the legislature may revisit that mandate. 3.3. Communication-Accept resignation of Patricia Sullivan Talty from Lowell Housing Authority. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 3.4. Communication-Appoint Philip L. Shea to Lowell Housing Authority to fill unexpired term of Patricia Sullivan Talty. In City Council, read, Motion to adopt by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. Mr. Shea was present and thanked the body. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 5) 3.5. Communication-Appoint Caleb Cheng to Planning Board as Associate Member. In City Council, read, Motion to adopt by C. Conway, seconded by C. Nuon. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. Manager Donoghue noted the scheduling conflict with Mr. Cheng who was unable to attend. 3.6. Communication-Reappoint Kathleen Cullen-Lutter to Board of Health. In City Council, read, Motion to adopt by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. 4. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. Vote-Accept Gift from the Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School PTA in memory of Lt. Patrick Burns for use by the Police Dept. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Cirillo. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. 4.2. Vote-Auth City Mgr enter into a contract with a Construction Management At- Risk Firm-HCID Parking Garage Project. 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 9 yeas. So voted. C. Elliott questioned the purpose of the contract. Manager Donoghue noted the purpose and the potential cost savings and how it would operate. 4.3. Vote-Authorize Filing Article 97 Special Legislation for new Lowell High School. 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 9 yeas. So voted. C. Elliott commented on the process and what bodies would be involved. Manager Donoghue noted the need for special legislation through Home Rule Petition in order to get air rights over the canal. 5. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. Order-60 Day Trial (various). In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Mercier. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 5) 6. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6.1. Transportation SC February 4, 2019. In City Council, C. Elliott provided the report commenting on attendance and discussion regarding Maryl Drive which reviewed 60 Day Trials and working with Google Maps to clarify routes. The following motions were adopted by the subcommittee and put before full Council: Motion by C. Cirillo, seconded by C. Conway to exclude commercial traffic on Maryl Drive by way of establishing traffic ordinance; Motion by C. Cirillo, seconded by C. Conway to request City Manager have Law Department review and propose an ordinance that would restrict areas in the City to local traffic only; and Motion by C. Cirillo, seconded by C. Conway to have Transportation Engineer review the appropriate speed limit for Maryl Drive and incorporate that speed into a traffic ordinance to be strictly enforced. Motion to adopt motions and to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Cirillo. So voted. C. Kennedy questioned plan moving forward. Ms. Vance outlined the prior trials and the results which would be used to address any issues. C. Mercier commented on the need for strict enforcement. 7. PETITIONS 7.1. Claim - (2) Property Damage. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. 7.2. Misc. - Brandon Matte request reimbursement of towing charges. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Cirillo. So voted. 8. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8.1. C. Mercier - Req. Resolution that the Lowell Veterans Commission be included in any constructive participation in City decisions and activities and allowed to be provided notification and the opportunity to be heard on any actions affecting its veterans. In City Council, seconded by C. Conway, referred to City Manager/Law Department. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. C. Mercier noted the request was made by the Commission and just wanted to ensure all bodies would be informed as to any decisions regarding veterans. Jay Gaffney and Bill Flanagan addressed the body. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 5) 8.2. C. Elliott - Req. Parks & Recreation SC meet to discuss renaming of park on Branch Street to Palin Park. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to Parks & Recreation SC. Adopted per Roll Call vote 9 yeas. So voted. C. Elliott noted the need for Board of Parks approval and the need to have discussion before referral. C. Elliott noted he has not heard of any opposition to the change by all users of the park. C. Nuon commented on the history of the park and its use as a social center for the community. 8.3. C. Cirillo - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department look into the City of Lowell forming a partnership with The Kerouac Project of Orlando, Florida. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Cirillo commented on the project and requested City reach out to that community to establish some type of partnership with them. 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Nuon commented on Youth Summit organized by the Lowell Community Health Center and requested that a Mayor’s Youth Commission be established. Manager Donoghue noted ceremony to introduce new coin recognizing the Lowell National Park. 10. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. _____________________________ Michael Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov