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 9, 2021 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA/Zoom (Hybrid) 1. ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 7 present, 2 absent (C. Chau, C. Rourke). M. Leahy presiding. C. Mercier for C. Chau requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Grandmaster Nam Yell An. C. Nuon requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Charles Gallagher. C. Elliott requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Diane Wilson (sister of Sue LeMay). M. Leahy requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Albert “Al” Lenzi. 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Communication Remote / Zoom Participation: Meetings Will Be Held In Council Chamber With Public Welcome And By Using Remote Participation As Follows: Members Of The Public May View The Meeting Via LTC.Org (On-Line; Live Streaming; Or Local Cable Channel 99). Those Wishing To Speak Regarding A Specific Agenda Item Shall Register To Speak In Advance Of The Meeting By Sending Email To City Clerk Indicating The Agenda Item And A Phone Number To Call So That You May Be Issued Zoom Link To The Meeting. Email Address Is MGEARY@LOWELLMA.GOV. If No Access To Email You May Contact City Clerk At 978-674-4161. All Request Must Be Done Before 4:00 PM On The Day Of Meeting. For Zoom - HTTPS://SUPPORT.ZOOM.US/HC/EN-US/ARTICLES/201362193-JOINING-A- MEETING In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Regular Meeting October 26th, For Acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) Motion to suspend rules to take Item #11.1 out of order by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. 4. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 4.1. Ordinance- Create Position And Salary For Epidemiologist-Health Dept. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading, hearing held. No Remonstrants. Manager Donoghue outlined the ordinance and noted that the position would be totally grant funded and the benefit of having personnel in house for this service. Motion to adopt by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Drinkwater. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Chau, C. Rourke). So voted. 5. UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING 5.1. National Grid - Request Installation Of Handhold And 120 Feet Of Conduit For Service To Cell Antenna On Appleton Street Pole #17. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Vazz Eang (National Grid). No Remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 5.2. National Grid - Request Installation Of Gas Main Extension From 35 To 79 Pratt Avenue. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Diana Cuddy (National Grid). No Remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Cuddy. So voted. 5.3. New Cingular Wireless (D/B/A AT&T) - Request Installation Of A Small Cell Antenna On Existing Pole At 84 University Avenue At Riverside Street. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing held. Speaking in favor was Atty. Edward Pare (ATT&T). No Remonstrants. Motion to refer to Wire Inspector for report and recommendation by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. C. Mercer questioned why the petitions contained so much information and if the process could be adjusted. City Solicitor, City Manager and City Clerk commented that there would attempt to streamline process. 6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Conway, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. A) Motion Response - Woodworking Partnerships – C. Drinkwater noted positive report and was pleased with the number of programs available. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) B) Motion Response - Backflow Preventers – C. Drinkwater noted the positive information within the report and further noted the number of programs coming on line and that the issue does not involve a great number of people so there may be available resources through current federal funding. 6.2. Informational Reports C) Informational - Website Redesign – Manager Donoghue noted the work with Civic Plus for the upgrades which include translations, displays, alerts and department information. C. Nuon noted the improvements in alert and language will be welcomed in the community. 6.3. Communication - Reappointments To Council On Aging. In City Council, Read, Motion to adopt by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Chau, C. Rourke). So voted. Manager Donoghue noted the appointments and the Mayor indicated the following for approval: Andrew Hostetler; John R. Lawlor; Judith Huber; Ann Marie Porter; and Molyka Teing. 7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote - Accept.Expend Elder Mental Health Outreach Grant. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Mercier. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Chau, C. Rourke). So voted. 7.2. Vote -Approve Exemption Of Gregory Balamotis MGL C.268A S.20. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Samaras. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Chau, C. Rourke). So voted. 8. ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. Ordinance - Amending Chapter 56-5 Legal Holidays And Vacation. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to public hearing on November 23, 2021 at 7PM by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. 9. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) None. 10. PETITIONS 10.1. Claim - (1) Property Damage. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) 10.2. Misc. - Somdeth Xaysongkham Request City Council Abandon The Dead- End Section Of Seneca Street. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. C. Mercier noted that portion of this way may be used for fire prevention. Clerk noted that a written opposition was received and forwarded to Law Department. Motion to bundle Items #10.3 to #10.6, inclusive by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. 10.3. Boston Gas D/B/A National Grid - Request Installation Of 400 Feet Of New 2 Inch Plastic Along Bassett Street. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to public hearing on November 23, 2021 at 7PM by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. 10.4. Boston Gas - Request Installation Of Replacement Gas Main On Woodward, Orchard, Oxford, Wright, Starbird, Courtland, Waterford, W. 5th And Adams. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to public hearing on November 23, 2021 at 7PM by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. 10.5. Boston Gas - Request Installation Of Replacement Gas Main Walker, Bachelder, Litchfield, Ready And Hampton. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to public hearing on November 23, 2021 at 7PM by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. 10.6. Verizon NE - Request Installation Of (4) Underground Conduits Along 657 Middlesex Street. (Lord Overpass Project) In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to public hearing on November 23, 2021 at 7PM by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. 11. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 11.1. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Address Vandalism Of The Portuguese Flag And Pole; The Cleanliness Of The Portuguese Monument In The Back Central Street Area; And The Constant Destruction Of Property By The Homeless Who Hang Around In That Area. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. Registered speakers, Paulo Godinho; Joe Valente; and Susan Hudson, addressed the Council. C. Mercier noted the neighborhood was under siege and as a gateway to the City and providing a safe clean neighborhood the situation was not acceptable. C. Mercier noted there must be aggressive action against the people infiltrating the area. C. Mercier City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) noted the need for other communities to assist with the problem even if they do not have one. C. Samaras noted the efforts of the City and that effort should be made public. Manager Donoghue commented on the efforts of the police and that a more aggressive approach is needed as there is a total disregard by these people for the community. C. Elliott noted the amount of services available and that there should be no excuse to treat a neighborhood as such. C. Conway noted the situation is incredibly bad and should not be tolerated and more aggressive multi prong approach is warranted. Manager Donoghue noted multi prong approach by all levels of government is vital. C. Mercier noted Courts need to be more active in assisting. 11.2. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Have Transportation Engineer Prepare 60 Day Trial For A Handicap Parking Sign In Front Of 291 Summer Street. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Mercier commented on the need for the sign. 11.3. C. Elliott - Req. City Council Discuss And Act On Next Steps To Implement Results Of Ballot Question Allowing Residents To Vote For Mayor. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Elliott noted the nonbinding referendum called only for the selection of the Mayor and the results indicated overwhelmingly that the citizens wished to vote for the position. C. Elliott noted that it must be approved by plaintiffs in the lawsuit as well as a judge as the City is under a consent decree. C. Elliott noted that the Mayor should be selected from an at large pool of candidates. 11.4. M. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. Have Transportation Engineer Look At Off-Street Parking Regulations For Condominiums Throughout The City Of Lowell. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Leahy relinquished Chair to Vice Chair Mercier at 7:50 PM and finished the meeting. M. Leahy noted there are parking issues in tight neighborhoods as a result of not using the available parking on condominium sites and there must be adherence to regulations. 12. ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, Motion to cancel Council Meeting of November 30, 2021 due to Thanksgiving holiday by M. Leahy, seconded by C. Nuon. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Chau, C. Rourke). So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) 13. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM. ___________________________________ Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov