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: December 14, 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. Elliott, C. Nuon). M. Leahy presiding. C. Samaras requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Johanna O’Hearn. 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. Chau, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. 2.2. Recognition - 75th Anniversary Of The Golden Gloves In Lowell. In City Council, M. Leahy recognized Mr. Kevin Coughlin (Lowell Sun Charities); Mr. Bob Russo (Golden Gloves); and Mr. Peter Lally (Lowell Memorial Auditorium). All addressed the Council. C. Rourke commented on ticketing and that seasons passes were available. C. Chau recognized the event and that they would help promote it. M. Leahy took Item #6.2(F) out of order to introduce new department heads in the City. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 5) 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Meeting December 7th, For Acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Conway, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4.1. Ordinance To Amend Sec. 9 Flood Plain Overlay. In City Council, Motion to refer to Planning Board for report and recommendation and to Public Hearing on January 11, 2022 at 7 PM by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. 5. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 5.1. Vote - Minimum Residential Factor FY2022. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading, hearing held. No Remonstrants. Motion to adopt by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Rourke. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Elliott, C. Nuon). So voted. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Chau to take Item #10.2 out of order. So voted. 6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. A) Motion Response - Election Assessment – None. B) Motion Response – HDIP – Registered speaker, Jeffrey Bush, addressed the Council. C) Motion Response - Vandalism in Back Central – C. Mercier noted the improvements in the area. D) Motion Response - Grants for Video Cameras – C. Mercier commented on the concern of business owners with registering cameras with police department. Manager Donoghue noted some were reluctant to be on a public registry. Supt. Richardson (LPD) commented that businesses are extremely helpful with providing video when needed and there is no issue with cooperation. 6.2. Informational Reports E) Informational - Refunding and Budget Savings – Conor Baldwin (CFO) noted the savings to the City regarding the sale of refunding bonds and the positive effect it will City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 5) have on the FY22 budget. Mr. Baldwin noted the positive financial rating the City has received. F) Informational - Introduction of New Department Heads – Manager Donoghue introduced the following new department heads in the City: Lisa Golden (HHS); Theodoros Panagiotopoulos (Treasure); Peter Crewe (CASE); and Ferdousi Faruque (Chief DEI Officer). Each addressed the Council. 7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote - Accept 2020 RePrecincting Plan. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Elliott, C. Nuon). So voted. Chris O’Connor (City Solicitor) noted there had been changes to the plan as the State was involved with own redistricting so the map needed adjustment with the assistance of Secretary of State’s Office. C. Drinkwater questioned the number of precincts that now need to be split. Atty. O’Connor noted that the district lines did not change but there added splits that were necessary per law. Atty. O’Connor noted that splits would increase costs of elections. Manager Donoghue noted that State changes caused Lowell districts to be split. 7.2. Vote - Transfer To Cemetery Division DPW. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Elliott, C. Nuon). So voted. 7.3. Vote- Apply.Accept.Expend Grant $400K PARC Grant. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Elliott, C. Nuon). So voted. 8. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 8.1. Municipal Facilities SC December 14, 2021. In City Council, C. Drinkwater provided report noting attendance and discussion regarding condition of fire houses in the City which included replacing hot water heaters, structural assessments, energy saving audits and use of Federal pandemic money. C. Rourke requested breakdown of total costs for full rehabilitation and noted that there were no options. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress and adopt motions by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 9. PETITIONS 9.1. Claim - (1) Property Damage. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 5) In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. 9.2. Misc. - Katherine Robillard Request Removal Of Handicap Parking Sign At 39 Cedar Street. In City Council, Motion to refer to Transportation Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 9.3. Misc. - Sherri Favaloro Request Removal Of Handicap Parking Sign At 72-78 Otis Street. In City Council, Motion to refer to Transportation Engineer for report and recommendation by C. Chau, seconded by C. Conway. So voted. 9.4. National Grid/Verizon- Request Installation Of (1) JO Pole Relocate (2) JO Poles At Tanner And Plain Streets. (Tanner Street Realignment) In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to public hearing on January 4, 2022 at 7PM by C. Chau, seconded by C. Conway. So voted. 10. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 10.1. C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. Reach Out To Tunnel To Towers Foundation To Explore The Feasibility Of Developing A Partnership That Will Assist To Eradicate Homelessness For Our Veterans. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Conway noted the Foundation assist homeless veterans and that there is a national campaign underway. 10.2. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Find Ways And Means To Implement The Language Line (Translation Services) In The LPD And City Hall. In City Council, seconded by C. Drinkwater, referred to City Manager/MIS. So voted. Registered speaker, Yun-Ju Choi, addressed the City Council. C. Mercier noted the need for the service and that it could be used in all departments especially with police and fire. C. Mercier requested that matter be referred to MIS as well. C. Chau noted the number of languages throughout the City and the need for the service. 10.3. C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. Work With The City Of Learning Committee And Congresswoman Trahan To Help Secure Learning City Designation From UNESCO. In City Council, seconded by C. Rourke, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted that the effort should continue to ensure that Lowell is first City with the designation once it is approved to return by current administration in Washington. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 5) 10.4. M. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. Look Into The Feasibility Of Placing Handball Courts Around The City At The Appropriate Parks. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. M. Leahy noted request from residents. C. Conway questioned funding available for such an endeavor. 11. ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Mercier commented on the lack of local paper coverage for recent Lowell High Thanksgiving football game. Manager Donoghue commented on the success of the event. C. Conway noted game should have been afforded coverage as it was an exciting event. Motion by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier to cancel City Council meeting of December 28, 2021. Adopted per Roll Call vote 7 yeas, 2 absent (C. Elliott, C. Nuon). So voted. 12. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. 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