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: April 12, 2022 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA / Zoom (Hybrid) 1 ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 11 present. M. Chau presiding. Asst. Clerk Angela Gitschier and Interim City Manager Michael Geary were present. C. Mercier requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Atty. George Anthes. M. Chau recognized Atty. Anthes as well. C. Scott requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Margaret Lally. C. Leahy requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Michelle Mahoney. 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. Leahy, seconded by C. Jenness. So voted. 2.2. Proclamation - National Community Development. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Yem, seconded by C. Scott. So voted. M. Chau made the proclamation. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 4) 2.3. Recognition - Mahoney Family Fund Non-Profit Organization Prevention Of Child Abuse Event. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Robinson. So voted. Peg Shannahan and Gordon Hahm spoke on behalf of the organization. Interim Manager Geary recognized the organization and their work as well. 2.4. Citation - Funan Art Group. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Yem. So voted. M. Chau presented the citation to the dance troupe. 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Meeting April 5th, For Acceptance. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place as amended on file” by C. Jenness, seconded by C. Gitschier. So voted. C. Mercier noted correction needed on the motion to adjourn. 3.2. Vote - Council Cancel Meeting 04.19.22 In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Leahy. Adopted per Roll Call vote 11 yeas. So voted. Interim Manager Geary noted past votes taken in the matter to accommodate for school vacation. 4. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. Vote - DCAMM Certificate Of Notification Waiver In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Scott, seconded by C. Jenness. Adopted per Roll Call vote 11 yeas. So voted. C. Mercier requested reasoning behind the vote. Interim Manager Geary commented he had spoken with Ms. MaCall (DPD) regarding vote and indicated the process of DCAM in review of property. C. Yem requested where developers may get information regarding site. Interim Manager Geary recommended that they go through the DPD for such information. C. Leahy noted they were just approving a waiver on the site. Interim Manager Geary noted the waiver allows for a thirty day notice period as opposed to one hundred and twenty days. 5. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 5.1. Municipal Facilities SC Joint With Lowell School Committee Facilities SC April 12, 2022. In City Council, C. Leahy noted the attendance and discussion surrounding school facilities and the possibility of establishing a centralized facility department. C. Leahy noted that next meeting would be May 17th to continue discussion. Motion by C. Leahy, City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 4) seconded by C. Robinson to have City Mgr. explore hiring a consultant to review establishing a centralized department to include positions and funding. So voted. C. Robinson noted the need for information. C. Jenness noted the need to have professional HVAC personnel on staff. C. Gitschier noted that outsourcing may not be the solution. Motion by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Gitschier request City Mgr. explore feasibility of allocating additional funds ($250,000 - $500,000) for HVAC call service to end of fiscal year. So voted. C. Gitschier commented on existing accounts to put funding together. C. Mercier noted the need for added personnel and salary. C. Leahy noting the search for efficiency. C. Robinson noted the need to bring all parties together. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Scott. So voted. 6. PETITIONS 6.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. C. Leahy noted submitted claims. Motion to suspend rules to take Item #7.7 out of order and to allow speaker by M. Chau, seconded by C. Jenness. So voted. M. Chau relinquished Chair to Vice-Chair Gitschier at 7:30 PM. 7. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 7.1. C. Robinson - Req. City Council Discuss And Clarify Compensation Related To Interim Positions Shifted To Provide Coverage For City Manager Vacancy. In City Council, seconded by C. Rourke, referred to Human Resources. So voted. C. Robinson wanted to ensure pay would be adjusted and reflect for two person effected by the filling of the position to their new position. 7.2. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Provide An Update On Working With The Roberto Clemente League And Plans On Updating The Facilities. In City Council, seconded by C. Yem, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Robinson noted need to update facilities especially restrooms. C. Nuon commented on the work of the organization to complete work. C. Yem noted the input from the league. 7.3. C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Investigate / Update Signal Pattern At The Intersection Of Dutton And Broadway Streets. In City Council, seconded by M. Chau, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Jenness noted the concerns of the residents. C. Yem noted new traffic pattern. C. Mercier commented on issue at Andover and Nesmith Streets. 7.4. C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. Provide A Report On Inspections And Maintenance Practices For Metal Sidewalk Grates Over Vaults Around The City. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 4) In City Council, seconded by C. Leahy, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Jenness noted safety concern. C. Gitschier returned Chair to M. Chau at 7:50 PM. 7.5. C. Gitschier/C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. Update The City Council On Why Yard Waste Is Not On Schedule This Early In The Season. In City Council, no second needed, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Scott noted the need to be done in accordance to contract. C. Gitschier noted they should follow schedule as contracted. C. Mercier noted the time is now to ensure scheduling. 7.6. C. Nuon - Req. City Mgr. Provide A Report On The Breakdown Of So-Called “Maintenance Of Effort” Expenditures By Municipal Departments In Support Of The Schools. In City Council, seconded by C. Drinkwater, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Nuon noted motion speaks for itself. 7.7. M. Chau - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Investigate And Identify Areas Of Improving And Adding Dog Parks Around The City. In City Council, seconded by C. Jenness, referred to City Manager. So voted. Speaker form adjacent neighborhood addressed the body. C. Mercier noted work should be done so that areas are used. M. Chau noted areas need attention. C. Robinson noted efforts of Lowell Litter Group in assisting with this and Koronika Brown addressed the body under suspension of rules (motion C. Robinson, seconded by C. Rourke). 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Nuon noted upcoming CMMA event with President Biden’s Office. C. Robinson noted annul clean up event in Centralville. C. Yem wished all a happy Cambodian New Year. 9. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Yem, seconded by C. Rourke. 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