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: January 3, 2023 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA / Zoom (Hybrid) 1. ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 10 present, 1 absent (M. Chau), C. Yem - Zoom. M. Chau presiding. C. Mercier requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Joyce Burgess, Camille “Butch” Frediani, C. Leahy requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Richard R. “Rick” Geoffroy, C. Jenness requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Angel Perez . 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. Robinson, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of Parks And Recreation SC December 20th; City Council Regular Meeting December 20th, For Acceptance. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Jenness, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. 4. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 4.1. Order - MSBA ARP Feasibility Study 2022. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 5) In City Council, Given 2nd Reading, hearing held. No Remonstrants. Motion to adopt and refer to Clerk’s Office for twenty days by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Jenness. Adopted by Roll Call vote 10 yeas, 1 absent (M. Chau). So voted. 4.2. Ordinance - Amend Fee Schedule - Weights And Measures. In City Council, Given 2nd Reading, hearing held. No Remonstrants. Motion to adopt by C. Scott, seconded by C. Mercier. Adopted by Roll Call vote 10 yeas, 1 absent (M. Chau). So voted. 5. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 5.1. Motion Responses. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Jenness, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. A) Motion Response - Citizens Advisory Committee – C. Nuon commented on how often they meet, work that has been done, how do we retain members? C. Robinson commented on participation from each district. B) Motion Response - Hadley Lighting – C. Gitschier thanked City Manager for response. C) Motion Response - Pawtucket and School Street Smart Signal – C. Yem thanked Yovani Baez-Rose for response. D) Motion Response - Recycling and Trash Bin Replacement – C. Robinson thanked City Manager for response but is not being told that by residents. C. Robinson questioned the antique paper system, would like to know more about damage being done to bin by contractor when they are collecting garbage, are repairs done in house and how many employees in house doing repairs. C. Gitschier also commented on contractors responsibilities with respect to complaints when investigated and acted upon. C. Robinson, seconded by C. Scott to refer motion response to the Neighborhoods Sub/Committee. So Voted. E) Motion Response - Preparation for Waste Ban – None F) Motion Response - State Cannabis Commission and Social Consumption - With Attachments – C. Robinson, seconded by C. Drinkwater to refer motion response to Cannabis Control Sub/Committee. So Voted 5.2. Communication - City Manager Request Out Of State Travel (1) LPD. In City Council, Motion to adopt by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Robinson. Adopted by Roll Call vote 10 yeas, 1 absent (M. Chau). So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 5) 6. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 6.1. Vote - Accept/Expend $133,600 MCC Grant. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Nuon. Adopted per Roll Call vote 10 yeas, 1 absent (M. Chau). So voted. 7. ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Ordinance - Create Position ARPA Project Construction Manager. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to Public Hearing on January 17, 2023 at 7 PM by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Scott. So voted. 7.2. Ordinance - Amend Zoning. In City Council, Given 1st Reading, Motion to refer to Planning Board for report and recommendation and then to Public Hearing on February 14, 2023 at 7 PM by C. Jenness, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. 8. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 8.1. Wire Insp. - Boston Gas D/B/A National Grid - Request Replacement Of 2,230 Feet Of Gas Main On Wellesley Avenue, W. Albert Street, Walton Street And Preston Street. In City Council, Motion to accept and adopt accompanying order by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. 9. PETITIONS 9.1. Claims-(4) Property Damage. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Jenness. So voted. 10. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 10.1. C. Gitschier - Auditor/Clerk Oversight And Personnel Sub/Committee Meet To Discuss Outline And Timeline For Evaluations Of The City Manager, Auditor And Clerk. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to Auditor/Clerk Oversight and Personnel SC. So voted. 10.2. C. Scott - Request City Mgr. Have Appropriate Dept. Provide A Report With The Number Of Neighborhood Parking Signs That Have Been Issued, Sign Fee Charged Vs Actual Cost, The Yearly Decal Fee Vs Actual Cost, How They Are Tracked And Billed Yearly, The Yearly Number That Pay Their Renewal Fee, And The Total Revenue From This Program. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 5) In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. 10.3. C. Yem/C. Robinson - Request City Mgr. Have The Appropriate Department Provide An Update Regarding Joint Motion Of C. Scott/C. Yem Filed 5/24/22 Pertaining To Suffolk And Broadway Streets, Detailing Alternative Corrective Strategies For This Location. In City Council, no second needed, referred to City Manager. So voted. 10.4. C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. Have MASSDOT Provide Report Regarding Repairs To Andover St. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. 10.5. C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. Provide Report On Timeline And Process For Organizations Looking To Apply For ARPA Funding. Registered Speakers: Isaac Xavier, Carl Tietze, Tommy Bucchio, Meg Ly, Jaime Dillon In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. 10.6. M. Chau - Request City Mgr. Create a Link on the City’s Website Page To Publish All Officially Establishes Sister-City Partnerships With The City Of Lowell, Including Sister-Cities’ Municipal Websites. In City Council, seconded by C. Scott, referred to City Manager. So voted. 10.7. M. Chau - Request City Mgr. Have Proper Department Create Usage Plan And Clean-Up Plan Of South Common To Enhance Neighborhood Vitality And Public Open Space Activities. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. 11. ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Yem noted anniversary District Councilors via Zoom. C. Robinson noted CASE 2023 Festival Producers Information Night Tuesday January 17th @ 6PM. 12. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Drinkwater, seconded by C. Jenness. So voted. Meeting adjourned 7:45 PM. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 5) ___________________________________ Angela Gitschier, Asst. City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov