City Council

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Date: May 7, 2024 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 1. ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 11 present. M. Rourke presiding. 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Communication / Zoom Participation. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. 2.2. Proclamation - AAPI Month. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Nuon. So voted. M. Rourke read the proclamation. 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Regular Meeting April 30th, For Acceptance. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Gitschier, seconded by C. Descoteaux. So voted. 4. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 4.1. Ordinance - Amend Chap. 272.30 - Drain Layer Licensing Regulations.  Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk In City Council, Given 2nd Reading, Hearing held. Motion to adopt by C. Gitschier, seconded by C. Jenness. Adopted per Roll Call vote 11 yeas. So voted. 5. CITY COUNCIL – MOTIONS 5.1. C. Yem - Req. City Mgr. Have The Appropriate Department Update The City Council On The Plan To Celebrate 2024 Fourth Of July. In City Council, seconded by C. Scott, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Yem commented on prior year success and would like to repeat that. 5.2. C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Place A Surveillance Camera At The Pyne Arts School Due To Increasing Problem With Trash Dumping. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Descoteaux to discuss Item #5.8 with this item. So voted. C. Leahy noted the increase in dumping in some areas. 5.3. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Have The Proper Department Provide A Detailed Report On How Many Households We Are Providing Solid Waste, Recycling And Yard Waste Pickup; Breaking Down By Number Of Housing Units. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. 5.4. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Have The LPD Look At Bridge Street And VFW Intersection At Lowell High School Dismissal Time To Determine Recommendations To Facilitate Vehicular Traffic And Heavy Pedestrian Traffic During This Period. In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Robinson noted resident concerns during high school dismissal as there  Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk is a big influx of pedestrians. C. Descoteaux commented on the effort by Lowell High staff to regulate areas of concern. 5.5. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Provide An Update On City Councilors’ Ability To Donate Any Salary For Which They Are Not Allowed To Be Compensated To Any Organization Of Their Choosing. In City Council, seconded by C. Yem, referred to City Manager as amended. Adopted as amended per Roll Call vote 9 yeas, 2 recused (C. Gitschier, C. Descoteaux). So voted. C. Robinson noted prior request regarding this issue. C. Leahy noted that if one is not entitled to salary then it could not be donated. C. Mercier indicated that any policy should be consistent and that members should be paid for services. C. Robinson commented that there should be a path created if one wishes to donate salary and requested to amend the motion without objections. C. Gitschier and C. Descoteaux recused selves from discussion and vote due to potential conflict. 5.6. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Have The Proper Department Consider Speed Bump Installation On 18th Street To Curb The Speeding Issue In The Area. In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Robinson commented on the use of data to install a needed speed bump. Elizabeth Oltman (Transportation Engineer) commented on the use of data in traffic mitigation. 5.7. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Have The Proper Department Look Into Installing A Stop Sign At Beacon And Willard Street. In City Council, seconded by C. Gitschier, referred to City Manager. So voted. 5.8. C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. Look Into What Options Are Available To Address The Illegal Dumping On Greenhalge School Grounds.  Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Gitschier requested an equipment update regarding cameras. Shawn Machado (Ass. City Mgr.) commented on the inventory and the cameras that are in use and available to all schools. C. Chau noted that cameras should be available to all schools for all purposes. C. Mercier noted the efforts of the DPW but illegal dumping remains a problem and that preparators need to caught and fined. C. Robinson noted that other resources could be used to combat the issue. C. Scott questioned if ARPA could be used. 5.9. C. Robinson/C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. Work With The University, Lowell Youth Baseball And Softball, And Roberto Clemente Leagues To Establish A Plan And Date For A Tournament Utilizing LeLacheur Park. In City Council, no second needed, referred to City Manager. So voted. Motion by C. Robinson, seconded by C. Mercier to suspend rules to allow Maria Claudio to address the body. So voted. Ms. Claudio spoke to body through an interpreter. C. Gitschier noted continued use of the facility after it was sold. C. Robinson noted the great opportunity for community events. 5.10. C. Descoteaux - Req. City Mgr. Update On Efforts To Consolidate City And School Departments. In City Council, motion withdrawn per C. Descoteaux request. No objections. 6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses. In City Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Yem. So voted. A) Motion Response - Premium Pay Retirees – C. Gitschier noted that it was proper for work that had been done and commented on the scope of  Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk the play. C. Mercier commented about fairness of the pay. C. Robinson noted pay was not substantial, but it was correct thing to do. Manager Golden, Jr. recognized the efforts of the ARPA team and Brendan Flynn. B) Motion Response - Aiken Street Bridge Embankment – C. Robinson noted that the area was in great shape. C) Motion Response - Billings Street – C. Robinson commented on the positive feedback he has received. D) Motion Response - Eagle Park – C. Robinson noted future improvements are warranted. E) Motion Response - Lowell St – C. Scott noted speed bump will resolve the issue. F) Motion Response - Solar Speed Lights – C. Scott noted the response. G) Motion Response - Reservoir Speed Study – C. Robinson noted the need to interpret the data that will be collected. Motion by C. Gitschier, seconded by M. Rourke to have City Manager provide list of all streets that fall outside of the 25 MPH regulations. So voted. 7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote - Authorize CM Ex. Lease Agreement With Fortune Wannalancit LLC. In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived without objection. Motion to adopt by C. Gitschier, seconded by C. Leahy. Adopted by Roll Call vote 11 yeas. So voted. C. Gitschier commented on the favorable contract and noted some concern with parking. Shannon Nortan (Career Center) noted parking issues are resolved and would not be issue. C. Gitschier noted that owner was responsible for maintenance and cleaning. Heather Donovan (Career Center) described program going into facility. 8. ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER  Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk 8.1. Ordinance - Create Deputy Chief Information Officer Position And Salary - MIS. In City Council, Given 1st Reading. Motion to refer to Public Hearing on May 21, 2024 @ 7 PM by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Jenness. So voted. 9. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 9.1. Transportation SC May 7, 2024. In City Council, C. Descoteaux requested report be provided on May 14, 2024 meeting. No objections. 10. PETITIONS 10.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Robinson, seconded by C. Scott. So voted. 11. ANNOUNCEMENTS In City Council, C. Robinson noted productive Centralville Neighborhood meeting in terms of providing events sponsored by Recreation Department. C. Mercier was provided a moment of personal privilege to inform the body and public that her social media had been hacked. C. Jenness noted the women's professional hockey team in Lowell would be in playoffs and that event is worth going to. C. Gitschier noted the 7th annual Points of Light Celebration. C. Yem noted upcoming veterans' events and as well as AAPI events. C. Yem wished C. Nuon and his wife a happy birthday on behalf of the Council. Yovani Baez-Rose (DPD) commented on the Greening Gateway Cities Program. 12. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Scott, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted.  Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4162 www.LowellMA.gov Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Angela M. Gitschier Assistant City Clerk Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM. ___________________________________ Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk