City Council

All councilors present at start of meeting despite it being St. Patrick’s Day. BUDGET – FY16 budget update from City Manager.  First of many reports.  Predicated on department head “wish lists” which will be trimmed down by fiscal realities.  In response to Councilor Milinazzo question, Manager concedes that the city’s…

Representative Rady Mom addresses the council on a bill he has filed to make firing a gun into a house a felony.  Asks the council to formally vote to support this bill so it will aid its becoming law.  Police Chief Taylor says this legislation is needed to fill a…

City Auditor report on snow and ice costs.  City Manager says Governor Baker is lobbying FEMA to reimburse municipalities 100% for snow costs.  Nothing definite but city preparing paper work just in case.  Councilor Milinazzo asks city to investigate FEMA reimbursement of lost revenue for some businesses.  Manager says he’ll…

(I attended the Transportation Subcommittee meeting earlier Tuesday night and so was unable to watch this meeting live so I watched the LTC replay online on Saturday morning, Feb 28). Vice Chair Leahy is chairing the meeting; Mayor Elliott is absent. Council endorses the 2015 Open Space & Recreation Plan. …

Presentation by Kerrie D’Entremont of Greater Lowell Health Alliance on efforts to address opioid epidemic.  She said this is an urgent, unmet, public health crisis.  The Alliance has been involved with setting up unwanted medication turn-in opportunities and making Narcan more available.  Also youth education efforts.  Says funding is spread thin…

Reappointment of Nancy Pitkin, Salmira Mitchell and Marianne Gries to Pollard Memorial Library board of trustees.  Endorsed unanimously by council. Vote to trade parking spaces for WCAP employees at Early Garage in exchange for radio advertisements promoting the city of Lowell.  Manager Murphy says there’s been such an arrangement with…

Mayor Elliott and Councilor Mercier are not present (they are visiting Cambodia). Council discussing report on vacancy rates in downtown.  Acknowledge that there are challenges beyond the control of the city.  For example, the city found a tenant for a large retail space that is vacant but the building owner…

Mayor Elliott opens the meeting by introducing UMass Lowell students from a Community Psychology class and has their instructor tell the council about the class. Motion Responses by City Manager Councilor Leahy questions the detour that uses Pevey Street to bypass the bridge repairs on Broadway; suggests Middlesex St be…