City Council

I commend Councilor Rita Mercier on her remarks this evening regarding crime in Lowell.  My notes from the entire meeting are available online but I want to single out Rita’s comments, partly because she and I haven’t shared a lot of common ground on issues, but mostly because she’s right.…

My notes from tonight’s Lowell City Council meeting: Resignation of Erik Gitschier from Greater Lowell Vocational School Committee – City Council trying to schedule a joint meeting with the Lowell School Committee to select his replacement.  Special meeting on October 7, 2014 at 6:30 pm (council will begin its regular…

The City Council and Downtown Instead of travelling to a distant location for a summer vacation I stuck around New England and made short trips to cities like Boston, Salem, and North Adams in Massachusetts, Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine.  Anytime I go to such places I always compare…

City Auditor Report: 2009–2014 Surveillance Spending Report.  Mayor relinquishes chair to Vice Chair Leahy.    Mayor finds many things troubling including that names of investigative subjects were blacked out on original invoices.  This should be investigated.  Says the city should have a list of people who were followed.  Also dismayed that…

At the Lowell City Council on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, Mayor Rodney Elliott made a motion requesting the City Manager have the Chief Financial Officer and Superintendent of Schools produce a report regarding the costs incurred to educate newcomer students.  Besides Mayor Elliott, Corey Belanger was the only City Councilor…

Meeting opens with Councilor Mercier requesting a moment of silence for the seven victims of the Branch Street fire. Mayor Elliott joins in with heartfelt remarks on effect of the tragedy and on the way the entire city pulled together in response to it. He presents commendations to the Lowell…

With no city council meeting this week due to the summer schedule, city political activity was a bit light. On Tuesday, the city officially posted the job of Assistant City Manager which I think is a good thing. Beginning with Jim Sullivan in 1971, almost every city manager had a…

(Rules suspended to take several items early). Vote authorizing city manager to execute a lease with UMass Lowell for 125 parking spaces on Fr. Morissette Blvd. They will be used by UMass Lowell Monday thru Friday, used by staff people primarily from the University Crossing facility (former St Joseph’s Hospital).…