Left In Lowell

[Bumped for visibility. Originally posted at 9:43 pm. — Lynne]

The meeting started a bit late; again due to a spirited sub-committee meeting prior to the CC meeting. It was good to see City Councilwoman Eileen Donoghue back after missing a few meetings recuperating from surgery. City Manager Bernie Lynch was absent attending a conference; he missed a lengthy meeting with a diverse agenda.

If you also missed it and would like to watch it, LTC repeats it throughout the week and you can always catch on the internet where the broadcast is crisper and you can skip lengthy grandstanding speeches from certain CCs if you want. The acrimonious and contentious debates that have taken place lately between the CC members were not evident tonight. Nothing like a Fortune 100 company bringing 600-800 new jobs to the City to bring smiles and pleasantries all around.

CITY MANAGER’S PORTION
There were two appointments made to City Boards: Christine Dunlap as Library Trustee and Joyce E. Dastou to the Council on Aging. Both were unanimously approved. CC Armand Mercier reminded the CC that the (previous) CM was asked when submitting recommendations for Board appointments to present them with the resumes of those individuals which were not chosen.

Under the current CM’s plan this is going to be difficult. Based on the applicants’ resume, he stated that he may appoint individuals to a Board that they had not originally requested. The CC decided to discuss this issue next week when the CM is back. I think it is important that this component of the application request not be eliminated.

It is in the City’s best interest to have the CC to know who is applying to serve on Boards and who the CM is deciding is not qualified, regardless of the makeup of the CC and who the CM is. I am a bit curious as to why Ms. Dunlap who currently serves on the LTC Board, another CM appointment is now serving as a Library Trustee. I would not want this to be a trend where the same people serve on numerous Boards.

A $5,000 gift for another police dog for the City was accepted by the CC; the canine will join the other dog, which I have never seen, and the two horses, which I see on occasion.

In the “no brainer” department, the CC voted unanimously to offer a TIF, a tax break on future growth, to the Motorola Company. They are consolidating and renting space and Cross Point Towers. The City of Lowell courted them and successfully convinced them that we have the best

Of the 600 jobs that are coming for sure, 120 are new position, 75% of which will pay + $100,000. I want to echo CC Ramirez’s sentiments and congratulate Assistant CM Matt Coggins and his DPD staff.
I am a proponent of TIFs if they are going to stimulate the local economy and I think this will.

PUBLIC HEARING
Did you notice that every time National Grid comes to a public hearing, they send a different person?

An ordinance Amending the Table of Organization for the Police Dept. was passed Nine Captains and 27 sergeants will be assigned. This is to cover all shifts and all geographic quatrains with a proper supervision structure. There will be no extra costs, if need be Lieutenants will be performing Captains functions and patrolman the functions of the Sergeants.

Patrolman Carlos Ramirez made an eloquent appeal on behalf of himself and other patrolman who have been working towards becoming Sergeants. He was not able to influence anyone except me and I do not have a vote. His brother CC George Ramirez recused himself on the vote

The public hearing on more changes to the Zoning lawshas begun; it was recessed so that the September 21st Planning Board meeting ; September 25th sub-committee can take place and hear all the concerns. The October 3rd Council meeting will reconvene the meeting and a vote will most likely take place.

The major issue seems to the acceptance of Accessory Dwelling Units, “in-law” apartments. Zoning Sub-Committee Chairman reported that the recommendations from the DPD and Planning Board will be posted. There were some who spoke in opposition and it appears that this will be reviewed carefully before we move forward. CC Rodney Elliott, a sub-committee member, stated that there is no rush to move forward without full deliberation and exploration with full public input. I can see that this is going to be a hotly debated issue.

SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT
Passed a resolution to take the Soucy property by Eminent Domain; a friendly one. The cost will be well over $1 million. This is the last parcel required to complete The Acre Plan. The discussion on what to do with the land will be taken up at a later date. This was the obstacle to this deal last time it came up. Separating the two issues was the best thing to do; it would have saved a long of aggravation if it had been done the first time around.

COUNCILORS’ MOTION: There were many motions made but a lot of them were of a a ceremonial or administrative nature but I will focus on a few that interested me..

CC Broderick requested that CM post motion responses on City Web Site. CM Lynch publicly responds to the CC Motion and this is just another step in “transparency and providing information to the general public.” The motion was approved.

CC Broderick requested CM. Senator, Local Delegation & U Mass Reps.to make presentation regarding economic stimulus from the Nanotechnology Center that will be built for the University. The motion was approved. The CC really wants this center to be part of the Hamilton Canal renovation. The motion was approved.

CC Broderick and CC R. Mercier requested CM report on closing of two bridges, one on Broadway and the other by Francis Gate. Assistant CM T.J. McCarthy reported that there are 20 such privately owned bridges that cross the 5 miles of City Canals The bridges are not closed but the weight maximum has been reduced so now LRTA and school buses cannot cross these bridges. The CM office is investigating what can be done but ACM McCarthy said it will probably be like this for 6 months. The motion was approved.

Mayor Martin requested a report on advisability of adopting Tax Amnesty Program. Apparently other cities have successfully implemented such a program. I will wait to hear the report but I am leaning towards agreeing with this motion. if we cannot afford the necessary time and effort into collecting taxes or punish tax delinquents in some way, then let’s see if we can some of our money back. The motion was approved.

Mayor Martin requested the CM report on current property tax exemption and the possibility of adjusting them. This is the tax break that we extend to elderly, blind people, selected veterans, etc… The motion passed.

UNANSWERED NON-RESPONSIVE MOTIONS
CC Jim Milinazzo requested CM to request LRTA to appropriately honor Former Director Robert C. Maguire. CC Milinazzo sounded a little bit frustrated. He has put this motion forward a number of times. My guess is that under the new CM this request will be carried out. If I am not mistaken the previous CM also sat on the LRTA Board.

I tried to make this short but there is a lot going on.