Left In Lowell

Yesterday evening, Lynne and I attended a meeting of the Lowell City Council Sub-Committee on Marketing. The meeting was called by the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, CC Kevin Broderick. CCs Eileen Donoghue and Bud Caufield were also present.

They were joined by City Manager Bernie Lynch and both Assistant City Managers, T.J. McCarthy (Operations) and Matt Coggins (Department of Planning and Development) as well as the City’s downtown coordinator.

The meeting focused on how to maximize the City’s efforts to attract new business, visitors and stimulate the economy. In attendance were representatives of a number of organizations: COOL, Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, the Lowell Plan, the Auditorium, and the National Park and of course, Lynne, from the Western Avenue Studios. Other entities which are crucial to the overall marketing effort should have been in attendance. But since this is the beginning of these kinds of meetings, perhaps next time everyone can make an effort to be present and participate in the discussions.

The City Budget for FY 2007 (July ‘06 - June ‘07) has $1.3M earmarked for marketing: under the DPD/Business Marketing , $300,00; under the City Manager/Marketing Development; Auditorium, $400,000; Convention and Visitors Bureau, $100,000; Special Events, $130,000; Merrimack Repertory Theater, $100,000; Special Events, $130,000; Cultural Development $100,000. (more…)

It has been months since I have complained about the City’s web site; I know that the new administration will eventually get around to making some necessary changes, but until then….

Last time I complained to a City official, I was reminded that City Manager Bernie Lynch has many other more serious issues (like the deficit) to tackle besides the web page. Fair enough! But it is encouraging that during a City Council meeting he made references to Cambridge’s web site, the best in the State in my opinion. So I am hoping that eventually Lowell government will have a web site that is comparable to theirs. The problem is not with the IT staff but with the various Department heads who provide the information or in our case, do not provide the information.

Yesterday my frustration with the web site was triggered again when I received the RSS news feed announcing “Notice of RFP Availability and Public Hearing.” So, I clicked on the feed and the press release popped up announcing that RFP for Federal Entitlement Funds (CDBG, HOME, and ESG). The link in the press release sends you to the City web site’s home page. This is not helpful to anyone who is not familiar with the City or its web site. The link should really be to the Department of Planning and Development page. (more…)