Left In Lowell

Those of us who are frequent visitors to the city of Lowell’s web site have seen have seen major improvements in the quantity and quality of information made available during this past year. Many items of interest to residents of Lowell have been added, including the City Manager’s response to Councilors motion.

The newest feature Boards and Commissions, which you can find on the Government section, is a comprehensive listing of all of the City’s Boards, Commissions and Advisory Bodies; all 24 of them.

Arena and Civic Stadium Commission
Auditorium Commission
Board of Appeals
Board of Assessors
Board of Health
Board of Parks
Cemetery Commission
Conservation Commission
Council On Aging
Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL)
Election Commission
Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board
Historic Board
Hunger and Homeless Commission
License Commission
Lowell Commission on Disability
Lowell Cultural Council
Lowell Housing Authority
Lowell Water Board
Planning Board
Pollard Memorial Library - Board of Trustees
Retirement Board
Scholarship Commission
Taxicab and Livery Commission

The listing includes, the names of the board members; the length of their terms, the member appointment and selection process; the meeting schedule; how to contact them; the tasks and mission of the board; as well as the statute reference. For example, this is the information posted about the Auditorium Commission:

Auditorium Commission
Advises the City Manager on issues pertaining to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Five (5) members are appointed by the City Manager to a five (5) year term. One member from Veteran’s Council Organization. City Council Confirmation is required. Statute Reference: C.148 Special Acts 1919; C.427 Acts 1983.

Members
• Costello, Jr., John, Chairman
• Hughes, Kenneth, Member
• Taupier, William, Member
• Gatzimos, George, Member
• Lach, Bunrith, Member

Meetings
Auditorium Commission meetings are held quarterly. Notice of meetings is posted at least two days in advance of the meeting on the bulletin board outside of the City Clerk’s Office, and on the City of Lowell’s online Event Calendar.

Contact
The Auditorium Commission does not maintain an office at City Hall. Correspondence to this Commission should be addressed to: City of Lowell Auditorium Commission, c/o John Costello, Chairman, 107 Clark Road, Lowell, MA 01852. The Commission may also be contacted at 978-937-8688.

According to the City’s web site, these committees are “charged with performing the critical role of informing the public and its officials about important and complex issues. These Advisory Bodies also provide citizens [over 100 of them] the opportunity to provide input on the policies that shape their government and their City.”

Someone has turned on the lights at City Hall and now, little by little we all can see more of our government at work. A special thanks to CM Bernie Lynch and CIO Mirán Fernandez for posting all this.