Last May when the City Council voted to change their meeting schedule to a twice-a-month schedule, the hope was that Sub-Committee meeting will be more productive.
So tonight the City Council had not one, not two but three City Council Sub-Committee meetings.
At 5:30 p.m., the The first meeting was held by the Housing Issues Sub-Committee; members CCs J. Milinazzo (Chair); B. Martin and K. Broderick. The agenda was Update on Foreclosures and the Two for One & Other First Time Buyer Program. The meeting gave a boost to the many first-time home buyer programs available in this City. Jim Wilde of the Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership addressed the City Council. I am a bit partial to the MVHP and the Lowell Development & Financial Corporation, LFDC. Many, many years ago, I graduated from the MVHP’s Genesis program and a recipient of LFDC assistance in buying my condo.
The second meeting was held by the Public Safety Sub-Committee, CCs J. Milinazzo (Chair), R. Elliott and A. Kazanjian. The agenda consisted of discussing a “knife ordinance,” which was a motion made by CC K. Broderick after the senseless stabbing of a local store clerk In addition to Lowell Police Rep, members of Lowell clergy were in attendance. The ordinance will not only include knives but homemade weapons. I did not now that it was not a crime to carry certain items that can be used as weapons. As long as you do not threaten anyone, you can carry some of these things. But as soon as the City Solicitor’s office submits the ordinance and is approved by the City Council (there will probably be a public hearing in between), the Lowell Police will be able to fine and arrest someone who is carrying a knife or something similar.
And the last meeting was on our favorite subject, “Bin Independence.” This meeting was held by the Neighborhood/Traffic/Solid Waste/Recycling Issues Sub-Committee: CCs A. Kazanjian (Chair); R. Mercier and K. Broderick. The City Council is working on tweaking the ordinance to expand the number of homes that are eligible to participate and receive those nice, maroon garbage containers. There are about 300 units that are hybrids and the ordinance has to be refined. It was agreed that the first day went pretty well. I really think this is going to work. The Health Department and DPW did a lot of preparation and proper education. We are now going to notice the bad landlords; those who do not care. As you drive by, you can see some multi-dwelling homes with the containers lined up; others you see garbage bags piled on the snow banks. I blame the landlords. Well, they will be fined and if they do not pay up, I think there will be a lien on their property.
So after this mini-marathon of Lowell City Council Sub-Committee, I am still not in favor of the new schedule. It would work if all City Councilors showed up, but for the most part about 7 of 9 participate. A while back, CC R. Mercier filed a motion a while back to have that CC rule reviewed. I hope when it is discussed again, this time two CC members will join CCs R. Mercier, R. Elliott and K. Broderick and reversed that misguided decision.
