Date: November 26, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA
1. ROLL CALL 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Recognition - Youth Build And Glenn Szgadey For The Work Performed In Refurbishing The Manger And Statutes Inside Of The Manger. (C. Mercier) 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Meeting November 19th, For Acceptance.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 19 CC MINUTES.PDF
4. AUDITOR BUSINESS 4.1. Vote-Appoint Tina Masiello To City Auditor Position And Establish Salary
Documents:
VOTE-APPOINT TINA MASIELLO TO CITY AUDITOR POSITION AND ESTABLISH SALARY.PDF
5. UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING 5.1. National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. Relocation Of (1) JO Pole #1 At 834 Andover Street (On Harland Avenue).
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 12 NATIONAL GRID AND VERIZON NE RELOCATE 1 JO POLE ON HARLAND AVE 15 FEET NORTH OF EXISTING LOCATION.PDF
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses A) Petition Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety B) Motion Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety Enforcement C) Motion Response - Speed Calming at Dangerous Intersections D) Motion Response - Community Choice Aggregation
Documents:
A) PETITION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE - SPEED CALMING AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE - COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION.PDF
6.2. Communication - City Manager Request Out Of State Travel (3) LPD.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 OST 3 LPD.PDF
7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote-Accept Gift Of 14,360 From Middlesex Community College
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF 14,360 FROM MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE.PDF
7.2. Vote-Accept Gift Of Hydro Sculpture From COOL
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF HYDRO SCULPTURE FROM COOL.PDF
7.3. Vote-Authorize CM Execute Access Agreement With Comcast Cable Communications Mgmt LLC For Property 191 Mt. Pleasant St
Documents:
VOTE-AUTHORIZE CM EXECUTE ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MGMT LLC FOR PROPERTY 191 MT. PLEASANT ST.PDF
7.4. Vote-Establish Minimum Residential Factor FY 2020
Documents:
VOTE-ESTABLISH MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL FACTOR FY 2020.PDF
7.5. Vote-Supplemental Appropriation Of 800,000 For Fire Department
Documents:
VOTE-SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF 800,000 FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT.PDF
8. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. Order-60 Day Trial-Various
Documents:
ORDER-60 DAY TRIAL-VARIOUS.PDF
9. RESOLUTIONS 9.1. Resolution-To Support Fully Funding The Bond Bill Re Design And Construction Of A New Permanent Bridge To Replace The Temporary Rourke Bridge
Documents:
RESOLUTION-TO SUPPORT FULLY FUNDING THE BOND BILL RE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PERMANENT BRIDGE TO REPLACE TEMPORARY ROURKE BRIDGE.PDF
10. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 10.1. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of Heavy Duty Handhole In Sidewalk At 15 Pearl Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID HANDHOLE PEARL ST.PDF
10.2. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of SCADA Gas Pressure System To Comply With Safety Standards In Callery Park Area Across From 242 Parker Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID SCADA PARKER ST.PDF
11. PETITIONS 11.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. 11.2. Misc. - Eric Faulkner (Warp And Weft) Request Installation Of Overhanging Sign Located At 197 Market Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 WARP AND WEFT ERIC FAULKNER REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL OVERHANGING SIGN FOR WARP AND WEFT 197 MARKET STREET.PDF
11.3. Misc. - Power Juice (Heather DeBerio) Request Installation Of Two (2) Overhanging Signs At 120-122 Merrimack Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 POWERHOUSE JUICE HEATHER DEBERIO REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL 2 OVERHANGING SIGNS FOR POWERHOUSE JUICE AT 120-122 MERRIMACK ST.PDF
12. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 12.1. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Allow A Memorial Plaque Or Sign At McPherson Park In Centralville In Honor Of Michael “Sully” Sullivan In Gratitude For His Many Years Of Service To The Youth Of Our City. 12.2. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Find Ways And Means To Address The Dilapidated And Deteriorating Conditions At Cawley Stadium; Including The Bleachers, Field And Restrooms. 12.3. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Instruct MBTA To Clean Debris Left By The Homeless Shelter Along The Rail Road Tracks Behind 50 Waugh Street. 12.4. C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. Provide A Report Regarding Plan And Responsibility For Setting Up Polling Booths For Handicap Voters. 13. ANNOUNCEMENTS 14. ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Clerk - 375 Merrimack Street - Phone: 978.674.4161 Date: November 26, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA
1. ROLL CALL 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Recognition - Youth Build And Glenn Szgadey For The Work Performed In Refurbishing The Manger And Statutes Inside Of The Manger. (C. Mercier) 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Meeting November 19th, For Acceptance.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 19 CC MINUTES.PDF
4. AUDITOR BUSINESS 4.1. Vote-Appoint Tina Masiello To City Auditor Position And Establish Salary
Documents:
VOTE-APPOINT TINA MASIELLO TO CITY AUDITOR POSITION AND ESTABLISH SALARY.PDF
5. UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING 5.1. National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. Relocation Of (1) JO Pole #1 At 834 Andover Street (On Harland Avenue).
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 12 NATIONAL GRID AND VERIZON NE RELOCATE 1 JO POLE ON HARLAND AVE 15 FEET NORTH OF EXISTING LOCATION.PDF
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses A) Petition Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety B) Motion Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety Enforcement C) Motion Response - Speed Calming at Dangerous Intersections D) Motion Response - Community Choice Aggregation
Documents:
A) PETITION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE - SPEED CALMING AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE - COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION.PDF
6.2. Communication - City Manager Request Out Of State Travel (3) LPD.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 OST 3 LPD.PDF
7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote-Accept Gift Of 14,360 From Middlesex Community College
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF 14,360 FROM MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE.PDF
7.2. Vote-Accept Gift Of Hydro Sculpture From COOL
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF HYDRO SCULPTURE FROM COOL.PDF
7.3. Vote-Authorize CM Execute Access Agreement With Comcast Cable Communications Mgmt LLC For Property 191 Mt. Pleasant St
Documents:
VOTE-AUTHORIZE CM EXECUTE ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MGMT LLC FOR PROPERTY 191 MT. PLEASANT ST.PDF
7.4. Vote-Establish Minimum Residential Factor FY 2020
Documents:
VOTE-ESTABLISH MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL FACTOR FY 2020.PDF
7.5. Vote-Supplemental Appropriation Of 800,000 For Fire Department
Documents:
VOTE-SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF 800,000 FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT.PDF
8. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. Order-60 Day Trial-Various
Documents:
ORDER-60 DAY TRIAL-VARIOUS.PDF
9. RESOLUTIONS 9.1. Resolution-To Support Fully Funding The Bond Bill Re Design And Construction Of A New Permanent Bridge To Replace The Temporary Rourke Bridge
Documents:
RESOLUTION-TO SUPPORT FULLY FUNDING THE BOND BILL RE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PERMANENT BRIDGE TO REPLACE TEMPORARY ROURKE BRIDGE.PDF
10. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 10.1. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of Heavy Duty Handhole In Sidewalk At 15 Pearl Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID HANDHOLE PEARL ST.PDF
10.2. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of SCADA Gas Pressure System To Comply With Safety Standards In Callery Park Area Across From 242 Parker Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID SCADA PARKER ST.PDF
11. PETITIONS 11.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. 11.2. Misc. - Eric Faulkner (Warp And Weft) Request Installation Of Overhanging Sign Located At 197 Market Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 WARP AND WEFT ERIC FAULKNER REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL OVERHANGING SIGN FOR WARP AND WEFT 197 MARKET STREET.PDF
11.3. Misc. - Power Juice (Heather DeBerio) Request Installation Of Two (2) Overhanging Signs At 120-122 Merrimack Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 POWERHOUSE JUICE HEATHER DEBERIO REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL 2 OVERHANGING SIGNS FOR POWERHOUSE JUICE AT 120-122 MERRIMACK ST.PDF
12. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 12.1. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Allow A Memorial Plaque Or Sign At McPherson Park In Centralville In Honor Of Michael “Sully” Sullivan In Gratitude For His Many Years Of Service To The Youth Of Our City. 12.2. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Find Ways And Means To Address The Dilapidated And Deteriorating Conditions At Cawley Stadium; Including The Bleachers, Field And Restrooms. 12.3. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Instruct MBTA To Clean Debris Left By The Homeless Shelter Along The Rail Road Tracks Behind 50 Waugh Street. 12.4. C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. Provide A Report Regarding Plan And Responsibility For Setting Up Polling Booths For Handicap Voters. 13. ANNOUNCEMENTS 14. ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Clerk - 375 Merrimack Street - Phone: 978.674.4161 Date: November 26, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA
1. ROLL CALL 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Recognition - Youth Build And Glenn Szgadey For The Work Performed In Refurbishing The Manger And Statutes Inside Of The Manger. (C. Mercier) 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Meeting November 19th, For Acceptance.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 19 CC MINUTES.PDF
4. AUDITOR BUSINESS 4.1. Vote-Appoint Tina Masiello To City Auditor Position And Establish Salary
Documents:
VOTE-APPOINT TINA MASIELLO TO CITY AUDITOR POSITION AND ESTABLISH SALARY.PDF
5. UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING 5.1. National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. Relocation Of (1) JO Pole #1 At 834 Andover Street (On Harland Avenue).
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 12 NATIONAL GRID AND VERIZON NE RELOCATE 1 JO POLE ON HARLAND AVE 15 FEET NORTH OF EXISTING LOCATION.PDF
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses A) Petition Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety B) Motion Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety Enforcement C) Motion Response - Speed Calming at Dangerous Intersections D) Motion Response - Community Choice Aggregation
Documents:
A) PETITION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE - SPEED CALMING AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE - COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION.PDF
6.2. Communication - City Manager Request Out Of State Travel (3) LPD.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 OST 3 LPD.PDF
7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote-Accept Gift Of 14,360 From Middlesex Community College
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF 14,360 FROM MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE.PDF
7.2. Vote-Accept Gift Of Hydro Sculpture From COOL
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF HYDRO SCULPTURE FROM COOL.PDF
7.3. Vote-Authorize CM Execute Access Agreement With Comcast Cable Communications Mgmt LLC For Property 191 Mt. Pleasant St
Documents:
VOTE-AUTHORIZE CM EXECUTE ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MGMT LLC FOR PROPERTY 191 MT. PLEASANT ST.PDF
7.4. Vote-Establish Minimum Residential Factor FY 2020
Documents:
VOTE-ESTABLISH MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL FACTOR FY 2020.PDF
7.5. Vote-Supplemental Appropriation Of 800,000 For Fire Department
Documents:
VOTE-SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF 800,000 FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT.PDF
8. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. Order-60 Day Trial-Various
Documents:
ORDER-60 DAY TRIAL-VARIOUS.PDF
9. RESOLUTIONS 9.1. Resolution-To Support Fully Funding The Bond Bill Re Design And Construction Of A New Permanent Bridge To Replace The Temporary Rourke Bridge
Documents:
RESOLUTION-TO SUPPORT FULLY FUNDING THE BOND BILL RE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PERMANENT BRIDGE TO REPLACE TEMPORARY ROURKE BRIDGE.PDF
10. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 10.1. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of Heavy Duty Handhole In Sidewalk At 15 Pearl Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID HANDHOLE PEARL ST.PDF
10.2. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of SCADA Gas Pressure System To Comply With Safety Standards In Callery Park Area Across From 242 Parker Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID SCADA PARKER ST.PDF
11. PETITIONS 11.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. 11.2. Misc. - Eric Faulkner (Warp And Weft) Request Installation Of Overhanging Sign Located At 197 Market Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 WARP AND WEFT ERIC FAULKNER REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL OVERHANGING SIGN FOR WARP AND WEFT 197 MARKET STREET.PDF
11.3. Misc. - Power Juice (Heather DeBerio) Request Installation Of Two (2) Overhanging Signs At 120-122 Merrimack Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 POWERHOUSE JUICE HEATHER DEBERIO REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL 2 OVERHANGING SIGNS FOR POWERHOUSE JUICE AT 120-122 MERRIMACK ST.PDF
12. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 12.1. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Allow A Memorial Plaque Or Sign At McPherson Park In Centralville In Honor Of Michael “Sully” Sullivan In Gratitude For His Many Years Of Service To The Youth Of Our City. 12.2. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Find Ways And Means To Address The Dilapidated And Deteriorating Conditions At Cawley Stadium; Including The Bleachers, Field And Restrooms. 12.3. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Instruct MBTA To Clean Debris Left By The Homeless Shelter Along The Rail Road Tracks Behind 50 Waugh Street. 12.4. C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. Provide A Report Regarding Plan And Responsibility For Setting Up Polling Booths For Handicap Voters. 13. ANNOUNCEMENTS 14. ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Clerk - 375 Merrimack Street - Phone: 978.674.4161 Date: November 26, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA
1. ROLL CALL 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2.1. Recognition - Youth Build And Glenn Szgadey For The Work Performed In Refurbishing The Manger And Statutes Inside Of The Manger. (C. Mercier) 3. CITY CLERK 3.1. Minutes Of City Council Meeting November 19th, For Acceptance.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 19 CC MINUTES.PDF
4. AUDITOR BUSINESS 4.1. Vote-Appoint Tina Masiello To City Auditor Position And Establish Salary
Documents:
VOTE-APPOINT TINA MASIELLO TO CITY AUDITOR POSITION AND ESTABLISH SALARY.PDF
5. UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING 5.1. National Grid/Verizon NE - Req. Relocation Of (1) JO Pole #1 At 834 Andover Street (On Harland Avenue).
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 12 NATIONAL GRID AND VERIZON NE RELOCATE 1 JO POLE ON HARLAND AVE 15 FEET NORTH OF EXISTING LOCATION.PDF
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER 6.1. Motion Responses A) Petition Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety B) Motion Response - City Hall and Merrimack St. Pedestrian Safety Enforcement C) Motion Response - Speed Calming at Dangerous Intersections D) Motion Response - Community Choice Aggregation
Documents:
A) PETITION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE - CITY HALL AND MERRIMACK ST. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE - SPEED CALMING AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE - COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION.PDF
6.2. Communication - City Manager Request Out Of State Travel (3) LPD.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 OST 3 LPD.PDF
7. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 7.1. Vote-Accept Gift Of 14,360 From Middlesex Community College
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF 14,360 FROM MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE.PDF
7.2. Vote-Accept Gift Of Hydro Sculpture From COOL
Documents:
VOTE-ACCEPT GIFT OF HYDRO SCULPTURE FROM COOL.PDF
7.3. Vote-Authorize CM Execute Access Agreement With Comcast Cable Communications Mgmt LLC For Property 191 Mt. Pleasant St
Documents:
VOTE-AUTHORIZE CM EXECUTE ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MGMT LLC FOR PROPERTY 191 MT. PLEASANT ST.PDF
7.4. Vote-Establish Minimum Residential Factor FY 2020
Documents:
VOTE-ESTABLISH MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL FACTOR FY 2020.PDF
7.5. Vote-Supplemental Appropriation Of 800,000 For Fire Department
Documents:
VOTE-SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF 800,000 FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT.PDF
8. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8.1. Order-60 Day Trial-Various
Documents:
ORDER-60 DAY TRIAL-VARIOUS.PDF
9. RESOLUTIONS 9.1. Resolution-To Support Fully Funding The Bond Bill Re Design And Construction Of A New Permanent Bridge To Replace The Temporary Rourke Bridge
Documents:
RESOLUTION-TO SUPPORT FULLY FUNDING THE BOND BILL RE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PERMANENT BRIDGE TO REPLACE TEMPORARY ROURKE BRIDGE.PDF
10. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 10.1. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of Heavy Duty Handhole In Sidewalk At 15 Pearl Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID HANDHOLE PEARL ST.PDF
10.2. Wire Insp. - National Grid - Req. Installation Of SCADA Gas Pressure System To Comply With Safety Standards In Callery Park Area Across From 242 Parker Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 NATL GRID SCADA PARKER ST.PDF
11. PETITIONS 11.1. Claims - (2) Property Damage. 11.2. Misc. - Eric Faulkner (Warp And Weft) Request Installation Of Overhanging Sign Located At 197 Market Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 WARP AND WEFT ERIC FAULKNER REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL OVERHANGING SIGN FOR WARP AND WEFT 197 MARKET STREET.PDF
11.3. Misc. - Power Juice (Heather DeBerio) Request Installation Of Two (2) Overhanging Signs At 120-122 Merrimack Street.
Documents:
2019 NOVEMBER 26 POWERHOUSE JUICE HEATHER DEBERIO REQ APPROVAL TO INSTALL 2 OVERHANGING SIGNS FOR POWERHOUSE JUICE AT 120-122 MERRIMACK ST.PDF
12. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 12.1. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Allow A Memorial Plaque Or Sign At McPherson Park In Centralville In Honor Of Michael “Sully” Sullivan In Gratitude For His Many Years Of Service To The Youth Of Our City. 12.2. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Find Ways And Means To Address The Dilapidated And Deteriorating Conditions At Cawley Stadium; Including The Bleachers, Field And Restrooms. 12.3. C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Instruct MBTA To Clean Debris Left By The Homeless Shelter Along The Rail Road Tracks Behind 50 Waugh Street. 12.4. C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. Provide A Report Regarding Plan And Responsibility For Setting Up Polling Booths For Handicap Voters. 13. ANNOUNCEMENTS 14. ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Clerk - 375 Merrimack Street - Phone: 978.674.4161 Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes
Date: November 19, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA
1. ROLL CALL
Roll Call showed 8 present, 1 absent (C. Cirillo).
M. Samaras presiding.
C. Milinazzo requested moment of silence in darkened chamber for Worcester firefighter Lt. Jason Menard in recognition of efforts of the Lowell Fire Department.
M. Samaras noted rededication of Christos Rouses monument in the JFK Plaza and the awards for police that were recognized at the event. Supt. Richardson (LPD) noted the event and recognized the many achievements of his officers. C. Conway noted the efforts of first responders. C. Mercier noted it was important to let public know all of the good work police officers do in the City.
2. CITY CLERK 2.1. Minutes of City Council Special Meeting joint with School Committee November 6th; City Council Meeting November 12th, for acceptance.
In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted.
Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Elliott to take Item #3.2 out of order. So voted.
3. VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3.1. Vote-Auth CM ex Lease w Nicholas Sarris Trustee of 107 Merrimack Street Realty Trust for 107 Merrimack St- Health Human Serv Recreation Dept.
In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Conway. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, absent (C. Cirillo). So voted.
City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov
(Page 2 of 5)
3.2. Vote-Select Electoral System.
In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Mercier. District & At-Large Election System (Hybrid) was adopted per Roll Call selection 8 in favor, 1 absent (C. Cirillo). So voted. C. Mercier noted she would support the majority and was in favor of the hybrid system which was less complicated than rank system. C. Elliott supported the hybrid system has district representation favors neighborhoods. C. Nuon noted best option was the hybrid and that the neighborhoods would benefit.
4. ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. Order-60 Day Trial.
In City Council, Read twice, full reading waived with no objections. Motion to adopt by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Nuon. Adopted per Roll Call vote 8 yeas, absent (C. Cirillo). So voted.
5. REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY)
In City Council, none.
6. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 6.1. C. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. direct the executive director of the wastewater treatment plant to provide a report to the City Council on the number of entities that provide wastewater for treatment at the Lowell wastewater treatment plant; the report should include (1) the number of entities, (2) the volume and frequency of wastewater from each entity, and (3) the location of from where the wastewater originates.
In City Council, seconded by C. Elliott, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Kennedy noted he had commented on the matter at a prior meeting. C. Elliott questioned if legislation was pending. C. Kennedy noted that there was legislation pending and that it was important for all communities, including New Hampshire to work together to keep the Merrimack River clean. Manager Donoghue noted the regulations regarding the pollutants. C. Kennedy noted that the Lowell water plant does not take pollutants from other communities.
6.2. C. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. direct the Traffic Engineer to provide an update of the efforts to curtail traffic volume and speed on Maryl Drive and Fairmount Street in the vicinity of Maryl Drive.
City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov
(Page 3 of 5)
In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Kennedy commented on the speeding and ignoring of traffic signs in the area. C. Leahy questioned types of different complaints coming from the neighbors.
6.3. C. Kennedy - Req. City Mgr. provide City Council with a report regarding the current and future plans of Lowell General Hospital; especially as they pertain to the Saints Campus.
In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Kennedy noted if plan is to shut down facility it would cause a lack of medical coverage in the area. Manager Donoghue noted she would be discussing plans with the hospital.
6.4. C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. provide update regarding negotiations with SIFI.
In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy requested update on the negotiations.
6.5. C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. provide an updated regarding City’s Aggregate Energy Agreement.
In City Council, seconded by C. Milinazzo, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to provide new information to those who opted out of the program earlier.
6.6. C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. provide City Council with an update from the State regarding rehabilitation of the Rourke Bridge.
In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to follow up with State delegation. C. Kennedy noted that the project was still being studied but construction would start within one year. C. Kennedy noted Council should support upcoming Transportation Bond Bill. Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Kennedy to have Law Department draft resolution in support of transportation bond bill. So voted.
6.7. C. Conway - Req. City Mgr. meet with appropriate departments to explore the feasibility of developing a plan that will help to mitigate and expedite the building permit process.
City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov
(Page 4 of 5)
In City Council, seconded by C. Nuon, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Conway noted contractors were looking to speed up permitting as well as inspections involved with permitting.
6.8. C. Nuon - Req. City Mgr. provide a list of sites for “Adopt An Island” and identify those islands that have been abandoned.
In City Council, seconded by C. Mercier, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Nuon noted if islands were not being kept up another organization should be given opportunity to care for the area.
6.9. C. Nuon - Req. City Mgr. have proper department update Master Plan as is required every five years.
In City Council, seconded by C. Milinazzo, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Nuon requested status update of what has been done and needs to be done on quarterly basis.
6.10. C. Nuon - Req. City Mgr. put out RFP for “Expert” to do redistricting.
In City Council, seconded by C. Kennedy, referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Nuon noted that the district hybrid system would be used so there is a need for expert help in developing those districts. C. Elliott questioned process in which the lines are drafted. Manager Donoghue noted the need for experts and that data would be taken from 2020 Federal Census to assist with districting. City Solicitor O’Connor noted the 2020 census would be used to redefine districts. C. Mercier noted that there would a need for other adjustments as two new councilors will be added, including exploring new manner in which a Mayor would be chosen. Solicitor O’Connor currently noted that change for that process was not part of the settlement agreement in the voting rights litigation. C. Milinazzo noted that North Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) could assist with redrafting efforts.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS
In City Council, C. Mercier made note of the refurbishing of the manger and statutes in the manger. C. Elliott commented on recent efforts to increase safety at the City Hall crosswalk.
City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov
(Page 5 of 5)
8. ADJOURNMENT
In City Council, Motion to Adjourn C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.
______Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk
City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council
VOTE
To Appoint Tina Masiello to the position of City Auditor and establish a salary in the City of Lowell.
------
It is voted by the City Council of the City of Lowell to appoint Tina Masiello to the position of City Auditor, said appointment to be effective immediately, at which time she will be sworn into office. The Auditor’s salary shall be established at $106,225.60 (DH 02 Step 5 of Salary Tier System Ordinance for Department Heads and Confidential Employees).
V:appointcityauditor
The City of Lowell • Department of Planning and Development JFK Civic Center • 50 Arcand Drive • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674-4252 • F: 978.970.4262 www.LowellMA.gov
Diane Nichols Tradd Assistant City Manager/DPD Director
Craig Thomas
Deputy Director MEMORANDUM
TO: Eileen M. Donoghue, City Manager
FROM: Diane N. Tradd, Assistant City Manager/DPD Director
DATE: November 26, 2019
SUBJECT: PETITION – CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 29, 2019 REFERRED TO THE TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER REQUESTING IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO UPGRADE SAFETY AT THE CITY HALL CROSSWALKS ON MERRIMACK STREET
The Transportation Engineer investigated this location and agrees that safety improvements are in order for this location. Currently, pedestrians cross in front of City Hall at two different, unsignalized crosswalks originating on either side of Cardinal O’Connell Parkway. These crosswalks are in a stretch of Merrimack Street that has no stop lights from the intersection with Dutton all the way down to the intersection with Cabot Street, resulting in fast-moving traffic and drivers who are not expecting pedestrians to cross the road. There is also an issue with solar glare at one of the crosswalks. Several pedestrians have been struck by vehicles when crossing Merrimack in front of City Hall.
The Transportation Engineer recommends the following solutions to improve safety for pedestrians crossing at this location:
Immediate: • Add portable signs placed in the crosswalk instructing vehicles to yield to pedestrians. • Remove parking spots closest to the crosswalks to increase visibility of pedestrians waiting to cross (Sign/Parking Department labor to remove parking signs/markings or add no parking signs). • Move Bus Stop past the first crosswalk to aid in pedestrian visibility. • Add high-visibility pedestrian crossing signs at the four crosswalks.
Short-term: • Add double-sided Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) to indicate when a pedestrian is crossing (funding must be located, approximately $20,000 for both crosswalks). • Outreach campaign about the Massachusetts General Law requiring that motorists yield to pedestrians trying to cross within 10’ of their vehicle ($2,500 for flyer insert into a mailer, ask LTC for a PSA). This includes both pedestrians waiting to cross and pedestrians in the crosswalk. • Campaign directed at pedestrians to increase their safety awareness when crossing (a variation on the UMass Lowell student campaign “Eyes Up, Phone Down”), making eye contact with drivers before crossing and other ways to identify distracted drivers.
Long-term: • Study the removal of the traffic signal at Worthen Street. Can be repurposed within the City. Note that a flashing yellow traffic signal indicates that cross traffic has a stop condition and through traffic has the right of way. A red flashing traffic signal indicates a vehicle must come to a Stop and can proceed cautiously through the intersection once the way is clear. • Study and evaluate the installation of traffic calming measures. Note that per FHWA, a speed hump is applicable for neighborhood or residential collectors and a maximum Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 3,500 vehicles. Merrimack Street has an ADT of 7,600 vehicles (2013 count). Potential measures include raised crosswalks, curb bump-outs and pedestrian refuge islands. Traffic calming measures would require review of available ROW, design and construction. Costs could range from $5,000- $50,000, depending on the design and construction costs. • Complete the design phase for the Merrimack Street improvements project that addresses the issues of traffic speed, parking, pedestrian and bike facilities.
The Transportation Engineer recommends performing the immediate solutions and installing RRFBs, which are the most impactful short-term solution. The Transportation staff can begin work on the education campaigns for drivers and pedestrians, if approved.
NV/ns cc: Natasha Vance, Transportation Engineer Lt. Stephen Gendreau, LPD John Cooper, Sign Division Steve Coutu, City Electrician
The City of Lowell • Department of Planning and Development JFK Civic Center • 50 Arcand Drive • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674-4252 • F: 978.970.4262 www.LowellMA.gov
Diane Nichols Tradd
Assistant City Manager/DPD Director
MEMORANDUM Craig Thomas Deputy Director TO: Eileen M. Donoghue, City Manager
FROM: Diane N. Tradd, Assistant City Manager/DPD Director
DATE: November 26, 2019
SUBJECT: MOTION OF 08/13/19 BY COUNCILOR NUON REQUEST CITY MANAGER HAVE PROPER DEPARTMENTS FORMULATE PLAN TO SLOW SPEEDING TRAFFIC AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
The Transportation staff within the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is aware of the dangers at some of Lowell’s intersections. Lowell, according to the attached latest compiled data from 2014-2016 provided by MassDOT, has 15 intersections in the top 200 intersection crash list in the state. Please refer to the attached list with Lowell’s intersections highlighted. Note that 36 of the top 50 intersections are in Gateway Cities. Gateway Cities have unique transportation challenges due to our larger population centers, aging transportation infrastructure and historic transit hubs, such as Gallagher Terminal. Focusing on dangerous intersections is a way to improve public safety in the City. The Transportation staff researched options to calm speeding traffic at both signalized and non-signalized intersections and a document is attached with images of different options.
Options to slow speeding vehicles at intersections include: • Raised crosswalks • Chicanes – method of creating artificial curves in a road • Narrowed lanes • Mini-roundabouts • Dynamic warning signs – sign which displays the speed of vehicles as they approach • Speed tables • Shortened traffic signal cycle lengths
All of these traffic calming strategies have been studied by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and have been proven to be effective to slow speeding traffic. Studies conducted by the FHWA also indicate that using multiple traffic calming methods increases the success rate.
The cycle length of a traffic signal is the time required to complete the sequence of signal directions. Shortening the cycle length would lower the chances of a driver speeding due to a more constant change of traffic signals. The Journal of the Transportation Research Board published a case study where the use of shortened cycle lengths was implemented in portions of two Boston streets, Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. The case study showed that speeding opportunities decrease with shortened cycle times during peak and non-peak hours.
The Transportation staff is currently finalizing the Draft Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy (NTCP), with the intent to present it to the Council in December 2019. The NTCP will enable residents to request reviews of speeding traffic on their neighborhood street and includes most of the strategies previously mentioned as potential solutions.
NV/ns Attachment cc: Natasha Vance, Transportation Engineer Alan Heredia, Assistant Transportation Engineer
51 51 50 49 48 47 46 44 44 43 42 41 39 39 37 37 36 34 34 33 31 31 30 28 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Rank SPRINGFIELD WORCESTER MILTON TYNGSBOROUGH SPRINGFIELD BROCKTON BOSTON LOWELL LOWELL WORCESTER SPRINGFIELD BROCKTON CHELSEA CHELSEA SPRINGFIELD RANDOLPH FRAMINGHAM BOSTON SPRINGFIELD BROCKTON BROCKTON EVERETT TAUNTON FALMOUTH BROCKTON SOMERSET CHELSEA LYNN SPRINGFIELD BILLERICA BROCKTON BROCKTON BRAINTREE WORCESTER EVERETT HOLYOKE SPRINGFIELD BOSTON MEDFORD BROCKTON BROCKTON LOWELL BOSTON RIVERFALL BROCKTON RIVERFALL BROCKTON BROCKTON SWANSEA LOWELL RAYNHAM HOLYOKE
Town PVPC CMRPC MAPC NMCOG PVPC OCPC MAPC NMCOG NMCOG CMRPC PVPC OCPC MAPC MAPC PVPC MAPC MAPC MAPC PVPC OCPC OCPC MAPC SRPEDD CCC OCPC SRPEDD MAPC MAPC PVPC NMCOG OCPC OCPC MAPC CMRPC MAPC PVPC PVPC MAPC MAPC OCPC OCPC NMCOG MAPC SRPEDD OCPC SRPEDD OCPC OCPC SRPEDD NMCOG SRPEDD PVPC
RPA 2 3 6 4 2 5 6 4 4 3 2 5 6 6 2 6 3 6 2 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 6 4 2 4 5 5 6 3 4 2 2 6 4 5 5 4 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 2 MassDOT District SUMNER AVENUE SUMNER KELLEY SQUARE AVENUE RANDOLPH MIDDLESEX ROAD SAINT JAMES AVENUE ASH STREET STREET MORTON STREET APPLETON VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS HIGHWAY HARVARD STREET HARVARD BOSTON ROAD PLEASANT STREET PARKWAY BEACH REVERE BROADWAY BOSTON ROAD SOUTH STREET MAIN WORCESTER ROAD BOULEVARDGALLIVAN STREET STATE AVENUE WARREN AVENUE WARREN PARKWAY BEACH REVERE STREETWILLIAMS SANDWICH ROAD PLEASANT STREET HIGHWAY THE OF REPUBLIC ARMY GRAND PARKWAY BEACH REVERE AVENUE WESTERN CIRCLE ARMORY SALEM ROAD STREET COURT FOREST AVENUE STREET GRANITE STREET SOUTHBRIDGE PARKWAY BEACH REVERE STREET MAIN STREET MAIN BOULEVARDGALLIVAN PARKWAY BEACH REVERE STREET MAIN PLEASANT STREET VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS HIGHWAY BOULEVARDGALLIVAN AVENUE PLYMOUTH STREET MAIN STREET BEDFORD STREET MAIN STREET CENTRE STREET MARKET VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS HIGHWAY NEW STATE HIGHWAY STREET HIGH 2014-2016 STATEWIDE TOP 200INTERSECTION STATEWIDE 2014-2016 CRASH LIST
Street 1 203 110 203 123 107 129 203 113 203 123 136 83 28 27 16 20 28 16 27 16 27 37 16 16 27 81 44 9 6 Route 1 BELMONT AVENUE BELMONT CHICKATAWBUT ROAD WATER STREET WATER KENDALL ROAD SAINT JAMES BOULEVARD STREET ELM WEST STREET HARVARD STREET CENTRAL STREET BRIDGE WARREN AVENUE WARREN AVENUEGARFIELD STREET PARKER STREET UNION STREET SECOND ASH STREET AVENUE WASHINGTON STREET MONTELLO STREET COMMON AVENUE EVERETT FELLSWAY (WELLINGTON CIRCLE) STREET WEST STREET RODMAN STREET ORCHARD LINCOLN SQUARE LINCOLN STREET BAY STREET THIRD ROAD COCHITUATE STREETADAMS STREET BENTON STREET ELM WEST STREET MARKET OWEN M RIVERWAY GORDON NATHAN ELLIS HIGHWAY AVENUE RIVER LEES STREET CHESTNUT STREETARMORY STREET POND BOUVE AVENUE HAMMOND STREET STREET CABOT STREET PLAINFIELD AVENUE GRANITE NILSSON STREET MAMMOTH ROAD AVENUE DORCHESTER LEGION PARKWAY STREET TROY PLEASANT STREET STREET PLYMOUTH HIGHWAY THE OF REPUBLIC ARMY GRAND STREET AIKEN STREET CABOT
Street 2 20A 20A 113 139 151 123 83 28 28 27 9 6 Route 2 138 136 65 54 74 52 64 50 94 45 65 32 54 39 41 35 36 39 57 44 54 62 67 39 51 31 38 25 25 26 30 31 35 36 38 59 24 45 29 57 32 36 38 30 74 35 46 48 45 66 55 54 Total Crashes 525 614 598 876 634 672 684 690 774 385 425 352 354 359 361 375 376 379 397 404 434 442 487 459 351 351 358 365 365 366 370 371 375 376 378 379 384 385 389 397 412 416 418 430 434 435 446 448 465 466 475 494 EPDO Crashes 23 28 23 37 28 31 31 32 34 17 18 16 15 16 16 17 17 17 17 18 19 19 21 21 15 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 18 17 18 17 19 19 19 20 18 20 20 20 21 20 21 22 Fatal & Injury Crashes 115 42 26 99 46 21 33 18 60 28 47 16 39 23 25 18 19 22 40 26 35 43 46 18 36 15 22 13 14 18 19 21 43 28 11 40 13 17 19 10 56 15 26 28 24 46 34 32 8 8 9 6 PDO & Non Reported Crashes 104 102 102 101 99 99 96 96 96 93 93 93 90 90 90 89 86 86 86 85 83 83 82 79 79 79 77 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 64 64 64 63 62 61 60 58 58 56 56 55 54 53 Rank BILLERICA,TEWKSBURY LEXINGTON ABINGTON CHICOPEE LEOMINSTER SOMERVILLE BRIDGEWATER EAST BROCKTON LYNN WEYMOUTH SPRINGFIELD RANDOLPH BROCKTON SPRINGFIELD SPRINGFIELD WORCESTER SPRINGFIELD CAMBRIDGE WORCESTER FITCHBURG BROCKTON BROCKTON WATERTOWN LOWELL SPRINGFIELD CAMBRIDGE FRAMINGHAM WESTBOROUGH STOUGHTON LOWELL WORCESTER LYNN SOMERSET BROCKTON CHELSEA LOWELL BROCKTON AVON QUINCY WESTFIELD CHICOPEE LYNN BOSTON DANVERS STOUGHTON PEABODY WORCESTER REVERE CAMBRIDGE RIVERFALL WEBSTER NEW BEDFORD
Town NMCOG MAPC OCPC PVPC MRPC MAPC OCPC OCPC MAPC MAPC PVPC MAPC OCPC PVPC PVPC CMRPC PVPC MAPC CMRPC MRPC OCPC OCPC MAPC NMCOG PVPC MAPC MAPC CMRPC OCPC NMCOG CMRPC MAPC SRPEDD OCPC MAPC NMCOG OCPC OCPC MAPC PVPC PVPC MAPC MAPC MAPC OCPC MAPC CMRPC MAPC MAPC SRPEDD CMRPC SRPEDD
RPA 4 4 5 2 3 4 5 5 4 6 2 6 5 2 2 3 2 6 3 3 5 5 6 4 2 6 3 3 5 4 3 4 5 5 6 4 5 5 6 2 2 4 6 4 5 4 3 4 6 5 3 5 MassDOT District ANDOVER ROAD ANDOVER STREET BEDFORD BROCKTON AVENUE ROAD FULLER NORTH MAIN STREET NORTH MAIN HIGHWAY MCGRATH STREET BEDFORD STREET GROVE STREET BOSTON STREET MAIN SAINT JAMES AVENUE STREET NORTH MAIN PLEASANT STREET STREET STATE STREET MAGAZINE PARK AVENUE STREET MAPLE MEMORIAL DRIVE STREET CHANDLER DRIVE BOULDER STREET MONTELLO AVENUE WARREN STREET GALEN STREET NESMITH AVENUE EAST COLUMBUS FRESH POND PARKWAY WORCESTER ROAD ROAD TURNPIKE PARK STREET STREET SCHOOL STREET CANTERBURY AVENUE WESTERN AVENUE BRAYTON STREET MONTELLO NORTH AVENUE EASTERN STREET APPLETON STREET ELM WEST EAST STREET MAIN SOUTHERN ARTERY HOLYOKE ROAD BROADWAY AVENUE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE CONNECTOR ROUTE 128 NORTHBOUND ON-RAMP PLEASANT STREET NEWBURYPORT (JUGHANDLE) TURNPIKE STREET MAIN PARKWAY BEACH REVERE MEMORIAL DRIVE AVENUE PRESIDENT WORCESTER ROAD ALFRED BESSETTE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 2014-2016 STATEWIDE TOP 200INTERSECTION STATEWIDE 2014-2016 CRASH LIST
Street 1 123 122 107 110 107 128 139 145 140 3A 12 18 18 28 27 28 38 27 28 28 4 9 3 3 9 9 1 6 Route 1 WHIPPLE ROAD WHIPPLE ROAD HARRINGTON STREET HIGH DRIVE TECHNOLOGY HAMILTON STREET HAMILTON STREET WEST STREET MIDDLE DRIVE SCANLON AUGUSTA AVENUE EAST NILSSON STREET STREET ANDOVER STREET WALNUT EAST ASHLAND STREET EAST STREET SPRING WASHINGTON STREET STREET CURVE STREET HAMILTON STREET CAREW STREET FEDERAL STREET LINCOLN STREET MAYWOOD STREET UNION STREET RIVER MASON STREET STREET MAIN FOREST AVENUE STREET WATERTOWN BOLAND WAY MOUNT AUBURN STREET AVENUECALIFORNIA STREET OTIS STREETBRANCH STREET GARDNER WASHINGTON STREET SLADES FERRY AVENUE BRIDGE STREET CHELSEA STREET GORHAM STREET NEWBURY STREET SEA SPRINGDALE ROAD EAST STREET MAIN AVENUE EASTERN FRONTAGE ROAD STREET ELLIOTT STREET LINCOLN STREET MILL TOMASELLO WAY MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE AVENUE HIGHLAND EAST STREET MAIN STREET KEMPTON
Street 2 106 110 129 141 2A 2A 16 62 12 12 6 Route 2 36 57 17 40 41 43 44 24 25 29 53 37 26 33 30 61 43 48 41 23 43 24 25 25 46 27 27 47 28 29 33 33 35 75 38 39 43 25 29 30 31 54 34 54 55 77 42 43 25 45 46 49 Total Crashes 296 297 297 300 301 303 304 304 305 309 313 317 326 333 310 341 343 348 301 303 303 304 305 305 306 307 307 307 308 309 313 313 315 315 318 319 323 325 329 330 331 334 334 334 335 337 342 343 345 345 346 349 EPDO Crashes 13 12 14 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 13 14 15 15 14 14 15 15 13 14 13 14 14 14 13 14 14 13 14 14 14 14 14 12 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 14 15 14 14 13 15 15 16 15 15 15 Fatal & Injury Crashes 23 45 27 28 30 31 10 11 15 40 23 11 18 16 47 28 33 28 30 10 11 11 33 13 13 34 14 15 19 19 21 63 24 25 29 10 14 15 16 40 19 40 41 64 27 28 30 31 34 3 9 9 PDO & Non Reported Crashes 156 154 154 153 149 149 149 149 145 145 145 145 141 141 141 141 139 139 137 137 135 135 133 133 131 131 128 128 128 125 125 125 123 123 121 121 118 118 118 116 116 114 114 112 112 109 109 109 108 107 106 105 Rank LYNN TAUNTON LOWELL BROCKTON BROCKTON NEEDHAM ANDOVER NORTH BROCKTON SPRINGFIELD ROWLEY EVERETT LYNN SPRINGFIELD FOXBOROUGH WORCESTER ABINGTON FITCHBURG QUINCY WORCESTER PEMBROKE CAMBRIDGE PEMBROKE LOWELL NEW BEDFORD SPRINGFIELD WORCESTER MANSFIELD SHREWSBURY SPRINGFIELD MANSFIELD QUINCY NEW BEDFORD FITCHBURG TAUNTON MEDFIELD SEEKONK EASTON WRENTHAM PITTSFIELD SEEKONK MIDDLEBOROUGH EVERETT WORCESTER TEWKSBURY ABINGTON,BROCKTON WORCESTER MIDDLEBOROUGH LOWELL STONEHAM SWANSEA ACTON LYNN
Town MAPC SRPEDD NMCOG OCPC OCPC MAPC MVPC OCPC PVPC MVPC MAPC MAPC PVPC MAPC CMRPC OCPC MRPC MAPC CMRPC OCPC MAPC OCPC NMCOG SRPEDD PVPC CMRPC SRPEDD CMRPC PVPC SRPEDD MAPC SRPEDD MRPC SRPEDD MAPC SRPEDD OCPC MAPC BRPC SRPEDD SRPEDD MAPC CMRPC NMCOG OCPC CMRPC SRPEDD NMCOG MAPC SRPEDD MAPC MAPC
RPA
4 5 4 5 5 6 4 5 2 4 4 4 2 5 3 5 3 6 3 5 6 5 4 5 2 3 5 3 2 5 6 5 3 5 3 5 5 5 1 5 5 4 3 4 5 3 5 4 4 5 3 4 MassDOT District WESTERN AVENUE WESTERN BROADWAY OVERPASS LORD STREET NORTH MAIN STREET CRESCENT AVENUE HILLSIDE ROAD CHICKERING STREET ELM WEST STREET STATE TURNPIKE NEWBURYPORT PARKWAY BEACH REVERE WASHINGTON STREET AVENUE ROOSEVELT STREET COMMERCIAL SUNDERLAND ROAD STREET BEDFORD STREET WATER HONORABLE THOMAS SBURGIN PARKWAY PARK AVENUE STREET CHURCH MEMORIAL DRIVE STREET SCHOOSETT STREET GORHAM JOHN FKENNEDY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY STREET MAIN STREET BELMONT STREET CHAUNCY TURNPIKE HARTFORD AVENUE ROOSEVELT STREET CHAUNCY HONORABLE THOMAS SBURGIN PARKWAY STREET KEMPTON FRANKLIN ROAD STREET COUNTY ROAD NORTH MEADOWS AVENUE TAUNTON STREET DEPOT STREET SOUTH FIRST STREET ARCADE AVENUE 44 ROUTE PARKWAY BEACH REVERE PARK AVENUE STREET SOUTH STREET QUINCY NORTH STREET CHANDLER SOUTH STREET MAIN STREET GORHAM STREET MAIN HIGHWAY THE OF REPUBLIC ARMY GRAND MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE WASHINGTON STREET 2014-2016 STATEWIDE TOP 200INTERSECTION STATEWIDE 2014-2016 CRASH LIST
Street 1 107 138 110 125 129 139 106 106 140 122 105 129 1A 27 16 18 12 18 20 27 44 44 16 28 1 9 3 9 6 7 9 6 2 Route 1 LYMAN STREET LYMAN STREET VINE BROCKTON AVENUE WANOOSNOC ROAD POTOMSKA STREET GRAFTON STREET STREET WEST FALL RIVER AVENUE STREET PLYMPTON STREET SPRING NORTH ROAD BORDER PARK STREET WASHINGTON STREET STREET APPLETON OAK STREET STREET WEST MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE AVENUE BELMONT SAINT JAMES AVENUE STREET HAVERHILL STREET HANOVER STREET BAY FORBES BOULEVARD SOUTHWEST CUTOFF STREET CENTRE PLEASANT STREET OLD OAK STREET AVENUE WESTERN WASHINGTON STREET STREET CENTRAL STREET CENTRAL STREET HOOPER COPELAND DRIVE BOULEVARD PAGE STREET NORTH MAIN WALTER JHANNON PARKWAY ROCKDALE AVENUE OAK ROAD HILL HART STREET WASHINGTON STREET OUTLETS BOULEVARD PREMIUM STREET FENN FALL RIVER AVENUE STREET MAY SALEM ROAD STREET CHESTNUT STREET PIEDMONT STREET GROVE EAST STREET ELM AVENUE MAPLE ROAD PIPER STREET LAIGHTON
Street 2 114A 20A 123 105 133 123 20 53 28 Route 2 29 30 51 52 35 38 22 42 44 26 31 31 34 50 26 27 27 28 29 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 33 33 34 35 17 37 38 38 39 79 39 21 41 23 43 23 44 46 49 29 30 50 32 34 35 Total Crashes 269 270 271 272 275 278 282 282 284 286 291 271 274 290 266 267 267 268 269 269 269 270 270 270 271 271 272 273 273 274 275 277 277 278 278 279 279 279 281 281 283 283 283 284 286 289 289 290 290 292 294 295 EPDO Crashes 12 12 11 11 12 12 13 12 12 13 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 12 12 12 12 10 12 13 12 13 12 13 12 12 12 13 13 12 13 13 13 Fatal & Injury Crashes 17 18 40 41 23 26 30 32 13 18 19 22 38 14 15 15 16 17 17 17 18 18 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 23 25 26 26 27 69 27 29 10 31 10 32 34 37 16 17 38 19 21 22 9 4 8 PDO & Non Reported Crashes 199 199 198 196 196 193 193 193 191 191 188 188 188 186 186 181 181 181 181 181 180 178 178 175 175 175 172 172 172 171 169 169 167 167 165 165 164 163 161 161 158 158 158 156 Rank ROCKLAND QUINCY BOSTON HANOVER WORCESTER HARWICH SPRINGFIELD BROCKTON WEYMOUTH STOUGHTON AUBURN LOWELL SPRINGFIELD DENNIS BARNSTABLE RIVERFALL DEDHAM LOWELL GRANBY TAUNTON WORCESTER SALISBURY PEABODY CAMBRIDGE CHICOPEE ABINGTON FRAMINGHAM LOWELL NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH HAVERHILL BRIDGEWATER EAST SPRINGFIELD QUINCY WORCESTER RANDOLPH LOWELL SPRINGFIELD BROCKTON EASTON SPRINGFIELD LOWELL WEYMOUTH QUINCY LYNN
Town MAPC MAPC MAPC OCPC CMRPC CCC PVPC OCPC MAPC OCPC CMRPC NMCOG PVPC CCC CCC SRPEDD MAPC NMCOG PVPC SRPEDD CMRPC MVPC MAPC MAPC PVPC OCPC MAPC NMCOG SRPEDD MVPC OCPC PVPC MAPC CMRPC MAPC NMCOG PVPC OCPC OCPC PVPC NMCOG MAPC MAPC MAPC
RPA
5 6 6 5 3 5 2 5 6 5 3 4 2 5 5 5 6 4 2 5 3 4 4 6 2 5 3 4 5 4 5 2 6 3 6 4 2 5 5 2 4 6 6 4 MassDOT District HINGHAM STREET HINGHAM HIGHWAY MCGRATH STREET MORTON ROAD COLUMBIA STREET LINCOLN PLEASANT BAY ROAD STREETARMORY STREET COURT STREET MAIN STREET PEARL WASHINGTON STREET STREET APPLETON AVENUE BERKSHIRE EAST WEST DENNIS ROAD ROAD FALMOUTH STREET BEDFORD TURNPIKE BOSTON PROVIDENCE BROADWAY STREET EAST STATE STREET BROADWAY STREET HIGHLAND STREET MAIN STREET LOWELL HIGHWAY OBRIEN MONSIGNOR MEMORIAL DRIVE AVENUE NORTH STREET WAVERLY VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS HIGHWAY EAST WASHINGTON STREET 125CONNECTOR ROUTE STREETNORTH BEDFORD STREET WALNUT HANCOCK STREET STREET CENTRAL EAST STREET NORTH MAIN STREET WESTFORD BOSTON ROAD STREET ELM WEST STREET TURNPIKE SAINT JAMES AVENUE STREET SCHOOL STREET MAIN STREET BEALE STREET LYNNFIELD 2014-2016 STATEWIDE TOP 200INTERSECTION STATEWIDE 2014-2016 CRASH LIST
Street 1 228 110 134 202 138 139 135 129 3A 53 70 18 20 28 28 33 18 28 20 18 1 Route 1 BROADWAY STREET CATHARINE PLEASANT SHOPS PLAZA STREET PROSPECT WAY PITCHERS BOULEVARD LAND H EDWIN AVENUE PENDLETON STREET HIGHLAND STREET CHESTNUT ROADPASCO STREET COLUMBIAN POND STREET POND ROAD REVERE BOULEVARDGALLIVAN ORLEANS ROAD STREET CAREW STREETNORTH CARY STREET CENTRAL STREET SOUTH STREET COTTAGE COUNTYUPPER ROAD STREET THIRD BOULEVARD LEGACY STREET FLETCHER STREET SCHOOL EAST BRITANNIA STREET PARK AVENUE 95CONNECTOR INTERSTATE STREET ENDICOTT STREETADAMS STREET BISHOP AVENUE UNIVERSITY STREET CHESTNUT ROAD SHELLEY STREET LEBANON FURNACE BROOK PARKWAY STREET SUMMER STREET WILDER STREET MORAINE STREET PURCHASE STREET TAPLEY STREET MIDDLESEX AVENUE NEWPORT BROADWAY
Street 2 20A 203 39 12 58 Route 2 22 22 24 25 26 34 34 37 22 23 25 23 51 34 20 20 21 23 23 24 25 25 46 30 30 30 30 30 33 33 35 35 35 36 17 39 39 42 23 24 24 25 45 66 Total Crashes 242 242 244 245 246 254 254 257 262 263 265 243 251 254 240 240 241 243 243 244 245 245 246 250 250 250 250 250 253 253 255 255 255 256 257 259 259 262 263 264 264 265 265 266 EPDO Crashes 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 11 10 Fatal & Injury Crashes 11 11 13 14 15 23 23 26 10 11 13 12 41 23 10 12 12 13 14 14 36 19 19 19 19 19 22 22 24 24 24 25 28 28 31 11 12 12 13 34 56 9 9 5 PDO & Non Reported Crashes
Raised Crosswalk
Chicane
Narrowed Lanes
Mini-roundabout
Dynamic Warning Sign
Speed Table The City of Lowell • Department of Planning and Development JFK Civic Center • 50 Arcand Drive • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674-4252 • F: 978.970.4262 www.LowellMA.gov
Diane Nichols Tradd Assistant City Manager/DPD Director
MEMORANDUM Craig Thomas DPD Deputy Director
TO: Eileen M. Donoghue, City Manager
FROM: Katherine Moses, Energy Manager
DATE: November 26, 2019
SUBJECT: MOTION OF 11/19/19 BY COUNCILOR LEAHY
REQUEST CITY MANAGER PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING CITY’S AGGREGATE ENERGY AGREEMENT
History: On July 9, 2019 the City Council unanimously supported a motion to direct the City Manager to secure executable pricing and enter into a 26 month contract for the Community Choice Power Supply Program, also known as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). The motion further specified that the CCA include an additional 45% Massachusetts-based Class I Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) above the required Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), nearly quadrupling renewable content.
On July 30, 2019, the City Manager signed an Electric Service Agreement with Constellation Newenergy Inc. for a fixed price of 11.874 cents/kWh for a 26 month period beginning with meter reads on October 1, 2019. This pricing includes 45% additional MA Class I RECs. Residential, commercial, and industrial customers are all eligible to enroll in the City’s CCA.
Notification for Various Customer Types: Customers are notified in different ways about the program, depending on their current electricity supplier.
Existing CCA customers should have received a notification in September indicating the new supplier on the Supply Services portion of your National Grid electric bill. If you see “Constellation Newenergy (Lowell Agg)” listed on this portion of the bill, you are enrolled in the CCA and can enjoy the environmental and economic benefits associated with it.
Customers with an existing Competitive Supplier listed under the Supply Services portion of your bill do not receive notification of the CCA. National Grid does not supply the City or its Consultant with contact information for those with a Competitive Supplier. If a customer has a Competitive Supplier and would like to join the CCA, they may follow the steps outlined under the “Enrollment” section of this motion response. Please keep in mind that customers with Competitive Suppliers may incur a termination fee for canceling their existing supply contract. We highly recommend that the customer call the competitive supplier listed on their bill to confirm there isn’t an exit fee before they join the City’s Program.
Customers currently on National Grid’s Basic Service plan may also receive notification of the program at a future point in time. Periodically, the City’s Consultant requests an updated list of all Basic Service customers in the City. This list includes both new customers for National Grid and those that have previously opted out of the CCA. New Basic Service customers will receive notification about the CCA and have the opportunity to opt-out. Even without receiving formal notification, Basic Service customers may join the CCA at any time by following the steps outlined in the “Enrollment” section of this motion response.
Customers that have previously opted out of the CCA and went back to National Grid’s Basic Service plan do not receive notification of the CCA. This is standard practice within CCAs in the Commonwealth in order to respect an individual customer’s decisions regarding their energy supplier. If a customer has previously opted out of the CCA program and would like to rejoin the CCA in order to take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of current rates, they may follow the steps outlined under the “Enrollment” section of this motion response.
Enrollment: Existing CCA customers are automatically enrolled under the new rate and should have received opt-out notifications. For new customers who are either part of National Grid’s Basic Service plan or are contracted with another Competitive Supplier, enrollment in the CCA is still possible. Customers may either:
1. Visit www.colonialpowergroup.com/lowell/ and click the OPT-IN button, then fill out and submit the Opt- In Form. 2. Call Constellation at (844) 979-0172 and ask to join the City of Lowell’s Program.
For both of the above options, customers should have their National Grid bill in order to provide some required information (e.g. Account Number, Customer Name on Bill, Service Address). Enrollments can only be processed on meter reads so it may take up to two billing cycles before taking effect. Typically, in the first billing cycle, customers will see a notification on your electricity bill with language that indicates that National Grid records show you have recently switched your supplier. This notice includes a number to contact if the switch has been done in error. If it isn’t an error, you should be enrolled in Lowell’s CCA on the following billing cycle.
To reiterate information stated earlier, customers with Competitive Suppliers may incur a termination fee for canceling their existing supply contract. We highly recommend that the customer call the competitive supplier listed on their bill to confirm there isn’t an exit fee before they join the City’s Program.
This City’s CCA encourages the development of local renewable energy facilities by providing a market for the environmental attributes of these generators. With its 167,000 MWh annually, Lowell is the largest CCA to procure this level of RECs, continuing its legacy of a renewable energy leader.
KM/ns cc: Diane Tradd, Assistant City Manager/DPD Director Craig Thomas, Deputy Director Philip Ferreira, Housing and Energy Programs Manager
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council VOTE
Authorizing the City Manager on Behalf of the City of Lowell, to accept a Gift from Middlesex Community College of Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Sixty ($14,360.00) Dollars towards installing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) on Merrimack Street/Kearney Square.
------
BE IT VOTED:
That the City Manager be and she is hereby authorized in the name of the City of Lowell, to accept a gift Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Sixty ($14,360.00) Dollars from Middlesex Community College towards installing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) on Merrimack Street/Kearney Square, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53A.
Further, that the City Manager will convey the City’s appreciation for the generous donation.
V:acceptgift/dpd/MCC Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 1 P: 978.674.4400 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen M. Donoghue
City Manager
Kara Keefe Mullin Assistant City Manager
November 26, 2019
Mayor William J. Samaras and Members of the City Council
REFERENCE: Middlesex Community College - Pedestrian Safety
Dear Mayor Samaras and Members of City Council:
In furtherance of the goal of a more safe and walkable City, the City has been working with Middlesex Community College to determine how to improve the safety of their students as they cross Merrimack Street/Kearney Square between their buildings. The City Sign Department repainted the crosswalks and the Transportation Engineer recommended installing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at the crosswalks. Middlesex Community College committed to pay for the purchase and installation of the RRFBs, which are within in the City’s right-of-way (ROW). They were installed the first week of November, 2019.
This vote will allow the Lowell City Council to accept a gift of $14,360 from Middlesex Community College which will cover the cost of purchasing and installing two double sided Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons on Merrimack Street/Kearney Square. The Law Department has prepared the necessary vote allowing the City to accept the gift. If you have any question or need assistance, please contact Natasha Vance at 978-674-1417.
Sincerely,
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
EMD/ns Attachment cc: Diane N. Tradd, Assistant City Manager/DPD Director Christine O’Connor, City Solicitor Natasha Vance, Transportation Engineer
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council
VOTE
Authorizing the City Manager on Behalf of the City of Lowell, to accept a Gift from the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), of a Hydro sculpture, a public art project spearheaded by COOL and artist Nancy Selvege/ARTractions, LLC located in the City’s Utopian Park in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District.
------
The City of Lowell desires to accept the gift of said Hydro art sculpture in the City of Lowell.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT VOTED:
That the City Manager be and she is hereby authorized in the name of the City of Lowell, to accept the gift from the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), of a Hydro sculpture, a public art project spearheaded by COOL and artist Nancy Selvege/ARTractions, LLC located in the City’s Utopian Park in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53A½.
V:acceptgifthydrosculpture Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4000 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen Donoghue City Manager
November 20, 2019
Mayor William Samaras And Members of the City Council
Subject: Acceptance of Hydro sculpture from Cultural Organization of Lowell
Dear Mayor Samaras and Members of the City Council,
I am happy to report that the Hydro sculpture, a public art project spearheaded by the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) and funded through various grants to COOL, has been completed and all contractual obligations between COOL and the artist Nancy Selvege/ARTractions LLC have been executed.
This latest public art piece was begun in 2011 and has come to fruition as a centerpiece of the City’s Utopian Park in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District.
Inspectors from the City’s Development Services department have signed off on the sculpture’s installation and integrity as a structure.
With these items completed and in accordance with the agreement between the City, COOL and ARTractions LLC, I am requesting that the City Council officially accept Hydro as a gift from COOL and take ownership of this remarkable piece of public art.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need further information.
Sincerely yours,
Eileen Donoghue City Manager
cc: Henri B. Marchand, Director, Cultural Affairs & Special Events
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council
VOTE
Authorizing the City Manager to execute an Access Agreement between the City of Lowell and Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC, to install, construct, replace, maintain, repair, operate, inspect, augment and remove, at Comcast’s sole option and expense, certain wires, cables, conduit, lock-boxes, and other appurtenant fixtures and equipment at 191 Mt. Pleasant Street, Lowell.
------
The City of Lowell owns property at 191 Mt. Pleasant Street, Lowell, also known as the Tenth Street Water Tank; and
The City grants use of this property for distributing communications services to the Greater Boston Police Council at the Property; and
The Agreement shall have an initial term of ten (10) years, commencing upon the effective date. If Comcast is not in breach, this Agreement shall automatically renew on a month to month basis for up to 120 months (the Renewal Terms) unless either party shall provide to the other a minimum of ninety (90) days’ notice.
BE IT VOTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOWELL, as follows:
That the City Council of the City of Lowell hereby authorizes the City Manager to execute an Access Agreement between the City of Lowell and Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC, to install, construct, replace, maintain, repair, operate, inspect, augment and remove, at Comcast’s sole option and expense, certain wires, cables, conduit, lock-boxes, and other appurtenant fixtures and equipment for distributing communications services to the Greater Boston Police Council at 191 Mt. Pleasant Street, Lowell. Said Access to Property Agreement shall be in the form or substantially the form attached hereto.
V:agreement-accessagreement-Mtpleasantst191
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council
VOTE
Adopting the Minimum Residential Factor for Fiscal Year 2020.
------
IT IS VOTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOWELL as follows:
To adopt the minimum residential factor of ______percent for Fiscal Year 2020 which will shift the share of the Levy to the Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property classes.
V:minresfactor2020 Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4402 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
November 20, 2019
Mayor William J. Samaras And Members of the Lowell City Council
RE: Minimum Residential Factor
Mayor Samaras and Members of the City Council,
The attached vote will establish the Minimum Residential Factor (‘MRF’) for fiscal year 2020. This action will provide for the maximum tax relief to residential homeowners under the Massachusetts statute permitting the classification of properties. Each year, a natural shift of values occurs in the real estate market and if any one particular class- like the commercial, industrial, or personal property classes for example—grows at a slower pace than the single family or multi-family properties; the tax burden falls more heavily upon the class with the greatest amount of growth. By adopting the MRF, however, Lowell can protect residential homeowners from being unduly burdened by taxes to the maximum amount allowed by law.
The establishment of the FY20 property tax rate by the Board of Assessors, subject to the approval of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (‘DOR’), is the final step in the fiscal process that begins in the spring with the submission of the annual budget to the City Council. The MRF determination and vote are the remaining components of establishing this year’s rate. I am recommending that this matter be referred to a public hearing on December 10, 2019. With this letter, I am transmitting to you my recommendation for the required vote necessary to minimize taxes on residential properties. In addition, a memorandum from my finance team is forthcoming with a more in-depth analysis of the facts and figures pertaining to the 2020 tax levy after it is approved by the DOR.
The City has been able to successfully control budget growth and property tax levy increases, while at the same time expanding services and adding resources to support the City Council’s priority areas. This is evidenced by the approximately $20+ million in ‘excess levy capacity’ available under the primary levy limit. This number is significant in that it is a measure of how far under the taxation limitation prescribed by Proposition 2 ½ Lowell is and the importance placed by the Lowell City Council on affordability for the residents. The average single family tax bill in Lowell, based on preliminary data, will remain significantly below other municipalities in Massachusetts, at approximately $1,730 less than the average.
Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4402 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
Here is some of what the FY2020 residential tax dollars will pay for:
• Investment in curb appeal (paving/ sidewalks/ other street projects)
o The city continues to invest in paving, sidewalk, and curbing repairs. We continue to leverage the matching of the Chapter 90 annual apportionment with local funding to maximize the amount of paving money available during the construction season.
o An additional $4.3 million was appropriated in local funding to state funding to completely reconstruct the Lord Overpass and the Thorndike Street corridor. An additional $2.14 million was appropriated to continue the city’s aggressive paving program to reconstruct the major thoroughfares throughout the city, matching the state’s Chapter 90 funding.
o The city has also appropriated $200,000 of local funding for ADA Compliance and traffic calming efforts on Andover Street. And another $1.2 million to advance the city’s ADA (“Americans with Disabilities Act”) accessibility plan, to make the city’s parks, roads, and sidewalks more accessible for our citizens with disabilities.
• Continued support of public safety
o By maintaining the highest staffing levels in decades in the Lowell Police Department, crime rates have decreased according to data reported to the FBI. In FY20, The City Council also fulfilled its commitment to public safety by fully funding the Fire Department at 213 sworn personnel, despite the loss of significant grant funding from FEMA.
o The City Council continues to support the upgrade of the public safety communications equipment to ensure the safety of the City’s residents. Phase II of this project includes new equipment for the police and fire departments to which $6.3 million of local funding has been appropriated.
o The Council authorized $580,000 in funding to The Lowell Fire Department for the replacement of Engine #7, which is over 22 years old and requires frequent service and repair.
o The reconfiguration of the police department’s public safety strategy, including the creation of a new, downtown sector known as the “Charlie Sector”. This new presence in the downtown central business district will be anchored by a new downtown substation in the heart of the busy downtown commercial region;
Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4402 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
• Funding of the Lowell Education System
o The city has exceeded the required spending level set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by over $7.14 million in the most recent year certified by DESE (FY18). The projected funding for FY2020 continues the City Council’s commitment to education.
o In FY2020, over $9.7 million was appropriated in additional funding to the Lowell Public Schools between local funding and Chapter 70 aid tax levy support.
o An additional $1.4 million was appropriated for LHS roof repair project on the 1922 building.
o Over $4 million expended on school department capital improvements throughout the city’s school buildings including: HVAC repairs, heating improvements, and critical building envelope repairs.
o Over $2,300 work orders completed in School buildings by the city’s DPW.
o Over $300,000 appropriated to complete detailed architectural studies at several school buildings to unlock millions in construction dollars from the MSBA’s Accelerated Repair (“ARP”) program, 80% of which will be reimbursed to the district.
• Economic Development/ Quality of Life
o $4.5 million in capital investment by the city to facilitate the relocation expenses associated for, amongst other things, a plan to effectuate maximum efficiency in city departments. In FY2020 the Lowell City Council approved a lease to bring the consolidated Health and Human Services department into the downtown for more effective service delivery.
o The Council approved $1.5 million in funding to further the Tanner Street alignment project in the Ayers City Industrial Park. Phase II provides funding to the infrastructure needs of the district.
o The construction phase of the HCID garage is funded and moving ahead. $1 million of additional funding to support the National Park Land Service Swap which will facilitate the land transaction to open up the largest developable parcels of the Hamilton Canal Innovation District (HCID). The City Council’s has also allowed for $100,000 in funding improving the canalway alongside the new garage for passageway to the HCID.
Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4402 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
The City Council is to be commended for continued funding of these key priority areas. Several fiscal challenges in FY2020 have made this, at times, an arduous task. Among those most notable were: the increase in “cherry sheet” charges/ assessments from the Commonwealth of $1.7 million over FY19, including another increase to the city’s Charter School assessment; a $1.7 million increase in the city’s pension assessment; and over $700,000 in new expenses related to contaminated recycling, a function of the city’s new contract with Waste Management. In addition to these fixed cost challenges, in FY20 the city continues to absorb losses in grant funding for firefighters from the federal government, as well as costs previously shared by the school department budget. However, through various fiscal controls and constant collaboration between departmental management and the administration, we have been able to withstand these challenges and make over $25.3 million in capital investments in the city’s infrastructure, parks, and municipal buildings.
Sincerely,
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
Cc: Conor Baldwin, Chief Financial Officer
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
VOTE
IN CITY COUNCIL
ORDER,
A Supplemental Appropriation to raise from the tax levy and local receipts and appropriate to the Lowell Fire Department’s Salary & Wages Accounts.
ORDERED,
By the City Council of the City of Lowell, as follows:
That the amount of Eight Hundred Thousand and 00/100 ($800,000) Dollars be hereby further appropriated by raising from the FY2020 tax levy and additional local receipts and appropriating to the Lowell Fire Department Salary and Wages Permanent Account:
• LFD S&W Perm - Account – 02204151-511000
ORDER RECOMMENDED AND INTRODUCED BY:
______Eileen M. Donoghue, City Manager
V: fy2020.supp.appropriation.lfd Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4400 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Conor Baldwin Chief Financial Officer
Allison Chambers Deputy CFO MEMORANDUM
TO: Eileen M. Donoghue, City Manager
FROM: Conor Baldwin, Chief Financial Officer
CC: Jeff Winward, Fire Chief
DATE: November 21, 2019
SUBJECT: Supplemental Appropriation – Lowell Fire Department
The finance department has worked with the Fire Chief and his staff to come up with a plan to immediately hire seven new firefighters into the academy in January and maintain the fire department (“LFD”) staffing level at 213 through the end of the fiscal year (FY2020) without adding any additional burden onto the FY2020 tax levy. The amount of the appropriation is $800,000.
As you may recall, the LFD has absorbed the retro pay associated with the settlement of the collective bargaining agreement with the IAFF, Local 853 this year. Additionally, a number of fire personnel whose salaries were previously funded through a federal grant award received in FY2017, have had their funding transferred entirely to the city’s General Fund, pursuant to the terms of the grant. Upon further investigation, it appears that the city may not have received the full benefit of the grant award due to the timing of the new hires at the commencement of the grant. The Fire Chief has since enlisted the assistance of our Congressional delegation to seek out any possible relief from this financial burden. These issues could have resulted in the delayed hiring of the seven firefighters until later in the year. However, thanks in large part to the fiscal restraint exercised by management, city-wide, as well as the positive growth in the tax levy this year; there exists an opportunity to hire these firefighters immediately contingent upon a supplemental appropriation by the City Council.
The Board of Assessors has recently had the FY2020 new growth certified by the Department of Revenue at approximately $2.53 million. This number is approximately $1.03 million higher than the amount estimated in this year’s budget. Likewise, the local receipts collected to this point in FY2020 have surpassed their benchmarks in many areas. One notable example of this is in building permits, where nearly 60% of the budgeted revenue for the year has been collected through only five fiscal periods. These results will allow us to still come in at the budgeted tax levy for this fiscal year even after an additional appropriation for the LFD. However, logistically, the vote must take place prior to the setting of the tax rate and is an immediate priority for legislative action.
Please do not let me know if you have any questions.
Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4402 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
November 20, 2019
Mayor William J. Samaras And Members of the Lowell City Council
Dear Mayor Samaras and Members of the Lowell City Council,
I am hereby requesting that the City Council approve a supplemental appropriation for the Lowell Fire Department in the amount of $800,000. The purpose of this additional funding is to provide for the immediate hiring of seven new fire recruits to bring the fire personnel staffing number back up to 213.
Public safety is one of the key priority areas for both the City Council and my Administration and fire protection serves as an integral component of the strategy to ensure the safety of Lowell’s residents. It is critical to keep our staffing number at 213 in order to maintain a policy of closing one company on some shifts, and no companies on other shifts, as well as closing one command car on some shifts, and closing none on other shifts. This vote by the Council will provide for the adequate budgetary flexibility for the Fire Department to continue the best practice of closing no more than one company on any shift.
Furthermore, my finance department has worked closely with the Fire Chief to execute a plan to continue this practice of minimum company closings while maintaining the tax levy included in the FY2020 budget, approved by the City Council. I am pleased to report that this appropriation will accomplish that objective and place no additional burden on the FY2020 tax levy. A memorandum from the Chief Financial Officer is enclosed which provides additional details.
Please do not hesitate to let me know if there are any questions.
Sincerely,
Eileen M. Donoghue City Manager
Cc: Conor Baldwin, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Winward, Fire Chief
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council ORDER
Pursuant to Chapter 266 of the Code of Ordinances City of Lowell, Massachusetts, concerning Section 266-6 thereof entitled "Temporary Experimental Regulations", temporary traffic regulations are hereby implemented for a period up to sixty (60) days.
------
The City of Lowell desires to make temporary rules regulating traffic under actual conditions for a period of sixty (60) days; and
Chapter 266 of the Code of Ordinances City of Lowell, Massachusetts", Section 266-6 thereof entitled "Temporary Experimental Regulations" authorizes the City Council to make such temporary rules for a period up to sixty (60) days;
BE IT ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED by the City Council of the City of Lowell as follows:
Effective immediately for a period of up to sixty (60) days, the following temporary traffic regulations shall be implemented:
§266-51 Fifteen minute parking area – A - is hereby amended by adding the following:
Name of Street Side Location
Foster Street West Beginning at a point 59 feet north of the northerly curbline of Middlesex Street and running northerly a distance of 40 feet.
Foster Street East Beginning at a point 90 feet north of the northerly curbline of Middlesex Street and running northerly a distance of 65 feet.
§266-56 Parking prohibited on certain streets at all times is hereby amended by adding the following:
Name of Street Side Location
Foster Street West Beginning at the northerly curbline of Middlesex Street and running northerly a distance of 59 feet.
Foster Street East Beginning at the northerly curbline of Middlesex Street and running northerly a distance of 90 feet.
Foster Street East Beginning at a point 178 feet north of the northerly curbline of Middlesex Street and running northerly a distance of 60 feet.
Order/60daytrial11.26.19
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF LOWELL
In City Council
RESOLUTION
The City Council of the City of Lowell wishes to be recorded in support of fully funding the Bond Bill relative to the design and construction of a new permanent bridge to replace the thirty year old “temporary” Rourke Bridge in Lowell, MA.
------
In 2007, in developing the Regional Transportation Plan, City of Lowell officials identified Merrimack River crossing deficiencies as being a high priority;
The City requested that a new, updated feasibility study be undertaken examining the potential for replacing the temporary Rourke Bridge with a larger, permanent structure;
A feasibility study was complete in November of 2013 at a cost of $562,439;
The construction of a new bridge is vital to the public safety of the City of Lowell, as it provides direct vehicle access to Lowell General Hospital, a major trauma center that serves the entire Greater Lowell area;
The construction of a larger, permanent structure is a regional issue that affects neighboring towns which heavily utilize the existing Rourke Bridge to access U.S. Route 3, Route 113, Route 110, and Route 3A;
A permanent larger bridge would improve traffic not only in the City of Lowell, but would also provide easier access to neighboring towns north of the River, and would enhance connections to the region’s highway network, decrease commuter delays for the region’s workforce, and improve delivery times for goods and services needed by area businesses, thereby improving economic development in the region as a whole;
The current Rourke Bridge is one of only a few bridges that provide a crossing of the Merrimack River, with the next crossing to the north being located six miles away in Tyngsborough;
Accordingly, the Lowell City Council wishes to be recorded in support of fully funding the Rourke Bridge project in the Transportation Bond Bill relative to the design and construction of a new permanent bridge to replace the thirty year old “temporary” Rourke Bridge in Lowell, MA.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOWELL as follows:
That we, the members of the City Council of the City of Lowell wish to be recorded in support of fully funding the Rourke Bridge project in the Transportation Bond Bill relative to the design and construction of a new permanent bridge to replace the thirty year old “temporary” Rourke Bridge in Lowell, MA.
Submitted by:
CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF LOWELL
______Mayor William Samaras Edward J. Kennedy
______Karen Cirillo John J. Leahy
______David Conway Rita M. Mercier
______Rodney M. Elliott James L. Milinazzo
______Vesna Nuon
Resolution/2019-rourkebridge