IN CITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY AUGUST 23, 2005

TIME 6:36PM

Roll call showed 9 present.

Mayor A. Mercier presiding.

CITY CLERK

Minutes of August 9th for acceptance. In Council, Read, accepted and placed on file by motion of C. Donoghue, seconded by C. Howe. So voted.

PUBLIC HEARINGS (Scheduled for 7PM)

Order-Vacate, discontinue and abandon a portion of Western Avenue. In Council, Committee of the Whole, Given 2nd reading and hearing held.

Speaking in favor were:

Anne Barton Division of Planning & Development

Spiros Skinsakos 117 Staples St. (Petitioner)

Spiros Alexis 27 Westview Rd.

George Bertos Owner Lowell Janitorial Supply

Buzz Leonard Owner Leonard Electric

Bob McKitterick Owner McKitterick Electric

No Remonstrants.

Hearing closed. In accordance with City Ordinance, Ordered to remain in the Office of the City Clerk for 1 week. So voted on motion of C. Howe, seconded by C. Martin.

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE PLANNING BOARD

Ordinance-Amending the Code of Ordinances by extending the UMF Zone to include 8,16,20 & 22 Wiggin Street. In Joint Hearing.

Mayor A. Mercier asked permission from the City Council and the Planning Board to preside as Chairman, so granted.

Ordinance given 2nd reading and hearing held.

Speaking in favor was:

Anne Barton Division of Planning & Development

No Remonstrants. Joint Hearing closed. Mayor A. Mercier then turned the meeting over for deliberation by the Planning Board. After deliberation, the Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval and submitted, in writing, it's report and recommendation.

Report and recommendation of the Planning Board, read, accepted and placed on file. So voted.

City Council then adopted the Ordinance on roll call vote 9 yeas. So voted.

CITY MANAGER

Prior to the beginning of the Manager's section of the Agenda, C. R. Mercier moved, seconded by C. Milinazzo “To Suspend the Rules in order to introduce a vote”. So voted.

Vote-Authorize the City Manager to amend an agreement with the National Historical Park relative to the Visitor Center Parking Lot and the Riverwalk in the City of Lowell. In Council, under Suspension of Rules, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Communication-From City Clerk notifying Councillors of the City Manager's Annual Performance Evaluation. In Council, Read and referred to the Personnel Sub/Committee. So voted.

Communication-From the City Manager requesting approval of Out of State Travel. In Council read and approved on roll call vote 9 yeas. So voted.

Vote-Authorizing the City Manager to apply for, accept and expend a grant in the amount of $6,374.00 for use in the Council on Aging. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Ordinance-Amending the Code of Ordinances Chapter 8, entitled Fire Protection and Prevention. In Council, Given 1st reading and hearing ordered for 7PM on September 13th. So voted.

Vote-Authorizing the City Manager to enter into a License Agreement with Fairlee Corp. (The Courtyard) for sidewalk seating at 280 Central Street. In Council Read and C. Donoghue moved, seconded by C. R. Mercier “To delay for 1 week”. So voted.

PETITIONS

Claims-There was 4 personal injury claims and 2 property damage claims, which were read and referred to the Law Department. So voted.

Pole loc.-Verizon requesting 36 ft. conduit in School St., 35 ft in Broadway St. and 20 ft. in Perkins St.

Mass. Electric Co. requesting 1 pole location on Stackpole St. In Council, read and hearing ordered for 7PM on September 13th. So voted.

MOTIONS

BY C. R. MERCIER, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the Board of Assessors and the City Manager to answer questions relative to the Fiscal 2005 Real Estate Re-Valuation”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. R. MERCIER, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the City Manager report on the progress of simplifying the Overvaluation Forms”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. CAULFIELD, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the City Council discuss the Gasoline and Heating Oil Prices”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MARTIN, seconded by C. Milinazzo

“Request the City Manager report on the City's Procurement Process which is affecting the local businesses”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MARTIN, seconded by C. Milinazzo

“Request the Zoning Sub/Committee relative to Technical Amendments to the Existing Zoning Code”. In Council, Referred to the Zoning Sub/Committee. So voted.

BY C. HOWE, seconded by C. R. Mercier

“Request the City Manager report on the status of the Agreement between the City of Lowell and NMLAC, specifically whether or not we have consummated an agreement with the remaining 40 communities”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. HOWE, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the City Manager and the City Auditor submit a breakdown on all monies that have been paid to Jackson Construction, the report should include an up to date balance, if any, to Jackson Construction”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager and the city Auditor. So voted.

BY C. BRODERICK, seconded by C. Milinazzo

“Request the City Council invite the Lowell Delegation and Chancellor Hogan to the Economic Development and Downtown Sub/Committee to begin discussions on Nanotechnology and the city's possible partnership with the University”. In Council, Referred to the Economic Development & Downtown Sub/Committee. So voted.

At 8:17 PM, C. Howe moved, seconded by C. Martin “To Adjourn”. So voted.

Adjourned

Richard C. Johnson

City Clerk