IN CITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2006

TIME 6:38PM

Roll call showed 9 present.

Mayor Martin presiding.

CITY CLERK

Minutes of March 28th for acceptance. In Council, Read, accepted and placed on file by motion of C. Caulfield, seconded by C. Donoghue. So voted. C. Milinazzo was recorded as present.

PUBLIC HEARINGS (Scheduled for 7PM)

Keyspan Energy-To replace/relocate gas mains in various streets in Pawtucketville. In Council, Read and hearing held. John Clark spoke for the petitioner. No remonstrants. Hearing closed. Approved on roll call vote 9 yeas. So voted.

National Grid/Verizon-to place 1 pole and conduit in Watson Street. In Council, read and Dave McCauley spoke for the petitioner. No remonstrants. Hearing closed. Referred to the Wire Inspector on motion of C. Caulfield, seconded by C. Donoghue. So voted.

Verizon-To place 60ft conduit in Lexington Avenue. In Council, Read and hearing held. Bob Grasia spoke for the petitioner. No remonstrants. Hearing closed. Referred to the Wire Inspector on motion of C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. R. Mercier. So voted.

CITY MANAGER

Vote-Authorize the City Manager to apply for, accept and expend a grant in the amount of $500,000 for the 2006 Assistance to the Firefighters Program. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Orders of Taking-295.1 Middlesex St., 324 Jackson St., 360 Jackson St., 169, 171 & 351 Jackson St. 307 Jackson St. 291 Jackson St., 6 King St., 375-379, 389 Middlesex St. all of which are in the Hamilton Canal District and part of the JAM Plan. In Council, C. A. Mercier moved, seconded by C. Caulfield “To delay action on the Orders of Taking, the Loan Order and the Vote to amend a previous vote until the meeting of April 25th”. So voted.

Loan Order-Authorize the City Manager to borrow the amount of $5,000,000 for the acquisition, site preparation and construction in the Hamilton Canal District. In Council, action delayed until the meeting of April 25th as noted above. So voted.

Vote-To amend a previous vote to apply, accept and expend a grant for the Hamilton Canal District. In Council, action delayed until the meeting of April 25th as noted above”. So voted.

Vote-To enter into a contract for 5 years with Mill City Management for the management of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

While still on the Manager's Section of the Agenda, C. A. Mercier moved, seconded by C. R. Mercier “To Suspend the Rules in order to entertain a communication from the City Manager requesting the appointment of James Kennedy, CFO as Acting City Manager”. So voted.

Communication-From City Manager requesting the appointment of James Kennedy as Acting City Manager from April 11th to April 22nd. In Council, under Suspension of Rules, Read and appointment approved on motion of C. Ramirez, seconded by C. R. Mercier. So voted.

REPORTS

C. Donoghue, Chairperson for the Public Safety Sub/Committee said they met this evening to review several items, which had been forwarded to the Committee. C. Donoghue said they discussed the staffing levels of the Police Department and were informed that, as previously discussed, the levels will be increasing as a result of the new approach on Sec. 111F cases. C. Donoghue said the committee asked for a report on the costs associated with replacing certain officers in special operations details with civilians. C. Donoghue said the Committee discussed the implementation of suggestions as a result of the Gang Summits and the Department, along with the District Attorney's Office, is continuing to work with various organizations to implement programs aimed at addressing gang activities and the prevention thereof. C. Donoghue said the Committee also discussed the safety issues with respect to the 911 Center at the Police Department and asked that report be forwarded detailing the costs and logistics of moving the 911 Center to another location within the police department. C. Donoghue said the Committee is awaiting further information on these issues and at that time will be reporting to the Council. Adopted as a report of progress on motion of C. A. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted.

C. Caulfield said the Neighborhood Traffic Sub/Committee met jointly with the School Committee Public Safety Sub/Committee relative to the safety of school children in the Bailey and Daley School areas. C. Caulfield said the meeting was very productive and both committees agreed with the recommendations of the Division of Planning & Development to install sidewalks on the streets in the area which do not have sidewalks and to place signage in the area, all in an effort to protect the children and residents dangerous conditions that presently exist. C. Caulfield said the Committee asked for information the possibility of Chapter 90 monies for addressing the sidewalks issue and asked that the Traffic Division place proper signage in the area to alleviate the present conditions. Report adopted as a report on progress on motion of C. R. Mercier, seconded by C. A. Mercier. So voted.

PETITIONS

Misc.-Yankee Communications 671 Central St. requesting 15 Minute Parking Space. In Council, Read and referred to the Traffic Engineer. So voted.

Francis Rogers 21 Crowley St.-Request Handicap Parking Sign. In Council, Referred to the Traffic Engineer. So voted.

Greek American Legion 228 Worthen St.-Request Handicap Parking Sign. In Council, Read and referred to the Traffic Engineer. So voted.

MOTIONS

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the City Council vote to allocate the Wastewater Treatment Settlement received from the Town of Dracut, to the Sewer Enterprise Fund in an effort to begin the odor control issue”. In Council, after discussion, C. A. Mercier moved in substitution “To delay action until such time as the amount of the settlement is known and a report is received from the Manager on the proposed cost of addressing the odor problem”. In Council, defeated on roll call vote 3 yeas (C. A. Mercier, C. R. Mercier, C. Caulfield), 6 nays. So voted.

Original motion was then adopted on roll call vote 6 yeas, 3 nays (C. A. Mercier, C. A. Mercier, C. Caulfield). So voted.

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Broderick

“Request the City Manager report on the policy outlining the timeline for Budget Process, the Independent Audit, the Free Cash Certification etc”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager and to the Finance Sub/Committee. So voted.

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the City Manager have the Law Department report on the Disposition of and the Tax Assessment of paper streets throughout the city”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Broderick

“Request the City Manger and the City Auditor provide a report of the Year to Date expenses for Fiscal 2006”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

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

“Request the City Manager have the Law Department report on the legal decision relative to the bidding of towing contracts”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. DONOGHUE, seconded by C. Elliott

“Request the City Auditor and the City Manager to have the City Treasurer provide the Council with a full report of any and all costs incurred by the city on the Bond for the Hamilton Canal Project, including principal and interest, administrative fees and BAN costs etc.” In Council, Referred to the City Auditor and the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. DONOGHUE, seconded by C. A. Mercier

“Request the City Manager have the Law Department report on the Special Permit issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals for 576 aka 572 Rogers Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. BRODERICK, seconded by C. Elliott, amended by C. Milinazzo and C. A. Mercier

“Request the City Manager have the Board of Assessors report on the projection of new Real Estate Revenues, expected revenues from TIF's which have expired and from assessments on church properties that have closed”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. RAMIREZ, seconded by C. Milinazzo

“Request the City Manager have the Traffic Engineer conduct a traffic study at the intersection of East Merrimack Street and High Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

At 9:10 PM, C. Broderick moved, seconded by C. Elliott “To Adjourn”. So voted.

Adjourned

Richard C. Johnson

City Clerk