IN CITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2005

TIME 6:34PM

Roll call showed 9 present.

Mayor A. Mercier presiding.

CITY CLERK

Minutes of October 18th for acceptance. In Council, Read, accepted and placed on file by motion of C. Broderick, seconded by C. R. Mercier. So voted.

PUBLIC HEARING (Scheduled for 7PM)

Ordinance-Amend Zoning Regulation by extending the NB Zone 268, 276 Westford Street. In Council, Given 2nd reading and hearing held. Speaking in favor was Attorney James Flood, representing the petitioner. No Remonstrants. Hearing closed. Adopted on roll call vote 9 yeas. So voted.

CITY MANAGER

Order-60 Day Trial, Traffic Regulations, various locations. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Vote-Authorize the City Manager to execute Lease Agreements w/US Government for 12 parking spaces in the Leo A. Roy Garage. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Vote-Authorize the City Manager to apply for, accept and expend a grant in the amount of $500,000 from the Office of Commonwealth Development. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Vote-Authorize the City Manager to execute 2 Lease Agreements at the property located at 900 Chelmsford Street for the Lowell Police Department Cross Border Initiative Program. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Vote-To convey the property located at 129 Willie Street to Bridgewell Inc. in the amount of $25,000 under the Acre Plan. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Appointment-Chester L. Somers to the Pollard Memorial Library Board of Trustees. In Council, Read and approved on roll call vote 9 yeas. So voted.

Communication-From City Manager requesting approval of Out of State Travel. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

REPORTS

C. Elliott, Chairman of the AD/HOC Committee for the Stoklosa School said they met on Monday at the School Site and the Committees were pleased to learn that the opening of the school would be Monday October 31st. C. Elliott said although there a several small items which need to be addressed, the school will open. C. Elliott said with respect to the City's position as it relates to construction of the school and possible litigation as a result, the Committee agreed to recommend the City Council, with the guidance of the Solicitor's Office, go into Executive Session to discuss the possible and pending litigation. After discussion, C. Elliott moved, seconded by C. Howe “To request the issue of Executive Session be placed on the Council Agenda of November 1st and the Administration and Law Department provide advice as well as all correspondence, copies of change orders and directives between the City and the Contractor, including DRA”. So voted.

C. Donoghue, Chairperson of the Public Safety Sub/Committee, said they met this evening relative to the recommendations made as a result of the Gang Summit. C. Donoghue said a report containing the findings and recommendations will be available in the next few weeks and that said findings and recommendations will be addressed and implemented immediately. C. Donoghue said the Summits were very effective as they have included a colaberative effort of all those involved. Adopted as a report of progress on motion of C. Martin, seconded by C. Milinizzo. So voted.

C. Elliott, on behalf of the Joint Committees of Finance and Public Safety said they met this evening as a continued effort to address the issue of Chapter 111F Cases. C. Elliott said after a number of meetings and gathering information, the Committees agreed to recommend the City Manager bring forward an appropriation in the amount of $50,000 for the purposes of hiring, on a contract basis, a Medical Investigator to review and make recommendations on the Chpater 111F Cases. Adopted as a report of progress on motion of C. Donoghue, seconded by C. Caulfield. So voted.

PETITIONS

Pole loc.-Mass. Electric Co. requesting pole location on Westview Road. In Council, read and hearing ordered for 7PM on November 15th. So voted.

Conduit loc.-Mass. Electric Co. requesting to place conduit in Stevens Street. In Council, Read and hearing ordered for 7PM on November 15th. So voted.

Claims-There was 5 claims, which were read and referred to the Law Department. So voted.

MOTIONS

BY C. MARTIN, seconded by C. Elliott

“Request the City Manager have the MIS Department report on the feasibility of E-mail Boxes for the City Councillors to respond to constituents”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. DONOGHUE and C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the City Manager provide an update on the relocation of UTEC”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

C. R. Mercier then moved, seconded by C. Broderick “To Suspend the Rules in order to file a motion”. So voted.

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

“Request the City Manager investigate the possibility of placing, on the Property Tax Bills, an additional box for citizens to check off and make contributions to Youth Groups”. After discussion, the motion was referred to the Youth Services Sub/Committee for a report and recommendation. So voted.

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

“Request the City Manager report on the possibility of removing the billboards along Bridge Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MILINAZZO, seconded by C. Broderick

“Request the City Manager and the Law Department report on the status of 411 Bridge Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. HOWE, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the City Manager submit a report concerning the administration's policy relating to civil rights cases and specifically the reimbursement of individual police officers out of pocket expenses”. In Council, after considerable discussion, C. Donoghue moved in substitution, seconded by C. Caulfield “That the City Council be provided with the facts, the findings and the particular statutes referenced in this case and that the Law Department provide the Council with direction as it relates to developing a policy with respect to addressing the indemnification issue and such communication be placed on next week's Council Agenda”. So voted.

BY M. A. MERCIER, seconded by C. Milinazzo

“Request the City Manager have Mass. Electric Co. install a light on pole #29 on Lawrence Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY M. A. MERCIER, seconded by C. R. Mercier

“Request the City Manager have the Police Department assign Police Officers at the Hellenic School on Broadway Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the City Manager provide an update on the sale of city owned land at 1095 Westford Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. BRODERICK, seconded by C. Milinazzo

“Request the City Manager have the proper department install a light at the Francis Gate House on Broadway Street”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

At 8:49 PM, C. Caulfield moved, seconded by C. Elliott “To Adjourn”. So voted.

Adjourned

Richard C. Johnson

City Clerk