IN CITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY JANUARY 24, 2006

TIME 6:31PM

Roll call showed 9 present.

Mayor A. Mercier presiding.

CITY CLERK

Minutes of January 17th for acceptance. In Council, Read, accepted and placed on file by motion of C. A. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted.

CITY MANAGER

Order-Dedicate the corner of John Street and Paige Street as the Lew Family Memorial. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

Vote-To adopt the recommendation of the Division of Planning & Development with respect to addressing the parking needs of the businesses along University Avenue as it relates to the Gardner Avenue Parking Lot. In Council, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

C. A. Milinazzo moved, seconded by C. R. Mercier “To Suspend the Rules in order to introduce a vote”. So voted.

Vote-Authorize the City Manager to apply for, accept and expend a grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Fund in the amount of $66,169.00. In Council, Under Suspension of Rules, Read twice and adopted 9 yeas. So voted.

PETITIONS

Misc.-Artie & Jenny Barbato 251 East Merrimack Street-Request to address Council relative to the Winter Parking Ban Section 13/182. In Council, Read and referred to the City Manager for appropriate action. So voted.

Claims-There was 1 claim for personal injury/property damage. In Council, Referred to the Law Department. So voted.

REPORTS

C. Broderick, Chairman of the Zoning Sub/Committee said they met this evening relative to the proposed development at the Burbecks Site. C. Broderick said the members of the Planning Board were present as well as the City Solicitor and several abutters to the project. C. Broderick said the Planning Board Members explained their reasons for approving the Special Permit Request and agreed the city must amend it's current Zoning Regulations with respect to parking requirements in such designated zones in an effort to better address such proposals in the future, should there be any.

C. Broderick said that after a very productive meeting, the Committee recommends, by unanimous consent, that the Division of Planning & Development look at the present regulations as it relates to parking space requirements per unit and make recommendations on amendments that will better address the concerns of such proposals, to request they identify the remaining 32 areas which are also zoned as is this proposal was and finally to make recommendations of a posting requirement which would better inform abutters and those interested, of the intent of developers at particular sites. So moved by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted.

MOTIONS

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

“Request the City Manager have the proper vote drawn to change the name, on a temporary basis, of East Merrimack Street to Sesame Street and invite Elmo to address the City Council”. In Council, Adopted favorably. So voted.

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the City Manager report on the Medicare Reimbursements Subsidy from the Federal Government relative to the City's Medication Program”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MILINAZZO, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the City Manager instruct the Law Department to prepare an Order of Taking for the Lichoulas Property identified in the Hamilton Canal District and refer the issue to the Economic Development and Downtown Sub/Committee”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager and the Economic Development and Downtown Sub/Committee”. So voted.

BY C. DONOGHUE, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the City Manager have the Police Department increase their presence in the downtown area”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager and to the Public Safety Sub/Committee. So voted.

C. Donoghue moved “To Suspend the Rules in order to refer an item to the Public Safety Sub/Committee”, seconded by C. A. Mercier. So voted.

Request that the Strategic Plan relative to the Gang Summit Findings be forwarded to the Public Safety Sub/Committee. So voted.

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

“Request the City Manager the City Manager update the City Council on the status of the Mass Mills Development”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. BRODERICK, seconded by C. Donoghue

“Request the Mayor to appoint a Marketing Sub/Committee to address marketing the city's image”. In Council, Referred to the Mayor. So voted.

At 8:31 PM, C. Ramirez moved, seconded by C. R. Mercier

“To go into Executive Session for the purpose of consideration of a lease agreement, public discussion of which could be detrimental to the City's position and that the City Council not return to open session and will adjourn from Executive Session”. In Council, adopted on roll call vote 9 yeas. So voted

The Council then went into Executive Session

Richard C. Johnson

City Clerk