IN CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010

TIME 6:36PM

Roll call showed 9 present

Mayor Milinazzo presiding

Prior to the beginning of the meeting, a Moment of Silence, in a darkened chamber, was observed for Rosebud Haugen, John Dodge and all of those who have passed away since the last City Council Meeting.

CITY CLERK

Minutes of February 2nd for acceptance. In Council, Read, accepted and placed on file by motion of C. Mendonca, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted.

PUBLIC HEARINGS (Scheduled for 7PM)

Vote-Accepting Section 18A of Chapter 32B, Medicare Extension Plan. In Council, Given 2nd reading and hearing held. No Remonstrants. Hearing closed.

Prior to any discussion, C. Mendonca moved, seconded by C. Mercier “To invoke the Rule of Necessity”. So voted. Each Councillor then disclosed, that as part time employees of the City of Lowell, they could have a possible conflict.

Manager Lynch then made a presentation to the Council, explaining the reasoning of accepting this statute, at the conclusion of which, C. Caulfield moved, seconded by C. Broderick “To refer the Vote to the Office of the City Clerk for 1 week in accordance with City Council Rules”. So voted.

Pole Location-National Grid to place 1 pole on Dutton Street and 37 ft. conduit in Charles Street. In Council, read and hearing held. Steve Soucy spoke for the petitioner, No Remonstrants. Hearing closed.

Referred to the DPW Division of Streets and Inspector of Wires on motion of C. Elliott, seconded by C. Descoteaux. So voted.

CITY MANAGER

Communication-From City Manager, responses to Council Motions/Requests. In Council, accepted and placed on file. So voted.

Communication-From City Manager accepting the resignation of Sheila Hallissy as a Trustee of the Pollard Memorial Library. So voted.

Ordinance-Creating position of Data Management Analyst in the Office of the City Manager. In Council Given 1st reading and after considerable discussion, on a roll call vote 7 yeas, 2 nays (C. Mercier, C. Elliott) the Ordinance was ordered advertised for a Public Hearing at 7:00 PM on March 2nd. So voted.

REPORTS

C. Murphy, Chairman of the Environmental/Recycling Issues Sub/Committee said they met this evening relative to the City's efforts in becoming a Green Community and the sustainability of the City. C. Murphy said Adam Baake, Director of Planning and Development updated the Committee as to the city's status and progress in meeting the four criteria for being designated a Green Community. C. Murphy said the City has made great progress meeting two of the criteria, in the process of implementing the third of the criteria, which requires adopting a policy for purchasing a fuel-efficient city fleet. C. Murphy said the fourth criteria, would be the adoption and implementation of the Stretch Code, as part of the building codes. C. Murphy said the Committee was informed that if adopted at this time, the City could be eligible for additional benefits and would be ahead of the curve, as the Stretch Code is slated to become part of the Mass Building Regulations in 2012. After additional discussion and questioning by the Sub/Committee, C. Murphy said the Committee recommends the City Council request the City Manager to take the necessary steps to introduce, for Council action, the Stretch Code and he so moved, seconded by C. Broderick. Recommendation of the Sub/Committee was then adopted and referred to the City Manager. So voted.

PETITIONS

Claims-There was 1 claim, which was read and referred to the Law Department. So voted.

MOTIONS

BY C. MERCIER, seconded by C. Caulfield

“Request the City Manager have the MIS Department, make available additional forms on line for better access to city departments”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MERCIER, seconded by C. Elliott

“Request the City Manager to establish a creative plan for painting crosswalks throughout the city”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. CAULFIELD, seconded by C. Broderick

“Request the City Manager have the State address the large depression in the roadway on the VFW Highway in the vicinity of Beaver Brook”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. CAULFIELD, seconded by C. Mendonca

“Request the City Manager have the proper department install Reduce Speed Ahead signs on the VFY Highway heading northwest toward the University”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MURPHY, seconded by C. Elliott

“Request the City Manager to adopt a fuel-efficient city fleet purchasing policy in accordance with the Massachusetts Green Communities Act”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MENDONCA, seconded by C. Broderick

“Request the City Manager to prepare an inventory of state owned property in the city and the amount of tax dollars that would be realized, if the properties were privately held”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

BY C. MENDONCA, seconded by C. Mercier

“Request the City Manager have the proper department investigate and report on the feasibility of licensing/permitting of the keeping of animals (when reasonable conditions are met) that would otherwise be prohibited by City Ordinance Chapter 104”. In Council, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

At this point C. Elliott moved, seconded by C. Mercier “To Suspend the Rules in order to introduce a motion”. So voted.

BY C. ELLIOTT, seconded by C. Mercier

“Request the City Manager to report on the fighting which young persons have been filming and later airing on the Social Networks”. In Council, under Suspension of Rules, Referred to the City Manager. So voted.

While under Suspension of Rules, C. Mercier moved, seconded by C. Martin “To cancel the City Council Meeting of February 16th as several Councillors will be out of State on vacation”. So voted.

At 8:07 PM, C. Broderick moved, seconded by C. Caulfield “To Adjourn”. So voted.

Adjourned

Richard C. Johnson

City Clerk