October 17 Meeting Notes

7:08 Start Time

Accept Last Meeting’s Minutes

Stephen moves, Jack seconds

Carolyn – Treasurer

$212, hasn’t changed.

Rep. David Nangle

From the Highlands; lives in Sacred Heart
Has represented Lowell since 1999
70 funding (schools)
Susan – what’s the status of the high school?
- The state will decide in January if we are getting funding for a new school or a renovation. State aid is in the mid-70s cents on the dollar.
Susan – What’s the status on the Courthouse?
- Superior, District, Housing, and Probate should move into the new courthouse. Juvenile should stay put. The project has grown from $75M to $200M.
- Current target it 2018
Corey – Lord Overpass work?
- Money is there ($17M) but the city has the details.
- Brian Hoey, Office Administrator, to get Corey any details.
  - Councilor Leahy – Planning begins this year

Ballot Questions:

Gas Tax: $.21 -> $.24 most recent increase. Rep. Nangle voted against indexing to inflation.
- Patrick promised an increase from $200M to $300M of Ch. 90 (Road) funding. Rep. Nangle voted yes.
- Nangle is fine with the annual votes to increase the tax.
- 50% of bridges in MA are deficient.
Nangle is against the bottle bill increase. We are too close to NH to absorb the cost and overall Lowell does a good job recycling.
- Kathleen Marcin – there is no recycling downtown.
  - Nangle – I may propose a bill to require condominiums/apartments to require recycling.
  - Stephen to work with Rep. Nangle
- Gaming
  - Nangle is for casino gambling in Massachusetts
  - Question is worded backwards.
  - Will make revenue for MA.
- Paid Sick Time
  - Small businesses are against this.
  - Five paid sick days a year.
  - Nangle believes the Unions are behind this push and is very conflicted.

Captain Richardson

7:54
Been having a lot of trouble with a group of kids on Bridge St / Kearney Sq. Turns out that these people were involved in the Shots Fired call on the 600-block on Bridge St in Centralville.
Otherwise, nothing too unusual this month.
Lot of focus on disorder due to bikes.

Councilor Leahy

Mike Demaris

Jack and Susan

Did a voter registration drive @ Brew’d. Signed up four people.
Absentee ballots were dropped @ Ayer Lofts and were extremely popular.
Chris and Aurora put out a table @ Mass. Mills. People didn’t know about the election and that people thought they had to pay.
Corey to talk to a UML class for Bill Berkowitz representing LDNA.
Chris and Aurora moving forward w/ DIY Lowell.
Jack mentioned that the city is looking at a Business Improvement District (BID).

Meeting adjourned 8:53

Susan moves, Dwight seconds