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

  • Impressed with the foot traffic due to the Monster Bash and UML Homecoming.

Mike Demaris

  • Communication issues around repaving Market St
  • Corey to contact Mike to talk to IT about hosting PDFs to share out.

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *