Minutes of the Meeting
Jack Moynihan called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Featured guest: Jessica Wilson (DPD) and City
Councilor Wayne Jenness.
The minutes of the February 27 meeting were approved on a unanimous vote, following a motion & second
from Laura Lamarre Anderson and Wayne Jenness.
Treasurer Greene reported our current balance is $1,862.29, which reflects $289 in recent deposits
against zero expenditures.
LPD Captain Matt Penrose, newly assigned to the Downtown Area District, introduced himself and
presented an overview of 2 months of data for the Downtown district. There were 3,377 calls for
service logged in as follows:
524 Medical, EMT etc.
925 Proactive (calls for information, walk ins and reach outs)
369 Motor vehicle related (accidents, tickets, assistance)
206 Disturbances (loud music, fights, trespass)
30 Reportable crimes (burglaries, car breaks, vandalism, graffiti)
6 car breaks (all unlocked vehicles!)
6+ arrests including 1 for graffiti!!!
Overall, Captain Penrose reported the aggregate data presented are consistent with traditional monthly
report levels and indicative of low crime and consistent law enforcement presence in the Downtown
District.
Jessica Wilson from the Department of Planning and Development representing Lowell Forward (the
agency coordinating the Master Plan update) addressed the group and conducted an information and
data gathering session for the Master Plan update. Jessica suggested that future planning relies on
collecting citizen input from Lowell’s various neighborhoods to identify Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats. Jessica then turned the session over to the attendees to provide input and
prioritize their ideas and concerns. The collected input will be shared to Lowell Forward; the projected
date for completion of the Master Plan is late 2024.
In other business Stephen Greene discussed the challenges and confusion pertaining to new textile
disposal rules and procedures. He stated there is a textile bin at the DPW facility on Middlesex Street;
and others at some of the elementary schools. The closest to downtown is the Rogers School on
Highland Street. More information is available at the Solid Waste and Recycling website –
https://www.lowellma.gov/195/Solid-Waste-Recycling .
Councilor Jenness announced the upcoming City Council Subcommittee on Neighborhoods was meeting
on April 3, at 7PM. He also reported the city has stepped up graffiti clean-ups, and he is working with
Canal St neighbors and the Traffic Department on issues involving speeding and cut through traffic.
Prior to the call for adjournment, Jack Moynihan congratulated outgoing co-chair Carolyn Alphen and
her husband Paul on the recent birth of baby Charlotte.
Finally, on a motion and second from Sally Coulter and Wayne Jenness, the meeting adjourned on a
unanimous vote at 8:27 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Casey,
Secretary