City Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Please rise for the Lord's Prayer. Dear God, today as this session opens, we pray that your presence will be before us in everyone who serves in the decision-making process of our city. We pray for direction which will lead us our city to be strong and unified. May we continue the legacy of our founders. May we be granted this day the wisdom to make decisions which will be for the good of our city. We also pray for your special blessing on all those who are

working to transform our city and make it a better place to live and work. Amen. Pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Mr. Clerk, may I get you? here. Council Jirean here. Council Leang here. Council Mcdana here. Council Meria here. Council N here. Council Robinson here. Council Rock here. Council Scott here. Council Chow here. Council Dakota here. 11 present.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Any moment of silences?

Seeing none, we'll move on to two mayor's business. 2.1 communication remote zoom participation motion by councel Robinson seconded by councelor noon to accept and place on file all in favor signify by saying I any opposed so ordered 2.2 Two proclamation motorcycle safety awareness city LOL Commonwealth of Massachusetts by his honor Eric R. Gier mayor of the city of LOL proclamation. Whereas it is critical for all Massachusetts citizens and visitors to our area to increase their knowledge of the rules of the road and the rights and responsibility of all roadway users. Therefore, I Eric R. GI, mayor of the city of LOL, to hereby proclaim March 22nd through April 30th, 2026 as motorcycle safety awareness period in the city of LOL and wish all who ride an enjoyable and safety riding season. Reminding drivers to check twice, save a life, motorcycles everywhere, and don't text while driving. Motion to accept and place on file by council rock, seconded by councelor Scott. would you like to say a couple words?

Thank you. Uh Paul Cotay from Aimsbury. I'm here with uh Debbie Lee uh from Boston but uh in memory of uh Anthony Clayton uh who passed away three years ago with a a drunk driver in Nashville, New Hampshire crashed and hit him and his passenger on the bike uh dragging him uh and the truck exploded. uh that person is now serving probably the rest of their life in prison uh for it. Uh and Alen from Mthuan, we were at in Mthuan last night with the city council. They also uh have done their own uh proclamation. Um Alen lost her 24 year old son to a texting driver uh three years two and a half years ago. Um she's had to put a muzzle on her uh because the criminal uh proceedings were pending. But that person recently plead guilty and is uh about 6 months ago. So she started Austin's voice and his memory uh and is going around the state reminding people to text. Texting and driving affects both people. Same thing with all the all accidents uh that that they usually people don't go out and expect to get into an accident but that momentary loss of consciousness of doing something else other than paying attention. Last year uh 2025 there were 67 motorcyclists killed in Massachusetts. because it was down from 72 the year before. Uh registry statistics show that uh more than 50% of the rider the fatalities now are rider error where 20 years ago when manager Golden was in the state house and helped us with the proclamation uh for the governor uh to proclaim every year a period for motorcycle awareness uh it was about 80% was ride driver error. So, we also besides the check twice, we're kind of smacking our younger riders on the head and saying stupid hurts. Writing it responsibly does not hurt.

And to be old and wise, we first had to be young, stupid, and survive. And uh we're going to pass that on to our kids and our grandkids. Uh so, this is the third year you've done it. Thank you, Councelor Rock, for your past two years doing it. And uh we appreciate it. over 1300 registered motorcycles here in the city of Lel and uh you got a great city here so I enjoy it. Thank you. Would you guys like to come

Paul? Would you like to come up for a picture with the city council?

Thank you. know that he rides a motorcycle. It's a huffy.

Sorry. Beautiful. Awesome. All right. Nice smiles everybody. All right. Ready? One, two, three. One, two, three. Perfect. 2.3 proclamation National Public Health Week. Councelor Mercia.

Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, it is National Public Health Week. And with that, having said that, who better than to accept this uh proclamation than the co-op team who save lives each and every day. I know I've worked with them for a number of years in the sheriff's office. I saw them every morning go out and save lives, go to the different uh campsites that are outside and put people into detox, put people into uh find them in a place to live. I'm I'm amazed at all the work that they do. That just seeing all the things that they did tired me out. I was exhausted. If we could have the co-op team come up here, I'm very proud of them. Yes. Yes. I want to present them with a citation uh proclamation on behalf of the mayor, the city manager, the staff here, my colleagues in government. Whereas the week of April 6th through the 12th, 2026 is National Public Health Week and its theme of ready, set, action, which calls on each of us to look back at the progress we've made and look forward to the steps needed for an even healthier future because one truth guides it all. Good health doesn't just happen. And whereas the 2026 National Public Health Week and and I think the health department um Miss Golden, Lisa Golden

should come up here as well because she does a tremendous job. We Yes. Whereas uh the uh good health just doesn't happen. Um whereas the 2026 National Public Health Week marks the 31st anniversary since the organizer, the American Public Health Association, has created the annual campaign and has also created resources and educated the public policy makers and public health professionals about public health issues and policies. And whereas the Lowel Health Department's mission is to protect and promote the health and well-being of the people of Lowel through a v variety of equitable public health services and the health safety and well-being of the people of Lowel is future enhanced by the collaborative efforts of local government agencies, community organizations, health care professionals, and public health professionals. Therefore, I Rita Mercier on behalf of our mayor Eric Gia and my colleagues in government do hereby proclaim the week of April 6 to the 12th, 2026 as National Public Health Week and encourage all residents to observe this week by recognizing the contribution of public health efforts in our community. better understand the values of public health and adopt the uh healthy uh preventative lifestyle habits given this 7th day of April 2026 by our mayor Eric Gia city of Lowel. Thank you very much and also Mara Mara yeah thank you all the all the public

health officials that do a a yman's job each and every day. Mara and uh smiling. There you go. Motion to accept by councelor Mercia, seconded by councelor Mcdana. All in favor signify by saying I. Any oppose? So ordered. If you'd come up and we can take one big picture. Come on up. Wow, that's a I hope you have a wide angle lens.

You go. You go. Huh? Should we sit down?

Wow, look at this. Thank you. Thank you for I think uh counselors can stand on the on the back where the city manager stands. Oh, I think she slipped. Yeah.

Beautiful.

Squeeze in like we all love each other just a little bit. All right. Beautiful. All right. Wonderful. Everybody seen you? Beautiful. Nice big smiles for me. Ready? One, two, three. And one, two, three. Beautiful. Thank you all. No, probably not.

It does. There you go. 2.4 presentation. Joe Dushlam, lead teacher for civics at LOL High School regarding LOL Civics Day. Evening everybody. Welcome Joe.

Thank you. Uh honorable mayor, Mr. City Manager, assistant city manager, and members of the L city council. By way of introduction, my name is Joseph Jome, and I'm the lead teacher for civic education at Lowel High School. On behalf of my colleagues Caitlyn Urban, Mara Koopa, uh Laura Scoffield, Nicole Ganji, and myself, we would like to speak to the city council about Lowel Civics Day. As some of you may remember, Lowel Civics Day began 5 years ago as a project to celebrate the hard work and dedication of City of Lel students in action civics. It has grown into an annual celebration of that work. Each year, students from all of our eighth grade classes as well as all of the high school US2 classes gather together to display the work they have put into their action civics projects. Students are tasked with identifying an important community issue, investigating its root cause, researching what has been done about the issue to date, and attempting to create a long-term sustainable solution for the problem. Along the way, students often contact members of the local city council, school committee, and various various city departments as part of their research into causes and poss possible solutions. And I'm sure some of you guys have received emails over the last couple of weeks. All of this work culminates at Lel Civics Day, which this year will be held at the L Memorial Auditorium on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Your presence, if possible, means the world to the students on that day. to see members of their local government engaged in their work is so powerful beyond words. So, we would like to extend a formal invitation to each and every one of you to attend LOL Civics Day and mark it on your calendars. Once again, the date is Monday, May 18th, 2026 at the L Memorial Auditorium. The day usually runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and breakfast and lunch are provided. Mr. Mayor, if you would be so kind as to extend this invitation to the

school committee at your next meeting, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time this evening. We look forward to seeing many of you at Low Civic Day. Thank you. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Dakota, seconded by Council Chow. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Council Mercy. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Before we get into the motions, if it's possible, I could suspend the rules and allow uh 6.1 motion a uh happy to chat bench to come forward, please.

Motion by councelor Mercier to suspend the rules to take 6.1A out of order. Happy to chat bench. Seconded by councelor Robinson. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Council me. Uh, councelor Mcdana, it's your motion. Thank you.

I know. I I was surprised. Um, I was waiting for you to say there was a registered speaker because we took it out of order, but uh, thank you. Um, first of all, um, I really do I want to make sure I thank um, and Kimberly Gagnon and and Steve Stell as well as everyone else in the administration that worked on this uh, as well as the rest of the folks at the Council on Aging. And I know there's more people involved on this than I could possibly name. So I'm going to satisfy myself with just thanking the two who I've named so far. Um I also want to make sure that I call attention uh and just reiterate that the the agent action folks are absolutely thrilled. I got an email earlier today expressing just how happy they are. Um and I would ask everybody who is interested in this happy to chat bench in the you know more important piece behind it of trying to you know fight loneliness and and build connection to stay tuned for what I am told will be an impending announcement on what is sure to be an exciting launch event but I was asked not to say anything else right now. So thank you.

Thank you Council Mcdana Council Mia. Thank you Mr. Mayor. while we're under suspension. Oh, wait a minute. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Mcdana, seconded by councelor Robinson. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So to council mercy.

Thank you. I'm not trying to rush this meeting, but let me talk a little bit about um if I could while we're still under suspension, if I could have 6.2 underformational reports, the very first one about LOL High School structural remediation, please. Motion by councelor Mercy while under suspension to take 6.2form information report LOL High School structural remediation out of order. Seconded by councelor noon all in favor signify by saying I. Any oppose? So ordered. Mr. Manager.

Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor three to the council. Council is um the piece that sent uh sent by Scanser from Kevin Kane I think pretty much speaks for itself but I wanted to make sure that Mr. Kane was here in the event that anybody had any questions. Uh so I'll leave it to the council right now. Um, I think it was pretty brief in in regards to what needs to happen in that area, but any questions, thoughts, or concerns that anybody would have to bring it up to Mr. Kaine. Um, and the overall cost was $350,000. Thoughts and concerns which will be in the um u the the existing appropriation that we already voted on.

Anything from the council? Seeing none, motion to accept and place on file by councelor Dakota, seconded by councelor Jirean. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Now we'll go back to the regular portion of the city council meeting. Three city clerk 3.1 minutes of the city council regular meeting March 31st for acceptance. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Duran. Seconded by councel Leang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. General public hearings will be seven o'clock. We'll skip that portion. Go to city council emotions. 5.1 council noon request. Mayor Ger on behalf of the city council recognize the month of April as the sexual assault awareness month, child abuse prevention month, and victim rights month. Seconded by councelor Rock. Councelor Non.

Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. So uh this the idea is to really raise awareness and honor survivors also reflect on the important work that we all do um in the interest of public safety. I think um you know when we have these uh proclamations we should invite uh the hope and healing center and also alternative how to jointly uh receive it uh because it happened to be they both doing similar work one doing domestic violence and intertwine so to speak sexual assault as well so I ask that we invite the hope and healing center as well alternative house to be here uh when we have the uh proclamation. Thank you. U Mr. Manager, could we also light the bridges in purple for domestic violence month? Is that what you would like to add? Uh councelor, the domestic violent month, I think a few weeks ago we did that in the step of the city hall. uh that where we have usually had by the cities and the alternative house and but this is uh intertwined so to speak not just domestic violence but sexual assault and and and issues of you know um child abuse and all that the other things is that house and hope and doing that the hope and hill center are doing that

do you want to do the bridges also council that that that's fine by me Mr. manager. Is that something that can be done? Thank you. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.2. Council noon request the city manager reach out to NEMCOG and the LRTA to present their findings in their respective report during a transportation subcommittee meeting. Seconded by councel Mercy or councel.

I was asked by an individual who's a resident of low. Um I know that there's been a study being done by the NIMCO as well as the LRTA. I I believe that this finding certainly reflect both organization their dedication uh to improving public transportation service and ensuring that all communities has access to a reliable and efficient transportation option. So Del report certainly is going to help us in term of where we go from here working in partnership with them. So thank you. Thank you, Councelor Non. Councelor Mcdana.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I thank Councelor Non for this motion. I I have received a number of uh emails and a surprising number of people stopping me on the street to complain about some of these proposed changes. And so, I I think a subcommittee uh taking this to the the transportation subcommittee is a great idea. And I also just want to make sure that I know as the Mr. Clerk, as you said in the subcommittee meeting earlier that dates are sometimes a moving target, but I think uh on this one in particular, making sure uh that the public is aware of when this meeting is and having a little bit of time built in for hopefully some some public comment because it would be nice if instead of just getting emails, people would come and also speak their mind when the people from Nimco and the LRTA are here. So, uh thank you.

Thank you, Council Mcdana. Councelor Robinson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I attended a meeting in Chomsu last night and this issue came up. It was discussed. Um there is a study currently that they'll be undergoing um looking at a low Nasha line. I know that's something that they want to do a study and initiate a low uh NSHA line. For some reason that they've kind of dropped off going as far as Manchester, but I mean even even a study to look at. I know it's it's a heavy lift financially, but we they are looking for Nashville to lose. So, I think this is definitely timely. Thank you. Thank you, Council Robinson. Council Durant.

Um, as the Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As the uh city council representative to Nemcog, um I think I also want to make sure people are aware that all the NEMCOG meetings are open to the public. Um the website has all the agendas, etc. Uh the LRTA did present at the last um I think it was the um municipal planning organization group meeting uh at NEMCOG. Um so the materials should be available but I think having a an additional focus here at uh the city council or a subcommittee can make some sense also.

Thank you councel Jiren. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.3 Council Noon request the city manager worked at DBD to provide the city council with an assessment of the vacancy ordinance compliance in the downtown seconded by councelor Robinson. Councelor New

Thank you Mr. Mayor. It was not a surprise that the city being recognized as the best place to live. Um you know partly just look at what we tried to do in downtown revitalize downtown with number of you know idea put forth. you know, we have, you know, the popup, you know, program and we have supporting for home for small business as well as the business improvement district is moving forward as as we speak. I know that last year we did institute the vacancy ordinance. Um, I just want to know where we at. I know that uh five four or five months ago, we sent first letter letter to all the property owners and urging them to work with us u to you know uh rehab you know the upster because we believe that you know if you do fix the upstairs certainly will create um foot traffic for the downstairs businesses kind of sustain that businesses. Uh so I just want to know where are we at on it. Um you know and and you know report on you know whether or not a second wave of letter being sent to property owners and you know after that done you know we do enforcement and and who's complying who's not and what we're going to do with those who were not compliant with the the vacancy ordinance.

Thank you councel no council Mcdana. Thank you Mr. Mayor and thank you again to councelor non. Um, I would also be interested in in seeing uh the the feasibility around expanding uh the enforcement of the the vacancy ordinance, especially to some of the commercial districts that are outside of downtown. I think it's I think right now it it seems to be working even just with the first round of enforcement. I I think it's gotten a positive response. I think it's having a positive impact. Um, and so thinking about bringing that to to the rest of the city could be beneficial.

Uh, if I may add, I think I think it's to the point that coun the council McDonald brought up also brought up by the managers as well. Given that this is the start and we want to we don't really know where we at on it yet. Uh, certainly an idea of councelor uh McDonald bring it to the other district is certainly um a good idea. Thank you. Thank you, Council New Council Robinson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, through you to this Mr. Manager or Assistant Manager by Rose, has your team found this to be a valuable tool since it's been implemented. Manager Golden.

Uh, thank you very much, M. Mayor through the council. Uh, in short answer, yes. Uh, we've gotten people to respond to us, uh, directly. Um, they realize that DPD is there to assist and help them. Uh there are a couple people that have pushed back, but I have to say uh kudos to uh assistant city manager um uh Bayz Rose with her team for breaking through that and and bas basically letting people know we are trying to help but we're also not going to tolerate it. We've tried to help people to find u places and then quite frankly some uh uh what I would refer to as legacy policies have have come right to us and said we're not prepared to move forward yet. So, I think that overall we've made a big difference on especially on the Market Street area. Uh, and we've gotten a lot of good conversations. Once again, from a finding standpoint, that's not what we're doing it for. Uh, but there unfortunately have been people that are unwilling to uh move forward. So, they have been fined. But, uh, overall, I would say it's been a very positive, uh, discussion because of the amount of, uh, opportunity that DPD gives to, um, to the to the folks that own these places.

Thank you. And the reason I bring this up is because um I know there's quite a bit of a demand for small retail space from from the community and and I see some of the larger size buildings especially in the Market Street area and and some others in downtown Marramac. I know another one that's been sitting vacant for quite some time that I don't understand what the log jam is with the the the property owner, but I mean I I I'm hopeful that they'd be willing to look at the demand is there and and rather than letting their property sit for the tax incentive, uh we can get those kind of up and running again. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Robinson. Councelor Mcdana.

Thank you. I I did just want to add um in thinking about the the upper floor vacancy piece um it was on a previous council and I believe it was councelor Ror that that had the original idea and I I want to make sure he gets the credit for it when I say this. Um to the vacancy ordinance is the stick. Um I I think one of the biggest blocks to development of the the upper floors downtown is the cost of installing an elevator shaft. Um, and so while I appreciate the, you know, put something in here or, you know, we're mad at you, um, I think continuing to look at ways to, uh, help assist in in what programs are available and and trying to to fund, uh, retrofitting some of these older buildings with elevators so that we can get, you know, third and fourth floors to be accessible to all sorts of residents. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Mcdana. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. It is now 7 o'clock. So we'll go to the public hearings for general public hearings 4.1 ordinance amend fee schedule waste gives second reading. An ordinance amending the code of ordinances. The city of l Massachusetts with respect to chapter 150 thereof entitled fees by amending certain sections. The hearing is now open. Anyone wishing to speak in favor? In favor. In favor. That portion of the meeting is closed. Anyone wishing to speak in opposition. Opposition. Opposition. That portion of the meeting is closed. Motion to adopt by councelor Rook. Seconded by councelor Dakota. Roll call. Mayor Gia,

yes. Council Jirean, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council Mcdana, yes. Council Mercia, yes. Council N. Yes. Council Robinson, yes. Council Rock, yes. Council Scott, yes. Council Chow, yes. Councilor Dakota, yes. 11 years.

Going back to the city council motions 5.4. Councelor Noon requests a city manager work with the proper department to promote LOL as the 2026 best city to live in Massachusetts and the third best in the northeast by livability in order to attract more businesses, shopping, and tourism to our city. Seconded by Council Leang. Councelor No.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um so as I said earlier we were recently recognized uh as the best city to live and work in. I think we need to take advantage of that opportunity by getting the word out. I know the managers and his team had you know done some work already around that you know through other businesses community out investors and developer outside the blow maybe outside the state as well to more or less call them out and said look we are here we are city as the manager usually use the city of opportunity and maybe not just city of opportunity but in opportunity in education employment and housing right If you look at you know the relationship that we had with all these university and midsack community college and smallest low public school uh that there's no other places in the country uh that you can go from prek to PhD like a pipeline creating opportunity for young people those who go through high school going into community college and or college after you prepare them for not just a job but career and having the relationship that we had with Draper I would I would suggest that we use Draper uh as our ambassador a testimony of Draper and and said, you know, Draper is being ambassadors out there in our app and saying how wonderful Lo is and how easy to work with in term of partners and whatnot and that's an opportunity is one of once in a lifetime. Uh so you need to really capture that opportunity and use everything you have uh in term of promoting uh bringing uh uh uh new businesses, additional businesses and developers and whatnot come to the city of low. Thank you.

All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Five. Oh, councel Mercia.

I just wanted to say Mr. Mayor that I think that's a wonderful motion. Um, I know boston.com had a beautiful article all about uh low was named the best place to live in Mass and why and they cited uh ranked by Livability uh the Lowel Folk Festival, the Lowel Plan Southeast Asian Water Festival, Lowel Music Series, Reparatory Theater, Low Memorial Auditorium, the Whistler House, Western Avenue Studios, Lowel Alliance, the Hive Public Market downtown. So many beautiful things that I talked about and emphasized each part of it and uh the Carowak Jack Carowak Center um and it it uh bought by country singer Zack Bryan. So, it's just was a beautiful article and it really highlighted this city and I was very proud. I had to print it out so I could read it over and over. It was just amazing. And so, there's a lot to love about this city. You just have to get out there and find it cuz it's right there in front of you. So, I just had to say those words.

Thank you, Council Mercia. Council Yang.

Thank you. Um, in addition, what attracts me about this motion is the uh tourism aspect of it. Um, I know that every year we have friends travel to Africa, Europe, and Asia. Uh, how about if we can work with the local agency, a travel agency, and uh create some sort of a uh tourism area or attract more tourists to our city because um I know there's a lot of uh things happening within the city. I mean culturally, traditionally and everything else that's happening and there's a lot of thing going on even low misex and many other areas especially you have many cultural um shops all around the city that uh the that tourists can come in and visit. So if there's a way that we can connect with local travel agency and come up with some sort of package that we can you know work with that uh we can help promote out there as well too because we do know a lot of CBOS's and other places that can help promote this kind of tourism you know packages.

Thank you Council Leang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.5 Council Leang requests nonprofit organization subcommittee meet to dis to support for services and funding to nonprofits in the city. Seconded by councelor Mercia Council Yang.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, I've been getting a lot of uh emails about uh funding shortage, I mean shortage, especially federal criterias and uh I I guess they want to voice their concerns about the 501c3 uh nonprofit and uh other places that they might be able to work with us in term of uh you know increase more funding or if there's any other ways of uh get more funding to uh support our 501c3 and uh and thank you to Mr. Clerk of 5.5. I think that would be the uh the date that we'll be meeting. So, it coincide with that. Thank you so much,

Council Marcia.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I I'm on the the subcommittee of the uh nonprofit subcommittee and I'm and I remember you as a counselor being the chair of that nonprofit subcommittee and I found it very very interesting. So much so that you put me on it with you. And now that you're the mayor, I'm on that committee with uh the chair. And um I I'm segueing what I have to say to the chair because he can call a meeting. And I know that every so often we'd have a meeting and we'd highlight a particular uh organization and and I would love to have the WISH project come. I don't know that we did that that one, but I had the occasion to go there the other day with the sheriff's office cuz we needed to get some clothes. I hope I'm not in trouble for saying this for some of the women that are in pre-release. And the reason we do that is we do it every 3 months if there's call for it. There wasn't for a while. There were people that had family that brought them in close, but there are some now that don't have family that can do that, but the WISH project came through. They were wonderful. And I just want to highlight I don't want to say how great they are. We'll do that at your subcommittee. So, if I could just segue that on to our chair who could call that meeting and invite. I have all the information that you would need to contact them. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Council Mercia. Councelor N. You know, Rita is not shy, right? I remember the last term you were chairing and Rita came to every nonprofit subcommittee meeting and you chair and you enjoy that too. But Rita, because you see Rita every meeting, you said, "Okay, now I add you to it." So the number four now you don't have to add her anymore, right?

That's good. Um so this is good nonprofit you know um giving that now federal government have a new directive. I know that a number of profit with with with regard to CDBG money have shy away from it because they do not want to change their their mission uh just to appease the federal administration. Um I know also that during your chair of the subcommittee nonprofit there's a number of there's so many nonprofit organiz organization in the city that have do a lot of good work and that we have yet have opportunity to invite them. I could name a few like gering like ute like CMA and so on and so forth. There's so many. So uh councelor Lang's going to have his handful. Every week he's going to have subcommittee meeting. Thank you. Nonprofit actually no yeah nonprofit

thank you councelor noon all in favor signify by saying I any opposed so ordered 5.6 councel Robinson request the city manager have the property department improve the lighting situation in the area of Billing Street and Barka streets seconded by council councel Robinson

thank you Mr. Mayor, um residents of this area, I I went over and checked it out. It's very dark. Um also over by the old I don't know if it's still active, the National Grid Station over there. It's I think we got to get our eyes over there. There's illegal dumping going on and and it's been very dark in that area. So, it I know they have been and cleaned up a few times already this year, but it's back again. So, I mean, it's it's definitely a place to keep an eye on. Improved lighting, I think, will help chase out some of that stuff that's going on over there. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Robinson. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.7 Council Robinson request the city manager have the property department provide an update on the empty lot on Hildred Street and what long-term maintenance plan is in place. Seconded by councelor Non. Council Robinson.

This lot has been I don't know if it's in land code or what. It's we've been struggling to figure out something, but it's without fail. I mean, every year we're trying to figure out something to do with this lot. I I don't know. I mean, can we take ownership eventually of this lot? It seems like it's abandoned. I know there's been back when attorney McKenna was working on a lot of this stuff. I think he had his hands on it and and I don't know where it's gone since, but it it is it's becomes an eyesaw for the neighborhood and then because it's privately owned, it's there's no upkeep or maintenance. So, whatever we can do is greatly appreciated, Mr. Manager.

Uh, thank you very much, Mr. may through the council. Uh councelor, thank you very much. It's right on Hilda Street. I'm pretty confident that is still stuck in land court, but uh we're going to check that out and also check to see if we can clean it and if if necessary um clean it up and um put a um a lean on it as well, but there is a problem. It's the same problem we've talked about last year. So, we'll we'll uh look into it again. If you don't mind, Mr. Mr. manager. Um, in that motion response, can you include the process of acquiring uh property like that? What what the city's process is legally for us to acquire property like that? Just for clarity moving forward. Thank you, Council Rook.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's a good suggestion by Councelor Robinson because I'm sure there are properties all over the city that are similar to the the lot on Hilddrrith. Uh I know there are more than a few uh in Pakville uh that we've actually discussed on the council floor before and I'm sure every council in their district has something similar to that. So I'd be curious to see what the process would be uh if it's just a you know a taking or after a certain period of time um you know can we just take ownership? Thank you Mr. Mayor.

Thank you councel Rook. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.8 A council Mcdana request the city mayor have the appropriate department provide a report of any and all fines assessed at 169 Bridge Street in relations to the closure of the riverwalk due to the collapse of the brick fascade at the address seconded by councelor non.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I I had mo motion almost speaks for itself, but um I I had mentioned it uh on the floor a few meetings ago. Um just kind of I think it was in relation to the the CPA funding of another project at that site and then uh the Sun went and ran a story about that and that resulted in even more people in in downtown reaching out about it. Also, I'm annoyed by it. Um I I think in looking at uh a as building owners are applying for funds as is projects either happening or not happening. Um we have a lot of carrots. We also have a few sticks. Um it doesn't appear that the the building that is the problem building, the one that actually dropped the bricks is yet on this developers radar. And so I think making sure that you know as a city we're doing if there's anything we can do that we are doing what we can do to try and encourage a rectification there. Thank you. Thank you councelor Mcdana. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.9 Council Mcdana Councel Mercy request the city manager work with the appropriate department to create a schedule for parking enforcement in school zones. No seconded needed. Councelor Mcdana.

Thank you. I tried to give it to Council Mis here, but she's pointing at me. Um, so this this came uh out of a number of spots. The the final push, I think, was the that meeting at the the Daily about the sidewalks that I wound up at. I I agree with some of the comments that were made at that meeting about there not really being any motion necessary to I think that specific property or that that specific project. But I think in general looking at parking enforcement, uh we have hired the city's hired a number of parking enforcement personnel o over the last couple of years. And in looking at ways to get them out of downtown, I know problem areas uh off the top of my head would be the Daily School, the Green Helge. In downtown is the the charter school on Jackson Street. Um, it's not that anyone enjoys getting a ticket, but we do get a lot of tickets downtown. And I think that it's a tool in the toolbox. And it sounds like it's kind of anarchy. Uh, in some of these school districts, you get cars triple parked. So that guy, I think our enforcement people would love it. Thank you,

Council Garcia.

I'm going to add a little bit to this because you kind of said it, but I want to say something, too. And maybe again, you might not want to hear it, but I'm going to say it anyway. I went to that meeting with a number of my colleagues and I was very shocked to to see what was taking place. I'm going to tell you, we wanted to talk about uh sidewalks and where they're going to go. And Dave Biotti was doing a tremendous job. And some of the parents were outraged. They didn't want any sidewalks. And I and I was shocked by that, but I could understand their frustration because and then you, Mr. Mayor, said, "We're doing it because we're responsible for safety. It's a state law that we should provide safety for our children to get to school. It's all about them being safe." But the parents had a good point. Why put the sidewalks in when parents are going to walk their kids down the middle of the street? Cars are going to park in front of driveways, throw out their litter and someone's property from their vehicle. I was shocked to hear all these things. So, you know what the solution was? We're going to put a sidewalk. We need a sidewalk for safety, but we need enforcement. Maybe it's time that we tell the younger generation parents that you can't just walk on the street. There's a sidewalk and that's the proper thing. And if you don't follow the law, you're going to be fined. If you do park in front of that lady's driveway when her husband is trying to leave for work and you're throwing out your trash, that's against the law.

We need police enforcement in certain areas of different schools. I don't know. We wouldn't think of that years ago, but now people don't care. They just want to walk down the middle of the street. That's what a sidewalk is for. So when we have it, I want them to use it. The neighbors want them to use it. I don't want them to be discouraged that we spent all this money from the city and put a sidewalk there and nobody's walking on the sidewalk. They're walking in the street. That's the point of what they were saying and that's what I need. And I w I looked around to see if the uh police superintendent was here because I almost went in the budget hearing and said this. Any questions? I almost addressed it there, but we need a talk with the chief to say please within certain hours of school starting and and ending, people should be taught to walk on that sidewalk. That's what it's there for. Don't I know you're with your child, but don't risk their life cuz one day they're going to think, "Well, mommy takes me to school on the street. I'm going to walk on the street." I don't want anybody to get hurt. And that's why I'm saying it. Thank you. Thank you, Council Mia. Councelor Scott.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is a very good motion. Um, I would just ask the parking enforcement department. Are they now enforcing outside of downtown? I I know that was a big discussion we had whether or not they were allowed to. Manager Golden.

Uh, yes, they Thank you. Excuse me. Thank you, Miss Mayor. Three to the council. Uh, yes, they can. Uh, currently right now, I'll give you an example. University of the lots that are over in that area. Um there also have been over in the Highlands over off of um Westwood Street. So that is happening. Uh we've been working as some of the councilors know with some of the neighbored communities talking about this about stickers and what neighborhood neighborhoods really want and that has uh to be quite franken flat right now. So um if that is revitalized we would gladly do that. Uh we have also talked about getting the folks um not because councelor Mcdana is saying this out of the downtown but really in in all truthfulness on the corners. Uh we've had problems in some areas with corner parking and uh that is really a safety hazard. So that's something that as spring comes forward we'll be talking to Mr. Ryan about uh getting our folks out into neighborhoods. Per usual, my suggestion would be would start with with warning people. Let them know that you cannot park in these locations even though everybody should know. Uh but then make it make it a more regular occurrence out in the uh out in the neighborhoods, especially when um uh areas are being blocked. This comes about uh every year u with uh with snow removal. We you know, once again, LPD does a great job. They blow the air horn, try to get people to move, and when people don't move, that's when the ticketing and towing starts. So, that is something we can do in the neighborhoods.

Parking at corners and Sacred Heart is exactly what I was talking about. I was curious whether or not they were going out into the neighborhoods. But this is a very good motion. I don't know. I know my my children attended, you know, LOL public schools and the principal would come out with a megaphone. Um, she's now an assistant superintendent and after just a little while, she kind of broke the habits that were happening that were not good habits. So, I don't know whose role that is, if that's the police to do that or, you know, I mean, that's I guess a discussion to have, but it's just really setting things straight just for a little while kind of really starts the habits better. So, thank you. Thank you, Council Scott. Councelor Dakota.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, along those same lines as Council Mia, um, I transport my my granddaughter and my grandson for the last eight years. And about 4 months ago, um, on the morning I was transporting, I noticed that, uh, the driver side, the rear door, child had opened up the door and was just about ready to get out when a car came and just about nudged the door without hitting the child. So, if this is to save a student from being injured, these sidewalks are well worth it. Parents will have to change their mindset and do some walking. But I understand the frustration of the neighbors over there. I absolutely do. We are going to need um a sit down with Captain Hudon and u with Superintendent Hudon and Captain Dearis and work out some type of thing, city manager. I obviously that we try to put the uh the car that's in that in that sector probably there in the morning for 10 minutes and in the afternoon for 10 minutes, but we have to change the mindset of the parents because as council Mercy has said, I mean to getting to the point of throwing trash on people's lawns, it's just ridiculous. But there's most of the parents are in a rush and they just go they'll just jump out of their car anywhere, block driveways, and we have to stop that. So hopefully this um we plan on having a a meeting probably at the beginning of August before school starts up again and uh sit down with the neighbors and and discuss. So I appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Dakota. Councelor Robinson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, if it's okay with you, I'd like to suspend the rules to allow someone to speak briefly on this. On this motion by councelor Robbins to suspend the rules, allow someone to speak. Seconded by councelor Scott. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? Um, Cindy, do you mind speaking? See, you guys are looking for traffic enforcement, but has our own enforcement and it's Miss Magnamera over at the green and he's got a good point. Um, if I'm not outside on the corner, or I shouldn't say corner, I'm sorry. Name and address for the Oh, Sandy McNamera, Balo Street, Low Mass. Thank you.

Um, I have the same issue. I have a driveway. I have um parents every day that decide to use my trash barrels if I'm there. If I'm not, it's left on the sidewalk. But my biggest concern is the Green Elge School and we worked very very hard to create a parent drop off pickup. It's working phenomenal. But you have those few parents that decide they're going to be cheaters and will try to instead of going through the process of coming up and now on to Victor for the drop off pickup. They'll come up, bully you, and stop at the kids out in the middle of the street. Or the minute the cross guard stops traffic for crossing kids, they'll cut into the line in front of the cross and walk, which is really serious. Um, but again to and we have signs, no parking during school hours, blah blah blah. But we really really need the enforcement. And I did ask for help last week because it was problem with a neighbor trying to get in with the cheaters. They wouldn't let her get in her driveway. And it kind of like created an argument that I put a stop to

and get something together and um and and get it working. And also while we're at it, I just want to thank uh the assistant manager and also city managers about the corner parking during the snow hour and it still work till this day. So I think if we can do some kind of enforcement on that that will be really helpful. Um you know I I got some complaint on it especially those parking toward the edge but again um during the snow and until now what you did before still work and I think that's a good thing to do. Thank you, Council Leang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Vice Mayor Anon, could you come up and take the seat? 5.10. Mayor, get your request of city manager have the department of public works trash enforcement department over the next few months during the spring start at 5:00 a.m. and enforce the waste policies citywide. Seconded by councel Robinson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for reading for me.

So, you're recognized, Mr. Mayor. We are a team. Thank you. One goes down, one comes out. I don't know how it works, but it's working. Appreciate that.

Thank Thank you. Um, Vice Mayor Non, um, through you to Manager Golden. Manager Golden, the staff starts it at after 7 a.m. and goes home around 3:30, 4:00. Um, some of the problems are is we're experiencing with not only the housing authority, but other places is they put out their trash at 5 6:00 at night, it's all over the place. And then by the time enforcement gets out, the beginning of the routes don't really get enforced because their trash is either gone or the truck drove by without um picking up the trash. and I don't think it's fair to the others who are being enforced. So, this motion is more about it's springtime, let's try to clean up around the neighborhoods. Um, there was a major push to get rodenticides out of the city buildings. Um, in other areas, they're not doing it as quick as the city has. And some of the problem is if we put out our trash at night and it's all over the place, nocturnal rodents come out and grab it and they'll eat into these rodenticides and they bring them back and then it gets into the ecosystem and and um birds get killed and foxes and other things get there's no reason why we can't have someone anyone who has enforcement power to get out earlier in the morning before the trucks get there through you Mr. Vice Mayor to Manager Golden. Um, manager Golden, could you tell me what time the garbage trucks actually get into neighborhoods and start picking up?

Mr. Manager, go ahead. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Three to the council. Council, it should be 7:00. Now, that does not mean I myself have not heard them come in at 6:30, but the actual time is 7:00 a.m.

So, at the start time they come in, and at the start time we start enforcing is about an hour, an hour and a half later. So, a lot of people get away with continually doing the same thing. And there's litter all over the city and we're in the spring. We just got named, you know, the best city in Massachusetts. So, why not try to do more enforcement? And and the enforcement is a teaching method for every community to do. And this isn't about one person. It's about, you know, we're trying to make a better community and enforce what the policies that all of us put in place. So, um, the 5 a.m. thing, if it cost a couple hours overtime, I'm sure we'll make that up in the fines and stuff if we have employees to be able to do this. I just think we need to shift the hours for the springtime so that we get there before the trucks get there so we can say or we we can go later at night, but the problem is later at night if people put it out at 10 9 10:00 at night, you're not going to enforce anything. So that's really what the gist of this motion was was to try to increase enforcement fairly across the city.

Mr. Manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor through to the council. Council, if you Mr. Mayor, excuse me, if you could give me a little flexibility, I will work with um I know DDS it could be a discussion within the unions and I know that on SWR we could have a discussion with uh one of the employees over there to see if we could start it a little bit earlier. So, I'm just asking for a little bit of flexibility on which department I utilize to uh to try to get that accomplished. And a lot of it is worries about rodents in the neighborhoods and and stuff like that. If you're throwing trash all over the place and then it's it's gone by the time they get there, they don't get to see the enforcement piece. So, I just think we need to do better on the enforcement to keep down the rodent population and try to push them into other areas. That's all. Thank you. Councelor Scott.

Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Um I I do agree on the rodent piece, but I also would say um I did hear from residents concerned about approving the ordinance tonight. I approved it reluctantly um because I do think there is a lot of work that needs to happen around enforcement, which is what I heard from residents. They're they're weary of having to pay um higher fees when other people are not, you know, doing their piece. Um I do think this would help. I don't know whether or not we could talk about, you know, new hires having different shifts. you know, I know that's a contractual type of obligation instead of paying overtime, changing the hours of the shifts. Um, just again, I I do think it's important that we really hit the enforcement piece on trash. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Scott. Council Mcdana,

thank you um for talking about the potentially getting enforcement uh out earlier in the morning. It might not be for trash in the downtown part of my district, but I think we can cover the cost of the shift. Uh, I I I be more than happy to pass on the the schedule of uh the 4:30 5:00 a.m. dumpster dumpers and uh maybe if they're coming in early, they can just start over that alley, whack them with a $300 fine, and then go about their day. So, thank you. I I Well, sorry. Wait, before I say thank you, I don't even set an alarm anymore on Thursdays. So, I have an alarm every day of the week, but on Thursdays, I don't need one because at 4:55 I will wake up and I'm not the It's It's everywhere. It's okay. But thank you. Thank you. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.11. Mayor Ger request the city manager update the city council on the status of the summer recreation program. This program is timesensitive. Seconded by councelor Robinson. Council Jiren.

Um thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh I am assuming that this is related to uh matters that uh a handful of residents have reached out to me about. um they're upset with the late notice of changes to the summer youth programs. Um and I understand the parents frustration, especially when they've already counted on those programs, but I've made clear to them that this is going to be a very tight budget year and that um cuts are going to be needed somewhere to balance the budget. Um, so restoring any particular program or position will almost certainly mean that something else will have to be eliminated or taxes and fees further increased. Um, one parent did suggest charging a modest fee with a sliding scale and that parent also offered to get involved in brainstorming longer term solutions which I think is great. Um, but I think it's important for folks to understand the cost of these programs, the utilization of them. Um, uh, because we ultimately, you know, the city manager, the city council are responsible to balance the city's budget. And you know, this is likely only the first of many requests that are going to come before us to restore something that people cherish, but that you know, maybe um may have to be cut. Um and so we on the city council have to have the discipline to recognize our responsibility to lead the city responsibly and with fiscal restraint. Um something that you, Mayor Gier, have traditionally really advocated for. So, um I don't know if there is any insight uh about these programs that can be shared at this point or we'll just wait to hear. But I do think we have to all recognize that these are tight times. Thank you,

manager Golden.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor through to the council. Council is um what we've heard or have read exactly what you folks have sent uh what people are sending to you and it it appears to me and Mr. Fodakani is here. It's it appears to me that the three and four year old is the the sticking point. And I'm I'm doing this from a little bit of the memory here that uh we had about 40 folks sign up for it and 40 45 folks and about 17 or 18 show up to it. Um I've talked to the uh CFO the term the the dollar figure is uh about 35 to 40,000. I typically would wait on this but I know people are waiting to to figure this out. We will move forward with the three and fouryear-old U program. Uh but in the future, I appreciate the constituent that you spoke with. Uh the sliding scale will be something that we're going to need to look at for next year. Um all of the parks that we uh will have will all have a similar time frame as well. Uh this is not something that we're any of us are happy about but as the council knows this will be probably one of the most difficult years um I will say since I've been here uh but not actually since the CFO has been here he has seen uh things that are worse um I don't want to turn this into a budget debate people are wondering right now in that small that three to four year old program three to four to 5y old program Mr. Spot County, is that correct?

Three and four.

Three and four. Sorry about that. So, that will be uh you know, it's limited. It's always been limited. Uh just so you know, but we will make sure that that is done. But um you know, with with the winds that the headwinds we have coming in right now with uh the income tax looking to be on the ballot um this November, cutting it from 5 to 4%. That is going to be a challenge for us. as well as uh as everybody here knows um the the other monies that just aren't materializing that have materialized from the federal government uh that are not coming from the feds to the state into the city. So this will be a very difficult budget year but uh I do tend to agree with what was said. People are a little taken off guard because they've already made their uh arrangements. So we will do that but next year we will be talking about a sliding scale.

Council Dan. Yeah. Um I thank you uh city manager. I think um it sounds like there were some of the parents I think had issues even at like the 12-year level. I think it went from 12 to 10. So there's I think everybody has their own challenges depending on the age of their um children. Um but I do think we all have to recognize the belt tightening um year that we're in and that discipline is something we all are going to have to maintain. Thank you, Council J. Councel Non.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I understand uh that this upcoming uh budget is going to be very difficult, a tight one. I understand that we're going to maybe lay off people, which no one like to see that happen. I understand that it's going to be tax increase higher than ever the last what, four or five years. Um I I thank council juran for you know bring it up to um you know people who wrote it to us. At the same time, I also understand the frustrations. A lot of this parenting has already make arrangement. Uh that arrangement that's going to affect them and their family. And I I appreciate you say you said that you'll do what you can to assist them as best as you can. That's all we can do. And I think they accept that. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Newan. Councel Robinson.

Thank you. Um, everyone here is well aware the importance and significance of these summer programs and and again it it's we're in a tough situation. I think um some of the some of the ideas that have came out in the past I think we really need to re-evaluate and look at again bidding out concession stands. Um ensuring that we're collecting permit fees. maybe look at charging a minimal fee for splash pads, even if it's something like a dollar or or or what some communities do is like a resident permit for the season, you know, a $5 fee or that's waveable with hardship. um would it make sense to start looking potentially for some kind of enterprise fund for the recck department where it would allow us to know from year to year the hiring capacity we have based on the revenues generated from these kind of activities and I think the bidding the concession stand piece might be something that would go a long way towards those efforts. Um, do we have the the ability, legal ability to fund raise if it was it was if it was earmarked just for staffing of summer jobs for the youth so we could provide these services. I think we're going to have to start looking at other ways to bring in revenue specifically earmarked for these kind of programs in the summer because I mean as long as I can remember that that wreck department and summer youth programming has been a staple in the community for a lot of people. So, I appreciate that you're going to make every effort to try to make this happen this year, but I think uh for next year and and future years, we're going to have to really get creative. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Council Scott, thank you. Just a quick question for you through to the manager. Is this a needsbased program like a is it a paid program that they're paying on a sliding scale or like how does it exactly work with the pox program? Thank you, manager Golden.

Uh thank you very much, Miss May through to the council. currently right now um council and no it is just free it's a free program that we give to everybody but I think that making this discussion point today is I think we will be moving towards a sliding scale in the future uh there would be just no way uh myself and Mr. I mean we started talking about this I think in December maybe even a little bit earlier. The budget u for us meaning the administration has started very very early because we have full uh full recollection or full recognition is probably the right way to say it that this year would be an extremely difficult year and it's unfortunately it is proving to be uh even more challenging than we anticipated. Uh once again, I don't want to make this a whole budget debate, but we're back to our department heads right now uh for the second ask, a second round of an actual 10% cut across the board. And that's where this is getting. And I'm I'm not trying to scare anybody working here. I'm not trying to upset anybody, but that 10% is a real number and it it may go a little bit higher because of what we're seeing not happening uh once again through the Fed, the state, and our fixed costs. Um gladly we'll talk about this at at greater length uh in in in days to come a week well in the next couple of weeks. But um the future of um recreational activities uh in the past has always been recreational activities in the city of LOL has been free. The future I'm unsure it could be some type of sliding scale.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council Scar. Council Mcdana. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I wasn't going to comment, but um, can we can we look at potentially using uh the So, so I know the past council really pushed for um, working with the board of parks to implement a higher tournament fee and and less fee waving on some of the tournament uses for the field. Yeah, Mr. Manager,

thank you very much. Um, I don't want to speak for Mr. to county, but he does a really good job at making sure that I'm going to say the the people of LOL or the children of LOL do not pay. And with the amount of activity that we have going on throughout the city, there are some opportunities for an outside organization to come in and we do charge them. But the amount of charging that we do for outside act outside groups, and I want to make sure I'm saying this, it it's I don't think it's heavy to be honest with you. a couple hundred dollars in in certain instances, but there's just not enough um enough of those activities coming in,

you know, that would pay it. Uh sometimes what you do see, you know, I I know the field when I walk by on Sunday mornings, I I quite frankly I've never asked Mr. Fodani this one. I I don't know if it's a bunch of guys just playing a pickup game or or they actually, you know, have rented it for $200 to $300 because we we don't stop pickup games and things of that nature, but there just isn't uh a lot of people coming from the outside to rent, although we have some. So trying to balance that dollar figure against what I would say is a mammoth expense. Um it may be one of those situations where collecting the X dollars is more of a challenge than it is um ensuring that the the you know the the the safety or or the or the grounds are in in good shape. Uh l baseball is very very active, extremely active. Low lacrosse extremely active. We have so many folks. Um, and I think the parks department, excuse me, the parks, um, not department, I apologize, the

recreation, recreation, the board, the board of parks, they do a very good job at trying to see who who should pay and who can't pay. Uh, and they do wave it, but it's typically for our

right what I want to say is our uh uh homegrown programs. I guess I I was just going to say I I was going to kind of suggest um I don't think it can cover the whole program. I don't but um I think I think when we're thinking when we're looking at some of the the like AAA team tournament use I know McFersonson um I don't know how many times my my parents run a softball organization that probably plays in four of the three three of the tournaments that are at McFersonson and I know there are a couple other ones too but um those kinds of opportunities uh just to try and supplement some of the rec department's funds when you're talking about kids who are, you know, they're coming from and I like sports, but when you're talking about kids who are coming from families who are able to pay to put them on on, you know, AAA travel teams, making sure that you we're fairly charging the the kind of big money tournament piece and I think that was the focus that that's more what I was talking about uh in the past council. The the other thing I just as a quick comment is just I do I do I understand the belt tightening, but I have a really hard time looking at a not a particularly well-unded organization and not a particularly well-funded portion of the city in I think a portion of the city that I would say has a has a tremendously high impact on our on our young people as being kind of the the first place to cut and so I thank you for uh for getting that three and four year old program back my CFO just here our CFO just said to me that last year we picked up 65,000 in PAC permit fees to the tune of about but we're spending spending about $900,000 in the rec program. Uh and that's last year's numbers, not the not the cut that we're going to be experiencing this year. So, it's just the difference between 65K most of our parks, most of our open space is being run being being

you utilized by our residents and that's what I think we kind of want. So, that's a cost that uh I would think is somewhat insomnable. But what you know once again sliding scales for next year's strike that not FY27 budget which is going to happen in just a few months. We're talking about the following year. It would take that long. And I have to uh thank Mr. Fakani for bringing up that idea actually in our first meeting four months ago, three and a half, four months ago. So we will consider that in the future.

Thank you, manager Golden. I just want to say one thing from up here. This motion was just a status update. It was not a directive to the city manager. the manager makes those decisions and all I did was ask for a status update. So I agree with council juran there's tough times ahead I agree the total way was just basically asking if there was a possibility he could have certainly wrote no back council um manager golden

uh thank you very much Mr. May through the council council as I did not take it in that direction. Um I want to be very clear that we've been working on this. Uh this is just an update from our end. That was not uh a directive and I I appreciate that Mr. Mayor, but that was not what it was and I understand that fully. So I want to make sure that the folks at home know that this is what we are working on and Mr. Farakani will now will be moving in that direction. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 6.1 motion response motion response B board of parks council Robinson.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you for the report and I'll wait for the updated report. Yeah. You want to take this back since they said they couldn't really bring this forward until the next meeting. Manager Golden. Uh, thank you, Mr. May through to the council. We can give you an update, counselor, on that when that happens. Doesn't matter. Thank you. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Noon, seconded by councelor Messi. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response C. Fourway stop sign intersection of Fletcher and Bowers. Uh Council Leang.

Thank you. Um this is really nice to see. And I also uh drove by West 6 and Bunker Hill as well. hopefully that um when the time's right, I think it's a good place to have the uh the the signage on Flight Street. Thank you. Thank you, Council Leang. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Geran, seconded by Council Dakota. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response D. Watson and Lawrence Street. Council McDonald.

Thank you. Uh this is good news. I'm glad it was an anomaly uh at the neighborhood meeting. Uh I you know, thank you and the traffic engineer for for doing the study and getting it back. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Noon, seconded by councelor Rook. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response E. Wessard Street and Steman Street. Councelor Dakota.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh though I do appreciate the uh the memo from the traffic engineer, the the backups are still quite prevalent on Steman Street. It doesn't seem to be getting any better. Mr. Manager, I I don't know where we go from here on this, but I'm still getting numerous calls uh concerning the backups most likely between the 4 and 5:00 in the afternoon. Thank you.

Motion to accept and place on filed by councelor Juran, seconded by councel Yang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any oppose? So ordered. Motion response. F. Reconsideration of greater low vocal lottery. Council Mcdana. Council Dakota. Council Mcdana. I tried. Uh thank you. This is very fast. Uh the letter is good. Uh I particularly like the the piece on the second page where you reiterate that the city is committed uh and fully supports the Commonwealth's interest in equitable access and just that we believe that that those goals could be met without the the mandated lottery kind of with the broad brush. So thank you.

Thank you Council Mcdana Council Durant.

Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I um I had a sort of whole Beck drop to present, but I guess I will just leave it as I appreciate that this draft letter asks not that the policy revert to the old one, but that a policy be established that balances fairness and student success. Um because I think neither the old policy nor the new policy was is perfect. Um and I think in particular as uh councel Robinson uh made the important point last week, he reminded us that some students don't perform well in a traditional academic setting and will really do great things and learn well in a hands-on environment. And it's those students who were not helped with the old system where 40% of the admissions criteria was based on grades. So um and those are the students who you know were in that camp who happen to get in now because of the lottery system are not the ones who reached out to us. So we are I think I think you know everybody needs to take a step back and as this letter suggests find a reasonable common ground that will accommodate those students as well as others. Thank you. Motion to accept and place on file by councel Scott, seconded by council child. Motion response G. ICE operations. We have a couple of registered speakers. Marcos Candido. Hello.

Good evening, counselors. Um, I'm here tonight as a Lelian, as a son of immigrants, and as a concerned neighbor to speak on the motion response, uh, regarding ICE operations in our city. Oh, yes, sorry. Uh, Marcos Candido. I live on Westford Street, 761. Um, first, I'd like to say that the letter fails to seriously engage and answer the question that was brought forth, which is what is ICE doing in our neighborhoods? Um despite an almost 3-month wait, we were simply told that this data is not collected. And in a sorry attempt to shrug off this responsibility, they link two websites which I implore everyone to check. Uh they don't really give any notice of what is happening in Lowel as everything that does happen in this city is marked in the general Boston area of responsibility. Um the police superintendent and the department given responsibility in answering this question had three months to do anything such as community outreach to learn about the real impact ISIS having in our neighborhoods. It is a shame that this task was not taking up taken up in earnest as we have seen families such as those connected to John Palasio Morales um who have been affected. Uh he was abducted by ICE last September wrongfully. There are news articles talking about this. Um, and this is something a piece in the sun even highlighted could be deeply impacting our democratic processes such as our elections. Secondly, with respect to communicating the rights we have when interacting with ICE agents, the community is recommended to download them uh and hoping other organizations will take up the task of informing people. But these organizations are not as deeply rooted here, do not have the same resources, and are not as implicitly trusted throughout the city as the police or maybe any other capable department is. So again, I say uh it's a shame that given that someone higher up decided to respond to this op-ed in the sun um by some of my colleagues, an opportunity to build more trust within our communities was squandered to let us

know that the internet exists. Uh and lastly, towards the end of this memo, we are relayed what I think is an important aspect to this response, that officers may, and I quote, "Officers may act only in narrow, clearly defined circumstances where they personally observe a clear and articulable violation of Massachusetts criminal law within their lawful jurisdiction." Which brings me to my final point, and that is that this council must show it is willing to act in the face of these clear violations of law by ICE. We need an ordinance banning all forms of cooperation with ICE regarding civil immigration matters. We need to join the many cities which have moved to prohibit ICE from using city-owned property and schools for any use related to civil immigration matters. And we need to join cities like Worcester who have moved towards using city resources to support verifying masked agents and investigating and documenting their criminal actions. People are being sent to camps where there is no room to stand or sleep, where critical medications are deprived, where they are assaulted, sexually abused, where they are starved, in some cases where they die. This council can and must do everything in its power to increase protections for everyone in Lel. The urgency must be there, and it is my hope that in the coming months, our communities are shown that they are truly cared for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Candido. Carolyn Snow.

That's it. Council Mcdana. Thank you. Um, thank you. That's honestly uh I I I think this this response uh I I understand that that it has its you know shortcomings and that there are there are things that I guess could be better. But on the whole, and we talked about this, Mr. Manager, I think this was a very good response. Um, I think you answered the question that I asked to the best of the the ability, I I know that some of what I was asked, and I said this on the floor, was information that I really didn't expect that LPD had. Um, I I do appreciate um the attempt to answer uh some of the questions that that were expressed in the op-ed as well. Um I I do want to point out um I I understand that the current ICE policy does not strictly prohibit but I I think it is important to point out that um in in the period that was requested uh the PD PD reports that they have not cooperated with ICE at all. Right? That there's no record of any request for cooperation that they haven't cooperated um up until this point. I think that was really at the heart of of what the motion was looking for. And I there's only there's only so much that we can do at at the local level and there are things that we can say we want to do that the feds don't really have to listen to. Um I I would also just not in this motion response. It could have been but it's not. Um the LOL public schools does have a a very strong ICE uh policy currently in place about not permitting entrance into the building. from my understanding is that part of what assists the school district in being able to have what I would say is a much stronger policy than the city buildings do is that school buildings lock. Um you

you can actually lock the school door without getting sued for violating open access to a park or a building or or you know someone walking in and making you leave. Um and so do I think that there's there's improvements to be made? Absolutely. I understand that there's still fear and there's still concern. It's really hard when you're talking about local government on a federal issue, but again, thank you, Council Direan.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I too valued the report. Um I think that you know clearly folks are frustrated by what what's going on in the federal level and um we are a constitutional democracy with a federalist system where the state and the federal um governments have different rights and obligations and immigration is a federal issue. I think the uh in the um report the uh superintendent referenced a uh advisory from the Mass Police Chiefs Association and I think I have it wrong but which said while departments may choose to cooperate with ICE to a certain extent they generally cannot be required to enforce federal immigration policy. And so I think it is important that we in LOL um know for sure that our police will not um enforce federal immigration policy. Um we've gotten requests I've gotten probably a hundred emails over the last several days from residents. They are clearly forms. They're not all from residents. um but who have made requests that I think seem more reasonable than some of the requests that have been made in the past which I think were impossible to meet. Um I think you know asking or um having the police um not voluntarily honor ISIS's request for cooperation unless compelled by a judicial warrant seems to make sense to me. um banning or at least you know uh banning ICE from staging operations on city property in schools makes sense to me to the extent that that would be trespassing anyway. Um and um having various you know

consistent and transparent reporting processes. Now, implementing these things, if they are appropriate, I think would require our police superintendent and our city solicitor to work together to find the right balance between allowing LOL police department to do what it needs to do, which is to serve our residents properly while not getting itself in trouble with the federal government. Um the I would ask that perhaps this whether this should be done sort of off to the side or offline maybe is the right way to put it or whether this needs to at some point go to the public safety subcommittee. But I think there are resources from the ACLU of Massachusetts um who have proven willing to help um to willing to talk with residents and municipal leaders to find the appropriate balance. Again, we do not want to violate the constitution ourselves and we want to make sure that, you know, we are all as um protected as we can be and that includes our police and our city. Um but we I think can find ways to clarify the policies that have been put in place already. Um, frankly, I find the current police policy, which I know was written back in 2015 and reconfirmed by the current superintendent, but I find it hard to uh I I think it is vague and so I think we could do a better job um and but without feeling like we have to solve the world's problems. Thank you.

And thank you, Council Durant. Councel Mercia.

Thank you, Mr. Samir. Not to be repetitive, but I just like to reinforce what uh my colleagues have already said because I think it's important. The L Police Department has no records responsive to this request related to any ICE operations, arrests, or detentions in the city of Lel. The Lowel Police Department recognizes the values, the diversity of the community it serves. The enforcement of our nation's immigration laws is a primary responsibility of the federal government and not subject to oversight by the lower police department. The Low Police Department does not collect data or receive information related to federal ICE operations or activity in the city of Lel. And lastly, local police in Massachusetts do not enforce federal civil immigration law and lack authority to arrest or detain individuals based solely on ICE civil detainers and administrative warrants. That should sum it all up. It is not the duty of the little police department when someone is stopped for violating a speeding or traffic infraction. They do not say, "Oh, could I see your a green card or are you an im illegal immigrant?" They don't ask that. They have no business to do that and they don't do that. So, I just wanted to reiterate what I think is very important in this report. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Me. Council Non.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I do share speaker frustration frustration with the callous and lawless deportation detention of people. We know that the last couple months with the incident in Minnesota, there's no investigation on the murders of Renee Good and Alec Pretty. Right. So, we know that ICE is not here for the safety of our community. We know that they terrorize our community with this city. I noted the chief and the the managers has policy. I've been asking that policies and the the chief went on show too talk about that policy policies with regard to assist ICE. Assist ICE only if there's a warrant criminal warrant for arrest on criminal matters not on civil immigration matter. So please do not ask people as they stop people on traffic violation whether or not they're citizen of this country. They simply ask for registration license and registration. I find it difficult to, you know, we the police department as busy as they are in addressing trying to protect us, our safety, our communities to have them go out there. I know that councelor McDonald motion is asking that whether or not the ICE inform the police department. I asked that question too

when they come to low and we at their house they don't need to tell us they and they do do not they should be a good partner but they they don't give a you know blank right

so they can come as they come when they want it they do what it they want it forget about the due process thing right what we can ask is that as council Jirean said that if we can city properties that we do not you know we kind of like you know do not allow them to use this as a a staging uh for their operation or their activity. Maybe we can do that. I know that our nonprofit have been out there campaigning, educating the community about know your right. You know, sometime I feel that while you educate about knowing your right, but ICE doesn't give up about that. The due process out the door. They pick you up and shove you in the car and then take you to detention center. It happened. It happened in low more so in other city in town. So looking at the policies that we have now maybe we tweet it a little bit if we can making sure that our resident understand that we do not assist ICE and civil immigration. uh that if you can add it that the city do not allow ice in city properties using city property as a staging for the activity Mr. Mayor through uh uh Mr. Mayor um through you Mr. Mayor um uh to the manager is the school department have policy? I believe they do. So I cannot go into the building of this any building of the school.

Man, I don't know of any incidents any incident any record of the low police department assist on immigration matter. I heard that. I heard people talk about that but I do not know. I mean I maybe that the chief uh through you Mr. Mayor to uh Mr. Managers and or the chief on that question alone have the law department assist eyes on immigration policy on that

manager Golden thank you very much Mr. Mayor 3 of the council. Um in the third paragraph it does state that the LOL police department does cooperate indeed with the FBI, DEA and ATF. Um and occasionally they you know councilors will hear about stuff that happens um a little bit afterwards uh because sometimes it is a it's a situation that is going on. Uh however uh ICE does not request has not requested and uh we are as surprised when they do appear in LOL as well. Um quite frankly I I do recall calling the superintendent on one particular incident incident that happened and um it was one of the counselors who called me first because somebody was traveling to work. So particular council called me. I called the superintendent. The superintendent found out about that as well. So ICE does not contact us to let us know that they're coming into the city. Uh and and furthermore um they don't really set up any particular place. they just kind of u they're they're moving consistently. But I do want to be clear that when it comes to drug enforcement agent or ATF or FBI, which are other federal organizations, our police department works handin glove because what is typically happening u it is um something that is the courts already know about and we're going after say somebody I'm going to say it's typically uh drugrelated. Not always, but normally it is. And um typically the councils will get that 6:15 or phone call, sometimes 5:30 because the last thing the superintendent and my and of course myself wants to have happen is one of the council is heading someplace and seeing something break up. We've been extremely fortunate uh with all the organizations. We have a 118,000 people in the city. We have a lot of people that try to do things that

are not uh welcomed. Um, so to be clear to the citizens of LOL, we do cooperate with the federal government when it comes to the FBI, the DEA, and the ATF. Absolutely. Positively, we cooperate. ICE has never asked, nor do they ask, and we do not know when they show up. They don't necessarily set up anywhere. Um, they are usually moving around. Um, I don't even know of the last time they've been here. I haven't heard about it as of late. I'm not saying that they haven't. I'm not saying they won't be here tomorrow. However, um I I just want to be crystal clear on that particular piece when it comes to when when it comes to the federal agency that everybody refers to as ICE.

You Mr. Manager, you said LPD cooperated with federal agent. Is that on criminal matter or is it on civil matter? Major Goolan,

that would be on criminal matters that are once again criminal matters for the edification of the folks at home would be drug or uh any type of um interstate national syndicates uh which we've uh been very proud and I'll say very proud our little police department has been extremely proud to take down national syndicates, drug running and other activities. activities that will find its way through here to go someplace else. And I'm very proud of the detective bureau and and quite frankly the entire LPD for that matter which we should I need to continue to do that. Um is there an agreement in place with ICE to allow them to use city- owned property?

Mr. Manager, Mr. Mayor, three to the council. There is no agreement, no such agreement. There's no discussion with ICE whatsoever. The other agencies, uh, I would say they all work hand and glove. And once again, just to reiterate, ICE does not call, does not reach out to us. Quite frankly, I know the superintendent spoke to them. They're very kind and they said they don't, you can go to the website to figure this out. They're not forthcoming with any of their information. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you. Thank you, Council Non. Council Chow.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My previous colleague uh did an eloquent job summarizing the the report, but I do want to express my strong support for the Low Police Department and Superintendent Hudon's response. This department has spent decades decades building trust with every community in the city, including our immigrant communities. That trust is fragile. It is hard-earned. It is the foundation of effective community policing. We should not take that for granted. And having heard multiple times that ICE has not reached out to our police department, to our law enforcement agencies, but I I see that the chief is here. I do want to ask him an a very important question if that's okay through the mayor through the manager to the chief.

Good evening Chief Hudon. Good evening

chief. Thank thank you for being here and I have um two questions very very uh connected. ICE does not reach out to us. Um but I think all of us want to know what proactive communication has LPD um have done with ICE have you reach out to ICE because you know we don't you know we see that they appear in law quote unquote randomly at different times and we certainly don't want to be blindsided by that. So, what kind of communications to prevent something that would catch L PD by surprise? What communications have you had with them?

Thank you, council, Mr. Mayor, through the council. Um, so this is a conversation that a lot of chiefs across the area have had um at at a higher level, right? One of the things that we've all asked with our law enforcement partners at ICE is that if they could notify us if they are coming in. And again, that's a double-edged sword sometimes, like a lot of our other federal law enforcement partners, they don't tell us when they're doing surveillance uh sometimes because there's operational security that goes along with a lot of our long-term investigations. ICE is no different in that regard. And so they're obviously for obvious reasons, they may be apprehensive with sharing it. Our concerns as chiefs in some of our um municipalities has been to say we don't want to come into a situation where there there may be a blue-on-blue incident like we didn't know you were here and we're getting a report of a robbery or something that's happening and then our officers show up with no knowledge of that and then try to take action um and where anybody could get hurt. So we've we've done that through Mass Chiefs, we've done that through some of our other chief organizations to reach out to them. Um, I've personally reached out, as the manager indicated, I I called um and again, you're talking about a federal agency, so I'm talking to a local official who probably has to run that up their chain of command down to to Washington. So, um, it's obviously a concern we've asked. It's obviously a fluid situation.

Uh, thank you, Chief. And that that's very important uh to know. I guess sort of a follow-up question to that. Um, I think the manager might have uh uh hinted toward that direction about the DEA, FBI, the ATF. Does ICE treat the city, the local police department differently than those other federal agencies when they come into the city?

So, we have a different relationship, I would say, with those other agencies than we do with ICE. We don't really have a relationship with ICE. Their mandate is civil in nature. Ours is criminal in nature. when we're working with our other federal partners, it's criminal matters that that we're dealing with, not civil matters. Um, do some of the civil matters become criminal? Perhaps. And and that's usually where a warrant will issue for something. And don't please don't ask me to go into the civil immigration stuff that could become criminal because I'm not versed in civil immigration law. Um, what I can tell you is that with our federal partners, we usually have warrants u when we deal with any of our situations. So they are different from our other federal partners in that regard.

Sure. Thanks so much, Chief. And that's that's a a distinction that um we need to understand and I appreciate you being here to explain that. My pleasure. Thank you. Thank you, Council Chow. Council Leang.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I read the report and um I think in my point of view is that law is our home and this is our residents that's looking for some sort of support or hope from us from the police department that's uh I guess uh supposed to protect them. Um and I guess at this point they don't know what to do and uh this is hard. Um we try hard about community uh policing outreach and promoting safety and trust. So there's a there's a lot of question here that um I I guess I and some of the other community member it's not about policy but uh would say do we still have that trust with the police department uh in just regarding to ICE would would you come when massmen with guns tinted and um taking their family member away. Would you check ICE ID warrant to see if they're real and signed by a judge? Would you help calm the community detail their loved ones where they're being taken away? So my point is that when ISIS is gone, will neighbors still have trust within each other in the community and us as leaders? So this is um I I guess that's what I'm grapping at is that um this is real to them and they can't sleep. They don't know what to do and they're looking for answers. Uh what do they do when somebody come and knock on the on the door and massmen

and um would would police go if they call 911 or or not? Uh what do they do? What should they do when they come and there's nobody there? And of course, you know that there's people there's van, there's, you know, people with masks and with guns and stuff like that. So what is the connection? And maybe there should be a way that can help ease our residents. I'm not talking about the the criminals. That's just different. But these are kids. They're children. They're trying to go to school, but they can't go. There's these are um you know, just just regular folk who trying, you know, make a daily living.

Thank you, Council Leang. Council Robinson,

thank you. Um I thank my colleagues for speaking. I I hear the community's concerns loud and clear. Uh it's it's I think this is the first time I've been on the council that an issue's come up that quite frankly I don't think any my colleagues or myself or the administration or the police department have an answer to. It's unfortunate. Um we've been asking these questions for quite some time. I have to say thank you to LPD. Um they time and time again they they come they explain they take their time to educate and and convey their role in our community as well as their role in conjunction with federal organizations. We have to remember who we're talking about here. We're talking about a federal agency put together pretty much from the president himself. They have caught blanch authority. It seems like and and it doesn't seem like they're asking permission to do what they do. It puts communities like ours at at a significant disadvantage as a result. I also want to air on the side of caution. I personally would not feel comfortable making a statement or coming up with a policy so to say telling a rogue a organization or arm of the federal government that you can't use public land for staging or any of that because again they're not asking permission. As one of my colleagues pointed out, they do not give a blank. I'd like to walk through what does a policy created on this level. We say,

"Okay, ICE, you cannot use our buildings, our our parking lots, our grounds to perform your reckless duties that you're carrying out." Then we turn around and look and if we walk through this reports of ICE vehicles say Collie Stadium parking lot police response again federal jurisdiction. What can our police officers actually do in that situation? It it it's causing a situation where there is nothing any of us can do. And I think that's why we're all lost for the solution to this challenge. I also feel like by doing so it sends a message to our community a false sense of security and I think with a situation like this we have to be honest low police cannot stop this unfortunately state police cannot stop this unfortunately and I do not want any member of our community to look at us and say you lied. you put a policy in place that said they couldn't do this because none of us want this to happen. So, I think I'm very thankful for all the nonprofits and organizations that have been putting in the leg work educating people as to what rights they actually do have and what that looks like. I personally have close friends that have either facing deportation or have been deported. It's a scramble. their family is torn apart and it's very costly even just to get the basic information as to what the course of corrective action may be. So it's I wish there was a magic bullet to shield and protect our community which

there isn't. And I mean, until we can really figure out a a real practical solution, we cannot sit up here and tell our residents that they will be safe from these operations. What we can do is provide as much information as possible to them as to what those rights are. And and I think if if we can even ensure that this information is widely available, I think that's at least the beginning of our role is to educate educate educate our general public as to what their rights really are cuz this is this is a federal fight and unfortunately it impacts a local community like ours. So again, I thank our administration, I thank our police force, and I thank all the nonprofits and all the community activists that that are out there in the trenches trying to do whatever they can and and we're all pretty much struggling for solutions together. So I thank you all.

Thank you, Council Robinson, Council Mcdana.

Thank you. Um I just wanted to to go once more. I always find going first. It's like I want to make sure I do all the thank yous because motion responses are tough. Um there there was an incident. So so I'm going to lead with um very bluntly I I don't really think ICE ICE is not acting like a law enforcement agency right now. I understand I agree with almost I think most people that have spoken tonight there's very little that LPD can do here. Um, one one of the things that I would hope e either we are currently doing or or that we could do though is that there was an incident over the summer across the street from me uh in one of the Canal Place buildings where uh a resident exited the building. Uh there was a nice well I guess we learned they were ice later. We were in the parking lot. They got to the door before it closed and locked the exit to the building. And then you, and I've seen the security footage, you you wind up in a situation where you you have, you know, a mass dude with a mass men with long guns walking around a corridor of a residential building. And and I have not heard of that happening again since. However, I I can only imagine the the feeling that anyone who who lived in that building had when you don't know that there is a a law enforcement action or anything going on and you you look out your door and you see a guy with a rifle coming at you. Um, and so I think anything I in situations like this have played out not not just inside buildings but you know on the side of the road in Centerville on where where you just suddenly have, you know, well-armed men in armor who are not clearly identified. We can say, "Oh, that's probably ICE." Um, they're not reaching out to the police department beforehand. The police department has absolutely no idea. If someone calls um you know 911 and says you know there's a man with a rifle running around my neighborhood or there's five men with rifles running

around my neighborhood. I I think we do owe or my building I I I do think we owe to the to the residents of the city um you know just an outline of of what when that call comes in even if it does turn out to be a federal agency when a call comes in and PD doesn't know that there's any sort of enforcement action going on and they're getting a report of you know masked well-armed men being goons what steps LOL PD is taking to, you know, I I guess at least confirm that it is the federal government and that it's not just people throwing somebody in a van or it's not just somebody, you know, running around a building with a long gun. I I I that's all, but otherwise I I do thank you for the response. Um and I last in closing would echo a lot of what councelor Direan said. Um, I understand not wanting to take, you know, meaningless action or or fruitless action just for the sake of doing saying we did something. I don't want to create the false sense of security. But if there are things that we could do um even small things um things like cleaning up some of the language in in the existing ICE policy especially if it doesn't you know impact uh the job that LPD is is doing but does kind of further affirm that we are committed to protecting all of our our residents. I I I think that would be a step in the right direction. So, so any ideas I guess that the police department has that uh the administration has for for actionable items that you know could actually make an impact if any would be appreciated. But otherwise, thank you again.

Thank you, Council Mcdana. Councelor Noon, Mr. Mayor, two question. One through you to the chief and one through you to the manager. Well, let's start with the chief first. Thank you, Chief, for being here. Um I know in the past that um you know you stated and and you stated tonight as well that um it's not in the city policy to assist ICE in uh ICE immigration. Um so the questions is um what will happen if ICE asks for help especially with no say tomorrow and in the future.

Thank you counselor. So ICE frequently sends detainers um to people that have been arrested by us. Um those are called civil detainers and in accordance with Commonwealth versus LUN, we are not able to hold those prisoners any longer. Um and one of the things that happens is, you know, they may be eligible for bail and released. Um and then they're free to go. Um at that point, ICE is free if they're in the city, they're free to detain them and do what they do. We don't have any control over that. I I'm sure that's happened. um but they haven't made that request and we're not able to accommodate it because of the state law. I don't know if that answered your question.

Thank you. Um through you, Mr. Mayor to uh city managers. Again, in the past, you know, ICE hasn't approached us and asking to use city property. Well, what would a city do if they or ICE asked to use the city property? Ask you, Mr. Manager. Mr. Golden. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. of the council. I I don't foresee that happening. And quite frankly, even if I were to say no, which I would, I don't see that they would pay attention to my my request. If they ask if they asked, you would say no. If they asked me, I would say no. Thank you, Council Scott.

Mr. Mayor, um I I would just like to make a motion to follow up on Council Mcdana, um asking for our city's solicitor, I guess, to report on any policy changes that we could make. I guess that would not be just symbolic. I mean, I have no problem taking a symbolic vote opposing ICE, but um if there's anything that he's aware of that he thinks that we should be adopting, I think that would be good to hear back from. Thank you. Seconded by Council Mcdana. Do you want a roll call? You want to voice? Yay. Fine.

All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Um motion to accept this is and place it on file by councel Robinson, seconded by councel Yang. All in favor signified by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response H. No noise ordinance. Council noon. Thank you Mr. Thank you, Chief.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, thanks, chief, and thanks, uh, Mr. Managers for the report. Um, I like the report. I think the key word here is enforce enforcement. So, if you could do that because it's it's no more than it's more than disturbing. It's it's is it really is, you know, hurting the community who, you know, who work certain shift or or whatever shift they work. And then the noise came and you know the car just you know opened the window and just blasted up there. You know just crazy. I don't like it. I know a lot of people don't like it. So you know

you don't like it. Thank you, Councelor Newan. Councelor Duran.

Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I I think it's helpful and I know a lot of uh residents are are worried about noise. Um, I don't know if there is a place online or I should just look at some of the references here to find out what the noise ordinances are so we can make sure everybody's like all the residents are on the same page about what can and can't be done, you know, when um if that's easy to find, that would be helpful. Counselor, I go right to the uh the noise ordinance and send to the city's website. It's it's right there. Okay, perfect. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Direan. Any other questions? Council Mercia, thank you. Through you, Mr. Mayor, to the uh chief. Do city cruisers have a decibel reading in the vehicle? Uh not all of them. We have about four or five of them. Um so they're not in every cruiser. If if it's needed, we can certainly pull one out. I mean, a lot of times what we're talking about is somebody's going to make a call or a complaint and the officer is going to go and assess the situation in a timely manner and if it's, you know, one of those things where they get called back a second time or a third time, they'll they take progressive action. Um, and if they require a decibel meeting, which usually isn't very often, um, we can certainly call one to the scene. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Council Mia. Chief, if we can just continue the enforcement on Middle Sex Street, the car wash will be great. Yeah. Motion to accept and place on file by council mercy, seconded by councelor Leang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any oppose? Awarded. Motion response. I civil service civil service council.

Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. I want to thank Chief Udon as well uh for the report. It's well written and very you know detailed in that. I know that you know this report kind of highlight the expanded outreach. It's beyond the traditional um you know recruitment that we normally have uh that go further uh uh to not just the high school but also everywhere you know the the the the you know the community based kind of organization as well to kind of promoting a job opportunity. Um so I urge the chief to continue doing that but also look at you know and also set a realistic um measurable goal uh for that recruitment you know going forward and if we can you know uh to do so and particularly um you know I'd like to see as well that um you know not just our uh police but also our fire department too fire chief as well look at the you know the hybrid But you know, I know we talked about civil service exam, right? Uh I know with that, I know that the uh training uh division for the low police department doing a good job in, you know, doing a preparation session to help those who want to take the civil service exam, which is two twice a year. It's a good thing that we do that. It's a good thing that we reach out to high schools and maybe go on to maybe junior high school you know check with them and see if they interest in that job and that career. uh but you know on top of that the hybrid high ranked as well looking at I know opportunity you know to do more on that because this is more like you know uh people apply for a job at the city with

the city of low you know don't have to take civil service exam right so if you look at the makeup of your department whether that be DBW or any department in the city that lack of you know minority and women the emphasis is going to be Okay, I want a qualified person. But if I have someone who qualify, you know, and happen to be woman and minority and then you know that should be the top of the list in term of bring in and nurture them and you know it's good for the city to have that a city that representative of the people that they serve and that's what we uh we have to aim at you know uh for the future. Thank you.

Thank you councelor Non. Mo, uh, Council Robinson,

thank you. Um, I would just like to comment in in I'd say the past five to 10 years, I do give a lot of credit to both the fire and police departments. Um, I I've said this before. I think we're getting there. It It's slowly but surely we are getting there. you're starting to see such a a a diverse group of employees between especially those two departments in particular. Um it's it's great to see and I think the public sees it. I I don't know how many times I've been out and about and seen an officer or a firefighter and and the first thing kids come right up to them and and start asking the questions. I see a lot more engagement. And it seems like we have a younger workforce. We have a workforce that is starting to really resemble the makeup of our community. And I think it's something that this administration, I know this council, past councils have really kind of been mindful of and kind of tried to encourage and nudge how can we start to open the opportunity and and I'm not even saying it from like an identity perspective as much as I think it's more of uh outreach and and notifying the community of these opportunities. ities within our community and I I'm thankful that these two departments have been put in that work and I look forward to that work continuing. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Motion to accept and place on file by Council Leang, seconded by Council Rock. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response J. Ordinance wage history. Council Robinson.

Thank you um Mr. Mayor and and I thank you Mr. manager and the team for this report. Um, I think this definitely requires uh a pretty good discussion prior to our budget process. Um, I I was part of the council when manager Golden came in and and some of the things that we were challenged with was retention, uh, recruitment, filling vacancies. Um, but I think we also have to look at breakdowns in and some comparative analysis. So, um, I would like to allow my colleagues to speak, but at the end of any conversation, I I I think I'd like to refer this to maybe the, uh, finance subcommittee if possible, please.

Motion by councel Robinson to refer this report to the finance subcommittee, seconded by councelor Non. All in favor, signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Council Dan. Um, I just had a question on the report, which I thought was quite thorough. Um the there's a reference to confidential employees on the first page. Um I just didn't understand that term. Um it is under the first bullet. It says positions not covered by collective bargaining governs full-time non-un positions including department heads, confidential employees, and other non-union personnel. So I just don't know that term. Mr. CFO.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Uh this is somewhat of a relic uh that has existed as long as I've been here. Um but there are I will give the best answer that I possibly could. The employees in certain departments like the law department um the HR department, the city manager's office uh often deal with information that is confidential in nature and so in their job descriptions they are often referred to as ordinance confidential employees. Uh I I think maybe the law department is the easiest sort of uh example to understand. Uh it's nomenclature that's existed in the job descriptions as long as I've worked here. Um but it it is only in a number of specific positions in certain departments. It's um you know most of what we do here is public but there are certain departments that deal with information confidential in nature.

Thank you. Thank you Council Jiren. Motion to accept in place. Oh, Council Robinson.

Yeah, thank you. Um, and I just had one question on the vote that's included in this motion response, the ordinance to amend code of ordinances, city law. Um, it's not accurate. Um, I clearly remember that vote and, uh, it says effective upon passage. There'll be an adjustment uh, right here. the total vote, roll call vote, eight yays, two absent and one recuse. And I think when we voted for that change to the ordinance, there was two objections to that that vote on the the ordinance to adjust the um ordinance employees pay. So I I don't know if if we can go back and look at that. It's reflective though that this was the vote was 8 years, two absent, and one recuse. It's that's not the recollection I have when this passed in 2024.

We'll have them look into it and get back to your council. Yeah, that's that's fine. Thank you. Thank you. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Uh 6.2formational reports Appleton Street project. Mr. manager.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Um, three of the council, we have Miss Alman here. This is actually very exciting and I do apologize. I'm looking for it. 6.2 is the Appleton Street project and I believe it is $4.7 million in construction grant funding. So, this is absolutely this is great news. It's modernization of the intersection. Um, and unfortunately it is, I believe, uh, Miss Alman, the one of the top 10 uh, intersections in the NMCOG world of uh, crash intersections. But if it's okay with you, Mr. Mayor, I'm going to have Miss Alman, who has done a fabulous job with this particular piece, uh, explain it a little bit more to the council. Alman,

um, if I may, I, um, am very excited about this project. We have been working um with a designer um to uh put together design plans and trying to get construction funding because it is quite is quite a large involved intersection. The triangle and the green church Apple central gorum there's a lot going on. It's a high high crash location. um one of the highest in the cities and we um have a design and we were granted the money by the state who has really decided to put their money where their mouth is with um helping municipalities address some of these high crash locations. So I noticed that the uh graphic was not in your packet for tonight. So, I have a um have one for you um in hard copy and I am very excited about this and you have a vote in front of you later on this evening that will um enable us to um take this money and use it.

Thank you, Miss Alman. Um Council, do you want to take the vote now? That's what I was going to do, but I'll go to Council Dan first. I'll suspend the rules for you. Um Council Dan. Yep. Thank you. Um I just had a couple of questions. um because we didn't see the map so I wasn't sure exactly what was going to be done there. So it's helpful to um maybe just hear you say it. Um so uh trying to uh figure out whether the work is going to impact uh the restaurant Trem Kapira that's new on the corner there and a great Brazilian fusion restaurant for anybody who hasn't been there yet. Um only in a good way.

Okay. Um right now they have uh uh barriers up. What what is happening right now is the the um the streets are not aligned right and um people can't see the traffic signals so they uh go through one or the other of the traffic signals. They're confused.

Um so what the plan is is to widen the sidewalks. We're not really removing any vehicular capacity, but better defining the capacity, improved force signals will be improved. A better crossing to the plaza um from whatever happens um near the ICC and the new developments that are happening there. There are a lot of pedestrians that cross midblock, so we will have a better protected crossing for them there. Um and yeah, ju uh just upgrading the signals to modern technology will greatly help that intersection. Um but we are planning on additional pedestrian improvements through um wider sidewalks. Um there is also uh the plan to include a better bus stop at the big at the very well populated bus stop in front of that plaza.

Great. Thank you. Um the other question is I I think there must be something historical there but when one is coming from downtown down uh Gorum Street with and Trump from Kyper is off to your left like ahead of you many people make the left turn there onto Appleton Street and I don't but it seems like it's almost a left turn allowed on red and so um there just must have been once that case cuz it's the only place that I know of where people do that. So, will it be clear whether or not that left turn is allowed because right now people just make that turn all the time. Thank you.

Um, just to be clear, you are in Massachusetts allowed to make a left on red when it's a oneway to a oneway. Um, so,

okay. So, um, but it will be better. It will be very clear. I like the everything will be upgraded um signage. It'll all be clear. Um we will be removing my favorite little left turn sneak lane there, but you know it is impacting me as well. So um uh but it will be much clearer, much safer for everybody involved, pedestrians, um vehicles, bus riders, every you know everybody. And we are trying to install bike facilities where we can in the city. So, um, we are taking the opportunity to do a little bit of that as well. Thank you, Council Jurian. Council Mcdana.

Thank you. Um, thank you, Miss Alman. Uh, this is um I I feel like it's like Christmas morning for me. I I have hated this section of the city for as long as I have interacted with the city. Um, this I hate it in a car. I hate it walking. I hate it running. I hate it pulling my wagon. I I hate it all the time. And this this is this is really exciting. This is this is this is genuinely genuinely exciting. I I know you know every time there's a project who we all say thank you and you're doing great and and you are every time there's a project, but this is this is a really cool this is really cool. I I I'm I'm Yeah, I'm not gonna keep talking because I have nothing else to say except this is this is incredible. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor McDunner. Tella what you hated. Council Scott.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would just echo the same. This is very exciting, especially with the um new uh rotary that's happening, roundabout. Sorry, I won't call it a rotary. I got corrected for that. The roundabout happened on Gorum and how they said they were going to be uh redoing the lights at Elm Street kind of to sync everything up together. So, I'm sure this will help with that congestion coming in and out of the the area. So, thank you very much.

Thank you, Councelor Scott. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Noon. Seconded by councelor Mercier. Motion is suspend the rules and take 7.4 out of order by councelor Ror seconded by councelor Mercier. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 7.4 vote apply. Accept expend 4,745,366 mass dot grant. Wave full reading and second reading by title. Vote authorize the city manager to accept, appropriate, and expend a grant award from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in the amount of 4,745,366. Motion to adopt by councelor Rook, seconded by councelor Non. Roll call.

Mayor Gia, yes. Council Direan, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council Mcdana, yes. Council Mercier, yes. Council Non, yes. Council Robinson, yes. Council Rock, yes. Council Scott, yes. Council Chow, yes. Council Dakota, yes. 11 years. Thank you, Miss Alman. Seven. Vote from city manager. 7.1 vote. Accept gift of 30,000 from All People's Church. Wave full reading and second reading. By title vote, authorize a city manager on behalf of the city of lol to accept a gift from all people church of $30,000 to be used by the l police department.

Motion to adopt by councelon, seconded by councel mercia. Council merc I just wanted to say I was so impressed by the fact that this church is relatively new here. um $30,000 to the police department for certain things that make a lot of sense. And last week or the week before there were 10,000 to the senior center. I I was so overwhelmed by that I sent him a personal thank you card from myself and my colleagues. I hope they're not upset, but I said, "The city is so grateful for this and your generosity. Thank you." There's still 15,000 more coming for the fire department. When I was when I was there, they gave out. So, there's still more coming.

Um, roll call. Mr. Clerk. Mayor Gia. Yes. Council Durant. Yes. Council Leang. Yes. Council Mcdana. Yes. Councilor Mercia. Yes. Councilor Nune. Yes. Council Robinson. Yes. Councilor Rock. Yes. Council Scott. Yes. Council Chow. Yes. Council Dakota. Yes. 11 years.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. 7.2. Vote. Except expend $19,67459 EOPSS firefighter safety equipment grant wave full reading and second reading by title vote authorize the city manager to accept and expend from the executive office of public safety and security in the department of fire services regarding FY26 firefighter safety equipment grant award in the amount of $19,67459 for the city of Low Fire Department. Move approval. Move approval by council Mercia, seconded by council. Roll call.

Mayor Gia, yes. Council Jirean, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council Mcdana, yes. Council Mercier, yes. Council, yes. Council Robinson, yes. Council Rock, yes. Council Scott, yes. Council Chow, yes. Council Dakota. Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. 7.3 vote. Apply, accept, expend, $173,154 community biodiversity grant. Wave full reading is second reading by title. Vote authorize the city manager to apply for to accept and expend a community biodiversity grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fishing Games for the use in the city of LOL administrated through the department of planning and development. Motion to accept Councelor Robinson, seconded by Council Mcdana. Roll call.

Uh Mr. Mayor, um I'd just like to say this is great. Um I I filed a motion first originally. It was given to me by an idea was given to me by a resident in Senville um to look at solar panel installation on the Robinson Hill and the study came back. It wasn't feasible but now we see we another resident recommended look at a pollinator garden on that same space. Um, and it's great to see that a funding mechanism was available and and thank you to DPD and everybody that that pursued this grant and and was able to bring this to fruition. Um, I think it's huge to see that hey, at first the intended use or uh the look that use wasn't there and and I think the community is going to benefit tremendously. And it's also twofold because it's going to be a lot less maintenance for our DPW to have to compete with. So, thank you all to make this happen.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Roll call, Mr. Clerk. Mayor Gia, yes. Council Durant, yes. Council Le, yes. Council Mcdetta, yes. Council Mia, yes. Council Noon. Council Robinson, yes. Council Rock, yes. Council Scott, yes. Council Chow, yes. Councelor Dakota. Yes. Thank you. Eight reports from subcommittees. 8.1 Economic Development Subcommittee April 7th, 2026. Uh Council Robinson, do you want to hold off on this or you want to do the report tonight? I'll hold off, please, and have a report ready for next week.

Thank you. 8.2 wire inspector report. Boston Gas Company DBA National Grid request to replace existing gas man with approximately 1580 feet of 6-in plastic main and portions of Seal Street in Middle Sex Street. Request to install 30 ft of 4-in gas man in Willie Street extending 24in cast iron man in Dutton Street to service units at 6 Wigan Street. Mass Electric Company, DBA, National Grid in Verizon NE, request to install one JO pole. Washer Street request to install one JO pole. Lawrence Street request to install three JO poles. Wood Street, request to install one JO pole on Awarm Street, request to install one JO pole on VM A, request to install one JO pole on Wilder Street, request to install one JO pole on Nesmouth Street of of the intersection of East Marramac Street. Request to install one jail pole on Nesmouth Street of the intersection of Roger Street. Motion to accept and adopt accompanying order by councelor Noon, seconded by councelor Dakota.

There's a registered speaker here, Mr. Mayor

Jonathan Gman. U good evening, Jonathan Gman, 83 Varnum Avenue. Uh, thank you for the opportunity to speak. As you may recall a couple of weeks ago, uh I asked some questions with respect to National Grid or Boston Gas uh decision with respect to replacing the um 1500 ft of uh main pipe on Sales Street. And the answer what I asked was uh had they done the necessary analysis to determine that it was in the public interest to replace the pipe as opposed to repair it either now or later? Um and did they do an analysis to explain uh why they had rejected the idea of looking at alternatives to replacing the pipe and using other means of u energy such as electrification. This isn't something that I had dreamed up. This is actually mandated by the Department of Public Utilities for them to do that and state law. And they gave a partial answer. Uh they said, "Well, it didn't fit the criteria for relining. Uh they didn't address at all the issue of non-pipe alternatives. And they didn't talk about other possible ways of repairing the pipe or explain what in fact their criteria was. The reason this matters is not just because we want to comply with the Commonwealth's climate laws, but because uh rateayers, low residents who have Boston gas and pay bills are paying for this activity. And it costs uh $4 million a mile plus or minus to replace gas pipe. That's a lot of money. The sales street would come to over a million bucks. Who's paying for that?

Rate payers. Boston gas rateayers of whom quite a few of them are local residents. Replacement uh repair rather is like a few grand. So we have an interest in this. Boston Gas National Grid has an interest in it also because when they replace pipes, they're allowed to uh get a return on investment for that, a profit for that uh for their equity investors. That doesn't happen with repair. So, we know that they have a financial interest in replacement. And we also know they're asking for a rate hike of 9 to 10%. Some of you were at the public hearing where there was a lot of people objecting to it. So, it's in the public interest. It's to know the answer of whether they are seriously considering much cheaper alternatives such as repair. And we haven't got that answer. It wasn't in the wire inspector report. I'm sure it's not something the wire inspector would necessarily know, but I'm hoping we can get those answers. And I would urge the city to look at this as a way to help low residents deal with one of our major problems, which is high energy costs.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Grossman.

All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Nine. Petition 9.1, one property damage. Motion to refer to law department for report and recommendation by councelor Rook, seconded by councelor Dakota. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 10 city council executive session 10.1 executive session to consider and discuss the purchase exchange lease or value of real property the senior center 276 Broadway street public discussion of which may have a detrimental effect on the negotiation position of the city motion will enter executive session and adjourn from that session by councelor Robinson seconded by councelor Mcdana roll Oh, that's all.

Mayor Gia, yes. Councilor Durant, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council Mcdana, yes. Councilor Mercia, yes. Council Noon, yes. Council Robinson, yes. Council Rock, yes. Council Scott, yes. Council Chow, yes. Council Dakota, yes. Are there any announcements? Happy birthday. Seeing none, thank you, Mr. Um, seeing none, we'll go to executive session. Thank Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you. Have a good night. Sorry. Let me get this out of here. Okay. I'm good. Good.