CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
March 12, 2002

Present: Jim Canavan, Marshall Field, Matt Fitzpatrick, Richard Hyatt, Nancy Kleniewski, Ken Lavallee, Janet Leggat, Bill Lipchitz, Joe Lipchitz, and Russ Smith.

Today's meeting was held at the Lowell Small Business Assistance Center, 169 Merrimack Street, Lowell.

Bill Lipchitz opened the meeting at 8:32 AM. Russ Smith, the new Director of the Lowell Small Business Center, was greeted by members of the committee.

Russ Smith reviewed some of his plans for the LSBAC that included improved data collection in order to better measure the work that the center has done and is doing. He also plans to develop marketing strategies to reach potential clients both start-ups and existing businesses. He referred to the SCORE program that is he familiar with called " New Beginnings" that he plans to use as the basis for his approach on helping existing businesses. His outreach plans include younger people to interest them in choosing an entrepreneurial career.

Bill suggested that the LSBAC reach out to the artists coming into Lowell and assist them in the business aspect of their work.

Ken Lavallee introduced the Lowell Crime statistics and explained the trends and developments in them. Part I Crime, which includes violent crime and property crime, has decreased by 55% since 1993 although it rose slightly in 2001. Various reasons for the decline were offered including the economy, the number of police available, and the Community Policing Program. Ken also explained how the Lowell Police use the statistics, called COMPSTAT as the basis for regular meetings at Cross Point. He offered to check with the Chief to see if it might be possible for the Committee to attend such a session, especially when they discuss the downtown area problems. Committee members thanked him for the offer and indicated several would be interested in attending such a meeting.

Nancy Kleniewski noted that the City Planning and Development staff have been in touch the with the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Center for Industrial Competitiveness as the center has an urban researcher on board. They are interested in using the idea of "visioning" to develop a plan for the next 20 years. DPD would tie this into the master plan for the City (not to be confused with the Downtown Master Plan) they are working on.

The Lowell Heritage Partnership appears about to emerge as a viable entity and will have its first annual meeting in May. The Center City Committee is one of ten incorporators of the partnership and, as such, will have a seat on the Board of Directors.

Special Happy Birthday wishes to Dorothy Kleniewski

The meeting adjourned at 9:42 AM.

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