CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
March 18, 2003

Present: Bob Flynn, Ken Lavallee, Kathy Lantagne, Janet Leggat, Bill Lipchitz, Molly Sheehy and Susan Siopes.

The meeting opened at 8:35 AM.

Molly Sheehy and her husband Paul were congratulated for receiving the Irish Man and Woman of the Year Award from Congressman Marty Meehan at his St. Patrick's Day Breakfast last Saturday.

Kathy Lantagne said that now that the invitations to next week's focus group have been sent out in the mail, she would be visiting retailers in person to encourage them to participate. Colin McNiece will present an overview of the Downtown Plan and a discussion will ensue.

Kathy also told of a Downtown Neighborhood Watch meeting that will take place Tuesday, April 8 at 8:30 AM at Fortunato's. Ken Lavallee will talk about the role of the police and Jen Droste will discuss neighborhood activities. It was agreed that the CCC will attend this session in lieu of its regular meeting that morning.

Susan said that the Downtown Neighborhood Association that was formed during the Enterprise Community grant period has essentially disbanded and that a new group would be beneficial to the downtown. A question arose as to the ratio of elderly residents to non-elderly residents in the downtown, with the sense of the Committee being that it had changed noticeably in favor of non-elderly. Kathy will see if DPD has any figures, but it is clear that the face of downtown is changing.

Kathy also reported that a new Running Gear Store called Marx Running will have its grand opening on Merrimack Street on Tuesday, April 8th at 4 PM. She also said the space formerly known as the LA Ballroom, and, for longtime Lowellians, known before that as Ivy Hall, would be reopening as a music venue targeting 25-30 year olds, the second floor may possibly be a comedy club, and the first floor a pub. Friends Fabric Art is now open 7 days a week and some evenings.

Ken Lavallee reported that Police Superintendent Ed Davis is resting relatively comfortably at home following his recent heart attack, and that he will be out of work for at least several weeks. The Committee sends its collective Well Wishes.

Molly talked about a grant program that is a collaboration of Middlesex Community College and the Lowell School Department that targets high school students at risk of becoming drop-outs. MCC has hired 5 counselors who will work with the students and their families in an effort to reduce the drop-out rate.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 am.

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