CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
March 8, 2005

Present: Mehmed Ali, Peter Aucella, Michael Creasey, George Duncan, Ken Lavallee, Janet Leggat, Larry Field, Bill Lipchitz and Molly Sheehy.

The meeting opened at 8:35 AM.

The Police Department will hold a meeting with downtown residents at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, March 22nd at the National Park Visitors Center Conference Room on Market Street. They will discuss residents concerns about public safety issues. CCC members are invited.

Ken Lavallee talked about some of the issues relating to the police presence in the downtown. As usual, they revolve around the juxtaposition of residents, students and nightlife. Molly remembered when there were always police walking a beat downtown, and the same officers were there all the time so they got to know the kids and regulars downtown. The closest thing to that now is the mounted patrol, although the horses have not been downtown lately because of the weather.

Molly Sheehy said the College would be participating with the Police Department this Friday in a Mock Disaster drill on the MIddlesex campus.

George Duncan reported that the Bank gets a lot of requests to use their parking lot for events downtown, which they are happy to do. However, he has asked Gail Casper of his staff to meet with groups to set up some kind of plan so that the events are not bumping into each other. George also suggested that groups holding events on Market Street should put up signs on Merrimack and Shattuck Streets to draw more people.

Bill thanked George and Enterprise Bank for helping with the CCC’s recent calendar project in the form of a grant through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

Mehmed Ali and Janet Leggat said the symposium put on by the Arts League of Lowell (ALL) went well. The outside specialists urged the locals to start small with arts and crafts festivals. The Committee members present also voted unanimously to support ALL with a $25 donation to help defray the cost of the symposium.

Bill introduced the new National Park Superintendent, Michael Creasey, who started out by thanking the Committee for being one of the sponsors of the reception for him at the Nesmith House a few weeks ago. He said he has been learning about the interaction of the Park and the local community, which he sees as a major strength here, and is something he has always participated in in other parks he has worked in. He has met with elected officials and other groups and is interested in getting feedback from the CCC and others as to the operations of the National Park.

Peter gave a brief overview of some of the development going on, including an update on the Lawrence Mills and the Hub Hosiery building. He said that since the Boott Mills apartments were scheduled to open around June 1st, we should plan another Welcome to Lowell event this summer. George Duncan indicated that the Bank was already thinking of doing something along those lines.

Bill reminded folks that Chris Starr from Winn Development has invited members of the Committee to tour the Boott Mills Apartments. Chris says he can accommodate about 10 people. Please contact Christine DeFeo at 978-459-0551 or cdefeo@comteam.org to indicate your interest as she will coordinate the tour that is being planned for Tuesday, March 22nd at 8:30 AM in lieu of our regular meeting that day.

Bill talked about the annual fund raising event run by Community Teamwork, Inc. called Carinival. It will be held on Thursday evening, March 31st at Lenzis and will feature food, music, dancing and a grand prize drawing of $10,000 to the winning ticket. Only 300 tickets are available at $100 each, although people are welcome to split the cost of the ticket (and of course, the winnings). Tickets may be obtained from CTI at 978-459-0551, ask for Sharon Shelton and tell them Bill sent you. Last year, CTI raised about $30,000, all of which went to direct assistance to people in need who don’t fit other CTI programs.

Bill reminded everyone that Ernie Middlemiss and Amy Werner have agreed to attend the March 15th CCC meeting to discuss the role of the DLBA and its relationship to the Center City Committee.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 AM.