CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
December 6, 2005

Present: Mehmed Ali, Colleen Cox, Greg Croteau, Larry Field, Marshall Field, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sara Khun, Ken Lavallee, Ted Lavash, Janet Leggat, Bill Lipchitz, Jeanne Osborn, Molly Sheehy, Steve Syverson, Amy Werner, and Terry Williams.

The meeting opened at 8:38 AM.

The first Thursday Holiday Stroll was discussed. Most members felt it was successful, with a good number of people in the downtown for both this event and Destination World – England. Steve Syverson said that his store, Van Gogh’s Gear, did better than expected, and Ted Lavash reported that the Ayer Lofts Gallery did ok as well. Merrimack Street seemed especially busy, which was helped by Santa Claus being at Friends Fabric Art. This week, he will be at Barnes and Noble. The Lowell High Show Choir also performed at various venues and were well received.

Ted reported on the meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (Lowell DNA). Their by-laws will be finalized next week. Their meeting focused on a couple of issues: the proliferation of dog droppings and the noise levels coming from the Club Rhumba on Merrimack Street, which affects Moller’s Lofts in particular. In regard to the dog issue, there is an ordinance in place to deal with it. Ken Lavallee recommended that questions be referred to the Animal Control Officer at City Hall. The noise issue will be addressed in a new ordinance that is being drafted now.

Matt Fitzpatrick talked about the new organization he is getting started called Young Professionals of Greater Lowell. Its purpose is to network with and encourage young professionals to stay or come back to Lowell and help build the City. They will have a kick-off event on Monday evening, December 12th at the Mambo Grille. Since they will be soliciting donations the new organization needs a conduit to provide a place to hold the money and a 501 (c) (3) status to make the donations tax exempt to the donor. He asked if the Center City Committee would consider performing that function. It was the general consensus of the members present that this is a worthwhile endeavor and that the Committee should provide the necessary support. However, a formal vote to do so will be taken at the next monthly meeting of Organizations.

Greg Croteau happily announced that UTEC has finally found a building to buy and renovate that will allow them to move off Merrimack Street in the very near future. The former Saint Paul’s Church on Hurd Street is under agreement for purchase by UTEC with a January closing date. The building, which has been empty for a year or so, will need some work, but Greg hopes that UTEC can move in soon and work around the occupied space. UTEC will be holding a fundraiser on Thursday to start the process of raising upwards of $3 M to renovate the 12,000 square feet. The space will include a basketball court and a kitchen in addition to the computer labs and office space they have now.

Bill reminded members that the monthly meeting of stakeholder organizations will be held Tuesday, December 20th at the CTI Volunteer Center 3rd Floor Conference Room at 169 Merrimack Street (The MCC Federal Building is not available). He said the major issues of membership and representation have been worked out in the latest draft of the by-laws that he hopes to present at that meeting. Other items on the agenda will include the vote on supporting the Young Professionals of Greater Lowell and a discussion about the change in bus routes with Bob Kennedy. Bob, who is consulting to the LRTA, will be attending regularly as their representative.

A discussion ensued about the mechanism to amend the existing by-laws and the timing of the annual meeting. The by-laws committee will review those sections before the next monthly meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 AM.