CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
March 21, 2006

Present: Mehmed Ali, Bob Flynn, Sara Khun, Ted Lavash, Ken Lavallee, Janet Leggat, Bill Lipchitz, Russ Smith, and Steve Syverson.

The meeting opened at 8:35 AM.

Bill reported that so far, 14 of the 21 organizations have sent in their dues and names of members of Stakeholder Representatives who will thus be eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting. Stakeholders that have not heard from as of this morning are: the City/DPD, Lowell High, CVB, DLBA (both retail and restaurants) and UTEC. Members are asked again to return the forms and dues as soon as possible to: Chris DeFeo, 167 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01852. The Lowell Plan has graciously agreed to sponsor the refreshments.

Members welcomed back Police Deputy Superintendent Ken Lavallee who had missed several meeting s due to illness. In a wide ranging discussion, members discussed the LRTA kiosk on Merrimack Street, the proposed new bridge over the Merrimack, traffic light cycles, parking changes that will result from the NPS Visitors Center lot being turned over to the City, the finding of artifacts at the JAM area garage site, and the need for a new police station.

Ken said he noted the discussion recently in the minutes about crosswalks and will look into how their use is enforced. The intersection of Market Street and Palmer Street is a particularly difficult one to negotiate.

Sara Khun announced that this was Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and that there would be an event on April 4th sponsored by UMass Lowell, MCC, the Rape Crisis Center, the LPD and others called “Take Back The Night”. There will be a march from MCC to the JFK Plaza where there will be speeches and entertainment.

Janet reminded folks about the World Curling Championships that will be held at the Tsongas Arena the first week of April.

Bill also reiterated that Community Teamwork will be holding its fourth annual ‘Caribbean’ Carnival Celebration Fundraiser on Thursday, April 6th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. As usual, tickets are $100 and there will only be 400 sold with a $10,000 prize going to the lucky ticket holder(s). This is CTI’s main fundraiser and the money all goes toward helping to prevent homelessness. Anyone wanting to buy a ticket or be a sponsor should call Sharon Shelton at CTI: 978-459-0551 Ext. 281.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 AM.