MEETING MINUTES

November 17, 2009

 

The next informal meeting of the Center City Committee 

will be December 1, 2009

8:30 AM

at

Olive That & More

167 Market Street

 

The next meeting of the Stakeholder Representatives

will be

Tuesday November 24, 2009 8:30 AM

at

The MCC Morse Federal Building

East Merrimack Street

 

 

Present:  George DeLuca, Larry Field, Capt. Thomas Kennedy, Ted Lavash, Bill Lipchitz, Chris Samaras, Steve Syverson, and Terry Williams

 

The meeting opened at 8:30 AM.

 

Bill began by describing Governor Patrick’s visit to Community Teamwork, Inc. prior to the kick-off for the construction of the new Appleton Mills project in the Hamilton Canal District.  After meetings at CTI’s Dutton Street location, the Governor visited the Children’s Village on Market Street.

 

Captain Kennedy announced that the Police Department recently opened a new substation located at Saints Memorial Hospital.  Due to cutbacks, four substations have had to close recently.  The station at the Boys and Girls Club on Middlesex Street was the only one to survive the cutbacks.  Not having access to substations has been a significant drawback for police when writing up and submitting reports.  Not having the substations means they must go to the downtown headquarters to do the work, taking them out of their precincts. 

 

The suggestion was made to put a new substation or even relocated police headquarters in the Hamilton Canal when it is completed; however funding is the issue.  Bill countered that that should not be an issue, and that if the groundwork is laid now, it will be much easier to jump on the project should funds become available.  The issue was brought up of whether or not a police department should be located in the downtown of a city.   Captain Kennedy pointed out that Lowell’s downtown area is 13 square miles which is small for a city of Lowell’s size.  There was some discussion of relocating police headquarters on Old Ferry Road which would be a good location if there were substations located throughout the city.  The question also came up of whether or not Lowell has a capital planning department.

 

Ted reported that the scheduled meeting of downtown residents, bar owners and police went very well.  The owner of El Rincon seemed concerned about repercussions of his nightclub, which was encouraging.  Captain Kennedy stated that when bar fights spill out onto the street, the bar is still responsible.  For some it has been frustrating that the License Commission has not taken some of the bars to task for this.  Ted reiterated his concern about the sharp increase in car break-ins throughout the city and the need for residents to be aware of this problem.

 

Chris said he was getting ready for the annual City of Lights Parade taking place November 27th.  Bill affirmed that the CCC will vote on making a monetary contribution for Santa’s event during the holidays at the next stakeholders’ meeting.  Chris also mentioned that the city will be putting up new holiday decorations this year and will be retiring the old decorations.   The new decorations consist of light displays which will be installed in three locations: Kearney Square, the intersection of Central and Merrimack Streets, and at the gateway to the city.  New lights will also be installed in the trees in the downtown.  They will contain new LCD bulbs which, for the 9,300 feet of strings used, will save the city a considerable amount of money in the long run.  The city will be gradually adding to the new decorations over the years.  It cost the city over $50,000 just to put up the old decorations.

 

Chris reported that the City of Lights Parade has 60 entrants including two new entrants: the Tyngsboro Marching Band and the Pentucket Regional Band.  Santa’s Magical Play Land will be taking place at Cawley Stadium for the month.  To draw people to the downtown prior to the parade, the city has scheduled a number of events between 12 noon and 4pm, such as a hot chocolate contest, a scavenger hunt, and a stocking decorating event. 

 

Bill announced that Peter Aucella has been invited to the next stakeholders’ meeting to talk about expanding the trolley service and the possibility of relocating the Visitors’ Center.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 AM.