The historically under-taxed citizens of Lowell will be playing some catch-up this year. Late in the evening, (and after some minor drama), the Council adopted the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget (without any cuts). The total budget is $502,555,769. To the taxpayer, this means a 5.5% property tax increase. The increase was justified by the…

1. Relatively Quick Meeting Last night was a pretty efficient meeting by the standards of this council. They were able to get through 11 motion responses, 14 new motions, an informational report and 4 votes (bundled) in under an hour and 45 minutes. This past weekend, Richard Howe commended Councilor Rourke on his recognition that…

1. Motion Responses A) MOTION RESPONSE – FILLING STATIONS.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE – ENGINE CLOSURE POLICY.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE – GLTHS REPAIRING FIREHOUSES.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE – RIVERWALK SNOW REMOVAL.PDF E) MOTION RESPONSE – POOL AND SPLASHPAD UPDATE.PDF F) MOTION RESPONSE – CITY HALL FLAG POLLS.PDF G) MOTION RESPONSE – FIRST STREET DEAD WOOD.PDF H)…

Traveling for work today, so there is no recap this morning. I guess democracy will die in darkness this week…..wait…. That’s Jacob Vitali’s music! The former champ returns to the ring to keep us posted on the budget: Plenty more on this topic to come, but as we stare down a 5.5% increase in our…

1. Informational Report INFORMATIONAL – FY2023 BUDGET PRESENTATION.PDF 2. Motion Responses A) MOTION RESPONSE – ROBINSON SCHOOL DISMISSAL.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE – SCHOOL STREET RETAINING WALL.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE – EV INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FUNDING.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE – UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORY SIGNAGE.PDF E) MOTION RESPONSE – DOG PARKS.PDF F) MOTION RESPONSE – CAMBODIA TOWN FLAGS.PDF…

1. Public Works Week Recognized The meeting got off to a leisurely 6:41 start with recognition of Public Works Week (May 15 – 22). interim DPW head, Mark Byrne, Sr., was on-hand with members of the DPW to accept the Council’s heartfelt thanks for a often thankless job. From nationaltoday.com: Soon after the crash of…

1. Communications 1. Financial Statement for year ending June 30, 2021; 2. Federal Awards Program for year ending June 30, 2021; and 3. Management Letter June 30, 2021. 2. Motion Responses A) MOTION RESPONSE – 15 MINUTE PARKING FOR OPEN PANTRY.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE – PARKING PLACARD POLICY.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE – STREET LIGHT AT…

1. Return of Lowell Water Festival After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival will be returning in 2022 for its 25-year anniversary. As per the festival website: The Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, Inc. is dedicated to the preservation, protection and sharing of cultural heritages of the Southeast Asian…

1. Motion Responses A) MOTION RESPONSE – ANIMAL CONTROL.PDF B) MOTION RESPONSE – NEW HIRES AND W4 FORMS.PDF C) MOTION RESPONSE – LINE STRIPING.PDF D) MOTION RESPONSE – MONUMENT MAINTENANCE.PDF E) MOTION RESPONSE – 4 WAY STOP SIGN HIGH AND EAST MERRIMACK.PDF F) MOTION RESPONSE – STOP SIGN CHRISTIAN AND METHUEN.PDF G) MOTION RESPONSE –…

1. New Manager and a Large To Do List Last night marked the first meeting with new City Manager Tom Golden. Understandably, we didn’t hear much from the new CM, as he’s only been on the job since Friday of last week. I also didn’t catch who, if anyone, was in the Assistant City Manager…