Like most of you, I just completed my year-end review of 2022’s council motions. I would have liked to get this post up sooner, but I got sidetracked with work and holiday commitments. More importantly, this project was the wrong combination of tedious and pointless. As such, what seemed like a good idea in early…

If Council Meetings are Christmas presents, last night was a water pistol that shoots jelly. Clocking-in at about an hour, last night was one of (if not the) shortest meeting(s) of the year. As the Council voted to cancel next Tuesday’s meeting, this was also the last meeting of 2022. This may be a good…

Government was happening last night – however, I don’t have much to add in the way of a summary. Last night’s meeting didn’t lend itself very well to the type of recap I like to write. As such, I kind of don’t want to do it. It’s like the Sun over here this morning. Perhaps…

Government was happening last night – here’s my highlights: 1. Gonna Need Some Money for Parking Last Thursday, some crackpot had a post about parking wherein the City’s Comprehensive 2021 Parking Study was referenced. The timing couldn’t have been better as last night the council was asked to vote on a transfer of $2,834,616.17 from…

On November 28 Manager Golden met with the Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association to discuss his proposal to eliminate overnight parking in the downtown neighborhood. The Manager’s argument was twofold: (1) eliminating overnight parking would make it easier to clean streets and remove snow; and (2) freeing-up spots would make the downtown more hospitable businesses. The…

1. Fire Department Overtime Budget Most of last night’s calories were burned on a vote relative to the Fire Department overtime budget: That the amount of Nine Hundred Thousand and 00/100 ($900,000) Dollars be hereby further appropriated by raising from the FY2023 tax levy, additional local receipts, and offset receipts and appropriating to the Lowell…

1. Kalamata, Greece: Sister City Update Our new “sister city” relationship with the city that gifted us both Yanni and its olives is already bearing more fruit. In April of this year, Lowell formally entered into an agreement with Kalamata based on a “collective interest to broaden and strengthen ties between the two cities.” As,…

1. Guns N’ Lowell As an American, I’ve pretty much come to terms with the fact that I’m going to die in a hail of bullets someday. Nevertheless, it seems that many of my fellow citizens still had some hope that their communities’ laws could protect them. I imagine many were disappointed this past June…

1. O’Connor Honored Mayor Chau presented outgoing City Solicitor Christine O’Connor with a “Key to the City” award for her many years of service. Atty. O’Connor has been the City Solicitor since 2004 and is leaving for a position in North Andover (Assistant City Solicitor Kerry Jenness will also be leaving the Law Department). Jack…

Another efficient “nuts and bolts” type meeting last night. As such, I’ve really got nothing to add. The replay is already up on LTC for your viewing pleasure. In other news, this week’s School Committee agenda features an update on progress of the LHS renovation. This Fall’s project milestones for Phase 2 are laid out:…