[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6354823,"mediaKeyId","2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55","parentId",2219553,"title","Council sends multiple items to staff for study and accepts several grants and conveyance","audioSeconds",6123,"startMs",635000,"endMs",6758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55&start=635&end=6758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55/thumbnail_635000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6354823/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-sends-multiple-items-to-staff-for-study-and-accepts-several-grants-and-conveyance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354823-3e5e7a7f9a70cd4abf2bcc1dcdf5de65/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941549&Signature=PrDkzkTXvUNxKY0DDt2Ch6j2eVJDlFqudX~0JZ0wbvrzdmxqx844165lZBz9um4fJQoew0TJwc1zSD~FBF2jkaVDBILW1EPpWgsE2F9ArhOgzsN01S3ZtEO4nf7VGmo78xM70lBdkRkDef8uME72IFl3R81rYH2g2BptQTPJbXLjxB4s17YLv-wbFWqfYymMCF83CBL64rp2gb~olUcouBFcDThxvbB1eA1Y0SSzgJVe44z3Lc-WP-xT0Gqc1g76ZEARVCFjk~R0nE7AwphXWLOcE~M86fZj~vrk9id9EawPrKXcUQyIRMRs59DuWh0NiCfJNS~tZj-9UNPjJTe2gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-02-05T01:45:32.447Z","article","The Lowell City Council on Tuesday passed a series of motions asking city staff to study or report back on a range of operational and policy issues, and it accepted several grants and a property conveyance.

Among the requests, Councilor Robinson asked the city manager to explore the pros and cons of implementing automated enforcement cameras on school buses under Senate Bill 3005; Robinson summarized provisions he said are in the state law, including that local police would review footage, buses must be clearly marked, vendors may not repurpose data, footage retained up to 30 days for non‑violations and up to one year after case resolution for violations, and annual reporting requirements to the state. The motion passed.

Robinson also successfully moved to ask staff to explore adding a local business announcement section to the council agenda; the city manager reported the communications team had launched two new email newsletters for residents and businesses about an hour before the meeting and said newsletter content could be coordinated with the agenda.

Other staff direction passed on voice votes included requests to: assess lighting on West Sixth and Jewett Street; review the police department's policy and community communications regarding interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; study the feasibility and process for increasing the Community Preservation Act surcharge (including reviewing exemptions); and look into traffic calming on East Merrimack Street.

Councilor Belanger asked for an update on elevator installation and estimated rehabilitation costs at Jeanne d'Arc School; the city manager said an OPM RFP is out and a contract should be in place within about a month. The council asked the manager to assess the roof condition at Pawtucket Memorial School and report repair costs and funding options.

Councilor Scott requested a report on the city's resident service request system (SchoolDude/3‑1‑1), including who signs service requests, expected response time frames, and how reports showing overdue items are generated and monitored; that motion passed.

On formal votes under the consent and ordinance waivers, the council accepted: a $5,000 gift from Champion Drywall to the police department; a $79,100 federal grant (MLCGP) for MIS; an $8,788.89 state grant (MLGP) for MIS; and the conveyance of a portion of 91 Peavey Street to Thompson Family Trust. Those items were adopted on roll call as a package.

Councilors also referred several items for public hearing or planning board review, including an amendment to the fee schedule and a zoning petition for Rivers Edge Road. A motion was moved to enter executive session to consider potential property acquisition and related negotiations and to adjourn from that session.

Several councilors asked staff to prioritize multilingual outreach for upcoming budget sessions and to share meeting notices broadly. The manager said a Budget 101 session for residents is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at City Hall and that materials and social‑media notices had already been released.

Most motions in this block of council business passed on voice vote; the grants and conveyance were adopted by roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell City Council - February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved several staff requests directing the city manager to study automated school‑bus cameras, a business‑announcement agenda item, lighting and traffic calming, immigration‑enforcement policy communications and a possible CPA surcharge increase, and accepted grants and a property conveyance.","taxTitle","Lowell City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4223,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6354827,"Officials report repairs and urge close monitoring of Lowell High School contingency",1198,4409000,5607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55&start=4409&end=5607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55/thumbnail_4409000.jpg","/articles/6354827/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Officials-report-repairs-and-urge-close-monitoring-of-Lowell-High-School-contingency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354827-91212e6d8e15bc86678d946569101b34/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941549&Signature=H6Sa-JVWOmMKX3XiKc2R-yOhFhBVyvZUyu1Lsk91ssVyffCvya~bnIXwEPG3lJrGGykqTMzB9LIT8GxuvmOlYydiTtCKvoo~E6WVZLayeXHWbWBRsKTOL1hVE~qb-xEEPSkAH8QHObopz5NjFfz7D0X4qkmelkZzLMSDPhxPN~fbbmz5T2ZTz0BkY0AelAxOuO~6s6k9nYw4XUdaOH5hBzRsvbVdgqoRsasoK1IcibpLNfluOR6YOrxPQYms5eJoqW1Nt5~On7ysQbE4bocA~4JpR9JbFrUVGFb7DXINTOn6WX4TW9AbHevcrSy0v~MK91HSHqgifSAcBN4et8w6yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City and construction officials told the Lowell City Council Tuesday that most of the gymnasium issues raised earlier have been repaired, but councilors pressed for continued oversight of the project's contingency as demolition work revealed unforeseen conditions.

Skanska and Suffolk representatives gave a status update on Lowell High School construction and committed to providing the council with the same monthly materials the School Building Committee receives and to quarterly presentations to the council.

\"There are no leaks in that new roof, and there is no mold in the new Freshman Academy,\" said a representative for the design‑construction team, addressing concerns raised at a prior meeting. The team described repairs to a misaligned gym entrance glass, replaced locker‑room lock sets, corrected a leaking Victaulic fitting within hours and replaced a worn elevator part after multiple incidents earlier in the project.

Project staff described actions on multiple gym items — a replaced control panel for gym equipment, limiting switches added to protect the gym floor from wheel damage, repaired overhead door monitors and a condensate pump fix tied into the building management system. A multifunction TV for the weight room and replacement mirrors were reported as slated for installation during upcoming school breaks.

But several councilors expressed concern about contingency balances after the building entered demolition in the 1922 section and crews encountered structural and coordination issues. Councilor Dakota read figures from a project summary and said the report showed substantial contingency draws and roughly $6 million in change requests under review, leaving a forecasted construction contingency of about $3.5 million should the potential costs materialize.

\"Unforeseen is when you go through the demolition and you take down the walls, there is something that was not included in the design because it was not known at the time of design,\" the project representative said, describing how demolition can reveal additional work. Councilors pressed for regular financial updates and said they wanted the next presentations to make contingency pressures clear.

City manager Golden and the project team said they are reviewing savings in other budget categories — including furniture, fixtures and equipment allocations — that could offset cost pressure, and that some claims and change requests have been rejected after review. \"We are being very liberal and making sure we keep an eye on everything and including everything in that number,\" a project representative said of the $6 million figure in the report.

Council members requested continued transparency and frequent reporting; the project team agreed to quarterly presentations and to make monthly reports available to the council. Several councilors requested follow‑up meetings to review detailed line items cited in the change‑order log.

Project staff also noted that much of the known unknowns in the Phase 3 scope have been realized and that demolition work has moved into basement slab work, with the team estimating that about three‑quarters of Phase 3 square footage has had unknowns identified and addressed. Council members scheduled a council‑only walkthrough for mid‑February to review progress with project staff.","Project managers told the City Council that recent gymnasium and building defects have been addressed, recommended quarterly presentations to the council, and confirmed remaining contingency funds but warned of potential cost events tied to unforeseen conditions during demolition.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6354832,"Lowell council bans second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides on city property",1933,2092000,4025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55&start=2092&end=4025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219553-1fbe9d350e8189a8de1a25118fe78c55/thumbnail_2092000.jpg","/articles/6354832/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-council-bans-secondgeneration-anticoagulant-rodenticides-on-city-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354832-dbf609c740dab4456a3fca0bda4fa313/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941549&Signature=UQBLZ8GxHFTebSuO8ingKr3NCkJ9OUHrLNuQcmVTdMcRuy5hlaRvQkyrIUHC5YGb5KX8GpfC5xelOivCBWC~3PvIIj67fR9Cl6xQQODDTbwuJGjQS3AV2BTl9ifC5yoxtmoPkMZ8L-LCK7PHkPU8Pb8rrRPLlHDV3~Lg~p8M2eRzDpclCJrzVmm70b9wpjvv-9Tdc-3mj6dxhYZiC~XtAP0mTwiY-9BIXucsh9LQcLBbWFErWzafzVOHvFHWnstP2fTS7LNwnO7dr~VCTPP~1QqpLremnlj1uEpcgTk-tkGu69ExLDJmw8QxB-lPKdmT8-C5yzuoeYqyEk~6yNpw8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lowell City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to prohibit the use of second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides on city‑owned property and to require integrated pest‑management practices and limited emergency waivers.

The ordinance, which amends chapter 104 of the city code by adding Article 4 on rodents, passed on a roll call vote of 11–0 after about an hour of public comment from wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, conservation groups and residents.

Supporters told the council that SGARs — commonly found in bait boxes outside buildings — cause lethal secondary poisoning in predators and scavengers. \"I won't even get into what it's like to watch an animal die from this. It's awful,\" said Jane Newhouse of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, who described treating foxes and other wildlife for anticoagulant poisoning and the long, expensive course of vitamin K therapy the animals require.

Architect Andrew Kolar urged the council to adopt an integrated pest management, or IPM, approach that prioritizes prevention and exclusion before chemical controls. \"Integrated pest management is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common‑sense practices with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment,\" Kolar said.

Speakers including representatives of the MSPCA/Angel Animal Medical Center, Mass Audubon and the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust submitted letters or testimony urging the ban, citing case reports and studies of rodenticide residues in raptors and other predators. Emily Toronto, speaking as a member of Lowell Loves Wildlife, read a statement from Crystal Arnott, executive director of the Lowell Humane Society, that urged the council to protect local wildlife including a pair of bald eagles on the Merrimack River.

City officials and councilors who supported the measure said municipal properties are an appropriate place to lead by example and to require IPM as the preferred approach. The ordinance includes a path for emergency waivers where short‑term chemical controls might be needed and calls for the city to adopt IPM plans for affected sites.

Mayor Roark called the vote after brief council discussion. The roll call returned 11 yes, 0 no.

The ordinance will restrict SGAR use on city buildings, parks, grounds, open space and public rights‑of‑way; it does not ban private use on private property. Councilors and speakers urged public education and outreach so that residents and private property owners understand nonchemical alternatives and steps to reduce attractants and access points.

Council members who sponsored and moved the ordinance framed it as part of Lowell's broader conservation and public‑health work. The city manager's office and the health department will implement the ordinance on city property and will begin outreach to other municipal departments and external partners.

Supporters said passage places Lowell among a growing number of Massachusetts municipalities restricting or banning SGARs on municipal land.

The council's action concluded the public hearing portion of the meeting; the ordinance now stands as an adopted change to the city's code of ordinances.","After an extensive public hearing, the Lowell City Council voted unanimously to bar second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on municipal property and require integrated pest‑management approaches and limited emergency waivers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council sends multiple items to staff for study and accepts several grants and conveyance

Officials report repairs and urge close monitoring of Lowell High School contingency

Lowell council bans second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides on city property