[{"_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",6299487,"mediaKeyId","2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6","parentId",2496983,"title","Council pauses plans while nonprofit seeks access to inspect historic Smith Baker Center","audioSeconds",1988,"startMs",1526430,"endMs",3514690,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6&start=1526&end=3514","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6/thumbnail_1526430.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299487/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-pauses-plans-while-nonprofit-seeks-access-to-inspect-historic-Smith-Baker-Center","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299487-a07e3f595bca7f5df3d80a3c58e5b737/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206196&Signature=OFto8-HK~M7lzO7Uw5~IIq~Q1I7MJqMjrHGAOUeS-5wN8rmVl7BHXtojTI6L49R2kq2l2Ww5NABHsuD5BPbVhpqjTRLnhyydB9stw1ONji9DvUywq2u~YelVhVnT3BIUURy5k9--jRV5Fi9zbm~ttASVUHWIshclXrPrqKq~Wf9~ahhQ6GXgHZa9ez5J0SYmpw0XL4c~v~qH2FTcQlsB~Bq5rVXnwdI8ep3R7eovWwen0Tv-gxtcs2w36H2d4JrPR40EF8y5sWKnoHc~tmrAFXMTgMMh22BXZ9lBstW5n7Q2ro7F2XWkUEA6cwk3tRSOmji9ZvgR8-iuMRQyVH2oMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-03-04T23:27:51Z","article","A proposal by the nonprofit group Save the Smith Baker to inspect the interior of the Smith Baker Center prompted a lengthy debate at the Lowell City Council on March 4, 2025, touching on procurement fairness, HUD funding requirements and the building's structural and environmental condition.

The council debated a motion that would have allowed two representatives of Save the Smith Baker to enter the property for a city-led interior inspection if they supplied a one‑day insurance policy covering the visit. Councilor Dakota made the motion and Councilor Mercia seconded it. The motion initially passed during the public meeting, but later in the discussion councilors and the city solicitor raised concerns about giving potential bidders an appearance of an unfair advantage and about outstanding legal and funding questions. The proponent then withdrew the motion and the council did not adopt an alternative action that night.

Why it matters: the Smith Baker Center sits on property the city acquired with HUD funds; any change in ownership or use could trigger HUD repayment conditions. At the same time, community members and preservation advocates say allowing limited access could help the nonprofit assemble financing and a plan to preserve and reuse the building rather than see it demolished.

What happened in the meeting: Save the Smith Baker volunteers, including Dennis McCarthy and Christine (Chris) McCarron, described forming a nonprofit, raising donor money and seeking grants but said foundations and other funders generally require control of a property before they commit funds. McCarron said volunteers had raised “over six figures” in donations and sought access to inspect the interior so they could produce a reliable preservation plan for potential funders.

Council members and staff described several procedural and substantive constraints. City staff said the city has a hazardous-materials assessment underway and expects that report soon; they are also coordinating with MassDevelopment to obtain a real-estate technical-assistance review. City Manager Tom Golden said the city could run an assessment and that there may be only a matter of weeks before an RFP and HUD timelines require clearer direction.

City Solicitor Williams and other councilors flagged procurement and fairness issues: allowing a specific group inside before an RFP or while a vote to demolish remains on the books could create the appearance of an unfair advantage to a potential bidder. Williams explained the council’s procedural options — including a motion to rescind the demolition vote or a motion to table — and described timing and voting thresholds for rescinding or reconsidering prior actions.

Several councilors urged caution. Councilor Getchia (sometimes spelled Gichia in the record) and others said unrestricted access for one group could be legally problematic in a procurement context; Councilor Robinson and others pressed for clear proof that any transferee could stabilize and fund the building before ownership transferred. Other councilors said the group should be given “one last chance” to inspect the building before any demolition proceeds.

City staff update and next steps: the manager reported the city is running hazardous‑materials testing this week and expects results within one to two weeks; MassDevelopment is working on a real‑estate technical‑assistance review. Staff said they could run concurrent procurement paths but warned the council that at some date soon a choice would be required to move toward demolition or transfer/rehab. Councilors asked the solicitor to prepare guidance on how to avoid procurement unfairness and to explain the legal implications of rescinding the earlier demolition vote.

Community views: speakers emphasized the building’s historical and cultural value and said local groups are prepared to pursue an adaptive reuse plan if they can demonstrate control and a viable funding strategy. Nonprofit leaders said major foundations and programs would not fund a project without proven control or ownership.

Outcome and record: the council did not authorize the requested inspection that evening. The specific inspection motion (Councilor Dakota, seconded by Councilor Mercia) was initially passed and later withdrawn; councilors directed staff and the solicitor to report back with hazard and procurement guidance, and councilors discussed the possibility of rescinding the earlier vote to demolish the building at a future meeting.

Ending: Councilors and proponents agreed there is limited time to resolve funding and procurement questions. City staff committed to return with hazardous‑materials results and technical‑assistance findings and the solicitor agreed to advise the council on options to avoid procurement pitfalls and to clarify the legal path should the council choose to rescind or revisit its prior demolition vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell City Council - March 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A proposal by Save the Smith Baker to inspect the interior of the historic Smith Baker Center prompted the council to pause action and seek legal and technical guidance.","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},6299479,"Votes at a glance: Council adopts wage‑theft ordinance, approves parking fund transfer and several routine measures",321,3515530,3837430,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6&start=3515&end=3837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6/thumbnail_3515530.jpg","/articles/6299479/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-adopts-wagetheft-ordinance-approves-parking-fund-transfer-and-several-routine-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299479-e9d581808474bf6cf5c806ed6be4431d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206196&Signature=HjzT16WP~AS~PjdMf34GYVDjBxCXZ5cpTad8C7j4gVH7kLoBKy64WLdxPAaByp6DDYyDGMUrnqJHsnG46QaB31Zt9XC0IjhQt5DOsqpLGy6FytWIBnwnmIuyO2HLJRbHEJBGNL~JjPVf1HoCLoYsAubXuXALRUOxJ7NhSdTyrKPkPglTdkahHx-qiZGmJgfN7xHQ80pzRVF03z-Cmhze05TYlO8P5PUBqDwhzkJ14fpSowmZidYiaFBXLMaTc6~sitX6UlI1QbSxbUinWbo784~32bdEB2EYs1MJnGjrEQE3ESydZ~jeWCc-JlS4q23kG--0~HKy5ZD-WWWhj9KCBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lowell City Council took several formal actions on March 4, 2025. The most notable votes were adoption of a new wage‑theft ordinance and a transfer of parking enterprise funds to pay for capital work on municipal parking garages; the council also approved proclamations and referrals on a range of subjects.

Wage‑theft ordinance adopted: The council completed a second reading and adopted an ordinance creating a new chapter 268, titled “Wage Theft,” intended to address worker nonpayment and related enforcement. Supporters included construction trades speakers at the public hearing (Robert Judson and Noel Xavier of the Carpenters Union) who described instances of unpaid wages in local construction. The city solicitor drafted the ordinance language and the council voted by roll call; all members present voted in favor (record shows unanimous roll call). The ordinance text and effective date were read by title at second reading; the ordinance number was not specified in the meeting record.

Parking enterprise fund transfer approved: Council approved a vote to transfer $1,100,000 from the parking enterprise fund to the FY25 parking operations budget to finance capital improvements in municipal garages, including elevator work and gate/card/ticket machine upgrades. The CFO said the transfer would consume retained earnings and leave little or no retained earnings balance; councilors asked about remaining cash and the CFO clarified the retained earnings balance would be largely used for the capital items described. The motion passed by roll call.

Other actions and routine approvals: councilors approved a range of items including competitive grant acceptances, reappointments to boards and commissions, proclamations for recognition days/months, and motions directing staff to provide updates on contracts and public safety items. Examples:
- Referral to the Tech & Utilities subcommittee for an update on the Comcast franchise agreement (motion passed).
- Motion to have the city manager report on the status of the city’s trash contract and related RFP work (motion passed).
- Motion to request project team briefings about Lowell High School renovation delays (approved; see separate article).

How the decisions were made: The meeting used standard procedures: second readings for ordinance adoption, roll‑call votes for budget transfers and ordinance adoption, and committee referrals or requests to staff for informational updates. Where a bill number or precise ordinance citation was not read during the meeting, the council recorded the measure’s title; the minutes and posted ordinance language will provide the official citation.

Ending: Several votes were procedural or ceremonial; the wage‑theft ordinance and the parking fund transfer are the primary items with substantive budget or policy effects from this session. Councilors asked staff to provide follow‑up memos and implementation details where appropriate.","At the March 4 council meeting the City Council adopted a new wage‑theft ordinance after a public hearing, approved a transfer from the parking enterprise fund to finance municipal garage capital improvements, and approved multiple proclamations and referrals; the meeting also included a range of requests for staff updates.",{"_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},6299483,"Council asks Skanska/OPM/Perkins Eastman to explain phase‑3 delays, contingency use on Lowell High project",526,4079370,4605850,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6&start=4079&end=4605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496983-41690c2bbbb04ce15679a3b25761e1d6/thumbnail_4079370.jpg","/articles/6299483/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-asks-SkanskaOPMPerkins-Eastman-to-explain-phase3-delays-contingency-use-on-Lowell-High-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299483-de7974167e4088487f7161f603c455dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206196&Signature=nT1kMlrkZhve-ohQ-xORK1c9XYiDvkvC7QbO1GRtv0CAA94TrqWtIyERPFKNTq621HDsQUCVbQeWoN6bOOvFEbgpPMpZjtiKQaw8k0xL3r5C-~pB2LrNL-1xzBHIMTrtbiyBJlc-AvHbguxvrp~NTdQx27v6a~8xklSrtAdh8fMRPWu7zGC8bAPvXGh-skbMyvSVbSH-UAfzLzxgU76orv6aP-9yT8lUgolw~pASJ1H8PlFrGjVMU4LIke3SzX-QbJ4q~hHvhrqdyrJxFbbSf6S4-U0HX~U7lV4Znw2vUeJqsNVSp1chDSruRm7UTbQIc1ZZ2Hx69pH~epYTVWp3gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lowell City Councilors on March 4, 2025, voted to request that the school construction team — including Skanska (construction manager), the owner's project manager (OPM) and Perkins Eastman (designer) — appear before the council to explain projected delays and out‑of‑scope costs in phase 3 of the Lowell High School renovation.

The request follows a February site tour where councilors and staff observed unexpected structural and subsurface conditions in the 1922 building that are affecting work in phase 3. Councilors said sections of floor were removed, voids and differing floor thicknesses were discovered, and there is debate about whether water penetration originated from a canal or from city storm/wastewater systems. Councilors also flagged the potential depletion of contingency funds and asked whether MSBA reimbursement is possible for some overruns.

Why it matters: the project is a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar school renovation; unforeseen conditions in existing historic mill buildings can materially change costs and timelines and may affect where tax dollars and state reimbursements are needed.

What councilors heard: multiple councilors described shock at the condition seen during the tour of the 1922 building and raised questions about prior investigations and inspections. Councilor Getchia and others asked why the canal had been lowered to perform work and whether geotechnical borings or prior tests had detected subsurface issues. Councilor Belanger and Councilor Dakota said the city must consider legal recourse if design or inspection oversights left taxpayers exposed to higher costs.

Staff and manager updates: the city manager said staff and the school‑building team are working to quantify additional costs and hoped to have clearer estimates in early April; he said the city would ask the full project team to brief the council in April. Councilors were told that the project’s contract value referenced by the mayor is $381,000,000; a councilor reported a remaining contingency balance of about $2,000,000 in one fund and said the program still has other phases (including the 1895 portion) to address.

Reimbursement and liability: councilors asked whether the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) could be asked to cover some overruns; staff said prior requests had sometimes succeeded but any additional funding is not guaranteed and would require documentation and negotiation. Councilors asked the solicitor and manager to explore all options, including potential claims or additional state assistance.

Outcome: councilors voted to invite Skanska, the OPM and Perkins Eastman to a council meeting in April to brief members on the phase‑3 schedule, contingency usage, and any out‑of‑scope work that might affect the overall project budget.

Ending: councilors emphasized caution about cost overruns and urged that the team present detailed cost estimates, geotechnical findings and a timeline for addressing the 1922 building conditions when it reports back to the council.","Councilors pressed the city manager about unanticipated problems in phase 3 of the Lowell High School renovation — water infiltration, floor voids and structural surprises — and voted to have the project team explain projected delays, out‑of‑scope work and cost impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council pauses plans while nonprofit seeks access to inspect historic Smith Baker Center

Votes at a glance: Council adopts wage‑theft ordinance, approves parking fund transfer and several routine measures

Council asks Skanska/OPM/Perkins Eastman to explain phase‑3 delays, contingency use on Lowell High project