Council asks manager to coordinate with state, UMass Lowell on ICC shelter lease and McKinney‑Vento impacts

Councilor Scott publically opposed extending the lease of the Inn and Conference Center (ICC) as a shelter through 2026 and asked the manager to work with state and UMass Lowell officials to ensure the city’s concerns are addressed.

“I wanna speak out against extending the ICC lease as a shelter for 2026,” Councilor Scott said, citing worries about the city absorbing statewide sheltering responsibility, transportation costs under McKinney‑Vento and whether the ICC will be converted to permanent affordable housing after 2026. Scott noted the state is reportedly paying about $4,000,000 a year to lease the ICC from UMass Lowell and asked whether some of those state savings could be shifted to Lowell to offset local costs.

During the utility public hearing period, Councilor Scott made a motion asking the manager to work with the state and UMass Lowell to ensure Lowell’s needs — including McKinney‑Vento transportation costs and long‑term plans for the site — are discussed; Councilor Robinson seconded the motion and it passed. The council did not adopt a formal resolution obligating the state; the direction was to coordinate and seek clarifying commitments.

Councilors asked for information about the ICC lease term, planned closure or conversion to permanent housing after the shelter period and whether the state would help cover associated local costs. The manager agreed to take steps to engage state and university partners and report back to the council.