Lowell council votes to pursue formal consolidation of school and city facilities functions

The Lowell City Council on a unanimous vote accepted the provisions of Section 37M of General Laws Chapter 71, authorizing the city to pursue a formal consolidation of custodial and facilities functions between the city and the Lowell Public Schools.

City Manager Tom Golden said the city does not own all school buildings and that the process is a first step, adding, “we don’t own it,” when explaining the roles of UMass building authorities and other state entities during related discussions. Golden and other officials described the vote as the start of a negotiation and planning process, not an immediate operational merger.

The item came after several councilors and the city solicitor outlined next steps required by state statute, including a city council vote followed by a school committee vote. The city manager and the city solicitor said bargaining with unions and developing a memorandum of understanding would be necessary before any personnel or reporting changes are finalized.

Supporters on the council said the consolidation could reduce overlap, improve the speed and quality of repairs in school buildings and centralize maintenance expertise. Councilor Lehi (Councilor Lehi) described the plan as an opportunity to create a single facilities function with clearer lines of responsibility. Councilors also emphasized community input and careful review of collective bargaining agreements.

Opponents and some commenters urged caution: they asked for clarity on organizational structure, where new positions would report and how pay scales and union rules would be handled. The city manager and solicitor said those details remain subject to later negotiation and that the council’s vote simply begins the statutory process.

What the council did: it voted to accept the statute’s provisions and authorized the administration to begin formal discussions and related steps, with the understanding that the school committee will also need to agree by majority vote and that bargaining with labor unions is required. The vote can be completed in a single session only because the council acted unanimously; otherwise a public hearing would have been required.

The next steps stated by city staff include drafting a memorandum of understanding, meeting with the school committee and bargaining units, and developing a final organizational chart and staffing plan to bring back to the council and school committee for approval.

Implementation and constraints: the consolidation does not itself move employees; it is a policy decision that triggers negotiations and more detailed planning. Officials repeatedly stressed the need for a negotiated transition to address reporting lines, job descriptions and collective bargaining implications.

The action places facilities consolidation on an active track: the council’s vote lets the administration and school leaders explore a hybrid model of in‑house and contracted services, pursue defined cost savings and prepare any budget or ordinance changes that might be needed for full implementation.