Lowell Council agrees to draft local residency requirement for public construction, seek Attorney General review

The Lowell City Council voted Wednesday to direct the city solicitor to draft an ordinance that would create a 25% Lowell-resident employment preference on public construction projects and to seek an opinion from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office on the draft. The motion to draft the ordinance was moved by Councilor Robinson and seconded by Councilor Dakota; councilors voted to approve the motion.

The proposal, which Councilor Robinson introduced after public testimony, would require that up to 25% of total work hours on qualifying public-funded construction projects go to Lowell residents. Supporters said the measure aims to keep wages and jobs in the city and to build a local pipeline for apprentices and journey-level tradespeople. “We need to infuse our city with the opportunity to earn income and keep it in our community,” Councilor Robinson said during debate.

Speakers from the public and labor testified in favor of a residency preference. One longtime organizer who said he helped draft similar language in other…