Lowell council backs bus‑camera enforcement ordinance; proposed stabilization fund fails

The Lowell City Council on Feb. 17 approved municipal acceptance of state authority allowing school bus violation detection systems on school buses and enacted an ordinance enabling the enforcement mechanism, following a public hearing and testimony from an industry representative.

Michael Gorman, representing Bus Patrol, spoke in favor. Councilors focused on safety for children boarding and exiting buses and on how a camera‑based system would be implemented and governed under state law. Councilor Dakota presented a simple cost/revenue example that projected enforcement revenue exceeding vendor costs, prompting discussion about using any revenue to support school transportation and safety investments.

City Manager Golden and City Solicitor Williams said no vendor or contract has yet been signed and that many operational and contract details — including whether devices and data remain city property or vendor property — will be resolved during procurement. Williams noted the city has not yet reached contract stage and that those specifics will be part of contracting discussions.

Council later considered establishing a dedicated “school bus violation stabilization fund” to receive 100% of camera fine revenue and dedicate it for school transportation costs and related safety improvements. The roll call on that measure produced more than a simple majority in favor, but the motion failed because it did not meet the higher legal threshold required for that particular dedication (transcript shows roll call producing seven ayes but the motion failed). The council approved the enabling ordinance and related votes to implement detection enforcement.

Next step: the city will proceed to procurement and contract negotiations; councilors requested that contract terms address data retention/deletion, ownership of equipment, and how revenue will be appropriated if collected.