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Lowell council votes 3-2 to repair city's downtown clock after divisive debate
Summary
After a heated discussion about priorities and maintenance costs, the council authorized about $7,300 to repair and maintain the city-owned downtown clock; opponents argued the recurring cost was not a priority and some urged removal if not repaired.
The Lowell City Council voted 3-2 on May 13 to authorize repair work on the city-owned downtown clock after a prolonged debate about cost, public pride and maintenance responsibility.
Supporters described the clock as a donated, city-owned asset that had been a community landmark and said a roughly $7,300 repair (as discussed in the meeting) and a modest maintenance contract were reasonable investments to keep the feature functioning. "It's our clock... it belongs to the city and it should be taken care of," one councilmember said during debate.
Opponents questioned the value of spending taxpayer dollars on an ornamental clock when other priorities exist and worried about recurring maintenance costs; members who opposed urged that, if the council would not commit to ongoing maintenance, the clock should be taken down or mothballed. The vote passed 3-2; post-vote remarks indicated staff would arrange the repair work with the vendor.
The council's action was specific to repairing and returning the clock to operation and did not create a long-term maintenance policy; several members said they wanted an annual maintenance plan or contract to avoid repeated emergency expenditures in future years.
