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Lowell council highlights: Tyler award for 311, banner program, Coburn Hall update and traffic motions
Summary
At the March 10 meeting the council recognized MIS for a Tyler Excellence award and ongoing 311 and asset-management rollout; approved the Hometown Hero Banner program report and out-of-state MIS travel; heard a Coburn Hall structural update (cost analysis due in a few weeks); and approved multiple traffic and neighborhood motions.
The Lowell City Council at its March 10 meeting heard a series of informational reports and adopted routine motions covering civic-IT improvements, community programs, school-facility updates and neighborhood traffic assessments.
City Manager Golden thanked the MIS team for recent work integrating Tyler software tools that underpin the new 311 civic-complaint system and an enterprise asset-management workflow. Golden said the administration expects additional transparency tools to go live by mid-April and that the city will present a first-quarter dashboard showing motion responses and tracking.
Council accepted a report on the Hometown Hero Banner program: the program has honored 58 veterans and first responders since its 2022 start. Staff reported 12 submissions so far this year and said the submission deadline is Friday the 16th; banners are double-sided (30 in x 60 in) and will be installed before Memorial Day. Staff said fee waivers for sponsors could be considered on a case-by-case basis.
On facilities, the council heard an update about Coburn Hall: Kevin Kane (Scansa) and city staff said structural engineers issued a field bulletin describing required remediation; pricing and contractor estimates are being gathered and a cost analysis should be available in a few weeks. Councilors asked that the manager report back to the council in April.
Several neighborhood motions passed by voice vote asking the city manager to study safety and feasibility of a four-way stop at Bowers and Fletcher, to audit Cross Street and recommend short- and long-range fixes, to schedule a community meeting on a proposed Kimmel Drive sidewalk, and to review signal timing at Westford and Steman. Another motion directed staff to explore installing benches for seniors.
The council also approved routine items including authorization for out-of-state MIS travel, notices pursuant to MGL Chapter 139 for a property hearing, and easements with National Grid for an underground electric distribution installation on Douglas Road.
The meeting concluded with reminders about upcoming budget hearings on debt and capital and announcements about local job fairs and community events.
