The Manager was kind enough to respond to my email asking him for a response or comments to Councilor Elliot’s Motions this week.

Gerry.

As you know, I do not generally respond to questions about upcoming motions from the Councilors until after they have presented them on the Council Floor and they have been voted on.

However in this case the answers are straight forward and I will respond.

21. C. Elliott – Req. Mgr. explain why he did not inform the Council of permitting problems at LHA.

I think the only discussion with the Council was when we reached the agreement with the LHA to get permits and pay fees. There wasn’t any other notice to the Council as it didn’t seem to rise to a level that needed to be escalated….the negotiations were proceeding and Camacho seemed to have the situation under control. Its day to day operational stuff….

In this case the problem of working without a permit occurred and we acted to shut down the job, we then proceeded to commence negotiations with the LHA as they were relying upon a 1938 agreement with the City that permits and fees were not required, an agreement was reached and brought to the Council. During that time there were occasional occurrences of miscommunication and lack of coordination by LHA and the City Inspectional Services….Camacho indicated that he had the matter under control. It didn’t seem that there was anything to really inform the Council about other than everyone was working the issue out.

22. C. Elliott – Req. Mgr. explain decision to instruct former Building Commissioner to issue plumbing/gas fitting permits to LHA.

To my knowledge no one was ever instructed to issue plumbing permits. While we were withholding permits, because we were debating and negotiating with LHA over the need for such permits and the applicable fees (due to the 1938 agreement), they wanted to move forward with some plumbing work. They were using outside contractors for this work. After consideration of the good faith negotiations, and after payment of the appropriate fees, we authorized Camacho to release the plumbing permits. Permits are permission to do work….the work still needs inspections to insure code compliance.

On this week’s Council Agenda, City Councilor Rodney Elliot has a couple of direct questions he wants answers too from the City Manager about the Lowell Housing Authority Issue’s.

21. C. Elliott – Req. Mgr. explain why he did not inform the Council of permitting problems at LHA.

22. C. Elliott – Req. Mgr. explain decision to instruct former Building Commissioner to issue plumbing/gas fitting permits to LHA.

Over on the Sun Column Blog, Chris Scott has a post today that talks about the LHA and the possible change in the board.

Chris points out: The term of the current seat holder, Mark Paton, expired Dec. 31 and he’s currently serving in what’s called “hold-over” status.

Paton is one of the three nominees. The other two are Tim Green, a local tradesman, and Mickey O’Keefe, the popular Lowell police sergeant who had a prominent role in “The Fighter.”

In his Blog Post yesterday Chris brought up an interesting idea regarding a City proposed task force.

If only the task force met which stated in part:

Following the 2009 controversy involving substandard renovations done to city buildings by McBee Development LLC, particularly one done at 96-98 Grove St., City Manager Bernie Lynch formed a task force to ensure all city departments were on the same page, and speaking with one another, during the different phases of a building project

Part of the reason was because the man spearheading the effort, Andy Sheehan, found himself out of a job after a politically vengeful City Council cut funding for his position.

Although the task force was formed in 2009 and the LHA work began in 2008, he is correct in wondering IF the city had better communication then (and NOW) among departments would some of these issues not exist?

Make the Sun column blog one of your daily reads. It’s usually interesting, especially for those of us who are labeled as viewing Lowell events from “The SAC Club” perspective. LOL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: James Errickson
Title: Urban Renewal Project Manager/Department of Planning and Development
Phone: 978-674-4252
Email: jerrickson@lowellma.gov

Tanner Street District Economic Development Planning
Public Meeting Scheduled for January 23rd

Lowell, MA, January 5, 2012 — The City of Lowell, through the Department of Planning & Development (DPD), scheduled the first in a series of three public meeting for the Tanner Street District Economic Development Planning process for Monday, January 23rd at 6:00pm in the public meeting room at the LRTA facility at 100 Hale Street. The meeting will focus on shaping the vision and plans for the district, primarily the industrial properties abutting Tanner Street, as an economic and job creation center for Lowell.

In November 2010, the City was awarded a $175,000 “Brownfields Area-wide Planning Grant” from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus on district-wide planning for the Tanner Street area of Lowell. As directed by the Lowell City Council, DPD is completing this project in an effort to support and enhance existing businesses, attract new development that creates jobs, and to explore the potential for establishing an urban renewal district for the Tanner Street area. The planning effort is designed to capitalize on Tanner Street’s ideal proximity to the Lowell Connector Highway and Gallagher Terminal in order to generate jobs and economic development, while simultaneously addressing real and perceived environmental issues of the district; a likely barrier to its economic success.

As expressed by Lowell City Manager, Bernard Lynch, “This is a great opportunity for Lowell to establish the vision for the highest and best use of Tanner Street, attracting new businesses and development to the district that create jobs and support the City’s tax base.”

The City secured two consultant teams to inform and manage the Tanner Street planning process. Crosby | Schlessinger | Smallridge (CSS) of Boston is the lead planning consultant for this project. Over the past several months, the CSS team has completed extensive background information gathering and researching of existing conditions for the Tanner Street area. Much of this information will be presented on January 23rd.

A key component of the Tanner Street District planning effort is the completion of a market research study, which will provide a realistic picture of the types of industries and development that can be supported and targeted for the Tanner Street district given existing and future market conditions. Bartram and Cochran (B&C) of Hartford, CT was selected as the market research consultant to complete this study.

The Tanner Street District Economic Development Planning process will continue over the next several months. The City and the consultants are eager to hear from the community to formulate the vision for the District on January 23rd and future meetings on this project.

For more information on the Tanner Street District Economic Development Plan please call James Errickson or Sarah Brown at (978) 674-4252 or visit the project’s website at www.lowellma.gov/depts/dpd/TannerStreet/TSEDP.

Congratulations to Mike Lenzi and Erik Gitchier who will be sworn in office as members of the Greater Lowell Technical School Committee this morning at 10:00 am at the School.

If you are unable to attend, hopefully you can watch on-line