Jim Milinazzo
Experience + Integrity + Action = Leadership
Move Lowell Forward PAC Questionnaire
The citizens of any town or city must understand where it stands and what the future holds. The citizens of Lowell, collectively, via our vote in November, will define what we want our city to be, and then work to achieve it. An essential component of that process is our City Council, the body that represents our goals and has the power to carry them through. Therefore, we must not only develop our own vision for the City, but also obtain insight into how our City Councilors will represent us to carry out the difficult tasks that will lie ahead of us. The Move Lowell Forward PAC hopes to stimulate the discussion by stating the goals of our vision for Lowell and solicit responses from the candidates for City Council.Purpose of Move Lowell Forward PAC:
We are a non-partisan citizens' group of Lowell residents who support professional city management, good government with fair access for all, well-planned economic development, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars. We want to provide information and awareness to increase voter turnout, and endorse candidates for local office through a process of evaluation on the issues, supporting good and fair government.
Our Vision for Lowell:
We would like to have:
•A Professionally Managed City Government
A Professionally Managed City Government•Renewed Economic Growth to Stabilize City Finances
Renewed Economic Growth to Stabilize City Finances•Opportunities Provided by Local Jobs
Opportunities Provided by Local Jobs•Effective Public Services
Effective Public Services•A High Quality of Life
A High Quality of Life•A Strong Educational System
A Strong Educational System•Affordable Standard of Living
Affordable Standard of Living•Safe, Clean Neighborhoods
Safe, Clean Neighborhoods•Efficient Transportation
Efficient Transportation•Accessible Commercial Enterprises
Accessible Commercial Enterprises Policy Questions for Prospective City Councilors:
1.Professionalism in City Government
Professionalism in City Governmenta.What do you feel qualifies one as a professional city manager?
What do you feel qualifies one as a professional city manager?A Masters Degree in either public administration or municipal finance; and at least 5 years of progressive experience in municipal/town government.
b.Do you believe the city manager should have a contract?
Do you believe the city manager should have a contract?Yes
c.Do you believe the City Manager should be able to hire and fire his own staff without interference from the City Council?
Do you believe the City Manager should be able to hire and fire his own staff without interference from the City Council?Yes
2.City Finances
City Financesa.What ideas do you have to improve efficiency to contain cost growth in City operations?
What ideas do you have to improve efficiency to contain cost growth in City operations?Continue to work with our unions on the issue of Health Care; i.e. PPO. In addition, look at a regional approach to bulk purchasing goods and materials.
b.What should be our City Tax Policy—including options regarding the current City policy of restricting tax base growth to 2.5% of prior base plus new growth, adding the 0.75% meals tax to the 6.25% sales tax, increasing fees or adjusting the ratio of Commercial/Industrial to Residential tax?
What should be our City Tax Policy—including options regarding the current City policy of restricting tax base growth to 2.5% of prior base plus new growth, adding the 0.75% meals tax to the 6.25% sales tax, increasing fees or adjusting the ratio of Commercial/Industrial to Residential tax?I support restricting tax base growth to 2.5% of prior base plus new growth. Currently, I do not support adding the 0.75% to the meals tax. I want to sit down with the administration and the Finance Subcommittee to lay out a strategy of cost containment before adding additional tax burden. As you know, the council recently completed a comprehensive review and update of a number of fees. It is too soon to revisit the overall fee structure. I would not support adjusting the ratio of Commercial/Industrial to Residential tax.
c.What roles do you see UML and MCC playing in the Economic Development of Lowell?
What roles do you see UML and MCC playing in the Economic Development of Lowell?I see both UML and MCC playing a tremendous role in the Economic Development of Lowell both as a user of goods and services, and as a partner in the planning and implementation of best practices. UML is partnering with both the city and the Lowell Plan to look at future economic development initiatives.
3.Effective Public Services
Effective Public Servicesa.What are the essential public services?
What are the essential public services?Public Safety-Public Education-Trash Pick-Up/Recycling-Sound Economic Development Activities that lead to Job Creation.
b.What are your suggestions for improving Public services?
What are your suggestions for improving Public services?Fund the position of Assistant to the City Manager and continue to encourage dialog with our neighborhood groups and our citizens overall.
4.Educational System
Educational Systema.What role does public education play in moving Lowell forward and positioning it for the next ten and twenty years?
What role does public education play in moving Lowell forward and positioning it for the next ten and twenty years?An enormous role; under full disclosure my wife is a school teacher in Lowell. Having both the Superintendent and the High School Head Master on the Lowell Plan Board has provided the business community with a comprehensive understanding of how important public education can be to the future of our community for the next ten and twenty years.
b.How would you adjust school funding to reflect school population trends and other demographic considerations and also our school ratings?
How would you adjust school funding to reflect school population trends and other demographic considerations and also our school ratings?I am most impressed with the recent High School MCAS scores. It appears the middle school population is declining which is why the School Department chose to close the Rogers School to students and to move the Central Office to that site. The students were then transferred to other middle schools. Even though it is predicted that the next two fiscal years will be difficult, I would continue to move forward with plans to deal with the remaining outdated school buildings and to ensure that appropriate resources are provided to public education.
5.Opportunities Provided by Good Jobs
Opportunities Provided by Good Jobsa.What directions should the City go to attract new enterprises to meet the needs of our citizens and grow our tax base?
What directions should the City go to attract new enterprises to meet the needs of our citizens and grow our tax base?I would continue to work in partnership with the Federal/State Delegations to bring about the resources needed to continue attracting new enterprises to the city. Having a talented Planning and Development Office that continues to attract dollars to the community remains vital. Working with the National Park Service on Historic Tax Credits/Federal Tax Credits is important to bring about projects that will create jobs. I also believe that both UML and MCC will provide continue to attract businesses to the area; Nanotechnology and Green Building opportunities.
b.What would you propose to do to maximize the economic benefit of the Renewal Communities designation?
What would you propose to do to maximize the economic benefit of the Renewal Communities designation?I think the city manager and the Planning Office are being very aggressive to maximize the economic benefit of our Renewal Community designation. One just as to look at all of the development projects happening throughout out community.
c.What do you think are the key economic benefits of the Hamilton Canal Project, and what stands in the way?
What do you think are the key economic benefits of the Hamilton Canal Project, and what stands in the way?The Hamilton Canal Project will change the face of downtown Lowell. However, the planners have developed a strategy that will interface the current downtown with the new development district through proposed new transportation systems and infrastructure upgrades i.e. sidewalks, signage. I am hopeful that the Hamilton Canal project will result in raising the level of interest of other properties owners to invest in the neighborhood within the Jackson/Appleton/Middlesex Street area. The Lowell Transitional Living Center needs to continue to improve and enhance the management of their facility. Recently, through he work of the new Director and Board president progress has been made. The newly formed JAMBRA group continues to have a positive influence on the Hamilton Canal project.
6.High Quality of Life
High Quality of Lifea.How important are “public events” to the People of Lowell and to our destination city based economy.
How important are “public events” to the People of Lowell and to our destination city based economy.I believe they are very important; “There’s a Lot to Like about Lowell.” Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, some public events have either been scaled back or eliminated all together. However, the business community continues to work on making sure that vital public events that often define a community continue; i.e. Fireworks.
b.How do you think the City should address the issues of the Arena and Ballpark and support other attractions, such as the Memorial Auditorium?
How do you think the City should address the issues of the Arena and Ballpark and support other attractions, such as the Memorial Auditorium?I think the city does an admirable job in supporting these venues. I am looking forward to UML taking over the arena, and I do know the Ballpark is in need of some repairs which need to be addressed. I am confident the city and the Arena Commission will work together to deal with these issues. The Memorial Auditorium continues to be a jewel in our community. The public funds the city council includes in the budget for the auditorium have a very positive payback effect on the city overall. Our return on this investment is key. In addition, we cannot lose site of the fact the auditorium is a building that memorializes the contributions made by Lowell residents in all of the wars/conflicts through the years.
7.Affordable Housing
Affordable Housinga.How should the City be involved in ensuring affordable housing for its residents?
How should the City be involved in ensuring affordable housing for its residents?As Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee and past Executive Director of the Lowell Housing Authority, I believe the city continues to promote affordable housing in a fair and equitable way. The city’s support for the Reinvention of the Julian Steele Housing Development is a good example. All 180 new units will be affordable up to 150% of the area median income. A number of the units are in the 0-30% range. The LHA is providing 90 Project base Section 8 vouchers. In addition, the Coalition for a Better Acre and a newly formed group, Mill Cities Community Investment (MCCI), a Community Development Financial Institution, which I am a Board member, provides resources to support affordable housing initiatives. First time home buyer programs working with the Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, the city and the Lowell Development and Financial Corporation are important to ensure housing remains affordable for our residents. Community Teamwork, Inc. (I sit on the Board of Directors) also provides a myriad of affordable housing programs for Lowell and the region.
b.What would you recommend to incentivize good property maintenance, both by individual home owners and by landlords?
What would you recommend to incentivize good property maintenance, both by individual home owners and by landlords?I would continue to make grant funds and low interest loans available to individual home owners and landlords fund important maintenance needs. For example, the Lead Paint Abatement Program provides funds to deal with our older housing stock.
8.Safe, Clean Neighborhoods
Safe, Clean Neighborhoods a.How would you engage the citizens or enhance codes/enforcement to improve neighborhood character?
How would you engage the citizens or enhance codes/enforcement to improve neighborhood character?I would continue to work with all of the neighborhood groups to listen to their issues. Our Neighborhood Coordinator attends every neighborhood meeting and interacts with all of the city departments to effectively deal with issues such as code enforcement. I would reinstitute the Neighborhood Strike Force under the city manager’s Neighborhood Initiative Program to quickly deal with abandoned and neglected properties.
b.Lowell has pursued the “Broken Windows” philosophy. Do you think it is effective or not and why do you think that?
Lowell has pursued the “Broken Windows” philosophy. Do you think it is effective or not and why do you think that?My understanding of the Broken Windows theory is that if an abandoned building is allowed to decay, other properties will soon follow, crime will increase, and the overall neighborhood will decline. The city works hard to make sure buildings are secure and we recently passed an ordinance giving the city the ability to fine property owners and lien the properties in question, this was done to combat the rise in foreclosures.
9.Efficient Transportation
Efficient Transportationa.What are your priorities with regard to private vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles?
What are your priorities with regard to private vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles?As we continue to improve the quality of life for our residents, we need to be mindful of transportation/pedestrian related issues. An immediate need is being addressed through the upgrade of the cobblestone crosswalks in downtown. There are also plans to become more pedestrian friendly by connecting various parts of the downtown to the Merrimack River, UML, and Middlesex Community College. I understand that the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) continues to look at ways to improve transportation in and around the downtown area. The city has a number of intersections that have been rated by the Commonwealth as being very dangerous. These need to be addressed. The various bridge reconstruction projects are tying up traffic and the city is studying ways to mitigate the problem. In our neighborhoods, we do have Resident-Only parking to deal with private vehicles. There is probably at least one new parking garage in our future.
b.What can be done to ease commuting for those not going to Boston or other Mass Transit hubs.
What can be done to ease commuting for those not going to Boston or other Mass Transit hubs.There are studies going on to expand the Mass transit system into parts of Southern New Hampshire. A new rail system would ease traffic off of Rt. 93 and Rt. 3. I understand the LRTA continues to add routes to their service area to help ease congestion. I am not sure if this is realistic given budget constraints, but I remember years ago a police officers directing traffic in downtown to ease the congestion. This effort would also provide more police visibility.
10.There are many other issues of interest to the voters, including :
There are many other issues of interest to the voters, including :a.Do you support a charter change to reset the local preliminary election from a threshold of 19 candidates to around 24 candidates or to eliminate it entirely?
Do you support a charter change to reset the local preliminary election from a threshold of 19 candidates to around 24 candidates or to eliminate it entirely?No
b.What is the proper mix of new retail businesses to meet the needs of the neighborhoods individually and the City as a whole?
What is the proper mix of new retail businesses to meet the needs of the neighborhoods individually and the City as a whole?The Division of Planning and Development has a very competent staff working with both downtown stakeholders and neighborhood groups. The DPD understands the myriad of quasi public and private funds available to ensure the proper mix of new retail businesses.
11.Do you have any other issues you would like to discuss?
Do you have any other issues you would like to discuss?As we look around at other cities and towns in the Commonwealth, Lowell continues to be admired as a community that continues to move forward. It is a credit to all those, not only involved in government at all levels, but it is a credit to our residents who choose to be interested and engaged in our city. Thank you!
