LOWELL — The council tackled enforcement of quality-of-life points throughout its Tuesday evening assembly, addressing resident issues round unlawful fireworks and dumping, and canine waste.
Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon responded to a movement made by Councilors Erik Gitschier, Kim Scott and Wayne Jenness requesting a report on the variety of violations written for fireworks and plans being taken to cease unlawful fireworks utilization.
Fireworks are unlawful within the state of Massachusetts, even when bought legally in one other state. Hudon famous that group policing and public training versus enforcement was a mitigating consider compliance.
“Leading up to the Fourth of July holiday we upload informational posts to our social media as well as distribute a press release to illustrate the dangers of using illegal fireworks and appeal to the community to enjoy the display provided by the City of Lowell,” he wrote.
Lowell’s fireworks celebration, historically held at LeLacheur Park, launched final July from the realm of the Cox Bridge, providing prime riverfront and bridge viewing of the nighttime present.
A report, compiled for Hudon by Crime Analysis/Intelligence Unit Crime Analyst Meghan Ferreira, pulled information from 2019 by 2023, which confirmed, “Fireworks calls are more prevalent in the month of July than any other month,” with 77-82% of the calls occurring in the course of the five-day timespan across the vacation.
“While criminal charges are infrequent, we’ve had over 30 instances of seized fireworks in the last five years,” Hudon wrote. “Last year, 2023, we saw our efforts reduce our fireworks calls by 25% from the previous year.”
On the State House facet, state Rep. Rodney Elliott testified throughout a public listening to earlier than the joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security relating to his invoice to extend penalties for unlawful use or possession of fireworks in Massachusetts.
“The misuse of fireworks poses a significant threat to public safety, property, and the well-being of our communities,” Elliott stated throughout his Jan. 20 testimony. “The current fine is less than a parking ticket. By increasing fines for illegal fireworks usage, we not only deter irresponsible behavior but also send a clear message that the safety of our citizens is eminent.”
His testimony tracked with Hudon’s remark that “criminal charges are infrequent.” Since 2019, solely 21 felony violations have been issued by the LPD, and solely 11 fireworks circumstances for the complete court docket space have been filed in Lowell District Court in that very same timeframe. Besides Lowell, the court docket additionally hears circumstances for the cities of Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury and Tyngsboro.
Elliott stated his laws goals to handle the issues raised by the various residents who stay in densely populated neighborhoods, the place the utilization of fireworks exacerbates issues of safety.
His invoice proposes that people caught utilizing unlawful fireworks in areas with a inhabitants density of 1,000 or extra individuals per sq. mile will face a nice between $200 and $500, imprisonment as much as six months, or each.
According to the state web site, there have been 979 fires and explosions involving unlawful fireworks in Massachusetts prior to now 10 years.
Gitschier’s movement asking City Manager Tom Golden draft a letter of help from the City Council for Elliott’s House Bill 3634 unanimously handed.
Scott’s illegal dumping movement ran alongside the identical theme of hard-to-enforce actions that negatively influence a neighborhood’s high quality of life. Golden’s response stated the town was buying high-quality cameras to observe unlawful dumping hotspots. Scott known as the cameras an “extra set of eyes.”
“I’m getting the same calls over and over again,” she stated. “Right now, there’s a section on Meadowcroft Street and another one on Felton Street. These areas, they’re not well lit, there’s no homes near them.”
Assistant City Manager/Department of Planning and Development Director Yovani Baez-Rose stated her division had contracted with Flock Security, a vendor of document with the LPD, to roll out 12 cameras.
Locations of the cameras won’t be publicized and they are going to be put in within the spring.
Councilor Paul Ratha Yem raised issues about canine house owners who don’t choose up after their pets, however stated he questioned how violations might be enforced.
“What can we do?” he requested. “How do we enforce that?”
Lowell has an ordinance requiring canine house owners to select up after their dogs. Violators might be punished with a $25 nice for every infraction. But enforcement has not all the time been excessive on the precedence record.
Taking LPD’s lead on fireworks, Golden stated the town will launch a spring public data marketing campaign to “remind people to be a conscientious dog owner to pick up after your dog.”
Golden stated it is also modeled on the “Please don’t throw the snow” marketing campaign the town is engaged on to coach residents in regards to the metropolis’s snow-clearing operations.
The council adjourned its common assembly to debate issues of litigation associated to an Open Meeting Law grievance.
