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Lawrence Publick

An independent guide to city government in Lawrence, Massachusetts

Decisions

What the City Council, boards, and committees decided, from their minutes, newest meeting first.

Minutes come out after a board approves them, usually a few weeks after the meeting. Committee recommendations are listed separately. They become final only when the City Council votes.

Decisions are pulled from each meeting's minutes by AI. Check the minutes before relying on one. About AI summaries

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June 2026

April 2026

Earlier months

March 2026 2 meetings

  • Zoning Board of Appeals

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Approved the petition for 367-371 Lowell St for multifamily use with 3 conditions, 3-2.
    • Approved the petition for 414-422 Essex Street with 1 condition, 5-0.
    • Approved the petition for 9 Osgood Street with 11 conditions, 5-0.
    1 procedural step: minutes, continuances, referrals
    • Continued the case for 50-52 Bodwell St, 5-0.

  • Bellevue Cemetery Board

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Approved sending the letter regarding Memorial Day to Martha Velez, Victor Ortega, Eileen Bernelle, and Brian Depena; roll call: Maria Taveras yea, Eric Machuca yea, Elizabeth Charlton yea.
    • Approved drafting a letter to Acting Community Development Director Charlinett Pascual stating that Bellevue Cemetery declines to sell land to any abutters.
February 2026 2 meetings

  • Zoning Board of Appeals

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Approved a Special Permit for a take-out restaurant at 12 Hampshire Street without conditions, 4-0.

    Committee recommendations to the City Council

    • Approved subdivision of the lot at 11 Tewksbury Street with 3 conditions (fire hydrant installation, pull-down attic stairs only, landscaping plan, and recommended 4 off-street parking spaces), 4-1.
    4 procedural steps: minutes, continuances, referrals
    • Approved withdrawal without prejudice of the petition at 132-134 Broadway Street, 4-0.
    • Continued the Special Permit case at 50-52 Bodwell Street to allow the applicant to secure a translator, 5-0.
    • Continued the case at 367-371 Lowell Street requiring submission of official architectural plans, 5-0.
    • Continued the case at 367-371 Lowell Street requiring written curb cut approval from DPW, 5-0.

  • City Council

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Approved DOC # 484/25, creating the Energy Advocate ordinance position, with amendments changing the language requirement to English required/bilingual preferred and adding a qualification enforcement clause, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 008/26, transferring $100,000.00 from Emergency Management Permanent Salary and Wages to Professional Services, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 004/26, transferring $95,279 to fund the SEIU Local 3 Laborers Union CBA, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 005/26, transferring $42,552 to fund the SEIU Local 3 Inspectors Union CBA, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Reconsidered DOC # 008/26 by unanimous voice vote.
    6 more decisions
    • Approved DOC # 008/26 again and waived the 30-day holding period by unanimous voice vote.
    • Discharged DOC #415/16 (license plate reader review) from committee by unanimous voice vote.
    • Discharged DOC #329/18 (Lawrence Gas Leak Emergency) from committee by unanimous voice vote.
    • Recommitted seven items (DOC #114/13, #330/14, #217/18, #328/18, #349/19, #356/19, #161/22) back to the Public Safety Committee.
    • Recommitted DOC # 483/25 (surplus declaration for land at rear of 47 Hamlet Street) back to the Housing Committee.
    • Approved DOC # 491/25, installation of conduit at Lowell Street near Pole P3043, by unanimous voice vote.
    5 procedural steps: minutes, continuances, referrals
    • Approved the minutes of the 01/05/2026, 01/06/2026, and 01/12/2026 meetings by unanimous voice vote.
    • Withdrew DOC #348/19 (hookah use prohibition) by unanimous voice vote.
    • Withdrew DOC # 61/20 (Corona Virus-Lawrence Preparedness) by unanimous voice vote.
    • Withdrew DOC #415/16 by unanimous voice vote.
    • Withdrew DOC #329/18 by unanimous voice vote.
January 2026 6 meetings

  • Zoning Board of Appeals

    · Minutes · Checked against an AI transcription

    • Approved the 5B Stevens single-family home project with 2 conditions, 4-0.
    • Approved the 12 Saratoga Street project with 3 conditions, 4-0.
    • Denied the second ADU permit at 50-52 Bodwell Street after a motion to continue failed 2-2.
    • Approved the project at 76-78 Bennington Street, 4-0.
    • Approved the 49 Blanchard Street project with 4 conditions, 4-0.
    1 more decision
    • Approved the 326 Lowell Street project with 1 condition, 4-0.
    4 procedural steps: minutes, continuances, referrals
    • Continued the case at 132-134 S. Broadway.
    • Withdrew the petition for 327 High Street without prejudice, 4-0.
    • Continued the case at 11 Tewksbury Street.
    • Continued the case at 12 Hampshire Street.

  • Lawrence Redevelopment Authority

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Approved unanimously a motion to authorize staff to advertise for letters of interest from qualified professionals to conduct a financial review of the LRA's financial statements.
    • Approved unanimously a motion to authorize staff to develop and present a formal internship program proposal.
    • Approved unanimously a motion to accept the October 2025 through December 2025 financial statements.

  • City Council

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Approved DOC # 479/25, a $1,000,000 appropriation (reduced from $2,000,000) for the Schematic Design Phase of the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 480/25, authorization to expend $232,000.00 for the MA Office on Disability FY26 ADA Improvement Grant, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 482/25, a $280,400.65 appropriation transfer from Free Cash to the Rail Trail Project Account, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to order a public hearing on DOC # 484/25, creation of an 'Energy Advocate' position ordinance, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 485/25, disclosure of a conflict by Jennifer Duran, Asst City Clerk, by unanimous voice vote.
    15 more decisions
    • Approved DOC # 486/25, disclosure of a conflict by Maria Vidal, Asst Tax Assessor, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to order a public hearing on DOC # 491/25, installation of conduit at Lowell Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 492/25, a utility easement grant to Verizon, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 298/25, installation of a JO pole and mid-span pole on Mt Vernon St at Crestwood Circle, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 299/25, installation of a JO pole and mid-span pole on Mt Vernon St near James St, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 407/25, installation of a JO pole on Berkeley Street near Montgomery Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 410/25, installation of a JO pole on Brookfield Street near Bowdoin Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 411/25, installation of a JO pole on Shepard Street near Glenn Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 412/25, installation of a JO pole on Andover Street near Tewksbury and Coolidge Streets, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to waive the reading of the preamble of the handicapped parking legal notice, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to take the handicapped parking items as a block, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved the block of handicapped parking documents (DOC # 399/25, 401/25, 402/25, 403/25, 404/25, 424/25, 438/25, 439/25, 440/25, 460/25, 461/25, 462/25, 463/25) and waived the 30-day waiting period only for DOC # 460/25, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 476/25, removal of handicapped parking at 76 Inman Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved DOC # 443/25, child care parking at 11 Platt Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to table DOC # 396/25, the Auto Recycles Group junk dealer permit renewal, by unanimous voice vote.
    6 procedural steps: minutes, continuances, referrals
    • Approved two sets of minutes (12/04/2025 Special and Regular Meetings) by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to withdraw DOC # 477/25, removal of handicapped parking at 25 Durham Street, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Approved a motion to withdraw DOC # 23/26, confirmation of Charlinett Pascual as Director of Community Development, by unanimous voice vote.
    • Referred New Business items 009/26 through 021/26 to the Ordinance Committee.
    • Referred item 022/26, an update on LRA property transfer litigation, to the Economic Development Committee.
    • Referred item 024/26, authorization to expend $1,649,561 from a MassDOT Chapter 130 grant, to the Budget and Finance Committee.

  • City Council

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Declared DOC # 003/26 an emergency, passed by unanimous voice vote.
    • Ratified the approval of DOC # 003/26, the purchase of an airplane hangar at Lawrence Municipal Airport for $975,000 on behalf of Greater Lawrence Technical School, passed (Laplante voting no, Delrosario absent).

  • City Council

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Suspended Rule #6 to allow discussion of DOC # 003/26 at the full Council, roll call 8 YES to 1 NO (Laplante voted NO, Delrosario absent).
    • Approved DOC # 003/26, a motion for the City of Lawrence to purchase a hangar at Lawrence Municipal Airport for $975,000 on behalf of Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS), with GLTS to repurchase the hangar within five months for $975,000 plus additional holding costs, with amendments allowing the Council President to represent the Council during negotiations, making the purchase contingent on a successful appraisal at or above the purchase price, and contingent on Airport Commission approval; roll call 8 YES to 1 NO (Laplante voted NO, Delrosario absent).

  • City Council

    · Minutes · Not checked

    • Elected Councilor Jeovanny Rodriguez as City Council President by a roll call vote of 5-4 over Councilor Marc Laplante.
    • Elected Councilor Ana Levy as City Council Vice President by a roll call vote of 5-4 over Councilor Gregory Delrosario.
    • Approved a motion to make the election of the Council President unanimous, passed unanimously by roll call vote.

From minutes posted in the city's Agenda Center, for meetings since Thursday, January 1, 2026.