City Council

City of Fitchburg City Council Meeting Memorial Middle School Library 615 Rollstone Street, Fitchburg, MA July 1, 2014 Memorial Middle School library, 615 Rollstone Street, Fitchburg MA The Council Meets at 7:30 o’clock p.m. I Public Forum II Report of Committee on Records III Communications from Her Honor the Mayor IV. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS V. COMMUNICATIONS: OTHER VI. SWEARING IN: Fitchburg Police Officer Michael Lopez VII. DISCUSSION: Save the Landry Arena members VIII. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee: Meeting of June 24, 2014 163-14. ORDER: That the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of additional funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the FY12 Firefighters SAFER Grant, in the approximate amount of $165,696, for the purposes of said Grant. (Be adopted) 164-14. ORDER: That the City of Fitchburg is authorized to establish a “Police Department Traffic Safety Equipment Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2015 pursuant to MGL Chapter 44 Section 43 ½, in accordance with the enclosed specifications. (Be adopted) 165-14. ORDER: The Mayor’s FY2015 Supplemental Budget Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Reserve: $200,000 Reserve for Other Municipal Services: $37,702 (NOT be adopted) 172-14. Councillor Joel Kaddy, to request funding to create a web site for the City of Fitchburg with training for Employees to sustain the proper updates. (Be adopted) 173-14. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, to request an independent third party audit be conducted and completed by December 31, 2014, of the City of Fitchburg’s Law Department as outlined in the enclosed Petition. (Be adopted) 174-14. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, to request an independent third party audit and cost analysis be conducted and completed by December 31, 2014, of the City of Fitchburg’s Procurement Services as outlined in the enclosed Petition. (Be granted) 175-14. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, to request an independent third party audit and cost analysis be conducted and completed by December 31, 2014, of the City of Fitchburg’s Information Technology and Telephone Services as outlined in the enclosed Petition. (Be granted) Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of June 17, 2014 144-14. Philip J. Kearns, Acting Chief of Police, to amend Chapter 130, Section 19 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg (Sale, exchange, or purchase of metals; waiting period) by changing the word “seven” to the word “twenty one”. (Be held in Committee) 158-14. Councillor Amy Green and Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to ban all drop “aid/donation” boxes in the City. They have a tendency to become “drop off dump” sites. And/or require the agency that has these dumpsters to be required to have a permit. (Be held in Committee) 106-14. Councillor Angelo Bisol, to change the wording in the City code Article X, section 3-121, re: Board of Parks Commissioners, as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Be held in Committee) Legislative Affairs Committee – ORAL REPORT Meeting of June 24, 2014 044-14. Councillor Marcus DiNatale to amend Chapter 3, section 4A of the Code of the City of Fitchburg so that it expressly states that all department heads and  division heads, excluding the City Clerk, as outlined in Chapter 3, section 19A of the Code, be appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by the City Council. 051-14. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, to amend Chapter 3 of the Fitchburg City Code to remove the Department of Finance and Administration and in its place the following: have Assessor and Auditor divisions become stand-alone departments reporting directly to the Mayor, and have a Department of the Treasury where the divisions of Information Technology and Purchasing report to the Treasurer and the Treasurer will report directly to the Mayor. 052-13. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, to amend Chapter 3 of the Fitchburg City Code to remove the Department of Human Services and in its place the following: The divisions of Seniors, Veterans, Library, and Recreation now be stand-alone departments reporting directly to the Mayor. 053-14. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, to amend Chapter 3 Section 4.1 of the Fitchburg City Code to include the following provision: that in the event a selection committee is created by the Mayor for the hiring of either a department head or division head as outlined in Chapter 3, Section 19A’s organizational structure, the Director of Human Resources must be a member of that selection committee. 144-14. Philip J. Kearns, Acting Chief of Police, to amend Chapter 130, Section 19 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg (Sale, exchange, or purchase of metals; waiting period) by changing the word “seven” to the word “twenty one”. Public Safety Committee: ORAL REPORT Meeting of July 1, 2014 239-13. Councillor Jody Joseph and Anthony Peters to install a crosswalk on Summer St. at the corner of bluff Ave. 240-13. Councillor Norman Boisvert to turn Cleghorn St. into a two-way street as outlined in the petition. 241-13. Councillor Norman Boisvert to turn Fairmount Place into a two-way traffic pattern. 108-14. Councillors Michael Kushmerek and Angelo Bisol, to undertake a comprehensive review of the parking situation in the University overlay district and make recommendations to mitigate parking congestion. 145-14. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to have No parking on one side of Fairmount St. from Wildwood Dr. to Oak Hill Rd. There will be excess traffic due to the bridge construction on River St. Also request that “go Slow Children” signs be placed in the area. 147-14. Councillor Amy Green to install flashing “slow” sign at the approach of Laurel St., Charles St., Walton St. 162-14. Councillor Michael Kushmerek and Sharon Bernard to change municipal parking located at the corner of Boulder Ave. and Newton Pl. (across from Youth Library entrance) from 60 minute parking to 90 minute parking. Public Works Committee: Meeting of June 24, 2014 029-14. Councillor Joel Kaddy, to construct a rotary/roundabout at the corner of Electric and Rollstone St. using funds acquired by Bovenzi Corp. and using our DPW for the construction. (Be held in committee) 054-14. Councillor Jody Joseph and Ruby Amidon to inspect and remedy drainage issue in front of 20 Proctor Ave. (Be given leave to withdraw) 179-14. Councillor Stephan Hay, to remove tree stump at Doan St. (Be granted) 180-14. Councillor Paul Beauchemin to extend a chain link fence at Parkhill Park on Beech Street from the parking lot up to Aubuchon Property. (Be held in committee) 181-14. Councillor Angelo Bisol to remedy the run off of water from Kinsman Rd. to 185 High Rock Rd. (Be held in committee) VIII. HEARINGS 177-14. Verizon New England, Inc. and Unitil Fitchburg Gas & Electric, Mechanic St.: On the northwesterly sideline, place a new Joint owned pole No. 2S approximately 31 feet southwesterly from the center line of Merriam Parkway.  IX. ORDERS-FINANCE 153-14. LOAN ORDER: Appropr. $25,000,000 to pay the cost of various wastewater projects as outlined in the enclosed Loan Order. (Final Reading) 180-14. ORDER: Transferring $20,000 to Senior Center Expenses – Compressor Replacement/Repair (FY14) from Building Capital – City Hall Lease (FY14). 181-14. ORDER: Approving the expenditure of funds for the Airport Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), in the total approximate grant amount of $175,750, of which $166,500 is from the Federal Aviation Administration and $9,250 is from the MA Dept. of Transportation-Aeronautics Division, for the purposes of said grant. 182-14. ORDER: Transferring $53,627 to Police-Animal Control Expenses (FY15) from accounts as follows: $19,466 from DPW-Animal Control Expenses (FY15)and $34,161 from DPW-Animal Control Expenses (FY15). 183-14. ORDER: Rescinding Order 122-14 establishing an “Animal Control Revolving Fund” (FY15) under the authority of the Public Works Commissioner. 184-14. ORDER: Establishing and “Animal Control Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2015 pursuant to MGL Ch. 44 section 53E ½ under the authority of the Police Chief. 185-14. ORDER: Approving the expenditure of funds from the US Dept. of Transportation for the Gas Pipeline Assistance Grant in the approximate amount of $50,000 for the purposes of said grant. 186-14. ORDER: Authorizing the City of Fitchburg to: Apply for grant funds from the MA Exec. Ofc. Of Energy and Environmental Affairs and/or the MA Dept. of Environmental Protection in the amount of up to $250,000; Expend revenues from the Water Enterprise Fund in an amount up to $375,000; To place the restricted property under the control of DPW Water Division; To authorize the Fitchburg Water Division, its municipal agents and the Mayor to carry out the intent and purposes of this Order by signing various instruments (all of the above pertaining to a Conservation Restriction on a certain parcel of land in Princeton known as the Krashes Property).  X. ORDINANCES 166-14. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 44, Section 10 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg, under positions paid annually, as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance (City Councilor). (Final Reading) 187-14. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 181 (Zoning) of the Code of the City of Fitchburg by deleting and adding new sections pertaining to pennants, banners and feather flag style signs. (Ref. petition #37-2014) (First Reading) XI. PETITIONS 188-14. Denis Meunier, Deputy Commissioner for Water Supply, to approve the attached resolution and Order authorizing the City of Fitchburg Water Division to purchase a Conservation Restriction on land in Princeton. (Finance Committee and Conservation Commission) 189-14. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to place two stop signs on the Corner of Plymouth St. and Madison St., Plymouth St. and Oak Hill Rd. (Public Safety Committee) 190-14. Councillor Angelo Bisol, to install a Stop sign on Scott Road where it intersects with Rindge Road and to install a caution sign with Traffic Entering on right, Traffic Entering on left. (Public Safety Committee) 191-14 Councillor David Clark and Erin VanLuven Pospychala, to investigate and appropriately address the hazardous conditions at the intersection between Rindge Road and Scott Road. (Public Safety Committee) 192-14. Councillor Angelo Bisol, to install a traffic island at the intersection of Townsend St. and Marshall Rd. as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Public Safety Committee) 193-14. Councillor Angelo Bisol, to repair berm at 18 Charlton St. which will alleviate water damage to resident’s property. (Public Works Committee) 194-14. Lenny Laakso, DPW Commissioner, to endorse the recommendations contained in the “South Street Elementary School-Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program-Preliminary Assessment”. (Public Works Committee) NEXT REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, July 15, 2014