City Council

CITY OF FITCHBURG MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR October 3, 2017 7:00PM Memorial Middle School Library 615 Rollstone Street Fitchburg MA 01420 WELCOME TO THE FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL! This is intended to help you understand the meeting format and assist you with the rules of the Council as they pertain to your participation. All meetings of the Fitchburg City council are open to the public. This does not mean that the public participates in all aspects of the meeting. It simply means that the meeting itself, including all discussions and votes, is open for public view. Executive Session The only time a Council meeting can be closed to the public is when the Council votes for Executive Session in order to discuss sensitive matters in private, such as pending litigation. Any votes taken however, must be taken in open session. OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK DURING A COUNCIL MEETING: Public Forum The Public Forum occurs immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance. The President will ask if anyone in the audience wishes to speak on any matter appearing on the Agenda. If you wish to address the Council, you must stand and be recognized and follow these rules before speaking: 1. State your name and address. 2. Approach the center table and either stand or sit. This allows you to be seen and heard clearly by everyone in attendance. 3. You may speak only on items appearing on the agenda for no more than (2) minutes. Copies of the agenda are available on the center table prior to the meeting. 4. Please state the petition, order, ordinance, or resolution number to which you refer. Public Hearings Public hearings are held on various issues such as Special Permits and Zoning changes. The same rules apply with the following exceptions: 1. You must stand and be recognized either “in favor” or “in opposition” when asked by the Council President. 2. You need not refer to the petition number. If you have any questions or comments either before or after the meeting, any Councillor would be happy to assist you. Thank you for your interest!  I. PUBLIC FORUM II. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS III.COMMUNICATION-HIS HONOR THE MAYOR Appointment Letters 1. Joanne Huse, to the Board of Registrars of voters for a term to expire April 1, 2019. 2. Thomas J. Gustainis, as a member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, for a term to expire September 1, 2020. 3. Matthew Kroch, as a member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, for a term to expire September 1, 2020. 4. Michele Marino, to be reappointed as the Veteran’s Service Commissioner for a term to expire October 1, 2020. IV.COMMUNICATION Pension Reserves Investment Board V.REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of October 3, 2017, 6:45 PM New Appointments: Permanent Full Time Firefighter for the City of Fitchburg Joshua R. Surrette Kevin D. Machado Public Safety Committee Oral Report Meeting of October 3, 2017, 6:00 PM 078-13. Councillor Clark, to place “no parking” signs opposite from the already existing signs from South and Ellis Street to Ellis and Kingsbury Street. 109-13. Councillor Jody Joseph and Clement Cotnoir, to place a crosswalk at the corner of Jeffrey St. and Electric Ave. This would allow Mr. Cotnoir access to the adjacent sidewalk. 269-13. Councillor Thibault-Munoz and Councillor Carbone, to request the City Council to create a comprehensive parking plan for the neighborhoods surrounding Fitchburg State University that shall include a creation of a task force and plan so that parking problems can be addressed appropriately. 051-17. Councillor Joel Kaddy and Young Jin, to create an entrance to Independent Cleaners located at 1 Wallace Road, Fitchburg. (Amended to read: create a turning lane easterly from Wallace Road and enhance the entrance. 119-17. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to place a stop sign on Columbus St. at the intersection of St. Joseph Ave. and Columbus St., and also at the intersection of Oak Hill Road and Columbus St. 120-17. The City of Fitchburg Police Department, Traffic Bureau, to request that the Code of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 169, Section 59, titled One Way Street be amended to include a restriction in the flow of vehicle traffic on Chestnut Street: One way, North, as outlined in the enclosed petition. 183-17. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to change the four stop signs located at the intersections of Oak Hill Road and Franklin Road to be solar powered lighted stop signs. This would make the intersection safer. If possible, to take the cost of the four lighted stop signs out of Chapter 90 funds. 188-17. Sam Gandor, Johnny’s Service Station to add Basemah Almousa onto the Class II Dealer’s License located at 339 River Street, Fitchburg. 229-17. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to replace a stop sign with a yield sign that is located at the corners of Daniels St. and River St., because it is a roundabout. 230-17. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to request that all roundabouts in the city be uniform. 231-17. Darlene M. Grossnickle, to petition for an additional street light at #364 Pearl Hill Road for safety concerns, as detailed in the enclosed petition. 238-17. Councillors Michael Kushmerek and Angelo Bisol, Mr. Jay Bry, VP of Finance and Administration, FSU, and Mr. A.J. Tourigny, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, to implement the proposed recommendations in the enclosed memorandum conducted by Tighe & Bond, on behalf of Fitchburg State University and the City of Fitchburg, to implement an “ALL WAY” STOP control intersection improvement strategy at the North Street at Pearl Street intersection. VI. HEARING 114-17. City of Fitchburg Planning Board, to discontinue as a Public Way, the section of Westminster Hill Road within the “Game On” property boundary as outlined in the enclosed petition.  VII. LOAN ORDER 217-17. ORDERED THAT: Loan Order#085-17 of this Council, adopted on May 16, 2017 and approved by the Mayor on May 18, 2017, authorizing the borrowing of $2,500,000, to pay costs of constructing approximately 12,300 feet of water main on various City streets, including but not limited to replacing existing cast iron water mains with cement-lined, ductile iron water mains, installation of new fire hydrants and valves, and the replacement of service lines, and the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto, is amended to also permit the expenditure of such funds to make water tank repairs and/or roof replacements at pump stations. (Final Reading) VIII. ORDERS-FINANCE 239-17. ORDERED THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, FY18 First Responder Naloxone (Narcan) grant in the approximate amount of $4,000.00 (FOUR THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to support first responder purchase and administration of naloxone. 240-17. ORDERED THAT: That the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Digital Federal Credit Union gift in the approximate amount of $5,000 (FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said gift, which is to provide quality programs to the city’s youth, such as the Junior Police Academy. IX. ORDER-OTHER 241-17. ORDERED THAT: Whereas the Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission has voted unanimously at its regular meeting on September 27, 2017 to approve a Lease Agreement of office space within the Airport’s Terminal Building for airport purposes with the FCA Flight Center, Inc., which Agreement is attached hereto; and Whereas the leasing of this property has already completed the appropriate process through M.G.L. C. 30B; and Whereas the approval of this Lease Agreement would be beneficial to both the Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission and the City of Fitchburg; Therefore, it is ordered that, the City of Fitchburg shall through its Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale, approve and authorize the execution of the attached Lease Agreement  of office space within the Terminal Building of the Fitchburg Municipal Airport with FCA Flight Center, Inc., and also authorizes Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale take all other steps necessary, convenient or helpful to finalize the Lease Agreement. (Be Referred to the City Property Committee) X. ORDINANCES 237-17. AN ORDINANCE: That Chapter Three, Article XXVII, §3- 231 of the City Code shall be amended by striking the words “Director of Community Development” where ever they may appear and inserting “Executive Director of Community Development and Planning” in its place. The resulting §3-231 “Establishment; supervisions; divisions; responsibilities shall read as followed: “There is hereby established the Department of Community Development under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director of Community Development and Planning appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation of the Council. The Department shall consist of four divisions: the Economic Development Division; the Housing and Development Division; the Building and Zoning Division; and the Planning Division. The Department will serve as the chief planning and economic development agency of the City with responsibility for reviewing all of the planning tools of the City, including the Zoning Ordinance, the Planning Board regulations, and regulations of the Conservation Commission; studying, making recommendations for and facilitating the appropriate creation of housing and economic facilities to further the housing interests and needs of the City and its vigorous economic development; performing long-term planning for the needs of the City in coordination with other departments and divisions, boards and commissions of the City; making recommendations for changes in policy, ordinances and cooperation with the nongovernmental sector to further the appropriate growth of the City. The Department will provide support services to the Planning Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Conservation Commission and such other boards, commissions, divisions and departments as the Mayor may from time to time assign. The Department will develop and implement to the maximum extent feasible a uniform, single, simple and coordinated application process for businesses doing business, or seeking to do business, in the City to assist in obtaining inspections, approvals and other permits and authorizations as may be needed to do business within the City.” (Reference Petition #006-17) (Final Reading)  XI. PETITIONS 242-17. Councillor Marcus DiNatale and Councillor Michael Kushmerek, that a vote be taken by the City Council as a final determination as to Main Street’s permanent traffic flow as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Council as a Whole Committee) 243-17. Councillor Paul Beaucemin, on behalf of Norman Beauvais, to request a sidewalk in front of the Dunkin Donuts located on Electric Avenue. (Public Safety Committee) 244-17. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, mandating that for any non-aviation at the Fitchburg Municipal airport, said event must end no later than 7:00 PM on Sunday through Thursday evenings and no later than 9 PM on Friday and Saturday evenings. (Public Safety Committee) 245-17. Daniel Mulloy, to repair the apron at the end of the driveway on 95 Old Deerfield Road, which is on City property. (Public Works Committee) XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION “To discuss strategy with respect to litigation between the City of Fitchburg Vs. Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association which is demonstrably likely. An open meeting will have a detrimental effect on the litigation or negotiating position of the public body and the chair so declares.” Next Regular Meeting 7:00PM, October 17, 2017