City Council

CITY OF FITCHBURG MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR December 7, 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 Re-Appointment Letter 1. Ms. Nancy Maynard, as a member of the Fitchburg Trustees of Public Burial Grounds with a term to expire January 1, 2020. IV.COMMUNICATION-DEPARTMENT HEADS 1. Pension Reserves Investment Management Board 2. Year 44 CDBG Program Schedule 3. Community Development Office Re: Combined environmental notice V. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority VI.REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of December 7, 2017, 6:45 PM New Appointment: Board of Trustees for the Public Library (Term to expire January 1, 2021) Mr. Matthew Bruun Re-Appointments: Chief of Police for the Fitchburg Police Department Mr. Ernest Martineau (Term to expire June 30, 2022) Commissioner of the Department of Public Works (Term to expire November 30, 2020) Mr. Lenny Laakso Board of Trustees for the Public Library (Term to expire January 1, 2021) Mr. Robert Favini (Term to expire January 1, 2021) Mr. James Walsh Fitchburg Cultural Council (Term to expire December 1, 2020) Ms. Coelynn McIninch Public Works Committee Meeting of November 28, 2017, 5:30 PM 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. (Be Held in Committee) 243-17. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, on behalf of Norman Beauvais, to request a sidewalk in front of the Dunkin Donuts located on Electric Avenue. (Be Held in 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. (Be Granted) 255-17. Councillor Amy Green, to repair and remedy the sidewalk issue at 210 Heywood Street. (Be Granted) 282-17. Councillor Angelo Bisol, to repair a berm at the corner of Pearl Hill and Juniper Road. (Be Granted) 287-17. Councillor Jody Joseph, to repair sidewalk where a tree was removed in front of 151 Harrison Ave. (Be Granted) 288-17. Councillor Jody Joseph and Moran Square Realty, to repair sidewalk on Summer Street & Lunenburg Street in front of Moran Square Realty. (Be Held) VII. ORDERS-FINANCE 289-17. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($165,000.00)same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to FIRE, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, DEPARTMENTAL EQUIPMENT for the purpose of acquiring “Jaws of Life” rescue equipment for various extrication emergencies. 290-17. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($20,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to FIRE, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, BUILDING IMPROVEMENT for the purpose of replacing the driveway in front of the apparatus bay at the North Street Fire Station. 291-17. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($36,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to FIRE, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, AUTOMOBILE for the purpose of replacing a support vehicle. 292-17. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($154,532.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to POLICE, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, VEHICLE REPLACMENT for the purpose of replacing four detective vehicles and one front line vehicle. 293-17. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THIRTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS (30,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to GENERAL INSURANCE, EXPENSES for the purpose of obtaining the services of an insurance advisor. 294-17. ORDERED THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the MEMA Emergency Management Performance grant in the approximate amount of $14,460.00 (FOURTEEN THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to purchase specialized protection equipment for an active shooter or hostile environment event. 295-17. ORDERED THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division, Runway 32 Approach Obstruction Removal grant in the approximate amount of $64,250.00 (SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to remove obstructions on the approach to Runway 32. VIII. RESOLUTION 296-17. RESOLUTION: Adopting and endorsing the Westminster Home Rule Petition to the General Court, titled “An Act authorizing the town of Westminster to exchange land for the continuation of solid waste management and disposal services,” as further outlined in the enclosed Resolution.  IX. ORDINANCES 273-17. AN ORDINANCE: Section 169-26, titled “One-way streets” shall be amended as follows: A new line shall be inserted below the line beginning “Cherry Street” and following words shall be inserted thereon: The words “Chestnut Street” shall be inserted under the “Name of Street” column; The word “North” shall be inserted under the “Direction of Travel” column; and The words “From the intersection of Main and River Streets, northerly to the intersection of Arlington Street” shall be inserted under the “Limits” column. The resulting inserted line shall read as follows: Name of Street Direction of Travel Limits Chestnut Street North From: the intersection of Main and River Streets, northerly to the intersection of Arlington Street (Reference Petition #120-17) (Final Reading) 274-17. AN ORDINANCE: Section 181.356 of the Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance shall be amended by striking the current Section 181.356, including all subparagraphs, in its entirety and inserting in its place a new Section 181.356 as follows, in that doing so shall further the purpose of the City’s Zoning Ordinances as set forth in Section 181.11: 181.356 Abandonment or Non-Use. A nonconforming use or structure which has been abandoned, or which has not been used for a period of two years or more, is defined and regulated under 181.356 et seq. (Reference Petitions 98-17 and 200-17) (Final Reading)  X. PETITIONS 297-17. Councillors Joel Kaddy and Marcus DiNatale, to install a stop sign at the intersection of Vernon Street and Sanborn Street. (Public Safety Committee) 298-17. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to have painted on the portion of Electric Ave. and Franklin Road a 20 mile an hour warning on the pavement so as to slow traffic as indicated in the drawing. (Public Safety Committee) 299-17. Councillor Michael Kushmerek, to install stop signs on Mt. Globe Street at its intersection with Davis Street. (Public Safety Committee) 300-17. Councillor Marcus DiNatale, Councillor Paul Beauchemin, and Lisa Hebert, to install a berm at 47 Elmwood Avenue. (Public Works Committee) 301-17. Councillor Marcus DiNatale and Lori Stone, to install a berm at 139 Rollstone Road. (Public Works Committee) 302-17. Unitil, to install a new pole #1 on Brittany Lane at Rollstone Road (Plan No. 3447-L), to use as new underground electric riser pole to Brittany Lane homes. (Public Hearing January 4, 2018) 303-17. Unitil, to install 1 new midspan pole #29-A, approx. 128’ between pole #29 and pole #30 across from Anita Drive (Plan No. 3446-L). This is a long span and we need to raise the height of the wires. (Public Hearing January 4, 2018) 304-17. Unitil, to install 1 new Guy Wire Stub Pole #49-1, approx. 230’ north of Abbott Ave., needed to support pole #49 from leaning toward house @1140 Water Street. (Public Hearing January 4, 2018) 305-17. Unitil, to relocate electric pole #27 (40 feet west) across Rollstone Road, to get pole out of bad curve in road. (Public Hearing not required) Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 7:00 PM