City Council

CITY OF FITCHBURG MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR January 16, 2018 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 Letters 1. Ms. Barbarba Nealon, as a member of the Human Rights Commission, for a term to expire January 1, 2021. 2. Ms. Diane Ouellette, as a member of the Trustees of Public Burial Grounds, for a term to expire January 8, 2020. IV.COMMUNICATION Anna M. Farrell, City Clerk Re: Open Meeting Law Complaint V.REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of January 16, 2018, 6:45 PM Re-Appointments: Board of Health (Term to expire January 1, 2021) Mr. John Bogdasarian Fitchburg Disability Commission (Term to expire May 1, 2019) Ms. Sheela Vadreau New Appointments: Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds (Term to expire January 1, 2021) Ms. Sophia Bogdasarian Special Police Officers for the City of Fitchburg (Terms to take effect upon retirement) Sergeant Gary L. Ouellette Officer Stephen E. McBride Officer Matthew L. Burns Officer James Connolly Council as a Whole Committee Oral Report Meeting of January 11, 2018, 7:00 PM 008-18. Robert O’Brien and Stacey Fenton, and various residents whose signatures are attached, to request that the Council delay the vote on the $24 Million dollar bond issue until: a. The newly elected City Councillors can be fully briefed by L. & Pagano and citizens who oppose the bond issue. b. We request three public meetings with a 14 day notice in a large venue with adequate advertising (newspapers, city website, electronic road signs, etc.) with both views given 30-40 minutes to present their case. 003-18. LOAN ORDER: ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to CAPITAL PROJECTS, CITY PROJECTS, CITY HALL RENOVATION PROJECT. 004-18. LOAN ORDER: ORDERED THAT: $22,500,000.00 be appropriated to pay costs of renovating, reconstructing, making extraordinary repairs, and equipping the existing City Hall building (718 Main St.) and the Bank of America building (700 Main St.) as outlined in the enclosed Order. Finance Committee Oral Report January 16, 2018, 6:00 PM 005-18. ORDERED THAT: $1,000.000.00 be appropriated for the purpose of paying costs of feasibility study on Crocker Elementary School, 200 Bigelow Drive, Fitchburg, MA, for K-4 or K-8 project as outlined in the Order. 006-18. WHEREAS: it is the opinion of the City Council in Resolution 296-17 to support the continuation of the Landfill; and WHEREAS: the City, through the Health Department, Law Department and the Mayor’s Office have met with Waste Management vetted and negotiated the enclosed Memorandum of Understanding and it’s exhibits and attachments. NOW THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Honorable Stephen L. DiNatale execute and deliver any and all documents necessary, convenient, and helpful to  facilitate the intent of the council’s approval of Resolution 296-17, including but not limited to the execution of agreements in a form substantially similar to that which is attached. VII.RECESSED HEARING 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. VIII. ORDERS-FINANCE 010-18. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS (300,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the following DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SNOW & ICE accounts: PERSONAL SERVICES, OVERTIME $ 40,000.00 EQUIPMENT RENTAL $100,000.00 PLOWS & BLADES $ 60,000.00 SALT $100,000.00 011-18. ORDERED THAT: There be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED EIGHT AND 00/100 DOLLARS($24,108.00) same to be transferred from POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER ($16,732.00)and from POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, ANIMAL CONTROL OVERTIME ($7,376.00) and credited to POLICE, OTHER EXPENSES, ANIMAL CONTROL. 012-18. ORDERED THAT the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, FY18 Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant in the approximate amount of $142,709.24 (ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED NINE AND 24/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to reduce gang and youth related violence. 013-18. ORDERED THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Department of Fire Services grant in the approximate amount of $56,000.00 (FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to purchase a new regional Fire Safety House to be used in teaching fire safety.  IX. PETITIONS 014-18. Councillor Paul Beauchemin, to install more lighting at the roundabout located on Electric Ave. and Rollstone Road, for safety purposes. (Public Works Committee) 015-18. Councillor Amy L. Green, to find remedy by installing a berm or curb at the residence of 23-25 Hobson Street to stop further damage done by water. (Public Works Committee) Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 7:00 PM