City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK City of Fitchburg May 20 2021 2:31 pm Massachusetts 01420 CITY COUNCIL Councillors at Large President Ward Councillors Anthony M. Zarrella Marcus L. DiNatale Ward 1 – Bernard J. Schultz III Amy Green Ward 2 – Paul R. Beauchemin Thomas C. Hughes Vice President Ward 3 – Andrew J. Couture Samantha M. Squailia Elizabeth R. Walsh Ward 4 – Andrew J. Van Hazinga Anthony M. Zarrella Ward 5 – Marisa R. Fleming Ward 6 – Elizabeth R. Walsh The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fitchburg was held at the Legislative Building at 700 Main Street and over the Zoom meeting platform and live streamed at FATV Studios, Fitchburg, on May 18, 2021. The meeting was called to order by President Anthony Zarrella at 7:07 P.M. The Clerk called the roll and 11 Councilors were present, with 8 Councilors present in the Legislative Building and 3 Councilors logged in remotely (DiNatale, Fleming, Schultz). The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councillor Beauchemin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM The public is invited to participate in the Zoom webinar of May 18, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time Topic: Fitchburg City Council Meeting Register in advance for the Public Comment/Hearing portion of the Agenda by going to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JvNANFlITbeNaa6sQIZnSQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about logging in to join the webinar. II. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of May 18, 2021 The Appointments Committee recommended the following Appointments be confirmed: Re-Appointments: Fitchburg Historical Commission (Term to expire July 1, 2023) Mr. Samuel Blair (Term to expire July 1, 2024) Mr. Keith Chenot (Term to expire February 1, 2022) Ms. Ellen DiGeronimo (Term to expire February 1, 2022) Mr. Donald Ostrowski (Term to expire February 1, 2024) Mr. Charles Sternaimolo New Appointments: Special Police Officer For the City of Fitchburg Retired Detective James M. Gilbert Board of Trustees for the Public Library (Term to expire May 1, 2024) Mr. Eric Mbunwe Report accepted. Appointments confirmed by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS The Committee on records reported the minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 4, 2021 were correctly recorded. Report accepted and minutes adopted. IV. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of May 11, 2021 The Finance Committee recommended the following Orders be adopted: 084-21. ORDERED THAT the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division grant in the approximate amount of $5,193.00 (FIVE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED NINETY-THREE AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is repair the S2 Security System located at the Airport Administration Building. 085-21. ORDERED THAT the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Environmental Preservation and Animal Welfare grant in the approximate amount of $9,000.00 (NINE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to complete trail maintenance and parking lot expansions at Coggshall Park. 086-21. ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of FORTY THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($40,500.00) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES and credited to PARKS CAPITAL, PARKS & PLAYGROUND CAPITAL EXPENSE for the renovation of Billie Mundie Field. Finance Committee Meeting Minutes of May 11, 2021 http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05112021-2382 Report accepted. Orders adopted by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor May 19, 2021. V. ORDERS-FINANCE The following Orders were referred to the Finance Committee: 091-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SIX THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($6875.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to CITY COUNCIL EXPENSE, ORDINANCE CODE SUPPLEMENT. 092-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of FORTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($40,000.00) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES and credited to LIBRARY CAPITAL, BUILDING RENOVATION for engineering to design new heating and cooling systems. 093-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($625,000.00) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES and credited to SOUTH STREET SCHOOL ROOF & BOILERS CAPITAL PROJECT. 094-21 LOAN ORDER: Appropriate FOUR MILLION DOLLARS ($4,000,000) to pay costs of various Wastewater Infrastructure Projects as outlined in the enclosed Loan Order. VI. FY 2022 BUDGET ORDERS The following Orders were referred by roll-call vote for Suspension of the Rules to the Council as a Whole Committee: 095-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget: General Fund: $139,479,493 Water Enterprise: $ 6,267,208 Wastewater Enterprise: $ 15,485,159 Airport Fund: $ 841,537 096-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($700,000), same to be credited to the Fiscal Year 2022 TAX LEVY and charged against OVERLAY SURPLUS. 097-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,775,000), same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the Fiscal Year 2022 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. 098-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWO HUNDRED THIRTEEN THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT DOLLARS ($213,848.00), same to be charged against PARKING METER/GARAGE RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2022 accounts as follows: Treasurer Personal Services $100,848.00 Treasurer Expenses $113,000.00 099-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY- FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000), same to be charged against PEG ACCESS AND CABLE RELATED FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2022 accounts as follows: Information Technology, PEG Expenses $25,000 100-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($15,000), same to be charged against CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS AND GRAVES and credited to Fiscal Year 2022 accounts as follows: Cemetery Personal Services $15,000 101-21. ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SIX MILLION, TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED EIGHT DOLLARS ($6,267,208.00), same to be charged against WATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS, and crediting Fiscal Year 2022 Water Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $1,781,019.00 Expenses $1,681,000.00 Indirect Costs $ 920,000.00 Debt Service $1,385,189.00 Capital Expenses $ 500,000.00 102-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIFTEEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE DOLLARS ($15,485,159.00), charging $12,585,765.00 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and $2,899,394.00 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE RETAINED EARNINGS and crediting Fiscal Year 2022 Wastewater Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $2,354,769.00 Expenses $3,870,500.00 Indirect Costs $1,150,000.00 Debt Service $5,794,890.00 Capital Expenses $2,315,000.00 103-21 ORDERED THAT there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN DOLLARS ($841,537.00), same to be charged against AIRPORT RECEIPTS RESERVED and credited to Fiscal Year 2022 Airport Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $289,221.00 Expenses $552,316.00 104-21 ORDERED THAT the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the following Revolving Funds authorized by city ordinance up to the amount available in the fund or $100,000.00 (except Public Health Sustainability which shall have a limit of $700,000.00 for FY2022), whichever is less, as outlined in the enclosed Order. VII. ORDERS-OTHER 105-21. ORDERED THAT: The City Council authorizes the Superintendent to submit to the MA School Building Authority the Statement of Interest form dated June 1, 2021 for the Longsjo Middle School located at 98 Academy Street, Fitchburg, MA which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which and application may be submitted to the MA School Building Authority in the future: Windows and boilers, Priority #5. Mr. Craig Chalifoux, Business Manager for Fitchburg Public Schools answered questions from the Council regarding the scope of the Project. Motion to Suspend the Rules passed by unanimous roll call vote. Order adopted by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor May 19, 2021.  VIII. PETITIONS The following Petitions were referred to the City Property Committee and an Excess Needs Survey, with a note that the Solicitor should review them, as well: 106-21. Robert M. Jokela, Superintendent of Schools, to declare 253 Laurel Street as excess/surplus property. 107-21. Robert M. Jokela, Superintendent of Schools, to declare 44 Wanoosnoc Road as excess/surplus property. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Motion to Suspend the Rules to amend 108-21 from “partial to entire/whole” was approved by unanimous roll-call vote: 108-21. Meagen P. Donoghue, exec. Director, Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, to authorize the Mayor to sign and deliver to the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority the Partial Release of Easement as outlined in the enclosed Petition. Motion to Amend 108-21 passed by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. The amended Petition was referred to the City Property Committee and the Legislative Affairs Committee: 108-21. Meagen P. Donoghue, exec. Director, Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, to authorize the Mayor to sign and deliver to the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority the Partial Entire Release of Easement as outlined in the enclosed Petition. (City Property Committee) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following Petition was referred to the Council as a Whole Committee/FY 2022 Budget Hearings: 109-21. Mary de Alderete, City Clerk, to review the Mayor’s salary and the City Councilors’ salary, as required by Chapter 3-43 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale made the following remarks: On behalfofthe City I would like to personally thank my staff, specifically Joan David, the Board ofHealth and DPW for coordinating three very successful 2021 City Ward Clean-ups. I am happy to report that more than 125 volunteers came out to support our Clean-up efforts. Overall we collected 250 tires, 150 TV's and 12 tonsoftrash! None ofthis would have happened without our remarkable volunteers contributing so much of their time, energy and determination. I want to thank those City Councilors that came out to work, and give praise to the Teams from: The Boys & Girls Club CubScoutPackl? Fitchburg High School Students The Highlands I.C. Credit Union Keep Fitchburg Beautiful Redemption Community Church and Restoration Recovery And a special Thank You to Salvation Army for providing our volunteers with breakfast and lunch at all three cleanups. Thank you ALL for your exceptional volunteer work. You did an incrediblejob and it was very much appreciated. Councilor Beauchemin echoed his thanks to the volunteers. The meeting adjoumed at 7:33 PM _ii Maryde Aldej'ete^City Clerk