City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Feb 08 2023 3:25 pm City of Fitchburg Massachusetts 01420 CITY COUNCIL Councillors at Large President Ward Councillors Anthony M. Zarrella Ward 1 – Bernard J. Schultz III Sally H. Cragin Ward 2 – Paul R. Beauchemin Marcus L. DiNatale Ward 3 – Andrew J. Couture Amy Green Vice President Andrew J. Van Hazinga Ward 4 – Andrew J. Van Hazinga Samantha M. Squailia Ward 5 – Marisa R. Fleming Anthony M. Zarrella Ward 6 – Derrick J. Cruz 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 January 17, 2023. The meeting was called to order by President Anthony Zarrella at 7:02 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Cragin. The City Clerk called the roll and 10 Councilors were present, Councilor Green was absent. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM This meeting will be open to the public. Persons who wish to participate remotely in the Public Forum portion of the meeting may request a remote attendance link by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov. No comments were received from the public. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE There is no report of the Appointments Committee at this time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS The Committee on records reported the minutes were correctly recorded for January 3, 2023. Report accepted and minutes adopted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. COMMUNICATION His Honor the Mayor 1. Promotion letter: Captain Dante W. Suarez to Deputy Chief to replace retiring Deputy Chief Greg Normandin. 2. Promotion letter: Lieutenant Patrick G. Haverty to Captain to fill the opening left by Captain Dante W. Suarez. 3. Promotion letter: Private Yona Vaughan to Lieutenant to fill the opening left by Lieutenant Patrick G. Haverty. Promotions were read and placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Re-Appointment letter: Alex Lopez, as member of the Planning Board, term to expire January 1, 2026. 2. Re-Appointment letter: Paul Fontaine Jr., as a member of the Planning Board, term to expire January 1, 2028. 3. Re-Appointment letter: Charles Caron, as a member of the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, term to expire July 1, 2024. 4. Appointment letter: Special Police Officers – Fitchburg State University Sergeant Michael Michael Turner and Officer Elijah Weiss 5. Appointment letter: Sabrina Holley-Williams, as a member of the Trustees of Public Library, term to expire January 12, 2026. The Appointments was read and referred to the Appointments Committee by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. COMMUNICATION Ms. Tracy McGrath, as a full member of the Fitchburg Planning Board as an “emergency measure for 60 days”. Ms. McGrath is currently an Associate Member of the Planning Board and will be filling a vacancy created on January 1, 2023. Report read and accepted, placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Oral Report Meeting of January 11, 2023 The Finance Committee unanimously approved the following Orders be adopted: 003-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the I. C. Federal Credit Union gift in the approximate amount of $5,000.00 (FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said gift, which is to provide heating assistance to city residents. (Be Adopted) 004-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the MEMA Emergency Management Performance grant in the approximate amount of $20,150.00 (TWENTY THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to purchase two haz-mat suits, two gas meters, and two battery powered generators. (Be Adopted) 005-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, Firefighter Safety Equipment grant in the approximate amount of $24,999.00 (TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to update the communication base stations located at each of the city’s three fire stations. (Be Adopted) 006-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($25,500.00) same to be transferred from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES and credited to INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPENSES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS for the purpose of installing drops and conduits at the Senior Center. (Be Adopted) 007-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($100,000.00) same to be transferred from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES and credited to CAPITAL PROJECTS, LONGSJO SCHOOL BOILER REPLACEMENT for the purpose of paying costs for the replacement of boilers at the Arthur M. Longsjo Middle School, including a feasibility study and all other costs incidental or related thereto, and for which the City of Fitchburg may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), said amount to be expended under the direction of Fitchburg Public Schools. The City of Fitchburg acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non- entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City of Fitchburg. (Be Adopted) 008-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($700,000.00) same to be transferred from EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, HEALTH INSURANCE and credited to SCHOOL EXPENSES. (Be Adopted) 009-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, FIFTY-TWO AND 49/100 DOLLARS ($258,052.49) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION, PEG ACCESS and credited to INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FRANCHISE FEE for the purpose of paying FATV for franchise fees received during the second and third quarters of 2022. (Be Adopted) 010-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($350,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to STABILIZATION FUND. (Be Adopted) 011-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($250,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (OPEB) TRUST FUND. (Be Adopted) 012-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($27,500.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES. (Be Adopted) Orders 003-23 through 012-23 were adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor January 18, 2023. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. ORDERS 015-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of FORTY- TWO THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($42,955.00) same to be transferred from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL EXPENSES and credited to BUILDING, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, VEHICLE REPLACEMENT for the purpose of replacing one vehicle used by the Building Department Inspectors. 016-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, SAFE grant in the approximate amount of $5,481.00 (FIVE THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to continue to teach fire safety to students. 017-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, SAFE grant in the approximate amount of $2,477.00 (TWO THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to educate seniors in the community regarding fire and life safety topics. 018-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security VAWA grant in the approximate amount of $60,530.07 (SIXTY THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY AND 07/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant,  which is to support the Domestic Violence Advocate position within the Police Department. 019-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, FY23 Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant in the approximate amount of $416,812.00 (FOUR HUNDRED SIXTEEN THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to reduce gang and youth related violence. 020-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($25,000.00) same to be transferred from POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, CIVILIAN DISPATCHERS and credited to POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, DISPATCHER OVERTIME. 021-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, FIFTY-FOUR AND 20/100 DOLLARS ($237,054.20) same to be transferred from POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, PATROLMAN ($200,000.00) and from POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL STANDARD ($37,054.20) and credited to POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, OVERTIME. 022-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($500,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to STABILIZATION FUND. 023-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWO THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED TWENTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($2,620.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to ASSESSORS EXPENSES, CONTRACTED SERVICES. 024-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOURTEEN THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($14,885.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the following accounts: FACILITIES, PERSONAL SERVICES $ 2,454.00 COUNCIL ON AGING, PERSONAL SERVICES $ 6,708.00 LIBRARY, PERSONAL SERVICES $ 5,723.00 0025-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($435,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the following accounts: POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES $398,000.00 POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, OVERTIME $ 30,000.00 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, OTHER BENEFITS $ 7,000.00 Wave the reading and refer the following orders 015-23 through 0025-23 to the Finance Committee by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 026-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWP THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($532,000.00), same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to FIRE, PERSONAL SERVICES $494,000.00 FIRE, PERSONAL SERVICES, OVERTIME $ 15,000.00 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, OTHER BENEFITS $ 23,000.00 President Zarrella read a communication from the Mayor, Stephen DiNatale, requesting a reduction to Order #026-23 from (532,000.00) to ($465,000.00). AMENDED ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($465,000.00), same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to FIRE, PERSONAL SERVICES $420,000.00 FIRE, PERSONAL SERVICES, OVERTIME $ 18,000.00 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, OTHER BENEFITS $ 27,000.00. Motion to amend Order 026-23 and refer to Finance Committee by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. ORDINANCE 027-23. BE IT ORDAINED THAT: §3-160 entitled “Establishment; composition” under Article XVII Insurance Commission, of the City Code shall be amended by striking the words “the Superintendent of Public Buildings” and inserting in its place “the Director of Facilities” and shall now read as follows: “§3-160 Establishment; composition. There shall be an Insurance Commission, the membership of which shall consist of the following: City Auditor, the Director of Facilities and the Chair of the Board of Assessors.” (Referenced petition 105-22) Ordinance 027-23 was sent to a first and second reading by roll call vote of 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. PETITIONS 285-22. Councilor Marisa Fleming to place Jersey barriers at the intersection of Townsend St. and Marshall Rd. in to slow down cars taking left hand turn from Townsend St. into Marshall Rd. Report read and accepted. Given Leave to Withdraw by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members Present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilor Squailia submitted: Annual NoWoCo Pride Social where we announce all of Pride Week 2023 events! Join us at the AMAZING Legends Bar & Grille, 68 Airport Road, as we announce our theme for Pride 2023 and we announce the events of Pride Week 2023. Refreshments will be served and cash bar available! Wed, January 18, 2023, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, $25 includes refreshments, buffet and a show. Councilor Schultz Submitted: The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 4 until 5:30 p.m. in Room 203 at the Fitchburg State University Recreation Center, 130 North Street. Kelley Lynn and Bernie Schultz will co-facilitate the meeting. Councilor Schultz Submitted: Ward 1 City Councilor Bernie Schultz is hosting a Ward 1 Community Meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. right here in the Legislative Building, 700 Main Street. City Council President Anthony Zarrella and DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson will make presentations, and then answer questions following their presentations. Councilor Cragin Submitted: Congratulations to the Montachusett MLK Jr. Coalition’s MLK event that was held Monday, January 16, 2023, it was an excellent afternoon honoring the Late Dr. King. Kudos to all, especially organizer Ward 1 Councilor Bernard Schultz. XI. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:19 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk