City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Apr 06 2023 11:18 am 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 March 21, 2023. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:03 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Green. The City Clerk called the roll and 10 Councilors were present (Councilor Cragin was absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM Karen Spencer, Leominster MA., read a statement in support of Petition 085-23. Jessica Jacobson, Fitchburg MA., spoke in support of Petition 085-23. Jacquelyn Wehtje, Fitchburg MA, spoke in support of Petition 085-23. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilor Schultz submitted: The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, March 23, 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of March 21, 2023 Re-Appointmnet: Council on Aging (Term to expire March 1, 2026) Margaret Padovano New Appointment: Trustees of Public Burial Grounds (Term to expire April 1, 2026) George M. Mirijanian New Appointment: Fitchburg Disability Commission (Term to expire April 1, 2026) Amy Leblanc Report accepted. Appointments confirmed by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS There was no records received to report on. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. COMMUNICATION His Honor the Mayor 1. Re-Appointment letter: Adam G. Goodwin, as a member of the Fitchburg Housing Authority, term to expire March 1, 2028. 2. New Appointment letter: Camila Arsenault, as a member of the Fitchburg Disability Commission, term to expire April 1, 2026. The Appointments was read and referred to the Appointments Committee by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. ANNUAL REPORT 060-23. ANNUAL REPORT: Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority for Fiscal Year 2022 and the Audited Financials for Fiscal Year 2021. Memo to City Council FRA Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022 FRA Audited Financials Reading waived. Report placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. President Zarrella read a statement provided by Councilor Cragin that is filed in the City Clerk’s office. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VII. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of March 8, 2023 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 047-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SIXTEEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($16,750.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to HEALTH EXPENSES, WEIGHTS & MEASURES. (Be Adopted) 048-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($45,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR, RADIO REPAIR. (Be Adopted) 049-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($32,721.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPENSES, CONTRACTED SERVICES. (Be Adopted) 050-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($70,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPENSES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. (Be Adopted) 051-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED TEN AND 92/100 DOLLARS ($126,310.92) 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 fourth quarter of 2022. (Be Adopted) 052-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($50,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DOWNTOWN CLEANUP. (Be Adopted) 053-23. ORDER 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 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES, CONTRACTED SERVICES. (Be Adopted) 054-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($10,000.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES, MUNICIPAL HEARING OFFICER. (Be Adopted) 055-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the New England Foundation for the Arts grant in the approximate amount of $10,000.00 (TEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to engage an artist in the creation of temporary banner art on the façade of Fitchburg Cultural Alliance’s Main Street Studios. (Be Adopted) Report read and accepted. Orders 047-23 through 055-23 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor March 23, 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. ORDERS – CDBG Year 49 Motion to waive the reading on Orders 061-23 through 083-23 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion to suspend the rules by roll call vote of 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor March 23, 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 061-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($152,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Parks & Recreation/Community Development Parks and Playgrounds projects and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 062-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND ($65,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Department of Public Works Twin City Rail Trail Connector project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. Orders 061-23 and 062-23 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 063-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND ($65,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Department of Public Works Abolitionist Park project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 064-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FIVE THOUSAND ($5,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Friends of Fitchburg Abolitionist Park Phase 3b project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. Order 063-23 and 064-23 adopted by unanimous consent 8/0 (Councilors Squailia and Schultz recused themselves) 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 065-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of SEVEN THOUSAND ($7,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Fitchburg School Department Crocker Field and Broad Street Entry project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 066-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FOURTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND FORTY-EIGHT CENTS ($14,385.48) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Board of Health Street Outreach project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 067-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED NINETY- TWO DOLLARS AND SEVENTY-FOUR CENTS ($7,192.74) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Growing Places Fitchburg Farmer's Market project and charged against CDBG Year 49. 068-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of ELEVEN THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS ($11,028.87) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Montachusett Regional YMCA Spartacus Program and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 069-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of SIXTY-ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS AND FIVE CENTS ($61,378.05) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Fitchburg Police Department Drug Enforcement and Patrol program and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 070-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED NINETY DOLLARS AND THIRTY-TWO CENTS ($9,590.32) be appropriated, same to be credited to the North Star Family Homeless Shelter and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 071-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY- FIVE DOLLARS AND SIXTEEN CENTS ($4,795.16) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Mayor’s Energy Fund project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 072-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of TEN THOUSAND SIXTY-NINE DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-FOUR CENTS ($10,069.84) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Community Legal Aid Fitchburg Homelessness Prevention project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 073-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETY-NINE DOLLARS AND THIRTY-TWO CENTS ($4,699.32) be appropriated, same to be credited to Restoration Recovery for the Access to Recovery Project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 074-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FOURTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND FORTY-EIGHT CENTS ($14,385.48) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Boys and Girls Club Learn STEAM Transportation project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 075-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the NewVue Communities Small Business Technical Assistance program and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 076-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance Main Street Studios program and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 077-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($40,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Sign and Façade Program and charged against the CDBG Year 49. Orders 065-23 through 077-23 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 078-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($35,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to Fitchburg State University for the Fitchburg Downtown Coordinator Position and charged against the CDBG Year 49. Order 078-23 adopted by 9 in favor and 1 opposed (Beauchemin). 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 079-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to Worcester Regional Food Hub for the Fitchburg Public Market and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 080-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($20,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to Habitat for Humanity for the Critical Home Repair Project and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 081-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of NINETY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ($96,000) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Fitchburg Board of Health Code Enforcement program and charged against the CDBG Year 49. 082-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of FIFTY-EIGHT THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS AND TWENTY-NINE CENTS ($58,326.29) be appropriated, same to be credited to Community Development for Demolition and be charged against the CDBG Year 49. 083-23. ORDER THAT: the sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN DOLLARS ($183,367) be appropriated, same to be credited to CDBG Administration and charged against the CDBG Year 49. Orders 079-23 through 083-23 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX.PETITIONS The following petition was referred to Public Works: 084-23. Councilor Cruz and President Zarrella, on behalf of the residents of Eleanor Street, Tibbett Circle, Watts Way, and Brittany Lane, for sidewalk repairs and improvements to be made throughout the neighborhood. (Refer to Public Works) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 085-23. Councilor Marcus DiNatale, on behalf of multiple residents, to end the use of fluoride in Fitchburg’s public water treatment. (Refer to Council as a Whole and Water/Wastewater Commission) Motion to suspend the rules to send to Council as a Whole, Board of Health and Water/Wastewater Commission by roll call vote of 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:29 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk