City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jun 21 2023 11:14 am City of Fitchburg Massachusetts 01420 CITY COUNCIL Councillors at Large President Ward Councillors Anthony M. Zarrella Sally H. Cragin Ward 1 – Bernard J. Schultz III Marcus L. DiNatale Ward 2 – Paul R. Beauchemin Amy Green Vice President Andrew J. Van Hazinga Ward 3 – Andrew J. Couture Samantha M. Squailia Ward 4 – Andrew J. Van Hazinga Anthony M. Zarrella Ward 5 – Marisa R. Fleming Ward 6 – Derrick J. Cruz COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COMMITTEE MEETING Legislative Building, 700 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA Monday, May 22, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. The Council as a Whole Committee Meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 6:06 PM. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Cragin. The clerk called the roll and 10 Councilors were present (Fleming, joined via Zoom at 7:23 PM). Councilor Cragin left at 8:25 PM, Councilor Couture left at 8:25PM and rejoined via Zoom at 9:36PM. Also present where members of the Finance Team: Calvin Brooks, Auditor, Anne Cervantes, Treasurer, Jacquelyn Cronin, Deputy Auditor, Chris Parquette, Chief Assessor, Natalia Oliver, Chief of Staff, and Hon. Mayor Stephen DiNatale. The agenda will consist of the following: The Honorable Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale and the finance will formally present in detail the FY2024 budget to the City Council. The Budget and related Orders and Petition to be addressed are as follows: I. BUDGET ORDERS-FY 2024 148-23. MAYOR’S FY24 BUDGET 149-23. OVERLAY SURPLUS. 150-23. AVAILABLE FUNDS. 151-23. PARKING METER/GARAGE RECEIPTS 152-23. PEG ACCESS AND CABLE RELATED FUND RECEIPTS 153-23. CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS AND GRAVES 154-23. WATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS 155-23. WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS 156-23. AIRPORT RECEIPTS 157-23. REVOLVING FUNDS Budget Orders can be viewed here: FY 24 - Orders FY24 - Final Budget Mayor DiNatale addressed the Council with the following remarks: Dear Honorable Councilors, I hereby submit my Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for the City of Fitchburg which breaks down as follows: • General Fund $159,090.407 • Water $7,800,438 • Wastewater $23,475,155 • Airport $1,375,579 The legacy of the pandemic disruption and its resulting economic effects have been a challenge for the city. We are facing the impact of supply chain disruptions and escalating construction costs. Inflation is creeping in and interest rates are ticking up. This budget will give the city time to address these issues. We will continue to make the City of Fitchburg a great community in which to live, work, and play. The projects that we have undertaken are indeed considerable. There is the newly renovated City Hall, groundbreaking for our new Crocker School, and we continue to advance toward the realization of a new library and the renovation of Crocker Field. I believe we can and will succeed in this effort, and I invite you to take an active part. Councilors are welcome to talk with individual department heads about their budgets. I only ask that you call them first to set up an appointment. I would like to offer a special thank you to the Finance Team for their valuable expertise, as well as all Department Heads and City Staff for their cooperation and effort. I look forward to working closely with the City Council as we engage in a formal discussion of the budget. I am confident that together we will produce a budget that is fiscally responsible while providing critical services to the constituents of the City of Fitchburg. Questions/Discussion from Councilors: • Trash Fees • Rubbish Collection Costs  • Salaries and contractual increases • Headcount within City Departments Respectfully Submitted, Stephen L. DiNatale Mayor The meeting adjourned at 11:26 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk