City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jan 08 2024 12:53 pm CITY OF FITCHBURG OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 718 Main Street Joanna Bilotta, City Clerk Fitchburg, MA 01420 jbilotta@fitchburgma.gov 978-829-1820 December 20, 2023 WARRANT FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Dear Councillor: The Organizational Meeting of the 2024 City Council will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM in the Legislative Building, 700 Main St., Fitchburg MA. 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 meeting link by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov. The Meeting has been called for the following purposes: Oath of Office for new elected officials. Election of the Council President for the year 2024; Election of the Council Vice President for the year 2024; 1 – 24 ORDER: Adopting Rules of the City Council for the year 2024; 2 – 24 ORDER: Setting dates of Regular Meetings of the City Council for the year 2024. Per Order: Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk The Organizational Meeting of the City Council was called to order by City Clerk Joanna Bilotta at 10:02 a.m. The Salute to the Flag was led by Councilor Beauchemin. The City Clerk called the roll and ten (11) members were present (Councilor Schultz and Fleming via Zoom). Board consists of eleven 11 members. The City Clerk read the warrant for the Organizational Meeting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The City Clerk Swore in Mayor Squailia, the School Committee members and the City Council. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations for Council President were declared open by the City Clerk. The name of Councilor Anthony Zarrella was placed in nomination and seconded. There were no further nominations. Nominations were declared closed following a unanimous roll call vote. A vote of unanimous consent resulted in the election of Councilor Anthony Zarrella as President of the City Council for the year 2024. President Zarrella assumed the Chair for the remainder of the meeting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations for Council Vice President were declared open by President Zarrella. The name of Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga and Councilor Amy Green were placed in nomination and seconded. There were no further nominations. Nominations were declared closed following a unanimous roll call vote. A roll call vote six (6) for Van Hazinga five (5) for Green, resulted in the election of Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga as Vice President of the City Council for the year 2024. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following Orders were received: 1 – 24. ORDER: Adopting Rules of the City Council for the year 2024. There was a proposed Amendment by President Zarrella to the approved 2023 Rules for 2024. Amend Rule 2.4 by striking the entirety and replacing with the following: A person wishing to speak during the Public Forum shall sign in on a sheet provided at the rear of the chamber, indicating their first and last name, city of residence, relevant title (if any), agenda item of interest, and whether they intend to speak in support, in opposition, or to seek information. A person wishing to speak via remote connection shall, when requesting an attendance link from the Clerk, provide all the information required above, which shall be added to the sign-in sheet by the Clerk. The Chair shall call such persons in the order in which the items appear on the agenda, alternating when possible between persons in support and persons in opposition. At the sole discretion of the Chair, a person whose name does not appear on the sign-in sheet may be permitted to speak, but shall verbally provide the same information as required above before giving their remarks. Any person speaking during the Public Forum will be given two minutes to speak, and must confine their remarks to the topic appearing on the agenda. A motion to amend and include the address of the public speaker. The amendment failed four (4) yes seven (7) opposed. A motion to amend and remove the final clause of the first paragraph and final clause of the third paragraph be stricken. The amendment passed by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. The rule as amended passed by a roll call vote 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Add Rule 2.4A, reading as follows: At the beginning of the Public Forum, the Chair may announce, at the Chair’s sole discretion, that there shall be an aggregate time limit of not less than thirty (30) minutes, after which the Public Forum shall end and no further public remarks shall be heard. In such case, if there are more than fifteen (15) individuals signed up, the Chair may reduce the speaking time of each individual to not less than one minute so as to ensure that each individual who signed up is able to speak. President Zarrella withdrew the proposal for 2.4A. Add Rule 2.4B 2.4A, reading as follows: At the discretion of the Chair, public comments pertaining to one or more specific agenda items may be postponed until a time immediately preceding the introduction of that respective item to the Council. Such postponement shall be announced at the beginning of the Public Forum. An amendment to change 2.4B to 2.4A, was approved by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. The rule as amended passed by a roll call vote 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. VOTE: A motion to accept the 2023 rules as amended for 2024 passed by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. 2 – 24. ORDER: Setting dates of Regular Meetings of the City Council for the year 2024. The dates of the regular meetings of the City Council for the year 2024 are as follows: JANUARY Thursday 4th and Tuesday, 16th FEBRUARY Tuesday 6th and Tuesday 20th MARCH Wednesday 6th and Tuesday 19th APRIL Tuesday 2nd and Tuesday 16th MAY Tuesday 7th and Tuesday 21st JUNE Tuesday 4th and Tuesday 18th JULY Tuesday 2nd and Tuesday 16th AUGUST NO MEETINGS SEPTEMBER Thursday 5th and Tuesday 17th OCTOBER Tuesday 1st and Tuesday 15th NOVEMBER Wednesday 6th and Tuesday 19th DECEMBER Tuesday 3rd and Tuesday 17th Meetings are scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM In the Legislative Building at 700 Main Street Persons who wish to participate remotely in the Public Forum portion of the meeting may request a remote attendance meeting link by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov. Order was adopted by unanimous consent 11/0. 11 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Meeting adjourned at 10:52 AM. __________________________________ Joanna Bilotta, City Clerk