City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jul 03 2024 9:30 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 Elizabeth R. Walsh 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 Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The Council as a Whole Committee Meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 6:27 PM. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Beauchemin. The clerk called the roll and 9 Councilors were present (Councilor Schultz & Van Hazinga were absent). Also present where members of the Finance Team: Jacquelyn M. Cronin, Auditor, Anne Cervantes, Treasurer, Chris Paquette, Chief Assessor, Myles Phillips-Wilcox, Deputy Chief of Staff, Alexander Vera, Chief of Staff and Hon. Mayor Samantha Squailia and City Department Heads. I. PUBLIC FORUM Jacquelyn Wehtje, Fitchburg resident, spoke on budget. In favor of Councilor Beauchemin proposed cut to Building Commissioner. President Zarrella read an announcement. Volunteers are seeking to assemble a hoc “Friends” group to support Fitchburg’s historic Forest Hill Cemetery, and its unique “Forest hill Abbey” Mausoleum. This will be at the Fitchburg Historical Society, 781 Main St., on Tuesday, June 18, 11am to noon. All are invited you do not have to live in Fitchburg, you can RSVP to FriendsofForestHillFitchburg@gmail.com (Friends of Forest Hill Fitchburg” all one word). City Councilor Bernie Schultz is unable to attend tonight’s City Council meetings he had skin cancer surgery this afternoon. Councilor Schultz suggests that everyone, young and old, use sunscreen, SPF 30 and above, when out in the sun to hopefully avoid the skin cancer he is dealing with. The Budget and related Orders to be addressed are as follows: II. BUDGET ORDERS-FY 2025 124-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget: General Fund $169,788,795 Amended to $169,635,935 Water Enterprise $8,396,998 Wastewater Enterprise $17,655,832 Airport Fund $1,084,715 Motion and second to amend by unanimous consent 9/0. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Amended Order adopted by vote of 6 in favor and 3 opposed (Beauchemin, DiNatale, Green). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 125-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($700,000), same to be credited to the Fiscal Year 2025 TAX LEVY and charged against OVERLAY SURPLUS. Order adopted by vote 7 in favor and 2 opposed (DiNatale, Green). 9 members present. Board Consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 126-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,200,000), same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the Fiscal Year 2025 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. Order adopted by vote 7 in favor and 2 opposed (DiNatale, Green). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 127-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINETY-TWO AND 37/100 DOLLARS ($3,203,292.37), same to be charged against RESERVE FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES and credited to the Fiscal Year 2025 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. Order adopted by vote 7 in favor and 2 opposed (DiNatale, Green). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 128-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($80,000), same to be charged against PARKING METER/GARAGE RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2025 accounts as follows:  Treasurer Personal Services $ 20,000 Treasurer Expenses $ 60,000 Order adopted by vote 7 in favor and 2 opposed (DiNatale, Green). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 129-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000), same to be charged against PEG ACCESS AND CABLE RELATED FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2025 accounts as follows: Information Technology - PEG Expenses $25,000 Information Technology - PEG Capital $25,000 Order adopted by vote 5 in favor and 4 opposed (Cragin, Cruz, Green, Walsh). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 130-24. ORDER 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 2025 CEMETERY PERSONAL SERVICES. Order adopted by vote 8 in favor and 1 opposed (Beauchemin). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 131-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of EIGHT MILLION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-EIGHT DOLLARS ($8,396,998) same to be charged against WATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2025 Water Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $2,318,468 Expenses $2,180,500 Indirect Costs $1,410,000 Debt Service $1,988,030 Capital Expenses $ 500,000 Order adopted by vote 8 in favor and 1 opposed (DiNatale). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 132-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVENTEEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO DOLLARS ($17,655,832), charging $15,240,002 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and $2,415,830 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RETAINED EARNINGS, and credited to Fiscal Year 2025 Wastewater Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $2,932,460  Expenses $5,179,584 Indirect Costs $1,510,000 Debt Service $6,329,788 Capital Expenses $1,704,000 Order adopted by vote 8 in favor and 1 opposed (DiNatale). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 133-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE MILLION EIGHTY-FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($1,084,715) same to be charged against AIRPORT RECEIPTS RESERVED and credited to Fiscal Year 2025 Airport Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $ 359,955 Expenses $ 724,760 Order adopted by vote 7 in favor and 2 (Beauchemin, DiNatale). 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 134-24. ORDER 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 (except Public Health Sustainability which shall have a FY2025 limit of $750,000), whichever is less: Revolving Fund Authorized Official Animal Control Police Chief Civic Days Mayor or Mayor’s Designee, Recreation Director Communication Tower & Equipment Fire Chief Community Development Community Development Director or Designee Demolition Community Development Director or Designee Public Cemetery Cemetery Superintendent, Public Works Commissioner Public Health Sustainability Public Health Director Public Library Library Trustees, Chief Librarian Traffic Enforcement Police Chief Traffic Safety Equipment Police Chief Senior Center Activities Executive Director of the Council on Aging Sidewalk Public Works Commissioner Stormwater Maintenance Public Works Commissioner Order adopted by unanimous consent 9/0. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY25 - Final Budget FY 25 - City Council recommended proposed budget cuts and votes Orders signed by the Mayor June 17, 2024. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 136-24. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 44, Section 10 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg, as most recently amended, by adding thereto the following Grade assignments as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. Ordinance was sent to a first and second reading, and ordered advertised by a roll call vote 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The meeting adjourned at 9:47 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk