City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jan 07 2025 3:05 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 L. Green Vice President Andrew J. Van Hazinga Ward 4 – Andrew J. Van Hazinga Elizabeth R. Walsh 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 November 6, 2024. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:12 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by President Zarrella. The City Clerk called the roll 9 Councilors were present (Councilor Cragin via zoom). (Councilor DiNatale and Van Hazinga absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM No one spoke during Public Forum. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 4 until 5:30 p.m. in Room 205 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 November 6, 2024 New Appointment: Fitchburg Water-Wastewater (Term to expire November 6, 2028) Jason Lefferts New Appointment: Municipal Hearing Officer (Term to expire February 1, 2026) (Term to expire November 6, 2025) Nicholas Cordio New Appointment: Fitchburg Human Rights (Term to expire November 5, 2027) Michael Baltier Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Human Rights (Term to expire May 1, 2027) David Roth Motion and second to accept all appointments except the appointment of Nicholas Cordio by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to approve the appoint of Nicholas Cordio by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS (October 15, 2024) The Committee on records reported the minutes of October 15, 2024 City Council meeting were correctly recorded. Report accepted and minutes adopted by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. ORDERS - FINANCE Suspension of rules requested on Order 185-24. 185-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby raise and appropriate the sum of SIX HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($645,000), crediting School Department Expenses, for the purpose of funding a shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2024 Net School Spending requirement. Motion and second for suspencion of rules by roll call vote of 7 in favor and 2 opposed (Councilor Couture and Fleming) motion fails. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to send Order 185-24 to the Finance Committee by roll call vote of 9 in favor and opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Waive Reading on orders 186-24 through 192-24. Orders stand referred to Finance Committee. 186-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ELEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOUR AND 30/100 DOLLARS ($11,134.30) same to be charged against RESERVED FOR APPROPRIATION - TNC PER RIDE ASSESSMENT and credited to DPW CAPITAL EXPENSES - STREET REPAIR for the purpose of road repaving. 187-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Action Grant, for Nature Based Solutions for a Resilient Coolidge Park, in the approximate amount of THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY DOLLARS ($323,160) to help mitigate flooding impacts by increasing Stormwater storage, recharge, and water quality. 188-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Compact grant program, in the approximate amount of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) to develop a multi-year paving management plan. 189-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Compact grant program, in the approximate amount of FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($40,000) to develop a capital improvement plan. 190-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Shared Streets and Spaces grant program, in the approximate amount of TWO HUNDRED FORTY- SIX THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTEEN and 56/100 DOLLARS ($246,816.56) to create a formal shared-use path along Railroad Street to the future pedestrian bridge. 191-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Culture and Recreation Mass Trails grant program, in the approximate amount of SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE DOLLARS ($78,005) to improve a section of trail at the summit of Rollstone Hill, and to install Rock Walk signage. 192-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities 40R Smart Growth program in the approximate amount of THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($321,000), for Lowe Park and other activities and city improvements. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VI. ORDINANCE 193-24. AN ORDINANCE: Chapter 44, entitled Salaries, be amended by adding the following position: Municipal Hearing Officer Report to Executive Director of Community Development & Planning Stipend $200 per month, $80 per case. (Suspension of Rules) Motion and second for Suspension of Rules by roll call of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to pass 193-24 through it’s first reading by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. PETITION Following Petition was referred to Public Safety: 194-24. J Motors Inc., to petition for a Class II Dealer’s License located at 71 John Fitch Hwy. Fitchburg, MA 01420 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. OTHER BUSINESS Referred to Records Committee: President Zarrella on behalf of Sam Cole to review the characterization of his comments in the minutes of the 5/2/23 City Council Meeting. (Records) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 8:12 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk