City Council
Regular MeetingFitchburg, MA · December 17, 2024
Minutes
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Jan 17 2025 11:27 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 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 December 17, 2024.
The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:04 P.M. The meeting opened with a
salute to the Flag led by Councilor Schultz. The City Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present
(Councilor DiNatale absent). Board consists of 11 members.
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I. PUBLIC FORUM
Mr. Goodwin, Fitchburg resident, spoke on item 030-24.
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II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Moment of Silence for:
Toddy Martel, Gerry Martel's widow as well & Jenn Monte Bragdon, mother of 3 students in
Fitchburg Public Schools, and a TheraPAWS team member who volunteered literally hundreds of
hours in our schools with therapy pets be honored. She also passed away recently, unexpectedly
from a brief illness.
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The next two meetings of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on
Thursday, December 19, 2024 and Thursday, January 2, 2025 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.
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Winter Solstice Nature Walk to visit historic graves of local notables and veterans on Saturday,
December 21st at 1:00 PM rain or shine, at the Fitchburg Historic Forest Hill Cemetery.
Donations Welcome to benefit Friends of Fitchburg Cemeteries.
Email: friendsoffitchburgcemeteries@gmail.com
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Ward 3 will be hosting a meeting/potluck at the British American Club on December 19, 2024 at
6:00 P.M. come and have a bite to eat and celebrate the holidays and discuss the Ward. Have a
glass of cheer while you are there!
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III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS
City Council meeting minutes of December 3, 2024
Report accepted and minutes adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board
consists of 11 members.
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IV. COMMUNICATION
Fitchburg Retirement System
Fitchburg Retirement Board’s CY 2025 Budget
CY2025 Budget
Waive reading. Report placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office by unanimous consent 10/0. 10
members present. Board consists of 11 members.
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V. ANNUAL REPORT
209-24. ANNUAL REPORT: 2023 Annual Report of the City Clerk’s Office.
2023 City Clerk's Office Report
Waive reading. Report placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office by unanimous consent 10/0. 10
members present. Board consists of 11 members.
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VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES
Board of Health
Meeting of October 10, 2024
Board of Health Minutes
030-24. Andrew Couture on behalf of the residents of Oak Ridge Condominiums to
investigate an offensive odor (suspected from Grief paper).
Board of Health Director Steve Curry gave an update. Petition to be held in Committee.
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Finance Committee
Meeting of December 11, 2024
Oral Report as Amended
203-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds
from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and
Security State 911 Department Training Grant in the approximate amount of ONE
HUNDRED SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT and 82/100
DOLLARS ($107,658.82) for the purpose of training Fire Department dispatchers
in Emergency Medical Dispatch procedures, and Police Department dispatchers in
911 Emergency procedures.
(Be Adopted)
205-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of
THREE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,400,000)
from ARPA – Boulder Drive Water Mains, to ARPA – Main Street Water Mains.
(Be Adopted)
206-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of
TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO
AND 65/100 DOLLARS ($280,782.65) NINETY-FOUR THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED DOLLARS ($94,500) to EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Health Insurance
from the following ARPA Fund accounts:
Fitchburg Business Loan Pool $ 62,500
Crocker Field Turf Replacement $ 32,000
Parkhill-Mama Fitz Parks $ 186,282.65
(Adopted as amended)
207-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) from RESERVE FOR OTHER
MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses to AUDITOR EXPENSES - Contracted
Services.
(Be Adopted)
Report read and accepted. Orders adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board
consists of 11 members.
Orders signed by the Mayor December 27, 2024
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Public Safety Committee
Meeting of December 17, 2024
Oral Report
208-24. Auto Pro Sales and Service, LLC., to petition for a Class II Dealer’s License located
at 672-678 Water St. Fitchburg, MA 01420
Motion and second to move question by roll call vote of 8 in favor and 2 opposed (Councilor
Beauchemin and Cruz). 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members.
Report read and accepted. Petition granted by 9 in favor and 1 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin).
10 members present. Board consists of 11 members.
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VII. PETITION
Motion and second for suspension of rules by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board
consists of 11 members.
210-24. Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning Department
is requesting that City Council execute and accept the proposal to purchase and
redevelop the following property and authorize the Mayor to take any and all
actions necessary or convenient to facilitate the transfer of this property:
•104 Daniels Street
Assessor’s Map 51/45/0
(Suspension of rules)
Motion and second to amend petition by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board
consists of 11 members.
Petition granted as amended by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of
11 members.
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VIII. OTHER BUSINESS
Special City Council Organizational Meeting
Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Next Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM
The meeting adjourned at 7:54 P.M.
___________________________________
Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk
Agenda
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Dec 12 2024 12:11 pm
WELCOME TO THE FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL 9:45 am, Dec 16, 2024
December 17, 2024
Fitchburg Legislative Building
700 Main Street
Fitchburg MA 01420
7:00 PM
This meeting can also be viewed live on FATV. Go to www.fatv.org/watch-fatv for more
information on accessing this meeting.
This is intended to help you understand the meeting format and assist you with the rules
of the Council as they pertain to your participation.
All meetings of the Fitchburg City council are open to the public. This does not mean that
the public participates in all aspects of the meeting. It simply means that the meeting
itself, including all discussions and votes, is open for public view.
Executive Session
The only time a Council meeting can be closed to the public is when
the Council votes for Executive Session in order to discuss sensitive
matters in private, such as pending litigation. Any votes taken
however, must be taken in open session.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK DURING A COUNCIL MEETING:
Public Forum
The Public Forum occurs immediately following the Pledge of
Allegiance. The President will ask if anyone in the audience wishes
to speak on any matter appearing on the Agenda. If you wish to
address the Council, you must stand and be recognized and follow
these rules before speaking:
1. State your name and city of residence.
2. Approach the center table and either stand or sit. This allows
you to be seen and heard clearly by everyone in attendance.
3. You may speak only on items appearing on the agenda for
no more than (2) minutes. Copies of the agenda are
available on the center table prior to the meeting.
4. Please state the petition, order, ordinance, or resolution
number to which you refer.
Public Hearings
Public hearings are held on various issues such as Special Permits and
Zoning changes. The same rules apply with the following exceptions:
1. You must stand and be recognized either “in favor” or “in
opposition” when asked by the Council President.
2. You need not refer to the petition number.
If you have any questions or comments either before or after the meeting,
any Councilor would be happy to assist you.
Thank you for your interest!
I. PUBLIC FORUM
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 link by contacting the City Clerk at
cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov by 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of meeting.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS
(December 3, 2024)
IV. COMMUNICATION
Fitchburg Retirement System
Fitchburg Retirement Board’s CY 2025 Budget
CY2025 Budget
V. ANNUAL REPORT
209-24. ANNUAL REPORT: 2023 Annual Report of the City Clerk’s Office.
2023 City Clerk's Office Report
VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES
Board of Health
Meeting of October 10, 2024
Board of Health Minutes
030-24. Andrew Couture on behalf of the residents of Oak Ridge Condominiums to
investigate an offensive odor (suspected from Grief paper).
Finance Committee
Meeting of December 11, 2024
Oral Report
203-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
State 911 Department Training Grant in the approximate amount of ONE HUNDRED
SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT and 82/100 DOLLARS
($107,658.82) for the purpose of training Fire Department dispatchers in Emergency
Medical Dispatch procedures, and Police Department dispatchers in 911 Emergency
procedures.
(Be Adopted)
205-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of
THREE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,400,000) from
ARPA – Boulder Drive Water Mains, to ARPA – Main Street Water Mains.
(Be Adopted)
Page 1
206-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of
TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO
AND 65/100 DOLLARS ($280,782.65) NINETY-FOUR THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED DOLLARS ($94,500) to EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Health Insurance
from the following ARPA Fund accounts:
Fitchburg Business Loan Pool $ 62,500
Crocker Field Turf Replacement $ 32,000
Parkhill-Mama Fitz Parks $ 186,282.65
(Adopted as amended)
207-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) from RESERVE FOR OTHER
MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses to AUDITOR EXPENSES - Contracted
Services.
(Be Adopted)
Public Safety Committee
Meeting of December 17, 2024
Oral Report
208-24. Auto Pro Sales and Service, LLC., to petition for a Class II Dealer’s License located at
672-678 Water St. Fitchburg, MA 01420
VII. PETITION
210-24. Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning Department is
requesting that City Council execute and accept the proposal to purchase and
redevelop the following property and authorize the Mayor to take any and all actions
necessary to facilitate the transfer of this property:
•104 Daniels Street
Assessor’s Map 51/45/0
(Suspension of rules)
VIII. OTHER BUSINESS
Special City Council Organizational Meeting
Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Next Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM
Page 2
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