City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jan 27 2025 3:38 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 11, 2024 WARRANT FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Dear Councillor: The Organizational Meeting of the 2025 City Council will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Legislative Building, 700 Main St., Fitchburg MA. 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. The Meeting has been called for the following purposes: Election of the Council President for the year 2025; Election of the Council Vice President for the year 2025; 1 – 25 ORDER: Adopting Rules of the City Council for the year 2025; 2 – 25 ORDER: Setting dates of Regular Meetings of the City Council for the year 2025; Per Order: Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk The Organizational Meeting of the City Council was called to order by City Clerk Joanna Bilotta at 10:00 a.m. The Salute to the Flag was led by Councilor Van Hazinga. The City Clerk called the roll and nine (9) members were present (Councilor Beauchemin and Couture were absent). Board consists of eleven 11 members. The City Clerk read the warrant for the Organizational Meeting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 roll call vote 9 in favor 0 opposed. A roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed resulted in the election of Councilor Anthony Zarrella as President of the City Council for the year 2025. 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 Marcus DiNatale were placed in nomination and seconded. There were no further nominations. Nominations were declared closed following a roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. A roll call vote seven (7) for Van Hazinga two (2) for DiNatale, resulted in the election of Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga as Vice President of the City Council for the year 2025. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following Orders were received: 1 – 25. ORDER: Adopting Rules of the City Council for the year 2025. Proposed Amendments to the 2025 Rules and Orders for the City Council: PROPOSAL #1 (Schultz, Van Hazinga, and Zarrella, sponsor): Adding: Rule 1.4(a): The Vice President shall assist the President in maintaining order and may, for that purpose, speak out of turn to warn or advise a speaker of a potential violation of rules pertaining to time, germaneness, or decorum. If the member disagrees, this shall be deemed a point of order raised by the Vice President and shall be ruled upon by the President. Provided however, that in speaking under this Rule, the Vice President shall not offer any opinion on a subject under debate, and provided further that the President shall remain the sole judge of all points of order. Motion and second to approve Proposal #1 by roll call vote of 3 in favor and 6 opposed (Councilor Cragin, Cruz, DiNatale, Fleming, Green and Walsh) motion fails. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROPOSAL #2 (Schultz, Van Hazinga, and Zarrella, sponsor): Adding: Rule 3.2(a): No member shall hold the floor for longer than ten (10) consecutive minutes while other members are waiting to speak. If no member is waiting to speak and the speaker has exceeded ten minutes, then upon becoming aware that another member wishes to speak, the President shall indicate that the speaker's time will conclude in thirty (30) seconds. No member shall hold the floor for longer than ten (10) consecutive minutes while other members are waiting to speak during their second time speaking. Upon the member exceeding 10 minutes that met member may request an additional 10 minutes to be determined by roll call vote of the council. Councilor Beauchemin joined via zoom at 10:19 AM. Motion and second to amend Proposal #2 by roll call vote of 3 in favor and 7 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin, Cragin, DiNatale, Fleming, Green, Van Hazinga and Walsh) motion fails. Motion and second to approve Proposal #2 by roll call vote of 3 in favor and 7 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin, Cragin, Cruz, DiNatale, Fleming, Green, and Walsh) motion fails. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROPOSAL #3 (Schultz, Van Hazinga, and Zarrella, sponsor): Amend Rule 3.2 to Rule 3.2(b) The second of the two rules currently labeled "Rule 3.2" (beginning with, "No member speaking...") shall be renumbered as "Rule 3.2(b)". Amend Rule 3.2 to Rule 3.2 (a) The second of the two rules currently labeled "Rule 3.2" (beginning with, "No member speaking...") shall be renumbered as "Rule 3.2(b)". Councilor Beauchemin lost zoom connection at 10:35 AM. Motion and second to amend Proposal #3 passes by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. Motion and second to approve Proposal# 3 as amended passes by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 – 25. 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 2025 are as follows: JANUARY Tuesday 7th and Tuesday, 21st FEBRUARY Tuesday 4th and Tuesday 18th MARCH Tuesday 4th and Tuesday 18th APRIL Tuesday 1st and Tuesday 15th MAY Tuesday 6th and Tuesday 20th JUNE Tuesday 3rd and Tuesday 17th JULY Tuesday 1st and Tuesday 15th AUGUST NO MEETINGS SEPTEMBER Tuesday 2nd and Tuesday 16th OCTOBER Tuesday 7th and Tuesday 21st NOVEMBER Wednesday 5th and Tuesday 18th DECEMBER Tuesday 2nd and Tuesday 16th 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 link by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov by 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of meeting. Order was adopted by unanimous consent 9/0. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Meeting adjourned at 10:40 AM. ___________________________ Joanna Bilotta, City Clerk