City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Feb 27 2025 3:12 pm 3:31 pm, Feb 27, 2025 WELCOME TO THE FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL 3:38 pm, Feb 27, 2025 March 4, 2025 Fitchburg Legislative Building 3:21 pm, Feb 28, 2025 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 THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of March 4, 2025 New Appointment: Fitchburg Board of Registrars (Term to expire April 1, 2028) Zachary Bos New Appointment: Fitchburg Housing Authority Board (Term to expire March 4, 2030) Heidi Bogner New Appointment letter: Fitchburg Human Rights (Term to expire February 4, 2028) Maryam Ashraf Re-Appointment letter: Trustees of Public Burial Grounds (Term to expire January 1, 2028) Andrew J. Hawthorne Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Human Rights Commission (Term to expire January 1, 2028) Cheryl Maguy-Stewart Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds (Term to expire January 16, 2028) Josiah W. Richards Re-Appointment letter: Board of Assessors (Term to expire January 1, 2028) Chris Paquette Page 1  IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Minutes from the Regular City Council meeting February 18, 2025 V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New-Appointment letter: Nancy ‘Cie’ Morin, as a Member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, for a term to expire March 18, 2028. 2. New-Appointment letter: Milagros “Millie” Whitfield, as a Member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, for a term to expire March 18, 2028. 3. Re-Appointment letter: George J. Bourque, as a Member of the Fitchburg Council on Aging, for a term to expire March 18, 2028. Promotion Letters 1. Promotion letter: Sergeant Michael E. Lopez to the rank of Permanent Police Lieutenant VI. ANNUAL REPORT 032-25. ANNUAL REPORT: Auditor’s report for the year ending June 30, 2024. OPEB REPORT City of Fitchburg Auditor's Report VII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Council as a Whole Committee Meeting of March 4, 2025 Oral Report 029-25. Mayor Samantha M. Squailia, to accept M.G.L. 64L, Section 2 to implement a local meal excise. Meals Excise Cities and Towns Revenue FY24 Meals Excise Cities and Towns MGL 64L S2 Local Meal Excise Mayor Letter 030-25. Mayor Samantha M. Squailia, to accept M.G.L. 32B, Section 21-23 regarding group Health Insurance. Health Insurance Page 2 Finance Committee Meeting of February 26, 2025 Oral Report 018-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the transfer of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) within CDBG Year 45 COVID-19 funds to COVID Rent and Utility Assistance from the following accounts: Pandemic Legal Assistance - $1,328.27 COVID Grant Administration - $3,671.73 (Be Adopted) 023-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative Grant awarded by the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security in the approximate amount of FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO AND 76/100 DOLLARS ($479,882.76) to address the underlying causes of criminal activity, and to build positive relationships with young people. (Be Adopted) 024-25. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($700,000) same to be charged against Available Funds and credited to the following DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SNOW & ICE accounts: PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime $75,000.00 EXPENSES - SALT $625,000.00 (Be Adopted) 025-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates from Available Funds, the sum of THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($35,000), to FACILITIES – Contracted Services, for critical equipment repairs and maintenance at City Hall and the Legislative Building. (Be Held) 026-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates from Available Funds, the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($105,000), to be credited to: LAW OTHER EXPENSES – Labor Negotiator $100,000 LAW OTHER EXPENSES – Litigation/Special Counsel $5,000. (Be Adopted) Community Development Block Grant Year 51 (Recommended as amended) CDBG Year 51 Recommendation CDBG Year 51 Page 3  VIII. ORDERS – FINANCE 033-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Department of Fire Services Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant in the approximate amount of FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($4,650) for the purpose of purchasing three AED machines. 034-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated from AVAILABLE FUNDS the sum of TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($225,000) for POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - OVERTIME. 035-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of FIFTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($57,000) from POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Patrolmen to: POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR – Tire Replacement $ 2,000 POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR – Training $16,000 POLICE OTHER EXPENSES – Dues & Subscriptions $ 2,000 POLICE OTHER EXPENSES – Provision for Prisoners $ 4,000 POLICE OTHER EXPENSES – Animal Control $ 2,000 POLICE MAINT OF BUILDING – Electricity $24,000 POLICE MAINT OF BUILDING – Heating Fuel $ 3,000 POLICE MAINT OF BUILDING – Households $ 4,000 036-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES – Capital Expenses to POLICE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS – Building Renovation. IX. ORDERS – CDBG Year 51 Suspension of Rules ORDERS 037-25 TO 057-25 X. ORDER – OTHER 058-25. ORDER THAT: the Mayor be and is hereby authorized to enter into an extension for the Deed Restriction set forth in the deed for the property located at 21 Market Street from the City of Fitchburg dated December 2, 2020 and recorded in the Worcester North Registry of Deeds in Book 9806 Page 155 originally to Y & M Home Solutions LLC and thereafter in a Deed dated April 28, 2022 and recorded in said Registry in Book 10319 Page351 currently in the name of Luis A. Hernandez, said Deed Restriction requiring the building permit for the rehabilitation of the premises to be obtained within 9 months from the date of the original deed (December 2, 2020) and the complete rehabilitation and constriction of the premises within 18 months of the deed. Said dates to be extended as follows: application for a building permit to be no later than August 20th, 2025; completion of the rehabilitation of the premises no later than August 20, 2026; and that the Mayor be further authorized to enter into any and all agreements to effectuate the terms of this Order. (City Property) Page 4  XI. LOAN ORDER – ROLL CALL VOTE 019-25. LOAN ORDER: the Loan Order #160-24, which was ordered by this Council on September 17, 2024 and authorized a borrowing of $12,700,000 for various water projects, is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety to read as follows: ORDERED: That $11,400,000 aggregate amount is appropriated for the following projects, including all costs incidental and related thereto, which amount may be apportioned to such projects as needed to accomplish the projects: (i) rehabilitation and/or upgrade of the Meetinghouse Gatehouse and Mare Meadow Pump Station, at an estimated cost of $4,300,000; (ii) Main Street water main replacement project, at an estimated cost of $4,500,000, which amount is expected to be used in addition to certain American Rescue Plan Act funds available for the project; (iii) Regional Water Treatment Plant roof replacement and/or weatherproofing project, at an estimated cost of $850,000; and (iv) Water Street water main replacement project, at an estimated cost of $1,750,000; and that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow $11,400,000 under G.L. c.44, §8 or any other enabling authority; that the Mayor is authorized to contract for and expend any federal or state aid available for the projects; that the Mayor is authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out the projects; and that the Treasurer is authorized to file an application with the Municipal Finance Oversight Board to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any or all of the bonds authorized by this order and to provide such information and execute such documents as the Municipal Finance Oversight Board may require for these purposes. (First Reading) XII. PETITIONS 059-25. Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning, to request approval of a TIE agreement for 533 Main St. (Economic Development) 060-25. Councilor Beauchemin, to remove parking meter bags on Grove Street. Cars are utilizing parking spots for the entire day. (Public Safety) XIII. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM Page 5