City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Apr 08 2025 9:54 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 March 18, 2025. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:01 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Fleming. The City Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present (Councilor DiNatale absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM • Jacquelyn Wehtje, Fitchburg resident, spoke in opposition of Order 62-25. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, March 27, 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lenten Fish Fry continues to take place this coming Friday, March 21 at Madonna of the Holy Rosary, 118 Theresa Street, from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. April 11 is the last Friday for the Fish Fry this year. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Montachusett Martin Luther King Coalition (MMLKC) would like to invite you to its Wrestling with Racism discussion on supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The DEI discussion will take place on Zoom on Thursday, March 20 for one hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eric Mbunwe and Emily Schultz will co-facilitate the discussion. To get a free Zoom link for attending the discussion, you can go to Eventbrite for the link, or contact MMLKC President Linda Mason at 978-400-0580 for the link. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Stratton Players will be putting on Alice in Wonderland at Christ Church, 569 Main St., Fitchburg, on Fridays, April 4th & 11th at 7:30pm and Saturdays, April 5th and 12th at 2pm & 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 or $10 for students/seniors. Saturday, April 5th, there will be a “Mad Hatter Tea Party Luncheon” catered by Finicky Fork at the theatre. Seating starts at 12:15pm and the show is at 2pm. Saturday, April 12th, there will be a “Dinner and a Show” at Slattery’s, a benefit for the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of North Central MA. Email strattonplayers@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Spring Equinox Local History Walk Fitchburg’s Fabulous Females will take place on Thursday, March 20th at 5:30 PM. Meeting at the Forest Hill Cemetery Main Entrance Mt. Elam Rd. Attendees will learn about WWII Veteran Isabel Demmon, Historian Barbara Crocker, Artist Adeline Adams, Benefactor Fay Crocker, and more! This is a partnership event with the Women’s Fund of North Central Mass Community Foundation and Friends of Fitchburg Cemeteries. It’s “Pay What You Can” – All Welcome. It will be a walk from Mt. Elam Rd, over the hill to Rollstone St. side of Forest Hill Cemetery. You can 978-320-1335 or email friendsoffitchburgcemeteries@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ignite & Elevate: The Women’s Fund Annual Celebration, an evening of connection, inspiration, and impact will be March 26th, 2025 from 5PM – 7PM at the Hammond Hall at Fitchburg State University you can call 978-362-680 to RSVP. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilor Couture will be hosting a Ward 3 Community meeting at 6:00 PM at the Legislative Building, 700 Main Street, Fitchburg, on Thursday, March 20, 2025. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of March 18, 2025 New Appointment: Fitchburg Cultural Council (Term to expire March 18, 2028) Nancy ‘Cie’ Morin New Appointment: Fitchburg Cultural Council (Term to expire March 18, 2028) Milagros “Millie” Whitfield Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Council on Aging (Term to expire March 18, 2028) George J. Bourque II Report read and accepted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Council as a Whole Committee meeting March 4, 2025 Regular City Council meeting March 4, 2025 Report accepted and minutes adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New-Appointment letter: Barbara Assimakopolous, to the position of Municipal Hearing Officer, for a three (3) year period, with an evaluation after six months. 2. New-Appointment letter: Brian Gallagher, as a Member of the Fitchburg Historical Commission, for a term scheduled to expire on April 1, 2028. Appointments stand referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. New-Appointment letter: Special Police Officers Kerry C. Siomos Timothy M. McDermott Appointments read and Officers were sworn in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. COMMUNICATION Fitchburg Retirement Board Notification that the Fitchburg Retirement Board shall be conducting a public meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 9:50 a.m. in the North Meeting Room located on the third floor of City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to address the increase to the fiscal year 2026 cost-of-living allowance paid to those receiving retirement benefits from the Fitchburg Retirement System. Communication read and placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Nathan Glenny, FATV, Executive Director FATV Presentation -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VIII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES City Property Committee Meeting of March 18, 2025 Oral Report 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. 037-24. That 84 North St., more fully described as Fitchburg Assessors Map 44, Block 110, Lot 0, be declared as surplus property. Report read and accepted. Order 58-25 adopted and petition 037-24 granted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by Mayor March 27, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic Development Meeting of March 18, 2025 Oral Report 059-25. Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning, to request approval of a TIE agreement for 533 Main St. • Communication from the Chair Report read and accepted. Petition granted as amended by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finance Committee Meeting of March 12, 2025 Oral Report 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. (Leave to Withdraw) 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. (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) 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 (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) Report read and accepted. Orders 033-25 through 036-25 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by Mayor March 27, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. ORDERS – FINANCE 061-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Mosaic (Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership) grant funds from the Mass DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) in the approximate amount of FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($40,000) for the purpose of said grant, which is to address the opioid overdose crisis by providing medical supplies and connection to services. 062-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TEN DOLLARS ($102,210) from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES – Capital Expenses to POLICE CAPITAL – Vehicle Replacement. Orders stand referred to Finance Committee -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  X. 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. (Final Reading) Motion and second to send Loan Order was sent to a final reading, adopted, and ordered advertised by roll call vote of 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Loan Order signed by Mayor March 27, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XI. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:56 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk