City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jun 25 2025 10:37 am City of Fitchburg Massachusetts 01420 CITY COUNCIL Councillors at Large President Ward Councillors Anthony M. Zarrella Sally H. Cragin Ward 1 – Bernard J. Schultz III Marcus L. DiNatale Ward 2 – Paul R. Beauchemin Amy Green Vice President Andrew J. Van Hazinga Ward 3 – Andrew J. Couture Elizabeth R. Walsh Ward 4 – Andrew J. Van Hazinga Anthony M. Zarrella Ward 5 – Marisa R. Fleming Ward 6 – Derrick J. Cruz COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COMMITTEE MEETING Legislative Building, 700 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM The Council as a Whole Committee Meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 6:07 PM. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Cruz . The City Clerk called the roll 6 Councilors were present (Councilor Couture, Cragin, Green, Van Hazinga and Walsh absent). Board consists of 11 members. Also present were members of the Finance Team: Jacquelyn M. Cronin, Auditor, Michaela Horn, Treasurer, Chris Paquette, Chief Assessor, Myles Phillips-Wilcox, Deputy Chief of Staff and Hon. Mayor Samantha Squailia. The Honorable Mayor Samantha Squailia and the finance will formally present in detail the FY2025 budget to the City Council for Airport, Police, Fire, Department of Public Works, Water and Wastewater. Councilor Couture joined the meeting at 6:14 PM. Councilor Green joined the meeting at 6:35 PM. I. BUDGET ORDERS-FY 2026 The following Budget Orders were referred to the Council as a Whole Committee: 100-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget:  General Fund $ 181,515,682 Water Enterprise $ 9,018,485 Wastewater Enterprise $ 20,126,481 Airport Fund $ 1,100,437 101-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($700,000), same to be credited to the Fiscal Year 2026 TAX LEVY and charged against OVERLAY SURPLUS. 102-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THREE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE DOLLARS ($3,847,163), same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the Fiscal Year 2026 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. 114-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($450,000), same to be charged against the STABILIZATION FUND and credited to the Fiscal Year 2026 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. 103-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($120,000), same to be charged against PARKING METER/GARAGE RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 accounts as follows: Treasurer Personal Services $ 40,000 Treasurer Expenses $ 80,000 104-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($55,000), same to be charged against PEG ACCESS AND CABLE RELATED FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 accounts as follows: Information Technology - PEG Expenses $25,000 Information Technology - PEG Capital $30,000 105-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($45,000), same to be charged against CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS AND GRAVES and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 CEMETERY PERSONAL SERVICES. 106-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of NINE MILLION EIGHTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($9,018,485) same to be charged against WATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Water Enterprise Fund accounts as follows:  Personal Services $2,417,125 Expenses $2,421,000 Indirect Costs $1,452,300 Debt Service $2,178,060 Capital Expenses $ 550,000 107-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE DOLLARS ($20,126,481), charging $18,344,495 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and $1,781,986 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RETAINED EARNINGS, and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Wastewater Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $3,183,418 Expenses $6,313,005 Indirect Costs $1,555,300 Debt Service $6,673,958 Capital Expenses $2,400,800 108-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN DOLLARS ($1,100,437) same to be charged against AIRPORT RECEIPTS RESERVED and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $ 354,799 Expenses $ 745,638 109-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the following Revolving Funds, authorized by City Ordinance, up to the amount available in the fund or $100,000 (except Public Health Sustainability which shall have a FY2026 limit of $750,000), whichever is less: Revolving Fund Authorized Official Animal Control Police Chief Civic Days Mayor or Mayor’s Designee, Recreation Director Communication Tower & Equipment Fire Chief Community Development Community Development Director or Designee Demolition Community Development Director or Designee Public Cemetery Cemetery Superintendent, Public Works Commissioner Public Health Sustainability Public Health Director  Public Library Library Trustees, Chief Librarian Traffic Enforcement Police Chief Traffic Safety Equipment Police Chief Senior Center Activities Executive Director of the Council on Aging Sidewalk Public Works Commissioner Stormwater Maintenance Public Works Commissioner FY26 Final Budget --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A recommendation for a recess was made at 7:55 PM. Meeting went back into session at 8:02 PM. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Joanna Bilotta, City Clerk