City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jun 25 2025 10:40 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 June 3, 2025. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 8:05 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor DiNatale. The City Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present (Councilor Cruz absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM • Harold Mateo, spoke on the appointment of Mr. Felix I. Zemel • Jeremy Ethier, spoke on the appointment of Mr. Felix I. Zemel ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Stratton players are having a play reading at the Leominster Library on Thursday, June 12th, 6:30 PM. This is 400 years in the making American Slavery on Trial “Frederick Douglas VS. The Auld Family”. An Original Play by Cedric Arno, featuring characters, including James Baldwin, Thurgood Marshall, Gov. George Wallace and Civil Rights leaders. The audience becomes the jury – can you determine the legitimacy of American Slavery? This will be the final play reading event of the season. The Stratton players 2nd Friday of each Month from 6:30 to 7:30 at Christ Church, 569 Main St., Fitchburg, Fun Family Improv. Love to Make Up Characters? Join us for a super-fun Friday Night. Kids, teens, adults, seniors – lets have fun with improv, props, and costumes! “Pay what you cab” Open to all. You can RSVP: strattonplayers@gmail.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of June 3, 2025 New Appointment letter: Fitchburg Disability Commission (For a term to expire May 1, 2028) Emily Starks New-Appointment letter: Human Resources Director (For a term to expire December 31, 2026) Brittney Fish New-Appointment letter: Building Commissioner (For a term to expire June 1, 2028) Felix I. Zemel Motion and second to vote on appointments separately by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to approve the appointment of Emily Stark by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to approve the appointment of Brittney Fish by roll call vote of 4 in favor and 6 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin, Couture, DiNatale, Fleming, Green and Walsh). Motion fails. Motion and second to approve the appointment of Felix I. Zemel by roll call vote of 6 in favor and 4 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin, DiNatale, Green and Walsh). Motion passes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of May 20, 2025 Report read and accepted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New-Appointment letter: Jamie Darcangelo, R.N., as a member of the Board of Health, for a term to expire January 1, 2027. 2. Re-Appointment letter: John Bogsdasarian, M.D., as a member of the Board of Health, for a term to expire January 1, 2028. Appointment stands referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. ANNUAL REPORT 117-25. Audited Financial Statements for the year ended June 30, 2024. Financial Statement for the year ended June 30, 2024 Single Audit Report Waive reading. Report placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Public Works Committee Meeting of May 27, 2025 Oral Report 096-25. Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga, to install a traffic sign on Davis Street at Highland Court warning “Caution – Autistic Child”, or similar. (Be Granted) 069 097-25. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Jason Badillo of 126 South Street, to repair sidewalk on Charles Street next to his residence. The concrete part of the sidewalk has deteriorated, and a tree has lifted a portion of the nearby asphalt sidewalk. (Be granted as amended) Councilor DiNatale left the meeting at 9:27 PM Report read and accepted. Petition granted by unanimous consent 9/0. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 094-25. Community Development & Planning Department is requesting that City Council adopt zoning changes to comply with the Massachusetts Model Floodplain bylaws and incorporate the new FEMA floodplain maps effective July 8, 2025. MEMO - Floodplain Amendment President Zarrella declared the hearing open at 9:31 PM Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development and Planning gave a quick update on Floodplain Amendment. Mayor Samantha Squailia in support of petition. Building Commissioner Felix I. Zemel, spoke in support of petition. Councilor Van Hazinga spoke in support of petition. No one spoke in opposition to the petition. President Zarrella declared the hearing closed at 9:41 PM Petition granted by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 110-25. AN ORDINANCE: Chapter 181, § 181.66.A.2 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 181, § 181.66.A.2, as most recently amended, be further amended by deleting the language denoted with strikethrough and replacing with the language denoted as emboldened: 2. For the reasons set forth above and notwithstanding any other provision of the Zoning Ordinance to the contrary, the City hereby adopts a temporary moratorium on the permits for and use of land for large scale ground mounted solar photovoltaic facilities. The moratorium shall be in effect through May 31, 2025 October 15, 2025, unless adoption of new Zoning Ordinance addressing Large Scale Ground- Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Facilities is in effect, whichever is earlier. During the moratorium period, the City shall undertake a planning process to address the potential impacts of large-scale ground mounted solar photovoltaic facilities and related uses, and shall consider adopting new Zoning Ordinances to better address the impact and construction of same in the City. (First Reading) President Zarrella declared the hearing open at 9:42 PM No one spoke in opposition to the petition. President Zarrella declared the hearing closed at 9:43 PM Motion and second to send Ordinance to a first and second reading by roll call vote of 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. ORDERS – FINANCE The following Orders stand referred to Finance: 115-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLAR ($30,000) from FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES – EMD Stipend to the following FIRE BUILDING MAINTENANCE accounts: Electricity $5,000 Heating Fuel $5,000 Household Repair $20,000 116-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE AND 10/100 DOLLARS ($102,823.10) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION – PEG ACCESS Expenses to RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION – PEG ACCESS Cable Franchise Fee for the purpose of remitting to FATV the first quarter 2025 franchise fee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. OTHER BUSINESS All proposed budget cuts Wednesday, June 4, 2025 12:00 PM Next Council as a Whole Meeting – Budget Hearing Monday, June 9, 2025 6:00 PM Next Special City Council Meeting Monday, June 9, 2025 – following the budget hearing Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 17, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk