City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jul 08 2025 11:25 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 17, 2025. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 8:28 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Schultz. The City Clerk called the roll 8 Councilors were present (Councilor Beauchemin, DiNatale and Fleming absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM • Josiah Richards, Fitchburg resident, spoke in support of 135-25. • Tessa Poirier, Fitchburg resident, spoke in support of 135-25. • Meghan Buckley, Fitchburg resident, spoke in support of 135-25. • Jamie Darcangelo, Fitchburg resident, spoke in support of 135-25. • Lauren Slater, Fitchburg resident, spoke in support of 135-25. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, June 26 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 Fitchburg Community Lions Club is collecting eyeglasses to donate to those with low vision. This event will take place Friday, June 20th from 10 AM – 2 PM in the lobby of Fitchburg City Hall. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ward 3 meeting will not be held this month in observance of Juneteenth which falls on the third Thursday of the month. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All are invited to a Summer Solstice history walk at Laurel Hill Cemetery on Friday, June 20th at 4:30 PM to 6 PM. We will visit the graves of Orlando Boss, Congressional medal of Honor recipient, Eleanor Norcoss, Artist & founder of the Fitchburg Art Museum and Anti-tobacco apostle Rev. George Trask and others. You can RSVP to friendsoffitchburgcemeteries@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join us for DPW day on Wednesday, June 18th at 2:00 PM at Coolidge Park. There will be ample parking plus the playground and a ton of trucks. We will have a huge sand pile for kids, firetrucks and police trucks as well. All kinds of goodies and goodie bags, the library, the schools and therapy pets will be there. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of June 17, 2025 New Appointment letter: Board of Health (For a term to expire January 1, 2027) Jamie Darcangelo, R.N. Motion and second to accept the appointment of Jamie Darcangelo, R.N. by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Re-Appointment letter: Board of Health (For a term to expire January 1, 2028) John Bogsdasarian, M.D. Councilor Green recused herself at 8:45 PM Motion and second to accept the appointment of John Bogsdasarian, M.D. by unanimous consent 7/0. 7 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Councilor Green returned at 8:46 PM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Council as a Whole meeting of May 27, 2025 Council as a Whole meeting of May 28, 2025 Council as a Whole meeting of May 29, 2025 Regular City Council meeting minutes of June 3, 2025 Report read and minutes adopted by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. Re-Appointment letter: Mary Delaney, as the Chief Procurement Officer, for a term to expire June 30, 2028. Appointment stands referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. COMMUNICATION City Auditor Final Financial Statements for the City of Fitchburg Final Audited FY24 Financial Statements Waive reading. Report placed on file in the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Jeremy Roche – Fitchburg Public Schools Solar Array – Crocker Elementary Solar Presentation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Council as a Whole Committee Meeting of June 17, 2025 Oral Report I. BUDGET ORDERS-FY 2026 100-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget: General Fund $ 181,515,682 $181,464,682 Water Enterprise $ 9,018,485 Wastewater Enterprise $ 20,126,481 $20,037,331 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 SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE DOLLARS ($3,847,163) ($3,796,163), 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 TWENTY- FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($55,000) ($25,000), 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 THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY- ONE DOLLARS ($20,126,481 $20,037,331), charging $18,344,495 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and $1,781,986 $1,692,836 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RETAINED EARNINGS, and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Wastewater Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $3,183,418 $3,094,268 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 Waive reading. Report accepted as amended by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor June 30, 2025. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finance Committee Meeting of June 11, 2025 Oral Report 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 $30,000 Heating Fuel $5,000 Household Repair $20,000 (Be Adopted as amended) 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. (Be Adopted) Report read and accepted. Orders adopted by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor June 30, 2025. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Safety Committee Meeting of June 17, 2025 Oral Report 060-25. Councilor Beauchemin, to remove parking meter bags on Grove Street. Cars are utilizing parking spots for the entire day. 067-25. Residents of Park St., to petition concerns that Midnight Auto Repair shop is taking over Park St. leaving the residents with “No Parking”. 095-25. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, in conjunction with Fire Chief Dante Suarez and Director of Public Health Steve Curry, to address public safety issues at 240 Water Street, the former St. Bernard's Church. The church spire is no longer straight up and down and presents a falling danger. In addition, homeless people frequently have broken into the church buildings and present an ongoing fire hazard for the city. A more permanent securing of the buildings at this address is necessary. Report read and accepted by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Motion and second to take item out of order by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. IX. PUBLIC HEARING 113-25. Unitil, to petition to relocate p#14, 14’s as painted on ground for new driveway. The proposed p#14 would be 95’ from Columbus St. and 103’ from St. Joseph St., Fitchburg, as outlined in the enclosed Petition. President Zarrella declared the meeting open at 9:01 PM No one spoke in favor to the petition. No one spoke in opposition to the petition. President Zarrella declared the hearing closed at 9:02 PM Motion and second to grant petition by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. ORDERS – FINANCE Waive reading. Orders stand referred to Finance: 118-25. ORDER THAT: the sum of ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR DOLLARS ($1,684) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Fitchburg Building Department for Improving Community and Economic Development Through Improved Code Enforcement and charged against the CDBG Year 51. 119-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of additional funds from the Massachusetts Collaborative for Action, Leadership, and Learning 3 (MassCall3) Substance Misuse Prevention grant in the approximate amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($250,000) for the purpose of said grant, which is to prevent substance use (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis) among youth. 120-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, in the approximate amount of FOURTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($14,500), awarded to the city Recreation Program from the DESE After School and Out of School Time Program Grant to help cover the cost of weekly summer field trips and bringing different educational entertainers to the Coolidge and Parkhill playground sites. 121-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated from WATER ENTERPRISE - RETAINED EARNINGS the sum of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($175,000) to the following WATER ENTERPRISE accounts: Personal Services - Overtime $75,000 Expenses - Contracted Services $80,000  Expenses – Electricity $20,000 122-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfer the sum of THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($32,000) from WASTEWATER EAST PLANT PERSONAL SERVICES – Operators to WASTEWATER EAST PLANT PERSONAL SERVICES – Overtime. 123-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby accept the donation of FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($15,000) from Applewild School Inc., for expenditure on engineering consulting services to design a raised crosswalk on View Street. 124-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby accept the donation of ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($115,000) from Unitil for expenditure on repaving roadways impacted by Unitil’s natural gas infrastructure work. 125-25. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX DOLLARS ($108,886) to DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS – SNOW & ICE – Overtime from the following DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SNOW & ICE accounts: EXPENSES – Plow & Blades $70,941 EXPENSES – Salt $37,945 126-25. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates the sum of TWELVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DOLLARS ($12,180) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS – SNOW & ICE - OVERTIME. 127-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVENTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX AND 50/100 DOLLARS ($17,256.50) same to be charged against RESERVED FOR APPROPRIATION - TNC PER RIDE ASSESSMENT and credited to DPW CAPITAL EXPENSES - STREET REPAIR for the purpose of road repaving. 128-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000) to DPW CAPITAL – Equipment from the following accounts: DPW ENGINEERING PERSONAL SERVICES – Civil Engineer $35,000 DPW STORMWATER PERSONAL SERVICES – Labor $15,000 DPW STREETS PERSONAL SERVICES – Labor $300,000 129-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($570,000) to DPW CAPITAL – Equipment from the following accounts: AVAILABLE FUNDS - $318,000 RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES – Capital $252,000 130-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) from EMPLOYEE BENEFITS – Health Insurance to the POLICE CAPITAL – Building Renovations. 131-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($230,000) from EMPLOYEE BENEFITS – Health Insurance to TREASURER CAPITAL – Building Improvements. 132-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES – Capital to COUNCIL ON AGING EXPENSES – Capital Improvements. 133-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($550,000) same to be charged against FISCAL 2025 – RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES – Expenses and credited to FISCAL 2026 – RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES – Expenses. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XI. ORDINANCE 134-25. AN ORDINANCE: Chapter 181.85 Floodplain Protection Overlay District (FPOD), of the Code of the City of Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance, be amended by deleting the entire section 181.85 and replacing it in its entirety as enclosed in the Ordinance. (First Reading) Ordinance was sent to a first and second reading and ordered advertised by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XII. PETITION Motion and second to take item out of order by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. 135-25. Josiah Richards, request to raise the LGBTQI+ Progressive Pride flag in front of the Legislative Building at 700 Main St. from June 23 through June 30. (Suspension of Rules) Motion and second for suspension of rules by unanimous consent 8/0. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to grant petition by roll call vote 8 in favor and 0 opposed. 8 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XIII. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, July 1, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 9:18 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk