City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Oct 03 2025 12:27 pm City of Fitchburg Massachusetts 01420 CITY COUNCIL Councilors at Large President Ward Councilors 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 September 2, 2025. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:00 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by President Zarrella. The Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present (Councilor DiNatale absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM • Chris Batinsey, Fitchburg resident, spoke on item 155-25. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, September 4 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There will be a Housing Summit hosted by The City of Fitchburg at City Hall on September 20th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on all floors in which there will be information provided for renters, home buyers and property owners to learn the “3 steps to housing”. Hear from City and State officials and learn about NewVue, affordable housing opportunities, as well as details on the city’s new accessory dwelling unit zoning. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of July 15, 2025 Report read and minutes adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  IV. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New-Appointment letters: Permanent Full Time Firefighters For the City of Fitchburg • Damon M. Suarez, replacing Firefighter Mike Pawlak, retired February 2025 • Daniel R. Motyka, replacing Firefighter James Nault, retired March 2025 • Andras Sevigny, replacing Lieutenant Sean Joubert, resigned May 2025 • Danny Sanchez-Morfin, replacing Firefighter Peter Gradito, retired in June 2025 • Connor Caisse, replacing Firefighter Anthony Knowles, resigned August 2025 • Peter Selig, replacing Firefighter Hector Rodriguez, resigned August 2025 • Sean Donelan, replacing Lieutenant Barry Hyvarinen, retired August 2025 2. Re-Appointment letter: Amanda Koeck, as the Executive Director of the Council on Aging, for a term to expire August 24, 2028. Appointment stands referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Public Works Committee Meeting of July 29, 2025 Oral Report 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”. to create a residential permit parking only with input from Police Dept. and DPW. (Leave to Withdraw) 141-25. Councilor Paul Beauchemin, to request two electronic speed-limit signs to be installed on Clarendon Street heading northbound and southbound, near the intersections with Daniels Street and Franklin Street Road, in order to improve driver awareness, reduce speeds, and increase safety for motorist, bicyclist, and pedestrians. (Be Held as amended) 142-25. Councilor Marisa Fleming, on behalf of Erica Shorts property manager of the Raymond Hotel 35 Day Street to fix the cracked and damaged sidewalks located on Cherry St. Residents are finding it difficult to navigate the cracks and are worried about falling. (Be Granted) Report read and accepted. Petition granted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VI. ORDERS – FINANCE Motion and second for suspension of rules by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. 149-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT AND 18/100 DOLLARS ($100,358.18) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Expenses to RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Cable Franchise Fee for the purpose of remitting to FATV the second quarter 2025 franchise fee. (Suspension of rules) Motion and second to adopt Order by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor September 10, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following Orders stand referred to the Finance Committee: 150-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($125,000) in Commonwealth of Massachusetts earmark funds to support the design and development of a stage at Riverfront Park. 151-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the approximate amount of SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($750) for the purpose of said grant, which is to promote community engagement under the SAMHSA Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse program. 152-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in the approximate amount of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) for the purpose of said grant, which is to support managed detection and response services to defend against cybersecurity threats. 153-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($26,500) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses and credited to the following accounts: TREASURER - Personal Services $1,000 POLICE - Personal Services $23,500 AIRPORT - Personal Services $2,000 154-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVENTY-THREE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY-THREE DOLLARS ($73,973) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses and credited to FIRE - Personal Services. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VII. ORDER – OTHER Motion and second for suspension of rules by roll call vote 5 in favor and 5 opposed (Councilor Couture, Cruz, Fleming, Green, Schultz) motion fails. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order stands referred to the Legislative Affairs Committee: 155-25. ORDER THAT: the City Council of the City of Fitchburg hereby adopts this Order to authorize the Mayor and the Assessor to enter into the AGREEMENT FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES UNDER M.G.L. c. 59, § 5, CLAUSE 45th, with NESG MA 1 Solar LLC, a copy of which is on file with the City Clerk and appended hereto, and to authorize the Mayor for the City of Fitchburg to take all action necessary to effectuate same. (Suspension of rules) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 147-25. AN ORDINANCE: by the City of Fitchburg that the Code of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 23, Section 36, titled Fire Alarm System Monitoring License Fee is hereby amended as follows (bold and underlined is new): §23-36 Fire Alarm System Monitoring License Fee The following rate is to be the fee charged annually for the City Fire Department to issue a license to monitor fire alarm systems: $300. This section shall take effect January 1, 2026. (Final Reading) Ordinance was sent to a third and final reading and adopted to be enrolled and ordained by unanimous consent 10/0.10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Ordinance signed by the Mayor September 10, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 156-25. AN ORDINANCE: amending Chapter 3, § 3-21 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg as follows: § 3-21 (Reserved) Moratorium on the Naming of City Buildings, Facilities or Public Spaces After Individuals 3-21.1 Purpose. The naming of public buildings after individuals is a permanent, significant civic gesture that should reflect broad community values and context and, public feedback has indicated the need to review and potentially revise the City’s policies and procedures regarding such dedications. As such, the purpose of this section is to place a temporary moratorium on the naming of City of Fitchburg buildings after individuals until such review of City policies and procedures can be completed. 3-21.2 Moratorium. A moratorium is hereby established on the naming and renaming of any City-owned building, facility, or public space after any individual for a period of one (1) year from the date of adoption of this Ordinance. During this moratorium, no new dedications, plaques, signage, or official designations of any kind shall be approved by any department or board of the City in honor of a specific individual. 3-21.3 Exclusions. This moratorium shall not apply to dedications previously authorized by formal vote of the City Council prior to the adoption of this Ordinance. 3-21.4 Amendments. The City Council reserves the right to review and amend this Ordinance or adopt formal criteria and procedures for naming City properties during the moratorium period. (First Reading) Ordinance was sent to a first and second reading and ordered advertised by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 157-25. Councilor Zarrella, to amend § 111-2 of the City Code by replacing the words "his or her" with the word "Chair". (First Reading) Ordinance was sent to a first and second reading and ordered advertised by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. PETITIONS The following petitions were referred to the Legislative Affairs Committee: 158-25. Council Derrick Cruz, to petition Her Honor, the Mayor, is hereby requested to: Convene a working group to assess the feasibility of creative solutions to food access in Fitchburg, including but not limited to a municipality owned grocery store. (Economic Development Legislative Affairs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following petitions were referred to the Economic Development Committee: 159-25. Mayor Samantha Squailia, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, to take all Actions necessary and convenient for the formation of a “Fitchburg Tourism Marketing District” in accordance with Chapter 40X of the Massachusetts General Laws. (Economic Development) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petition was referred to a Public Hearing: 160-25. Unitil to petition for a new pole, approximately 105' North of existing Pole # 12 on Salem St., 20' North of Birch St., and 17' South of Beekman St., - 3 proposed new pole locations with anchors are being installed to extend overhead electric lines from existing Pole #9. (Public Hearing September 17, 2025) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following petitions were referred to the Public Safety Committee: 161-25. Councilor Marisa Fleming, on behalf of Jessica Demeo of 74 Dartmouth Street., to install a stop sign at the intersection of Montrose St. and Dartmouth St. Every intersection on Montrose St. has at least two stop signs but this intersection does not. (Public Safety) 162-25. City Councilors Amy Green and Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Pat and Don Dwyer of 42 Heywood Street, to request a resident parking space near their exterior stairs on Salem Street. Although Pat and Don qualify for a handicapped parking space, the road grade of Salem Street does not meet ADA requirements so as to prevent them from being issued a handicapped parking space. (Public Safety) 163-25. Councilor Fleming on behalf of Yesenia Renderos of 683 Pearl St. to install a spot light to enhance the already existing signage or the addition of street level blinking signs to emphasize the 25MPH speed limit. Speeding has always been an issue when drivers transition from White St. in Lunenburg to Pearl St. in Fitchburg. With the recent paving, this issue is expected to get worse. (Public Safety) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petition was referred to the Public Works Committee: 164-25. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Louis Cormier of 93 Rainville Avenue, to repair several sections of sidewalk in front of his residence. (Public Works) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  X. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Wednesday, September 17, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:28 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk