City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Nov 06 2025 9:12 am 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 October 7, 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 Councilor Couture. The Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present (Councilor DiNatale absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM There were no comments from the public. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting of the Widowed Helping Widowed Support Group will take place on Thursday, October 16 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 City of Fitchburg Health Department Outreach & Prevention division invites local residents to attend a Narcan & Overdose Prevention Training on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at Making Opportunity Count located at 40 Fairmount Street. Doors will open at 5:30pm for a free supper and resource tables. The training will begin at 6:00pm. Participants will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and what to do if one occurs. You will be instructed when & how to use lifesaving Narcan and Narcan will be distributed to all who attend. Preregistration is not required, but is recommend, please call Sue Christensen at 978-829-1854 to register or with any questions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Municipal Election is being held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, please review your new polling locations for Ward 1, 2, and 5. Last day to Register to Vote in this Election is Saturday, October 25th at Fitchburg City Hall. In person early voting is being held at Fitchburg City Hall starting on Saturday, October 25th and ending on Friday, October 31st. Vote by mail applications will be accepted through Tuesday, October 28th at 5:00PM. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming Election, please contact the City Clerk. Cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov or 978-829-1820. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of September 17, 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: Jillian Jenkins, as a Member of the Fitchburg Board of Library Trustees, for a term to expire October 1, 2028. Appointment stands referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of September 24, 2025 Oral Report 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. (Be Adopted) 165-25. 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 SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($7,500), 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 STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) activities in collaboration with the Fitchburg Public Library. (Be Adopted) 166-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby raise and appropriate the sum of TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($200,000), crediting School Department Expenses, for the purpose of funding a shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2025 Net School Spending requirement. (Be Adopted) Report read and accepted. Orders adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board Consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor October 23, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of October 7, 2025 Oral Report 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. Report read and accepted. Petition was given leave to withdraw by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. PUBLIC HEARING 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. President Zarrella declared the Public Hearing open at 7:10 PM Mr. Roy Nascimento, President & CEO from North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, spoke and asked that the Council approve the creation of a tourism destination Marketing district to Fitchburg, in accordance with Chapter 40X of the Massachusetts General Laws. No one spoke in favor to the petition. No one spoke in opposition to the petition. President Zarrella declared the hearing closed at 7:25 PM Petition granted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VII. ORDERS – FINANCE The following Orders were referred to the Finance Committee: 167-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of a gift made to the Fitchburg Senior Center of approximately SEVENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($77,000) from the Estate and Trust of Deane A. Jakola. 168-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of a gift made to the Fitchburg Public Library of approximately SEVENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($77,000) from the Estate and Trust of Deane A. Jakola. 169-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of grant funds from the Federal Aviation Administration and MassDOT in the approximate amount of TWO MILLION FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,045,000) for the purpose of said grant, which is to install wildlife fencing and gates at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport. 170-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of funds in the approximate amount of THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE THOUSAND THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS ($339,036) from the US Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. 171-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of a gift from the Nashoba Regional High School class of 1971, made to the Pawlak Playground gift account, in the approximate amount of SEVEN HUNDRED TWELVE AND 50/100 DOLLARS ($712.50). 172-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($28,900) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses and credited to the following departmental accounts: ASSESSOR - Personal Services $3,400 TREASURER - Personal Services $5,100 CITY CLERK - Personal Services $3,400 POLICE - Personal Services $3,400 FIRE - Personal Services $1,700 BUILDING - Personal Services $1,700 PUBLIC WORKS- Personal Services $1,700 HEALTH - Personal Services $3,400 COUNCIL ON AGING - Personal Services $3,400 VETERANS - Personal Services $1,700 173-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1,700) from WATER PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime to WATER PERSONAL SERVICES - Clerical. 174-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby raise and appropriate the sum of TWENTY-NINE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE DOLLARS ($29,495), crediting POLICE – VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VIII. ORDER – OTHER Motion and second for suspension of rules by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board Consists of 11 members. 175-25. ORDER THAT: Authorizing the City Clerk to notify the voters of the Municipal Election to be held on November 4, 2025. (Suspension of rules) Order adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor October 23, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. PETITIONS The following petitions stand referred to the City Property Committee: 176-25. Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning, request that the City Council accept the offered to purchase and authorize the Mayor to take any and all actions necessary to facilitate the transfer of this property: 0 Townsend St. Assessor’s Map 333-1-4A (City Property) 177-25. Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning, request that City Council authorize the sale of the following property through an RFP Process: 0 Princeton Rd. Assessor’s Map W-11-B (City Property) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 178-25. President Zarrella to amend the Council Rules and Orders to provide for a new Committee on Human Resources Services as detailed in the enclosed petition. Motion and second to amend petition to say Services instead of Resources by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to send petition to Council as a Whole Committee by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petition stands referred to the Public Safety Committee: 179-25. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, in conjunction with Department of Public Works Commissioner Nick Erickson and Police Sergeant Liana Teague, to add a stop sign and stop bar at the end of Valley Street as Valley Street merges onto Canton Street. (Public Safety) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following petitions stand referred to the Public Works Committee: 180-25. Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga, to install a sidewalk on Upland Street along the frontage of 38 Upland Street, to connect an existing sidewalk in front of 26 Upland Street to Dudley Street, approximately 100 feet. (Public Works) 181-25. Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga, to install a traffic sign at 16 Prospect Street cautioning drivers about a visually-impaired child living at this location. (Public Works) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 21, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk