City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Nov 06 2025 9:13 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 21, 2025. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:13 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Cragin. 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 30 from 4 until 5:30 p.m. in Room 205 at the Fitchburg State University Recreation Center, 130 North Street. Bernie Schultz will facilitate the meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Thursday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m. the Fitchburg Historical Society will present a talk entitled “Fitchburg’s Factory Architecture” by noted Preservation Historian Dr. Sara E. Wermiel. Dr. Wermiel will discuss the history of factory architecture from the 1800’s into the 20th century, as is seen in the many surviving historic factories of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Wermiel is an instructor in architectural preservation and will look at the development of factories and industrial architecture, using Fitchburg’s collection of historic factories as her examples. The talk will feature new research, photographs and site visits. The Fitchburg Historical Society is located in the historic Phoenix Building at 781 Main Street Fitchburg. For more information, visit fitchburghistoricalsociety.com or email welcome (at) fitchburghistoricalsociety.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fitchburg Health Department and the Fitchburg Police Department will once again partner to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This is a safe, convenient and anonymous way to dispose of unused prescription drugs. This event will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 9am-11am in BACK of the Legislative Building, 700 Main Street. Residents must enter via Boulder Drive and drop off their prescriptions without leaving their vehicle. All items collected are boxed and transported by the Police Department to site for incineration. We will have resources and Narcan available. Call Sue Christensen at (978) 829-1854 for more information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The City of Fitchburg Health Department Outreach & Prevention 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 meal and resource tables and 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 recommended – please call Sue Christensen at (978) 829-1854 to register or with any questions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE New Appointments: Fitchburg Board of Library Trustees (Term to expire October 1, 2028) Jillian Jenkins Report read and accepted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS There is no report of the Committee on Records at this time. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor Motion and second for suspension of rules by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. 1. New-Appointment letter: Permanent Full-Time Firefighter Anthony Russo (Suspension of Rules) Appointment read and accepted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. New-Appointment letter: Emily S. Randall, as a member of the Fitchburg Historical Commission, for a term to expire on November 1, 2028. 3. Re-Appointment letter: Donald Ostrowski, as a member of the Fitchburg Historical Commission, for a term to expire February 1, 2028. Appointments stand referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Promotion Letters 1. Promotion letter: Lieutenant Robert DaCosta to Captain 2. Promotion letter: Firefighter Jarod Roy to Lieutenant Promotions read and filed in the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recessed at 7:31 PM Meeting resumed at 8:17 PM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. COMMUNICATION Russell Cornelia – Airport Manager Clayton Raymond– Chairman Fitchburg Airport Minimum Standards for Aeronautical Activities and Services No action required. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VII. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Felix I. Zemel Building Commissioner • South Street treatment facility project Building Commissioner Felix I. Zemel gave a brief update on the old Notre Dame School. Jean Marc Tchazou was present to answer any questions inregards to the proposed services of the Old School Redevelopment - Intergrated Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. No action required. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES City Property Committee Meeting of October 21, 2025 Oral Report 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 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 Fitchburg Site Presentation - Scott Lemay 2023 Aerial Map of Parcels Report read and accepted. Petitions granted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Council as a Whole Committee Meeting of October 21, 2025 Oral Report 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. Report read and accepted. Petition was given leave to withdraw by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 Members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finance Committee Meeting of October 8, 2025 Oral Report 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. (Be Adopted) Motion and second to adopt order by a vote of 9 in favor and 1 opposed (Fleming). 10 members Present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by Mayor Octoer 23, 2025. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Held) 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). (Be Held) 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 (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) Motion and second to approve the report of Committee and adopt orders 168-25 through 174-25 Excluding 170-25, 171-25 and 167-25 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor October 23, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. ORDERS – FINANCE Motion and second for suspension of rules by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. 182-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the transfer of TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($27,500) from ELECTION PERSONAL SERVICES – Election Workers to ELECTION EXPENSE - Voting Equipment for the purchase of a high-speed scanner. (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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following Orders were referred to Finance Committee: 183-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of funds in the approximate amount of EIGHTY-FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX DOLLARS ($84,996) from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s Digital Equity Implementation Grant program. 184-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg amend Council Order #153-25 as follows: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($26,500) TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($24,500) 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 $2,000 185-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000) same to be charged against AIRPORT RECEIPTS RESERVED and credited to AIRPORT - Personal Services - Labor. 186-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg amend Council Order #106-25 to reduce the sum appropriated to Water Expenses by $350,000, as follows: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of NINE MILLION EIGHTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($9,018,485) EIGHT MILLION SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($8,668,485) 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 $1,102,300 Debt Service $2,178,060 Capital Expenses $ 550,000 187-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg amend Council Order #107-25 to reduce the sum appropriated to Wastewater Expenses by $750,000, as follows: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY MILLION THIRTY- SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE DOLLARS ($20,037,331) NINETEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE DOLLARS ($19,287,331), charging $17,594,495 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and $1,692,836 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RETAINED EARNINGS, and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Wastewater Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: Personal Services $3,094,268 Expenses $6,313,005 $5,563,005 Indirect Costs $1,555,300 Debt Service $6,673,958 Capital Expenses $2,400,800 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. ORDINANCE Ordinance stands referred to the Legislative Affairs Committee: 188-25. AN ORDINANCE: Chapter 111, § 111.2 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 111, § 111.2, as most recently amended, be further amended by adding the language denoted as emboldened: §111.2 Board officers; quorum. Amend by inserting the following emboldened language: 111.2 In February of each year the Board of Health shall organize by electing one of its members as Chair and a Clerk, who need not be a member of the Board. The salary of the Clerk shall be fixed by the Board. Two members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (Legislative Affairs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XI. PETITION Petition stands referred to a Public Hearing scheduled for November 5, 2025: 189-25. Unitil, to petition relocate p#31-52. The proposed p#31-52 would be moved 14' west from original pole and located approximately 275' from Mount Elam Road., Fitchburg as enclosed outlined in the petition. (Public Hearing November 5, 2025) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  XII. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Wednesday, November 5, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 9:43 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk