City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jan 06 2026 10:49 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 November 18, 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 Fleming. 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, December 4 from 4 until 5:30 p.m. in Room 205 at the Fitchburg State University Recreation Center, 130 North Street. Kathie Boisvert and Bernie Schultz will co-facilitate the meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Major Taylor: The fastest Bicycle Rider in the World, Thursday, November 20, 6:00 p.m. Talk by Lynne Tolman, President of the Major Taylor Association. Lynne Tolman is a cyclist herself, and editor – retired from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette – and President of the nonprofit Major Taylor Association, based in Worcester. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She has written about bicycling for VelowNews, USA Cycling, and other publications, and she bikes with the Seven Hills Wheelmen. One of her other hobbies is genealogy, another species of the history bug. Fitchburg Historical Society, Phoenix Building, 781 Main Street – (978) 345-1157 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Jeffrey P. Stevens low-cost pet vaccine clinic has recently been expanded to Leominster. They will have a session at the Leominster Emergency Management Building located at 37 Carter Street, Leominster on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 9 AM to1 PM. There will be a $5 rabies vaccine, free distemper vaccine and $22 for Microchips. This will be open to all residents of all cities and towns. Dogs must be on leash and cats in carriers for the safety of all. You can pre- register at secondchanceanimals.org it will take you to the QR code. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fitchburg and Leominster Rotary Clubs are hosting the Annual Breakfast for the Bands on Sunday, November 23rd at Fitchburg High School from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. General Admissions is $10.00, and children under 8 and under are free. All proceeds from the event will be shared between the Fitchburg and Leominster communities to support the band programs at each high school. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of November 5, 2025 Report read and minutes adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of November 12, 2025 Oral Report 190-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of MassTrails Grant funds awarded to the city by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in the approximate amount of NINETY-NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE AND 68/100 DOLLARS ($99,999.68) for access and safety improvements at Coggshall Park. (Be Adopted) 191-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of funds awarded to the city by the Friends of Coggshall Park in the approximate amount of NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($9,500), to match the MassTrails Grant, for access and safety improvements at Coggshall Park. (Be Adopted) 192-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg accept a donation of property from the Ron Bouchard Racing Charity and Mrs. Paula Bouchard, in the form of a sculpture memorial, community bench, and story walk installation in Coolidge Park. (Be Adopted) 193-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of an earmark from the Commonwealth of Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation in the approximate amount of FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($40,000) for improvements to Lowe Park. (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 November 21, 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Safety Committee Meeting of November 18, 2025 Oral Report 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 Daniel Street and Franklin Street Road, in order to improve driver awareness, reduce speeds, and increase safety for motorist, bicyclist, and pedestrians. (Leave to Withdraw – Petition is with Public Works) 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. (Leave to Withdraw – Petition is with Public Works) 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. (Be Granted and forward to Public Works) 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. (Be Held) 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. (Be Granted and forward to Public Works) Report read and accepted. Petitions granted with the exception of petition 163-25 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Works Committee Meeting of October 28, 2025 Oral Report 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. (Be Granted) 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. (Be Granted) 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. (Be Granted) 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) Report read and accepted. Petitions granted with the exception of petition 141-25 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. PUBLIC HEARING 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. (Requestor asked to move hearing to December 2, 2025) President Zarrella declared the meeting open at 7:16 PM No one spoke in favor to the petition. No one spoke in opposition to the petition. President Zarrella declared the hearing closed at 7:17 PM Motion and second to continue Public Hearing to December 2, 2025 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VI. ORDERS – FINANCE The following Order stands referred to Finance Committee: 196-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of Municipal Road Safety Grant funds in the approximate amount of FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT AND 85/100 DOLLARS ($55,868.85) from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for Police Department road safety initiatives. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilor Cruz called point of order at 7:43 PM on Councilor Cragin. Councilor Cruz called point of order at 7:47 PM on Mayor. Motion and second for suspension of rules by 4 in favor and 6 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin, Couture, Cruz, Fleming, Green and Walsh). Motion fails. Order stands referred to Finance. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. 197-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg appropriate and transfer the sum of FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($5,000) from Reserve for Other Municipal Purposes to fund temporary administrative support in the Mayor’s office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. ORDINANCE 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 by electing 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. (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 November 21, 2025 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VIII. PETITIONS Petition stands referred to City Property: 198-25. As outlined in the attached letter, to authorize the Mayor to negotiate terms of an air rights easement over a portion of the parking garage with a potential buyer of 424 Main St. subject to the final approval of the City Council. •412 Main Street Assessor’s Map 43-2-0 Air Rights Easement (City Property) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petition stands referred to a Public Hearing scheduled for December 2, 2025: 199-25. Unitil, to petition for a new proposed stub pole #13-51, approximately 211’ from Kilroy St., and 654’ from Sheridan St. as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Public Hearing December 2, 2025) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XI. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 2, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:52 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk