City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Nov 26 2025 12:35 pm 1:16 pm, Dec 01, 2025 WELCOME TO THE FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL December 2, 2025 Fitchburg Legislative Building 700 Main Street Fitchburg MA 01420 7:00 PM This meeting can also be viewed live on FATV. Go to www.fatv.org/watch-fatv for more information on accessing this meeting. This is intended to help you understand the meeting format and assist you with the rules of the Council as they pertain to your participation. All meetings of the Fitchburg City council are open to the public. This does not mean that the public participates in all aspects of the meeting. It simply means that the meeting itself, including all discussions and votes, is open for public view. Executive Session The only time a Council meeting can be closed to the public is when the Council votes for Executive Session in order to discuss sensitive matters in private, such as pending litigation. Any votes taken however, must be taken in open session. OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK DURING A COUNCIL MEETING: Public Forum The Public Forum occurs immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance. The President will ask if anyone in the audience wishes to speak on any matter appearing on the Agenda. If you wish to address the Council, you must stand and be recognized and follow these rules before speaking: 1. State your name and city of residence. 2. Approach the center table and either stand or sit. This allows you to be seen and heard clearly by everyone in attendance. 3. You may speak only on items appearing on the agenda for no more than (2) minutes. Copies of the agenda are available on the center table prior to the meeting. 4. Please state the petition, order, ordinance, or resolution number to which you refer. Public Hearings Public hearings are held on various issues such as Special Permits and Zoning changes. The same rules apply with the following exceptions: 1. You must stand and be recognized either “in favor” or “in opposition” when asked by the Council President. 2. You need not refer to the petition number. If you have any questions or comments either before or after the meeting, any Councilor would be happy to assist you. Thank you for your interest!  I. PUBLIC FORUM This meeting will be open to the public. Persons who wish to participate remotely in the Public Forum portion of the meeting may request a remote attendance link by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov by 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of meeting. II. ANNOUNCEMENTS III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of November 18, 2025 IV. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. Revised Appointment letter: Full-Time Student Police Officers for the City of Fitchburg (Effective January 5, 2026) Nicholas Gray Andres Porras V. COMMUNICATION Fitchburg Retirement System Fitchburg Retirement Board’s CY 2026 Budget CY2026 Budget VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES City Property Committee Meeting of December 2, 2025 Oral Report 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 Page 1 Finance Committee Meeting of November 26, 2025 Finance Committee Minutes 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. (Be Adopted) 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. (Not be Adopted) Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of December 2, 2025 Oral Report 092-23. BE IT ORDAINED THAT – Chapter 3, Article IV, section 3-43 O. shall be amended as follows by adding to the end: Attached to said petition shall be a communication from the City Auditor indicating what each salary would be if increased by the “CPI Adjustment Factor” as defined below, which communication shall be read out or summarized by the Chair at any session in which the Council or a subcommittee thereof debates or votes on such petition. For the purposes of this subsection, the CPI Adjustment Factor shall be defined as the lesser of five percent (5%) or the result of the following calculation: [(CPI-U for January of the then current year minus the January CPI-U for the preceding year) divided by the previous year’s January CPI-U] multiplied by 100 equals the CPI Adjustment Factor. But in no case shall the CPI Adjustment Factor be less than zero percent (0%). CPI-U shall mean the Consumer Price Index Boston- Cambridge-Newton MA-NH (1982-84 = 100) as published by the New England Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (www.bls.gov/regions/new-england/data/ConsumerPriceIndex_Boston_Table.htm). After a review of the proposed increase the City Council shall then vote on the Mayor’s salary and the City Councilors’ salary. 167-24. President Zarrella, to designate the Veteran Services Commissioner as a Special Municipal Employee. 093-25. Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk, to review the Mayor’s salary and the City Councilors’ salary, as required by Chapter 3-43 of the Code of the Fitchburg. Page 2 Public Safety Committee Meeting of December 2, 2025 Oral Report Committee Review and Approval of the 2026 Dealer License Renewal. A & P Automotive Group All Town Collision & Repair LLC Brownell Auto & Sales Image Auto Sales & Service J Motors, Inc. Paulino Auto Group PCM Auto Sales RT Auto Center Rayco Motors – 1118 Water St. Rivers Bros, Inc The Peterbilt Store Twin City Auto Rydemore Heavy Duty Truck Parts – Rydemore Heavy Duty Truck Parts – Class III Class II VII. 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. 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. 195-25. The Planning Board, to petition for an amendment to the Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 181 of the Fitchburg City Code by making the following amendments as outlined in the enclosed petition. Amending the Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance VIII. ORDERS – FINANCE 200-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of NINETY-SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO AND 26/100 DOLLARS ($97,282.26) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Expenses to RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Cable Franchise Fee for the purpose of remitting to FATV the third quarter 2025 franchise fee. (Suspension of Rules) 201-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds by the Board of Health in the amount of TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($23,500) from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts/Ron M. Ansin Fund to support an overnight Winter Warming Center. (Suspension of Rules) 202-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Action grant funds in the approximate amount of ONE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY DOLLARS ($143,970) to complete the design of pedestrian improvements and Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) features along the Elm Street corridor. Page 3 203-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Dam & Seawall Repair or Removal Grant funds in the approximate amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($250,000) to complete design modifications for the Scott Reservoir Dam. 204-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg transfer within the Treasurer/Collector accounts the sum of ELEVEN THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($11,025) from Tax Title - Continued Appropriation to Contracted Services. 210-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of a donation from Amazon in the amount of THREE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ($315,400), to fund engineering design services for infrastructure improvements to Interval Road and Poplar Street to support Amazon’s use of its 135 Intervale Road facility. IX. ORDER – OTHER 205-25. ORDER THAT: That the City Council does hereby approve the Cannabis Social Equity Policy dated November 14, 2025 as included with this Order. (Legislative Affairs) X. PETITIONS 206-25. Councilor Fleming and Councilor Walsh on behalf of Elizabeth Keese, I am requesting consideration to move the “Announcements and Recognition” section to the end of the City Council agenda beginning in January 2026 as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Legislative Affairs) 207-25. President Anthony Zarrella, on behalf of Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning to change Section 181.647 of the Fitchburg zoning code the allowable hours of operation for Marijuana retail Establishments from 8AM to 8PM to 8AM to 11PM. (Planning Board/Public Hearing January 6, 2026) 208-25. President Anthony Zarrella, on behalf of Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning, to change the Table of Principal Use Regulations to allow Marijuana Delivery Courier and Marijuana Delivery Operator uses in the Industrial and Adaptive Industrial Districts as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Planning Board/Public Hearing January 6, 2026) 209-25. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Jean Bien-Aime of 130 Lancaster Street, to install a guardrail to protect life and property at the 130 Lancaster Street location as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Public Works) Page 4  XI. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 16, 2025 7:00 PM Page 5