City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jan 07 2026 2:40 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 December 16, 2025. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:05 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Schultz. The Clerk called the roll 9 Councilors were present Councilor Beauchemin and Van Hazinga via zoom, (Councilor DiNatale and Walsh 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 18 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be PAWSitive Friends of Fitchburg dogs, Fitchburg Animal Control, Fitchburg City Clerk, and Fitchburg Police Department are jointly running the annual Dog License poster contest. The purpose of this contest is to educate students and their families about the importance of licensing their dog for the safety of the community. If you dog gets lost, a dog license helps the dog get back home. Students must live or be educated in Fitchburg, grade 1 through 6. Artwork must reflect the theme “Love your dog. License your dog.” Full rules and terms can be found at the City Clerk’s Office. Due date is Monday, February 13th, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: The Finance Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00 PM has been moved from the Legislative Building to Fitchburg City Hall, West Conference Room. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  III. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Public Safety Committee Meeting of December 16, 2025 Oral Report Committee Review and Approval of the 2026 Dealer License Renewal. Aldrich Auto Body & Repair A & R Automotive Group Auto Pro Sales and Services, LLC B & D Auto Repair - PENDING Boudreau’s Service Station Colonial Chevrolet West, Inc. Desilets Auto, Inc. Dufour Truck & Equipment Fitchburg Tire & Service, Inc. Fleetwood Motor Intercar Motors Group - PENDING Ron’s Auto Restoration & Sale - PENDING Johnny’s Service Station One Stop Auto Group, LLC Froshow Customs Ron Bouchard Dodge, LLC (Class I) Ron Bouchard Dodge, LLC (Class II) Sasha Automotive, LLC TSI Tank Services, Inc. (Class I) TSI Tank Services, Inc. (Class II) Union Auto Repair Whitney & Son, Inc. - PENDING Report read and accepted. Dealer License Renewals approved by roll call vote 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. ORDERS – FINANCE Waive reading. Orders stand referred to Finance Committee: 211-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers within the sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($180,000) to FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES – Overtime from: FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES – Firefighter $100,000 FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES – Incentives $80,000 212-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of E911 Support and Incentive Grant funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in the approximate amount of TWO HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR DOLLARS ($219,594) for the purpose of supporting dispatch salaries and to provide enhancements to the E911 service system. 213-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Mass DEP Sustainable Material Recovery Recycling Program - Recycling Dividends Fund, in the approximate amount of TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($24,000) to implement programs and policies to maximize the reuse, recycling, and waste reduction of curbside and drop-off disposal in Fitchburg. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  V. ORDINANCES 214-25. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 169, § 54(C)(1) titled Vehicles and Traffic is hereby amended as follows: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 169, § 54(C)(1), as most recently amended, be further amended by adding the following location to the list of streets, or parts thereof, which have been designated as permitted parking areas for only those with resident parking permits: NAME OF STREET SIDE LOCATION Salem Street Northeast From the intersection of Heywood Street and Salem Street, northwest for 100 feet (First Reading) Ordinance was sent to a first and second reading and ordered advertised by roll call vote 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 December of the then current fiscal year minus the January December CPI-U for the preceding fiscal year) divided by the previous fiscal year’s January December 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. (First Reading) Ordinance was sent to a first and second reading and ordered advertised by roll call vote 9 in favor and 0 opposed. 9 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VI. PETITION Petition stands referred to City Property Committee: 215-25. Councilor Fleming on behalf of Eduard Gukasov, the current owner of 185 High Rock Rd is requesting a modification to the claw back provision of the property deed as outlined in the enclosed petition. (City Property) VII. OTHER BUSINESS Special City Council Organizational Meeting Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, January 6, 2026 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:14 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk