City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Feb 19 2026 1:19 pm 8:02 am, Feb 20, 2026 City of Fitchburg Massachusetts 01420 2:15 pm, Feb 25, 2026 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 Amy L. Green Ward 3 – Joseph S. Bowen, Jr. Kevin T. Starr Vice President Ward 4 – Andrew J. Van Hazinga Elizabeth R. Walsh Derrick J. Cruz 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 February 3, 2026. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:02 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Councilor Bowen. The Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present, Councilor Fleming via Zoom (Councilor Van Hazinga 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, February 5th 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- City Councilor Bernie Schultz is hosting a City Council Community Meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. right here in the Legislative Building, 700 Main Street. City Clerk Joanna Bilotta and City Councilor Sally Cragin will make presentations, and then answer questions following their presentations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dog license poster contest is ongoing. Calling all your artists who are animal lovers! Leominster Fitchburg Animal Control, and the City Clerk of Fitchburg seek submission to the annual “Dog License Poster Contest.” Artists who live or are educated in Fitchburg from grades 1 to 6 are invited to create an original artwork to help members of our city keep their dog safe! Prizes include trophies from Fitchburg Police Department, and goody bags contributed by sponsors Friends of Fitchburg DOGS and Be PAWSitive Therapy Pets and Community Education. One drawing will be selected for artwork for winning poster, and numerous Honorable Mentions will be given. Flyer will be posted on the City of Fitchburg Facebook page, and available at the Clerk’s Office. The deadline is Friday, February 13th, 2026. Work must be original, no stencils and use bright colors; 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper oriented vertically. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of February 3, 2026 New Appointment: Board of Trustees for the Public Library (Term to expire January 20, 2029) Reverend Daniel W. Spigelmyer, Jr. Re-Appointment: Fitchburg Council on Aging (For a term to expire October 1, 2028) Hafsa Ahmed Asfa Report read and accepted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Joint Convention of the City Council and School Committee meeting minutes January 20, 2026 Regular City Council meeting minutes of January 20, 2026 Report read and minutes adopted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New Appointment letter: Erik Salmi, as a Member of the Fitchburg Planning Board, for a term to expire February 17, 2029. 2. New Appointment letter: Christopher Deloge, as a Member of the Fitchburg Planning Board, for a term to expire February 17, 2029. Appointments stand referred to the Appointments Committee. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Council President Anthony Zarrella 1. Re-Appointment letter: Elizabeth (Betsy) McNiff, as Fitchburg Assistant City Clerk, for a term to expire February 21, 2029. Appointment stands referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brittney Fish, PHR – Interim Director Human Resources 1. Memorandum Agreement: Memorandum of Agreement by and between the City of Fitchburg and DPW/Teamster Local 170 Memorandum Agreement Filed in the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of January 28, 2026 Finance Committee Minutes 1-28-26 008-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000) from the Community Development Block Grant Housing Revolving Fund to the CDBG Year 51 Demolition activity account. (Be Adopted) 009-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Massachusetts Audubon Society grant funds in the approximate amount of SEVENTY-ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($71,550) to fulfill the city’s matching obligation for a conservation restriction at 71 Bennett Road. (Be Adopted) Report read and accepted. Orders adopted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by Mayor February 19, 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of February 3, 2026 Oral Report 011-26. ORDER THAT: The Fitchburg City Council accepts the provisions of Section 12D of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as added by Section 51 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, to allow the Fitchburg Liquor License Commission as the local licensing authority of the City, to approve a request from a licensee to convert an existing license to sell wines and malt beverages only for on-premises consumption to a license to sell all alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, subject to all other provisions of G.L. c.138, including notice, publication, and certified mailing of, and a public hearing on, such conversion. (Be Adopted) 013-26. On behalf of President Zarrella and City Clerk Bilotta: That the City Council of the City of Fitchburg hereby votes to accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, Section 110A, which authorizes public offices in the City to remain closed on any or all Saturdays, as determined by the City Council, with such Saturdays to be treated in the same manner as legal holidays. (Leave to Withdraw) Motion and second to accept 011-26 and 013-26 by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 014-26. Petition sponsored by Councilor Cruz and Walsh, to amend Ordinance regarding Interim Appointments as outlined in the enclosed petition. Amendment to Interim Appointments Motion and second to amend petition by roll call vote 2 in favor and 8 opposed (Councilor Beauchemin, Cragin, Cruz, Fleming, Green, Starr, Walsh and Zarrella) amendment fails. Motion and second to grant petition by roll call vote 8 in favor and 2 opposed (Councilor Bowen and Schultz). 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Safety Committee Meeting of February 3, 2026 Oral Report 007-26. J & G Auto Sales, to petition for a Class II Dealer’s License located at 369 River St. Fitchburg, MA 01420. (Leave to Withdraw) 018-26. Podium Motors, LLC, to petition for a Class II Dealer’s License located at 401 Summer St. Fitchburg, MA 01420. Report read and accepted. Petition was granted by roll call vote 9 in favor and 1 opposed (Councilor Schultz). 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  VII. ORDERS – FINANCE Orders stand referred to Finance Committee: 019-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FORTY-SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($46,100) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses and credited to the following departmental accounts: PUBLIC WORKS - Labor $ 12,027 PUBLIC WORKS - Overtime $ 2,117 PUBLIC WORKS - Stipends $ 22,000 CEMETERY - Labor $ 2,380 CEMETERY – Overtime $ 445 CEMETERY – Stipends $ 4,000 PARKS – Stipends $ 3,000 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Other $ 131 020-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of NINETEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($19,900) from within DPW Water Division PERSONAL SERVICES to the following accounts: LABOR $ 4,113 OVERTIME $ 751 BUYBACKS $ 36 STIPENDS $ 15,000 021-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) from within DPW Wastewater Division PERSONAL SERVICES to the following account: STIPENDS $5,000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. ORDINANCES 005-26. BE IT ORDAINED THAT – Chapter 138, §§ 138.2 through 138.3 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows to enhance enforcement of junk vehicle infractions: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 138, §§ 138.2 through 138.3, as most recently amended, be further amended by adding the language denoted as emboldened in the enclosed Ordinance. Ordinance 005-26 (Final Reading)  006-26. BE IT ORDAINED THAT – Chapter 172, §§ 172.1 through 172.6 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows to enhance enforcement of junk vehicle infractions: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 172, §§ 172.1 through 172.6, as most recently amended, be further amended by deleting the language denoted with strikethrough and replacing with the language denoted as emboldened in the enclosed Ordinance. Ordinance 006-26 (Final Reading) Motion and second to pass 005-26 and 006-26 to a third and final reading, and adopted to be enrolled and ordained by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Ordinances signed by the Mayor February 19, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. PETITIONS The following petition was sent City Property: 022-26. Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning, to enter into a Conservation restriction located at 71 Bennett Road as outlined in the enclosed petition. Petition Conservation Restriction Grant Conservation Restriction (City Property) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following petition was sent Legislative Affairs: 023-26. Building Commissioner Felix Zemel, is seeking to replace Sections 94-1, 94-2, and 94-3 of the City Code relative to Building Dept. fees as enclosed in the packet, following the word “paid.” In Section 94-1 of the City Code. (Legislative Affairs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 17, 2026 7:00 PM  XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Not to return to open session) Pursuant to MGL c. 30A, § 21(a)(3), to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, in the matter of Spectrum Health Systems Inc. & another v. City of Fitchburg and others, Super Ct Civil Action No 2485CV00511, as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City. CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, under MGL c.30A, §21 (3) to discuss litigation in the matter of Spectrum Health Systems Inc. & another v. City of Fitchburg and others, Super Ct Civil Action No 2485CV00511, as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City. Motion Convening the Executive Session: I move that the City Council go into executive session under M.G.L. c.30A, §21 (3) for the purposes and reasons declared by the President and not return to open session at the conclusion of the executive session. Roll Call Vote: Motion to enter into Executive Session by roll call vote of 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The meeting adjourned at 7:59 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk