City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 17 2026 11:45 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 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 17, 2026. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 7:11 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 Fleming via Zoom (Councilor Starr 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 19 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lenten Fish Fry begins this coming Friday, February 20 at Madonna of the Holy Rosary, 118 Theresa Street, from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. It also will take place on Friday, February 27 at the same time and location. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE President Zarrella requested taking the Promotions out of out of order. Roll call vote to take Promotions out of order 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members.  Promotion Letters 1. Promotion letter: Provisional Sergeant Mei-Ling Polanco-Diaz to the rank of Police Sergeant 2. Promotion letter: Patrol Officer Colin Banahan to the rank of Police Sergeant 3. Promotion letter: Police Officer Nicholas Garcia to the rank of Police Sergeant Promotion Letter will be placed on file with the City Clerk’s Office ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of February 17, 2026 New Appointment: Fitchburg Planning Board (Term to expire February 17, 2029) Christopher Deloge Motion and second by roll call vote 8 in favor and 2 opposed (Councilor Fleming and Green). 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Re-Appointment: Fitchburg Assistant City Clerk (For a term to expire February 21, 2029) Elizabeth (Betsy) McNiff 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 Regular City Council meeting minutes of February 3, 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: Abigail Wolf, as a Member of the Fitchburg Conservation Commission, for a term to expire on January 1, 2027. 2. New Appointment letter: Sabrina La Fave-Saletnik, as a Member of the Fitchburg Conservation Commission, for a term to expire on March 3, 2029. Appointments stand referred to the Appointments Committee. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Central Massachusetts – Mosquito Control Project 1. Notice of Preliminary Proposed Budget for FY 2027 Mosquito Control Project Proposed FY2027 Budget will be placed on file with the City Clerk’s Office ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. ANNUAL REPORT 024-26. ANNUAL REPORT: Monty Tech Annual Report FY 2025 Monty Tech Annual Report FY 2025 Annual Report will be placed on file with the City Clerk’s Office ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES City Property Committee Meeting of February 17, 2026 Oral Report 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 Report read and accepted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finance Committee Meeting of February 11, 2026 Oral Report 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 (Be Held) 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 (Be Held) 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 (Be Held) Report read and accepted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of February 17, 2026 Oral Report 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. Report read and accepted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. ORDERS – FINANCE 025-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, Inc. grant funds in the amount of TEN THOUSAND EIGHTY-SIX DOLLARS ($10,086) for the purchase of a cruiser insert and Ace K- 9 system. 026-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the total sum of ONE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($191,000) from within the following Police Department accounts: From: POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Patrolmen $131,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Professional Standards $ 28,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Sergeants $ 20,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Sick Time $ 12,000 To: POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Overtime $125,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Clerical $ 35,000 POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR – Contracted Services $ 20,000 POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR–Recruit Academy Training $ 11,000 027-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of USDA Forest Service grant funds, through the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation, in the approximate amount of SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($667,800) for the purpose of acquiring a conservation restriction at 71 Bennett Road. (Suspension of Rules) 028-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Massachusetts Office of Disability in the approximate amount of SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($67,000) to fund the design of an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. Order 025-26, 026-26 & 028-26 Stand referred to Finance Committee Suspension of the Rules on 027-26 by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order 027-26 accepted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order 027-26 signed by the Mayor February 19, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX. ORDER – OTHER 001-26. ORDER THAT: Adopting Amended Rules of the City Council for the year 2026. Suspension of the Rules on 001-26 by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order 001-26 accepted by roll call vote 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  X. PETITIONS The following petition stands referred to Public Safety: 029-26. Councilor Amy Green, to petition for a 20–30-foot space with no parking at any time on Summer Street. Specifically at 401 Summer St. corner of Poplar St. and Summer St. (Public Safety) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following petition stands referred to Public Works: 030-26. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Nathaniel Pemberton of 47 Albee Street, to install bollards to protect life and property at the 47 Albee Street location, at the discretion of the Fitchburg Department of Public Works. (Public Works) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XI. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 3, 2026 7:00 PM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XII. 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 No2485CV00511, 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 7:48 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk