City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Feb 26 2026 3:59 pm WELCOME TO THE FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL March 3, 2026 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 THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of March 3, 2026 New Appointment: Fitchburg Planning Board (Term to expire on February 17, 2029) Erik Salmi New Appointments: Fitchburg Conservation Commission Abigail Wolf (Term to expire on January 1, 2027) Sabrina La Fave-Saletnik (Term to expire on March 3, 2029) IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of February 17, 2026 V. COMMUNICATIONS Her Honor the Mayor 1. New Appointment letter: Ernest Martineau, as an Associate Member of the Fitchburg Planning Board, for a term to expire on March 17, 2028. 2. New Appointment letter: Brian Lipomi, as a Member of the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, for a term to expire on March 17, 2031. 3. New Appointment letter: Kerry C. Siomos, Jr., as a Member of the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, for a term to expire on March 17, 2031. 4. Re-Appointment letter: Richard Liberatore, as a Member of the Fitchburg Airport Commission, for a term to expire on July 1, 2028. Page 1 5. Re-Appointment letter: Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Murphy, as the Executive Director of Community Development and Planning, for a term to expire on December 12, 2028. Fitchburg Retirement Board In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 32, Section 103 (i), this letter shall serve as notification that the Fitchburg Retirement Board shall be conducting a public meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 9:50 a.m. in the North Meeting Room located on the third floor of City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to address the increase to the fiscal year 2026 cost-of-living allowance paid to those receiving retirement benefits from the Fitchburg Retirement System. VI. ANNUAL REPORT 031-26. ANNUAL REPORT: Auditor’s report for the year ending June 30, 2025. Auditor's Report June 30, 2025 VII. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Presentation of trophies from Fitchburg Police Department to the winners of the Dog License Awareness Poster Contest VIII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of February 25, 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 Adopted) Page 2 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 Adopted) 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 Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) 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 (Be Adopted) 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. (Be Adopted) Page 3  IX. ORDERS – FINANCE 032-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure, by the Board of Health, of grant funds in the amount of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts to support an overnight Winter Warming Center. (Suspension of Rules) 033-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE THOUSAND NINETY-NINE AND 20/100 DOLLARS ($195,099.20) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Expenses to RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Cable Franchise Fee for the purpose of remitting to FATV the fourth quarter 2025 franchise fee, and its share of annual capital grant proceeds. (Suspension of rules) 034-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of grant funds from the Federal Aviation Administration in the approximate amount of ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT AND 03/100 DOLLARS ($119,768.03) for the purpose of improvements and deferred maintenance at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport. (Ref. Resolution 042-26) 035-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($750,000) from Wastewater Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings, crediting Wastewater Enterprise Fund Expenses – Architectural & Engineering. 036-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates the sum of ELEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SIXTEEN AND 73/100 DOLLARS ($11,416.73) from Available Funds to cover the Fiscal Year 2025 Snow & Ice deficit. 037-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates from Available Funds the sum of THREE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($318,000) to DPW CAPITAL – Equipment. 038-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates from Available Funds the sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) to COUNCIL ON AGING EXPENSES – Capital Improvements. 039-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of MassDevelopment grant funds in the approximate amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($250,000) to support the design of water, sewer, and storm drain upgrades, and a hotel study for the Airport land now designated as non-aviation. Page 4  X. ORDER – OTHER 040-26. ORDER THAT: That the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into a Grant of Easement for the property located at the northeasterly side of Prentiss Hill Road and the southeasterly side of New Westminster Road owned by the City of Fitchburg described in a deed recorded at the Worcester South Registry of Deeds in Book 3595 Page 38 to Massachusetts Electric Company for the purpose of installing and maintaining an overhead and underground system as part of the City of Fitchburg pump station project located thereon all in accordance with the terms of the easement, and to execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate same. (Suspension of Rules) XI. ORDINANCE 041-26. AN ORDINANCE: by the City Council of the City of Fitchburg that the Code of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 3, Article I § 3-5 titled Temporary Appointments is hereby amended as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. (Ref. Petition 014-26) (Legislative Affairs) XII. RESOLUTION 042-26. RESOLUTION THAT: If the Site or any portion thereof is sold, conveyed, gifted, demised, ground leased, or otherwise transferred, or refinanced, and as a result of said transaction, the Recipient receives funds that exceed the aggregate amount necessary for repayment of existing monetary liens, mortgage loans, and other debt on the Project and all of the costs incurred by them in the acquisition, development, ownership, and sale of the Site or of the portion of the Site transferred (the “Net Proceeds”), then Recipient shall reimburse MassDevelopment the full amount of the Net Proceeds up to the amount of the Recoverable Grant that has been disbursed and has not already been repaid to MassDevelopment (the “Disbursed Funds”). (Ref. Order 034-26) XIII. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 17, 2026 7:00 PM Page 5