City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Apr 08 2026 11:10 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 March 11, 2026. The meeting was called to order by President Zarrella at 6:02 P.M. The meeting opened with a salute to the Flag led by Vice President Cruz. The Clerk called the roll 10 Councilors were present, (Councilor Green absent). Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. PUBLIC FORUM There were no comments from the public. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Lenten Fish Fry continues to take place this Friday, March 13 at Madonna of the Holy Rosary, 118 Theresa Street, from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Montachusett MLK Coalition is holding a Wrestling with Racism event at Fitchburg State University’s Hammond Building, Room G19, on Monday, March 16, 2026 from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. Coalition President Linda Mason and Coalition Member Eric Mbunwe will facilitate the event. The event’s discussion will center on “Building Community Through Higher Education.” The public is invited to attend the event. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m., the Fitchburg Historical Society will welcome Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions for a powerful solo theatrical performance of “Women of ’76” — a journey into the lives of the real women who witnessed, chronicled, and in some cases changed the course of the American Revolution. The Fitchburg Historical Society headquarters is located in the historic Phoenix Building at 781 Main Street Fitchburg. The performance venue is fully handicapped accessible and there is ample street parking. For more information, visit fitchburghistoricalsociety.com, email welcome (at) fitchburghistoricalsociety.com or call 978-345-1157. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President Zarrella requested taking the VII. Special Presentations out of order. By unanimous consent to take Special Presentations out of order 10 in favor and 0 opposed. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of March 11, 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) (Be Held) Sabrina La Fave-Saletnik (Term to expire on March 3, 2029) Report read and accepted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Regular City Council meeting minutes of February 17, 2026 Report read and minutes adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (Leave to withdraw) Suspension of the Rules to leave to withdraw by unanimous consent 10/ 0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Leave to withdraw accepted by unanimous consent 10/ 0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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. Appointments stand referred to the Appointments Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Notice of Public Meeting will be placed on file with the City Clerk’s Office ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. ANNUAL REPORT 031-26. ANNUAL REPORT: Auditor’s report for the year ending June 30, 2025. Auditor's Report June 30, 2025 Auditor’s Annual Report will be placed on file with the City Clerk’s Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. SPECIAL PRESENTATION (Took out of Order) 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) 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) Motion and second to adopt Orders 019-26 through 021-26 by roll call vote 9 in favor and 1 opposed (Beauchemin). 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor April 2, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) Motion and second to approve the report of the Finance Committee and adopt Orders 025-26, 026- 26 and 028-26 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Orders signed by the Mayor April 2, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) Motion and second for Suspension of the Rules 032-26 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order 032-26 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor March 12, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) Motion and second for Suspension of the Rules 033-26 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order 033-26 adopted by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor March 12, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Waive reading on Orders 034-26 through 039-26 Stand referred to the Finance Committee. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  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) Motion and second for Suspension of the Rules on 040-26 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Motion and second to adopt Order 040-26 by unanimous consent 10/0. 10 members present. Board consists of 11 members. Order signed by the Mayor April 2, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) Ordinance 041-26 Stands referred to the 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) Resolution Stands referred to the Finance Committee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  XIII. OTHER BUSINESS Next Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 17, 2026 7:00 PM The meeting adjourned at 7:37 P.M. ___________________________________ Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk