City Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jul 16 2026 3:54 pm 8:50 am, Jul 17, 2026 WELCOME TO THE FITCHBURG CITY COUNCIL July 21, 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 COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Joint Convention of the City Council and the School Committee meeting minutes of June 2, 2026 Regular City Council meeting minutes of July 7, 2026 IV. COMMUNICATIONS Her Honor the Mayor 1. New-Appointment letters: Permanent Full Time Firefighters For the City of Fitchburg Jonathan Kirlew Ryan Provencal (Suspension of Rules) 2. New-Appointment letter: Lenny R. Laaskso, P.E., as a Member of the Trustees of Public Burial Grounds, for a term to expire July 21, 2029. 3. Re-Appointment letter: Mary H. Whitney, as a Member of the Fitchburg Board of Parks Commissioners, for a term to expire April 1, 2031. 4. Re-Appointment letter: Catherine Healey, as a Member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, for a term to expire July 1, 2029. Promotion Letters 1. Promotion letter: Acting Assistant Chief Andrew Roy to Permanent Deputy Chief. 2. Promotion letter: Acting Captain Kyle Forrest to Permanent Captain. 3. Promotion letter: Private Robert Nealon to Permanent Lieutenant. V. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Stephen D. Curry – Director of Public Health Introduction to a new trash collection and disposal program “Pay as you Throw” Page 1  VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of July 15, 2026 Oral Report 132-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, in the approximate amount of FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($15,000), awarded to the city Recreation Program from the DESE After School and Out of School Time Program Grant to help cover the cost of weekly summer field trips and to bring educational entertainers to the Coolidge and Parkhill playground sites. (Be Adopted) 133-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1,200) from within CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE for the restoration of a historical stone in South Street Cemetery dating back to 1798. (Be Adopted) 134-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approve the expenditure of approximately FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($564,800) for the purpose of reconstructing 42,000 square yards of the airport’s Main Apron, from the following sources: Federal Aviation Administration AIG Grant - $536,560 Mass DOT Grant - $14,120 Airport Receipts Reserved - $14,120 (Be Adopted) Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of July 21, 2026 Oral Report 137-26. Jacquelyn R. Poirier, Cemetery Superintendent request your approval of the following price increase and expenditure for your review and approval as outlined in the enclosed petition. Cemetery Trustee meeting motion Cemetery Price Sheet 2024 Cemetery Price Sheet Increase 2026 VII. PUBLIC HEARING 138-26. Carolyn A. Parker, requesting issue of a new license for the underground storage of flammables and combustibles, pursuant M.G.L. Chapter 148 §13, to allow for the storage of 32,000 gallons of gasoline, and 8,000 gallons of diesel, for a total storage of 40,000 gallons at 49 John Fitch Highway. Page 2  VIII. ORDER – OTHERS 141-26. ORDER THAT: The Fitchburg City Council accepts the provisions of Section 9A of Chapter 200A of the General Laws to (1) allow the Fitchburg Treasurer, subject to the notice requirements of M.G.L. c.200A, §9A, to record as revenue in the General Fund of the City any funds held in the custody of the City which have remained unclaimed for at least one year after the date payment was issued or the funds were delivered, and (2) to allow the Treasurer to hear and decide all claims on abandoned funds that may arise prior to the date the abandoned funds escheat to the City. (Ref. petition 126-26) 142-26. ORDER THAT: the City Council of the City of Fitchburg hereby adopts this Order to accept M.G.L. c. 60, §23B, Certificate of liens; fee schedule; The Collector of taxes shall furnish certificates of liens as provided in section twenty- three (23) according to the following fee schedule: for land upon which is situated no more than a single-family residence and outbuildings, a fee of twenty-five dollars; for land upon which is situated no more than a two-family residence and outbuildings, a fee of twenty-five dollars; for land upon which is situated no more than a three-family residence and outbuildings, a fee of twenty-five dollars; for land upon which is situated a residence for four or more families, a fee of one hundred dollars; for land upon which is situated a commercial, industrial or public utility structure, a fee of one hundred and fifty dollars; for farms, forest land and all other real property, a fee of fifty dollars. THAT in no case shall the fee exceed one-half of one percent of the assessed value of the real estate and the money so received shall be paid into the City Treasury. (Ref. petition 127-26) 143-26. ORDER THAT: That the City adopt G.L. c 59 Section 5 Clause 54, allowing for the exemption of Personal Property set at a threshold of less than $2,000. (Ref. petition 109-26) Page 3 147-26. ORDER THAT: TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF EASEMENTS ALONG 130 WATER STREET FOR INSTALLTION OF WATER MAIN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT the City Council of the City of Fitchburg hereby adopts this Order to accept certain easements for installation and maintenance of water main infrastructure from certain owners of the land located along 130 Water Street and 2 Boulder Street as shown on a plan entitled “Easement Plan of Land in Fitchburg, Massachusetts” dated June 15, 2026, prepared by VHB, appended hereto, as follows: 5,190 S.F +- from Delta MB, LLC 1,337 S.F.+- from Andrew V Brown Irrevocable Trust 5,741 S.F.+- from Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 1,053 S.F.+- from Pan Am Southern LLC; and THAT the Mayor is authorized to execute the Easement Agreements and any other document or take any other action necessary to carry out this vote. (Suspension of rules) IX. ORDINANCE 144-26. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Part II General Legislation, Chapter 169, § 59, of the Code of the City of Fitchburg as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. Amending Chapter 169 § 59 X. PETITIONS 145-26. Unitil to petition for a new proposed pole 40 Fairmount St. - #1A on Fairmount St., approximately 213' from Daniels St. and approximately 326' from Clarendon St. as outlined in the enclosed petition. 40 Fairmount St. - Proposed Pole (Public Hearing September 2, 2026) 146-26. Unitil to propose new poles at 515 Alpine Rd. as outlined in the enclosed petition. New proposed pole #33 on Alpine Rd., approximately 5328' from Westminster Hill Rd., and approximately 595' from McIntire Rd. New proposed pole #34 on Alpine Rd., approximately 5478' from Westminster Hill Rd., and approximately 445' from McIntire Rd. New proposed pole #35 on Alpine Rd., approximately 5628' from Westminster Hill Rd., and approximately 185' from McIntire Rd. New proposed pole #36 on Alpine Rd., approximately 5738' from Westminster Hill rd., approximately 185' from McIntire Rd. 515 Alpine Rd. - Proposed Poles (Public Hearing September 2, 2026) Page 4  XI. OTHER BUSINESS Motion to Reconsider the Vote Taken on Final Reading of: 077-26. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 44, Section 10 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg, as most recently amended, by adding thereto the following step assignments as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. Amended Grade Steps Fiscal Year 2027 Next Regular City Council Meeting Wednesday, September 2, 2026 7:00 PM Page 5