Cultural Council
Regular MeetingFitchburg, MA · August 25, 2025
Minutes
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Mar 18 10:12 am
FITCHBURG CULTURAL COUNCIL MINUTES
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025
LEGISLATIVE BUILDING
700 MAIN STREET
5:00 PM
In attendance: Joe Bowen(chair), Shara Osgood(secretary), Liz Murphy (treasurer), Catherine
Healy, Mike Amedeo, Dan Dow, Ricardo Barros, Eva Kelly, Sarah Beth Wheeler
(view recording for details of meeting)
CALL TO ORDER: Joe called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:
Joe spoke: Welcome, Mission, public meeting guidelines & protocols
Public Comments: No comments. No one on line
New Members:
No new members. New interested community members: Tolithisha Smith , Julio Fuentes
Public Input Meeting & Survey Review:
~110 surveys filled out. Milestone. Targets will reflect those responses. 6 categories: Youth
programs/ unifying gatherings of all interests, ages & demographics/ celebrating local history,
cultures & diversity/ music/ downtown revitalization efforts/ public arts & beautification
Others mentioned: nature, science & environmental programs/ Art education - classes/ food
festivals & classes/ sensor-friendly/ humanities - yoga, art therapy, wellness, rec./ theater
VOTE: Minutes to Review
July 28 meeting minutes
Motion:Ricardo to accept minutes
2nd: Mike
In Favor: 9 Opposed:0
Pass unanimously
VOTE: Guidelines & Priorities for FY26 Grant Cycle
Joe read the proposed Guidelines & priorities
Motion: Dan
2nd: Sarah
In Favor: 9 Opposed: 0
Motion passes unanimously
Grant Cycle Fund Allocation
Level funding. We receive $58,600 for FY26 grant cycle
Motion: Shara to reserve $2000 for admin fees
2nd: Mike
Discussion
Amend Motion: Shara to reserve $2500
2nd: Dan
In Favor: 9 Opposed:0
Motion passes unanimously
VOTE; GRANT REPORT:
Dan. All, but 5 grantees have filed grant agreements. 3 remain unresponsive. 13 final reports
have been filed
Motion: Ricardo - to accept grant report as is
2nd: Mike
In Favor: 9 Opposed: 0
Pass unanimously
TREASURER’S REPORT:
No report this month
Marketing & Communication:
Create a subcommittee to work on bringing more signage to public parks and high traffic areas
Dan start subcommittee. Interested: Sarah, Ricardo, Eva, Shara, Liz as City rep
Grant Season Calendar:
9/1 - Grant Cycle opens
Thursday 9/11 6pm - first grant writing training session
Thursday 10/2 6pm - second grant writing training session
10/16 10pm - grant submission closes
11/1-12/31 - review grant proposals
Jan - Mar - grants awarded
Upcoming Events Announcements
8/30 - River City Rythm & Rock Festival - 2-10pm Riverfront Park & Openest Mic
9/4 - First Thursday - FAM open late - Salsa lessons
9/13 - Lowe Park Chalk Art Festival - 11am-4pm
Motion: Dan - To adjourn
2nd: Shara
In Favor: 9 Opposed: 0
Motion passes unanimously
Adjourn @ 5:48pm
Submitted by Shara Osgood
Agenda
CITY OF FITCHBURG Filed
Filed in
in the
the City
City Clerk’s
Clerk’s Office:
Office:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Aug 20 2025 8:35 am
FITCHBURG CULTURAL COUNCIL 9:01 am, Aug 25, 2025
MEETING DATE: Monday, August 25, 2025
MEETING TIME: 5:00 PM
MEETING PLACE: Fitchburg City Hall
Name of building (if applicable) Legislative Building
Room number (if applicable)
Address 700 Main St.
City Fitchburg, MA
AGENDA ITEMS:*
● Introductory Comments: Welcome, MCC Mission, Public Meeting Guidelines / FCC
Announcements
● Public Comment
● New Members
● Public Input Meeting & Survey Review
● VOTE: Guidelines & Priorities for FY26 Grant Cycle
● VOTE: FY26 Grant Cycle Funding Allocation
● VOTE: Grant Report
● VOTE: Treasurer’s Report
● VOTE: Minutes to Review
● Marketing & Communications
● Grant Season Calendar
● Upcoming events announcements / Adjournment
The public is invited to participate in the Zoom webinar. Register in advance by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qRkD9IT7S_C1ocZzUAzZvQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about logging in to join the webinar.
Public comments can also be emailed to the Council at Fitchburg.mcc@gmail.com by 4PM 24 hours before the meeting.
For more information about the Fitchburg Cultural Council, please visit https://www.fitchburgma.gov/708/Cultural-Council
Joe Bowen (Chair, Fitchburg Cultural Council)
*Please note: Massachusetts Open Meeting Law requires that all topics that the Chair reasonably anticipates must be listed and
that the list of topics must be sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting.
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