City Council - 2.3.2026

City Council Meeting - 2.3.2026

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Agenda (pdf, 426 KB, opens in new window/tab)

Chapters

Meeting Open (00:00:00)
Meeting Open
Public Forum (00:01:19)
Public Forum
Announcements (00:01:39)
Announcements
Report of the Appointments Committee - February 3, 2026 (00:03:22)
Report of the Appointments Committee - February 3, 2026

III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of February 3, 2026 New Appointment: Board of Trustees for the Public Library (Term to expire January 20, 2029) Reverend Daniel W. Spigelmeyer, Jr. Re-Appointment: Fitchburg Human Rights Commission (For a term to expire October 1, 2028) Hafsa Ahmed Asfa
Report of the Committee on Records (00:04:20)
Report of the Committee on Records

+ Joint Convention of the City Council and School Committee meeting minutes January 20, 2026 + Regular City Council meeting minutes of January 20, 2026
Communications: New Appointments (00:05:00)
Communications: New Appointments

V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New Appointment letter: Erik Salmi, as a Member of the Fitchburg Planning Board, for a term to expire February 17, 2029. 2. New Appointment letter: Christopher Deloge, as a Member of the Fitchburg Planning Board, for a term to expire February 17, 2029.
Communication: Re-Appointment of Elizabeth (Betsy) McNiff, as Fitchburg Assistant City Clerk (00:05:17)
Communication: Re-Appointment of Elizabeth (Betsy) McNiff, as Fitchburg Assistant City Clerk

V. COMMUNICATION Council President Anthony Zarrella 1. Re-Appointment letter: Elizabeth (Betsy) McNiff, as Fitchburg Assistant City Clerk, for a term to expire February 21, 2029.
Communication: Memorandum of Agreement by and Between the City of Fitchburg and DPW/Teamster Local 170 (00:05:36)
Communication: Memorandum of Agreement by and Between the City of Fitchburg and DPW/Teamster Local 170

V. COMMUNICATION Brittney Fish, PHR - Interim Director Human Resources 1. Memorandum Agreement: Memorandum of Agreement by and between the City of Fitchburg and DPW/Teamster Local 170
Report of the Finance Committee - January 28, 2026 (00:06:50)
Report of the Finance Committee - January 28, 2026

Finance Committee Meeting of January 28, 2026 + 008-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000) from the Community Development Block Grant Housing Revolving Fund to the CDBG Year 51 Demolition activity account. (Be Adopted) + 009-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Massachusetts Audubon Society grant funds in the approximate amount of SEVENTY-ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($71,550) to fulfill the city's matching obligation for a conservation restriction at 71 Bennett Road. (Be Adopted)
Report of the Legislative Affairs Committee - February 3, 2026 (00:10:39)
Report of the Legislative Affairs Committee - February 3, 2026

Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of February 3, 2026 Oral Report + 011-26. ORDER THAT: The Fitchburg City Council accepts the provisions of Section 12D of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as added by Section 51 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, to allow the Fitchburg Liquor License Commission as the local licensing authority of the City, to approve a request from a licensee to convert an existing license to sell wines and malt beverages only for on-premises consumption to a license to sell all alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, subject to all other provisions of G.L. c.138, including notice, publication, and certified mailing of, and a public hearing on, such conversion. + 013-26. On behalf of President Zarrella and City Clerk Bilotta: That the City Council of the City of Fitchburg hereby votes to accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, Section 110A, which authorizes public offices in the City to remain closed on any or all Saturdays, as determined by the City Council, with such Saturdays to be treated in the same manner as legal holidays. + 014-26. Petition sponsored by Councilor Cruz and Walsh, to amend Ordinance regarding Interim Appointments as outlined in the enclosed petition.
Report of the Public Safety Committee - February 3, 2026 (00:46:04)
Report of the Public Safety Committee - February 3, 2026

Public Safety Committee Meeting of February 3, 2026 Oral Report + 007-26. J & G Auto Sales, to petition for a Class II Dealer's License located at 369 River St. Fitchburg, MA 01420. + 018-26. Podium Motors, LLC, to petition for a Class II Dealer's License located at 401 Summer St. Fitchburg, MA 01420.
Orders-Finance (00:52:51)
Orders-Finance

VII. ORDERS - FINANCE + 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 + 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 + 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
Ordinances: 005-26 & 006-26 - To Amend Sect. 138.2-138.3 & 172.1-172.6 of the City Code to Enhance Enforcement of Junk Vehicle Infractions (00:53:52)
Ordinances: 005-26 & 006-26 - To Amend Sect. 138.2-138.3 & 172.1-172.6 of the City Code to Enhance Enforcement of Junk Vehicle Infractions

+ 005-26. BE IT ORDAINED THAT - Chapter 138, Sections 138.2 through 138.3 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows to enhance enforcement of junk vehicle infractions: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 138, Sections 138.2 through 138.3, as most recently amended, be further amended by adding the language denoted as emboldened in the enclosed Ordinance. (Final Reading) + 006-26. BE IT ORDAINED THAT - Chapter 172, Sections 172.1 through 172.6 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows to enhance enforcement of junk vehicle infractions: That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 171, Sections 171.1 through 171.6, as most recently amended, be further amended by adding the language denoted as emboldened in the enclosed Ordinance. (Final Reading)
Petitions (00:55:09)
Petitions

IX. PETITIONS + 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. (City Property) + 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. (Legislative Affairs)
Executive Session (00:55:59)
Executive Session

Pursuant to MGL c. 30A, Section 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 No 2485CV00511, as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City