City Council - 6.16.2026

City Council Meeting - 6.16.2026

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Chapters

Meeting Open (00:00:00)
Meeting Open
Public Forum (00:01:15)
Public Forum
Announcements (00:04:56)
Announcements
Report of the Committee on Records - Through June 2, 2026 (00:06:23)
Report of the Committee on Records - Through June 2, 2026

III. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Council as a Whole meeting minutes of May 21, 2026 Council as a Whole meeting minutes of May 28, 2026 Special City Council meeting minutes of May 28, 2026 Regular City Council meeting minutes of June 2, 2026
Communications: New Appointments & Re-Appointments (00:06:49)
Communications: New Appointments & Re-Appointments

IV. COMMUNICATIONS Her Honor the Mayor 1. New-Appointment letter: Poll workers for the period of September 1st, 2026, through August 31st, 2027. (To be sworn in during training sessions) 2. New-Appointment letter: Heather De Jesus, as a member of the Fitchburg Human Rights Commission, for a term to expire on June 16, 2029. 3. New-Appointment letter: Adrian Major, as a member of the Fitchburg Human Rights Commission, for a term to expire on June 16, 2029. 4. Re-Appointment letter: Ryan Beauvais, as a member of the Board of Assessors, for a term to expire on January 1, 2029.
Special Presentation: Civics Day Presentation (00:07:25)
Special Presentation: Civics Day Presentation

V. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Kristen Sachse - Grade 8 FPS Civics Day Coordinator
Report of the Economic Development Committee - June 16, 2026 (00:24:26)
Report of the Economic Development Committee - June 16, 2026

Economic Development Committee Meeting of June 16, 2026 Oral Report + 107-26. Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning, to request approval of a TIE agreement formally approve Mayor Squailia's proposed TaxIncrement Exemption (TIE) agreement for 64 Main Street, pursuant to the City of Fitchburg's Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) market-rate housing district. + 108-26. Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning, to request approval of a TIE agreement formally approve Mayor Squailia's proposed Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) agreement for 280-288 Main Street, pursuant to the City of Fitchburg's Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) market-rate housing district.
Report of the Finance Committee - June 10, 2026 (00:40:00)
Report of the Finance Committee - June 10, 2026

Finance Committee Meeting of June 10, 2026 Oral Report + 105-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts in the approximate amount of EIGHTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($18,900) for the purpose of supporting the Fitchburg Police Department Recruitment and Retention project and associated capital repairs. (Be Adopted) + 106-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts in the approximate amount of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) for the purpose of supporting the Fitchburg Police Department Dispatch Room renovation project. (Be Adopted)
Report of the Public Safety Committee - June 16, 2026 (00:40:56)
Report of the Public Safety Committee - June 16, 2026

Public Safety Committee Meeting of June 16, 2026 Oral Report + 058-26. To protect life and property at 47 Albee Street, City Councilor Bernie Schultz requests that Hassett Street be made a one-way street up from Albee Street. + 061-26. Councilor Joe Bowen, to request authorization for a comprehensive traffic and safety study of the Princeton Rd.-Westminster St. intersection to identify specific, data supported improvements that will reduce congestion, enhance public safety, and guide the City Council in approving and implementing corrective measures. + 102-26. DriveIQ Motors, LLC to petition for a Class II Dealer License located at 349 Lunenburg St
111-26: Budget Order - Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget (00:42:11)
111-26: Budget Order - Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget

VII. BUDGET ORDER-FY 2027 111-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the Mayor's Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget: General Fund $ 190,961,167 Water Enterprise $ 9,997,019 Wastewater Enterprise $ 18,316,809 Airport Fund $ 1,137,919 (Council as a Whole)
Orders - Finance (00:42:49)
Orders - Finance
112-26: Appropriate $400,000 From Available Funds to 'DPW Stormwater Expenses - MS4 Contract Services' (00:45:33)
112-26: Appropriate $400,000 From Available Funds to 'DPW Stormwater Expenses - MS4 Contract Services'

112-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($400,000) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to DPW STORMWATER EXPENSES - MS4 Contract Services. (Suspension of Rules)
113-26: Appropriate $1,714,991 From Available Funds to Various DPW Snow & Ice Accounts (00:49:31)
113-26: Appropriate $1,714,991 From Available Funds to Various DPW Snow & Ice Accounts

113-26. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates the sum of ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED FOURTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE DOLLARS ($1,714,991) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS: SNOW & ICE - Overtime $321,889 SNOW & ICE - Equipment Rental $741,861 SNOW & ICE - Salt $651,241 (Suspension of Rules)
114-26: Appropriate $20,000 From Available Funds to 'Legal Other Expenses - City Solicitor' (00:57:27)
114-26: Appropriate $20,000 From Available Funds to 'Legal Other Expenses - City Solicitor'

114-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($20,000) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to LEGAL OTHER EXPENSES - City Solicitor. (Suspension of Rules)
115-26: Transfer $20,000 From Within 'Water Enterprise Personal Services' From 'Labor' to 'Overtime' (00:58:33)
115-26: Transfer $20,000 From Within 'Water Enterprise Personal Services' From 'Labor' to 'Overtime'

115-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($20,000), same to be charged against WATER ENTERPRISE PERSONAL SERVICES - Labor and credited to WATER ENTERPRISE PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime.
117-26: Transfer $225,000 From 'DPW Personal Services' to Two 'DPW Capital' Accounts (01:00:11)
117-26: Transfer $225,000 From 'DPW Personal Services' to Two 'DPW Capital' Accounts

117-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($225,000), same to be charged against DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PERSONAL SERVICES - Labor, and credited to: + DPW CAPITAL - Equipment $150,000 + DPW CAPITAL - BUILDING RENOVATION $75,000
116-26: Transfer $130,000 From Within 'Fire Department Personal Services' (01:05:32)
116-26: Transfer $130,000 From Within 'Fire Department Personal Services'

116-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($130,000), same to be charged against various FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONAL SERVICES accounts: + FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES - Firefighters $60,000 + FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES - Lieutenants $30,000 + FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES - FEMA Training Director $40,000 and credited to: + FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime $60,000 + FIRE BUILDING MAINTENANCE - Utilities $30,000 + FIRE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR - Fire Equipment $40,000
118-26: Transfer $5,000 From Within 'Parks Department Personal Services' From 'Summer Help' to 'Overtime' (01:07:31)
118-26: Transfer $5,000 From Within 'Parks Department Personal Services' From 'Summer Help' to 'Overtime'

118-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000), same to be charged against PARKS DEPARTMENT PERSONAL SERVICES - Summer Help and credited to PARKS DEPARTMENT PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime.
119-26: Transfer $50,000 From Various Parks & Recreation Accounts for Installation of Concrete Pad at Coolidge Park (01:08:28)
119-26: Transfer $50,000 From Various Parks & Recreation Accounts for Installation of Concrete Pad at Coolidge Park

119-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) for installation of a concrete pad at Coolidge Park for the Mini Pitch Soccer Field, same to be charged against the following accounts: PARKS PERSONAL SERVICES - Labor $10,000 RECREATION PERSONAL SVCS - Recreation Assistant $15,000 RECREATION PERSONAL SVCS - General $25,000 (Suspension of Rules)
120-26: Grant Fund Expenditure of $15,000 To Support World Cup Watch Party at Coolidge Park (01:20:09)
120-26: Grant Fund Expenditure of $15,000 To Support World Cup Watch Party at Coolidge Park

120-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in partnership with Massachusetts Youth Soccer in the approximate amount of FIFTEEN THOUSAND ($15,000) for the purpose of providing public health resources during the FIFA 2026 World Cup Watch Party and Community Event at Coolidge Park. (Suspension of Rules)
121-26: Transfer $27,000 From 'Legal Expenses- Damages...' to 'Legal Other Expenses - City Solicitor' (01:24:09)
121-26: Transfer $27,000 From 'Legal Expenses- Damages...' to 'Legal Other Expenses - City Solicitor'

121-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($27,000), same to be charged against LEGAL EXPENSES - Damages to Persons & Property and credited to LEGAL OTHER EXPENSES - City Solicitor.
122-26: Transfer $384,943 From 'Employee Benefits - Health Insurance' to Various 'Employee Benefits' Accounts (01:25:07)
122-26: Transfer $384,943 From 'Employee Benefits - Health Insurance' to Various 'Employee Benefits' Accounts

122-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE DOLLARS ($384,943) from EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Health Insurance to the following accounts: + EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Pension Contribution $1,943 + EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Workers Compensation $150,000 + EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Unemployment Insurance $150,000 + EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Medicare $35,000 + MISCELLANEOUS - General Insurance $13,000 + MISCELLANEOUS - Medicaid Billing Commissions $35,000
123-26: Appropriate $830,000 to be Credited to 'FY27 Reserve for Other Municipal Purposes' (01:26:53)
123-26: Appropriate $830,000 to be Credited to 'FY27 Reserve for Other Municipal Purposes'

123-26. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($830,000) same to be credited to FY27 RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES and charged against: FY26 RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - $330,000; and FY26 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Health Insurance - $500,000.
Ordinance: 103-26 - To Amend City Code Chapter 44 to Adjust the Grade and Step for the City Clerk to '13-11' (01:28:17)
Ordinance: 103-26 - To Amend City Code Chapter 44 to Adjust the Grade and Step for the City Clerk to '13-11'

103-26. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 44 of the City Ordinance is hereby amended as follows: in the table designating grades and steps by position, in the line designated 'City Clerk', the grade and step shall be amended '13-11', effective July 1, 2026. (Ref. 057-26) (Final Reading)
Petitions (01:29:21)
Petitions

+ 124-26. Councilor Beauchemin, respectfully requests a rule change to require In-Person Voting on Official matters as outlined in the enclosed petition. 'In-Person Voting on Official Matters' (Legislative Affairs) + 125-26. Councilor Beauchemin and Councilor Fleming, respectfully requests to End-WorkFrom-Home Arrangements as outlined in the enclosed petition. 'End-Work-Home-Arrangements' (Legislative Affairs) + 126-26. Michaela Horn, Treasurer/Collector request to adopt Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A, Section 9A, which establishes a clear and practical process for municipalities to manage abandoned funds held in municipal custody. (Legislative Affairs) + 127-26. Michaela Horn, Treasurer/Collector request to adopt the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 60, Section 23B, which authorizes municipalities to establish a fee schedule for the issuance of Municipal Lien Certificates (MLCs). Adoption of this statute would provide a, legally authorized and equitable method of recovering a portion of the administrative costs associated with preparing and issuing these certificates. (Legislative Affairs) + 128-26. Fitchburg Soccer LLC, respectfully request amending Section 181.313 Table of Principal Use Regulations of Chapter 181 (Zoning) by changing the following principal uses in the Commercial Recreation (CR) as outlined in the enclosed petition. 'Amending Section 181.313' (Planning Board)
Petition: 129-26 - To Fly the Progress Pride Flag in Front of the Legislative Building for Two Weeks in June 2026 (01:31:35)
Petition: 129-26 - To Fly the Progress Pride Flag in Front of the Legislative Building for Two Weeks in June 2026

129-26. Petition submitted by Councilor Van Hazinga and DJ Tardiff, to Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and promote diversity and inclusion in the Fitchburg community by flying the Progress Pride flag in front of the Legislative Building for two weeks, beginning in June 2026. (Suspension of rules)