City Council Meeting

City Council Meeting - 6.20.2023

File Attachments:

City Council Meeting Agenda 6.20.23 (application/pdf, 891 KB, opens in new window/tab)

Chapters

Meeting Open - Agenda Item I: Public Forum (00:00:00)
Agenda Item I: Public Forum

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.
Agenda Item II: Announcements (00:03:39)
Agenda Item II: Announcements

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Agenda Item III: Appointments Committee (00:06:19)
Agenda Item III: Appointments Committee

III. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of June 20, 2023 New Appointment: Fitchburg Cultural Council For the City of Fitchburg (Term to expire June 1, 2026) Catherine Healey New Appointment: Special Police Officer For the City of Fitchburg David R. Daigle Re-Appointment: Director of Human Resources For the City of Fitchburg (Term to expire December 31, 2024) Susan Davis
Agenda Item IV: Report of Committee on Records (00:10:58)
Agenda Item IV: Report of Committee on Records

IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS
Agenda Item V: Communications (00:11:30)
Agenda Item V: Communications

V. COMMUNICATIONS His Honor the Mayor 1. Appointment letter: Ellen Daoust, as a member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, term to expire July 1, 2026. 2. Appointment letter: Todd A. Goodwin, as member of the Council on Aging, term to expire July 1, 2026
Agenda Item VI: Report of Committees - Finance Committee (00:11:52)
Agenda Item VI: Report of Committees - Finance Committee

VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of June 14, 2023 Finance Committee Minutes 171-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of NINETEEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($19,758.00) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, CHAPTER 41 POLICE. (Be Adopted) 172-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWENTYSIX THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED 00/100 DOLLARS ($26,200.00) same to be transferred from ELECTION & REGISTRATION, PERSONAL SERVICES, ELECTION WORKERS and credited to the following accounts: CITY COUNCIL EXPENSES $11,200.00 CITY CLERK EXPENSES $ 2,000.00 ELECTION & REGISTRATION EXPENSES $13,000.00 (Be Adopted) 173-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts earmark in the approximate amount of $25,000.00 (TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said earmark, which is to support the renovation and expansion of the Fitchburg Police Department dispatch center. (Be Adopted) 174-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE AND 11/100 DOLLARS ($124,399.11) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION, PEG ACCESS and credited to INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FRANCHISE FEE for the purpose of paying FATV for franchise fees received during the second quarter of 2023. (Be Adopted) 175-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($135,000.00) same to be transferred from PARKS PERSONAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT HEAD ($85,000.00) and LABOR ($50,000.00) and credited to PARKS CAPITAL, DEPARTMENTAL EQUIPMENT ($120,000.00) and PARKS EXPENSES, GAS & OIL ($15,000.00). (Be Adopted) 176-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($270,000.00) same to be transferred from the following accounts: DPW ADMIN. P.S. INSPECTOR $ 40,000.00 DPW ADMIN. P.S. ASST. CITY ENG. $ 35,000.00 DPW ADMIN. P.S. CLERICAL $ 10,000.00 Page 3 DPW STREETS P.S. LABOR $155,000.00 DPW STREETS P.S. SUMMER HELP $ 30,000.00 and credited to the following accounts: DPW CAPITAL, EQUIPMENT $170,000.00 DPW EXPENSES, GAS & OIL $ 35,000.00 DPW EXPENSES, MOTOR VEH. REP. $ 35,000.00 DPW EXPENSES, POT HOLE REPAIRS $ 30,000.00. (Be Adopted) 177-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOUR THOUSAND, FORTY AND 70/100 DOLLARS ($4,040.70) same to be charged against RESERVED FOR APPROPRIATION, TNC PER RIDE ASSESSMENT and credited to DPW CAPITAL EXPENSES, STREET REPAIR for the purpose of road repaving. (Be Adopted) 178-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Asset Management Grant Program in the approximate amount of $150,000.00 (ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to begin the development of a GIS based asset management program for stormwater infrastructure. (Be Adopted)
Agenda Item VII: Orders - Finance (00:14:54)
Agenda Item VII: Orders - Finance

VII. ORDERS ? FINANCE 184-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWENTYSIX THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR AND 40/100 DOLLARS ($26,684.40) same to be transferred from COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COVID-19, FOOD INSECURITY ASSISTANCE ($3,620.40) and from COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COVID-19, BUSINESS LOANS & GRANTS ($23,064.00) and credited to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COVID-19, RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. 185-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of FIFTYSEVEN THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE AND 72/100 DOLLARS ($57,651.72) same to be transferred from CDBG YEAR 47 STREETSCAPES PROJECT and credited to CDBG YEAR 48 PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS. 186-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($10,000.00) same to be transferred from POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, PATROLMAN and credited to POLICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, OVERTIME. 187-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($50,000.00) same to be transferred from HEALTH, SANITARY LANDFILL EXPENSES, CONTRACTED SERVICES and credited to HEALTH, RUBBISH REMOVAL EXPENSES, CONTRACT FEES for the purpose of covering rubbish removal costs for the remainder of the fiscal year. Page 4 188-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) grant in the approximate amount of $25,000.00 (TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of said grant, which is to address issues of vaccine equity. 189-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($140,000.00) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION, OPIOID SETTLEMENT and credited to the following HEALTH, OPIOID SETTLEMENT accounts: PERSONAL SERVICES, OUTREACH WORKER $80,000.00 PERSONAL SERVICES, COORDINATOR STIPEND $10,000.00 EXPENSES, CONTRACTED SERVICES $50,000.00 190-23. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred from within the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($20,000.00) same to be transferred from HEALTH, PERSONAL SERVICES, ASSISTANT TO DEPARTMENT HEAD and credited to HEALTH, EXPENSES, CONTRACTED SERVICES to cover the cost of a contracted outreach worker
Agenda Item VIII: Petitions (00:15:15)
Agenda Item VIII: Petitions

VIII. PETITIONS 191-23. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Linda and Mike Brousseau of 116 Belmont Street, to install a berm to prevent Mt. Carmel Street runoff from damaging the grass sidewalk in front of 116 Belmont Street. (Refer to Public Works) 192-23. City Councilor Andrew Couture, on behalf of Mike Hurley, to repair the berm in front of 152 Highview Street. (Refer to Public Works) 193-23. City Councilor Andrew Couture, on behalf of Bev Hofer, to replace the berm in front of 466 Franklin Road to combat runoff from Oak Hill Road. (Refer to Public Works) 194-23. City Councilor Andrew Couture, on behalf of Joyce Moretto, to reapir the berms at the end of Parker and Hollywood. (Refer to Public Works) 195-23. Councilor Fleming on behalf of several residents, employee's and non-residents of Fitchburg, Ma. A petition to add streetlights or roundabout to the intersection of North Street / John Fitch Highway and Pearl Hill Rd / John Fitch Highway to mitigate traffic concerns (accidents) and pedestrian crossing (safety) during daytime hours. With the increase in traffic this discussion needs to take place before a tragedy occurs. (Refer to Public Works and Public Safety)
Agenda Item IX: Other Business - Adjournment (00:16:51)
Agenda Item IX: Other Business - Adjournment

IX. OTHER BUSINESS Motion by President Zarrella for Reconsideration of the June 6, 2023 votes on agenda items 158-23, 159-23, and 160-23, for the purpose of correcting a procedural error. 158-23. AN ORDINANCE: To amend the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 44, Section 10, by striking the following: Under Positions Paid Annually Effective July 1, 2022 City Solicitor $103,525 Assistant City Solicitor $ 69,392 And by inserting in its place: Under Positions Paid Annually Effective July 1, 2023 City Solicitor $106,630 Assistant City Solicitor $ 71,443 159-23. 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. 160-23. AN ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 44, Section 10 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg, as most recently amended by adding thereto the enclosed pay scale.