City Council - 1.30.2024

City Council Meeting - 1.30.2024

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City Council Meeting Agenda 1.30.24 (pdf, 435 KB, opens in new window/tab)

Chapters

Public Forum (00:01:35)
Public Forum

Public Form
Announcements (00:05:42)
Announcements

Announcements
Report of the Appointments Committee (00:11:36)
Report of the Appointments Committee

REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of January 30, 2024 New Appointment: Permanent Full-Time Firefighter For the City of Fitchburg Ian B. Wilde
Report of Committee on Records (00:17:55)
Report of Committee on Records

Report of Committee on Records
Communications Mayor: New Appointments/Promotion Letters (00:18:18)
Communications Mayor: New Appointments/Promotion Letters

V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. New Appointment letter: Mr. Robert J. Talbot, as a member of the Fitchburg Zoning Board of Appeals, for a term to expire February 6, 2029. 2. New Appointment letter: Mr. Joseph S. Bowen, as a member of the Fitchburg Cultural Council, for a term to expire February 6, 2027. 3. Re-Appointment letter: Mr. Basil Tolos, as a member of the Fitchburg Disability Commission, for a term to expire February 1, 2027. 4. Appointment letter from Her Honor the Mayor: Lisa Mead of Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC to the position of City Solicitor for a one year term set to Expire January 25, 2025. Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC Attorneys at Law Promotion Letters 1. Promotion letter: Captain Patrick G. Haverty to Provisional Deputy Chief 2. Promotion letter: Lieutenant Jude Lambert to Captain 3. Promotion letter: Lieutenant Kristopher J. Maillet to Captain 4. Promotion letter: Firefighter John A. Girouard to Lieutenant 5. Promotion letter: Firefighter Sean M. Joubert to Lieutenant 6. Promotion letter: Firefighter Francisco Robles III to Lieutenant
Report of Committees: Finance (00:19:57)
Report of Committees: Finance

VI. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Finance Committee Meeting of January 24, 2024 Oral Report 276-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of state earmark funds in the approximate amount of $200,000 (TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in support of the production of market-rate apartments. at the Iver Mills housing development project on River Street. (Adopted as Amended) 277-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of state earmark funds in the approximate amount of $150,000 (ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS), to be added to the city's Main Street Housing Incentive Program created last year, in support of the production of market-rate housing in upper stories of Main Street buildings. (Adopted as Amended) 278-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in the approximate amount of $100,000 (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) for the purpose of conducting a study of the Water Street gateway corridor, specifically between the Water Street Bridge and the intersection of Bemis Road and Wanoosnoc Road, to analyze and prioritize redevelopment opportunities and infrastructure needs. (Adopted) 279-23. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Executive Office of Economic Development Massworks Program in the approximate amount of $450,000 (FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) for the creation of engineering designs, including underground utilities, for the reconfiguration of Moran Square. (Adopted)
Report of Committees: Public Safety (00:21:33)
Report of Committees: Public Safety

REPORT OF COMMITTEES Public Safety Committee Meeting of January 16, 2024 Oral Report 274-23. Intercar Motors Group Corp., to petition for a Class II Dealer's License located at: 556 River Street - Fitchburg - Ma - 01420
Report of Committees: Public Works (00:22:03)
Report of Committees: Public Works

a) 254-23. Councilors Squailia and Van Hazinga to install a berm at 405 Blossom St from the driveway to the existing storm drain to mitigate water intrusion into the landscaped area and sidewalk, approx 50'. Request DPW review height of Driveway Apron as may need to be raised up to direct water flow towards storm drain. (Referred from City Council on November 8, 2023) b) 255-23. Marisa Fleming on behalf of Dan Sarasin of 75 Klondike Ave to install a berm in front of his property to mitigate flooding from the higher ground across the street. (Referred from City Council on November 8, 2023) CITY OF FITCHBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING *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. c) 256-23. Andrew Couture on behalf of Brian Rufiange to request a berm to be placed from the intersection of Oak Hill to the storm drain just past 394 Franklin Rd. (Referred from City Council on November 8, 2023) d) 257-23. Councilor Sam Squailia to remove the large stump in front of 264 Elm St. This stump juts into the roadway and is often obscured due to weed overgrowth, causing damage to vehicles trying to park on the street. (Referred from City Council on November 8, 2023) 0) HELD petitions for review: a) 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. (HELD at the 7/25/23 and 10/26/23 meetings
Orders Finance: Order 008-24 -014-24 (00:23:29)
Orders Finance: Order 008-24 - 014-24

VII. ORDERS - FINANCE 008-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates and transfers the sum of $42,240 (FORTY-TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY DOLLARS) from LAW DEPARTMENT- PERSONAL SERVICES to LAW DEPARTMENTEXPENSES for the appointment of the City Solicitor. (Refer to Finance and Legislative Affairs) Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC Attorneys at Law (Refer to Finance and Legislative Affairs) 013-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) federal grant program in the approximate amount of $74,155.78 (SEVENTY-FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE AND 78/100 DOLLARS) for the purpose of retaining the Police Department's Domestic Violence Advocate position, as well as to support training and provide supplies during DV awareness month. (Refer to Finance Committee) 014-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) allocation in the approximate amount of $45,702.51 (FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWO AND 51/100 DOLLARS) to address unmet criminal justice and officer safety needs in the form of new radios and accessories. (Refer to Finance Committee) 015-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the transfer within of $150,000 (ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) from POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - PATROLMEN to POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - OVERTIME. (Suspension of Rules
Orders Finance: Order 015-24: Police Personal Services (00:33:26)
Orders Finance: Order 015-24: Police Personal Services

015-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the transfer within of $150,000 (ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS) from POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - PATROLMEN to POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - OVERTIME. (Suspension of Rules)
Orders Other: Presidential Primary (00:34:26)
Orders Other: Presidential Primary

VIII. ORDERS-OTHER 012-24. ORDER THAT: Authorizing the City Clerk to notify the voters of the Presidential Primary to be held on March 5, 2024
Ordinance: 009-24 Amending Snow or Ice on Vechicles (00:35:02)
Ordinance: 009-24 Amending Snow or Ice on Vechicles

VIII. ORDINANCE 009-24. AN ORDINANCE: AN ORDINANCE: Amending Article VIII entitled ?Snow or Ice on Motor Vehicles? as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. Chapter 157-94 shall be amended as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. Chapter 169-10 entitled ?Violations and penalties? shall be renumbered to be Chapter 169-11. A new Chapter 169-10 entitled ?Duty to remove snow or ice from motor vehicles? shall be inserted and read as outlined in the enclosed Ordinance. (Refer to Legislative Affairs)
Petitions (00:35:46)
Petitions

IX. PETITIONS 010-24. Counselor Fleming on behalf of Mary Lotze at 349 Pearl Hill Rd. To install a berm that has deteriorated over the years which is now causing flooding onto personal property. (Refer Public Works) 011-24. Confirming that the City is to proceed with Phase II of the Twin Cities Rail Trail Project and to take all necessary actions to appropriate funds, conduct takings of easements as identified on the 100% Plans and any further DOT approved Plans, and any further actions necessary, convenient, and helpful to facilitate the completion of the Phase II project. 100% Plans (Refer to City Property) 016-24. Councilor Beauchemin to amend Chapter ?169-58 of the City Code with respect to penalties for violations of snow parking bans as enclosed in the attached petition. (Refer to Legislative Affairs)