City Council - 9.17.2024

City Council Meeting - 9.17.2024

File Attachments:

City Council Meeting Agenda 9.17.24 (pdf, 396 KB, opens in new window/tab)

Chapters

Meeting Open (00:00:00)
Meeting Open
Public Forum (00:01:27)
Public Forum
Announcements (00:04:24)
Announcements
Report of the Appointments Committee (00:09:53)
Report of the Appointments Committee
Report of the Committee on Records - Through September 5, 2024 (00:11:56)
Report of the Committee on Records - Through September 5, 2024
Report of Committees: Board of Health - Meeting of August 8, 2024 (00:12:15)
Report of Committees: Board of Health - Meeting of August 8, 2024

Board of Health Meeting of August 8, 2024 https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07112024-4125 030-24. Andrew Couture on behalf of the residents of Oak Ridge Condominiums to investigate an offensive odor (suspected from Grief paper). (Continued)
Report of Committees: Finance Committee - Meeting of September 11, 2024 (00:46:05)
Report of Committees: Finance Committee - Meeting of September 11, 2024

162-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from Massachusetts Emergency Management State Homeland Security Program Grant (SHSP) in the approximate amount of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Fire Department's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). (Be Adopted) 163-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds in the approximate amount of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000), received from Fitchburg State University and originating from Mass Development, for creation of a Downtown Management Organization. (Be Adopted) 164-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVENTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($17,000) same to be charged against the FY2025 TAX LEVY and credited to LAW EXPENSES - Damages - Persons & Property. (Be Adopted) 165-24. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the transfer of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) from Community Development Expense - Municipal Hearing Officer to Community Development Personal Services - Municipal Hearing Officer. (Be Adopted)
Orders - Finance (00:48:45)
Orders - Finance

172-24: ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($37,800) same to be charged against the FY2025 TAX LEVY and credited to POLICE - MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING - Repair & Care. 173-24: ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds in the approximate amount of EIGHTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIXTYTHREE AND 57/100 DOLLARS ($18,963.57), received from Fitchburg State University and originating from Mass Development, to fulfill TDI/InTown commitments made to fund programming, marketing and needed repairs at Mill Street.
Order 174-24: Appropriation of $111,261.32 From Reserve for Appropriation - PEG Access Cable Franchise Fee (00:49:30)
Order 174-24: Appropriation of $111,261.32 From Reserve for Appropriation - PEG Access Cable Franchise Fee

174-24. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE AND 32/100 DOLLARS ($111,261.32) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS CABLE FRANCHISE FEE for the purpose of remitting to FATV the second quarter 2024 franchise fee. (Suspension of Rules)
Loan Order 160-24: $12,700,000 for Miscellaneous Water/Wastewater Projects (00:53:33)
Loan Order 160-24: $12,700,000 for Miscellaneous Water/Wastewater Projects

VII. LOAN ORDER 160-24. LOAN ORDER: that $12,700,000 aggregate amount is appropriated for the following projects, including all costs incidental and related thereto, which amount may be apportioned to such projects as needed to accomplish the projects: (i) rehabilitation and/or upgrade of the Meetinghouse Gatehouse and Mare Meadow Pump Station, at an estimated cost of $4,400,000; (ii) Main Street water main replacement project, at an estimated cost of $6,000,000, which amount is expected to be used in addition to certain American Rescue Plan Act funds available for the project; and (iii) Regional Water Treatment Plant roof replacement and weatherproofing project, at an estimated cost of $2,300,000; that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow $12,700,000 under G.L. c.44, Section 8 or any other enabling authority; that the Mayor is authorized to contract for and expend any federal or state aid available for the projects; that the Mayor is authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out the projects; and that the Treasurer is authorized to file an application with the Municipal Finance Oversight Board to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any or all of the bonds authorized by this order and to provide such information and execute such documents as the Municipal Finance Oversight Board may require for these purposes. (Final Reading)
Ordinance 175-24: Sec. 1, Chap. 170 Vehicles, Impoundment of - new Article III Violations in Connection With Recreational Vehicles and Snow Vehicles (00:55:31)
Ordinance 175-24: Sec. 1, Chap. 170 Vehicles, Impoundment of - new Article III Violations in Connection With Recreational Vehicles and Snow Vehicles

VIII. ORDINANCE 175-24. AN ORDINANCE: Section 1, Chapter 170 Vehicles, Impoundment of, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the chapter the following new Article III Violations in connection with Recreational Vehicles and Snow Vehicles. (First Reading)
Petitions (00:56:30)
Petitions

IX. PETITIONS 176-24. City Councilor Derrick Cruz and cosponsored by Councilor Cragin and Councilor Walsh. The City of Fitchburg shall adopt a fee structure for public records requests, in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law, as follows: 1. Copying Costs: The City of Fitchburg will charge up to 5 cents per page for standard black-and-white paper copies or printouts of public records. 2. Electronic Records: For records provided electronically, no per-page fee will be charged, though charges may apply for staff time as outlined below. 3. Personnel Costs: The City will charge for the time required to search for, compile, segregate, and redact public records if the time exceeds two hours. The hourly rate will be based on the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task, not exceeding $25 per hour, unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor of Public Records (City Clerk). 4. Preliminary Cost Estimate: Upon receiving a public records request, the City of Fitchburg shall provide the requester with a written, itemized, good-faith estimate of the expected fees before processing the request, if applicable. 5. Effective Date: These changes shall take effect immediately upon approval by the City Council. (Legislative Affairs) 177-24. The Community Development & Planning Department is requesting that City Council designate the new Municipal Hearing Officer as a Special Municipal Employee. (Legislative Affairs) 178-24. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Roseann Addorisio of 84 Newton Street, to install a berm to replace a previous berm located at this address many years ago. Recently, the previous berm's location washed away in creating a trench at that location. (Public Works)
Other Business - Review Submitted Open Meeting Law Complaint (00:57:30)
Other Business - Review Submitted Open Meeting Law Complaint