City Council - 2.18.2025

City Council Meeting - 2.18.2025

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City Council Meeting Agenda 2.18.25 (pdf, 439 KB, opens in new window/tab)

Chapters

Meeting Open (00:00:00)
Meeting Open
Public Forum (00:01:25)
Public Forum
Announcements (00:03:21)
Announcements
Report of the Economic Development Committee (00:04:50)
Report of the Economic Development Committee
Report of the Appointments Committee Meeting - February 18, 2025 (00:14:05)
Report of the Appointments Committee Meeting - February 18, 2025

Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of February 18, 2025 New Appointment: Fitchburg Cultural Council (Term to expire February 18, 2028) Ricardo Barros New Appointment: Fitchburg Cultural Council (Term to expire February 18, 2028) Eva Antonucci-Kelly Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Cultural Council (Term to expire January 1, 2028) Shara Osgood Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Planning Board (Term to expire September 1, 2027) Amanda Koeck Re-Appointment letter: Fitchburg Zoning Board of Appeals (Term to expire March 1, 2030) Brian Gallagher
Report of the Committee on Records - Through February 4, 2025 (00:15:29)
Report of the Committee on Records - Through February 4, 2025

Minutes from the Regular City Council Meeting of February 4, 2025
Communication: New Appointments and Re-Appointments (00:15:47)
Communication: New Appointments and Re-Appointments
Communication: Community Development Block Grant Year 51 (00:16:55)
Communication: Community Development Block Grant Year 51
Report of the Finance Committee Meeting: February 12, 2025 (00:17:13)
Report of the Finance Committee Meeting: February 12, 2025

Finance Committee Meeting of February 12, 2025 + 019-25. LOAN ORDER: the Loan Order #160-24, which was ordered by this Council on September 17, 2024 and authorized a borrowing of $12,700,000 for various water projects, is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety to read as follows: ORDERED: That $11,400,000 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 $4,300,000; (ii) Main Street water main replacement project, at an estimated cost of $4,500,000, which amount is expected to be used in addition to certain American Rescue Plan Act funds available for the project; (iii) Regional Water Treatment Plant roof replacement and/or weatherproofing project, at an estimated cost of $850,000; and (iv) Water Street water main replacement project, at an estimated cost of $1,750,000; and that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow $11,400,000 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. (Be Adopted) + 013-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby rescinds Council Orders #273-22 and #274-22 returning NINETY-EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ($98,400) to WATER ENTERPRISE FUND BALANCE RESERVED FOR LAND PURCHASES. (Be Adopted) + 014-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Department of Mental Health police-based Jail Diversion Program (JDP) in the approximate amount of FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($47,000) for the purpose of maintaining the Police Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). (Be Adopted) + 015-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($35,000) from POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - Patrolmen to POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES - Dispatch Overtime. (Be Adopted) + 016-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) from FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES - Incentives to: - FIRE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR - Automotive Repair - $50,000 - FIRE MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING - Household - $50,000 (Be Adopted) + 017-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from Massachusetts Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) in the approximate amount of FIFTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($15,500) for the purpose of purchasing TFT transformer nozzles, hazmat suits, and several AEDs. (Be Adopted) + 018-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the transfer of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) within CDBG Year 45 COVID-19 funds to COVID Rent and Utility Assistance from the following accounts: - Pandemic Legal Assistance - $1,328.27 - COVID Grant Administration - $3,671.73 (Be Held)
Report of the Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting: February 18, 2025 (00:19:56)
Report of the Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting: February 18, 2025
Orders-Finance: 022-25 - Cable Franchise Fee (00:29:27)
Orders-Finance: 022-25 - Cable Franchise Fee

+ 022-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX AND 19/100 DOLLARS ($104,856.19) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Expenses to RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Cable Franchise Fee for the purpose of remitting to FATV the fourth quarter 2024 franchise fee. (Suspension of Rules)
Orders-Finance (00:30:32)
Orders-Finance

+ 023-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative Grant awarded by the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security in the approximate amount of FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO AND 76/100 DOLLARS ($479,882.76) to address the underlying causes of criminal activity, and to build positive relationships with young people. + 024-25. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($700,000) same to be charged against Available Funds and credited to the following DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SNOW & ICE accounts: - PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime $75,000.00 - EXPENSES - SALT $625,000.00 + 025-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates from Available Funds, the sum of THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($35,000), to FACILITIES - Contracted Services, for critical equipment repairs and maintenance at City Hall and the Legislative Building. + 026-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates from Available Funds, the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($105,000), to be credited to: - LAW OTHER EXPENSES - Labor Negotiator $100,000 - LAW OTHER EXPENSES - Litigation/Special Counsel $5,000.
Ordinance: 027-25 (00:30:50)
Ordinance: 027-25

027-25. AN ORDINANCE: the City Council of the City of Fitchburg that the ordering of the prior insertions in Ordinance 009-2024 is hereby corrected as follows: 1. Section 5 is struck its entirety. 2. Section 6 shall now insert a new Article X entitle ?Snow and Ice? at the end of Chapter 169 Vehicles and Traffic. 3. A new Section 169-103 entitled ?Duty to remove snow or ice from motor vehicles? shall be inserted under Article X and read as follows in Section 6 of Ordinance 009-2024.
Petitions (00:31:02)
Petitions