City Council - 6.17.2025

City Council Meeting - 6.17.2025

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Meeting Open (00:00:00)
Meeting Open
Public Forum (00:01:34)
Public Forum
Announcements (00:13:06)
Announcements
Report of the Appointments Committee Meeting - June 17, 2025 (00:15:32)
Report of the Appointments Committee Meeting - June 17, 2025

III. REPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of June 17, 2025 New Appointment letter: Board of Health (For a term to expire January 1, 2027) Jamie Darcangelo, R.N. Re-Appointment letter: Board of Health (For a term to expire January 1, 2028) John Bogsdasarian, M.D.
Report of the Committee on Records - Through June 3, 2025 (00:18:41)
Report of the Committee on Records - Through June 3, 2025

IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RECORDS Council as a Whole meeting of May 27, 2025 Council as a Whole meeting of May 28, 2025 Council as a Whole meeting of May 29, 2025 Regular City Council meeting minutes of June 3, 2025
Communication: Re-Appointment (00:19:07)
Communication: Re-Appointment

V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. Re-Appointment letter: Mary Delaney, as the Chief Procurement Officer, for a term to expire June 30, 2028.
Communication: City Auditor - Final Financial Statements for the City of Fitchburg (00:19:19)
Communication: City Auditor - Final Financial Statements for the City of Fitchburg

VI. COMMUNICATION City Auditor Final Financial Statements for the City of Fitchburg
Special Presentation: Solar Array - Crocker Elementary (00:19:40)
Special Presentation: Solar Array - Crocker Elementary

VII. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Jeremy Roche - Fitchburg Public Schools Solar Array - Crocker Elementary
Public Hearing: 113-25 - To Relocate Utility Pole p#14, 14's on Oak Hill Road (00:32:28)
Public Hearing: 113-25 - To Relocate Utility Pole p#14, 14's on Oak Hill Road

113-25. Unitil, to petition to relocate p#14, 14's as painted on ground for new driveway. The proposed p#14 would be 95' from Columbus St. and 103' from St. Joseph St., Fitchburg, as outlined in the enclosed Petition.
Petition: 135-25 - To Raise the LGBTQI+ Progressive Pride Flag in Front of the Legislative Building from June 23-30 (00:34:26)
Petition: 135-25 - To Raise the LGBTQI+ Progressive Pride Flag in Front of the Legislative Building from June 23-30

135-25. Josiah Richards, request to raise the LGBTQI+ Progressive Pride flag in front of the Legislative Building at 700 Main St. from June 23 through June 30. (Suspension of Rules)
Report of the Council as a Whole Committee Meeting: June 17, 2025 (00:42:18)
Report of the Council as a Whole Committee Meeting: June 17, 2025

VIII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES Council as a Whole Committee Meeting of June 17, 2025 Oral Report I. BUDGET ORDERS-FY 2026 + 100-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the Mayor's Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget: ++ General Fund $ 181,515,682 ++ Water Enterprise $ 9,018,485 ++ Wastewater Enterprise $ 20,126,481 ++ Airport Fund $ 1,100,437 + 101-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($700,000), same to be credited to the Fiscal Year 2026 TAX LEVY and charged against OVERLAY SURPLUS. + 102-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of THREE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTYTHREE DOLLARS ($3,847,163), same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to the Fiscal Year 2026 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. + 114-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($450,000), same to be charged against the STABILIZATION FUND and credited to the Fiscal Year 2026 TAX LEVY in order to reduce the tax rate. + 103-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($120,000), same to be charged against PARKING METER/GARAGE RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 accounts as follows: ++ Treasurer Personal Services $ 40,000 ++ Treasurer Expenses $ 80,000 + 104-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($55,000), same to be charged against PEG ACCESS AND CABLE RELATED FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 accounts as follows: ++ Information Technology - PEG Expenses $25,000 ++ Information Technology - PEG Capital $30,000 + 105-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($45,000), same to be charged against CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS AND GRAVES and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 CEMETERY PERSONAL SERVICES. + 106-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of NINE MILLION EIGHTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($9,018,485) same to be charged against WATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Water Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: ++ Personal Services $2,417,125 ++ Expenses $2,421,000 ++ Indirect Costs $1,452,300 ++ Debt Service $2,178,060 ++ Capital Expenses $ 550,000 + 107-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of TWENTY MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE DOLLARS ($20,126,481), charging $18,344,495 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RECEIPTS and $1,781,986 against WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND RETAINED EARNINGS, and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Wastewater Enterprise Fund accounts as follows: ++ Personal Services $3,183,418 ++ Expenses $6,313,005 ++ Indirect Costs $1,555,300 ++ Debt Service $6,673,958 ++ Capital Expenses $2,400,800 + 108-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN DOLLARS ($1,100,437) same to be charged against AIRPORT RECEIPTS RESERVED and credited to Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Fund accounts as follows: ++ Personal Services $ 354,799 ++ Expenses $ 745,638 + 109-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the following Revolving Funds, authorized by City Ordinance, up to the amount available in the fund or $100,000 (except Public Health Sustainability which shall have a FY2026 limit of $750,000), whichever is less: Revolving Fund Authorized Official ++ Animal Control: Police Chief ++ Civic Days: Mayor or Mayor's Designee, Recreation Director ++ Communication Tower & Equipment: Fire Chief ++ Community Development: Community Development Director or Designee ++ Demolition: Community Development Director or Designee ++ Public Cemetery: Cemetery Superintendent, Public Works Commissioner ++ Public Health Sustainability: Public Health Director ++ Public Library: Library Trustees, Chief Librarian ++ Traffic Enforcement: Police Chief ++ Traffic Safety Equipment: Police Chief ++ Senior Center Activities: Executive Director of the Council on Aging ++ Sidewalk: Public Works Commissioner ++ Stormwater Maintenance: Public Works Commissioner
Report of the Finance Committee Meeting: June 11, 2025 (00:43:01)
Report of the Finance Committee Meeting: June 11, 2025

Finance Committee Meeting of June 11, 2025 Oral Report + 115-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLAR ($30,000) from FIRE PERSONAL SERVICES - EMD Stipend to the following FIRE BUILDING MAINTENANCE accounts: ++ Electricity $5,000 ++ Heating Fuel $5,000 ++ Household Repair $20,000 (Be Adopted as amended) + 116-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of ONE HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE AND 10/100 DOLLARS ($102,823.10) from RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Expenses to RESERVE FOR APPROPRIATION - PEG ACCESS Cable Franchise Fee for the purpose of remitting to FATV the first quarter 2025 franchise fee. (Be Adopted)
Report of the Public Safety Committee Meeting: June 17, 2025 (00:44:07)
Report of the Public Safety Committee Meeting: June 17, 2025

Public Safety Committee Meeting of June 17, 2025 Oral Report + 060-25. Councilor Beauchemin, to remove parking meter bags on Grove Street. Cars are utilizing parking spots for the entire day. + 067-25. Residents of Park St., to petition concerns that Midnight Auto Repair shop is taking over Park St. leaving the residents with ''No Parking.'' + 095-25. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, in conjunction with Fire Chief Dante Suarez and Director of Public Health Steve Curry, to address public safety issues at 240 Water Street, the former St. Bernard's Church. The church spire is no longer straight up and down and presents a falling danger. In addition, homeless people frequently have broken into the church buildings and present an ongoing fire hazard for the city. A more permanent securing of the buildings at this address is necessary.
Orders-Finance (00:48:25)
Orders-Finance

X. ORDERS - FINANCE + 118-25. ORDER THAT: the sum of ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR DOLLARS ($1,684) be appropriated, same to be credited to the Fitchburg Building Department for Improving Community and Economic Development Through Improved Code Enforcement and charged against the CDBG Year 51. + 119-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg approves the expenditure of additional funds from the Massachusetts Collaborative for Action, Leadership, and Learning 3 (MassCall3) Substance Misuse Prevention grant in the approximate amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($250,000) for the purpose of said grant, which is to prevent substance use (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis) among youth. + 120-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, in the approximate amount of FOURTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($14,500), awarded to the city Recreation Program from the DESE After School and Out of School Time Program Grant to help cover the cost of weekly summer field trips and bringing different educational entertainers to the Coolidge and Parkhill playground sites. + 121-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated from WATER ENTERPRISE - RETAINED EARNINGS the sum of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($175,000) to the following WATER ENTERPRISE accounts: ++ Personal Services - Overtime $75,000 ++ Expenses - Contracted Services $80,000 ++ Expenses - Electricity $20,000 + 122-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfer the sum of THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($32,000) from WASTEWATER EAST PLANT PERSONAL SERVICES - Operators to WASTEWATER EAST PLANT PERSONAL SERVICES - Overtime. + 123-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby accept the donation of FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($15,000) from Applewild School Inc., for expenditure on engineering consulting services to design a raised crosswalk on View Street. + 124-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby accept the donation of ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($115,000) from Unitil for expenditure on repaving roadways impacted by Unitil's natural gas infrastructure work. + 125-25. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX DOLLARS ($108,886) to DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS - SNOW & ICE - Overtime from the following DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SNOW & ICE accounts: ++ EXPENSES - Plow & Blades $70,941 ++ EXPENSES - Salt $37,945 + 126-25. ORDER THAT: The City of Fitchburg hereby appropriates the sum of TWELVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DOLLARS ($12,180) same to be charged against AVAILABLE FUNDS and credited to DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS - SNOW & ICE - OVERTIME. + 127-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of SEVENTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX AND 50/100 DOLLARS ($17,256.50) 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. 128-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000) to DPW CAPITAL - Equipment from the following accounts: ++ DPW ENGINEERING PERSONAL SERVICES - Civil Engineer $35,000 ++ DPW STORMWATER PERSONAL SERVICES - Labor $15,000 ++ DPW STREETS PERSONAL SERVICES - Labor $300,000 + 129-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($570,000) to DPW CAPITAL - Equipment from the following accounts: ++ AVAILABLE FUNDS - $318,000 ++ RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Capital $252,000 + 130-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) from EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Health Insurance to the POLICE CAPITAL - Building Renovations. + 131-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($230,000) from EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Health Insurance to TREASURER CAPITAL - Building Improvements. + 132-25. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby appropriate and transfer the sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) from RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Capital to COUNCIL ON AGING EXPENSES - Capital Improvements. + 133-25. ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($550,000) same to be charged against FISCAL 2025 - RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses and credited to FISCAL 2026 - RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses.
Ordinance: 134-25 - To Update the Floodplain Protection Overlay District (FPOD) (00:48:39)
Ordinance: 134-25 - To Update the Floodplain Protection Overlay District (FPOD)

134-25. AN ORDINANCE: Chapter 181.85 Floodplain Protection Overlay District (FPOD), of the Code of the City of Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance, be amended by deleting the entire section 181.85 and replacing it in its entirety as enclosed in the Ordinance. (First Reading)