City Council - 1.20.2026

City Council Meeting - 1.20.2026

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Agenda (pdf, 408 KB, opens in new window/tab)

Chapters

Meeting Open (00:00:00)
Meeting Open
Public Forum (00:01:23)
Public Forum
Announcements (00:01:43)
Announcements
Report of the Appointments Committee - January 20, 2026 (00:04:11)
Report of the Appointments Committee - January 20, 2026

Appointments Committee Oral Report Meeting of January 20, 2026 New Appointment: Board of Trustees for the Public Library (Term to expire January 20, 2029) Reverend Daniel W. Spigelmeyer, Jr. Re-Appointment: Board of Trustees for the Public Library Sabrina Holley-Williams - For a term to expire January 1, 2029 Joanne Huse - For a term to expire January 2, 2029 New Appointment: Fitchburg Council on Aging (Term to expire January 1, 2029) Thomas C. Hopkins Re-Appointment: Fitchburg Council on Aging (For a term to expire January 1, 2029) Deborah Dion Re-Appointments: Fitchburg Disability Commission Tiffany Wells - For a term to expire October 1, 2028 Doris Matte - For a term to expire February 1, 2028 Carolyn Quirk - For a term to expire February 1, 2028 Barbara Slattery - For a term to expire July 1, 2028
Report of the Committee on Records (00:05:24)
Report of the Committee on Records
Communication: Re-Appointment (00:05:43)
Communication: Re-Appointment

V. COMMUNICATION Her Honor the Mayor 1. Re-Appointment letter: Hafsa Ahmed Asfa, as a Member of the Fitchburg Human Rights Commission, for a term to expire October 1, 2028.
Report of the Finance Committee - January 14, 2026 (00:05:58)
Report of the Finance Committee - January 14, 2026

Finance Committee Meeting of January 14, 2026 Oral Report + 003-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant funds in the approximate amount of SEVENTYSIX THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SEVEN AND 11/100 DOLLARS ($76,307.11) for the purpose of continuing the Police Department Civilian Domestic Violence Advocate program. (Be Adopted) + 004-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of funds from the Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the approximate amount of TWENTY-NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX DOLLARS ($29,556) for critical technology and equipment upgrades to support community policing efforts. (Be Adopted)
Report of the Legislative Affairs Committee - January 20, 2026 (00:06:58)
Report of the Legislative Affairs Committee - January 20, 2026

Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting of January 20, 2026 Oral Report + 005-26. BE IT ORDAINED THAT - Chapter 138, Sections 138.2 through 138.3 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows to enhance enforcement of junk vehicle infractions: ++ That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 138, Sections 138.2 through 138.3, as most recently amended, be further amended by adding the language denoted as emboldened in the enclosed Ordinance. + 006-26. BE IT ORDAINED THAT - Chapter 172, Sections 172.1 through 172.6 of the Code of the City of Fitchburg be amended as follows to enhance enforcement of junk vehicle infractions: ++ That the General Ordinances of the City of Fitchburg, Chapter 172, Sections 172.1 through 172.6, as most recently amended, be further amended by deleting the language denoted with strikethrough and replacing with the language denoted as emboldened in the enclosed Ordinance.
Orders-Finance (00:16:37)
Orders-Finance

VII. ORDERS - FINANCE + 008-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000) from the Community Development Block Grant Housing Revolving Fund to the CDBG Year 51 Demolition activity account. + 009-26. ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Massachusetts Audubon Society grant funds in the approximate amount of SEVENTY-ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($71,550) to fulfill the city's matching obligation for a conservation restriction at 71 Bennett Road.
Order-Other: 010-26: Easement and Maintenance Agreement for a Portion of Property at 62 & 82 Academy Street (00:17:15)
Order-Other: 010-26: Easement and Maintenance Agreement for a Portion of Property at 62 & 82 Academy Street

010-26. ORDER THAT: That the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an Easement and Maintenance Agreement for a portion of the property located 62 Academy Street and 82 Academy Street, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, owned by FAC Owner LLC as indicated in the attached order and agreement. (Suspension of Rules)
Order-Other (00:20:27)
Order-Other

011-26. ORDER THAT: The Fitchburg City Council accepts the provisions of Section 12D of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as added by Section 51 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, to allow the Fitchburg Liquor License Commission as the local licensing authority of the City, to approve a request from a licensee to convert an existing license to sell wines and malt beverages only for on-premises consumption to a license to sell all alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, subject to all other provisions of G.L. c.138, including notice, publication, and certified mailing of, and a public hearing on, such conversion. (Legislative Affairs)
Petition: 012-26 - To Amend Council Rule 4.6 To Allow Councilors To Participate in Committee Meetings of Which They Are Not a Member (00:20:53)
Petition: 012-26 - To Amend Council Rule 4.6 To Allow Councilors To Participate in Committee Meetings of Which They Are Not a Member

012-26. Councilor Beauchemin, to propose an amendment to Section 4.6 to permit its Councilors to participate in their capacity as such in meetings of Council committees of which they are not a member, provided that, if there is a quorum of the Council present (a committee of the whole) the Council must post its own meeting notice in addition to the committee's notice. (Suspension of Rules)
Petitions (00:47:27)
Petitions

IX. PETITIONS + 013-26. On behalf of President Zarrella and City Clerk Bilotta: That the City Council of the City of Fitchburg hereby votes to accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, Section 110A, which authorizes public offices in the City to remain closed on any or all Saturdays, as determined by the City Council, with such Saturdays to be treated in the same manner as legal holidays. (Legislative Affairs) + 014-26. Petition sponsored by Councilor Cruz and Walsh, to amend Ordinance regarding Interim Appointments as outlined in the enclosed petition. (Legislative Affairs) + 015-26. Fitchburg Planning Board, City of Fitchburg, Paula Caron, Chair, request to amend the Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 181 of the City Code in multiple sections as outlined in the attached memo and draft document. Replacing petition #195-25 - Give Leave Withdraw (Planning Board & Public Hearing TBD) + 016-26. Fitchburg Planning Board, City of Fitchburg, Paula Caron, Chair, to change Section 181.647 of the Fitchburg zoning code the allowable hours of operation for Marijuana retail Establishments from 8AM to 8PM to 8AM to 11PM, as outlined in the attached letter. Replacing petition #207-25 - Give Leave Withdraw (Planning Board & Public Hearing TBD) + 017-26. Fitchburg Planning Board, City of Fitchburg, Paula Caron, Chair, to change the Table of Principal Use Regulations to allow Marijuana Delivery Courier and Marijuana Delivery Operator uses in the Industrial and Adaptive Industrial Districts, by changing 181.313 E. 15 - Marijuana Delivery Courtier and Marijuana Delivery Operator from ?N? under I and AI to ?PB?, as outlined in the attached memo. Replacing petition #208-25 - Give Leave Withdraw (Planning Board & Public Hearing TBD) + 018-26. Podium Motors, LLC, to petition for a Class II Dealer's License located at 401 Summer St. Fitchburg, MA 01420. (Public Safety)