City Council - Regular Meeting

Worcester County
Tuesday, February 17, 2026Official site

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Fitchburg, MA
Meeting Date
February 17, 2026

Video will appear here as soon as Fitchburg City Council posts it — usually within a day of the meeting

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

12 items on the agenda.

REPORT OF COMMITTEES•Item 022-26

Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning, to enter into a Conservation restriction located at 71 Bennett Road as outlined in the enclosed petition.

Petition Conservation Restriction Grant Conservation Restriction

REPORT OF COMMITTEES•Item 019-26

ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of FORTY-SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($46,100) same to be charged against RESERVE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES - Expenses and credited to the following departmental accounts:

PUBLIC WORKS - Labor $12,027 PUBLIC WORKS - Overtime $2,117 PUBLIC WORKS - Stipends $22,000 CEMETERY - Labor $2,380 CEMETERY – Overtime $445 CEMETERY – Stipends $4,000 PARKS – Stipends $3,000 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Other $131 (Be Held)

REPORT OF COMMITTEES•Item 020-26

ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of NINETEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($19,900) from within DPW Water Division PERSONAL SERVICES to the following accounts:

LABOR $4,113 OVERTIME $751 BUYBACKS $36 STIPENDS $15,000 (Be Held)

REPORT OF COMMITTEES•Item 021-26

ORDER THAT: there be and hereby is transferred the sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000) from within DPW Wastewater Division PERSONAL SERVICES to the following account:

STIPENDS $5,000 (Be Held)

REPORT OF COMMITTEES•Item 023-26

Building Commissioner Felix Zemel, is seeking to replace Sections 94-1, 94-2, and 94-3 of the City Code relative to Building Dept. fees as enclosed in the packet, following the word “paid.” In Section 94-1 of the City Code.

ORDERS – FINANCE•Item 025-26

ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, Inc. grant funds in the amount of TEN THOUSAND EIGHTY-SIX DOLLARS ($10,086) for the purchase of a cruiser insert and Ace K-9 system.

ORDERS – FINANCE•Item 026-26

ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby transfers the total sum of ONE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($191,000) from within the following Police Department accounts:

From: POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Patrolmen $131,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Professional Standards $28,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Sergeants $20,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Sick Time $12,000 To: POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Overtime $125,000 POLICE PERSONAL SERVICES – Clerical $35,000 POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR – Contracted Services $20,000 POLICE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR–Recruit Academy Training $11,000

ORDERS – FINANCE•Item 027-26

ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of USDA Forest Service grant funds, through the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation, in the approximate amount of SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($667,800) for the purpose of acquiring a conservation restriction at 71 Bennett Road.

(Suspension of Rules)

ORDERS – FINANCE•Item 028-26

ORDER THAT: the City of Fitchburg hereby approves the expenditure of grant funds from the Massachusetts Office of Disability in the approximate amount of SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($67,000) to fund the design of an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.

ORDER – OTHER•Item 001-26

ORDER THAT: Adopting Amended Rules of the City Council for the year 2026.

PETITIONS•Item 029-26

Councilor Amy Green, to petition for a 20–30-foot space with no parking at any time on Summer Street. Specifically at 401 Summer St. corner of Poplar St. and Summer St.

(Public Safety)

PETITIONS•Item 030-26

City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Nathaniel Pemberton of 47 Albee Street, to install bollards to protect life and property at the 47 Albee Street location, at the discretion of the Fitchburg Department of Public Works.

(Public Works)