Save FitchburgTaking Back Our Community

The Finance Committee approved a $90,000 Public Safety Grant on Tuesday night aimed at targeting and finding a solution towards many public safety issues in the city of Fitchburg.

One of the most talked about issues for the past year tired directly towards public safety has been street lights, or the lack their of.  As part of this proposal, 300 street lights will be turned back on using money from this grant.

The break down of funds, according to the Sentinel and Enterprise, is as follows:

$45,000 to the Department of Public Works for street lights, clean ups (graffiti, etc) and trash removal

$25,000 to the Board of Health to hire two part-time code enforcers.

$20,000 for legal work provided to the city by City Solicitor Michael Ciota

Though the street lights seem to be a big issue in the city for public safety, the hiring of two more code enforcers for the Board of Health should not be overlooked.  It isn’t a secret that our Board of Health has been over worked and limited by the number of inspectors they had on the street, in the office or in the court room.  Public health is a major part of a city’s safety and well being, and I believe that this $25,000 will go a long way with the Board of Health in targeting and prosecuting health code violators, as well as educating the public and schools on current health issues that effect us everyday.

I am surprised to hear nothing mentioned though about added officers or possible cameras in high crime areas, especially since we heard no new officers would be hired with the federal stimulus money the city has been awarded by the state.  I’m guessing this is an area of discussion that will continue over the months to come.

The full Fitchburg City Council will meet next week to decide whether or not to approve the Mayor’s proposed package for public safety.

For more information please read the following article at the Sentinel and Enterprise: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_13864420

Ryan McNutt, who lost in his bid for Ward 4 City Councilman to incumbent Kevin Starr, has been appointed the new chief of staff by Mayor Lisa Wong.

He will be taking over the position priorly held by Ken Jones, who had stepped down to become the acting veterans commissioner.

For more on these changes at City Hall please read the article linked below:
Mayor decides to shift staffers

Voting for today’s preliminary election for Fitchburg Councilor at Large begins at 8am with the polls closing at 8pm.

Below is a list of poll locations based on wards.

Ward 1: Knights of Columbus Hall, 165 Electric Ave.

Ward 2: St. Joseph Church Hall, Woodland Street

Ward 3: Memorial Middle School, 615 Rollstone St.

Ward 4: Senior Citizens Center, 14 Wallace Ave.

Ward 5: MART Intermodal Station, 100 Main St.

Ward 6: St. Bernard’s Activity Center, 260 Summer St.

UPDATE:

Candidate Ronald Dionne received less then 3 percent of the vote eliminating his chance to have his name on the November ballot for councilor at large.  The special election narrowed the number of candidates from 11 down to 10

To Mayor Wong for attending our board meeting this week and spending nearly 4 hours discussing current topics concerning Fitchburg with us.

She answered all of our questions and aided us with information for further community development.

Again, the Coalition would like to thank you Mayor Wong and we hope to see you in the near future.

From the Fitchburg Pride:

“The Fitchburg City Clerk’s office will be open on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. to give residents a last chance opportunity to register to vote. Voters must be signed up by Sept. 2 to vote in the upcoming Preliminary Election on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The City Clerk’s office is located in City Hall, 718 Main St. For more information, contact the Clerk’s office at (978) 345-9592.”

According to Randy Feldman of  The Open Mic with Randy Feldman on WPKZ 1280; Mayor Lisa Wong will be on his show from 11am-12pm, Sunday, August 16th.

She will be discussing current topics as well as answering questions from callers so please stay tuned.

Mayor Lisa Wong turns 30 today and in celebration, according to the Sentinel and Enterprise, is looking for 30 local non – profit charities for residents to donate too.  Wong hopes that “next year will be a year of giving.”

Any charity interested, please contact the mayor at lwong@ci.fitchburg.ma.us

On September 22, a preliminary election will be held by the city to narrow the number of candidates running for city council 11 to 10 for 5 councilor seats.

For more information on the candidates running for election and the wards they are representing in please read the following article in the Sentinel and Enterprise:
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_13013981

Incumbent Mayor, Lisa Wong will not be running for re-election alone this November.

Michael “Fuzzy” Voisine, owner of Premier Subs on Main Street, received enough signatures from registered voters to be place on the ballot to run for Mayor in November.

It will be interesting to see how things progress in the next few months.

Fitchburg City Councilors declined to approve a $120,00, 2 year grant on Tuesday the night.  The purpose of the grant; to promote healthy eating and increase exercise within the community.

Though I believe it is important for individuals to live healthy lives, I agree with the city councils decision.

With so many other concerns and needs in Fitchburg, I don’t see how this grant would benefit the city.