City Council

The Fitchburg City Council is the legislative body for the City of Fitchburg and was formally created in 1916 under section 59 of the then newly adopted City Charter. The Council consists of eleven members, six of which represent the individual wards of the city and are elected by the residents of their ward and four Councilors-At-Large which are elected by all qualified voters within the city.

Beginning in 1929 with the adoption of the Acts of 1928, Chapter 145 members of the City Councilor have served 2 year terms with elections occurring Biennially. 

Meet Your Councilors

Councilors-at-Large

  1. Anthony Zarrella

    Council President & Councilor-at-Large
    Email
    Phone: 203-200-8512

    Address: 33 St. Paul St.


  1. Sally Cragin

    Councilor-at-Large
    Email
    Phone: 978-320-1335

    Address: 1138 Oak Hill Road


  1. Marcus DiNatale

    Councilor-at-Large
    Email
    Phone: 978-790-3595

    Address: c/o City Clerk, 718 Main Street


  1. Amy Green

    Councilor-at-Large
    Email
    Phone: 978-230-1815

    Address: 244 Walton Street


  1. Samantha Squailia

    Councilor-at-Large
    Email
    Phone: 978-352-0310

    Address: 225 Scott Road


Ward Councilors

  1. Bernard Schultz III

    Ward 1 Councilor
    Email
    Phone: 978-342-4998

    Address: 91 Seneca Street


  1. Paul Beauchemin

    Ward 2 Councilor
    Email
    Phone: 978-345-7010

    Address: 101 St. Andrew Street


  1. Andrew Couture

    Ward 3 Councilor
    Email
    Phone: 978-503-2237

    Address: 64 Farmer Avenue


  1. Andrew Van Hazinga

    Council Vice President & Ward 4 Councilor
    Email
    Phone: 978-342-1306

    Address: 59 Osgood Street


  1. Marisa Fleming

    Ward 5 Councilor
    Email
    Phone: 978-342-5638

    Address: 1240 Ashby State Rd.


  1. Derrick Cruz

    Ward 6 Councilor
    Email
    Phone: 978-400-1435

    Address: 545 Wanoosnoc Road


City Council Meetings

The City Council typically meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. You can find agendas for upcoming meetings online in the Agenda Center. Meeting minutes will be posted to the Agenda Center following their approval by the City Council at the following meeting. The City Council has adopted a Regular Meeting Schedule which takes into account Holidays or mandatory shifts to the regular meeting dates.

Where to watch a City Council Meeting

City Council Meetings take place in the Fitchburg Legislative Building located at 700 Main Street, Fitchburg, Mass.

City Council Meetings are broadcast live on Fitchburg Access Television on the Government Channel:

  • Xfinity Channel 99
  • Verizon Channel 37
  • Fitchburg State University Channel 3.4

You can also stream the meetings live or watch them on demand online at FATV.org. FATV now offers Live Steaming and Video-On-Demand Viewing of City Council Meetings through many Mobile and Streaming Devices. Visit FATV.org/watch-FATV to learn if FATV has an app for your device and how to download it.

How to File an Initiative Petition

To file a petition with the City Council, it is suggested that you contact your Ward Councilor for specific ward issues or any of the Councilors at-large for City-wide issues. You can find your councilors contact info above. 

Individuals and groups of residents may also petition the City Council on their own  by downloading the PDF Petition Form or petition forms are available in the City Clerk’s office. Initiative Petitions must be signed by at least 3 residents.

Petition forms must be submitted to the City Clerks Office by 10:00 AM on the Thursday preceding each City Council Regular Meeting. Paper Petition forms may be scanned and emailed to CityClerk@FitchburgMA.gov or delivered by hand to the City Clerks Office at City Hall, 718 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

See the Citizens Guide to Municipal Petitions for more information about submitting Initiative and Referendum Petitions and the process.

Standing Committees

The Fitchburg City Council has nine standing committees:

  • Appointments
  • City Property
  • Council as a Whole
  • Economic Development
  • Finance
  • Legislative Affairs
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works
  • Records

After a petition or order is submitted to the City Council it is referred by the Council for consideration by one or more of the standing committees. Petitions may also be referred to any of the Boards and Commissions within the City for review as part of their function.

The Council as a Whole Committee consists of all members of the City Council. All other committees consist of Councilors appointed by the Council President annually. See City Council Committee Assignments for the current Committee Assignments.

How to Speak at a City Council Meeting

All meetings of the Fitchburg City council are open to the public. This does not mean that the public participates in all aspects of the meeting. It simply means that the meeting itself is open for public view.

There are two opportunities for the public to participate during a City Council meeting, the public forum and if there is a public hearing.

Public Forum

The Public Forum occurs immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance. The President will ask if anyone in the audience wishes to speak on any matter appearing on the Agenda. If you wish to address the Council, you must stand and be recognized and follow these rules before speaking:

  1. State your name and city of residence.
  2. Approach the center table and either stand or sit. This allows you to be seen and heard clearly by everyone in attendance.
  3. You may speak only on items appearing on the agenda for no more than (2) minutes. Copies of the agenda are available on the center table prior to the meeting.
  4. Please state the petition, order, ordinance, or resolution number to which you refer.

Persons who are unable to make it to the meeting or wish to participate remotely in the Public Forum portion of the meeting may request a remote attendance link by contacting cityclerk@fitchburgma.gov.

Public Hearings

Public hearings are held on various issues such as Special Permits and Zoning changes. The same rules apply with the following exceptions:

  1. You must stand and be recognized either “in favor” or “in opposition” when asked by the Council President.
  2. You need not refer to the petition number.

If you have any questions or comments either before or after the meeting, any Councilor would be happy to assist you.


City Council Records

City Council records that are kept in the City Clerk’s Office:

  • Annual Reports
  • Minutes of Meetings
  • Orders
  • Ordinances
  • Petitions
  • Resolutions