Council falls short in wage-step veto override attempt
City Council vote on wage increases falls short by one vote. The Council voted 7-4 to override a mayoral veto on Ordinance 077-26, amending wage step assignments for fiscal year 2027, but needed eight votes for the required two-thirds majority to overturn the mayor's veto, which stands.
City Council · Meeting of September 15, 2026
FITCHBURG — City Council vote on wage increases falls short by one vote. The Council voted 7-4 to override a mayoral veto on Ordinance 077-26, amending wage step assignments for fiscal year 2027, but needed eight votes for the required two-thirds majority to overturn the mayor's veto, which stands. Council President Anthony Zarrella led the override attempt; Councilors Paul Beauchemin, Joseph Bowen, Kevin Starr, and Andrew Van Hazinga voted to sustain the veto.
In other action, the Council unanimously appointed five Fitchburg State University Police Officers as Special Police Officers and Robert J. Talbot as a Trustee of Public Burial Grounds.
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Source: the City Council meeting of September 15, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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