Fitchburg Finance Committee approves Swan Creek monitoring deal and recycling contract change

FITCHBURG — February 9, 2021 — Fitchburg Finance Committee approves five resolutions, defers solid waste measure to February 23. The committee unanimously passed resolutions at its February 9 meeting authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Town of Dunn and a joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for a proposed Swan Creek water-monitoring station, both stemming from a prior City Council budget amendment. A change order to the city's five-year Pelletieri solid waste contract — adding two eight-yard cardboard dumpsters at a total additional cost of roughly $40,000 through 2024 — also passed unanimously, with Finance Director Misty noting the cost was already absorbed in a recycling fee increase from $203 to $209 per unit approved in late 2020. The committee tabled Resolution R-09-21, a solid waste CDRR deposit spending amendment, after the Board of Public Works denied it, continuing the item to February 23. Separately, Misty reported that COVID-related utility interest waivers will continue through April 15, after which disconnection notices will restart, and that the city collected more than $1 million in online property tax payments for the first time.