Fitchburg Finance Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026

On September 8, 2026, the Fitchburg Finance Committee met to review financial reports, bills, and resolutions. No agenda or minutes were available for this summary, which is based on the raw transcription. The committee approved the August 25, 2026 minutes and three resolutions, and heard a finance update covering debt disclosure, the upcoming city budget, and the 2026 bond sale.

Minutes Approval

• The committee approved the minutes from August 25, 2026, on a motion by Alder Gerhardt. No questions were raised, and the motion carried by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public appeared online or in chambers for non-agenda public appearances.

Finance Structure Report

• Finance staff reported that the annual continuing disclosure filing had been completed and uploaded to EMMA, the national debt repository for issuers.
• A committee member noted that the city has issued nearly $82 million in debt since 2015 and has about $53 million outstanding. Finance staff confirmed the city's guideline is to repay most debt within 10 years and that the city is within that policy.
• The mayor's proposed budget is scheduled to be posted on the city website next week Friday. Additional special finance committee meetings are planned for late September or early October.
• The 2026 debt issuance will be handled through a parameter sale resolution that will be referred directly to the next finance and council meeting. The bond sale is scheduled for mid-October, with closing in early November. City staff are still preparing documents for bond counsel, and a representative from Ellers will walk through the documents on September 22.

Review of Bills

• The committee reviewed checks 13146 through 131242 issued August 16-31, 2026, totaling $1,727,439.20. One committee member asked about the first check, for a Titan 2024 Case excavator; staff explained that the purchase was within budget and followed the purchasing process, so no prior approval was needed.
• ACH payments from August 1-31, 2026, totaling $713,332.48, were reviewed.
• Checks of $10,000 and above from August 16-31, 2026, totaling $1,656,352.10, were reviewed.

Resolution R172-26: Wellness Day MOU

• The committee approved a one-year wellness day memorandum of understanding for 2027. Chief Sarver explained that it grew out of the arbitration process and would provide one shift period off to attend a wellness visit and use the remainder for personal wellness and mental health. The department's shift period is 24 hours, compared with eight hours for the police department.
• Follow-up mental health support is available through peer support, employee assistance programs, a cognitive coaching app, and EMS grant funding. Attendance would be verified while maintaining confidentiality. The transcript contains an apparent transcription inconsistency, referring both to 'one shift period off' and later to 'the one hour period'; the described benefit is a shift period.
• The motion was approved by voice vote.

Resolution R174-26: McKee Farms Park Signs and Splash Pad Maintenance

• The committee approved using unexpended McKee Farms Park capital project funds for two purposes: $16,275 to replace three property identification signs with corrected spelling, and $17,940 for splash pad maintenance, including past spring repairs and expected off-season repairs.
• A committee member questioned replacing signs that still had useful life because of a spelling error. Staff noted that the manufacturer could not correct just one letter, all three signs would need full replacement, and the misspelling had been tolerated by the McKee family for nearly 20 years. The resolution was approved by voice vote.

Resolution R179-26: Insurance Risk Management Fund Defensive Claims

• The committee approved a budget amendment allowing the city to use the insurance risk management fund's remaining fund balance to defend claims. The fund covers workers' compensation, employee liability, property insurance, and other insurance costs. The fund has faced many claims, including assessment, condemnation, and police-related claims.
• The fund was expected to have about $265,000, or 22% of estimated expenditures, at the end of 2026. Staff acknowledged that using it would put the fund below the city's fund balance policy, but a plan exists to rebuild the balance in future years. The resolution was approved by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the August 25, 2026 minutes.
• Approved Resolution R172-26 (wellness day MOU) by voice vote.
• Approved Resolution R174-26 (McKee Farms Park signs and splash pad maintenance) by voice vote.
• Approved Resolution R179-26 (insurance risk management fund defensive claims) by voice vote.
• The next finance committee meeting is scheduled for September 22, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.