Fitchburg Committee of the Whole Meeting – September 23, 2026

The Committee of the Whole met on September 23, 2026 at 6:32 PM, adjourning at 8:16 PM. The meeting included a presentation and discussion on a comprehensive communications guide and a presentation and discussion on the Mayor’s goals and priorities for 2026–2029. No public appearances were made for non-agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The draft minutes of the August 26, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote (motion by Alder Dancler, seconded by Alder Jetzer).

Discussion Items

• Presentation and Discussion on Communications Guidelines: Brian Lee of Revelation, a communications firm specializing in local government, presented a 60-page communications guide for the City of Fitchburg. The guide was developed following an audit of current communications, anonymous interviews with staff and elected officials, and a review of job descriptions. Key features include standard operating procedures for six categories of communications activities (e.g., city projects, community events, referenda), a media relations guide with a decision tree and press release template, social media guidelines (including recommendations for Instagram and repurposing content from “Talking Fitchburg” into short videos), and a job description for a communications director (created as part of a previous referendum effort; an alternate scenario divvies up duties among existing staff with priority levels). The guide also includes cost estimates and key performance indicators. Council members and the Mayor provided feedback and suggestions: Alder Gearhart praised the plug-and-play nature and recommended using direct mail (noting that return rates have risen to 10% or more from less than 1% a decade ago); Alder Herbst emphasized repurposing content and suggested including more specific outreach tactics for events (e.g., signage for McKee Farms Park events); Mayor Radafrata called for incorporating Instagram and La Movida radio to reach younger and Latino demographics; Alder Jetzer asked about printed materials and the recent discontinuation of physical distribution of the Fitchburg Star, suggesting a one-pager for grocery bags or food pantries; Alder Micah proposed adding a section on budget/finance communications and recommended that the referenda section use neutral talking points and avoid KPI language like “sentiment” (Brian Lee agreed to adjust wording); Alder Gearhart and Alder Micah also stressed the need for an official city website portal for alder newsletters (currently some alders fund their own) and for continuity across elected officials. Brian Lee noted the guide should be reviewed annually and that the Fitchburg Connect e-newsletter is the current citywide solution for elected official communications.

• Presentation and Discussion on Mayor’s Goals and Priorities 2026–2029: Mayor Radafrata presented a draft document outlining eight priorities with associated goals and action items, developed in collaboration with City Administrator Chad and Deputy Administrator Adam. The eight priorities are: (1) Sustainable Growth and Development, (2) Strengthening Community Housing Stock, (3) Investing in Infrastructure While Maintaining Strong Financial Stewardship, (4) A City That Works for All, (5) Sustainability, (6) Regional Collaboration, (7) Focus on Effective Processes and Succession Planning, and (8) Enhance Trust in City Budgeting and Promote Financial Transparency for Taxpayers. Council members reviewed each priority section in turn, offering specific feedback: For Priority 1, Alder Jetzer recommended adding transit-oriented development and identified missing language about concentrating density; Alder Bills commended the ambition but asked if long-term items should be included alongside shorter-term actions. For Priority 2, Alder Micah suggested linking housing goals to infill and redevelopment; Mayor Radafrata noted the need to open more land for housing. For Priority 3, Alder Micah pointed out that action item 7 (assess citywide staffing) seemed misplaced and would fit better under Priority 4 or 7. For Priority 4, council discussed moving some action items (e.g., implementing communications guide, new payroll software) to Priority 7 as internal processes; Alder Herbst requested adding employee engagement survey results. For Priority 5 (Sustainability), Alder Jetzer questioned the feasibility of electrifying the entire fleet; staff clarified the goal is to prioritize EVs where feasible, and Alder Bilski suggested exploring biodiesel for snowplows. For Priority 6 (Regional Collaboration), Alder Jetzer noted the importance of shared services (e.g., a sustainability specialist); Mayor Radafrata confirmed discussions with Verona on a shared position; Alder Bills suggested expanding collaboration to all elected officials. For Priority 7, Alder Herbst recommended considering the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for staff leadership. For Priority 8, Alder Jetzer praised tax information education; Alder Micah suggested adding a goal to utilize the Affordable Housing Fund and creative TIF tools for housing. Council members broadly praised the document as a comprehensive, living set of priorities. Deputy Administrator Adam noted that after incorporating council feedback, a polished version will be shared with the council.

Key Outcomes

• Communications Guide: The city will consider incorporating council feedback (e.g., expanded use of Instagram, direct mail, La Movida radio, clarifying referendum section language) and the guide will be implemented with annual reviews.
• Mayor’s Goals and Priorities: Deputy Administrator Adam will clean up the document based on council comments, work with the Mayor and City Administrator, and share a revised version with the council.
• Next Meetings: The next Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM (earlier start due to budget discussions). Two special budget presentation nights will be held on Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30, 2026, both at 5:30 PM (Wednesday includes the Mayor’s presentation).