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Fitchburg council adopts 2026 rules, delays vote on committee-participation amendment
Summary
The council approved its Rules and Orders for 2026 by unanimous consent but delayed action on Proposal #1—an amendment to Section 4.6 allowing councilors to participate in committees of which they are not members—after members raised quorum and attendance concerns and moved to hold until the City Solicitor could advise.
The Fitchburg City Council approved the Rules and Orders for 2026 by unanimous consent at the Jan. 5 organizational meeting, but members agreed to hold one proposed amendment for legal review. Proposal #1, identified in the record as sponsored by Beauchemin, would amend Section 4.6 to allow councilors to participate in committee meetings of which they are not a member, provided that if a quorum of the full council is present the council must post its own meeting notice in addition to the committee’s notice.
Councilors recorded concerns that Proposal #1 could effectively require all councilors to be part of voting committees and obligate them to attend subcommittee meetings. A motion and second to hold the proposal until the City Solicitor could be present to further discuss the matter passed by unanimous consent, 10-0. The council then approved the remainder of the rules 'as previously adopted January 6, 2025' by unanimous consent, 10-0.
