Accomplishments

Addressing climate change

Embracing energy saving measures

Preserving our most valuable parcels of land for future generations

Highlights of our Energy and Environment Accomplishments

• Purchased over 2000 acres of open space to preserve are most valuable pieces of land including our watershed.
• Revised zoning to increase the lot size needed to build near the watershed.
• Leominster reaches MVP status under Massachusetts Vulnerability Program to prepare for climate change
• Leominster reaches Green Communities status, allowing us to access hundreds of thousands in grant funds and achieve energy savings across our grid
• 24 years of Leominster being a Tree City USA
• Signed a Community Compact with the state to help promote our agricultural sector.
• One of the first communities to create our open space plan, leading to millions of dollars in open space preservation and recreation grants including in our watershed areas.
• Hired a full-time conservation agent to ensure compliance with all projects within the city and to help keep our environment maintained.
• Hired an “owner’s agent” to help the City embrace the energy saving measures of solar and net metering.
• Established a tree planting program which came in particularly helpful after the Ice Storm of 2008.
• Upgraded nearly every city building with “green” energy saving measures
• Replaced street lights with LED’s and purchased lights – saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Repaired the Rockwell Dam, ensuring the safety of area residents and downtown businesses whereas other communities just hope for the best.
• Worked with Conservation officials to establish a Forest Management Plan, ensuring the future health of our environment and gaining some revenue for the City.
• Worked with state leaders to reach a deal on preserving our drinking water at Notown through the purchase of property.
• Green Communities Funds for upgrades in schools across the City – saving the taxpayers thousands each year.
• Established the Leominster Energy Committee to complete an energy inventory of the City, support grant applications, and embrace new initiatives to conserve energy.

In the beginning:  At the beginning of the Mazzarella Administration:

• Addressed illegal residential sewer hookups, helping protect our environment and preventing overburdening of our system
• Immediately held planning charettes to map out Leominster’s future. We have accomplished almost 100% of the goals set forth in the document.
• Rewrote the cable contract to include local programming so you can see your government at work and see more of what happens in the community.
• Established the annual City Wide City Pride Cleanup to keep our city clean through civic engagement.
• The Mazzarella Administration started early with being aggressive on delinquent taxpayers so the burden was not placed unfairly on those that pay – recouping millions.
• Established priority paving list to make sure the worst roads are done first and that underground utility work is done first so we don’t tear up newly paved roads.
• Created the “What can you see from your front door” program – bringing city officials to your door so you can them know what’s happening in your neighborhood.
• Worked to secure sewer and water grant to allow the moratorium on sewer connections to be lifted.
• Demanded higher customer service during storms and throughout the year, resulting in a designated full time staff at the National Grid office in Leominster.
• Completed a school needs study to address overcrowding
• Support for single tax rate which has helped maintain a strong local economy even through the recent recession.

Transparency

• Signed a Community Compact with the state to put Leominster’s checkbook on line. (open checkbook)
• Unprecedented public access with 30 years of “Inside Leominster” tv show.
• Established online bill pay for Leominster City Hall to make the process more convenient for businesses and residents.
• Put all city documents on line including budgets, annual reports, audited reports, and quarterly balance sheets.
• 30 years of an open door policy at the Office of Mayor Dean Mazzarella

Good Government

• Revamped the public funding portion of the Community Development Block Grant program to ensure services are going directly to low and moderate income people in the core area.
• Created a municipal building recycling program to make sure government does its part for the environment.
• Embraced technology in all city buildings
• New trash program saves taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and keeps city streets clean
• Leominster named a Gateway City, secures over $12 million in grants with designation.
• Purchased the former Tri Sum Potato Chip Factory and converted it to our Emergency Management Agency, creating a regional hub for training and emergency services.
• Supported the Senior Tax Break Program, allowing seniors to receive a tax break for volunteering for the City.
• Gave the Leominster Veterans Services its own home at 100 West Street, allowing veterans full access to services in privacy.
• Our purchasing department has a critical eye on fuel prices, saving the City thousands in fuel costs each year.
• Reached a health care agreement with the City’s 13 unions, saving millions in health care costs.
• Initiated the condo recycling program
• Completed upgrades to the water filtration plant through grants, no interest, and low interest loans.
• Filed a petition that was approved to allow salary ranges for department heads – allowing the city to attract the best leaders for departments.
• Comprehensive stormwater management plan
• Fought for Leominster District Court to stay in Leominster, which nets Leominster $23,000 a month in rent and helps keep jobs downtown.
• Prepared comprehensive Emergency Management Plan that helps the City prepare for any emergency.
• Thanks to our attention to limiting liability exposure, the City saves money in annual insurance premiums
• Thanks to investment in public safety, the City was able to immediately respond to the Ice Storm of 2008
• Opened the Mayor’s customer service office in Leominster City Hall to help start up businesses and residents.
• DEP declares Leominster’s drinking water in top 10% in Massachusetts, demonstrating Leominster’s commitment to safe drinking water.
• Put new signs in downtown directing visitors to municipal buildings.
• Upgraded the Notown Treatment Plant to meet new EPA regulations and ensure the most efficient water system
• Hosted neighborhood meetings with department heads in every ward to hear your concerns.
• Established an aggressive marketing campaign for the City to attract new visitors and businesses.
• Millions of dollars saved as the City receives no and low interest loans to upgrade sewer and water systems.
• New tote system for rubbish and recycling saves hundreds of thousands for taxpayers.
• Adopted a law that would allow for additional tax breaks for senior citizens and Veterans.

New police station – June, 2023

New fire headquarters at 210 Lancaster Street

New vehicles and equipment for public safety departments

Advanced technology in every department

A public safety team that is ready for anything

• Additional personnel to deal with 21^st century challenges such as homelessness and mental illness
• COVID-19 renovations to every fire station
• Purchased new fire department, police department and DPW equipment with American Rescue Plan funds
• New police/fire E911 system at fire headquarters
• Purchased defibrillators for every city building and every recreation location
• Civilian Dispatchers hired to put police back on the street
• Added K-9 unit to the Leominster Police Department
• Purchased 37 Carter Street, the Emergency Management Building, and invested funds to create a state of the art emergency response center and training facility.
• Worked with Police Department and building department to crack down on unregistered vehicles, helping to clean up our neighborhoods.
• Worked with the police department to crack down on illegal parking, making our roads and sidewalks safer.
• Worked with the Leominster Police Department to create a program for directed patrols including after hours business checks, downtown walking beats and traffic patrols.
• Established a Traffic Advisory Board to discuss current traffic issues and resolutions.
• Participated in years of the Junior Achievement program to bring city government to our youth.
• Secures an average of $26,000 annually through the Department of Justice for community policing and department equipment.
• Funded a new dispatch center at the Leominster Police Department
• Secured equipment for the Emergency Management Agency and the Police and Fire Departments from federal Homeland Security.
• Helped to establish a local Crimestoppers chapter which has helped the Leominster Police Department to deter crime
• Established Mayor’s Office on Neighborhoods to respond directly to neighborhood concerns
• Cracked down on out of town dumping at the transfer station
• Established assessment centers for hiring of police and fire chief, allowing a comprehensive and fair process in choosing the best candidate.
• Worked with the Leominster Fire Department and FEMA to put over 100 smoke detectors in elderly homes in Leominster.
• Worked with the Leominster Police Department to develop a plan to address juvenile crime
• Revived auxiliary police to assist the Leominster Police Department with special events and weekend neighborhood checks
• Adopted legislation to allow retired police officers to fill details, saving the taxpayers thousands
• Over $10,000,000 of fire department capital improvements, equipment purchases and other support since 1994 through free cash.
• Over $10,000,000 of police department capital improvements, equipment purchases and other support since 1994 out of free cash.
• Diversified the Leominster Police Department by adding a motorcycle unit.

“Taunton and Leominster were the clear top performers among the 14 cities.  They have seen rising populations, higher per-capita and median household incomes, lower crime rates and better educational outcomes over the last decade.  A deeper examination of how Taunton and Leominster have achieved success would greatly inform economic development policy in Massachusetts.” – Pioneer Institute.

Over  3 decades, we have touched every aspect of living in Leominster and made this a great place to live and raise a family.

Quality of life highlights

• 40 annual free family events
• Created or revamped a park in every neighborhood
• Development of a Growth Management plan for balanced growth
• Nearly 200 units of housing created over the past 5 years
• Secured state grants for $1.5 million for the construction of the Monoosnoc Brook Walkway project – making a new destination for downtown.
• Secured grant for a Gateway Action Plan for the Comb & Carriage District to create a comprehensive plan for neighborhood redevelopment.
• Secured a 108 Loan through our Community Development Block Grant program for sidewalk improvements on Leominster’s East Side.
• Started the Festival of Trees to help raise money for charities each year while providing another fun family event.
• Rehabilitated the CDBG program to ensure funds were getting to the most needy.
• Worked with the private sector to improve Silverleaf apartments on Litchfield Street.
• Graffiti removal program established for private and public spaces
• Supported sewer separation in 460 manholes, complying with EPA mandates that some communities haven’t even started yet.
• Proudly accepted the “Community Spirit award” from the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for the Mayor’s Office help in the Relay for Life.
• Negotiated free spring and fall cleaning waste collection through our trash contract.
• Started the Halloween Parade and downtown Trick or Treat, allowing families to take part in fun activities while helping the downtown merchants.
• Restored Leominster City Hall which has become a popular place for concerts, school plays and other large events.
• Established Kids Day – a back to school bash that brings people of all ages into the downtown.
• Worked with the Twin Cities CDC to supply CDBG matching funds for the development at 142 Water Street.
• Supported the establishment of the brick dedication program at Carter Park, providing another way to give our Veterans the recognition and remembrance they deserve.
• Completed the Library renovation project with no tax increase. The Library welcomes an average of 85 people every hour.
• Started the flower box/island program, improving Leominster’s image and allowing business promotion.
• Established the Mayor’s Energy Fund which helps provide fuel assistance to over 100 families each year.
• Strong support of the No Place for Hate campaign.
• Support of Leominster Spanish Center outreach and after school programs through Community Development Block Grant program.
• Support for Beacon of Hope and the Spanish Center among many other groups through the Community Development Block Grant program.
• Started the Summer and Winter Strolls for good old fashion fun and to bring people into downtown businesses.
• Funded the senior grab bar/rehab program through the CDBG program.
• Helped establish the Boys and Girls Club and continue to support its programming.
• Established the Leominster Fire Relief fund to assist families that have suffered the loss of everything due to fire.
• Appropriated funds to match the Mass Historic Commission grant to restore the Drake House.
• $50,000 appropriated annually for Veterans Benefits Program to provide quality support programs and direct emergency financial assistance for Veterans.

All of Leominster is your backyard!

Leominster was one of the first communities to complete our Open Space Plan in 1997.  A comprehensive plan to show our priorities for open space preservation and recreational opportunities, the end result has been millions in grants to create or renovate a playground in every neighborhood and preserve over 2000 acres of open space for trail creation and fresh air enjoyment.

Third Street Playground

Preserved the last u-pick apple orchard in the home of Johnny Appleseed

Recreation Highlights

• From basketball to swimming to hiking, our Recreation Department has it all for every season
• Reconstructing Mechanic at Laurel Street into an open space park thanks to over $1,000,000 in state grants.
• Accessed millions in state and federal funding for the Fitchburg/Leominster rail trail
• State grant for new skate park and pump track at Johnson Street
• New park in Monument Square – making downtown more of a destination
• Built new soccer fields
• Working with the trail stewards and volunteers, developed over 32 miles of recreation trails.
• Millions in improvements to Doyle Field through grants, city funds and private donations.
• Purchase of Sholan Farms – the last pick your own orchard in Leominster.
• Secured a state grants to build Fournier Park Playground & Splash park.
• Built the 3^rdStreet splash park/playground on French Hill, creating a space for neighborhood kids to keep cool and rehabbing a blighted area.
• Leominster Recreation Department takes over state pool on Viscoloid Avenue, creating one of the most well-run pools in the state.
• Improved the tennis/pickleball courts at Doyle Field and established a key system to ensure the court improvements would last for years to come.
• Yearly funding for the Recreation Department Summer Program through Community Development Block Grant funds.
• Added additional recreation space at the Leominster Recreation Department for family events and year round activities.
• New playground at Frances Drake Elementary with the help of a 70% state grant.
• Envirothon @ Sholan, helping recognize Sholan Farms across the state.
• Improved access at all trail heads including parking lots, trail maps, and signage.
• Over $1 million in improvements to Barrett Park, creating walking trails and handicap accessible activities
• Monoosnoc Brook grant for $1.5 million for Phase I and II of the Monoosnoc Brook from Mechanic Street to Adams Street including new walkway, new seating and brook cleaning.

New downtown park complete with splash pad

Leveraging hundreds of millions of dollars for transportation projects

Every city bridge reconstructed

Tens of millions of grants for infrastructure projects

Yearly sidewalk and paving program – fixing the worst first

• Route 13 reconstruction almost complete
• Route 12 near CVS under construction
• Route 12 South under design
• $3 million in state funds coming for new sidewalks and roadway near Francis Drake Elementary School
• Completion of year one $400,000 Complete Streets grant for sidewalks at Veterans Center, Northwest School area and downtown ADA accessibility upgrades.
• $2.5 million grant for downtown infrastructure improvements just completed
• Lights at Main and Day Streets
• Over $40 million in transportation projects through the regional Transportation Improvement Project list with $25 million more scheduled.
• Successfully leveraged federal funds to begin a new sidewalk replacement program on Leominster’s East Side.
• Worked with MassDOT to move the Whitney Street Bridge forward, meaning all bridges in Leominster will have been repaired during the Mazzarella Administration.
• Revamped the Leominster Connector to provide for a welcoming gateway to our City.
• Negotiated with MassDOT to fix the Mechanic Street Bridge with alternating traffic instead of closing it – helping businesses, residents and busses.
• Merriam Avenue and Lindell Avenue intersection revamp, another example of more highway funds coming to Leominster.
• Helped mitigate and move forward the building of a new parking facility at the North Leominster Train Station.
• Worked with local residents to install a signaled crosswalk at North Main Street in front of the hospital to allow safer pedestrian passage.
• Assisted in the coordination and match funding of the Fitchburg/Leominster/Lunenburg road improvement project in the North Street area for $8.3 million in upgrades.
• Placement of lights at Central and Willard Streets, making improvements to a dangerous intersection
• Sidewalks and construction of Grove Avenue, making the road safer for pedestrians and drivers
• Sidewalk construction and repaving of Route 13 to the Lunenburg line making the road safer for drivers and pedestrians.
• Sued CSX Railroad for sink hole off of North Main Street resulting in the repair of the site and hope once again for a rail trail between the two cities.
• Pushed state leaders for a comprehensive transportation analysis for Leominster/Fitchburg/Lunenburg area which spearheaded millions of dollars in state projects in the region
• Lights at Crawford and Hamilton Streets, making the intersection safer
• $7.5 million parking garage completed in North Leominster bringing 340 more parking spaces to the commuter rail.
• $7.7 million Route 12/Route 2 Interchange/Bridge completion.
• Pushed the Army Corps of Engineers to complete $700,000 in repairs for Slack Brook stabilization project.
• Successfully manages over $1,000,000 annual appropriation from Chapter 90 funds for repaving across the City.
• $200,000 appropriation for sidewalk improvements annually across the city.
• $25,000 annual catch basin replacement throughout the City.
• $5,000 investment in the Connector beautification project for irrigation – matching thousands in private donations.
• Annual investment in sewer relining and water pine replacement program.

$100,000,000 in improvements to our school buildings

Full city commitment to funding our schools

65% of city budget goes toward funding our schools

After school?  We’ve got tons of programs for all ages through the Recreation Department and Library!

• With city and state funds, invested over $100 million in new and renovated school buildings including new Samoset and Sky View schools and renovations to every other building to address overcrowding and keep our buildings current where other communities are neglecting them.
• Built Skyview Middle School and paid for it in ten years not twenty, saving taxpayers $2.4 million.
• Yearly average over net school spending $770,000 per year and $7 million over 10 years.
• $45 million for Leominster High School renovation project with no tax increase and a savings of millions through a 1.09% interest rate.
• New boiler and roof at Frances Drake Elementary School at a cost of $3.1 million
• New boiler at Fall Brook at a cost of $1.2 million
• New roof at Northwest Elementary School – $3.2 million
• New roof and windows at Johnny Appleseed School – $3.8 million
• All projects including designs at no cost to the school department budget and all financed at very low rates.
• Developed a comprehensive school safety plan to make sure our kids are safe.
• Expanded the Leominster robotics program to enable kids to be more creative and innovative
• Reinstatement of high school busing ensuring our kids are safe and that they reach their destination.
• Supported the expansion of the Leominster Center for Technical Education into CTEi, an innovation school that will help our students reach their full potential and be able to compete on a global scale.
• Established full day kindergarten to start the learning process, giving our kids the best chance at success.
• Created Youth Art Week to get the students out of the classroom and into the community to showcase their talent.
• Worked to adopt anti-bullying policies in all schools, making sure all our kids are safe from this unacceptable behavior.
• Established comprehensive evaluation system for schools, ensuring higher levels of efficiency.
• Established the Leominster Education Accelerated Program (LEAP) for gifted and talented kids.
• Annual appropriation of $250,000-$300,000 for technology in schools.
• Appropriated city funds toward reading programs to meet the goal of every 3^rdgrader is reading at a 3^rd grade level.
• Yearly appropriation of the City’s Medicaid Reimbursement toward school transportation.

“We’re not kicking the can down the road,” said Mr. Mazzarella. “Our kids and grandkids aren’t going to be saddled with debt.”

“We’ve paid for projects in 10, not 20 years. On Skyview Middle School this saved us $2.3 million and our strong financial management has brought our bond rating to a level that allows us to borrow at very low rates. In 1994, the financial team and I developed a strong fiscal plan and we stuck to it.” – Telegram, February 27, 2019

Improved our pension liability from funded at 46.6% to 100%- giving us one of the top pension systems in the state and ensuring debt is not passed on to our kids.

Due to strong fiscal management, the City was able to finance the $45 million Leominster High School expansion and renovation at 1.09%, saving the taxpayers millions.

Fiscal highlights

• Addressed $60 million in immediate capital needs upon taking office.
• When Dean took office in 1994, Leominster had $42,000 in free cash and $187,000 in unpaid bills – leaving nothing for capital improvements. Today we average $8 million in free cash and have $18 million in our savings account – enabling the City to pay cash for projects and equipment purchases – saving taxpayers millions.
• Moody’s Investment gives Leominster one of the highest bond ratings – second highest in the county – signaling strong fiscal strength.
• Our finance team brought Leominster’s bond rating from lowest to #2 in the county, allowing the city to borrow for projects at the lowest rate – saving taxpayers millions.
• Made the switch to performance based budgeting to maximize efficiency.
• Implemented the Munis System to upgrade our accounting system to improve efficiency.
• $10,000,000 + investment in the OPEB Trust Fund. Continued investment in the City pension system puts us well ahead of other communities in terms of meeting our commitment. No kicking the can down the road for future generations.
• City awarded the highest short term borrowing rating of MIG 1, Moody’s highest rating, saving taxpayers millions on city and school projects.
• Successfully implemented 30 years of balanced budgets despite rising costs and millions in state aid cuts.
• Completed well over $100 million worth of capital improvements in the City with cash – no borrowing – saving millions.

“The Commonwealth has increasingly become a tale of two states—where the Greater Boston area thrives while historic urban centers to the north, south and west face huge economic and social challenges,” said Jim Stergios, executive director at Pioneer Institute.  “We provided this snapshot of how the Middle Cities are doing to underscore the need for a sense of urgency in implementing policies that improve education, financial, public safety and management outcomes in these cities.”

Per-capita income in the Middle Cities is between 31 percent and 66 percent below the statewide average and has been falling for over 30 years.  It was 82 percent of the state average in 1979, but fell to 53 percent by 2009.

The story is similar for median household income.  It averages between $30,000 and $50,000 annually in the 14 cities; 12 to 53 percent below the state average of $66,866 from 2009 to 2013.

When it comes to educational achievement, all 14 cities underperform state averages on MCAS.  In 2015, 91 percent of Massachusetts students scored “Advanced” or “Proficient” on MCAS English language arts tests, compared to between 67 percent and 89 percent in Middle Cities.  In math, more than 15 percent of Middle Cities’ students scored in the “Warning/Failing” category—nearly double the state average.

The dropout rate in Middle Cities is nearly twice the state average and students attend college at a lower rate.

In terms of equalized valuation, which compares the value of property assets, state values grew at an annual rate of 7.92 percent between 1992 and 2012.  During the same period, Middle Cities’ property values rose by 2.66 percent annually, just over one-third the statewide growth rate.

In the aggregate, population in the 14 cities fell by 0.3 percent from 1970 to 2013, while the state population grew by 17.6 percent.  The level of population decline is especially alarming in western Massachusetts, where Chicopee, Holyoke and Pittsfield saw decreases of 16.4 to 22.7 percent.

Despite these troubling overall findings, Taunton and Leominster were the clear top performers among the 14 cities.  They have seen rising populations, higher per-capita and median household incomes, lower crime rates and better educational outcomes over the last decade.  A deeper examination of how Taunton and Leominster have achieved success would greatly inform economic development policy in Massachusetts.—Pioneer Institute