City Council

Council voted to withdraw Ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) without prejudice and created an ad hoc committee to rework it; the Council also endorsed Resolution 2026-161 urging a NO vote on November Ballot Question 8. The body approved several grants (MEMA radiological grant 2026-151; FFY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant 2026-152; BHOAP amendment 2026-154; MassDOT Shared Streets grant 2026-155) and granted National Grid permits for utility work at Elm St (2026-140), Back River Rd (2026-156), Highland St (2026-158) and Kimball Rd (2026-159).

Committee returned a negative recommendation on Ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) after legal review; KP Law advised on charter, HR plan constraints, and open-meeting-law considerations. The committee also recommended positive referrals to City Council for several grant actions: MEMA EOC grant (2026-151), the revised FFY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant (2026-152), a $146,653 BHOAP award amendment for elder behavioral health services (2026-154), and a MassDOT Shared Streets grant to fund pre-construction work for the Upper Millyard Pedestrian Bridge replacement (2026-155).

Council confirmed five mayoral appointments including Courtney Hutchinson as Director of Public Wellness and Jonathan Greeno as Chief Assessor, and unanimously approved multiple National Grid pole installations at Cedar St., High St., Allens Ct., Thompson St., Glenwood St., Ring St., and Pond Hill Rd. (the Elm St. pole hearing was continued to October 27).

Council approved three mayoral appointments to the Open Space, Natural Resources and Trails Committee and the Historical Commission (2026-142, 2026-143, 2026-144); approved National Grid pole work at Bay St. (2026-126); approved an order accepting M.G.L. c.140 sec.139 (2026-129); authorized acceptance of a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration Project grant (2026-130); and appropriated $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for neighborhood traffic calming (2026-133).

Council continued 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) for further legal review; voted to send 2026-129 (acceptance of M.G.L. c.140 §139C senior dog-license exemption) and 2026-130 (accept a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration Project grant) to the full City Council with positive recommendations; and recommended 2026-133 (appropriate $30,000 from Smart Growth Stabilization for traffic calming) to the full Council (5-2).

Council approved three mayoral appointments (Jonathan Greeno to the Board of Assessors, Travis Souther to the Trustees of the War Memorials) and reappointed City Clerk Jennifer E. Smith; the council accepted District 2 Councilor Claudel Frederique’s resignation and declared the seat open. The Bay St. National Grid underground conduit/pole hearing (WR#31343970) was continued, and several substantive matters — including the City Clerk Salary Ordinance (2026-128), an order to accept M.G.L. c.140 §139 (2026-129), a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration grant (2026-130), and a $30,000 Smart Growth Stabilization Fund appropriation for neighborhood traffic calming (2026-133) — were referred to the Standing Committee of the Whole.