City Council

Councilors continued debate on an ordinance to formalize City Clerk compensation and review procedures, and the Committee recommended approval of: 1) Bill 2026-129 to accept MGL c.140 §139C waiving dog-license fees for residents 70+, 2) Bill 2026-130 to accept a $25,000 FY27 grant to modernize the Costello Center kitchen for Council on Aging services, and 3) Bill 2026-133 to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for pilot traffic-calming measures.

Council appointed Jonathan Greeno to the Board of Assessors (2026-124), appointed Travis Souther to the Trustees of War Memorials (2026-125), and reappointed Jennifer E. Smith as City Clerk (2026-127); the council accepted Councillor Claudel Frederique’s resignation and declared the District 2 seat vacant (2026-132). The council approved a slate of new business licenses and accepted and referred a late-filed order to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for neighborhood traffic calming (2026-133) to the Committee of the Whole.

Council approved National Grid petition 2026-123 to install underground conduits on Sparhawk St. and Main St. (WR #30531898) related to the new Hillside Avenue substation.

Council approved borrowing $1.6M to purchase up to two fire pumpers (Bill 2026-117), authorized transfers including $15,000 to public health salaries (Bill 2026-119) and $48,000 to the water sick-leave buyback (Bill 2026-118), approved surplus of municipal vehicles (Bill 2026-120), adopted revisions to the Council's Rules and Procedures Addendum L, and confirmed appointment of election workers for the 2026 state elections (Bill 2026-121).

Committee voted to send Order 2026-117 (a $1.6M borrowing to purchase two fire pumpers) back to the full City Council with a positive recommendation; the committee also recommended favorable action on Order 2026-118 (transfer $48,000 for Water sick leave buy-back), Order 2026-119 (transfer $15,000 to Public Health salaries), and Order 2026-120 (surplus various municipal vehicles and equipment).

Council approved appointment 2026-116 (Mark Baggeroer to the Design Review Committee), accepted a drainage easement at 11 East Greenwood (2026-106), granted a utility easement at 10 Water Street (2026-107), and adopted amendments to the Solid Waste ordinance with a fee schedule (2026-109). Several budget and transfer orders — including a $1.6M borrowing for two fire pumpers (2026-117) and transfers related to Water and Public Health (2026-118, 2026-119) — were referred to the Committee of the Whole for further review.