VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /June 11, 2024
City Council · June 11, 2024 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council adopted the FY25 operating budget (2024-001), approving a Total Appropriation of $86,598,257 and key line items including school and library funding; the council also confirmed the reappointment of KP Law, P.C. as City Attorney (2024-077).

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes AI Summary
Key decisions
Adopted FY25 Total Appropriation of $86,598,257 (all funds)
Approved 7-2
Approved Total General Fund amount of $79,414,528
Approved 7-2
Approved appropriation by taxation of $77,059,308
Approved 7-2
Approved City Council Personal Services (line 111) at $49,167
Approved 8-1
Approved Total City Council (line 111) for a total of $145,602
Approved 8-1
Accepted Amesbury Public Schools total line item (300) as specified in the Mayor’s budget book at $37,945,439
Approved 5-3-1
Approved Library Personal Services (line 610) at $673,176
Approved 8-0 (President recused)
Approved Library Other Expenses (line 610) at $231,680
Approved 8-0 (President recused)
Approved Total Library (line 610) for a total of $904,856
Approved 8-0 (President recused)
Reappointment of KP Law, P.C. to the position of City Attorney for a term to expire June 3, 2025 (2024-077)
Approved 8-1
Accepted 2024-082 as a late file (inter-municipal animal control agreement renewal)
Approved 8-1
Referred bills to Budget & Finance Subcommittee with second readings: 2024-078, 2024-079, 2024-080, 2024-081, 2024-082
Various referral votes (see motions)
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The Amesbury City Council conducted a lengthy FY25 budget public hearing and finalized the municipal operating budget. After public comment in support of school funding and committee recommendations, councilors debated multiple line items including City Council stipends, the schools total, and library funding. The council rejected a motion to reduce FY25 council stipends, approved the City Council Personal Services and Total City Council line items, accepted the schools total as presented in the Mayor’s budget book, approved library personal services and expenses while the president recused, and voted to adopt the Total General Fund and the final Total Appropriation of $86,598,257 (all funds). The council also approved the appropriation by taxation of $77,059,308.

In other business the council approved the reappointment of KP Law, P.C. as City Attorney (2024-077). The council accepted a late-filed inter-municipal animal control agreement renewal (2024-082) and referred several orders and grants to the Budget & Finance Subcommittee for second readings on June 25 (including 2024-078, 2024-079, 2024-080, 2024-081, and 2024-082). Public comment included concerns about a city-owned stockade fence and several residents speaking in favor of school funding during the budget hearing.

Generated by an LLM. Verify against the official record before quoting.

Motions & votes

AI-generated summaries of each motion's substance — not the official record. Verify against the meeting minutes or video before quoting.

DENY
Failed 2-7
Councilor Rinaldi offered a motion to give up FY25 Council stipends for a value of $37,000, reducing the line item to $12,167.
MOVED · COUNCILOR RINALDI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
APPROVE
Approved 8-1, Councilor Rinaldi opposed
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to approve the City Council Personal Services line item (111) at the amount of $49,167.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
APPROVE
Approved 8-1, Councilor Rinaldi opposed
Council Wheeler offered a motion to approve the Total City Council line item (111) for a total of $145,602.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
DENY
Failed 3-6
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to adopt the Budget & Finance Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation of $37,945,439 for the Total Amesbury Public Schools line item (300).
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR CORCORAN
APPROVE
Approved 5-3-1
Councilor Gilday offered a motion to accept the Amesbury Public Schools total line item (300) budget as specified in Mayor’s budget book of $37,945,439.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
APPROVE
Approved unanimously 8-0 (President recused)
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to accept the Library Personal Services line item (610) at the amount of $673,176.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
APPROVE
Approved unanimously 8-0 (President recused)
Councilor Stanganelli offered a motion to approve the Library Other Expenses line item (610) at the amount of $231,680.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR RINALDI
APPROVE
Approved unanimously 8-0 (President recused)
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to approve the Total Library line item (610) for a total of $904,856.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
APPROVE
Approved 7-2, Councilors Wheeler and Corcoran opposed
Councilor Stanganelli offered a motion to approve the Total General Fund amount of $79,414,528.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR RINALDI
APPROVE
Approved 7-2
Councilor Stanganelli offered a motion to approve said appropriation by the City Council for taxation of $77,059,308.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
APPROVE
Approved 7-2, Councilors Corcoran and Wheeler opposed
Councilor Wheeler moved to approve the Total Appropriation of in the amount of $86,598,257.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
OTHER
Approved 8-1, Councilor Stanganelli opposed
Councilor Gilday offered a motion to accept 2024-082 as a late file.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
REFER
Approved 7-1-1, Councilor Rinaldi opposed and Councilor Stanganelli abstained
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to refer 2024-078 to the Budget and Finance Subcommittee with a second reading for Tuesday, June 25th.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Approved 8-0-1, Councilor Stanganelli abstained
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to refer 2024-079 to the Budget and Finance Subcommittee with a second reading on Tuesday, June 25th.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Approved 8-0-1, Councilor Stanganelli abstained
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to refer 2024-080 to the Budget and Finance Subcommittee with a second reading on Tuesday, June 25th.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR CORCORAN
REFER
Approved 8-0-1, Councilor Stanganelli abstained
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to refer 2024-081 to the Budget and Finance Subcommittee with a second reading on Tuesday, June 25th and a presentation from the administration.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR RINALDI
REFER
Approved 8-0-1, Councilor Stanganelli abstained
Councilor Wheeler offered a motion to refer 2024-082 to the Budget and Finance Subcommittee with a second reading on Tuesday, June 25th.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
APPROVE
Approved 8-1, Councilor Stanganelli opposed
Councilor Gilday offered a motion to approve 2024-077.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE