City Council Meeting

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.