Ordinance and Administration Committee Meeting
Ordinance 2024-083 to establish a Community Preservation Committee was returned to the full City Council with a positive recommendation by the Ordinance & Administration Subcommittee.
The Ordinance & Administration Subcommittee met virtually on July 15, 2024. Members approved the prior meeting minutes and heard no public comment. The primary substantive discussion focused on Ordinance 2024-083, which would establish a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) in Amesbury.
Councilor Wheeler summarized the CPC ordinance, explaining the proposed committee structure and noting that, because Amesbury lacks a Parks and Recreation Department, an Open Space/Natural Resources/Trails Committee (OSNRTC) representative would substitute for the Parks Commissioner slot. Mayor’s Chief of Staff Ann Marie Casey raised whether references to Parks Commissioners should be revised and highlighted staff-support concerns raised by the Boards, Commissions, and Committees Working Group; merging committees with similar missions was discussed as a potential remedy. The subcommittee voted to return 2024-083 to the full City Council with a positive recommendation (passed unanimously 3-0). The subcommittee also continued zoning-related bills 2024-085, 2024-086, and 2024-087 to its September meeting.