VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /November 12, 2024
City Council · November 12, 2024 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council appointed Amanda Haggstrom to fill the District 3 council seat (2024-121), accepted resignations creating vacancies on the Library Board (2024-134) and Planning Board (2024-135), referred the annual tax classification order (2024-138) and related exemption order (2024-139) to Budget & Finance, and referred a late-filed order to acquire 5 Market St. for City Hall with a $3,150,000 appropriation (2024-149) to multiple committees and set a public hearing.

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointed Helen “Ellie” O'Leary to Amesbury Cultural Council for term to expire 2/28/2027 (2024-136).
Approved 8-0
Reappointed Nancy Frick to Amesbury Housing Trust for term to expire 4/30/2026 (2024-137).
Approved 8-0
Nominated and appointed Amanda Haggstrom to fill the remaining District 3 City Council term (2024-121).
Approved 8-0
Accepted Delia Rinaldi's resignation and declared vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees (2024-134).
Approved 9-0
Accepted Lorri Krebs' resignation and declared vacancy on the Planning Board (2024-135).
Approved 9-0
Referred 2024-138 (order to hold annual tax classification hearing) to Budget & Finance and set a second reading and public hearing for 11/26 (and a workshop TBD).
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-139 (order to increase exemption amount for qualified applicants) to Budget & Finance and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-140 (amend Traffic & Parking SCHEDULE 1 to prohibit parking on northbound Whitehall Rd from Garfield St to High St) to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-141 (change 2-hour parking to 3-hour limit) to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-142 (prohibit parking on a curb in Traffic & Parking regulations) to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-143 (prohibit parking in Fire Lanes in Traffic & Parking regulations) to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-144 (vote intent to lay out Colonial Drive) to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, and the Planning Board and set a second reading and public hearing for 1/14/2025.
Referred 5-4
Referred 2024-145 (approve acceptance of Quitclaim Deed for Lot X, Eastern Lights Subdivision off Middle Road) to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, and the Planning Board and set a second reading for 1/14/2025.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-146 (lay out and accept Colonial Drive as a public way) to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, and the Planning Board and set a second reading and public hearing for 1/14/2025.
Referred 8-1
Referred 2024-147 (transfer $1,800 within Veterans Services budget) to Budget & Finance and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Referred 2024-148 (amend Traffic & Parking general prohibitions to prohibit parking on a curb) to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading for 11/26.
Referred 9-0
Suspended the rules and accepted 2024-149 as a late file (order to acquire 5 Market St. for City Hall and appropriate $3,150,000).
Approved 9-0
Referred 2024-149 (authorize acquisition of 5 Market St. for City Hall and appropriate $3,150,000) to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, Budget & Finance, and the Planning Board and set a second reading and public hearing for 11/26.
Referred 8-1
Appointed Councilor Amanda Haggstrom to the Planning & Development committee to replace the former District councilor.
Approved 8-0-1 (1 abstention)
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting covered appointments, resignations, a presentation from the Assessor’s Office regarding the upcoming tax classification hearing, several proposed amendments to traffic and parking regulations, and a late-filed, high-profile order to acquire 5 Market Street for City Hall. The council approved two mayoral appointments (Cultural Council and Housing Trust), filled the District 3 council seat by appointing Amanda Haggstrom, and accepted resignations creating vacancies on the Library Board and the Planning Board. The Chief Assessor presented background for the annual classification hearing, and the council referred the classification order (2024-138) and a related exemption order (2024-139) to Budget & Finance with a public hearing set for 11/26.

Multiple traffic-and-parking ordinance proposals (2024-140, 2024-141, 2024-142, 2024-143, 2024-148) were referred to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development for further review and second readings. The council also referred several land/road matters (2024-144, 2024-145, 2024-146) concerning Colonial Drive and Lot X in the Eastern Lights Subdivision to the Planning Board and relevant committees, with some votes split. A late-filed order (2024-149) authorizing the Mayor to acquire 5 Market Street for use as City Hall and appropriate $3,150,000 was accepted as a late file and referred to multiple committees; that item drew public comment opposing the expenditure. Council committee assignments were adjusted to place the newly seated Councilor Haggstrom on Planning & Development.

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.

APPROVE
Passed unanimously (8-0)
Approve the appointment of Helen "Ellie" O'Leary to the position of member of the Amesbury Cultural Council for a term to expire February 28, 2027. – 2024-136
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
APPROVE
Passed unanimously (8-0)
Approve the reappointment of Nancy Frick to the position of member of the Amesbury Housing Trust for a term to expire April 30, 2026. – 2024-137
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
APPROVE
Passed unanimously (8-0)
Nominate Amanda Haggstrom to fill the remaining District Three City Councilor term. – 2024-121
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
APPROVE
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Accept the resignation of Delia Rinaldi and declare the position vacant (Library Board of Trustees). – 2024-134
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
APPROVE
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Accept the resignation of Lorri Krebs and declare the position vacant (Planning Board). – 2024-135
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-138 An Order to request the City Council vote to hold the annual Classification Hearing to vote on four (4) separate items in order to establish the tax burdens for each class of property to Budget & Finance and set a second reading and public hearing on 11/26, as well as including a workshop with date TBD.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-139 An Order to request the City Council vote to increase the exemption amount of qualified applicants to Budget & Finance and set a second reading on 11/26.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-140 An Ordinance to update and amend the City of Amesbury Traffic and Parking Regulations SCHEDULE 1 PARKING (PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES) to include the Northbound side of Whitehall Rd from the Intersection of Garfield Street to High Street to Ordinance & Administration and set a second reading on 11/26. – 2024-140
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
AMEND
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Amend the main motion to include Planning & Development (regarding referral of 2024-140).
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-141 An Ordinance to amend the City of Amesbury Traffic and Parking Regulations SCHEDULE I PARKING (2 HOUR PARKING) to a 3 HOUR time limit from 8 AM to 6 PM every day except Sundays to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading on 11/26. – 2024-141
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-142 An Ordinance to amend the City of Amesbury Traffic and Parking Regulations ARTICLE V- STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING, SECTION 5-1 - General Prohibitions to prohibit parking on a curb to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading on 11/26. – 2024-142
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-143 An Ordinance to amend the City of Amesbury Traffic and Parking Regulations ARTICLE V- STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING, SECTION 5 to include the prohibition of parking in Fire Lanes to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading on 11/26. – 2024-143
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR RINALDI
REFER
Passed 5-4
Refer 2024-144 An Order to: Vote Intent to Lay Out Colonial Drive and Refer to Planning Board to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, and the Planning Board and set a second reading and public hearing on 1/14/2025.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-145 An Order of the Amesbury City Council to Approve the Acceptance of a Quitclaim Deed for a Parcel of Land known as Lot X in the Eastern Lights Subdivision, being a portion of property located off Middle Road, Amesbury and to Authorize the Mayor to Execute said Approval on Behalf of the City of Amesbury to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, and the Planning Board and set a second reading on 1/14/2025. – 2024-145
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed 8-1
Refer 2024-146 An Order to: Lay Out and Accept Colonial Drive as a Public Way to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, and the Planning Board and set a second reading and public hearing on 1/14/2025. – 2024-146
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-147 An Order to authorize a transfer of $1,800.00 from Veterans Services Department Other Expenses to Veterans Services Department Salaries & Wages to Budget & Finance and set a second reading on 11/26. – 2024-147
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
REFER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Refer 2024-148 An Ordinance to amend the City of Amesbury Traffic and Parking Regulations ARTICLE V- STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING, SECTION 5-1 - General Prohibitions to prohibit parking on a curb to Ordinance & Administration and Planning & Development and set a second reading on 11/26. – 2024-148
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
OTHER
Passed unanimously (9-0)
Suspend the rules and accept 2024-149 as a late file.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
REFER
Passed (8-1)
Refer 2024-149 An Order authorizing the Mayor to acquire the land, building, and structures located at 5 Market Street, Amesbury, for the purpose of using the building for City Hall purposes, and the appropriation of $3,150,000 to fund such acquisition, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto to Ordinance & Administration, Planning & Development, Budget & Finance, and the Planning Board and set a second reading and public hearing on 11/26.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
OTHER
Passed 8-0-1 (Councilor Wheeler abstained)
Suspend the rules to accept a late file to appoint Councilor Haggstrom to Planning & Development to replace the former District Councilor appointed to that committee.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG