City Council · November 26, 2024 · 7:00 PM
City Council Meeting
Council approved disposal of portions of 9 School St and 5 School St (2024-133) with an amendment limiting surplussed parking to eight spaces; enacted multiple Traffic & Parking ordinance changes (2024-140, 2024-141, 2024-142, 2024-143, 2024-148); and approved the combined tax-classification package (2024-138). A public hearing was held on the proposed acquisition and appropriation for 5 Market St (2024-149).
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Key decisions
Withdrew appointment bills 2024-150, 2024-151, 2024-152, 2024-153, 2024-154, and 2024-158 from the agenda.
Approved appointment of Suzanne Egan to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2027 (2024-155).
Approved appointment of Joseph Fahey to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2026 (2024-156).
Approved appointment of Mel Webster to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2025 (2024-157).
Approved all licenses up for renewal (monthly license renewals).
Nominated and approved Councilors Stanganelli, Redfern, and Hogg to the Joint Ed Committee.
Approved an order authorizing transfer of $1,800 from Veterans Services Other Expenses to Veterans Services Salaries & Wages (2024-147).
Approved disposal (sale or lease) of portions of city-owned property at 9 School St and 5 School St with an amendment limiting surplussed parking to no more than 8 spaces (2024-133).
Approved the combined tax classification articles per the Budget & Finance Subcommittee recommendation (2024-138).
Approved an order to increase the exemption amount for qualified applicants (2024-139).
Substituted red-line edits and approved amendments to the Traffic & Parking Regulations for Whitehall Rd (2024-140) and then approved 2024-140 as revised.
Approved changing 2-hour parking to 3-hour parking (8 AM–6 PM daily except Sundays) in SCHEDULE I (2024-141).
Substituted red-line edits and approved amendments to prohibit parking on a curb in ARTICLE V (2024-142) and accepted the ordinance as amended.
Substituted red-line edits and approved amendments to prohibit parking in Fire Lanes (2024-143) and accepted the ordinance as amended.
Substituted red-line edits and accepted edits to ARTICLE V prohibiting parking on a curb (2024-148).
Agenda
Mayoral Appointments
2024-150. Jay Williamson — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Jay Williamson to the Community Preservation Committee representing the Historical Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2026.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-151. Andrew LeFleur — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Andrew LeFleur to the Community Preservation Committee representing the Amesbury Housing Trust for a term to expire February 28, 2026.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-152. Michelle Faucher — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Michelle Faucher to the Community Preservation Committee representing the Open Space, Natural Resources and Trails Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2025.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-153. Joel Nice — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Joel Nice to the Community Preservation Committee representing the Planning Board for a term to expire February 28, 2025.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-154. Robert Manseau — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Robert Manseau to the Community Preservation Committee representing the Conservation Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2027.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-155. Suzanne Egan — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Suzanne Egan to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2027.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-156. Joseph Fahey — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Joseph Fahey to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2026.
Mayoral Appointments
2024-157. Mel Webster — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Mel Webster to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2025.
Licenses
Monthly list of licenses — November 2024
Monthly list of licenses for November 2024 presented to the Council.
Public Hearings
2024-133. Disposition of portions of 9 School Street and 5 School Street
Order authorizing the Mayor to dispose of portions of City-owned properties at 9 School Street (~0.18 acres) and 5 School Street (~0.07 acres) to allow creation of up to eight residential units at 9 School Street and one single-family dwelling at 5 School Street; City to retain remaining property for public parking/municipal uses and transfer parking area to Library Board of Trustees as part of Library Project.
Public Hearings
2024-138. Annual tax Classification Hearing
Order to hold the annual Classification Hearing to vote on items establishing the tax burdens for each class of property (selection of residential factor).
Public Hearings
2024-149. Acquisition and appropriation for 5 Market Street (City Hall)
Order authorizing the Mayor to acquire the land, building, and structures at 5 Market Street for City Hall purposes and to appropriate $3,150,000 to fund the acquisition, with funding from borrowed funds and a transfer from free cash; requires two-thirds Council vote pursuant to G.L. c.40, §14.
Second Readings
2024-139. Increase exemption amount for qualified applicants
Order requesting the City Council vote to increase the exemption amount of qualified applicants under M.G.L. (annual decision).
Second Readings
2024-140. Prohibit parking — Whitehall Road (northbound)
Ordinance to amend the Traffic and Parking Regulations SCHEDULE 1 to prohibit parking at all times on the northbound side of Whitehall Road from the intersection of Garfield Street to High Street.
Second Readings
2024-141. Change downtown parking limit to 3 hours (8 AM–6 PM)
Ordinance to amend SCHEDULE I (2 hour parking) to change to a 3-hour time limit from 8 AM to 6 PM every day except Sundays, based on a downtown parking efficiency study and recommendations from the Mayor and Police Chief.
Second Readings
2024-142. Prohibit parking on curb — Traffic & Parking Regulations
Ordinance to amend ARTICLE V, SECTION 5-1 General Prohibitions to clarify and prohibit parking on a curb or edge of roadway, including specific language about wheel placement and one-way streets.
Second Readings
2024-143. Prohibit parking in Fire Lanes
Ordinance to amend ARTICLE V to include prohibition of parking in Fire Lanes for non-emergency responders or those not conducting routine business, enabling enforcement where Fire/Police Chiefs create such lanes.
Second Readings
2024-147. Budget transfer — Veterans Services ($1,800)
Order to authorize a transfer of $1,800 from Veterans Services Department Other Expenses to Veterans Services Department Salaries & Wages to cover a stipend increase for the Office Assistant.
Second Readings
2024-148. Prohibit parking on curb (duplicate ordinance)
Ordinance to amend ARTICLE V, SECTION 5-1 General Prohibitions to prohibit parking on a curb (duplicate/related language to 2024-142).
Late Files
2024-158. Annmary Connor — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Annmary Connor to the Community Preservation Committee representing the Amesbury Housing Authority for a term to expire February 28, 2026 (late-filed appointment).