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).
The City Council meeting focused on appointments, property dispositions, tax-classification and several traffic and parking ordinance changes. The Council approved three Community Preservation Committee appointments (Suzanne Egan, Joseph Fahey, Mel Webster) and withdrew six other appointment items from the agenda. The Council approved renewal of the monthly licenses and nominated three councilors to the Joint Education Committee.
On substantive policy matters the Council approved an order transferring $1,800 within Veterans Services (2024-147), approved disposal of portions of city-owned parcels at 9 School St and 5 School St (2024-133) with an amendment limiting surplussed parking to no more than eight spaces after a close roll-call amendment vote, and approved the Budget & Finance recommendation combining the tax-classification articles (2024-138). The Council enacted multiple amendments to the Traffic & Parking regulations (2024-140, 2024-141, 2024-142, 2024-143, 2024-148) addressing parking prohibitions, time limits and fire-lane rules. A public hearing was held on a proposed acquisition and appropriation for 5 Market St (2024-149) during which members of the public spoke in favor; that matter remained on the docket. Discussion included concerns about affordable housing related to the property disposition vote, questions about Chamber of Commerce meeting transparency during the classification discussion, and operational questions about signage and enforcement for parking changes.