City Council Meeting

The City Council met on April 8, 2025. The meeting included a mayoral presentation on the City’s completed compensation study, announcements about FY2026 budget hearing dates, and committee updates. During public comment a resident raised concerns about unsafe sidewalks on Haverhill Road and urged sidewalk connections into the Merrimac line, noting an available MPO grant; councilors acknowledged ongoing corridor and grant work related to that area.

The council conducted first-readings/referrals on multiple FY25 grant and budget orders. Key actions included referring 2025-037 (authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $500,000 FY25 MassWorks grant for the Clark’s Road project) to B&F, Planning Board, and P&D (motion amended to add those boards and passed unanimously); referring 2025-038 (accept $69,165 EOEA formula grant for the Council on Aging) to B&F; referring 2025-039 (authorize an MOU with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority for an accessible vehicle for the Council on Aging) to B&F and O&A (the amendment to add O&A passed unanimously and the main motion passed 4-1); referring 2025-041 (transfer $45,889.50 from FY25 Salary Reserve to various departments) to B&F; and referring late-file 2025-042 (accept $401,654.70 FY25 Complete Streets grant from MassDOT) to B&F, P&D, and the Planning Board. The council also approved the April license list. No public hearings or second readings were held at this meeting.