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Home / Meetings /April 22, 2025
City Council · April 22, 2025 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council adopted Ordinance 2024-096 to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District and approved a $500,000 MassWorks grant for the Clark's Road project (2025-037). The Council also approved COA grant funding (2025-038), an MOU with the MVRTA for an accessible vehicle (2025-039), acceptance of a $401,654.70 Complete Streets grant (2025-042), and confirmed the appointment of Marisa Batista as CFO (2025-043).

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointed Marisa Batista as Chief Financial Officer (2025-043).
Passed unanimously (7-0)
Approved the monthly license list for April 22, 2025.
Passed unanimously (7-0)
Adopted the Planning Board redline and approved Ordinance 2024-096 to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District (REDD).
Passed unanimously (7-0)
Authorized acceptance and expenditure of a $500,000 MassWorks grant to support the Clark's Road project (2025-037).
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Authorized acceptance and expenditure of FY25 formula grant funding for the Amesbury Council on Aging in the amount of $69,165 (2025-038).
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Accepted a redline amendment and approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority for use of an accessible vehicle for the Council on Aging (2025-039).
Accepted redline Passed 6-0-1; Approved as amended Passed 6-0-1
Authorized the transfer of $45,889.50 from the FY25 Salary Reserve to various municipal departments (2025-041).
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Authorized acceptance and expenditure of a FY25 Complete Streets grant in the amount of $401,654.70 from MassDOT (2025-042).
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Referred the 2nd round FY25 DFS firefighter safety equipment grant (2025-044) to Budget & Finance and set a second reading for May 27, 2025.
Passed unanimously (7-0)
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting addressed several significant policy and funding items, including a public hearing and final approval of Ordinance 2024-096 to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District (REDD). Residents and the Lake Attitash Association’s attorney spoke in support of the revised language; the Council substituted the Planning Board redline and adopted the ordinance unanimously. The Council also reviewed and approved multiple grant-related orders: acceptance of a $500,000 MassWorks grant for the Clark's Road project (2025-037), a $69,165 EOEA formula grant for the Council on Aging (2025-038), and a $401,654.70 FY25 Complete Streets grant from MassDOT (2025-042). A Memorandum of Understanding with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority for use of an accessible vehicle for the Council on Aging (2025-039) was accepted in amended form, and the 2nd round DFS firefighter safety equipment grant (2025-044) was referred to Budget & Finance for further consideration.

Council business included the appointment of Marisa Batista as Chief Financial Officer (2025-043) and authorization to transfer $45,889.50 from the FY25 Salary Reserve to various municipal departments (2025-041), during which Councilors discussed clerk office staffing and compensation. Public comment included concerns about traffic impacts related to the Clark's Road project. Routine procedural matters handled included approval of the April license list and several committee recommendations read into the record; the meeting adjourned following unanimous votes on the presented orders.

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 (7-0)
Councilor Stanganelli moved to approve 2025-043 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
APPROVE
Passed unanimously (7-0)
Councilor Haggstrom moved to approve the license list for April 22, 2025.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
UNDER · Licenses · 6. Monthly list of licenses 6 April
AMEND
Passed unanimously (7-0)
Councilor Redfern moved to substitute the redline of 2024-096 from the Planning Board for the original.
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
APPROVE
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Councilor Redfern moved to accept 2024-096 as substituted.
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
APPROVE
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Councilor Gilday moved to approve 2025-037 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
APPROVE
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Councilor Stanganelli moved to approve 2025-038 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
AMEND
Passed 6-0-1 (Councilor Stanganelli abstaining)
Councilor Gilday moved to accept the redline for 2025-039 dated April 22, 2025.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
APPROVE
Passed via roll call 6-0-1 (Councilor Stanganelli abstaining)
Councilor Gilday moved to approve 2025-039 as amended.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
APPROVE
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Councilor Stanganelli moved to approve 2025-041 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
APPROVE
Passed unanimously via roll call (7-0)
Councilor Stanganelli moved to approve 2025-042 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
REFER
Passed unanimously (7-0)
Councilor Gilday moved to refer 2025-044 to Budget & Finance and set a second reading for May 27, 2025.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM