City Council · May 13, 2025 · 7:00 PM
City Council Meeting
Council approved Administrative Order 2025-01 creating the grant-funded Department of Public Wellness and referred the FY26 operating budget (2025-001) to a newly created Ad-Hoc City Council Budget Committee of the Whole for further hearings (second reading and public hearing set for June 10). Several mayoral orders and ordinances — including 2025-045 (No Parking on Lafayette St median), 2025-046 (Go Slow Children signage at Riverfront Dr), 2025-047 (Free Cash appropriation for FY26 capital), and 2025-053 (accept easement at 12 Elizabeth St) — were referred to the appropriate committees for review.
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Key decisions
Approved Administrative Order 2025-01 to create the Department of Public Wellness (mayor-sponsored reorganization).
Referred 2025-001 (Order to adopt operating budget for FY26) to the Ad-Hoc City Council Budget Committee of the Whole and set second reading and public hearing for June 10, 2025.
Approved creation of the City Council Ad-Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole.
Approved the monthly list of licenses for May 13, 2025.
Referred 2025-045 (Ordinance to establish No Parking on Lafayette Street median strip) to Planning & Development and Ordinances & Administration committees.
Referred 2025-046 (Order to place 'Go Slow Children' signage at Riverfront Drive) to Planning & Development.
Referred 2025-047 (Order to appropriate Free Cash for FY26 Capital Expenditures) to Budget & Finance with second reading and public hearing on June 10.
Referred 2025-048 (authorize Mayor to establish spending limits for departmental revolving funds FY26) to Budget & Finance with second reading on May 27.
Referred 2025-049 (Order to enter into a lease for cardiac monitors, police cruisers, body worn cameras, dash cameras) to Budget & Finance.
Referred 2025-050 (accept and expend FY25 CCC Information Technology Grant) to Budget & Finance.
Referred 2025-051 (accept and expend FY25 SAFE and Senior SAFE grants) to Budget & Finance.
Referred 2025-052 (transfer Amesbury Elementary School property for municipal purposes) to Budget & Finance.
Referred 2025-053 (accept an easement at 12 Elizabeth Street) to the Planning Board, Planning & Development, and Ordinances & Administration.
Referred 2025-054 (Ordinance to amend Wetlands and Floodplain protection regulations per NFIP regulations) to the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Ordinances & Administration.
Agenda
Appointments
5. Mayoral Appointments
Mayoral appointments submitted to the City Council for confirmation.
Licenses
6. Monthly list of licenses – May
Monthly list of licenses to be presented for May.
Presentations
FY26 Budget presentation – Mayor Gove
Mayor Gove presents the FY26 budget to the Council.
First Readings
Administrative Order 2025-01. Administrative Order 2025-01 – Reorganization (Department of Public Wellness)
Administrative reorganization by mayor establishing the Department of Public Wellness.
First Readings
2025-001. 2025-001 An Order to adopt operating budget for FY26
Order to adopt the City's operating budget for fiscal year 2026.
First Readings
2025-045. 2025-045 No Parking on Lafayette Street median strip
Ordinance requesting No Parking signage along the Lafayette Street median strip per resident request.
First Readings
2025-046. 2025-046 Go Slow Children signage at Riverfront Drive
Order requesting placement of 'Go Slow Children' signage at the stop signs at the top of Riverfront Drive per resident request.
First Readings
2025-047. 2025-047 Appropriation from Free Cash for FY26 Capital Expenditures
Order proposing to appropriate $1,813,975 from Free Cash to fund FY26 capital expenditures.
First Readings
2025-048. 2025-048 Establish spending limits for departmental revolving funds FY26
Order to authorize the Mayor to establish spending limits for departmental revolving funds for FY26 pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §53E½.
First Readings
2025-049. 2025-049 Leases for cardiac monitors, police cruisers, and camera equipment
Order to authorize entering into leases or loan-purchase agreements (up to ten years) for cardiac monitors, police cruiser replacements, body worn cameras, and cruiser-mounted dash cameras.
First Readings
2025-050. 2025-050 Accept and expend FY25 CCC IT Grant (Trend Micro Vision One)
Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a FY25 CCC Information Technology Grant to purchase one year of Trend Micro Vision One Managed Detection and Remediation service for City and Schools.
First Readings
2025-051. 2025-051 Accept and expend FY25 SAFE and Senior SAFE grants
Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend FY25 SAFE and Senior SAFE grants to fund firefighter-educator fire and life safety programs for children and seniors.
First Readings
2025-052. 2025-052 Transfer Amesbury Elementary School property for municipal purposes
Order to transfer the former Amesbury Elementary School property to the City for general municipal purposes now that the new elementary school has opened and the School Committee declared the property surplus.
First Readings
2025-053. 2025-053 Accept easement at 12 Elizabeth Street
Order to accept a permanent drainage easement from the owners of 12 Elizabeth Street to construct and maintain drainage to alleviate flooding, and authorize the Mayor to execute the acceptance.
First Readings
2025-054. 2025-054 Amend Wetlands and Floodplain protection regulations per NFIP
Ordinance to amend Wetlands and Floodplain protection regulations to comply with FEMA/NFIP requirements and adopt updated Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map effective July 8, 2025.