City Council Meeting

The Council convened to consider a mix of ordinance, public hearing, and fiscal matters. The meeting opened with approval of the monthly license list and included a public comment period during which nearby Lafayette Street residents opposed an ordinance to prohibit parking on the Lafayette Street median; the Council then rejected Ordinance 2025-045 (No Parking on Lafayette Street) by an 8-0 vote. A DPW presentation on the Powwow Weir was postponed to a later meeting.

A public hearing was held for Ordinance 2025-054 (amendments to Wetlands and Floodplain protection regulations to comply with NFIP). The Council accepted a June 18 redline version and approved 2025-054 unanimously, noting positive recommendations from O&A, P&D, the Planning Board, and the Conservation Commission. The Council also approved several mayoral orders and fiscal actions: copier lease authority (2025-060), CPA FY2025 reserve placements (2025-063) and FY2026 CPA allocations and CPC administrative appropriation (2025-064), renewal of regional animal control services with Salisbury (2025-068), an appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings for FY2025 operating expenditures (2025-071), a $449,940.23 free-cash appropriation for FY2025 snow & ice overages (2025-069), and inter-departmental transfer authority using a substituted redline for 2025-070. The Council referred Order 2025-074 (request to establish a crosswalk near 31 Merrimack St at the Merrimack River Condominiums) to O&A and P&D with a second reading set for July 22, and approved Resolution 2025-075 recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Councilors asked staff clarifying questions on formatting and fiscal balances and staff committed to follow up where needed.