VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /September 23, 2025
City Council · September 23, 2025 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council approved rezoning portions of 24 South Hampton Road (Ordinance 2025-083) with redline edits and continued the related disposition matter for amendment; a $6 million operating override (2025-089) was approved for placement on the November 4, 2025 ballot. The Council also accepted drainage and water-line easements for 101-107 Market St (2025-093, 2025-094), adopted traffic/parking amendments including adding the 5 Market St lot (2025-090) and stop-sign changes at Market St & Fern Ave (2025-091), and approved an internal salary transfer (2025-096).

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointed Matthew Mohr to the Amesbury Conservation Commission for a term to expire February 29, 2028 (2025-099).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Substituted and amended Zoning Map amendment 2025-083 per redline edits (strike phrase in Item 1; change Item 2 acreage to .26 acres).
Passed unanimously, 7-0
Approved Ordinance 2025-083 amending the Amesbury Zoning Map to rezone portions of 24 South Hampton Road to R-8, as amended.
Approved unanimously, 7-0
Placed a $6 million operating override on the November 4, 2025 ballot (2025-089).
Approved unanimously, 7-0
Approved Ordinance 2025-090 amending Traffic and Parking Regulations to add the 5 Market St parking lot.
Approved unanimously, 7-0
Approved Ordinance 2025-091 updating Schedule IV (stop signs) to add two stop signs at Market Street at Fern Avenue (AWSC).
Approved unanimously, 7-0
Declared surplus various municipal vehicles and equipment (2025-092).
Approved unanimously, 7-0
Amended 2025-093 to replace the attachment with the version from the September 18, 2025 email, and then approved 2025-093 accepting a drainage easement from Newburyport Homes LLC for 101-107 Market St.
Amendment passed unanimously, 7-0; Approval passed unanimously, 7-0
Substituted 2025-094 with the redline version, then approved 2025-094 accepting a water line/curb box/fire hydrant easement from Newburyport Homes LLC for 101-107 Market St.
Substitution passed unanimously, 7-0; Approval passed unanimously, 7-0
Approved a transfer of $21,000 from Salary Reserve to Administration & Finance Salaries & Wages (2025-096).
Approved unanimously, 7-0
Approved acceptance of the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 138, Section 12D (2025-098).
Approved unanimously, 7-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting focused on several high-impact land use, budget, and public-works matters. A public hearing on the proposed disposition and rezoning of the former Amesbury Elementary School property at 24 South Hampton Road drew staff presentations and committee recommendations; the Council substituted redline edits and approved Ordinance 2025-083 to rezone portions of the site to R-8, while the separate disposition order (2025-082) was continued for further amendment. Councilors reviewed positive recommendations from the Planning Board and multiple city committees during the hearing and discussed redline corrections prepared by OCED staff.

On fiscal and municipal operations the Council voted to place a $6 million operating override on the November ballot (2025-089). The body approved several land-use/easement actions for downtown infrastructure, adopting 2025-093 and 2025-094 to accept drainage and water-line/fire hydrant easements from Newburyport Homes LLC for 101-107 Market St after amending attachments. The Council also passed traffic and parking ordinance updates (2025-090 adding the 5 Market St lot; 2025-091 adding stop signs at Market St & Fern Ave), declared surplus municipal vehicles and equipment (2025-092), approved a $21,000 salary-reserve transfer for Administration & Finance staffing (2025-096), and accepted the provisions of M.G.L. c.138 §12D (2025-098). Public comment included support for placing the override on the ballot. Respectful discussion between councilors and staff centered on ordinance redlines, committee recommendations, and technical amendments to easement documentation.

Generated by an LLM. Verify against the official record before quoting.

Points of interest

Mayor presents detailed overview of proposed $6M override
Mayor presents detailed overview of proposed $6M override
PRESENTATION
0:20:28–1:00:00 ▶ Watch
The mayor delivered a detailed slide presentation outlining the city budget picture, reliance on state aid, and the administration's proposal and rationale for a $6 million Prop 2½ operating override, including projected tax impacts and service implications.
Resident urges council to place override on ballot to protect services
Resident urges council to place override on ballot to protect services
PUBLIC COMMENT
1:30:01–1:32:47 ▶ Watch
A longtime resident gave a three-minute public comment urging the council to put the override question on the ballot, citing concerns about school cuts, emergency response, property values, and the broader community impact.
Councilor personal statement on affordability and community impacts of an override
Councilor personal statement on affordability and community impacts of an override
PUBLIC COMMENT
2:36:55–2:43:54 ▶ Watch
A councilor used council communications time to give a lengthy personal statement about affordability and vulnerability in the community, describing how a tax increase would affect renters, single parents, seniors on fixed incomes, and those facing precarious situations.

Motions & votes

AI-generated summaries of each motion's substance — not the official record. Verify against the meeting minutes or video before quoting.

@ 0:03:28 · APPROVE
motion passes five two zero two one
i move to approve the minutes as presented
MOVED · COUNSELOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNSELOR FREDERICK
UNDER · Approve minutes (Sept 9, 2025)
@ 0:05:08 · APPROVE
Approved unanimous 6-0
I move that we approve 2025 the appointment of Matthew Moore to the position of member of the Amherst Conservation Commission for a term to expire February 29th of 2028 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 0:05:29 · OTHER
We will now take a 10-minute recess to get you sworn in with the clerk.
UNDER · Recess for swearing-in
@ 0:16:01 · APPROVE
Approved unanimous 6-0
i move to accept the list of licenses as presented
MOVED · COUNSELOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNSELOR FREDERICK
UNDER · Licenses · 6. Monthly list of licenses — September
@ 1:33:52 · REFER
Approved unanimous 6-0
i moved to suspend the rules and take away two and away three out of order
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGSTROM
@ 2:26:59 · AMEND
Approved unanimous (vote recorded as unanimous with six present prior to later attendance)
I move that we amend the bill currently under consideration by substituting the red line received today with further amendments to the summary by striking in one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven the words but not limited so that sentence will now read will be retained by the city for uses related to public park and then in the following sentence striking the words and slash or other general municipal uses as needed and replacing the preceding comma with the period so that just ends and then in the enacting language adding a second sentence or paragraph at the end and it would read the remaining property and then in parentheses nine point seven acres plus or minus closed parentheses will be retained by the city for public park comma passive and active recreation purposes comma and drainage infrastructure and will include by right trail access to the open space from Raleigh Street period
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
CONTINUE
Passed 6-1
I move that we continue bill 2025 08 to the next regularly scheduled City Council meetings so as to be able to draft an amendment to the bill and will circulate the proposed amendments to the council for review in advance of that said meeting.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR REDFERN
@ 2:33:31 · AMEND
Substitution approved unanimous 7-0
I would like to make the motion to substitute the red line that we received tonight of September 23rd for bill 083 and then make the two very minor corrections whereas item one we will strike as shown on exhibit 1 and in item 2 we will put a decimal point before the 26 acres so it becomes point 2 6 acres.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 2:34:35 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I move we approve it as amended
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
@ 2:44:33 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I would move to approve 2025 dash oh wait nine as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR REDFERN
@ 2:46:39 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I move that we approve 2025-09 oh as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR REALLY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
@ 2:49:18 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I move that we approve 2025-09 one as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR REALLY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 2:50:13 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I move to accept bill 20 25 0 9 2 as presented
MOVED · COUNSELOR GUILD DAY · SECONDED · COUNSELOR HOGUE
@ 2:52:16 · AMEND
Amendment approved unanimous 7-0
I would move that we amend the bill by replacing the attachment with the attachment from Anne Marie's email date of September 18th
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR REALLY
@ 2:52:49 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
i move that we approve 2025-093 as amended
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR FREDERICK
@ 2:54:54 · AMEND
Amendment approved unanimous 7-0
I move that we substitute the version of oh nine four with the red line received today including the updated language in the enacting section highlighted which reads and an easement to maintain the same
MOVED · COUNCILLOR REALLY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
@ 2:55:33 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I would make a motion to approve 2025-094 as presented as amended
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 2:57:16 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I move to approve bill 2025 dash oh nine five as presented
MOVED · COUNSELOR YOUR DAY · SECONDED · COUNSELOR HAGSTROM
@ 2:46:39 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I would move that we approve 2025 096 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER
@ 3:03:13 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
my move that we approve 2025-098 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WILLER · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
@ 3:03:52 · OTHER
Approved (meeting closed at 10:06)
I will move to close the meeting at 10 o 6 p.m.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR FREDERIC
UNDER · Meeting adjournment