City Council · October 14, 2025 · 7:00 PM
City Council Meeting
Council approved an order (2025-082) authorizing the Mayor to dispose of a portion of the City-owned former Amesbury Elementary School property at 24 South Hampton Rd and confirmed three appointments to local boards (2025-100, 2025-101, 2025-103). Multiple budget and ordinance measures — including building/permits fee changes (2025-110) and late-file amendments to the Solid Waste and Parking ordinances (2025-112, 2025-113) — were referred to committee for further review.
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Key decisions
Approved appointment of Jennifer Welter as alternate member of the Historic Commission (term to Feb 29, 2028).
Approved appointment of Kendra Amaral as associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (term to Feb 29, 2028).
Approved appointment of Peter Frey to the Community Preservation Committee (term to Feb 29, 2028).
Substituted 2025-082 with the October 12, 2025 version (revision to the order re: disposal of a portion of 24 South Hampton Rd).
Approved 2025-082 as amended: Order authorizing the Mayor to dispose of all or a portion of approximately 4 +/- acres of the City-owned property located at 24 South Hampton Road (portion of former Amesbury Elementary School).
Approved the City’s October monthly list of licenses.
Referred 2025-104 (appropriation from Stabilization and Ambulance Receipts Reserved to balance FY26 budget) to the Budget and Finance Committee (second reading scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Referred 2025-105 (transfer to Assessors Department Other Expenses) to the Budget and Finance Committee (second reading scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Referred 2025-107 (transfer from FY26 Budget Reserve to Building Inspections Consulting) to the Budget and Finance Committee.
Referred 2025-108 (accept and expend Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant) to the Budget and Finance Committee.
Referred 2025-109 (accept and expend FY26 Municipal Road Safety Grant) to the Budget and Finance Committee (second reading scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Referred 2025-110 (create Chapter 230 Buildings, Permitting of — adopt schedule of fees) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee and the Budget & Finance Committee (second reading scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Referred 2025-111 (City Clerk fee schedule ordinance amendment) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee and the Budget & Finance Committee (second reading scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Referred late-file 2025-112 (amend Solid Waste Ordinance Chapter 392 — add Article III Delivery and Emptying of Dumpsters) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee and the Budget & Finance Committee (second reading scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Referred late-file 2025-113 (amend Traffic and Parking Regulations — Schedule I Parking (Permit/Restricted) and penalties/fines) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee, Budget & Finance Committee, and Planning & Development Committee (second hearing scheduled Oct 28, 2025).
Agenda
Mayoral Appointments
2025-100. Appointment of Jennifer Welter — Historic Commission
Appointment of Jennifer Welter to the Historic Commission for a term to expire February 29, 2028.
Mayoral Appointments
2025-101. Appointment of Kendra Amaral — Zoning Board of Appeals
Appointment of Kendra Amaral to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire February 29, 2028.
Mayoral Appointments
2025-103. Appointment of Peter Frey — Community Preservation Committee
Appointment of Peter Frey to the Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 29, 2028.
Monthly Licenses
Monthly list of licenses — October
Monthly list of licenses for October.
Correspondence
Special Events discussion — Mayor Gove
Mayor Gove: discussion regarding Special Events.
Correspondence
2025-102. Warrant for November 4, 2025 Municipal Election
Warrant for the November 4, 2025 Municipal Election.
Second Readings
2025-082. Disposition of portion of 24 South Hampton Road (former Amesbury Elementary School)
Order authorizing the Mayor to dispose of all or a portion of approximately 4 +/- acres of city-owned property at 24 South Hampton Road (former Amesbury Elementary School) to enable creation of up to 36 dwelling units on ~4 acres and one single-family dwelling on ~13,000 SF; includes developer responsibilities, PUD-SP permitting, and proposed rezoning of the portion to R-8.
Second Readings
2025-083. Zoning Map amendment — 24 South Hampton Road (OSC to R-8)
Ordinance to amend the Amesbury Zoning Map to rezone two portions of 24 South Hampton Road (Map 26, Lot 4) from Open Space Conservancy (OSC) to Residential – 8,000 SF (R-8), identifying Portion A (~4 acres) and Portion B (~0.3 acres).
First Readings
2025-104. Appropriate Stabilization & Ambulance Funds to balance FY26 budget
Order to appropriate $200,000 from the General Stabilization Fund and $200,000 from the Ambulance Receipts Reserved Fund to balance the FY2026 budget.
First Readings
2025-105. Transfer to Assessors Department Other Expenses
Order to transfer $45,000 ($10,000 from Assessors Salaries & Wages and $35,000 from Salary Reserve) to Assessors Department Other Expenses for consulting during Chief Assessor transition/hiring.
First Readings
2025-106. Payment of prior-year invoices from FY26 operating budgets
Order to approve payment from the FY26 general fund operating budget for listed prior-year invoices; requires two-thirds City Council approval under M.G.L. c.44 s.64.
First Readings
2025-107. Transfer to Building Inspections Consulting
Order to authorize transfer of $5,900 from the FY26 Budget Reserve account to Building Inspections Consulting to pay a FY25 invoice for third-party code consulting on the Munters project.
First Readings
2025-108. Accept Byrne JAG grant — $20,000 (police radios)
Order to accept and expend a $20,000 Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to purchase portable radios (two dual-band and one single-band) for police command and patrol staff.
First Readings
2025-109. Accept FY26 Municipal Road Safety Grant — $34,967
Order to accept and expend a $34,967 FY26 Municipal Road Safety (MRS) Grant to fund traffic enforcement (selective enforcement targeting distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding); cost-reimbursement grant through Sept 15, 2026.
First Readings
2025-110. Ordinance — New Chapter 230: Buildings, Permitting of (fee schedule)
Ordinance to add a new Chapter 230 'Buildings, Permitting of' and adopt an updated Schedule of Fees to align building/plumbing/gas/electric permit fees with comparable communities and address revenue shortfalls.
First Readings
2025-111. Amend City Clerk Fee Schedule ordinance
Ordinance to amend City Clerk Fee Schedule (Article I City Clerk/Clerk to Municipal Council §132-7.1) reflecting updates to the fee schedule per prior bill updates.
Late Files
2025-112. Amend Chapter 392 — Dumpster delivery & emptying rules
Ordinance to amend Solid Waste Ordinance Chapter 392 by adding Article III 'Delivery and Emptying of Dumpsters' to specify allowed time ranges, fine structure, and enforcement authority for dumpster delivery and emptying on various property types.
Late Files
2025-113. Amend Traffic & Parking Regulations — Schedule I / penalties
Ordinance to update Traffic and Parking Regulations: rename Schedule I to 'Schedule I Parking (Permit/Restricted Parking)', update permitted/restricted status of municipal lots, and amend penalties/fines schedule to include fees for parking permit violations for residential and commercial vehicles.