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

City Council Meeting

Council adopted Ordinance 2025-112 updating the Solid Waste Code to add regulations on delivery and emptying of dumpsters (passed 6-1). The Council also referred multiple budget and administrative orders — including the AFSCME funding order (2025-114), a sewer budget transfer (2025-116), and the FY26 annual Classification Hearing order (2025-124) — to Budget & Finance, and referred several Kimball Road layout and deed items (2025-121, 2025-122, 2025-123) to planning-related committees.

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Adopted An Ordinance to update and amend the City of Amesbury Solid Waste Ordinance Chapter 392 (2025-112).
Approved 6-1
Approved appointment of Laura Schofield to the Amesbury Cultural Council (term to Feb 29, 2028) (2025-117).
Approved 7-0
Reappointed Susan Ballard to the Amesbury Council on Aging Board of Directors (term to Feb 29, 2028) (2025-118).
Approved 7-0
Reappointed D.M. Kligerman-Thomas to the Amesbury Council on Aging Board of Directors (term to Feb 29, 2028) (2025-119).
Approved 7-0
Appointed Craige Hird to the Open Space, Natural Resources and Trails Committee (term to Feb 29, 2028) (2025-120).
Approved 7-0
Approved the November monthly list of licenses.
Approved 7-0
Referred An Order to fund the AFSCME employment agreement (2025-114) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading set for December 9, 2025.
Referred 7-0
Referred An Order to accept and expend a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (2025-115) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading set for December 9, 2025.
Referred 7-0
Referred An Order to amend Council Order 2025-001 by transferring funds within the Sewer budget (2025-116) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading at a special City Council meeting on December 2, 2025.
Referred 7-0
Referred the Acceptance of a Quitclaim Deed for a parcel at the 47.5-57 Kimball Road subdivision (2025-121) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee, Planning & Development Committee, Planning Board, Open Space/NRT Committee, and Conservation Commission (informational) with second reading Dec 9, 2025.
Referred 7-0
Referred an Order to Vote Intent to Alter Kimball Road and refer to the Planning Board (2025-122) to the Planning & Development Committee, Ordinance & Administration Committee, and the Planning Board with a second reading on December 9, 2025.
Referred 7-0
Referred an Order to Alter the Layout of Kimball Road and accept Parcel Y (2025-123) to the Planning & Development Committee, Planning Board, and Ordinance & Administration Committee with a second reading on December 9, 2025.
Referred 7-0
Waived Rule 5D to accept late file 2025-124 (Order to hold the annual Classification Hearing).
Approved 7-0
Referred the 2025 (FY26) Annual Classification Hearing order (2025-124) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading and public hearing set for December 2, 2025.
Referred 7-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting focused on several appointments, regulatory changes, and multiple referrals to committees for further review. The Council confirmed four mayoral appointments to local boards and committees (Cultural Council, Council on Aging, and Open Space/NRT), and approved the November license list. The Council held a second reading and adopted Ordinance 2025-112 to amend the Solid Waste Ordinance by adding Article III governing the delivery and emptying of dumpsters; the vote was 6-1 after debate that included concerns about the absence of a separate noise ordinance and limited outreach to businesses.

The Council conducted first-reading and referral actions on several orders: funding for the AFSCME employment agreement (2025-114), acceptance of a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant (2025-115), and a sewer budget transfer (2025-116) were all referred to the Budget & Finance Committee with scheduled second readings. Land and roadway matters related to the 47.5-57 Kimball Road subdivision — acceptance of a quitclaim deed and alterations to Kimball Road including acceptance of Parcel Y (2025-121, 2025-122, 2025-123) — were referred to planning and ordinance committees and the Planning Board. The Council waived Rule 5D to accept late file 2025-124 and referred the FY26 annual Classification Hearing order (2025-124) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a public hearing and second reading set for December 2, 2025. No public comment was recorded during the meeting.

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

Points of interest

City announces $3.6M state grant for roadway improvements
City announces $3.6M state grant for roadway improvements
ANNOUNCEMENT
0:09:48–0:10:25 ▶ Watch
Council announced a state grant award of $3.6 million for roadway improvements on Route 110, Clarks Road, and Elm Street and noted a press release is posted on the city website.
Annual tax-classification presentation and board recommendations
Annual tax-classification presentation and board recommendations
PRESENTATION
0:13:33–0:27:27 ▶ Watch
Assessors presented the annual tax-classification hearing materials: reviewed the residential factor, open-space discount, residential exemption, and commercial exemption; the board recommended keeping a single tax rate (residential factor 1.0), not adopting the exemptions, and estimated an effective tax rate of about $14.97 (with noted new-growth revenue).
Debate and vote on ordinance adding dumpster delivery/emptying rules
Debate and vote on ordinance adding dumpster delivery/emptying rules
DEBATE
0:42:29–0:59:06 ▶ Watch
Council debated a proposed amendment to the Solid Waste ordinance to add delivery/emptying hours for dumpsters, including discussion about the absence of a formal noise ordinance, business notification, and enforcement resources; after review of a red-lined version with three committee recommendations the council approved the amendments (6–1).

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:02:31 · APPROVE
Counsel, except the minutes as presented.
SECONDED · HAGSTROM
UNDER · Minutes · 4. Act on Minutes - October 14, 2025
@ 0:04:16 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
Move that the City Council approve Ms. Schofield for Ames Ridge Cultural Council as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · HAGSTROM
@ 0:05:19 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
I move the city council approved 2025 dash one one eight for the reappointment of Ms. Ballard to the council on aging.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · FREDERICK
@ 0:06:17 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
Motion to reappoint D.M. Kligerman-Thomas to the Council on Aging (2025-119).
MOVED · HEGSTROM · SECONDED · REDFERN
@ 0:06:58 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
move the city council approve 2025-120 for the appointment of mr hurd to osnrt as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · HAGSTROM
@ 0:08:50 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0
we approve the list of licenses as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · RINALDI
UNDER · Licenses · 6. Monthly list of licenses — November
@ 0:56:05 · AMEND
Approved 6-1
The actual motion was to accept 2025-112 with the three recommendations from the October 20th Ordinance Administration meeting
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
@ 1:05:16 · REFER
Approved 7-0
I moved the city council refer 2025-114 to the next budget and finance meeting with a second reading to occur in our regularly scheduled meeting in december
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · WHEELER
@ 1:06:31 · REFER
Approved 7-0
same as last one so this one to budget and finance with a second reading on december 9th
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · RINALDI
@ 1:07:53 · REFER
Approved 7-0
move that 2025-116 we referred to budget and finance for the second reading at a special city council meeting scheduled for december 2nd
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · FREDERICK
@ 1:09:56 · REFER
Approved 7-0
i move that we refer 2025-121 to the planning board to planning and development to ordinance administration and to open space and to set a second reading for december 9th
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · HAGSTROM
@ 1:11:43 · REFER
Approved 7-0
i move that we refer 25 2025-122 to the planning board to p d to owen hay and set a second reading for december 9th
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · RINALDI
@ 1:16:10 · REFER
Approved 7-0
I move that we refer this one to the planning board planning development ONA and that we set a second reading and a public hearing on December 9th
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · HEGSTROM
@ 1:16:46 · OTHER
Approved 7-0
i would make a motion to wave uh the rules 5d to accept 2025-124
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · WHEELER
REFER
Approved 7-0
I'm gonna move then that we send this to BNF and that we set a public hearing in a second reading on December 2nd and that we include with that referral a request to the assessor's office to return and provide additional presentation
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED · HAGSTROM
@ 1:21:20 · OTHER
Approved 7-0
so moved
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANCANELLI · SECONDED · RINALDI
UNDER · Adjournment