VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /December 9, 2025
City Council · December 9, 2025 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council approved two collective bargaining agreements (AFSCME 2025-114 and IAFF Local 1783 2025-125), authorized a $120,416.38 salary-reserve transfer (2025-126), withdrew three Kimball Road orders (2025-121/2025-122/2025-123), and finalized FY26 tax classification decisions (2025-124: adopt Factor 1; no open space discount, no residential or commercial exemptions).

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Approve employment agreement between the City of Amesbury and AFSCME Council 93, Local 939 (2025-114).
Passed unanimously, 7-0
Authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant for FY2026 (2025-115).
Passed unanimously, 7-0
Withdraw Orders 2025-121, 2025-122, and 2025-123 (Kimball Road land/alteration matters) without prejudice.
Passed unanimously, 7-0
Discharge the Budget & Finance Committee from its duty on the IAFF Local 1783 employment agreement matter (2025-125).
Passed 5-1-1
Approve employment agreement between the City of Amesbury and International Association of Firefighters Local 1783 (2025-125).
Passed unanimously, 7-0
Discharge the Budget & Finance Committee from its duty on the salary-transfer order (2025-126).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Approve transfer of $120,416.38 from FY26 Salary Reserve to various departmental Salaries & Wages accounts (2025-126).
Passed unanimously, 5-0
Reconsider and reopen the public hearing for the FY26 Annual Classification Hearing (2025-124).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Adopt Factor 1 for the FY26 Annual Classification Hearing (2025-124).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Adopt the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendation for no open space discount for FY26 (2025-124).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Adopt the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendation for no residential exemption for FY26 (2025-124).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Adopt the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendation for no commercial exemption for FY26 (2025-124).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Approve the FY26 Annual Classification Hearing order as presented (2025-124).
Passed unanimously, 6-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The Amesbury City Council meeting focused on several budgetary and personnel actions, tax classification decisions, and a set of Kimball Road orders that were withdrawn. The Council approved two collective bargaining agreements: the AFSCME contract (2025-114) and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1783 contract (2025-125). The Council also authorized accepting and expending a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant (2025-115) and approved a transfer of $120,416.38 from the FY26 Salary Reserve to departmental salary accounts (2025-126). Three Kimball Road-related orders (2025-121, 2025-122, 2025-123) were withdrawn without prejudice.

The Council reopened and reconsidered the FY26 Annual Classification Hearing (2025-124) after identifying a coding error affecting the elementary school. The Council adopted Factor 1 and approved the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendations to grant no open space discount, no residential exemption, and no commercial exemption for FY26, and then approved the classification order as presented. There was limited substantive public input (no public comment recorded), and brief presentations or remarks included a Ripple Fiber introduction and comments from the Mayor, CFO, and Fire Chief during the firefighters’ contract discussion.

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

Points of interest

Briefing on proposed city fiber internet build
Briefing on proposed city fiber internet build
PRESENTATION
0:11:00–0:33:54 ▶ Watch
Presentation by an internet-only broadband provider outlining its proposed fiber build for the city: company background, service tiers and symmetrical speeds, construction methods (aerial vs. underground), community outreach and timelines, local hiring, and installation/repair practices; presentation concluded with a short Q&A from councilors.
Discussion and vote on firefighter labor contract and budget transfer
Discussion and vote on firefighter labor contract and budget transfer
DEBATE
0:52:27–1:20:49 ▶ Watch
Council discharged the Budget & Finance committee and held an extended policy and budget discussion on a firefighter labor contract and related transfer request: city officials explained a 2% COLA, creation/elevation of captain positions (vs. a deputy) with net salary implications, expansion of a training bank tied to ISO insurance-rating goals, and expected overtime and staffing impacts; after Q&A the council voted to approve the transfer and contract.
Reconsideration of tax classification after school coding error
Reconsideration of tax classification after school coding error
DEBATE
1:29:13–1:37:16 ▶ Watch
Reopened the annual tax classification hearing after staff found a coding error that had marked the new elementary school as taxable; the CFO reviewed updated valuation figures (adjusting the estimated tax rate from about $14.97 to ~$15.06), and the council voted to keep a residential factor of one and to decline residential, commercial, and open-space exemptions.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:02:46 · APPROVE
7-0
motion by councillor Hagstrom to approve as presented
SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNCILLOR HOGUE
UNDER · Acting on minutes
@ 0:03:32 · APPROVE
6-0-1
motion by councillor Haguestrom to approve as presented
SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNCILOR GIL THEY
UNDER · Acting on minutes
@ 0:04:12 · APPROVE
6-0-1
motion by counselor Hags from to approve as presented
MOVED · COUNSELOR HAGS FROM · SECONDED · TO HAVE A SECOND COUNSELOR GIL DAY
UNDER · Acting on minutes
@ 0:05:08 · APPROVE
6-0-1
I move that we would approve the November and December list of licenses as presented
MOVED · CONCERT ACTION · SECONDED · SECOND BY COMES A RED FERN
UNDER · Licenses · 6. Monthly list of licenses – November and December
@ 0:47:15 · APPROVE
7-0
I would move to approve council order 2025-114 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCIL FREDERICK
@ 0:48:32 · APPROVE
7-0
I move to approve council bill 2025-115 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR FREDERIC
@ 0:50:23 · WITHDRAW
7-0
accept the request to withdraw bills 121 122 and 123 without prejudice
MOVED · COUNSELOR GILDAY · SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNSELOR HOAG
@ 0:52:55 · REFER
5-1-1
that we discharge uh bnf on uh 120 2025 125.
MOVED · COUNCIL RENALDI · SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNCIL REDFERN
@ 1:20:14 · APPROVE
7-0
i approved 2025 125 is presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR REDFERN
@ 1:22:33 · REFER
unanimous
I move to discharge BNF of its responsibilities
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERICK
@ 1:26:15 · APPROVE
5-0
I move that we approve 2025 dash 126 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:29:18 · OTHER
6-0
I move that we reopen the public hearing for 2025-124 and reconsider this bill.
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNSELOR HOAG
@ 1:33:44 · APPROVE
6-0
I move that we adopt a factor of one
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
@ 1:34:41 · APPROVE
6-0
I move to adopt the mayor's and assessors recommendation for no open space discount
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:35:30 · APPROVE
6-0
I move to adopt the mayor's and assessors recommendation for no residential exemption
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR FREDERIC
@ 1:36:06 · APPROVE
6-0
I move to adopt the mayor's and assessors recommendation for no commercial exemption
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR FREDERIC
@ 1:36:45 · APPROVE
6-0
I move to approve 2025-124 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · SECOND BY COUNSELOR FREDERICK
@ 1:37:34 · APPROVE
6-0
yes as a counselor that we adjourn
MOVED · COUNSELOR RINALDI · SECONDED · SECOND COUNSELOR HOGE
UNDER · Adjournment