City Council · February 17, 2026 · 6:30 PM
Budget and Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Subcommittee recommended forwarding multiple FY26 appropriations, grants, and earmarks — including funding for the AHS ball field (2026-027), a $200,000 transfer to Stabilization (2026-028), a $100,000 Free Cash request for City Hall costs (2026-029, returned without recommendation), Phase 2 of the downtown Parking Study earmark (2026-040), and a cemetery ordinance fee change (2026-041) — to the full City Council for consideration.
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Key decisions
Return 2026-034 (Last Call Foundation grant award) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-024 (five-year lease/purchase for new copier at 62 Friend) to the full City Council with a recommendation to withdraw without prejudice
Return 2026-027 (transfer from School Capital Accounts to fund AHS ball field project) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation (revised version)
Return 2026-028 (appropriate $200,000 from Free Cash to Stabilization Fund) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-029 (appropriate $100,000 from Free Cash for City Hall-related expenses) to the full City Council with no recommendation
Return 2026-030 (transfer from Salary Reserve to Police Sick and Vacation Buyback) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-031 (appropriate from Sewer Retained Earnings for Archbrook Culvert repair) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-032 (appropriate from Water Retained Earnings) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-033 (transfer $231,535 from Streets and Sidewalks Stabilization to DPW Streets and Sidewalks, revised) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-035 (Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women grant) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-036 (FY26 formula grant funding for COA) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-037 (FY26 MassWorks Grant) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-038 (FY26 earmark — Digitization and Preservation of Municipal Documents) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-039 (FY26 earmark — Chromebooks) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-040 (FY26 earmark — Parking Study Phase 2) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-041 (Ordinance to amend Chapter 237 Cemeteries — Jan 2026; fee changes) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Return 2026-042 (accept and expend North Shore HOME Consortium grant, $91,983) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation
Agenda
Matters for Discussion
2026-024. 2026-024
Request authorization for the Mayor to enter a five-year lease purchase agreement for a new multifunction copier at 62 Friend Street at $185.57/month using Sourcewell Contract 112124-KON.
Matters for Discussion
2026-026. 2026-026
Order to pay prior year invoices from the FY26 General Operating Budget; requests payment from current year operating budgets in accordance with M.G.L. c. 44 s. 64 (requires two-thirds council approval).
Matters for Discussion
2026-027. 2026-027
Request transfer of $37,772.59 from completed School capital accounts (AMS Boiler Replacement, CES Roof Repairs, CES Cafeteria Tile Floor Replacement) to fund the Diamond Field project at Amesbury High School.
Matters for Discussion
2026-028. 2026-028
Proposes appropriation of $200,000 from Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund to replenish the account following a prior transfer used to fund the FY26 operating budget (Council Order 2025-104).
Matters for Discussion
2026-029. 2026-029
Proposes appropriation of $100,000 from Free Cash to cover supplemental and incidental items identified after the move into the new City Hall at One Market Street.
Matters for Discussion
2026-030. 2026-030
Requests transfer of $103,376.95 from the FY26 Salary Reserve to Police and Treasurer/Collector Sick Leave Buy-Back accounts to cover retirement sick and vacation payouts.
Matters for Discussion
2026-031. 2026-031
Proposal to appropriate funds from Sewer Retained Earnings to the Sewer/Stormwater Enterprise Fund Pipe & Drain Replacement to cover emergency repairs to the Arch Brook Culvert.
Matters for Discussion
2026-032. 2026-032
Proposes appropriation from Water Retained Earnings for Water Consulting to fund engineering design for the Main Street Water Main Replacement project, supported by a $959,752 federal Community Project Funding award.
Matters for Discussion
2026-033. 2026-033
Requests transfer of $231,535 from Streets and Sidewalks Stabilization Fund to the DPW Downtown Business District Sidewalks account for improvements to ~28 downtown crosswalks, including ADA tactile pads and cohesive design.
Matters for Discussion
2026-034. 2026-034
Accept and expend a Last Call Foundation grant to purchase 40 Personal Safety Rope Systems (PSS) to equip uniformed firefighters with NFPA-compliant escape tools for self-rescue from elevated hazards.
Matters for Discussion
2026-035. 2026-035
Accept and expend grant funds from the Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women to fund annual compensation for a Council on Aging job trainee to support COA programs and services.
Matters for Discussion
2026-036. 2026-036
Accept and expend FY26 formula grant funding from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to support Council on Aging services; Amesbury allocation based on 4,611 adults aged 60+.
Matters for Discussion
2026-037. 2026-037
Accept and expend FY26 MassWorks Grant to improve Route 110 (Macy Street) between Elm Street/Clark's Road and the I-95 southbound off-ramp, including roadway, intersection, signal, multimodal, and utility upgrades to support housing projects.
Matters for Discussion
2026-038. 2026-038
Accept FY26 earmarked state funds for digitization and preservation of municipal documents to support a targeted records preservation and digitization effort.
Matters for Discussion
2026-039. 2026-039
Accept FY26 earmarked state funds to purchase Chromebooks for third-grade students in the Amesbury Public Schools.
Matters for Discussion
2026-040. 2026-040
Accept FY26 earmarked state funds to support Phase 2 of a parking study evaluating future parking capacity, demand, paid parking, handicapped parking, and management of surface lots.
Matters for Discussion
2026-041. 2026-041
Ordinance to amend Amesbury Code of Ordinances Chapter 237 (Cemeteries) to update provisions and codify a recommended fee schedule based on comparative analysis and the Cemetery Advisory Commission recommendations.
Matters for Discussion
2026-042. 2026-042
Authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a North Shore HOME Consortium grant of $91,983 to support a Homeowner Housing Rehabilitation Program for income-eligible homeowners, funding health-and-safety repairs on a reimbursement basis.