City Council · February 24, 2026 · 7:00 PM
**CANCELLED** City Council Meeting
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City Council will consider multiple mayoral reappointments to boards and commissions, numerous Second Reading orders and ordinances including a proposed change to state parking law acceptance, cemetery ordinance amendments, multiple budget appropriations and transfers, grant acceptances (MassWorks, HOME, others), and several National Grid pole/conduit public hearings along various streets.
Agenda
Minutes
4. Act on Minutes - Feb 7 and Feb 10, 2026
Act to approve the February 7, 2026 Budget Workshop Minutes and February 10, 2026 City Council Minutes.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-054. 2026-054 Reappointment of Paul Cote
Reappointment of Paul Cote to Trustees of War Memorials for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-055. 2026-055 Reappointment of James DeMars
Reappointment of James DeMars to Trustees of War Memorials for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-056. 2026-056 Reappointment of Anthony Rinaldi
Reappointment of Anthony Rinaldi to the Amesbury Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Committee for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-057. 2026-057 Reappointment of Joseph Fahey
Reappointment of Joseph Fahey to the Amesbury Community Preservation Committee for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-058. 2026-058 Reappointment of Margaret Miller
Reappointment of Margaret Miller to the Council on Aging for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-059. 2026-059 Reappointment of Crystal Hall
Reappointment of Crystal Hall to the Board of Assessors for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-060. 2026-060 Reappointment of Ann McKay
Reappointment of Ann McKay to the Board of Health for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-061. 2026-061 Reappointment of Ann Johnson
Reappointment of Ann Johnson to the Amesbury Cultural Council for term to expire February 28, 2029.
Second Readings
2026-025. 2026-025 Rescind MGL Chap 90 §20A½ / Accept §20A
Order to rescind acceptance of MGL c.90 §20A½ and accept MGL c.90 §20A to allow alternative parking enforcement methods, including potential mailing of violations (implementation requires Council approval).
Second Readings
2026-034. 2026-034 Accept Last Call Foundation Grant
Order to accept and expend a Last Call Foundation grant to purchase 40 Personal Safety Rope Systems for firefighters to enhance self-rescue capabilities and NFPA compliance.
Second Readings
2026-041. 2026-041 Amend Chapter 237 (Cemeteries)
Ordinance to amend Chapter 237 (Cemeteries) of the Amesbury Code to update provisions and codify a cemetery fee schedule per Cemetery Advisory Commission recommendations.
Second Readings
2026-029. 2026-029 Appropriate $100,000 from Free Cash for City Hall
Order to appropriate $100,000 from Free Cash for supplemental and incidental items related to occupancy and outfitting of the new City Hall at One Market Street.
Second Readings
2026-024. 2026-024 Five-year Copier Contract Authorization
Order requesting authorization for the Mayor to enter a five-year lease/purchase contract for a new multifunction copier at 62 Friend Street at $185.57/month.
Second Readings
2026-026. 2026-026 Pay Prior Year Invoices from FY26 Budget
Order to pay prior year invoices from the FY26 General Operating Budget (requires two-thirds Council approval) to cover operating expenses from prior fiscal years.
Second Readings
2026-027. 2026-027 Transfer from School Capital to AHS Ball Field Project
Order to transfer $37,772.59 from specified School capital accounts to fund the Diamond Field (ball field) project at Amesbury High School.
Second Readings
2026-028. 2026-028 Appropriate $200,000 to Stabilization Fund
Order to appropriate $200,000 from Free Cash to replenish the General Stabilization Fund per prior Council action.
Second Readings
2026-030. 2026-030 Transfer from Salary Reserve for Sick/Vacation Buyback
Order to transfer $103,376.95 from FY26 Salary Reserve to Police and Treasurer/Collector Sick Leave Buy-Back accounts to cover retirement sick and vacation payouts.
Second Readings
2026-031. 2026-031 Appropriate from Sewer Retained Earnings
Order to appropriate from Sewer Retained Earnings to Sewer/Stormwater Enterprise Fund Pipe & Drain Replacement to cover emergency repairs to the Arch Brook Culvert.
Second Readings
2026-032. 2026-032 Appropriate from Water Retained Earnings for Main St Water Main
Order to appropriate from Water Retained Earnings for engineering design consulting for the Main Street Water Main Replacement project, supporting upgrades tied to federal Community Project Funding.
Second Readings
2026-033. 2026-033 Transfer from Streets & Sidewalks Stabilization
Order to transfer $231,535 from Streets and Sidewalks Stabilization Fund to DPW Downtown Business District Sidewalks account for improvements to ~28 downtown crosswalks including ADA tactile pads and cohesive design.
Second Readings
2026-035. 2026-035 Accept Newburyport Society Grant
Order to accept and expend a Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women grant to fund annual compensation of a Council on Aging job trainee.
Second Readings
2026-036. 2026-036 Accept FY26 COA Formula Grant
Order to accept and expend FY26 formula grant funding from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to support Council on Aging services based on allocation formula.
Second Readings
2026-037. 2026-037 Accept FY26 MassWorks Grant
Order to accept and expend FY26 MassWorks Grant for Route 110 (Macy Street) improvements between Elm/Clark’s Road and I-95 off-ramp, including roadway, utilities, sidewalks, curb ramps, and signal upgrades to support nearby housing projects.
Second Readings
2026-038. 2026-038 Accept FY26 Earmark - Document Digitization
Order to accept FY26 earmarked state funding for digitization and preservation of municipal documents to support targeted records preservation and digitization efforts.
Second Readings
2026-039. 2026-039 Accept FY26 Earmark - Chromebooks
Order to accept FY26 earmarked state funding for Chromebooks for third-grade students in the Amesbury Public Schools.
Second Readings
2026-040. 2026-040 Accept FY26 Earmark - Parking Study Phase 2
Order to accept FY26 earmarked state funding to support a Phase 2 Parking Study to evaluate future parking capacity, demand, paid parking, handicapped parking, and management of surface lots.
Second Readings
2026-042. 2026-042 Accept North Shore HOME Consortium Grant
Order authorizing the Mayor to accept and expend North Shore HOME Consortium grant of $91,983 to support a Homeowner Housing Rehabilitation Program for income-eligible homeowners.
Public Hearings
2026-044. 2026-044 National Grid Pole Hearing - Market St.
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #30630076 on Market St.
Public Hearings
2026-045. 2026-045 National Grid Pole Hearing - Valley St.
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #30628351 on Valley St.
Public Hearings
2026-046. 2026-046 National Grid Pole Hearing - Winkley St.
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #30862343 on Winkley St.
Public Hearings
2026-047. 2026-047 National Grid Pole Hearing - Center St.
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #30630071-A on Center St.
Public Hearings
2026-048. 2026-048 National Grid Pole Hearing - Sanborn Terr/Center St.
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #30630071-B at Sanborn Terrace/Center St.
Public Hearings
2026-049. 2026-049 National Grid Pole/Conduit Hearing - Elm St (underground conduit)
National Grid pole/conduit hearing for work request WR #30884966 for underground conduit on Elm St.
Public Hearings
2026-050. 2026-050 National Grid Pole Hearing - Elm St
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #30884966 on Elm St.
Public Hearings
2026-051. 2026-051 National Grid Pole Hearing - Lake Attitash Rd.
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #31180928 on Lake Attitash Rd.
Public Hearings
2026-052. 2026-052 National Grid Pole Hearing - Dark Lane
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #31227587 on Dark Lane.
Public Hearings
2026-053. 2026-053 National Grid Pole Hearing - Elm St
National Grid pole hearing for work request WR #31199729 on Elm St.