VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
WEATHER — / —
Home / Meetings /March 4, 2026
City Council · March 4, 2026 · 7:00 PM

City Council Special Meeting

Council approved a package of mayoral reappointments (2026-054 through 2026-061), adopted amendments to the Cemetery Ordinance (2026-041), and authorized multiple grants and appropriations including the North Shore HOME grant (2026-042), the MassWorks grant (2026-037), the revised AHS ball field transfer (2026-027), and a $200,000 appropriation to Stabilization (2026-028). Public comment raised concerns about funding for 2026-029 (an appropriation from Free Cash) which the council deferred to a later meeting.

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Approved reappointments of Paul Cote (Trustees of War Memorials), James DeMars (Trustees of War Memorials), Anthony Rinaldi (Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Committee), Joseph Fahey (Community Preservation Committee), Margaret Miller (Council on Aging), Crystal Hall (Board of Assessors), Ann McKay (Board of Health), and Ann Johnson (Cultural Council) for terms to expire February 28, 2029.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Gilday; seconded by Councilor Mandeville)
Approved the February list of licenses.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Gilday; seconded by Councilor Mandeville)
Approved 2026-042, authorizing the Mayor to accept and expend the North Shore HOME Consortium grant in the amount of $91,983.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Stanganelli; seconded by Councilor Sullivan)
Approved 2026-025, rescinding prior acceptance of MGL Ch. 90 §20A½ and replacing with MGL Ch. 90 §20A-2025.
Approved 7-1 (motion by Councilor Stanganelli; seconded by Councilor Welch; Councilor Mandeville opposed)
Approved 2026-034 to accept and expend a Last Call Foundation grant award.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Mandeville; seconded by Councilor Frederique)
Approved 2026-041 (ordinance amendment to Amesbury Code Chapter 237 Cemeteries) with redline amendments from the Ordinance & Administration Committee.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Gilday; seconded by Councilor Welch)
Withdrew 2026-024 (order to authorize five-year copier contract) without prejudice.
Withdrawn 8-0 (motion by Councilor Stanganelli; seconded by Councilor Hogg)
Approved 2026-027 (transfer from School Capital Accounts to fund the AHS ball field project) as revised.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Mandeville; seconded by Councilor Gilday)
Approved 2026-028, appropriating $200,000 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Stanganelli; seconded by Councilor Gilday)
Approved 2026-030, transfer from Salary Reserve to Police Sick and Vacation Buyback.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Mandeville; seconded by Councilor Sullivan)
Approved 2026-031, appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Mandeville; seconded by Councilor Hogg)
Approved 2026-032, appropriation from Water Retained Earnings (to support $1M water main replacement grant match).
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Gilday; seconded by Councilor Mandeville)
Approved the revised 2026-033, transferring $231,535 from Streets & Sidewalks Stabilization to DPW Streets and Sidewalks.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Mandeville; seconded by Councilor Sullivan)
Approved 2026-035 to accept and expend a Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women grant.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Hogg; seconded by Councilor Frederique)
Approved 2026-036 to accept and expend FY26 formula grant funding for the Council on Aging.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Gilday; seconded by Councilor Hogg)
Approved 2026-037 to accept and expend the FY26 MassWorks grant (with developer match noted).
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Mandeville; seconded by Councilor Hogg)
Approved 2026-038 to accept FY26 earmark for Digitization and Preservation of Municipal Documents.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Hogg; seconded by Councilor Stanganelli)
Approved 2026-039 to accept FY26 earmark for Chromebooks.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Welch; seconded by Councilor Mandeville)
Approved 2026-040 to accept FY26 earmark for Parking Study Phase 2.
Approved 8-0 (motion by Councilor Sullivan; seconded by Councilor Hogg)
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The Council convened and handled a mix of appointments, ordinance amendments, grant acceptances, and budget transfers. The body approved a block of mayoral reappointments to boards and commissions (2026-054 through 2026-061) and authorized acceptance and expenditure of multiple grants, notably the North Shore HOME Consortium grant (2026-042) and a MassWorks award (2026-037). The Council also approved a series of budget and enterprise-related transfers and appropriations, including a revised transfer to fund the AHS ball field project (2026-027), an appropriation from Water Retained Earnings to support a $1M water main replacement grant match (2026-032), and a $200,000 appropriation to the Stabilization Fund (2026-028). A motion to withdraw the five-year copier lease authorization (2026-024) was passed without prejudice.

Councilors adopted an amendment to the City Code Chapter 237 (cemeteries) as presented by the Ordinance & Administration Committee, with four specified redline revisions incorporated into the ordinance (changes to planting language, a statutory citation correction, a liability bullet regarding permitted decorations, and striking Section 10). There was a substantive exchange with the Police Chief on security and funding in relation to 2026-025 (rescind/replace MGL Chapter 90 language), which passed 7-1. During public comment the council received concerns and an emailed statement about 2026-029 (an order to appropriate $100,000 from Free Cash); that item was objected to and moved to the March 10 meeting for further consideration. Several earmarked and formula grants for municipal programs (digitization, Chromebooks, COA funding, and others) were also accepted. No public hearings were held at this meeting.

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

Points of interest

Amendment to minutes to note remote attendance during snowstorm
Amendment to minutes to note remote attendance during snowstorm
OTHER
0:00:50–0:04:37 ▶ Watch
Council discussion about whether remote attendees should be recorded in the minutes after two senior staff members dialed in because of snowy road conditions; council voted to amend and approve the budget-workshop minutes to note the CFO and chief of staff dialed in.
Explanation and timeline for school committee and library board vacancies
Explanation and timeline for school committee and library board vacancies
ANNOUNCEMENT
0:13:12–0:15:47 ▶ Watch
Council president explained legal findings and next steps for multiple vacancies: which past election pool to consider for one school committee seat, posting and 30‑day application periods, and scheduled joint meetings to fill three vacancies (dates announced).
Public comment and school committee remarks on school budget and staffing impacts
Public comment and school committee remarks on school budget and staffing impacts
PUBLIC COMMENT
0:22:46–0:26:18 ▶ Watch
Two public comments addressed school funding: a written comment urging use of free cash to retain educators, followed by a school committee member describing recent funding trends, the impact of level funding, and questions about expense increases and service cuts.
Presentation and Q&A on HOME Consortium (CDBG) grant
Presentation and Q&A on HOME Consortium (CDBG) grant
PRESENTATION
0:29:15–0:34:04 ▶ Watch
Presentation and Q&A on accepting a HOME Consortium grant for affordable housing: the interim program director summarized the HOME program's uses (rehab, down‑payment/closing cost assistance, rental assistance), and councilors asked about an upcoming meeting and how homeowners apply; council approved accepting the grant.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:04:22 · AMEND
Seven in favor, one abstain
add a statement that Marissa Bautista CFO and Pam Toby chief of staff dialed into the meeting because of the snowy road conditions
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
UNDER · Motion to amend Feb 7 minutes (attendance) & vote
@ 0:05:06 · APPROVE
Seven in favor, one abstain
motion to accept the minutes of the February 2nd 7th budget meeting workshop
UNDER · Motion to accept Feb 7 minutes (as amended)
@ 0:08:08 · AMEND
Unanimous
i move to accept the meeting minutes of february 10 with the spelling correction for the referral and oh for two as stated
MOVED · COUNCIL GILDAY
UNDER · Motion to accept Feb 10 minutes (with correction)
@ 0:11:44 · APPROVE
Motion passes (recorded as passed)
I move to accept bills 2026-054 sequentially numbered through 2026-061 the various reappointments of these highly qualified volunteers in our community
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · SECOND
@ 0:12:39 · APPROVE
Unanimous
I'll make that motion to accept this February February list of licenses for the two new applicants and more than two new licenses rather and the one renewal.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE
UNDER · Licenses · 6. Monthly list of licenses – February
@ 0:33:27 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
Councillor Stanginelli move that the City Council approved 2026042 the order to accept and expend the North Shore home consortium grant in the amount of $91,983 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
@ 0:45:20 · APPROVE
Approved 7-1
i move that city council approve 2026-025 to rescind the mass general law chapter 90 section 20a and a half being replaced with mass general law chapter 90 section 20a 22-2025 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WELCH
@ 0:47:37 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
make a motion to accept 2026-034 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERICK
@ 0:51:17 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
accept Bill 2026-041 with the red line amendments
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
@ 0:53:57 · CONTINUE
(objection)
@ 0:55:14 · WITHDRAW
Motion carries 8-0
(vote to withdraw without prejudice)
@ 0:57:14 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
make a motion to accept 2026-026 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR MANDEVILLE
@ 0:58:22 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
councilman make a motion to accept 2026-027 as revised
MOVED · COUNCILLOR MANDEVILLE
@ 0:59:17 · APPROVE
Recorded as unanimous
I move that City Council approved 2026-028 regarding the appropriation of 200,000 from free cash to the stabilization fund as presented
MOVED · NULL
@ 0:47:37 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
make a motion to accept 2026-030 as presented
MOVED · NULL
@ 1:02:03 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
make a motion to accept 2026-031 as presented
MOVED · NULL
@ 1:04:19 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
move to accept bill 2026-032 as presented
MOVED · COUNCIL GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR MANDEVILLE
@ 1:06:46 · AMEND
Unanimous (then final approval 8-0)
make a motion to accept the red line version of 2026-033
MOVED · COUNCIL MANDEVILLE · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR FREDERIQUE
@ 1:07:04 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
make a motion to accept the revised version of 2026-033
MOVED · COUNCILOR · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
@ 1:08:13 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
we accept 2026-035 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:04:19 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
i move that we accept bill 2026-036 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:10:07 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
Make a motion to approve 2026-037 as presented
MOVED · NULL
@ 1:11:34 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
we accept 2026-038 as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
@ 1:12:30 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
i would like to move to accept 2026-039 as presented
MOVED · NULL
@ 1:13:30 · APPROVE
Motion carries 8-0
motion to accept 2026-040 is presented
MOVED · NULL · SECONDED · COUNCIL HOAG
@ 1:14:09 · OTHER
I will accept a motion to adjourn
UNDER · No first readings tonight; Motion to adjourn