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.
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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 the February list of licenses.
Approved 2026-042, authorizing the Mayor to accept and expend the North Shore HOME Consortium grant in the amount of $91,983.
Approved 2026-025, rescinding prior acceptance of MGL Ch. 90 §20A½ and replacing with MGL Ch. 90 §20A-2025.
Approved 2026-034 to accept and expend a Last Call Foundation grant award.
Approved 2026-041 (ordinance amendment to Amesbury Code Chapter 237 Cemeteries) with redline amendments from the Ordinance & Administration Committee.
Withdrew 2026-024 (order to authorize five-year copier contract) without prejudice.
Approved 2026-027 (transfer from School Capital Accounts to fund the AHS ball field project) as revised.
Approved 2026-028, appropriating $200,000 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund.
Approved 2026-030, transfer from Salary Reserve to Police Sick and Vacation Buyback.
Approved 2026-031, appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings.
Approved 2026-032, appropriation from Water Retained Earnings (to support $1M water main replacement grant match).
Approved the revised 2026-033, transferring $231,535 from Streets & Sidewalks Stabilization to DPW Streets and Sidewalks.
Approved 2026-035 to accept and expend a Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women grant.
Approved 2026-036 to accept and expend FY26 formula grant funding for the Council on Aging.
Approved 2026-037 to accept and expend the FY26 MassWorks grant (with developer match noted).
Approved 2026-038 to accept FY26 earmark for Digitization and Preservation of Municipal Documents.
Approved 2026-039 to accept FY26 earmark for Chromebooks.
Approved 2026-040 to accept FY26 earmark for Parking Study Phase 2.
Agenda
Mayoral Appointments
2026-054. 2026-054
Reappointment of Paul Cote to Trustees of War Memorials for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-055. 2026-055
Reappointment of James DeMars to Trustees of War Memorials for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-056. 2026-056
Reappointment of Anthony Rinaldi to the Amesbury Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-057. 2026-057
Reappointment of Joseph Fahey to the Amesbury Community Preservation Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-058. 2026-058
Reappointment of Margaret Miller to the Council on Aging for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-059. 2026-059
Reappointment of Crystal Hall to the Board of Assessors for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-060. 2026-060
Reappointment of Ann McKay to the Board of Health for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Mayoral Appointments
2026-061. 2026-061
Reappointment of Ann Johnson to the Amesbury Cultural Council for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Licenses
6. Monthly list of licenses – February
Monthly list of licenses for February.
Second Readings
2026-025. 2026-025
Order to rescind acceptance of MGL Chap 90 sec 20A ½ and replace with MGL Chap 90 sec 20A to allow alternative parking enforcement methods (may allow mailing violations); Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-034. 2026-034
Order to accept and expend a Last Call Foundation grant award to purchase 40 Personal Safety Rope Systems for firefighters; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-041. 2026-041
Ordinance to amend Chapter 237 (Cemeteries) of the Amesbury Code of Ordinances to update provisions and codify a fee schedule; Mayor and Councilor sponsors.
Second Readings
2026-029. 2026-029
Order to appropriate $100,000 from Free Cash to cover supplemental and incidental items following move into new City Hall; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-024. 2026-024
Order to authorize the Mayor to enter a five-year lease-purchase contract for a new multifunction copier at 62 Friend Street; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-026. 2026-026
Order to pay prior year invoices from FY26 General Operating Budget for operating expenses rendered in prior fiscal years; requires two-thirds vote; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-027. 2026-027
Order to transfer $37,772.59 from specified School capital accounts to fund the Diamond Field project at Amesbury High School; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-028. 2026-028
Order to appropriate $200,000 from Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund to replenish the account; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-030. 2026-030
Order to transfer $103,376.95 from FY26 Salary Reserve to Police and Treasurer/Collector Sick Leave Buy-Back accounts to cover retirement payouts; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-031. 2026-031
Order to appropriate from Sewer Retained Earnings to Sewer/Stormwater Enterprise Fund Pipe & Drain Replacement for emergency repairs to Arch Brook Culvert; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-032. 2026-032
Order to appropriate from Water Retained Earnings to Water Consulting for engineering design of Main Street Water Main Replacement project (federal funding noted); Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-033. 2026-033
Order to transfer $231,535 from Streets and Sidewalks Stabilization to DPW Downtown Business District Sidewalks for downtown crosswalk improvements and ADA tactile pads; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-035. 2026-035
Order to accept and expend a Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women grant to fund a Council on Aging job trainee; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-036. 2026-036
Order to accept and expend FY26 formula grant funding from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to support Council on Aging services based on state formula; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-037. 2026-037
Order to accept and expend FY26 MassWorks Grant for Route 110 (Macy Street) improvements including roadway, intersection, signals, sidewalks, ADA ramps, and utilities to support housing projects; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-038. 2026-038
Order to accept FY26 earmark for digitization and preservation of municipal documents to support targeted records preservation and digitization; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-039. 2026-039
Order to accept FY26 earmark for Chromebooks to purchase Chromebooks for third-grade students in Amesbury Public Schools; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-040. 2026-040
Order to accept FY26 earmark for Parking Study Phase 2 to evaluate future parking capacity/demand and management recommendations; Mayor sponsor.
Second Readings
2026-042. 2026-042
Order to authorize 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; Mayor sponsor.