VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /March 10, 2026
City Council · March 10, 2026 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council approved a reduced Free Cash appropriation (2026-029) of $55,000 and confirmed three appointments to local authorities (2026-062; 2026-063; 2026-064, with a residency waiver). The council also referred a proposed amendment to Accessory Dwelling Unit rules (2026-068) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee and the Planning Board, scheduling a public hearing for April 14, 2026.

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Reappointed Lyndsey Haight to Amesbury Housing Authority for a term to expire December 31, 2028.
Approved 8-0
Reappointed Ralph Noon to Amesbury Housing Authority for a term to expire December 31, 2029.
Approved 8-0
Waived the residency provision of Section 9-5 Subset A of the city charter for an appointment (vote to waive residency requirement).
Approved 8-0
Reappointed Thomas Champion to the Trustees of War Memorials for a term to expire February 28, 2029 (following waiver of residency requirement).
Approved 8-0
Approved the March monthly list of licenses.
Approved 8-0
Accepted An Order to appropriate from Free Cash (2026-029) amended to $55,000 (reduced from $100,000).
Approved 6-2
Referred 2026-065 (FY26 legislative earmark grant for pocket park improvements) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading scheduled.
Referred 8-0
Referred 2026-066 (transfers from Budget Reserve to Revaluation Services and Legal Services) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading scheduled.
Referred 8-0
Referred 2026-067 (MIIA wellness grant acceptance) to the Budget & Finance Committee with a second reading scheduled.
Referred 8-0
Referred 2026-068 (proposed amendment to Accessory Dwelling Unit provisions, Section XI.K.3) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee and the Planning Board with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 14, 2026.
Referred 8-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting opened with roll call and brief announcements, then moved to mayoral appointments and administrative business. The council unanimously approved two Housing Authority reappointments (2026-062 and 2026-063) and voted to waive the charter residency requirement to allow the reappointment of Thomas Champion to the Trustees of the War Memorials (2026-064), which was then approved. The March monthly list of licenses was also approved unanimously.

A contested budget item drew the most substantive discussion: 2026-029, an Order to appropriate funds from Free Cash. The mayor proposed reducing the original $100,000 request to $55,000; after discussion about furniture budgets, the cost to rehabilitate old City Hall, and allowable uses of free cash, the council accepted the amended $55,000 appropriation on a 6-2 vote with two councilors opposed. Members also referred several first-reading items to committee for further review: a $20,000 legislative earmark for pocket-park improvements (2026-065), transfers from Budget Reserve for revaluation and legal services (2026-066), acceptance of an MIIA wellness grant (2026-067) — each sent to Budget & Finance — and a proposed amendment to the Accessory Dwelling Unit zoning provision (2026-068), which was referred to Ordinance & Administration and the Planning Board with a public hearing set for April 14. Public comment included concerns about the Free Cash appropriation and remarks about school facilities; councilors responded with discussion of facility condition, funding priorities, and procedural clarifications.

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

Points of interest

Waiver of residency to allow reappointment to War Memorials trustees
Waiver of residency to allow reappointment to War Memorials trustees
DEBATE
0:03:30–0:07:32 ▶ Watch
Council discussed and unanimously approved a reappointment to the Trustees of the War Memorials while voting to waive the charter residency requirement so a nonresident veteran could continue serving; councillors asked procedural questions about the waiver before the vote.
Residents urge council to oppose $100K appropriation citing school budget optics
Residents urge council to oppose $100K appropriation citing school budget optics
PUBLIC COMMENT
0:18:52–0:25:43 ▶ Watch
A written public comment opposing a $100,000 appropriation for City Hall closeout work was read aloud, followed by an in-person speaker who raised similar concerns about timing and optics given recent school budget cuts; both urged the council to reject the request.
Mayor explains closeout funding need; council approves reduced $55K appropriation
Mayor explains closeout funding need; council approves reduced $55K appropriation
DEBATE
0:33:38–0:56:35 ▶ Watch
The mayor presented background on a $100,000 closeout request for a recently purchased building, explained contingency and cost estimates, proposed cutting the request to $55,000, answered council questions about specific line items (furniture, shutters, records, HVAC), and the council voted 6–2 to approve the amended $55,000 appropriation.
In-depth procedural debate over council rules posting, 30‑day requirement, and hybrid meetings
In-depth procedural debate over council rules posting, 30‑day requirement, and hybrid meetings
DEBATE
0:57:23–1:15:12 ▶ Watch
Extended discussion about proposed revisions to the City Council rules focused on which redline version was the official draft, confusion over multiple documents posted on the city website, the 30‑day posting requirement, and whether hybrid/remote meeting language should be included; council agreed to continue the item for final vote at the next meeting.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:03:00 · APPROVE
Approved unanimous
the City Council accepts bills 2026-062 and 2026-063 as presented.
SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGUE
@ 0:06:19 · OTHER
Approved unanimous
to waive the resident provision of section 9-5 sub set a of the two city chala relative to the appointment of Thomas champion to the trustees of the war memorials
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINALLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
@ 0:07:10 · APPROVE
Approved unanimous
I move to accept bill 2026-064 as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
@ 0:07:50 · APPROVE
Approved unanimous
move to approve the monthly list of licenses as presented
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WELCH
UNDER · Licenses · 6. Monthly list of licenses 1 March
@ 0:33:14 · OTHER
Approved 7-1
waive the rules and take 2026-029 out of order
SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 0:55:38 · APPROVE
Approved 6-2
we accept bill 2026-029 with the amended number of $55,000 per the mayor's memo dated March 9
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
@ 1:14:48 · CONTINUE
Approved unanimous
move to continue 2026-008 to our next regularly scheduled city council meeting on the 24th.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:16:05 · REFER
Approved unanimous
refer 2026-065 to committee with a second reading on March 24
MOVED · COUNCILLOR FREDERICK · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
@ 1:17:19 · REFER
Approved unanimous
refer 2026-066 to Budget & Finance with a second reading on March 24
MOVED · COUNCILLOR FREDERICK · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WELCH
@ 1:18:44 · REFER
Approved unanimous
refer 2026-067 to Budget & Finance with a second reading on March 24
MOVED · COUNCILLOR FREDERICK · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:20:38 · REFER
Approved unanimous
refer bill 2026-068 to the ordinance and administration committee and to the Planning Board and set a public hearing for April 14th
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
@ 1:25:52 · OTHER
Approved unanimous
motion to adjourn
MOVED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
UNDER · Adjournment