City Council Meeting

The City Council meeting opened with several mayoral appointments, reappointing and appointing members to the Community Preservation Committee and the Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Committee; all appointment votes passed unanimously. Two residents raised public concerns about sidewalk conditions on Merrimac Street; Council and the Mayor confirmed the Department of Public Works handles survey and repair matters. The President noted that the Fiscal Conditions Report will be televised again and that budget hearings will be scheduled on various weeknights.

On substantive business the Council acted on zoning, infrastructure, and administrative matters. The Council accepted Planning Board redline edits and unanimously approved An Order to amend the Amesbury Zoning Ordinance Section XI.K.3 (Accessory Dwelling Units) (2026-068). The Council also voted to send a Council memo commenting on the 27 Kimball Road 40B application (2026-069). A large group of National Grid pole and conduit petitions for multiple streets (including Market St, Elm St, Mill St, Valley St, Main St, Lake Attitash Rd, Center St, Sanborn Terrace, Winkley St, Dark Lane and others) were opened as public hearings and each was approved in accordance with DPW Director stipulations. The Council approved Administrative Order AO 2026-01 (Department of Public Wellness COA) and referred several fee and ordinance bills (2026-079 through 2026-085) to the Committee of the Whole for a second reading; the Housing Production Plan resolution (2026-086) was referred to the Amesbury Housing Authority and Committee of the Whole for review. The meeting concluded after approving routine license lists and committee minutes.