VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /May 26, 2026
City Council · May 26, 2026

City Council Meeting

Council approved a $513,316.36 FY2027 capital appropriation (2026-092), set FY27 revolving fund spending limits (2026-093), reserved FY2027 Community Preservation Act funds for open space, historic resources, and housing (2026-094), authorized SAFE and Senior SAFE grants and a $15,000 ARSL library grant (2026-095, 2026-096), approved a $22,881.86 transfer from the Greenleaf Supportive Day fund to the Council on Aging (2026-097), and appropriated $55,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings for an emergency wastewater treatment plant repair (2026-098); Resolution 2026-086 (Housing Production Plan 2024–2029) was continued to June 23 pending Planning Board recommendation and referral to the Amesbury Housing Trust.

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Approved the May list of licenses and permits.
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-092: Appropriate $513,316.36 from Free Cash to fund FY2027 capital expenditures.
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-093: Establish spending limits for departmental revolving funds pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §53E½ for FY27.
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-094: Reserve FY2027 Community Preservation Fund estimated revenues: $59,427 to Open Space & Recreation, $59,427 to Historic Resources, and $59,427 to Community Housing.
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-095: Authorize the Mayor to accept and expend EOPSS/DFS SAFE grant ($6,727.92) and Senior SAFE grant ($2,859.19).
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-096: Authorize the Mayor to accept and expend the ARSL Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries grant in the amount of $15,000.
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-097: Transfer $22,881.86 from the Greenleaf Supportive Day Revolving Fund to the Council on Aging Revolving Fund.
Approved 8-0
Approved 2026-098: Appropriate $55,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings to Sludge Disposal, Repair & Maintenance Other Equipment and Consulting accounts for emergency wastewater treatment plant repair.
Approved 8-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting on May 26, 2026 focused on a series of fiscal and grant actions recommended by the Standing Committee of the Whole. Councilors approved an FY2027 capital appropriation of $513,316.36 from Free Cash, established FY27 spending limits for departmental revolving funds, and reserved FY2027 Community Preservation Act funds split among open space, historic resources, and community housing. The Council also authorized acceptance and expenditure of two EOPSS/DFS SAFE program grants and a $15,000 ARSL library grant, and approved a $22,881.86 transfer from the now-ended Greenleaf Supportive Day Revolving Fund to the Council on Aging Revolving Fund. An emergency sewage treatment plant repair was funded by a $55,000 appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings.

A Resolution to adopt the Housing Production Plan 2024–2029 (2026-086) was continued to June 23 pending a Planning Board recommendation and referral to the Amesbury Housing Trust. Public comment included a resident expressing interest in joining the Cemetery Advisory Commission; councilors followed up with questions about her participation in the appointment process. President Redfern noted plans to move City Council meetings to the new City Hall and announced an August recess.

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

Points of interest

Resident speaks about cemetery advisory committee application
Resident speaks about cemetery advisory committee application
PUBLIC COMMENT
0:03:08–0:07:22 ▶ Watch
A resident spoke during public comment about applying to the cemetery advisory committee, explaining her personal connection to local cemeteries and her interest in preservation, maintenance, and accessibility; councilors asked procedural questions about the appointment process and next steps.
Discussion and continuance of the housing production plan
Discussion and continuance of the housing production plan
DEBATE
0:07:29–0:15:22 ▶ Watch
Councilors extensively discussed the Housing Production Plan (2024–2029), including a revised version, the need to refer it to the Planning Board and the Housing Trust, and suitable continuation dates; the council amended the continuance and unanimously voted to continue consideration to June 23 pending those recommendations.
Transfer of Greenleaf Supportive Day funds to Council on Aging
Transfer of Greenleaf Supportive Day funds to Council on Aging
OTHER
0:23:30–0:25:40 ▶ Watch
Council voted to transfer $22,881.86 from the Greenleaf Supportive Day Revolving Fund to the Council on Aging Revolving Fund; councilors noted the supportive day program has ended and that the funds cannot practically be refunded to former participants.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:02:48 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve the May list of licenses and permits.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
UNDER · Licenses · 7. Licenses and Permits – May
@ 0:16:08 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-092: Appropriate $513,316.36 from Free Cash to fund fiscal year 2027 capital expenditures as listed.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN
@ 0:17:48 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-093: Establish spending limits for departmental revolving funds pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, Section 53E½ for FY27.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WELCH · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 0:19:43 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-094: Reserve FY2027 Community Preservation Fund estimated annual revenues by allocating $59,427 (or 10% estimated revenue) to each of Open Space and Recreation Reserve, Historic Resources Reserve, and Community Housing Reserve.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 0:21:14 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-095: Authorize the Mayor to accept and expend the EOPSS/DFS SAFE program grant ($6,727.92) and the Senior SAFE program grant ($2,859.19) for FY26.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WELCH · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
@ 0:22:54 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-096: Authorize the Mayor to accept and expend the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries grant in the amount of $15,000.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HOGG · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
@ 0:24:08 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-097: Transfer $22,881.86 from the Greenleaf Supportive Day Revolving Fund to the Council on Aging Revolving Fund.
MOVED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE
@ 0:26:26 · APPROVE
Approved 8-0
Approve 2026-098: Appropriate $55,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings to Sludge Disposal, Repair & Maintenance Other Equipment and Consulting accounts to fund an emergency wastewater treatment plant repair.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE