VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
WEATHER — / —
Home / Meetings /June 16, 2026
City Council · June 16, 2026

City Council Standing Committee of the Whole Meeting

Committee forwarded a $1,199,660 amendment to a Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council grant for the Washington Landing Boat Launch restoration (2026-103), advanced an inter-departmental transfers order (2026-110 Second Revision totaling $836,357), and recommended establishing a Solid Waste Enterprise Fund (2026-108) alongside amendments and a fee schedule to Chapter 392 Solid Waste (2026-109). The committee also recommended acceptance of a $10,000 FY26 earmark for Amesbury High School soft-shell helmet covers (2026-102).

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Forwarded 2026-102 (accept FY26 earmark $10,000 for soft-shell helmet covers for Amesbury High School) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Forwarded 2026-103 (accept amendment to FY2024 Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council grant of $1,199,660 for the Washington Landing Boat Launch Facility Restoration and Revitalization Project) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Forwarded 2026-104 (transfer remaining HVAC Replacement Capital Account balance for Elm Street Fire Station floor repair) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Forwarded 2026-105 (transfer $2,267.04 from the SAFER Grant fund to the General Fund) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Forwarded 2026-106 (accept a drainage easement located at 11 East Greenwood Street) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Forwarded 2026-107 (grant a utility easement at 10 Water Street) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Forwarded 2026-109 (Amend Chapter 392 Solid Waste and adopt a schedule of fees, with Councilor Gilday's redline edits included) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed 5-1
Forwarded 2026-108 (establish a Solid Waste Enterprise Fund pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §53F½) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Substituted in committee and then forwarded the Second Revision of 2026-110 (inter-departmental transfers FY26, second revision dated June 16, 5:22 PM, total $836,357) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
Substitution passed unanimously, 6-0; forwarding passed unanimously, 6-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The Standing Committee of the Whole reviewed a range of administrative, capital, and ordinance matters on June 16, 2026. Major items included an amended Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council grant of $1,199,660 for the Washington Landing Boat Launch restoration and revitalization (2026-103), establishment of a Solid Waste Enterprise Fund (2026-108), and proposed changes to Chapter 392 Solid Waste including a fee schedule (2026-109). The committee also considered several transfers and capital items: a substituted Second Revision of the inter-departmental transfers order (2026-110) totaling $836,357, a transfer to repair the Elm Street Fire Station floor (2026-104), and a small SAFER grant transfer ($2,267.04) to the General Fund (2026-105).

Discussion highlights included operational details and follow-up questions: Superintendent McAndrews confirmed helmet covers funded by the $10,000 earmark would be ordered for every student athlete (2026-102); Chief Bailey said the Washington Landing project local match would come from free cash (2026-103); Fire Chief Serino described the Elm Street floor repair’s purpose to return an engine and ambulance to that station (2026-104); and staff explained legal review and historical plans supporting acceptance of a drainage easement at 11 East Greenwood Street (2026-106) and a utility easement at 10 Water Street (2026-107). For the solid waste changes, councilors discussed sticker theft, tracking via numbered stickers, possible future fee adjustments, and outreach strategies; Councilor Gilday provided redline edits to the ordinance which were forwarded with a positive recommendation (2026-109). All substantive items were forwarded to the full City Council with positive recommendations except where noted by recorded opposing votes on procedural scheduling and the single 5-1 committee vote on the solid waste ordinance edits. Public comment time had no speakers.

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

Points of interest

Updated seaport grant and scope increase for Washington Landing boat launch
Updated seaport grant and scope increase for Washington Landing boat launch
PRESENTATION
0:05:40–0:09:23 ▶ Watch
Administration and the harbormaster explained an amended Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council grant increasing funding for the Washington Landing boat launch project after design and engineering identified additional needs; councilors asked how the increased match would be covered and were told the city would use free cash.
Detailed review of Elm Street fire station floor repairs and operational impacts
Detailed review of Elm Street fire station floor repairs and operational impacts
DEBATE
0:09:27–0:19:12 ▶ Watch
The fire chief detailed plans to use a remaining HVAC capital balance plus about $70,000 in insurance proceeds to fund roughly $90–100K in apparatus‑bay floor repairs at the Elm Street fire station, described findings from an engineering study, and explained operational impacts including returning an engine and ambulance to Elm Street, continued reliance on a neighboring town's apparatus, and plans for future apparatus replacement funding (FY28).
Extensive discussion of new $100 trash‑sticker ordinance and implementation plan
Extensive discussion of new $100 trash‑sticker ordinance and implementation plan
DEBATE
0:32:40–1:05:35 ▶ Watch
Staff presented a proposed amendment to the solid‑waste ordinance to establish a $100 annual sticker for residential trash bins (properties of six units or fewer) with sales starting in September and required collection in October; councilors engaged in extended discussion about implementation logistics (stolen/replaceable stickers, tracking, unaccepted streets), outreach, possible discounts or compost incentives, code renumbering, and referred the ordinance to full council with a sponsor’s marked‑up edits.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:04:51 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-102 (accept FY26 earmark of $10,000 to purchase soft-shell helmet covers for Amesbury High School) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
@ 0:08:52 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-103 (accept amendment to FY2024 Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council grant in the amount of $1,199,660 for the Washington Landing Boat Launch Facility Restoration and Revitalization Project) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
@ 0:18:43 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-104 (transfer the remaining HVAC Replacement Capital Account balance for Elm Street Fire Station floor repair) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
@ 0:21:25 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-105 (transfer $2,267.04 from the SAFER Grant fund to the General Fund) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR REDFERN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
@ 0:26:41 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-106 (accept a drainage easement from Thomas Barrasso for access, operation, maintenance and repair of drainage infrastructure at 11 East Greenwood Street) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
@ 0:30:04 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-107 (grant a utility easement at 10 Water Street to Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England Inc.) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
@ 1:02:22 · APPROVE
Passed 5-1
Return 2026-109 (Amend Amesbury Code of Ordinances Chapter 392 Solid Waste and adopt a schedule of fees — including Councilor Gilday's redline edits and a copy of the marked-up ECODE document) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
@ 1:07:08 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return 2026-108 (establish a Solid Waste Enterprise Fund pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §53F½) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR REDFERN
@ 1:12:27 · AMEND
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Substitute the revised version of 2026-110 (inter-departmental transfers FY26 — Second Revision dated June 16, 2026, 5:22 PM, total $836,357) as the committee version for consideration.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM
@ 1:13:36 · APPROVE
Passed unanimously, 6-0
Return the Second Revision of 2026-110 (inter-departmental transfers FY26, time stamped June 16, 2026 at 5:22 PM, total $836,357) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE