VOL. III · NO. 18 · MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026
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Home / Meetings /July 14, 2026
City Council · July 14, 2026

City Council Meeting

Council approved appointment 2026-116 (Mark Baggeroer to the Design Review Committee), accepted a drainage easement at 11 East Greenwood (2026-106), granted a utility easement at 10 Water Street (2026-107), and adopted amendments to the Solid Waste ordinance with a fee schedule (2026-109). Several budget and transfer orders — including a $1.6M borrowing for two fire pumpers (2026-117) and transfers related to Water and Public Health (2026-118, 2026-119) — were referred to the Committee of the Whole for further review.

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointment of Mark Baggeroer to the Design Review Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2029 (2026-116) approved
Passed 8-0
Acceptance of a drainage easement located at 11 East Greenwood Street (2026-106) approved
Passed 8-0
Grant of a utility easement at 10 Water Street to Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England, and authorize the Mayor to execute (2026-107) approved
Passed 8-0
Adoption of amendments to Chapter 392 Solid Waste and adoption of a schedule of fees (2026-109) approved with redline changes
Passed 7-1
Refer appropriation of $1,600,000 to purchase two fire pumpers (2026-117) to the Committee of the Whole
Passed 6-1-1
Refer transfer of $48,000 from Water Retained Earnings to Water Sick Leave Buy-Back (610-0450-5152) (2026-118) to the Committee of the Whole
Passed 5-2-1
Refer transfer of $15,000 from Budget Reserve to Public Health Salaries & Wages (100 0510 5110) (2026-119) to the Committee of the Whole
Passed 5-2-1
Refer request to declare various municipal vehicles and equipment surplus (2026-120) to the Committee of the Whole
Passed 5-2-1
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting opened with an appointment, several easement votes, and the adoption of a solid waste ordinance fee schedule. The council unanimously approved the appointment of Mark Baggeroer to the Design Review Committee (2026-116). The council also approved acceptance of a drainage easement at 11 East Greenwood Street (2026-106) and granting a utility easement at 10 Water Street (2026-107), each by 8-0 votes. The council adopted amendments to Chapter 392 (Solid Waste) and the accompanying fee schedule with the Committee of the Whole redline changes; that ordinance (2026-109) passed 7-1 after councilors debated the adequacy of the proposed $100 annual fee and urged it may need to increase over time. The Energy and Sustainability Committee's support for the change was read into the record.

On first-reading/business items the council referred several financial and administrative orders to the Committee of the Whole for further review rather than acting on them: the $1.6M appropriation to purchase two fire pumpers (2026-117) was referred (passed 6-1-1) after councilors noted supporting documents were missing from the website; a proposed $48,000 transfer from Water Retained Earnings to a water sick-leave buy-back account (2026-118), a $15,000 transfer from Budget Reserve to Public Health salaries (2026-119), and a request to declare various municipal vehicles and equipment surplus (2026-120) were all referred to committee (each passed 5-2-1). Council discussion also touched on posting requirements for bills and the timing of continuances; there were no public comments recorded during the meeting.

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

Points of interest

Councilor declines to lead the Pledge of Allegiance
Councilor declines to lead the Pledge of Allegiance
ANNOUNCEMENT
0:00:00–0:00:29 ▶ Watch
A councilor announces they will not lead or stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, citing recent Supreme Court decisions as the reason for their stance.
Discussion of proposed Solid Waste ordinance and bin fee
Discussion of proposed Solid Waste ordinance and bin fee
DEBATE
0:11:11–0:20:24 ▶ Watch
Councilors review a redlined amendment to the Solid Waste ordinance, hear the Energy/Environment committee's recommendation on a $100 annual fee for 65‑gallon collection bins, and debate whether the fee is too low, fairness concerns about city dumpsters, and incentives like composting; the council votes to approve the ordinance with the redline changes.
Debate over posting bills online and referral procedure
Debate over posting bills online and referral procedure
DEBATE
0:20:32–0:27:27 ▶ Watch
Councilors engage in an extended procedural debate after several first‑reading bills were not posted online; discussion covers legal posting requirements, transparency concerns, whether to continue or refer the bills, and multiple votes on referral to committee.
Joint Education Subcommittee report on leadership, budget, and records requests
Joint Education Subcommittee report on leadership, budget, and records requests
PRESENTATION
0:39:59–0:46:21 ▶ Watch
The Joint Education Subcommittee reports on district leadership transitions, ongoing contract negotiations, concerns about budget-driven program reductions and class sizes, the growing burden of public records requests, and agreed priorities for collaboration on fields and facilities.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:03:44 · APPROVE
Passed 8-0
Approve the appointment of Mark Baggeroer to the Design Review Committee for a term to expire February 28, 2029 (2026-116).
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE
@ 0:07:57 · APPROVE
Passed 8-0
Approve acceptance of a drainage easement from Thomas Barrasso for access, operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of drainage infrastructure on the property located at 11 East Greenwood Street, and authorize the Mayor to execute the acceptance on behalf of the City (2026-106).
MOVED · COUNCILOR HOGG · SECONDED · COUNCILOR FREDERIQUE
@ 0:10:31 · APPROVE
Passed 8-0
Approve granting a utility easement at 10 Water Street to Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England, and authorize the Mayor to execute the grant of easement on behalf of the City (2026-107).
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 0:13:38 · APPROVE
Passed 7-1
Approve amendments to Amesbury Code of Ordinances Chapter 392 (Solid Waste) and adopt the provided schedule of fees with the Committee of the Whole redline changes (2026-109).
MOVED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 0:23:42 · REFER
Passed 6-1-1
Refer the order to appropriate $1,600,000 to purchase two fire pumpers and incidental equipment (2026-117) to the Committee of the Whole for further review.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 0:34:30 · REFER
Passed 5-2-1
Refer the order authorizing a transfer of $48,000 from Water Retained Earnings to the Water Sick Leave Buy-Back account (610-0450-5152) to the Committee of the Whole (2026-118).
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE
@ 0:36:39 · REFER
Passed 5-2-1
Refer the order to authorize a transfer of $15,000 from the Budget Reserve to Public Health Salaries & Wages (100 0510 5110) to the Committee of the Whole (2026-119).
MOVED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 0:38:21 · REFER
Passed 5-2-1
Refer the order requesting the City Council declare various municipal vehicles and equipment surplus (2026-120) to the Committee of the Whole.
MOVED · COUNCILOR MANDEVILLE · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY