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Home / Meetings /September 8, 2026
City Council · September 8, 2026 · 7:00 PM

**AMENDED** City Council Meeting

Council appointed Jonathan Greeno to the Board of Assessors (2026-124), appointed Travis Souther to the Trustees of War Memorials (2026-125), and reappointed Jennifer E. Smith as City Clerk (2026-127); the council accepted Councillor Claudel Frederique’s resignation and declared the District 2 seat vacant (2026-132). The council approved a slate of new business licenses and accepted and referred a late-filed order to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for neighborhood traffic calming (2026-133) to the Committee of the Whole.

occurred Agenda PDF Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointed Jonathan Greeno to the Board of Assessors for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Unanimous
Appointed Travis Souther to the Trustees of the War Memorials for a term to expire February 28, 2029.
Unanimous
Reappointed Jennifer E. Smith as City Clerk for a term to expire October 10, 2029.
Unanimous
Accepted the resignation of Councillor Claudel Frederique and declared the District 2 council seat vacant and open for application.
Unanimous
Approved six new business licenses on the September 8th list (including Stable Pizza; The Holy Ravioli; Sunny Jack's Coffee; Chimchurri del Cazador).
Unanimous
Referred ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) to the Committee of the Whole for further review on September 15.
Unanimous
Referred order 2026-129 (local option to waive dog license fee for residents aged 70+) to the Committee of the Whole for further review on September 15.
Unanimous
Referred order 2026-130 (accept and expend $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration grant for COA kitchen improvements) to the Committee of the Whole for further review on September 15.
Unanimous
Referred order 2026-131 (payment from FY27 operating budget for listed prior-year invoices) to the Committee of the Whole for further review on September 15.
Unanimous
Accepted a late-filed council item (2026-133) and referred 2026-133 (an order to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for neighborhood traffic calming measures) to the Committee of the Whole for further review on September 15.
Unanimous
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE TRANSCRIPT

The council conducted appointments and personnel business, approved a set of new business licenses, accepted a council resignation and declared the seat vacant, and referred several orders and ordinances to the Committee of the Whole for further review. Appointments confirmed included Jonathan Greeno to the Board of Assessors (term to Feb. 28, 2029) and Travis Souther to the Trustees of the War Memorials (term to Feb. 28, 2029); Jennifer E. Smith was reappointed City Clerk (term to Oct. 10, 2029). The council unanimously accepted Councillor Claudel Frederique’s resignation and opened the District 2 seat for a 30-day application period. The September 8th licenses list (including Stable Pizza; The Holy Ravioli; Sunny Jack’s Coffee; Chimchurri del Cazador) was approved, and a late-filed order (2026-133) to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for traffic calming was accepted and referred to the Committee of the Whole.

Staff presentations and substantive policy discussions framed the evening. The Board of Assessors’ revaluation work was explained as a state certification-year process: Vision Government Services (VGSI) is conducting valuations and inspections, Real Estate Research is completing a personal-property measure-and-list for businesses, and the DLS certification process and timeline (classification hearing aimed for November and tax rate by December) were described. The police chief gave an extensive briefing on traffic enforcement and staffing: traffic stops have increased, but an independent 2024 staffing study identified an approximate 8.8–9 officer patrol gap that is eroding proactive policing capacity; the chief requested a multi-year police resource plan to define service expectations and staffing needs. Public commenters raised concerns about trash/composting costs for condo owners, asked for more neighborhood traffic calming and protections for vulnerable road users, and urged cooperation with the assessing revaluation process. Several orders and ordinances (including the City Clerk Salary Ordinance 2026-128, the dog-license-waiver local option 2026-129, the COA grant acceptance 2026-130, and the prior-year invoice order 2026-131) were referred to the Committee of the Whole for September 15 for detailed review.

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

Points of interest

Assessors' revaluation and certification overview
Assessors' revaluation and certification overview
PRESENTATION
0:16:01–0:40:50 ▶ Watch
City staff presented the five-year revaluation/certification process, vendors being used for residential, commercial, and personal-property inspections, and how homeowner access and missing income/expense data affect valuations and abatements.
Traffic enforcement, staffing study, and request for a multi-year plan
Traffic enforcement, staffing study, and request for a multi-year plan
PRESENTATION
0:41:00–1:16:53 ▶ Watch
The police chief reviewed traffic enforcement activity, cited an independent staffing study showing an approximate patrol gap, and led an extended council discussion on proactive traffic enforcement, service expectations, and developing a multi-year police resource plan.
Public comment and council discussion on trash policy, composting, and condo/HOA impacts
Public comment and council discussion on trash policy, composting, and condo/HOA impacts
PUBLIC COMMENT
1:18:17–1:37:17 ▶ Watch
Two residents spoke during public comment about the household cost impacts of the new trash policy and the need for composting/mitigation; councilors and administration then discussed HOA billing history, composting options, Black Earth service, and timeline/flexibility for affected condo associations.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:06:41 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Approve the appointment of Jonathan Greeno to the Board of Assessors for a term to expire February 28, 2029 (item 2026-124).
SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 0:08:42 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Confirm the appointment of Travis Souther to the Trustees of the War Memorials for a term to expire February 28, 2029 (item 2026-125).
SECONDED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
@ 0:09:46 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Approve the reappointment of Jennifer E. Smith to the position of City Clerk for a term to expire October 10, 2029 (item 2026-127).
SECONDED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
@ 0:14:30 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Accept the resignation of Councillor Claudel Frederique (item 2026-132) and declare the District 2 seat vacant.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WELCH
@ 1:17:43 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Approve the list of six new licenses on the September 8th licenses and permits list (six new licensees as presented).
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR STANGINALLI
UNDER · Licenses · Licenses and Permits – August
@ 1:38:21 · CONTINUE
Approved (unanimous)
Continue the National Grid pole/underground conduit hearing (item 2026-126) to the next City Council meeting (September 22).
@ 1:39:38 · REFER
Approved (unanimous)
Refer 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) to the Committee of the Whole scheduled for September 15.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
@ 1:41:11 · REFER
Approved (unanimous)
Refer 2026-129 (order to accept M.G.L. c.140 §139 allowing dog license fee waiver for residents 70+) to the Committee of the Whole scheduled for September 15.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:41:11 · REFER
Approved (unanimous)
Refer 2026-130 (authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration Program grant) to the Committee of the Whole scheduled for September 15.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
@ 1:43:52 · REFER
Approved (unanimous)
Refer 2026-131 (approve payment from the FY27 general fund operating budget for listed prior-year invoices) to the Committee of the Whole scheduled for September 15.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 1:59:48 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Approve the minutes of the July 28, 2026 City Council meeting with the submitted corrections.
SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
UNDER · Minutes
@ 2:02:04 · APPROVE
Approved 7-0 (1 abstention)
Approve the minutes of the August 5, 2026 special City Council meeting.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
UNDER · Minutes
@ 2:02:39 · APPROVE
Approved (unanimous)
Accept the late file numbered 2026-133 (an order to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for neighborhood traffic calming) for consideration.
SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HOGUE
@ 2:03:43 · REFER
Approved (unanimous)
Refer 2026-133 (an order to appropriate $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for traffic calming) to the Committee of the Whole scheduled for September 15.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
@ 2:04:12 · OTHER
Approved (unanimous)
Adjourn the City Council meeting.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR MANDEVILLE · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
UNDER · Adjournment