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Home / Meetings /October 13, 2026
City Council · October 13, 2026

City Council Meeting

Council confirmed five mayoral appointments including Courtney Hutchinson as Director of Public Wellness and Jonathan Greeno as Chief Assessor, and unanimously approved multiple National Grid pole installations at Cedar St., High St., Allens Ct., Thompson St., Glenwood St., Ring St., and Pond Hill Rd. (the Elm St. pole hearing was continued to October 27).

occurred Agenda PDF Minutes Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointed Courtney Hutchinson as Director of Public Wellness (2026-145).
Approved 6-0
Appointed Jonathan Greeno as Chief Assessor (2026-146).
Approved 6-0
Appointed Jennifer Welter to the Historical Commission (term to expire February 29, 2029) (2026-148).
Approved 6-0
Appointed Kevin Latady to the Historical Commission as a full member (term to expire February 29, 2029) (2026-149).
Approved 6-0
Appointed Lisa Higgins to the Cultural Council (term to expire February 29, 2029) (2026-150).
Approved 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at Cedar St. with DPW stipulations (2026-134).
Approved 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at High St. with DPW stipulations (2026-135).
Approved 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at Allens Ct. with DPW stipulations (2026-136).
Approved 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at Thompson St. with DPW stipulations (2026-137).
Approved 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at Glenwood St. with DPW stipulations (2026-138).
Approved 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at Ring St. with DPW stipulations (2026-139).
Approved 6-0
Continued the National Grid pole hearing for Elm St. to the October 27, 2026 meeting (2026-140).
Continued 6-0
Approved National Grid pole installation at Pond Hill Rd. with DPW stipulations (2026-141).
Approved 6-0
Approved the October list of licenses and permits.
Approved 6-0
Referred 2026-151 (MEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness grant, $9,020) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading as applicable.
Referred 6-0
Referred 2026-152 (FY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant, $25,200) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading as applicable.
Referred 6-0
Referred 2026-153 (payment from the FY27 general fund operating budget for listed prior year invoices) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading as applicable.
Referred 6-0
Referred 2026-154 (FY27 BHOAP award amendment for Council on Aging, $146,653) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading as applicable.
Referred 6-0
Referred 2026-155 (MassDOT Shared Streets Grant) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading as applicable.
Referred 6-0
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE MINUTES

The City Council meeting opened with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, then considered and unanimously approved five mayoral appointments: Courtney Hutchinson (Director of Public Wellness), Jonathan Greeno (Chief Assessor), Jennifer Welter and Kevin Latady (Historical Commission), and Lisa Higgins (Cultural Council). The Council also approved the October licenses and heard a brief Mayor update on the Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee. A police budget/operations update from Chief Bailey was presented in part due to technical re-ordering of the agenda.

A series of National Grid pole hearings occupied much of the meeting: hearings and unanimous approvals (with DPW stipulations) were recorded for Cedar St. (2026-134), High St. (2026-135), Allens Ct. (2026-136), Thompson St. (2026-137), Glenwood St. (2026-138), Ring St. (2026-139), and Pond Hill Rd. (2026-141). The Elm St. pole hearing (2026-140) was continued to the Council's October 27 meeting. The Council also referred several first-reading grant and expenditure orders — including the MEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness grant (2026-151), the FY27 Municipal Road Safety grant (2026-152), the BHOAP award amendment for the Council on Aging (2026-154), and the MassDOT Shared Streets grant (2026-155) — to the next Committee of the Whole for further review and a second reading as applicable. There was no public comment recorded during the meeting, and all recorded votes on the substantive items were unanimous.

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

Points of interest

Update on Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee
Update on Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee
PRESENTATION
0:11:42–0:16:16 ▶ Watch
Mayor provided an update from the Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee (RAC): the committee is working toward policy recommendations, aiming for a two‑thirds consensus because the regional agreement currently requires unanimous approval, and members continue to negotiate capital apportionment and building‑project interdependencies with another meeting scheduled for October 22.
Poll‑hearing continued after drawing/notice discrepancy identified
Poll‑hearing continued after drawing/notice discrepancy identified
DEBATE
0:43:12–0:46:33 ▶ Watch
During the Elm Street National Grid pole hearing councilors identified discrepancies between the submitted drawings and the advertised material and raised concerns about whether the public received accurate notice; the council voted to continue the item to the next meeting so corrected materials can be provided.
Police department budget overview (FY20–FY27) — first presentation
Police department budget overview (FY20–FY27) — first presentation
PRESENTATION
0:49:45–0:59:52 ▶ Watch
The police chief gave the first of a three‑part budget briefing covering FY20–FY27: overview of where police dollars went, department growth (~19%) compared to regional price growth (~28%), recurring underspending, and the intent to present more detail in subsequent sessions and provide handouts.
City awarded infrastructure grants for Clark's Road and Route 110/150
City awarded infrastructure grants for Clark's Road and Route 110/150
ANNOUNCEMENT
1:35:32–1:36:13 ▶ Watch
Council communications: the council announced receipt of major transportation grants — approximately $5 million for reconstruction of Clark's Road (sidewalks, stormwater, water main, traffic calming) and about $500,000 for traffic analysis/design at the Route 110/150 intersection.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:02:22 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve the appointment of Courtney Hutchinson to the position of Director of Public Wellness (2026-145).
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN
@ 0:03:57 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve the appointment of Jonathan Greeno to the position of Chief Assessor for the City of Amesbury (2026-146).
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR WELCH
@ 0:06:13 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve the appointment of Jennifer Welter to the Historical Commission for a term to expire February 29, 2029 (2026-148).
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 0:08:14 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve the appointment of Kevin Latady to the Historical Commission as a full member for a term to expire February 29, 2029 (2026-149).
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR WELCH
@ 0:09:59 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve the appointment of Lisa Higgins to the Cultural Council for a term to expire February 29, 2029 (2026-150).
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 0:23:43 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve the October list of licenses and permits as presented.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
UNDER · Licenses · Licenses and Permits - October
@ 0:29:45 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at Cedar St. (WR #30630081) with DPW stipulations (2026-134).
MOVED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 0:31:57 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at High St. (WR #30630057) with DPW stipulations (2026-135).
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
@ 0:39:04 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at Allens Ct. (WR #30630057) with DPW stipulations (2026-136).
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 0:36:20 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at Thompson St. (WR #30630057) with DPW stipulations (2026-137).
MOVED · COUNCILOR WELCH · SECONDED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN
@ 0:39:04 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at Glenwood St. (WR #30630079) with DPW stipulations (2026-138).
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 0:41:05 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at Ring St. (WR #30628380) with DPW stipulations (2026-139).
MOVED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN · SECONDED · COUNCILOR WELCH
@ 0:48:14 · APPROVE
Approved 6-0
Approve National Grid pole installation at Pond Hill Rd. (WR #31253711) with DPW stipulations (2026-141).
MOVED · COUNCILOR WELCH · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 1:00:49 · REFER
Referred 6-0
Refer 2026-151 (An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $9,020 MEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness grant for the Amesbury Emergency Management Agency) to the next Committee of the Whole meeting with a second reading as applicable.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR GILDAY
@ 1:02:29 · REFER
Referred 6-0
Refer 2026-152 (An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $25,200 FY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant) to the next Committee of the Whole meeting with a second reading as applicable.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI
@ 1:03:54 · REFER
Referred 6-0
Refer 2026-153 (An Order to approve payment from the FY27 general fund operating budget for listed prior year invoices) to the next Committee of the Whole meeting with a second reading as applicable.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGANELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG
@ 1:05:36 · REFER
Referred 6-0
Refer 2026-154 (An Order to accept and expend an FY27 BHOAP award amendment of $146,653 for the Amesbury Council on Aging) to the next Committee of the Whole meeting with a second reading as applicable.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HOGG · SECONDED · COUNCILOR WELCH
@ 1:07:23 · REFER
Referred 6-0
Refer 2026-155 (An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a MassDOT Shared Streets Grant) to the next Committee of the Whole meeting with a second reading as applicable.
MOVED · COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGG