City Council · October 20, 2026 · 7:30 PM
City Council Standing Committee of the Whole Meeting
Committee returned a negative recommendation on Ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) after legal review; KP Law advised on charter, HR plan constraints, and open-meeting-law considerations. The committee also recommended positive referrals to City Council for several grant actions: MEMA EOC grant (2026-151), the revised FFY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant (2026-152), a $146,653 BHOAP award amendment for elder behavioral health services (2026-154), and a MassDOT Shared Streets grant to fund pre-construction work for the Upper Millyard Pedestrian Bridge replacement (2026-155).
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Key decisions
Return a negative recommendation on Ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) to the full City Council.
Recommend returning Order 2026-151 to the City Council with a positive recommendation to accept and expend a $9,020 MEMA grant for Amesbury's radiological emergency preparedness (EOC).
Recommend returning the revised Order 2026-152 (FFY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant, $25,200) to the City Council with a positive recommendation (revised version to be presented).
Recommend returning Order 2026-154 to the City Council with a positive recommendation to accept and expend a $146,653 FY27 BHOAP award amendment to fund two LICSW positions and clerical support for elder behavioral health services.
Recommend returning Order 2026-155 to the City Council with a positive recommendation to accept and expend a MassDOT Shared Streets grant (for Upper Millyard Pedestrian Bridge pre-construction: surveying, geotech, design, permitting).
Agenda
Minutes
September 15, 2026
Approval of minutes from the September 15, 2026 meeting.
Topics for Discussion
2026-128. 2026-128 City Clerk Salary Ordinance
Continued from September 15, 2026: Ordinance to establish a process for Council review and compensation of the City Clerk, who is appointed by the City Council and serves as Clerk to the Council. Sponsors: Councilor Redfern, Councilor Haggstrom, and Councilor Sullivan.
Topics for Discussion
2026-151. 2026-151 Accept and expend MEMA grant ($9,020)
Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $9,020 grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to maintain Amesbury’s Radiological Emergency Response Preparedness Program (managed by the Amesbury Emergency Management Agency/Fire Chief).
Topics for Discussion
2026-152. 2026-152 FY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant ($25,200)
Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $25,200 FY27 Municipal Road Safety (MRS) grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to fund traffic enforcement targeting distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding (cost reimbursement grant; end date Sept. 15, 2026).
Topics for Discussion
2026-153. 2026-153 Payment of prior year invoices (FY27)
Order to approve payment from the FY27 general fund operating budget for listed prior year invoices for goods or services rendered in prior fiscal years; requires two-thirds Council approval.
Topics for Discussion
2026-154. 2026-154 BHOAP award amendment ($146,653)
Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $146,653 award amendment to the Amesbury Council on Aging through the FY27 Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations (BHOAP) program to fund two LICSW positions and clerical staff for home-based behavioral health and substance use support for adults 60+.
Topics for Discussion
2026-155. 2026-155 MassDOT Shared Streets Grant ($175,000) — Upper Millyard Pedestrian Bridge
Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a $175,000 MassDOT Shared Streets grant to help fund replacement planning (surveying, geotechnical, design, environmental permitting) of the Upper Millyard Pedestrian Bridge, which was closed after structural concerns.