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Home / Meetings /November 10, 2026
City Council · November 10, 2026 · 7:00 PM

City Council Meeting

Council appointed Leah DeLorenzo‑Sacor as Chief Financial Officer effective immediately (2026-168) and filled the District 2 Council vacancy by electing Craig Penno. The council approved two National Grid petitions — a Chestnut Street Extension pressure‑relief vault (WR 90000236921) and a Portsmouth Road pole (WR 31227515) — with DPW stipulations. Several items were referred to the Committee of the Whole including the FY27 tax classification (2026-163), a proposed ban on cryptocurrency ATMs (2026-165), MBTA and HousingWorks grant acceptances (2026-166, 2026-167), and late-file orders on school bus stop‑arm cameras (2026-169) and a $399,600 library capital transfer (2026-170).

occurred Agenda PDF Video recording AI Summary
Key decisions
Approved appointment of Leah DeLorenzo-Sacor as Chief Financial Officer, made effective immediately
Approved unanimously
Approved licenses on the November 10 list: new license for Intuitive Medium (Michelle Joy) and renewals for Game Time Lanes (entertainment)
Approved unanimously
Selected/elected Craig Penno to fill the District 2 City Council vacancy
Elected by majority vote
Approved National Grid petition to install a pressure‑relief vault/vent on Chestnut Street Extension (WR 90000236921) with DPW stipulations and requested National Grid supply minimum approach distance information to Council and OSED
Approved unanimously
Approved National Grid pole placement on Portsmouth Road (WR 31227515) with DPW stipulations
Approved unanimously
Referred Bill 2026-162 (surplus municipal vehicles — Fire) to the Committee of the Whole for second reading as appropriate
Referred (unanimous)
Referred Bill 2026-163 (FY27 annual tax classification hearing) to the Committee of the Whole for presentation and to schedule the public classification hearing
Referred (unanimous)
Referred Bill 2026-165 (proposed ordinance to prohibit virtual currency / cryptocurrency ATMs, Chapter 446) to the Committee of the Whole
Referred (unanimous)
Referred Bill 2026-166 (accept MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund award, $500,000 — Route 110/150 improvements) to the Committee of the Whole
Referred (unanimous)
Referred Bill 2026-167 (accept HousingWorks Infrastructure Program grant, $5,000,000 — Clarks Road reconstruction) to the Committee of the Whole
Referred (unanimous)
Referred late-file Bill 2026-169 (adopt M.G.L. c.40, §71 — school bus stop‑arm camera/school bus violation monitoring authorization) to the Committee of the Whole
Referred (unanimous)
Referred late-file Bill 2026-170 (transfer $399,600 of Real Estate Proceeds to Library Maintenance & Repairs capital fund, less legal fees) to the Committee of the Whole
Referred (unanimous)
AI SUMMARY · DRAWN FROM THE TRANSCRIPT

The Council met and handled several high‑priority personnel, public‑safety, and planning items. The City unanimously appointed Leah DeLorenzo‑Sacor as Chief Financial Officer and amended the appointment to be effective immediately to ensure the administration has an authorized CFO for upcoming tax classification and certification work. The Council also filled the District 2 vacancy, electing Craig Penno after two candidates spoke and answered council questions about housing, walkability, and local business concerns.

The meeting included two National Grid public hearings: the Council approved installation of a pressure‑relief vault/vent on Chestnut Street Extension (WR 90000236921) and approved a pole on Portsmouth Road (WR 31227515); both approvals were subject to DPW stipulations and the Chestnut St. approval included a request that National Grid provide the minimum approach distance to the City and the Office of Community & Economic Development. The City Clerk and staff were publicly thanked for their extensive election work; the Clerk described the scope of preparations and lauded poll workers, DPW and police support. The Police Chief presented the second part of a multi‑session overview of the department budget, explaining recent years’ appropriations and variances and discussing the ongoing impacts of a failed override and contract negotiations.

Several ordinance, grant, and budget items were referred to the Committee of the Whole for deeper review — including the FY27 tax classification process (2026‑163), a proposed ordinance banning cryptocurrency ATMs (2026‑165), acceptance of an MBTA Catalyst Fund award for Route 110/150 improvements (2026‑166) and a $5 million HousingWorks grant for Clarks Road (2026‑167), payment and appropriation items (2026‑164, 2026‑170), and a late‑file order authorizing school bus stop‑arm camera enforcement under M.G.L. c.40, §71 (2026‑169). Public comment included a Portsmouth Road resident’s support for the pole after National Grid confirmed it would not impede her driveway.

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

Points of interest

Appointment and immediate activation of new chief financial officer
Appointment and immediate activation of new chief financial officer
PRESENTATION
0:00:49–0:14:39 ▶ Watch
Mayor introduced the CFO candidate, who summarized decades of municipal and school finance experience and answered council questions about budgeting, Munis conversion, reporting formats, and zero‑based budgeting; council debated making the appointment effective immediately, amended the motion, and voted to appoint her effective immediately.
Police department budget presentation — spending history and management
Police department budget presentation — spending history and management
PRESENTATION
0:25:51–0:39:13 ▶ Watch
Police chief delivered part two of a multi‑part budget briefing focused on how the department has managed its budget over recent years, explaining seven‑year expenditure trends, specific year‑to‑year increases (injury pay, new responsibilities, contract raises), and the effect of a failed override; councillors asked about reserves, wage settlements, and future staffing needs.
Two candidates' presentations and council appointment for District 2 vacancy
Two candidates' presentations and council appointment for District 2 vacancy
PRESENTATION
0:41:26–1:37:53 ▶ Watch
Council held a two‑candidate process for the District 2 vacancy: each applicant gave remarks and answered extensive council questions (council suspended the usual time limit for questioning), followed by roll‑call votes to select one candidate to fill the seat.
Public hearing on National Grid pressure‑relief vault and safety siting
Public hearing on National Grid pressure‑relief vault and safety siting
PRESENTATION
1:38:22–1:55:19 ▶ Watch
National Grid presented a proposal to install a pressure‑relief valve in the Chestnut Street Extension area, explained its safety purpose and testing/maintenance, and fielded questions about nearby development and minimum safety distances; council approved the petition with DPW stipulations and requested the minimum approach distance be provided to planning staff.

Motions & votes

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

@ 0:11:49 · APPROVE
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Approve the appointment of Leah DeLorenzo-Sacor to the position of Chief Financial Officer (Council Bill 2026-168).
MOVED · COUNCILOR SPANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN
@ 0:12:10 · AMEND
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Amend the appointment motion for Leah DeLorenzo-Sacor (2026-168) to make the appointment effective immediately.
@ 0:39:38 · APPROVE
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Approve the November 10th licenses as presented: new license for Intuitive Medium (Michelle Joy) and renewals for Game Time Lanes.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGSTROM
UNDER · Licenses and Permits - November
@ 2:01:21 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer Council Bill 2026-162 (declare listed Fire Department vehicles and equipment as surplus) to the next Committee of the Whole for a second reading.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HAGSTROM
@ 2:13:09 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer Council Bill 2026-163 (request to hold the FY27 tax classification hearing) to the next Committee of the Whole with a public hearing to follow at the next City Council meeting.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGUE
@ 2:14:31 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer Council Bill 2026-164 (payment of listed prior-year invoices from FY27 budget) to the next Committee of the Whole for a second reading.
MOVED · COUNCILOR WELCH · SECONDED · COUNCILOR SULLIVAN
@ 2:16:17 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer Council Bill 2026-165 (ordinance to prohibit virtual currency ATMs) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading to follow.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WELCH
@ 2:17:25 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer Council Bill 2026-166 (accept MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund $500,000) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading to follow.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR WELCH · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOLT
@ 2:18:34 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer Council Bill 2026-167 (accept HousingWorks Infrastructure Grant $5,000,000 for Clarks Road reconstruction) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading to follow.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR STANGINELLI
@ 1:52:50 · APPROVE
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Approve National Grid petition for Chestnut St. Extension pressure-relief vault (Council Bill 2026-157) as presented with DPW stipulations and request National Grid provide minimum approach distance to the City Council and Office of Community and Economic Development.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR HAGSTROM
@ 1:59:49 · APPROVE
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Approve National Grid pole petition for Portsmouth Road (Council Bill 2026-160) as presented with DPW stipulations.
MOVED · COUNCILOR HAGSTROM · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGUE
@ 1:05:37 · AMEND
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Suspend the Council's five-minute speaking rule for the District 2 candidate Q&A to allow additional questioning.
MOVED · COUNCILLOR GILDAY
UNDER · Second Readings · 2026-132. District 2 Vacancy - Resignation of Councilor Claudel Frederique
@ 2:37:49 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer late file Council Bill 2026-169 (authorize school bus stop-arm camera enforcement program) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading to follow.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGUE
@ 2:39:29 · REFER
Referred unanimously (8-0)
Refer late file Council Bill 2026-170 (appropriate $399,600 from Real Estate Proceeds to Library Maintenance & Repairs capital fund) to the next Committee of the Whole with a second reading to follow.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGENOW
@ 2:36:48 · AMEND
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Suspend the rules so that late files 2026-169 and 2026-170 may be placed on the agenda.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED · COUNCILLOR WELCH
@ 2:39:53 · OTHER
Approved unanimously (8-0)
Adjourn the City Council meeting.
MOVED · COUNCILOR STANGENOW · SECONDED · COUNCILOR HOGUE
UNDER · Late Files — Transfer Real Estate Proceeds to Library Maintenance (2026-170)