Meetings

MAY 27, '25

Approved appointment of Aaron Martin to the Board of Health (2025-061); council approved multiple safety and technology grant orders and a property transfer of the Amesbury Elementary School (2025-044, 2025-049, 2025-050, 2025-051, 2025-052). Several National Grid pole permits for 10 Aubin St., 5 Chester St., Nayson’s Ct. (Heritage Vale St.), Oakland St., and South Hampton Rd. were approved (2025-055 through 2025-059), and Community Preservation Act reserve orders (2025-063 and 2025-064) were referred to the Budget & Finance Subcommittee.

MAY 21, '25

Council held FY26 budget hearings for Community & Economic Development, Planning, Conservation, Zoning Board of Appeals, Inspectional Services and Health, and the Department of Public Works including Water and Wastewater enterprise budgets.

MAY 21, '25

The committee recommended that City Council establish five CPA reserve accounts (Housing, Open Space/Recreation, Historic, Administrative, Budgeted) and transfer set percentages of FY2026 estimated CPA funds (10% to three reserves, 5% to administrative, remainder to budgeted); specific dollar figures were recorded in the minutes.

MAY 20, '25

Budget Hearing #2: City Council reviewed proposed FY26 budgets for the Assessor, Collector/Treasurer, Information Technologies, Mayor/Legal Services, Human Resources, City Clerk/Elections, and Administration & Finance.

MAY 20, '25

Subcommittee recommended forwarding multiple mayoral orders to the full City Council with positive recommendations, including revolving fund spending limits (2025-048), a multi-item equipment lease (2025-049), an IT grant (2025-050), SAFE and Senior SAFE grants (2025-051), transfer of Amesbury Elementary School property (2025-052), and firefighter safety equipment grant (2025-044). It returned the Free Cash appropriation for FY26 capital expenditures (2025-047) to the Council with no recommendation (2-1).

MAY 20, '25

MAY 15, '25

FY26 budget hearing: presentations and questions on proposed budgets for Youth Services (possible fee increases tied to new licensing), Library, Council on Aging, Veterans Services, and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.

MAY 15, '25

Board will receive a Public Health Excellence (PHE) grant update and discuss public-health events and communications, including the Lake Gardner Festival (May 31, 2025), a preliminary IED discussion, and syndicated CDC health information.

MAY 14, '25

Agenda includes a fundraising presentation by Rachel Heine (Columbus Metropolitan Library), an update on the Window Restoration Project, an IMLS funding update, consideration of upcoming Board elections, and the library budget and facilities/capital projects updates.

MAY 13, '25

Council approved Administrative Order 2025-01 creating the grant-funded Department of Public Wellness and referred the FY26 operating budget (2025-001) to a newly created Ad-Hoc City Council Budget Committee of the Whole for further hearings (second reading and public hearing set for June 10). Several mayoral orders and ordinances — including 2025-045 (No Parking on Lafayette St median), 2025-046 (Go Slow Children signage at Riverfront Dr), 2025-047 (Free Cash appropriation for FY26 capital), and 2025-053 (accept easement at 12 Elizabeth St) — were referred to the appropriate committees for review.

MAY 12, '25

Planning Board approved sign packages for Sunoco (108 Macy St.) and Phoenix Café (19 Main St.), approved a minor modification for the MA State Police generator installation at 89 Powwow St. with conditions, accepted six dimensional waivers and requested a draft decision for the Historic Preservation Special Permit/subdivision at 201 Elm St., and approved minor modifications at 13 Merrimac and a change of use at 21 Water St.; the Board also reduced the Bailey’s Pond performance bond.

MAY 7, '25

TRC reviewed three development projects: a Historic Preservation Special Permit and subdivision with a new single‑family home at 38-40 Prospect St.; a large mixed‑use conversion and six‑story addition for 124 apartment units at 1-9 Oakland St.; and a residential conversion of the Fuller Building at 45 Main St. Each application received a favorable recommendation from TRC subject to departmental conditions and further reviews (DPW, Fire, Design Review, Historical Commission).

MAY 6, '25

Council approved a $200 deposit for the Open Studios trolley and voted $850 to support Juneteenth; members agreed to form a public subcommittee and hire a consultant to develop a management and programming plan for the renovated Cultural Center, targeting a proposal by the June meeting.

MAY 5, '25

Approved: NOIs for docks at 81 Pleasant Valley Rd (with waiver) and 5 Pleasant Valley Rd; NOI approvals for 14 Lake Attitash Rd (deck) and 7 Beacon St (garage); Certificate of Compliance approved for 7 Point Shore Drive; partial COC and Enforcement Order for 12-14 South Hunt Rd continued pending a site visit; modification request for 77 Macy St. continued; emergency tree-removal certificates ratified for 133 Pleasant Valley Rd and 8 Lake Attitash Rd.

MAY 1, '25

Historic Commission will consider a demolition permit determination for 20 Pearl Street and review historic eligibility and a preservation restriction recommendation for 201 Elm Street. The board will also review a pending HPSP application for 38-40 Prospect Street and provide an initial advisory opinion on the 276 Main Street 40B comprehensive permit.

APR 29, '25

Approved seasonal outdoor dining extensions for Brewery Silvaticus (608 sq ft, on-street, May 1–Nov 1, 2025) and Market Square Bakehouse (340 sq ft, off-street, May 1–Nov 1, 2025); Barking Dog (120 sq ft) received a conditional approval pending the mayor’s letter of approval.

APR 28, '25

Planning Board approved an ANR for 473 Main St., continued the 201 Elm St. hearing and requested the applicant stake out proposed building locations; referred the 13 Merrimac St. modification to the Design Review Committee. The Board reduced the 130 Market St. payment-in-lieu to $240,000, approved bond adjustments and released the final two units from the covenant, and authorized a memo with comments to the ZBA on 276-280 Main St.; staff was also authorized to seek owner consent for a Meadowbrook parcel appraisal.

APR 22, '25

Council adopted Ordinance 2024-096 to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District and approved a $500,000 MassWorks grant for the Clark's Road project (2025-037). The Council also approved COA grant funding (2025-038), an MOU with the MVRTA for an accessible vehicle (2025-039), acceptance of a $401,654.70 Complete Streets grant (2025-042), and confirmed the appointment of Marisa Batista as CFO (2025-043).

APR 22, '25

Trustees accepted a $5,000 Veterans' Heritage Grant (with required match) to fund Rocky Hill Memorial work and agreed that projects under $10,000 may proceed without additional approvals; vendor discussions with Flag ProForma are underway and Tom Champion will serve as point of contact. PR Monuments provided restoration quotes (Rocky Hill $3,467; Highlands $789; cemetery cannon $4,870) and the board agreed to schedule winterization/shrink-wrapping of the Franco‑American Memorial after Veterans Day.

APR 17, '25

Updates on the Playful Learning and Investigating History grant, a student-led presentation of the Vision of the Graduate, and plans for fifth grade celebrations.