Meetings

MAR 17, '25

31 Newton Rd (AC Land LLC) — Commission approved a waiver to allow driveway landscaping and wetland filling and issued an Order of Conditions for NOI 002-1337 to permit construction of a single-family home.

MAR 12, '25

Library trustees will review lending and borrower policy issues including a review of the Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities policy and lending to residents of municipalities with decertified libraries, and will receive updates on the budget, facilities/capital projects, and an upcoming board election.

MAR 11, '25

Council approved Ordinance 2025-017 (Outdoor Dining), appropriated $500,000 from free cash for Amesbury High School 90' diamond field improvements (2025-021), and confirmed several mayoral appointments.

MAR 11, '25

MAR 6, '25

Historic review held for 201 Elm St (historic preservation special permit) and a full demolition permit application for 58 Pleasant Valley Rd (commission found the Pleasant Valley property not historically significant); staff also provided an update on 5 and 9 School St RFP status.

MAR 5, '25

Project updates on 26 Friend St. (conceptual 3-story addition and storefront changes) and 5 & 9 School St. (removal of 1980 additions, potential 4-unit reuse of the Ordway, disposition of portions of the lots); Rocky Hill development zoning amendment awaiting state sign-off; TRC set the outdoor dining application schedule and agreed to accept electronic submissions via OpenGov.

MAR 4, '25

Council voted unanimously to sponsor and fiscally steward the city’s first Juneteenth celebration on June 14 at Zach Fields (11:00 AM–2:00).

MAR 3, '25

Several Conservation Commission hearings were continued (31 Newton Rd.; 12-14 South Hunt Rd. COC and enforcement; 81 Pleasant Valley Rd. dock; 13 Merrill Rd. COC), the commission ratified an Emergency Certification for hazardous tree removals at Bartletts Reach, and approved use of WPA funds to pay for the MACC conference.

FEB 27, '25

Approved: Special Permit/Finding for 13 Merrimac St. to enlarge two pre-existing non-conforming residential units, with proposed right-side expansion and historic exterior restoration.

FEB 27, '25

The meeting will include updates on MCAS performance and the school's Vision of the Graduate, plus reports on fifth grade celebration planning and parent/community engagement initiatives.

FEB 26, '25

Committee voted to provide a letter of support for the City’s purchase and improvement plan for 128 Kimball Road (drinking-water protection and passive recreation). The meeting also reviewed Town Forest trail reblazing plans (including temporary routing through 74 Kimball Road) and discussed organizing invasive-plant removal in Powow Hill Conservation Area.

FEB 25, '25

Council approved several mayoral orders and ordinances (2025-011 through 2025-020) including surplus vehicle declarations, a copier lease authorization, a firefighter safety grant, a $50,000 downtown lighting earmark, amendments to the revolving funds ordinance (2025-018), two sewer fund appropriations (2025-019 and 2025-020), and confirmed two mayoral appointments; the Council also passed Resolution 2025-024 urging revision of the Chapter 70 school funding formula.

FEB 24, '25

Approved site plan and special permit for 80 Haverhill Rd (with conditions and waivers) and the Board voted to support the redevelopment concept for 5 School St. and 9 School St.

FEB 20, '25

Subcommittee recommended positively advancing three mayoral measures to the full City Council: 2025-016 (intermunicipal agreement for Public Health Excellence shared services grant), 2025-017 (new Outdoor Dining Ordinance to regulate temporary use of City property and fees), and 2025-018 (amendments to establishment of departmental revolving funds).

FEB 19, '25

2024-096 (Ordinance to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District) was discussed and continued; the committee gave a positive recommendation on 2025-021, an Order to appropriate $500,000 from Free Cash for Amesbury High School 90' Diamond Field improvements.

FEB 18, '25

Discussed publicity around the Facilities Master Plan (including the circulation desk move) and planned informational materials about the upcoming library budget, including an infographic and usage charts.

FEB 18, '25

Subcommittee recommended positive action on multiple funding and policy items: accept a $18,989 firefighter safety equipment grant (2025-014) and a $50,000 downtown lighting earmark (2025-015); appropriate $332,200 and $120,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings for sewer fleet replacement and grinder pump repairs (2025-019, 2025-020); and recommend a $500,000 Free Cash appropriation for Amesbury High School 90' Diamond Ball Field improvements (2025-021). The committee also forwarded the proposed Outdoor Dining Ordinance (2025-017) to full Council pending outreach to the Chamber of Commerce and OCED.

FEB 13, '25

The commission found 13 Merrimac St, 95 Elm St, and a small outbuilding at 15 Lake St not historically significant, and approved submitting a FY2026 Historical Commission budget proposal requesting $23,135 (including $20,000 for a resource inventory/survey).

FEB 13, '25

Director's Report will cover Costello Center updates and Winter/Spring programming for older adults, plus FCOA and COA team updates.

FEB 12, '25

The board will consider several policy votes (Public Services, Reference Services, Library Collection Development), votes on fiscal/consultant matters including Trustee Trust Fund allocation for project management, FY26 budget approval, and selection of an FY27-29 strategic planning consultant.