Meetings

OCT 30, '24

Committee will review the Woodsman-prepared Trails Assessment report for the City of Amesbury and prioritize action steps for trail improvements; the Battis / Powow Hill report is noted as in progress.

OCT 29, '24

The board will review and sign motor vehicle excise tax abatements and uncollectable excise tax records, and consider the Fifth Motor Vehicle Commitment Book of 2024. The agenda also includes discussion of release of Chapter land, real estate tax exemption applications, and a 3ABC application.

OCT 29, '24

Discussion of proposed surplus and redevelopment of the Bailey/Ordway properties at 5 and 9 School St. — including splitting the 5 School St. lot, transferring rear parking to the library, restoring the Ordway building to a mid‑19th century appearance, and potential for up to eight housing units and eight parking spaces — and briefings on traffic/parking ordinance updates and an Outdoor Dining Ordinance planned for the 2025 season.

OCT 28, '24

Planning Board approved an ADU special permit for 35A Pleasant Valley Rd, an ANR for 228 Elm St, and sign permits for Munters (14 S Hunt Rd) and the Quinn House (53 Friend St); the Board gave a positive recommendation on City Council Bill 2024-133 to surplus Ordway and Orlando-Bailey properties conditioned on historic preservation review and library-directed proceeds, appointed Joel Nice as the Planning Board representative to the Community Preservation Committee, and accepted a Marina erosion-control bond.

OCT 24, '24

Discussion and planning for the Cashman School Halloween/Fall Celebration are on the agenda.

OCT 22, '24

Public hearing held on Ordinance 2024-099 (Cannabis Retail License Limits) and discussion of Ordinance 2024-132 (licensing adult cannabis retailers); Council approved budget transfers (2024-125, 2024-126), accepted multiple grants (2024-128 through 2024-131), and referred disposition of 9 School St. and 5 School St. (2024-133) to multiple boards and set a follow-up hearing.

OCT 21, '24

The Subcommittee recommended two cannabis-related ordinances to the full City Council: 2024-099 (Cannabis Retail License Limits) and 2024-132 (amendments to Chapter 334 to license adult cannabis retailers in the Retail Marijuana Overlay District); 2024-132 was returned with specified edits.

OCT 16, '24

Ordinance 2024-096 (expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District) was continued to Nov. 20; Ordinance 2024-099 (Cannabis Retail License Limits) was returned to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.

OCT 16, '24

Discussion on implementing Bill 2021-107 (Means‑Tested Senior Citizen Rental Assistance Program) was continued for further data and an application draft; the Trust nominated Andrew LeFleur as its representative to the Community Preservation Committee (appointment voted 4-0). The Trust also received a CDBG update noting six pending unit sales at 130 Market St expected to generate about $60,000.

OCT 10, '24

Board discussed using PHE grant funds to explore hiring a full‑time municipal mental‑health clinician and asked staff to work with HR and the Mayor to present options at a future meeting.

OCT 10, '24

Discussion of Age Friendly Task Force initiatives, updates on the Costello Center, and planned fall/winter programming for seniors.

OCT 8, '24

Council approved Ordinance 2024-098 (MBTA Communities overlay) as amended and approved AO 2024-05 to add an OCED Senior Project Manager; the Council also appointed Michael McCarthy to the Zoning Board of Appeals and referred Ordinance 2024-132 (adult cannabis retailer licensing) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee.

OCT 7, '24

The Conservation Commission approved a wetland delineation ORAD for 27.5 & 29 Clarks Rd, granted approval and a 25-foot no-disturb waiver for a septic replacement at Market St (motion text referenced 75 Market St), issued Certificates of Compliance for 51 Lake Attitash Rd and 12 Pinewood Rd (with mitigation placards), approved an amendment to 39 Poplar St requiring invasive-species mitigation, waived the $200 COC fee for the Lionsmouth Rd elementary school project, and ratified an emergency tree-cutting certification at 2 Pleasant Valley Rd.

OCT 1, '24

Agenda highlights include updates on grant-funded projects (including Indigenous People’s Day) and the 2025 grant cycle; planning and decisions for the 28th annual Open Studios (brochure cover vote, trolley, musical lineup, publicity); a public art update including a mural at Amesbury Industrial; and calendar items such as the grant application deadline (Oct 16) and Open Studios (Nov 9–10).

SEP 30, '24

Council accepted Councilor Owen Corcoran’s resignation and declared the District 3 City Council seat vacant (vote passed 5-0).

SEP 26, '24

Public hearings: River Run Lending Center at 43 Main St received a variance to allow a larger permanent sign (approval conditioned on Planning Board sign-permit approval); Michael McCarthy at 25 Greenwood St received a variance for setback relief to permit a garage to be constructed into the setback.

SEP 26, '24

Project status update for the AES School Building project will be discussed, along with votes to approve the July 25, 2024 meeting minutes, and approval of commitments and invoices. The committee will also set a proposed next meeting date.

SEP 25, '24

Appointments and policy work: the committee will consider appointing a member to the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Committee and review ongoing project work including the Trail Assessment Report (draft anticipated), proposed rules/regulations for the Town Forest, and the Battis–Po Hill report.

SEP 25, '24

Trust authorized a $97,106.30 appropriation from Housing Trust funds to cover CDBG audit-identified deficits, supported development of a down-payment assistance proposal for first-time buyers, and OCED recommended expedited disposition of the Ordway School and Orlando-Bagley properties to return them to the tax rolls.

SEP 24, '24

Council approved multiple ordinances and budget orders including 2024-109 (increase CPC membership), 2024-112 (fire safety fees, as amended), 2024-114 (animal hearing authority, as amended), zoning ordinances 2024-085 and 2024-086, and amended the Retail Marijuana Overlay District (2024-087); the Council also accepted an easement at 130 Market St. (2024-097) and approved National Grid pole petitions at 58 Highland St. (2024-117) and 16 South Hunt Rd. (2024-118).