Meetings

APR 10, '24

Trustees approved using $6,627 in State Aid to buy nine air purifiers for the library; the library's Facilities Master Plan consultant (Bruner/Cott) has signed the contract and visited the building.

APR 9, '24

Council approved the appointment of an Interim Chief Financial Officer (2024-048) and passed Administrative Order AO 2024-002 reorganizing Human Resources and Information Technology; the Council also referred multiple budget/grant orders (2024-052 through 2024-058) including a Preservation Restriction for 6 Center Street (2024-058) to committees and set dangerous dog hearings for Arthur Amirault (2024-059) and Zachary Kozdra (2024-060).

APR 4, '24

APR 2, '24

The Technical Review Committee revised the municipal outdoor dining application and process: plans must include fire department connections and hours of operation, applicants must obtain TRC technical/layout approval plus separate Liquor License Commission approval to serve alcohol, and no application fee will be charged initially.

APR 2, '24

The council approved making grant payments to artists by direct payment rather than reimbursement, approved moving a Delvena Theater Company performance to the Amesbury Library with a show change (live Zoom presentation), and authorized $200 for updated marketing materials.

APR 1, '24

Subcommittee voted to fold changes from ordinances 2024-016, 2024-017, and 2024-022 into omnibus rules order 2024-002, returned 2024-018, 2024-020, and 2024-021 to the full City Council with negative recommendations, and moved a Dangerous Dog hearing provision from 2024-019 into 2024-002.

APR 1, '24

Commission approved an OOC for utility work on South Hunt Road (NOI 002-1329), authorized a stormwater peer review for the proposed marina redevelopment at 2 & 13 Merrimac St (NOI 002-1330), approved NOI 002-1328 for 72 Elm St with special conditions on snow storage and deicing, issued COCs for 3 Erin Rd and 66 Clinton St, and granted multiple 2-year OOC extensions for properties on South Hampton and Kimball Road.

MAR 26, '24

Council approved multiple mayoral appointments to boards and committees and passed several budget orders including 2024-014 (opioid settlement fund appropriation $114,123.63), 2024-015 (DPW snow & ice overspend authorization), 2024-026 (school collective bargaining settlements $310,396.12), 2024-027 (Cashman Playground appropriation $106,678.15), and authorized the ACTV renewal agreement 2024-029.

MAR 26, '24

Council approved multiple mayoral appointments (2024-032 through 2024-047), passed Orders creating an Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund (2024-014) and authorizing overspend of the FY2024 snow & ice appropriation (2024-015), approved school-related appropriations for collective bargaining (2024-026) and Cashman Playground (2024-027), and renewed the ACTV agreement (2024-029).

MAR 25, '24

Presentation and public discussion of a proposed MBTA Communities overlay and a conceptual multi-family 'Golden Triangle' development on Elm St. — two continued public hearings (2 Merrimac St. and 13 Merrimac St.) were formally closed, and the Board nominated David Frick as its Disposition Committee representative.

MAR 20, '24

Council considered multiple ordinances to amend City Council rules: 2024-019 (codifying dog hearings as a separate meeting was referred positively; proposal to reduce council meetings to one per month received a negative recommendation), 2024-020 (attendance requirements for adjudicatory hearings referred negatively), 2024-021 (remote participation referred negatively), 2024-022 (clarifying objections/postponement language referred with a drafting amendment), and 2024-017 (comprehensive amendments to standing committee composition and procedures were adopted).

MAR 20, '24

Trustees approved an additional $2,000 in the FY25 budget for library dues/training and unanimously selected Bruner Cott as the architectural firm for the library Facilities Master Plan; capital items discussed included copper gutter repair, a proposed back ramp (submitted to CDBG), window restoration, emergency lighting, and conservation estimates for the historic front doors and circulation desk.

MAR 19, '24

Committee discussed establishing safety and dimensional criteria for downtown outdoor dining (including use of parking spaces), noted state legislation on sidewalk alcohol service is pending in the Senate after House approval, and reviewed potential seasonal fees and inventory needs (jersey barriers) for summer dining setups.

MAR 19, '24

The Budget & Finance Committee advanced three funding and contract orders to the full City Council with positive recommendations: 2024-026 ($310,396.12 from Free Cash for Amesbury Public Schools collective bargaining settlements), 2024-027 ($106,678.15 from Free Cash for Cashman Playground), and 2024-029 (renewal agreement with ACTV through June 30, 2032).

MAR 18, '24

Commission discussed outdoor dining and heard that the owner of Brewery Silvaticus intends to file an alteration-of-premises with the ABCC; the Commission also approved license hour changes for Fortune Bar and Walgreens.

MAR 14, '24

Approved the Rotary Club's 'Flags for Heroes' display at Justin Memorial Park (May 25–June 14). Trustees also discussed monument care and maintenance plans — including flagpole repairs, a planned DPW power-wash of the Justin Park walkway after April 1, and a proposed donor brick walkway to be presented at a future meeting.

MAR 14, '24

The Commission approved demolition/designation decisions for 297 Elm St and 29 Clark's Road (both found not historically significant) and authorized a letter to the developer's attorney regarding noncompliance at the former Methodist Church, 142 Main St.

MAR 14, '24

MAR 12, '24

Councilors amended Rule 6G (Ordinance 2024-016) to remove the prohibition on debate for appeals of the chair and sent the amended ordinance to the Ordinance & Administration subcommittee with a positive recommendation; the council also split Ordinance 2024-017 to forward only the portion re-establishing the Joint Education Committee to that subcommittee for further drafting.

MAR 11, '24

Planning Board approved a revised Mobil sign package at 23 Rocky Hill Rd. (with the top valence to remain text-free), accepted withdrawals of the site plan and special permit applications for 2 and 13 Merrimac St., and approved the erosion control bond/covenant for 101-107 Market St. (with Clause 5 to be removed).