Meetings

MAY 27, '26

Budget Hearing #4: FY27 proposed budgets were presented and discussed for Amesbury Public Schools and the City’s public safety departments (Police, Harbormaster, Fire). Councilors engaged in detailed Q&A about staffing, special education funding, legal and contract costs, vehicle and equipment maintenance, and emergency medical billing.

MAY 26, '26

Council approved a $513,316.36 FY2027 capital appropriation (2026-092), set FY27 revolving fund spending limits (2026-093), reserved FY2027 Community Preservation Act funds for open space, historic resources, and housing (2026-094), authorized SAFE and Senior SAFE grants and a $15,000 ARSL library grant (2026-095, 2026-096), approved a $22,881.86 transfer from the Greenleaf Supportive Day fund to the Council on Aging (2026-097), and appropriated $55,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings for an emergency wastewater treatment plant repair (2026-098); Resolution 2026-086 (Housing Production Plan 2024–2029) was continued to June 23 pending Planning Board recommendation and referral to the Amesbury Housing Trust.

MAY 21, '26

The Technical Review Committee reviewed site plans and construction logistics for 29 Water Street — a three‑story masonry building in the Lower Millyard (floodplain) including a proposed pole‑mounted transformer, landscape easement request, utility routing, and upcoming Conservation Commission RDA.

MAY 21, '26

Budget Hearing #3 for the FY27 operating budget (2026-001) included departmental presentations and Q&A for Inspectional Services, Health Services, Community & Economic Development (including Planning, Conservation, and ZBA), Department of Public Wellness, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, and multiple DPW divisions and enterprise funds (Sewer, Water, Snow/Ice, Recycling/Refuse, Outdoor Lighting).

MAY 20, '26

FY27 budget hearing: Mayoral, Legal Services, Administration & Finance (employee benefits, debt service), Human Resources, Assessor, and Library budgets were presented and discussed with Council questions about staffing, cost savings, and major line items.

MAY 19, '26

The committee recommended returning the Housing Production Plan 2024-2029 (Resolution 2026-086) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation and requested referral to the Planning Board and Amesbury Housing Trust; it also recommended positive action to the full Council on multiple fiscal orders including an appropriation of $513,316.36 from Free Cash for FY27 capital expenditures (2026-092) and a $55,000 Sewer Retained Earnings appropriation for emergency wastewater treatment plant repairs (2026-098).

MAY 18, '26

Continued Chapter 40B public hearing for 27 Kimball Road: the ZBA selected BSC to perform civil, environmental, and traffic peer reviews and unanimously approved soliciting bids for an independent urban design peer review.

MAY 18, '26

School Committee approved the superintendent employment contract for Stephen Zadrovich and authorized up to $52,720 from the school‑choice revolving account for AHS diamond field improvements; the Long Range Planning Committee final report was also presented with recommendations on enrollment retention, endowment building, facilities utilization, and regionalization.

MAY 18, '26

Discussion of the Poet Laureate program’s recent and planned activities and a current financial status update for the program.

MAY 13, '26

MAY 12, '26

Council approved the appointment of Brian Higgins to the Conservation Commission (2026-091) and accepted a donated shed for the Town Park ice rink (2026-082). The Mayor presented the FY27 budget; the Council referred the FY27 Operating Budget order (2026-001) to the Ad Hoc Budget Committee with a second reading and public hearing on June 9, and referred multiple FY27 capital/revolving fund and grant orders (2026-092–2026-097) to the Standing Committee of the Whole. Also accepted as a late file and referred was an emergency sewer appropriation order (2026-098) to fund wastewater plant repairs.

MAY 12, '26

Committee on Trustees reviewed candidate materials and recommended seven candidates to the full board to fill Board of Trustees vacancies, targeting coverage across accountability, finance, development, and other key expertise areas.

MAY 11, '26

Public hearings were held for two development projects: a Special Permit for a ~1,000 sq ft addition at 30 Lake Attitash Road (peer review authorized; hearing continued to June 22) and a Smart Growth site plan for 28 Haverhill Road (Pulte Homes — two five-story buildings, 126 units; board requested peer review of engineering, traffic, and environmental components and continued the hearing to June 8). The board also approved a storefront sign at 80 Main Street and acted on several bond/covenant items related to local development sites (101-107 Market St and National Grid site at 9 Allen Clear Drive).

MAY 5, '26

City Council will consider establishing an Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole.

MAY 5, '26

Discussion of Open Studios 2026 and updates on public art projects and the Cultural Center; consideration of a proposed fundraising plan by Linday Haight and a vote on funding ACC wayfinding signs; adoption of Core Values and review of goals for 2026.

MAY 4, '26

Major items included review of an RDA for conversion of the brick mill at 29 Water Street (Commission flagged floodplain and riverfront concerns and indicated an NOI/Special Permit and site review are appropriate), a substantial NOI for 28 Haverhill Road (Commission voted to require a combined stormwater and wetlands peer review), and issuance of a Partial Certificate of Compliance for work at 101-107 Market Street.

MAY 4, '26

School Committee approved a full slate of subcommittee appointments and heard major updates: three finalists and scheduled site visits/community forum for the Shea elementary principal search, continued regionalization feasibility work with a report due late May/early June, and formal notice that Amesbury High School remains NEASC-accredited.

APR 29, '26

Approved reservation and allocation of FY27 CPA estimated revenues — $59,427 each to the Open Space, Historic Resources, and Community Housing reserves; $29,713 to the CPC administrative account; remainder to the Budgeted Reserve (Order 2026-094). Appointed Peter Frey, Joe Fahey, and Bob Manseau to the Community Preservation Plan subcommittee.

APR 29, '26

Board declined to adopt a proposed Professional Code of Conduct and approved a 3.5% increase to the salary line for the upcoming school year (allocation to be determined by the Executive Director).

APR 28, '26

Council confirmed three mayoral appointments (2026-088, 2026-089, 2026-090), approved boat-ramp parking permit fee changes (2026-079), adopted kayak/canoe/SUP rental fees for Amesbury Recreation (2026-080), enacted a no-parking rule on Highland (2026-081), approved a transfer to Building Inspection training (2026-083), and accepted a DFS grant for firefighter safety equipment (2026-085).