Meetings

OCT 27, '26

Council voted to withdraw Ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) without prejudice and created an ad hoc committee to rework it; the Council also endorsed Resolution 2026-161 urging a NO vote on November Ballot Question 8. The body approved several grants (MEMA radiological grant 2026-151; FFY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant 2026-152; BHOAP amendment 2026-154; MassDOT Shared Streets grant 2026-155) and granted National Grid permits for utility work at Elm St (2026-140), Back River Rd (2026-156), Highland St (2026-158) and Kimball Rd (2026-159).

OCT 26, '26

Planning Board approved the Rocky Hill development site plan (Elm Street properties) with amended conditions addressing MEPA certificate changes and MassWorks mitigation, and approved an ANR subdivision at 43 Oakland Street to create a non-buildable lot for Powwow River remediation. The board also endorsed the final plan set for 2-4 Elmwood Street.

OCT 20, '26

Committee returned a negative recommendation on Ordinance 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) after legal review; KP Law advised on charter, HR plan constraints, and open-meeting-law considerations. The committee also recommended positive referrals to City Council for several grant actions: MEMA EOC grant (2026-151), the revised FFY27 Municipal Road Safety Grant (2026-152), a $146,653 BHOAP award amendment for elder behavioral health services (2026-154), and a MassDOT Shared Streets grant to fund pre-construction work for the Upper Millyard Pedestrian Bridge replacement (2026-155).

OCT 19, '26

The School Committee declared a vacancy for the Amesbury representative on the Whittier Regional School Committee, unanimously voted to ask City Council to adopt M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 71 to enable school bus stop‑arm camera enforcement, rescinded obsolete policy JKAA‑R, and approved budget transfers totaling $597,935.81.

OCT 14, '26

Planning Board continued detailed deliberations on the large Rocky Hill site-plan/definitive subdivision (staff updated the draft decision with MEPA-derived conditions including traffic mitigation, truck-routing/fill controls, phasing, affordable-housing documentation and easements). The board continued and scheduled further review of the contested 29 Lake Attitash Road special-permit (stormwater, WRP-district zoning/Zone A vs C, and right‑of‑way concerns) and received an accessory-dwelling-unit proposal for 30 Belmont St (DRC/TRC referrals).

OCT 14, '26

Committee approved adding an outdoor classroom/gazebo and middle school fencing to the school's capital budget, funded by an $80,000 Foundation allocation including a $10,000 grant.

OCT 13, '26

Council confirmed five mayoral appointments including Courtney Hutchinson as Director of Public Wellness and Jonathan Greeno as Chief Assessor, and unanimously approved multiple National Grid pole installations at Cedar St., High St., Allens Ct., Thompson St., Glenwood St., Ring St., and Pond Hill Rd. (the Elm St. pole hearing was continued to October 27).

OCT 5, '26

The Planning Board closed the continued public hearings for the Rocky Hill development (site plan and definitive subdivision) and scheduled the board to render final decisions on October 14. The meeting focused on drafted findings, waivers, and conditions for the large mixed-use Rocky Hill project.

OCT 5, '26

The School Committee approved the district policy on interactions with law enforcement (Protect Act), amending the protected-classes language and wording to align with DESE IMR guidance.

OCT 5, '26

The commission approved the Notice of Intent for a single‑family home at 29 Lake Attitash Road (DEP 002-1360) with conditions including monitoring and a performance bond; it also approved Boston Gas’s Chestnut Street pressure‑relief valve installation (DEP 002-13683). Commissioners issued Negative Determinations for the 465 Main Street landscaping/driveway work, the City’s Pond Street repaving, and removal of the Upper Millyard pedestrian bridge, and granted a three‑year extension for 39 Poplar Street (DEP 002-1229).

SEP 28, '26

Approved: signage for Low and Slow Southern Kitchen & Tap at 11 Elm St.; approved change of use and exterior improvements for a new Bagel Roost at 46 Elm St., subject to staff conditions and field-verified parking/fire sign-off.

SEP 28, '26

IT director presented a major technology update covering recent infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity measures, a FERPA‑compliant Google Gemini AI rollout, and a proposed block on student external email; consultants from TMS Management Solutions presented a Georgetown–Amesbury regionalization feasibility study analyzing grade 6–12 consolidation impacts on enrollment, transportation (estimate: four additional buses, ~$300k first year), facilities capacity, academic outcomes, and fiscal/bargaining implications.

SEP 24, '26

The board will hear three new zoning matters: a variance request for an addition at 9 Sanborn Terrace, a special permit for a home-occupation massage therapy at 40 Merrimac Street, and an appeal challenging the building commissioner’s determination about a commercial use at 102 Friend Street (rear). A continued public hearing will consider a Comprehensive Permit for a 95-unit multifamily cottage rental development at 27 Kimball Road under Chapter 40B.

SEP 23, '26

Public hearing and adoption of the City of Amesbury Community Preservation Plan (approved as amended to correct an appendix reference and to require committee consideration of public input during funding deliberations).

SEP 22, '26

Council approved three mayoral appointments to the Open Space, Natural Resources and Trails Committee and the Historical Commission (2026-142, 2026-143, 2026-144); approved National Grid pole work at Bay St. (2026-126); approved an order accepting M.G.L. c.140 sec.139 (2026-129); authorized acceptance of a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration Project grant (2026-130); and appropriated $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for neighborhood traffic calming (2026-133).

SEP 15, '26

Council continued 2026-128 (City Clerk Salary Ordinance) for further legal review; voted to send 2026-129 (acceptance of M.G.L. c.140 §139C senior dog-license exemption) and 2026-130 (accept a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration Project grant) to the full City Council with positive recommendations; and recommended 2026-133 (appropriate $30,000 from Smart Growth Stabilization for traffic calming) to the full Council (5-2).

SEP 15, '26

Agenda for the full Board will include a vote on the updated Capital Budget, a vote on the Board Secretary position (Meredith Makin has expressed interest), and an Executive Director search update and recommendation.

SEP 15, '26

The committee approved River Valley Charter School's 2026/2027 capital budget.

SEP 14, '26

Approved a detached ADU at 12 Oak Street with staff conditions (including a setback waiver) and approved the definitive subdivision for 2–4 Elmwood Street with preservation covenants and frontage waivers.

SEP 14, '26

The committee approved Amesbury Middle School's 8th-grade overnight trip to Boston and the 6th-grade three-day Camp Bournedale, and accepted several grants including a $15,600 Attorney General phone-free schools grant, a $8,946 Toshiba AWQ grant, and earmarks totaling $84,000 for athletics and third-grade Chromebooks.