Council orders · Ordinances
Ordinances
Every ordinance and council order tracked through its readings, with sponsor, status, and an AI-written plain-language preview.
2025-071 approved 2025-070 approved 2025-069 approved 2025-068 approved 2025-064 approved 2025-063 approved 2025-060 approved 2025-054 approved 2025-053 approved 2025-052 approved 2025-051 approved 2025-050 approved 2025-049 approved 2025-048 approved 2025-047 approved 2025-046 withdrawn 2025-045 rejected 2025-044 approved 2025-042 approved 2025-041 approved
An Order to appropriate $122,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings for the purpose of funding fiscal year 2025 operating expenditures listed below.
The City of Amesbury approves a $122,000 transfer from Sewer Retained Earnings to fund FY2025 sewer operating costs, including electricity, heat, equipment repairs, lab work, and consulting. The Sewer Retained Earnings balance would drop from $1,124,781 to $1,002,781.
An Order to authorize inter-departmental transfers of general fund appropriations in accordance with MGL c.44 Section 33B.
City Council approves end-of-year/interim inter-departmental transfers of general fund appropriations totaling $201,553 to cover department overages. Funds are moved among numerous departments and sourced from reductions in Assessor PS, Inspectional Services PS, Employee Benefits, and Reserves.
An Order to appropriate $449,940.23 from Free Cash for the purpose of funding fiscal year 2025 Snow & Ice expenditures in excess of appropriation.
City Council approves a one-time appropriation of $449,940.23 from Free Cash to cover Snow & Ice costs in FY2025 that exceed the initial $250,000 funding. Funds will support overtime, equipment rental, salt/sand, and related expenses to keep streets safe.
An Order to authorize the Mayor to enter into a renewal of the inter-municipal agreement for an additional one-year period beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 with the Town of Salisbury pursuant to M.G.L c. 40 § 4A for the provision of animal control services.
Authorizes a one-year renewal of the regional animal control services agreement with Salisbury (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026). Salisbury remains lead; the plan outlines oversight, operating hours, cost sharing, and governance. After-hours service is contracted separately and vehicle arrangements are defined.
An Order that pursuant to G.L. c.44B, the Community Preservation Act, the following amounts be reserved from the FY2026 estimated annual revenues of the Community Preservation Fund, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee: $56,488 to the Community Housing Reserve, $56,488 to the Historic Resources Reserve, and $56,488 to the Open Space and Recreation Reserve.
The City Council reserves portions of FY2026 CPA revenues into reserves for housing, historic resources, and open space/recreation, and allocates a portion to CPC administrative costs. The remainder stays in the CPA unreserved balance for future eligible uses.
An Order that pursuant to G.L. c. 44B, the Community Preservation Act, the following amounts be reserved from the FY2025 estimated annual revenues of the Community Preservation Fund: $47,224 to the Community Housing Reserve, $47,224 to the Historic Resources Reserve, and $47,224 to the Open Space and Recreation Reserve.
This ordinance reserves 10% of FY2025 estimated Community Preservation Fund revenues into three reserves (Housing, Historic Resources, Open Space) each receiving $47,224, with the remainder placed in the Unreserved Balance for future appropriations. No state matching funds are expected in the first year. Funds stay in their accounts until expended per future council action.
An Order to request the City Council vote to authorize tlie Mayor to enter into five-year or less lease purchase agreements for new copiers.
This order would authorize the Mayor to pursue five-year or shorter lease-purchase agreements to acquire new copiers, replacing the current five-year fleet and using State Bid List pricing. It requires a City Council vote to authorize the Mayor to proceed, affecting City Hall and other municipal offices that use copiers.
An Ordinance to amend the Amesbury Zoning Ordinance and make revisions to existing Wetlands and Floodplain protection regulations by adopting additional floodplain management measures that meet the current standards of 44 CFR Part 60.3 (d) of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations.
Updates Amesbury's Wetlands and Floodplain Protection District to meet NFIP standards and align with FEMA's latest flood maps and study, affecting development in flood-prone areas citywide.
An Order of the Amesbury City Council to Accept an Easement at 12 Elizabeth Street in the City of Amesbury and to authorize the Mayor to execute an Acceptance on behalf of the City of Amesbury.
Amesbury City Council approves accepting a permanent drainage easement at 12 Elizabeth Street to facilitate drainage improvements and flood mitigation; the Mayor is authorized to execute the Easement.
An Order of the Amesbury City Council transferring care, custody, management, and control of the former Amesbury Elementary School Property, located at 24 S. Hampton Rd, Amesbury, MA consisting of approximately 14 acres (Parcel: 26-4) from the School Department for school purposes to the Mayor for general municipal purposes.
Transfers the former Amesbury Elementary School property at 24 S. Hampton Rd from the School Department to the Mayor for general municipal use. The move comes after the Sgt. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School opened, with the property deemed surplus for school purposes. The City may use the site as needed until a specific future use is identified.
An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend two grants from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) Department of Fire Services (DFS) for the FY25 Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) program in the amount of $5,699.88 and the Senior SAFE grant program in the amount of $2,399.26.
This ordinance authorizes the Mayor to accept two state grants from EOPSS/DFS to fund the FY25 SAFE and Senior SAFE fire-safety education programs. The grants total $8,099.14 and support programs for children and seniors run by trained firefighter-educators.
An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $40,000.00 from the Executive Office for Administration and Finance FY25 Community Compact Cabinet’s (CCC) Information Technology grant program.
Amesbury will accept a $40,000 CCC IT grant to fund one year of Trend Micro Vision One cybersecurity service for the City and Schools. The service provides real-time monitoring of emails, cloud environments, and devices to block attacks, with AI analysis and sandboxing. The grant requires compliance with state laws.
An Order to request the City Council vote to authorize the Mayor to enter into ten years or less leases or loan purchase agreements for Cardiac Monitors, Police Cruisers, Body Worn Cameras, and Cruiser Mounted Dash Cameras.
This order asks the City Council to authorize the Mayor to enter into leases for new public-safety equipment. It covers cardiac monitors for the Fire Department, replacement police vehicles, and body-worn and cruiser dash cameras, with terms up to 10 years for monitors, 3 years for vehicles, and 5 years for cameras. The arrangements would involve future expenditures and require council approval before signing.
An Order to establish spending limits for departmental revolving funds pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 44, Section 53E.
The Amesbury City Council sets FY26 spending limits for departmental revolving funds (beginning July 1, 2025). Funds covered include youth programs, Council on Aging, and EV charging revenues. Limits stay in place until the Council revises them before the next fiscal year.
An Order to appropriate $1,813,975 from Free Cash for the purpose of funding fiscal year 2026 capital expenditures listed below.
Authorizes a Free Cash appropriation of $1,813,975 to fund FY2026 capital projects. It lists a range of investments across IT, DPW, Fire, Police, Library, and Amesbury Public Schools totaling $1.8139 million, with funding sourced from Free Cash.
An Order for the City to place Go Slow Children signage at the stop signs at the top of Riverfront Drive - request by resident
City Council bill requests Go Slow Children signage at the Riverfront Drive stop signs to address speeding in the Merrimac Landing area. The measure follows the city's signage process and would be considered by the Planning and Development subcommittee.
An Ordinance for the City to place No Parking signs on Lafiryette Street meclian strip - request by resident
This ordinance asks the city to install No Parking signs on the Lafayette Street median strip, in response to a resident's request. It cites the city's signage request process and seeks council action to place the signs.
An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $9,498.50 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Department of Fire Services (DFS) second round of the FY 2025 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.
The City of Amesbury authorizes its Mayor to accept a $9,498.50 DFS Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant (Round 2, FY25) to buy gear like washers, gloves, and helmets for firefighters. Equipment must be delivered by June 30, 2025, with reimbursements due by July 25, 2025.
An Order to authortze the Mayor to accept and expend a FY25 Complete Streets Funding Program grant in the amount of $401,654.70 from the Massachusetts Depar tment o f Transpo rtation.
approves a state grant to fund two Complete Streets projects in Amesbury: Highland Street sidewalk reconstruction and a realigned intersection at Market Street/South Hampton Road, with construction due by end of 2026.
An Order to authorize the transfer of $45,889.50 from the FY25 Salary Reserve account to various municipal departments.
This budget order authorizes moving $45,889.50 from FY25 Salary Reserve to fund Salaries & Wages in seven city departments/offices, per the FY25 compensation study by NFP (Aon). The changes affect Administration & Finance, Clerk, Council on Aging, Library, Mayor, MIS, and Treasurer/Collector.