CommitteeAmesbury

City Council

Track committee activity, current roster, and published meeting coverage for City Council in Amesbury.

0 active membersLast meeting Aug 5, 202618 summaries in 30d

Summaries

Active roster

Latest activity

Aug 21, 2026

Municipality

Amesbury

Latest coverage

Council Elects New Leadership

Published Aug 21, 2026

Related summaries

Published meeting coverage connected to City Council.

Briefing

Jul 14, 2026

Council adopts solid-waste fee schedule

The Council approved amendments to the solid-waste ordinance and a fee schedule by a 7-1 vote; discussion identified a $100 annual fee as the initial amount.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 23, 2026

Council Adopts Five-Year Housing Plan

The City Council unanimously adopted the amended 2024–2029 Housing Production Plan, which sets five-year goals and strategies to expand affordable housing and encourage varied housing types. The council also approved a $1,199,660 grant amendment for Washington Landing and established a Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 2, 2026

Committee advances $93.2 million budget

The committee approved a total FY27 appropriation of $93,229,971 by an 8-1 vote, including an $84,704,738 General Fund. The budget will be recommended to the full City Council.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 27, 2026

Council Reviews FY27 Department Budgets

The City Council reviewed proposed FY27 budgets for Amesbury Public Schools, Police, Harbormaster, and Fire. School officials said the School Choice account could be at risk, while the Fire Department proposed increased focus on preventative maintenance.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 26, 2026

Council Approves Capital and Sewer Funding

The City Council unanimously approved $513,316.36 in fiscal 2027 capital funding and $55,000 for an emergency wastewater treatment plant repair. It also approved $119,000 in Community Preservation reserves, two fire-safety grants totaling $9,587.11, and a $15,000 library sustainability grant.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 21, 2026

FY27 Budget Proposals Reviewed

The City Council reviewed proposed FY27 budgets for city services, utilities, public wellness, and a regional vocational high school; no final budget was adopted. Officials said a new health-services fee structure updates fees that had not changed in many years, while Public Wellness staffing changes are intended to address service gaps.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 20, 2026

FY27 Budget Hearings Examine Cuts and Costs

The City Council reviewed proposed FY27 budgets, including a 2% decrease in the Mayor’s department, an estimated $700,000–$800,000 accounting software transition, and reduced Library staffing hours.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 13, 2026

Council Reviews Fiscal Year 2027 Budgets

The City Council reviewed proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budgets for seven municipal functions, including information technology, elections, veteran services, and youth services. Youth Services reported a 20% decrease in regular salaries and wages tied to part-time after-school staffing, and said a beach director—not a lifeguard—would be on duty at the beach.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 12, 2026

FY27 budget review moves forward

The City Council referred the proposed FY27 operating budget to its Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole, with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for June 9, 2026. The council also referred proposals involving $513,316.36 in capital spending from Free Cash and a $55,000 emergency wastewater treatment plant repair for further review.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 5, 2026

Council Establishes Ad Hoc Budget Committee

The City Council unanimously approved creating an Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole by a 5-0 vote.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 28, 2026

Highland Street parking ban approved

The City Council voted 7-1 to prohibit parking on both sides of Highland Street between Friend Street and Hillside Avenue, except in designated marked spaces.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 14, 2026

Council Expands Accessory Dwelling Rules

The City Council unanimously approved revised zoning rules for accessory dwelling units, including allowing units up to 900 square feet, permitting them in two- and multi-family structures, and removing owner-occupancy requirements.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 24, 2026

Council adopts new operating rules

The City Council approved revised rules for its Fifteenth Session by an 8-1 vote, replacing three standing committees with one Committee of the Whole. It also approved $75,000 in budget-reserve transfers, $34,858 in grants, and continued review of the 27 Kimball Road 40B application.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 10, 2026

Council Approves $55,000 Free Cash Allocation

The City Council approved an amended $55,000 appropriation from free cash, reducing the proposed amount from $100,000, by a 6-2 vote. The funds will support items including furniture, clerk’s office shutters, and preparation of the old City Hall building for the recreation department.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 4, 2026

Council approves funding and safety measures

The City Council approved a $91,983 North Shore HOME Consortium grant, $200,000 for the Stabilization Fund, $231,535 for streets and sidewalks, and funding connected to a $1 million water-main replacement grant. It also approved firefighter safety equipment, updated cemetery rules, and a change allowing the city to explore mailing parking violations.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 10, 2026

Council Advances Multiple Funding Measures

The City Council referred a series of funding and budget orders for committee review, including $200,000 for the Stabilization Fund and $231,535 for streets and sidewalks. The measures were not finally approved at this meeting; most were scheduled for second readings on February 24, 2026.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 7, 2026

Council Reviews FY27 Budget Plans

The City Council and administration reviewed the FY27 budget process, potential new revenue sources, expected challenges, and the budget timeline. They also reviewed the FY26 budget and third-quarter report.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 13, 2026

Council Elects New Leadership

Councilor Jessica Redfern was elected City Council President, receiving 7 of 9 votes, and Councilor Amanda Haggstrom was elected Vice President unanimously, 9-0.

1 min readMunicipal coverage