City Council

By City Clerk at 9:31 am, Jul 09, 2025 City of Amesbury Office of the City Clerk 62 Friend St. Amesbury, MA 01913 City Council Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes Budget Hearing #1 Thursday, May 15, 2025 7:00 PM The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by City Clerk Jennifer Smith. Roll call was taken, present were Councilor Frederique, Councilor Gilday, Councilor Haggstrom, Councilor Hogg, Councilor Redfern, Councilor Rinaldi, and Councilor Stanganelli. Absent was Councilor Wheeler. Councilor Gilday offered a motion to nominate Councilor Stanganelli to be chair of Ad Hoc Budget Committee. Councilor Hogg seconded, and the motion passed 6-0-1, Councilor Stanganelli abstained. ***President Mandeville arrived at 7:08 PM. Youth Services (Budget Book Pages 88-89) • Director of Youth Services Kathy Crowley presented the Youth Services’ proposed FY26 budget to the City Council (see attached presentation). • Councilor Gilday expressed concern about the potential of prices raising for before and after school programs due to the transition in the management. • Director Crowley shared that the Department of Early Education required that the program is licensed, which resulted in an increase of costs for staff and training. • Councilor Haggstrom questioned why the state mandated that the program needs to be licensed. Director Crowley answered that someone brought it to the attention of the state. • Councilor Haggstrom asked if there is a plan for the Youth Services to make up potential lost revenue. Director Crowley stated that parent needs will be met and that there will be a price increase. Director Crowley also shared there is a strategic plan starting with adult programming and that she is excited to make the recreation department more representative of population, which includes a shift to adult programming. • Councilors asked various other questions and engaged in discussion with Director Crowley. Library (Budget Book Pages 90-92) • Library Director Aimie Westphal presented the Library’s proposed FY26 budget to the City Council (see attached presentation). • Councilors asked various questions and engaged in discussion with Director Westphal and Meghan Fahey, Head of Archives and Special Collections. Council on Aging (Budget Book Pages 84-85) • Assistant Director Courtney Hutchinson presented the Council on Aging’s proposed FY26 budget to the City Council (see attached presentation). 1  • Councilors asked various questions and engaged in discussion with Assistant Director Hutchinson. Veterans Services (Budget Book Pages 86-87) • Director Kevin Hunt presented the Veterans Services’ proposed FY26 budget to the City Council (see attached presentation). • Councilors asked various questions and engaged in discussion with Director Hunt. Whittier Vocational Schools • Superintendent Maureen Lynch presented the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School’s proposed FY26 budget to the City Council (see attached presentation). • Councilors asked various questions and engaged in discussion with Superintendent Lynch. Adjourn President Mandeville offered a motion to adjourn at 8:40 PM. Councilor Haggstrom seconded, and the motion passed unanimously, 8-0. Respectfully submitted, Jasmine Looney June 22, 2025 2