City Council

By City Clerk at 5:38 pm, Feb 17, 2026 City of Amesbury Office of the City Clerk 62 Friend St. Amesbury, MA 01913 City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, December 9, 2025 7:00 PM Follow along in the City’s FY26 Budget Book here: https://www.amesburyma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/403 The recording of this meeting can be viewed here: https://amesburyctv.org The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM by President Mandeville. Councilor Rinaldi led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was taken, and present were Councilor Rinaldi, Councilor Frederique, Councilor Gilday, Councilor Haggstrom, Councilor Hogg, Councilor Redfern, and President Mandeville. Absent were Councilors Stanganelli and Wheeler. Act on Minutes- October 28, 2025, November 18, 2025 and December 2, 2025 Councilor Haggstrom offered a motion to approve the October 28, 2025 minutes as presented. Councilor Hogg seconded, and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Councilor Haggstrom offered a motion to approve the November 18, 2025 minutes as presented. Councilor Gilday seconded, and the motion passed 6-0-1, Councilor Hogg abstained. Councilor Haggstrom offered a motion to approve the December 2, 2025 minutes as presented. Councilor Gilday seconded, and the motion passed 6-0-1, Councilor Rinaldi abstained. Mayoral Appointments None Monthly list of licenses –November & December Councilor Haggstrom offered a motion to approve the November and December lists of licenses. Councilor Redfern seconded, and the motion passed 6-0-1, Councilor Rinaldi abstained. Correspondence -President/Vice President Communications • President Mandeville thanked Councilor Rinaldi for his time on the council. • Councilor Gilday thanked Councilor Rinaldi for his service to the community. • Councilor Gilday thanked those who organized the Santa Parade. • President Mandeville noted that there will be no City Council meeting on December 23 rd and that this will close out his term as president. -Communication from Elected Officials, Boards and Commissions • Mayor Gove thanked Councilor Rinaldi for his service and presented him with a certificate. • Councilor Rinaldi congratulated the new members of the council and stated that he will stay involved with the Energy Committee. 1  • Mayor Gove introduced Steven, a representative from Ripple Fiber. • The Ripple Fiber representative gave a presentation on their internet services. Council Communications, Announcements and Committee Reports • None Public Comment None Council Response to Public Comment None Second Readings 2025-114 An Order to fund the employment agreement between the City of Amesbury and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 93, Local 939 dated July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028 – Mayor Sponsor • Councilor Redfern read the positive recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee. Councilor Haggstrom offered a motion to approve 2025-114 as presented. Councilor Frederique seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. 2025-115 An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for FY 2026 - Mayor Sponsor • Councilor Redfern read the positive recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee. Councilor Haggstrom offered a motion to approve 2025-115 as presented. Councilor Frederique seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. 2025-121 An Order of the Amesbury City Council to approve the Acceptance of a Quitclaim Deed for a Parcel of Land at the 47.5-57 Kimball Road Subdivision, being a portion of property located off Kimball Road, Amesbury to be Held by the Conservation Commission and to Authorize the Mayor to Execute said Approval on Behalf of the City of Amesbury – Mayor Sponsor • President Mandeville read a memorandum from the Mayor to withdraw 2025-121, 2025-122, and 2025-123 without prejudice. Councilor Gilday offered a motion to withdraw 2025-121, 2025-122, and 2025-123 without prejudice. Councilor Hogg seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. 2025-125 An Order to fund the employment agreement between the City of Amesbury and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1783, I.A.F.F., dated July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028. • Councilor Redfern shared that the Budget and Finance Committee was not able to meet and needs to be discharged of its duty. Councilor Rinaldi offered a motion to discharge the Budget and Finance Committee from its duty. Councilor Redfern seconded. • Councilors engaged in discussion regarding whether or not the bill is time sensitive and if it can be moved to the next session. • The motion passed 5-1-1, Councilor Haggstrom opposed and Councilor Hogg abstained. • Mayor Gove spoke to the desire to approve this before the end of the calendar year and get pay to employees. • Fire Chief Rob Serino stated that firefighters have pushed to get this contract done and that he is willing to answer any questions. 2  • Councilor Rinaldi asked if this was the money reserved or if there was money left over. CFO Marisa Batista replied the actual salary reserve is in one account not a specific number for each contract. • Councilors engaged in further discussion regarding the order with Chief Serino. Councilor Hogg offered a motion to approve 2025-125 as presented. Councilor Redfern seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Councilor Haggstrom left the meeting at 8:30 PM. 2025-126 An Order to transfer $120,416.38 from FY26 Salary Reserve account to various Departmental Salaries & Wages accounts. • President Mandeville noted that there was no referral from the Budget and Finance Committee. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to discharge the Budget and Finance Committee from its duty. Councilor Frederique seconded, and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. • CFO Marisa Batista provided a highlight of the contract. • Councilor Hogg asked how many employees this will impact. CFO Batista replied that she could look up this information and provide it to council. Councilor Mandeville recused himself at 8:34 PM and passed the gavel to Councilor Gilday. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to approve 2025-126 as presented. Councilor Hogg seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 5-0. Councilor Gilday passed the gavel back to President Mandeville at 8:34 PM. Public Hearings 2025-124 Reopen Public Hearing and Reconsider an Order on the annual Classification Hearing to vote on four (4) separate items in order to establish the tax burdens for each class of property – Mayor Sponsor • President Mandeville shared that the city found a coding error for the elementary school. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to reconsider 2025-124 and reopen the public hearing. Councilor Hogg seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. President Mandeville opened the public hearing at 8:38 PM. President Mandeville closed the public hearing at 8:38 PM. • CFO Batista shared the changes that were made to the Classification Hearing. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to adopt Factor 1. Councilor Frederique seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to adopt the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendation for no open space discount. Councilor Hogg seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to adopt the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendation for no residential exemption. Councilor Frederique seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. 3 Councilor Redfern offered a motion to adopt the Mayor’s and Assessor’s recommendation for no commercial exemption. Councilor Frederique seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Councilor Redfern offered a motion to approve 2025-124 as presented. Councilor Frederique seconded. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. First Readings None Adjourn Councilor Rinaldi offered a motion to adjourn at 8:45 PM. Councilor Hogg seconded, and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Respectfully submitted, Jasmine Looney December 11, 2025 4