Ordinance and Administration Committee

By City Clerk at 3:37 pm, Nov 30, 2022 City of Amesbury Office of the City Clerk 62 Friend St. Amesbury, MA 01913 City Council Ordinance & Administration Subcommittee Meeting Minutes June 27, 2022, at 6:00 PM City Hall Auditorium, 62 Friend Street. Councilor Frey called the meeting to order at 6:06 PM Roll Call was taken, and present were Councilor Lennon, Councilor Rinaldi, and Councilor Frey. City Clerk Amanda Haggstrom was also present. Minutes for approval- May 16, 2022 Councilor Lennon moved to approve the May 16th, 2022, minutes and she was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. The motion passed unanimously (3 present). Appointment of Attorney Bethany Raffa and Attorney Leonard Johnson as citizen members. Councilor Lennon moved to appoint Attorneys Bethany Raffa and Leonard Johnson as citizen members of the Ordinance and Administration Committee. She was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. The motion passed unanimously (3 present). Atty. Johnson joined the rest of the committee for the meeting, Atty. Raffa was not present. Public Comment- There was no one to speak at public comment. 2022-059 An Order to create five (5) new, permanent fifteen (15) minute parking spaces throughout downtown Amesbury. -Mayor Sponsor • Councilor Frey read the notes from the previous meeting. He asked if the Council had received a revised copy of this and the Clerk said no. Chief of Staff Ann Marie Casey said that it was an oversight and that it wasn’t done. • Councilor Lennon said that it needs to be changed from an order to an ordinance and also that there is a standing ordinance that already covers 15 minutes parking spaces. This bill would need to amend that bill and this cant be a standalone order. • Councilor Lennon asked if this could wait until September. Ms. Casey said that there was a sense of urgency. She asked if she was able to revise it by the Council meeting the next day if that would be okay. Councilor Lennon said that they could return it without a positive recommendation. The committee discusses why they need to see all these changes before they can issue a positive recommendation. Councilor Lennon said they have had almost 6 weeks to make these changes and that O&A can’t send it back with a positive recommendation because it isn’t complete.  • Councilor Rinaldi said that not passing this is going to affect businesses downtown but understands that this needs work. • Councilor Wheeler talked about the fifteen-minute spots. He said that the traffic regulations only list two fifteen-minute spots but listed several other ones in the city. He didn’t know if it would ne worth it to add all of those into this ordinance while its being done. He was going to ask the Chief this question if he was at the meeting. • Councilor Lennon said that she had been asking for a more holistic approach to this bill, but it was absolutely denied. She said that it was told to her that it was only these spots listed and that there was no interest in looking at any others. Councilor Lennon said she appreciates Councilor Wheeler’s suggestion. Councilor Lennon moved to continue 2022-059 to the next meeting on September 19th pursuant to the recommendations made tonight which are to change this from an order to an ordinance to amend the existing ordinance which includes a table of fifteen-minute parking spots to include all the fifteen-minute spots. She was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. A roll call was taken, and the motion passed unanimously (3 present). 2022-062 An order to Amend the Amesbury Zoning Map and Zoning Bylaw to establish a Marijuana Overlay District (MCOD). • The Ordinance and Administration Committee had a request from the sponsor to continue this item. Councilor Lennon moved to continue 2022-062 to the next Ordinance and Administration meeting on September 19th. She was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. A roll call was taken, and the motion passed unanimously (3 present). 2022-081 An Ordinance to amend Section 20-24 of the City ordinances, titled “Establishment of revolving funds.” -Mayor Sponsor • The committee had no questions about this bill. • Councilor Wheeler said when this was amended under 2021-144, the EV charging table was added. He said that the Council is not adding the table back in. He suggested striking the existing table and add that under the new table, or strike language and replace with that. He said it is just a formatting issue. Councilor Lennon moved to send 2022-081 back to the City Council with a positive recommendation but to also include the comments from Councilor Wheeler. In the fourth paragraph change the word “add” to “replace” with the following table. She was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. A roll call was taken, and the motion passed unanimously (3 present). 2022-082 An Ordinance to amend the Amesbury Health Care Trust Commission (AHCTC) program description and application. -Mayor Sponsor • Councilor Frey stated that they had received communication from the City saying that they would like to withdraw this item without prejudice. Councilor Lennon moved to send 2022-082 back to the City Council with no recommendation. She was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. A roll call was taken, and the motion passed unanimously (3 present). Councilor Lennon moved to close the meeting at 6:27 PM. She was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. The motion passed unanimously (3 present). June 28, 2022