2026-10-06 - City Council
Summary
Built from the official minutes. No video is posted for our records, so there is no transcript or timing.
- Regular meeting, 7:01 to 7:44 PM, called to order by President Zarrella. 10 councilors at the roll call (Councilor Cragin absent at first, joined 7:11 PM); all 11 present for later votes. No one spoke in public forum.
- Library renovation order adopted as amended with $750,000 and $1,880,117 appropriations, 11-0.
- Zoning moratoria petitions on battery storage and data centers sent to the Planning Board for hearing.
- Tobacco sales ordinance repeal and City Clerk ordinance changes had first readings.
- Final readings: three Chapter 169 amendments and the Birch Street Passway parking ban, all 11-0.
- Everything voted was unanimous, 11-0 (10-0 on the first Appointments report).
Public Library Renovation Funding
- Public Library Renovation Funding: Finance report (September 23) accepted; order 154-26 adopted as amended, 11-0, with orders 152-26 and 153-26.
Supplemental Personnel Appropriations
- Supplemental Personnel Appropriations: $42,384 and $4,716 appropriations adopted 11-0.
Zoning moratoria
- Battery Storage Zoning Moratorium and Data Center Zoning Moratorium: Legislative Affairs report accepted; both petitions from Caron referred to the Planning Board for public hearing, 11-0.
City property
- Westminster Street Surplus Property Sale, Laurel Hill Cemetery Surplus Parcel and Scenic Road Designations: City Property Committee report approved 11-0 (Murphy presented the sale requests).
Tobacco Sales Ordinance Repeal
- Tobacco Sales Ordinance Repeal: ordinance 167-26 repealing Chapter 164 had its first reading and was ordered advertised, 11-0.
City Clerk Ordinance Changes
- City Clerk Ordinance Changes: ordinance 166-26 from President Zarrella and Vice President Cruz had its first reading, 11-0.
Final readings
- Traffic Code Section Amendments: final reading and adoption, 11-0.
- Birch Street Passway Parking Ban: final reading and adoption, 11-0.
Public Works petitions
- Greenhurst Avenue Private Way Repairs: Public Works report (September 29) lists the petition as held.
- Residential Berm Petitions: 161-26 be granted, 062-26 be granted as amended.
New petitions and orders
- Crocker Field Parking Controls: referred to Public Safety.
- Creditable Service Special Legislation: referred to Legislative Affairs.
- Unitil Pole Petitions: petitions 169-26 and 170-26 referred to a hearing on October 20.
- Coggshall Park Playground and Recreation STEAM Grant: orders 163-26 and 164-26 referred to Finance.
Other business
- Appointments Committee report accepted 10-0 (five full-time student police officer appointments). Mayor's appointment letters for the Agricultural Commission (one new, two reappointments) and Cultural Council (three new) referred to the Appointments Committee. Promotion of Captain Ryan Cringan to Permanent Deputy Chief filed.
- Minutes of the September 14 joint convention and the September 15 meeting approved, the latter as amended, 11-0.
- Order 165-26 authorizing the City Clerk to notify voters of the November 3, 2026 State Election adopted under suspension of rules, 11-0; signed October 8.
- Next regular meeting: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 7:00 PM. Minutes signed by City Clerk Bilotta-Simeone.