CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS
City Councilors:
Meg Robbins, At-Large
Garrick Perry, At-Large
Gwen Nabad, Ward 1
Deborah L. Klemer, Ward 2 - Vice President
Laurie Loisel, Ward 3
Jeremy Dubs, Ward 4
Aline Davis, Ward 5
Christopher C. Stratton, Ward 6
Rachel Maiore, Ward 7 - Council President
Meeting Agenda
City Council Chambers
212 Main Street, Northampton
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
The City of Northampton does not discriminate based on disability and is committed to hosting accessible meetings. To request a reasonable accommodation to attend any City meeting, please contact the ADA Coordinator at: adacoordinator@northamptonma.gov or call 413-587-1288.. Speakers needing time accommodations should notify the chair prior to the meeting at rmaiore@northamptonma.gov.
The January 15, 2026 City Council meeting will be conducted in hybrid format with the option for both councilors and the public to attend in person or participate remotely. The public may follow the council's deliberations by attending in person, watching the meeting live on Comcast channel 15, live-streaming it on YouTube here or joining the virtual meeting by phone or computer. Live public comment begins at 6:30 p.m.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CALLING IN OR JOINING THE MEETING
Join the meeting: PUBLIC MEETING LINK
For telephone call-in, call:
+929 436-2866 US
MEETING ID: 846 4414 6122
PARTICIPANT#: #
PASSCODE: 783792
1.
2.
Announcement that meeting is being Audio/Video Recorded
This meeting is being audio/video recorded.
3.
Public Hearings
A.
Announcement of Public Hearing on 25.355 National Grid Petition for Park Hill Road (Petition#: 31193070)
Per M.G.L. Ch. 166, Section 22, the Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA on National Grid's petition to relocate one SO pole and install new midspan pole on Park Hill Road to accommodate a service upgrade request. (Petition #31193070). Instructions for accessing the hearing may be found on the February 5, 2026 City Council agenda to be posted on www.northamptonma.gov no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.
B.
Announcement of Public Hearing on 25.357 National Grid/Verizon Petition to install JO and Midspan Poles and Relocate Existing Pole #15 on Hawley Street (Petition# 31165186)
Per M.G.L. Ch. 166, Section 22, the Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 6:35 p.m. in Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA on National Grid/Verizon Petition to install JO and Midspan Poles and Relocate Existing Pole #15 on Hawley Street (Petition# 31165186). Instructions for accessing the hearing may be found on the February 5, 2026 City Council agenda to be posted on www.northamptonma.gov no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.
4.
Public Comment
5.
Announcements from Councilors and the Mayor
6.
Presentations
7.
Consent Agenda
Rule 4.4.4 There shall be no debate or discussion by any City Council member regarding any item on the Consent Agenda, beyond asking questions for simple clarification.
Rule 4.4.5 Any item may be removed from the Consent Agenda upon the request of any City Council member prior to the taking of a vote on the motion to approve it. All such items will be considered individually, in the order in which they were removed, immediately following consideration of the Consent Agenda.
A.
Minutes of Special City Council Meeting December 9, 2025 and Regular Meeting December 18, 2025
B.
26.008 Appointment of Attorney Alan Seewald as City Solicitor, for referral to City Services
8.
Financial Orders (on 1st reading)
Rule 2.6.1.1.1 Process. Financial orders will be introduced and discussed at a full City Council meeting and referred to either the consent agenda of a future meeting or the Finance Committee for more public input, discussion and recommendation.
A.
26.003 An Order to Appropriate $2.1 Million Free Cash to Various Reserve Accounts - 1st reading
B.
26.004 An Order to Appropriate Enterprise Retained Earnings to Various Project - 1st reading
C.
26.005 An Order to Appropriate $251,025 Free Cash to NPS Special Education Stabilization Fund - 1st reading
D.
26.006 An Order to Appropriate Free Cash to NPS for McKinney Vento Transportation Reimbursement - 1st reading
E.
26.007 An Order to Appropriate Free Cash to NPS for Foster Care Transportation Reimbursement - 1st reading
9.
Financial Orders (on 2nd reading)
10.
Orders
A.
26.009 An Order to Amend the 2026-2027 City Council Meeting Schedule - single reading only
11.
Ordinances (Not Yet Referred)
Rule 5.2.3 provides that no ordinance shall be voted on by the City Council until it has been considered by the Committee on Legislative Matters.
12.
Zoning Ordinances (Not yet Referred)
Process note: Per M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 5, the city council shall submit proposed zoning ordinances to the planning board for review within fourteen days of receipt. No zoning ordinance or amendment thereto shall be adopted until after the planning board in a city or town, and the city council or a committee designated or appointed for the purpose by said council has each held a public hearing thereon, together or separately.
Rule 5.2.3 provides that no ordinance shall be voted on by the City Council until it has been considered by the Committee on Legislative Matters.
13.
Ordinances
14.
Zoning Ordinances
15.
Resolutions
16.
Information Requests (Charter Provision 2-7) and Committee Study Requests
17.
New Business
Rule 4.9 NEW BUSINESS. Any Councilor may introduce any written proposed order, ordinance, or resolution to be considered by the Council at the next meeting, but not to be debated during new business.
18.