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
**AMENDED**
Meeting Agenda - VIRTUAL ONLYCity Council Chambers212 Main Street, Northampton
Thursday, March 5, 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.
The March 5, 2026 City Council meeting will be held by remote participation only. 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 re: Northampton Capital Improvement Program for FY2027 - FY2031 - Thursday, March 19, 2026
In accordance with Article 7, Section 7-5 of the Charter, the Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Wallace J. Puchalski Municipal Building, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA Instructions for accessing the hearing remotely may be found on the March 19, 2026 City Council agenda to be posted on www.northamptonma.gov no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City Council will consider the Capital Improvement Program for FY2027-FY2031, and hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.
Documents:
B.
Announcement of Public Hearing to Consider FY2027 Water and Sewer Rates
The Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing to consider the FY2027 water and sewer rates on Thursday, March 19, 2026 @ 6:45 p.m. in Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA. Instructions for accessing the hearing remotely may be found on the March 19, 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
A.
2025 Special Committee for Review of Ordinances - Presentation of Final Report
Documents:
B.
FY2026 Second Quarter Financial Report
Presentation by Finance Director Charlene Nardi
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 February 5, 2026 regular and February 26, 2026 special City Council meeting
B.
26.020 Appointments to Various Committees, for referral to City Services
Board of Health
Luke Messac, 294 Cardinal Way
Term: March 2026 - June 2028
To fill a vacancy
Community Preservation Committee
Leticia Ward, 12 High Meadow Rd
Term: March 2026 - June 2028
Filling the position of Debin Bruce
Housing Partnership
Yakov Kronrod, 188 Rocky Hill Rd
Term: March 2026 - June 2028
To fill a vacancy
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.
26.016 An Order to Establish Water and Sewer Rates for FY2027 - 1st reading
B.
26.017 An Order to Accept Gift of Scoreboards from Ray Ellerbrook Family Memorial Field Fund - 1st reading
C.
26.018 An Order to Reprogram Funds to Repaint JFK Gym - 1st reading
D.
26.019 An Order to Appropriate $90,000 Free Cash to Economic Development Projects and Initiatives - 1st reading
9.
Financial Orders (on 2nd reading)
A.
26.003 An Order to Appropriate $2.1 Million Free Cash to Various Reserve Accounts - 2nd reading
History:
- Referred to Finance Committee with 26.004 - 1/15/2026
- Postponed to February 3, 2026 - 1/21/2026
- Positive recommendation, Finance - 2/25/2026
10.
Orders
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
A.
26.010 An Ordinance Relative to All-Way Stop Control for Finn Street at Prospect Street
History:
- referred to Legislative Matters (LM) - 2/5/2026
- positive recommendation (split vote 3:1, Stratton opposed) - 2/9/2026
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.