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
Tuesday, March 31, 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 31, 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.
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1.
2.
Announcement that meeting is being Audio/Video Recorded
This meeting is being audio/video recorded.
3.
Public Hearings
4.
Public Comment
5.
Announcements from Councilors and the Mayor
6.
Presentations
A.
'State of the Schools'
Presentation by School Committee Member Amy Martyn
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.
B.
Seven (7) Capital Improvement Program (CIP) orders referred to consent agenda March 19, 2026:
1.
26.023 An Order to Appropriate $300,000 from Climate Mitigation Stabilization for Jackson Street School Air Source Heat Pumps - 2nd reading
2.
26.024 An Order to Appropriate $515,756 from Stabilization to NPS Paratransit Vans - 2nd reading
3.
26.030 An Order to Appropriate $25,000 from Cemetery Trust and Income for Cemetery Restorative Work - 2nd reading
4.
26.031 An Order to Appropriate $30,000 from Receipts Reserved for Appropriation - Sale of Land - for Tax Title Properties - 2nd reading
5.
26.032 An Order to Appropriate Parking Receipts Reserved Funds for Parking Projects - 2nd reading
6.
26.034 An Order to Appropriate from Capital Stabilization and Reprogram $120,000 for Building Facility Condition Assessment - 2nd reading
7.
26.035 An Order to Reprogram Tennis Court Project Money to Various NPS Projects - 2nd reading
C.
26.036 An Order to Reprogram $6,310 for Visual Notification System in JFK Band Room - 2nd reading
History:
- Referred to consent agenda - 3/19/2026
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.
9.
Financial Orders (on 2nd reading)
Recommendations on seven (7) Financial Orders Associated with the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Referred to the Finance Committee:
- A (26.022) Unable to reach consensus after split votes (2:2) for both neutral (Councilor Robbins and Councilor Maiore's preference) and positive recommendations (Councilor Klemer and Councilor Davis's preference), Finance Committee - 3/25/2026
- B - G (26.025, 26.026, 26.027, 26.028, 26.029, 26.033), unanimous positive recommendations (4:0) - 3/25/2026
A.
26.022 An Order to Appropriate $2.166 Million Free Cash to Various Capital Projects - 2nd reading
B.
26.025 An Order to Appropriate $1.35 Million from Capital Stabilization to Various Capital Projects - 2nd reading
C.
26.026 An Order to Authorize Borrowing $1.8 Million for City Hall Roof Replacement and Exterior Repairs - 2nd reading
D.
26.027 An Order to Authorize Borrowing $1 Million for Sidewalks - 2nd reading
E.
26.028 An Order to Authorize Borrowing $1.5 Million for Road Reconstruction - 2nd reading
F.
26.029 An Order to Authorize Borrowing $700,000 for DPW Vehicles - 2nd reading
G.
26.033 An Order to Appropriate from Stabilization and Reprogram $450,000 to Replace AOM Boiler - 2nd reading
10.
Financial Orders (on 2nd reading, continued)
A.
26.037 An Order to Reprogram $914,035 Unexpended Bond Proceeds for DPW Cold Storage Facility - 2nd reading
Process note: The order is being re-voted after determination that the rules were not properly suspended March 19th. The vote to suspend the rules was 5:3 with Councilors Perry, Robbins and Stratton opposed, short of the two-thirds majority required by Rule 1.4 (5 of 8 = 62.5%, 66.6% required)
History:
- Approved after suspension of the rules - 3/19/2026
11.
Orders
12.
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.
A.
26.038 An Ordinance Relative to One-Way Street on Elm Street - 1st reading
B.
26.039 An Ordinance Relative to Bus Stop on Elm Street - 1st reading
C.
26.040 An Ordinance Relative to Stop Signs - 1st reading
D.
26.041 An Ordinance Relative to Left Turn Prohibitions - 1st reading
E.
26.042 An Ordinance Relative to No Right Turn on Red from Elm Street - 1st reading
F.
26.043 An Ordinance Relative to Parking on Elm and North Elm Street - 1st reading
13.
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.
14.
Ordinances
15.
Zoning Ordinances
16.
Resolutions
A.
26.015 A Resolution to Adopt the Capital Improvement Program for FY2027 - FY2031 - 2nd reading
Process note: Per the Northampton City Charter, Section 7-5 Capital Improvement Program, "Adoption - At any time after the public hearing but before the first day of the last month of the current fiscal year, the city council shall by resolution adopt the capital improvements program, which may be amended, provided that each amendment shall be voted on separately and that an increase in the capital improvements program as submitted shall clearly identify the method of financing to accomplish the proposed increase."
History:
- Introduced and discussed - 3/19/2026
17.
Information Requests (Charter Provision 2-7) and Committee Study Requests
A.
26.021 An Order to Require Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra to Provide Information on the Downtown Complete Streets Project - 2nd reading
History:
- Introduced and discussed - 3/19/2026
18.
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.
19.