[{"_1":2,"_108":-5,"_109":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6173668,"mediaKeyId","5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b","parentId",5378593,"title","Council votes to pay $40,034 emergency Searls Estate heating bill; RFP for property sale to follow","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5888000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b&start=5888&end=5888","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b/thumbnail_5888000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6173668/Methuen-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-votes-to-pay-40034-emergency-Searls-Estate-heating-bill-RFP-for-property-sale-to-follow","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173668-701fa0e83b5664a49ab6c65abeef148b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773583755&Signature=RT42CrSJJtwEeM-l3P8iVAzwYaAl8qVySRkJoOpzWKoJBPu40QQbrIF20utJZa2Y9PvdAERtGDxbrUd5~HQPBNakWs8fE0WgjKxdt~~ZZceo~I5sLffCJguodMOOsi3BPjq7~nRy1CEtp7Klll1sQVPmnsoFjpRyerHojEdlebWUuBN8JpCwIprNGP4vbcmt3SJm~0Gmk1ghtzYIhjhfp4Aw3C6YFLjWnn4eLq2z049vG3PYihVV-dwh2~ok2tY4OepxR~ZiVkSPIy9tXp7cYVZSKfXkGrmzEytdSUKmNXuGNwqfJstF9tibxv2BhFr3F8h~2YGSfv9FcuVDtFdLDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Methuen City, MA","date","2025-07-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Methuen City Council on July 7 approved a $40,033.96 payment to Ambient Temperature Corporation for emergency heating repairs at the Searls Estate, but the decision prompted debate among councilors over whether the city should continue to fund ongoing maintenance on the property while it remains under municipal ownership.

The motion to approve the emergency heating-repair invoice (C25-97) was reconsidered and placed for a roll-call vote. The council recorded a 6–2 vote in favor of payment with one member absent. Councilor Campagnon, who moved reconsideration, said he did not want to “penalize the vendor” because the company provides HVAC and related services to multiple city buildings. Councilor DeZaglio urged a different approach: he suggested unpaid invoices tied to the estate be addressed “at closing” and argued that “our tax dollars should not be used or expended on this property any further.”

Mayor Beauregard said the Department of Economic and Community Development has completed a draft RFP for the Searls Estate consistent with the framework the council previously approved; the draft is under legal review with the city solicitor. The city solicitor told councilors that once the RFP is finalized and posted it must appear in the Central Register and that the bureaucratic timeline will require approximately 30 days prior to opening and another roughly 30 days before closing the solicitation, meaning the full process will take about 60 days in addition to the time needed to evaluate proposals.

Councilors discussed prior small invoices and payments to the same vendor since the city's acquisition; the CAFO and other staff provided an invoice history in response to questions. The CAFO said a subset of earlier invoices were below the council threshold for approval and had been paid; the $40,033.96 item in front of the council exceeded that threshold and required approval. Councilors also recalled that the council amended the minimum sale price in the RFP process previously from $3.5 million to $4 million to account for potential carrying costs and repairs.

Councilors asked the solicitor to expedite the RFP process. The solicitor estimated a draft RFP could be ready in “within the next week to 10 days,” but emphasized the statutory posting and bidding timelines that follow. Several councilors argued for holding any future Searls Estate invoices until the sale proceeds are received; others said delaying payment risked interrupting vendor services for other city facilities that use the same company. The council voted to proceed with the emergency payment while staff continues to finalize the sale solicitation and related work.

The administration also said it plans to release to the council all proposals received once the RFP is issued and to host public tours of the estate so residents can view its condition prior to proposals being considered.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting July 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors approved a $40,033.96 emergency payment to Ambient Temperature Corporation for heating repairs at the Searls Estate amid debate over who should bear ongoing maintenance bills; city solicitor said the draft RFP for the estate is under legal review and the RFP timeline will require roughly 60 days from posting to closing.","taxTitle","Methuen City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",5670,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6173673,"Methuen administration asks council to cover $4.4 million health-insurance shortfall; transfers approved",1314,5426000,6740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b&start=5426&end=6740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b/thumbnail_5426000.jpg","/articles/6173673/Methuen-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Methuen-administration-asks-council-to-cover-44-million-health-insurance-shortfall-transfers-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173673-c0f6ca5cfca0866caeec2b8f872180ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1773583755&Signature=JG~PnkAJ7SCvHOwLbAYGere3j3MJCzmUVOE3f6ruwhHuCJzKVwfGiYX7DcbZ22Duh9~N~DZEn7eDH6dTyVwiO0dFXXmyFQZfl28RT9ABRbgKQ7E96p94geuL0t4wZOggn7UkkNYOsRMdDVWq~pooFdE~9zAp9ghDjzrvvTpJ3EcGva4rmTuME9BOOEmRTMqoT0TMNvOuXb-fUUPzJKDYPDfzHaIUz0780ObncAMXygel~ojBSt8M9hkjXxe9jLaojmXQw1ecTWy4eWJMAYjAC6m2rLBTOgWIcBbHSQQoSgAEqNlGEyjOtpcfSljw5af73W72dqAt1fVmWmea86NjKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials told the Methuen City Council on July 7 that the city faces a projected $4.4 million shortfall in its self-insured health trust for fiscal year 2025 and that the mayor’s administration planned transfers and appropriation to prevent that liability from shifting into next year’s tax levy.

“ We are currently projecting a $4,400,000 shortfall in the city's self insured health insurance trust fund for fiscal year 25,” Mayor Beauregard said during his report. He told councilors that the projection “includes both actual claims paid and incurred but not reported liabilities,” and that state law requires the shortfall to be fully funded.

The mayor proposed a two-part plan: a $1.5 million transfer from available FY25 surplus and a $2.9 million transfer from the general stabilization fund. The administration also outlined drivers of the shortfall: “a record number of high cost claimants,” several catastrophic illnesses and cancer-related claims, and an unusual number of GLP‑1 drug claims (the mayor cited 1,724 GLP‑1 drug claims totaling $884,837.49 across 220 claimants). He noted that Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to remove GLP‑1 coverage in FY27, which should reduce future pharmaceutical spending.

Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) briefed the council on the mechanics and timing of transfers. The council approved several related resolutions and transfers later in the meeting, including: a transfer of $88,100 within police accounts (TR25-35), a transfer of $756,840 between general-fund personal-services and other-expense accounts (TR25-36), a transfer from enterprise funds (TR25-38), and an appropriation of $2,935,850 from the general stabilization fund to the health-insurance trust (TR25-37). Several of those votes required and received emergency-passage (EPA) votes because the amounts related to fiscal-year 25 closing requirements.

The administration said it is pursuing operational responses including a retrospective claims audit, hiring a benefits consultant to review plan design and administrator performance, establishing a health-plan working group, and evaluating alternatives such as joining a regional group or the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission. Mayor Beauregard said quarterly updates will be provided going forward.

Councilors asked for additional fiscal detail and timing assurances. The CAFO said the general fund and enterprise fund were “in the black” at fiscal-year close but that the final numbers were still being finalized and that stop‑loss reimbursements could arrive in the coming months. Councilors also asked for ongoing quarterly reports as the administration executes audits and consultant reviews.","Mayor Beauregard told the council the city faces a $4.4 million shortfall in the self-insured health trust for FY25 and proposed transfers from available surplus and the stabilization fund; council approved multiple transfers and appropriations to cover the liability.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6173677,"Methuen council confirms David Toto as fire chief and approves multiple police promotions",308,1509000,1817000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b&start=1509&end=1817","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b/thumbnail_1509000.jpg","/articles/6173677/Methuen-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Methuen-council-confirms-David-Toto-as-fire-chief-and-approves-multiple-police-promotions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173677-2ffe0483643e26f69b2201b4c6235417/orig.mp4?Expires=1773583755&Signature=iKUXXe4QlLkFlKvCPxp4P4VqwrXOVjkSh-O6SRawxzIzwfuU9Va-dnYKq6AQEZvhVq0C7y1-Y2Y2ZtOjD0nznODA3LVrcpcJyvLK7GO11JH68LBuPWoPhz3eBtYtmfHaxheLmblZI1UAH5zOPxQ6fLj48aZpEg6K6R91F-m7D47dSgh2NZZwMmhyhqfIkgEe2lwrsSGhX74K9MQ~JFv4Rc5PdjRCGLu7X-crys3opnBJ1JLy2WsZP95cvzzbGwrSwFAAwM7bK~QkUFCXCZm1aN0q3NdT9uY5QRvYiKupWfVOjt~TmmFYe7yzNYWIh-0hocsvinvP1Zf7ZCXbNq18-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Methuen City Council on July 7 approved a slate of public-safety appointments, confirming David Toto as the next fire chief and voting to promote three police officers to permanent command and supervisory ranks.

The council voted to appoint David Toto, a 25-year fire department veteran and local resident, as fire chief. Chief McNamara introduced Toto’s background to the council, noting his service as deputy chief, his degrees in fire science and physical education, and his work as a registered nurse at Holy Family Hospital. “Dave's expertise and experience and excellence will make him a fine chief,” Chief McNamara said. The motion to appoint Toto was made by Councilor Cirillo and seconded by Councilor Saffi; the council recorded the vote as unanimous.

Toto addressed the council after the vote and thanked Mayor Beauregard and council members: “It is truly an honor to lead the incredible men and women of the Methuen Fire Department and to serve this great city. I will not let you down.” He also recognized outgoing Chief T.P. Youman (referred to by Toto as T. P.) for his leadership.

On the police side, the council unanimously approved several promotions recommended by Chief McNamara. Captain James Moore was recommended for permanent promotion to police captain and was described in the record as the number one candidate on the Massachusetts civil-service list; Chief McNamara read Moore’s lengthy service record and training credentials into the meeting record. The council also approved Lieutenant Sean Moore’s promotion to permanent lieutenant and Matthew Tarnas’s promotion to permanent sergeant. Each of the promotions was introduced with a formal recommendation from Chief McNamara and approved on voice votes recorded as unanimous.

During the appointments, several councilors and presenters emphasized civil-service compliance and merit-based promotion processes. Chief McNamara explained tie-breaking procedures for civil-service list ties and noted that seniority and experience guided decisions where scores were equal. Councilors also asked clarifying questions about the selection process for specific promotions.

The votes concluded a round of personnel actions that the mayor and department heads framed as strengthening public-safety leadership in Methuen for the coming year.","The City Council appointed David Toto as Methuen’s fire chief and approved three permanent police promotions, recognizing department leadership changes and detailing background qualifications and votes.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":42,"_43":101,"_45":101,"_46":102,"_48":103,"_50":104,"_52":105,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":106,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":107,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6173682,"Methuen mayor signs contract for acoustic panels as residents press council on pickleball, loud-party noise",4909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b&start=4909&end=4909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5378593-3955b2d2fb05a9d6b9473d979a60e20b/thumbnail_4909000.jpg","/articles/6173682/Methuen-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Methuen-mayor-signs-contract-for-acoustic-panels-as-residents-press-council-on-pickleball-loud-party-noise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173682-2d3f67a1d8292e018b32624f454e90fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773583755&Signature=QPD8agatqxk2ceN5JMgQv5BbIH3z-G1fpe0OaobfmWWOSxV6b~sXbMTkx9eWP0rsHdb-fkJCmzF-TPuOSC7K2MwCWEqk1TcC6TKRdqr4qpdwB50bapdUKiCY39M9G9F1jWTPu4~Oydi8dsbhmV87s9iARzm1xefzB9DjyKq-ffyL~Wy-fYYr3HmpDJshKPqdzBLRYlghW0a2mWHrXWIWePyYdA5ZlpskYkPQFlFDjxdjn60zbaTSE8FRrc8DpsNPcOUeJf2MuBsuZjxVRViCwS7SzTUBYajLF1Kw-UGIF~ixdOuC-UpqFduKsVymsZ8F1730ypDocL6-WYJYg96bCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and neighbors pressed the Methuen City Council on July 7 about persistent noise from the new pickleball courts at Methuen High School and about repeat loud private parties, while Mayor Beauregard told councilors he signed a product-only contract for professional acoustic barrier panels to reduce evening sound from the courts.

Several speakers during public participation described ongoing noise and sleep disruption. Steven Tamburthio, a neighborhood resident, said measures promised earlier this year had not solved the problem: “I was told the vegetation would fill in and would stop the noise. I thought that was stupid during the planning process … The hours of operation sign has done nothing. The people play well before it, they play well after it.” Another resident from West Methuen asked the council to “amp up the penalties” for repeat offenders of the city’s noise ordinance and expressed concern about blocked streets and potential emergency access issues during large gatherings.

The mayor described a two-part approach: short-term enforcement and a capital purchase. “On July 1, I signed a contract with Silencer Panels, a vendor based in Kansas City, for the purchase of professional grade acoustic barrier panels,” Mayor Beauregard said. He said the panels address “the unique sound characteristics of pickleball play” and that the city’s Department of Public Works will handle installation in-house to save labor costs. The mayor gave an expected delivery timeline of “four to six weeks” from contract signing and told residents DPW would install panels “along the fence line facing the neighborhood adjacent to the courts.”

Councilors and the mayor also discussed enforcement and expectations. In public comment, a speaker who identified as living in West Methuen urged clearer limits on permitted residential events and stiffer fines for repeat offenders; the speaker asked the city to reserve permits for public areas rather than single private homes. Steven Tamburthio said he did not think it is “fair to Chief McNamara and the police department to be the ones that have to now be the ones responsible for taking care of what was a poorly planned project by the rec department.”

Mayor Beauregard also told councilors that residents can reserve court time at methuen.gov/rec and that Parks and Recreation Superintendent Steve Angelo is the ADA point of contact for questions about access or parking at the high school. He reiterated that sound measurements for the courts remain “well within the city's noise ordinance limits,” even as the city moves forward with mitigation hardware.

Discussion at the meeting included calls for the council to follow up with the Recreation Department, to monitor installation timing, and to report back to neighbors on both installation and enforcement outcomes. Speakers asked for a clear public timeline, and several councilors raised the need for faster communication between departments when mitigation measures have been promised to neighbors.

For now, the city has purchased the acoustic material; DPW will schedule installation once the product arrives, and residents and councilors said they will watch for results and continue to press for enforcement where permits or repeated disturbance occur.","Residents raised complaints about persistent noise from newly opened pickleball courts and repeat loud private parties; Mayor Beauregard told the City Council he has signed a contract to buy Silencer Panels and the Department of Public Works will install them in-house.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council votes to pay $40,034 emergency Searls Estate heating bill; RFP for property sale to follow

Methuen administration asks council to cover $4.4 million health-insurance shortfall; transfers approved

Methuen council confirms David Toto as fire chief and approves multiple police promotions

Methuen mayor signs contract for acoustic panels as residents press council on pickleball, loud-party noise