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Amesbury councilors review FY27 budgets, flag staffing and software costs
Summary
City department heads presented FY27 budgets to the Amesbury City Council Ad Hoc Budget Committee on May 20, 2026, with councilors probing staffing cuts, a proposed Grant Manager placement, and an estimated $700,000–$800,000 cost to replace accounting software; the meeting adjourned after unanimous consent.
The Amesbury City Council Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole heard FY27 budget proposals May 20, 2026, as department heads reviewed requests and councilors pressed for details on staffing changes, software costs and contingency planning.
Chief of Staff Pamela Tobey presented the Mayor’s Office budget and told councilors that a listed 2% cut “was composed of a reduction of office supplies, not having any sick or vacation buy back, and removal of advertisement in the yearbook.” Councilor Kelly Sullivan asked about a cost-of-living adjustment to salaries; a specific COLA amount was not provided in the presentation.
Tobey also presented the Legal Services budget. Mayor Gove warned that legal fees can be difficult to predict because unanticipated matters arise, citing “the current 40B” as an example that required extra legal work. Councilors asked follow-up questions about budgeting for such contingency costs.
On Administration and Finance, Mayor Gove acknowledged an error on the employee benefits slide that he said would be corrected. Councilor Michael Hogg pressed about cost-recovery options for the Sealer of Weights and Measures; the mayor said there is currently no cost-recovery plan. When asked where a proposed Grant Manager position would be housed, Mayor Gove said it would fall under Administration & Finance if the position is created.
Councilor Jessica Redfern asked whether moving the Recreation Department into 62 Friend St. was cost-beneficial; Mayor Gove said retaining 62 Friend St. “versus selling this property is advantageous to the City’s long term planning and goals.” Councilor Scott Mandeville asked about replacing the city’s current SoftRight accounting software; the mayor said a procurement would go to bid and estimated the replacement cost at about $700,000 to $800,000.
Human Resources Director Christine Caminero presented the HR budget and said she seeks to hire one full-time staff member to assist the department. She told councilors that continuing education is not required for her position but emphasized the need to stay current, and that attending virtual trainings can reduce travel costs.
Chief Assessor John Greeno presented the Assessor’s proposed budget; he told Councilor Pamela Gilday he can manage duties split between Amesbury and Salisbury for the short term. Gilday asked about posting Greeno’s in-office hours on the city website; Mayor Gove noted the Salisbury-Amesbury agreement is short-term.
Library Director Aimie Westphal described staffing reductions in the library budget, saying the changes reflect both the elimination of a position and reduced hours within existing roles. When Councilor Amanda Haggstrom asked whether the Head Archivist hours could be cut, Westphal warned it would be “a huge disservice to be without the Head Archivist,” and that archival records could become inaccessible without that role; she could not provide an exact count of neighboring communities that maintain a Head Archivist.
Councilor Scott Mandeville moved to adjourn at 8:07 p.m.; Councilor Maryann Welch seconded and the motion passed unanimously, 9–0. The minutes were submitted by Allie Connolly.
