Accomplishments

Together we’ve been able to accomplish a lot in the last year despite the challenges of the pandemic. I have worked collaboratively with residents, businesses, City boards and staff to gather input and perspectives, begin and continue progress on many projects and initiatives, and make hard decisions when needed for the betterment of our entire community. I launched the I AMesbury 2030 master planning process, which will help us continue to plan for our future. Successfully leading Amesbury through the COVID-19 pandemic, while supporting residents and businesses and prioritizing health and safety took precedence. I said from the beginning we wouldn’t always agree and can’t make everyone happy all the time, but I truly believe that the progress that’s been made has been done in the best interest of our community with attention to preserving our past and preparing for our future.

Prioritizing Communication and Transparency

I have worked to make City staff and public officials more accessible, especially the Mayor’s Office. We’ve set a solid foundation for communications which we will continue to grow upon in the coming years.

What have we accomplished?

Started daily Facebook Live broadcasts during the pandemic to connect with the community and answer questions; continued them weekly to provide City updates and information.
Upgraded and implemented new technologies to improve efficiency and transparency, including SeeClickFix, ClearGov and OpenGov.
Launched Amesbury Listens, a series of listening sessions on different topics that are important to Amesbury’s residents, ensuring participation from a variety of constituents; long-time residents, new residents, students, business owners and others.
Utilized Swift911 to get the word out about emergencies, neighborhood updates, construction, and other important announcements.
Overhauled the City’s budget book and annual report to provide added transparency about the process, taxes and spending.
Initiated neighborhood meetings and community forums to share information and gather feedback regarding City projects including the AES building project, 40R Smart Growth District, and Elm Street Reconstruction.
Actively promoted boards and commissions to successfully appoint and reappoint 100+ people, greatly increasing the number of new voices and diverse perspectives.
Department heads have been visible and active at public meetings, working closely with committees and boards to answer questions and make progress on many initiatives.
Greatly increased overall City communications through the addition of a Communications Director position to oversee regular outreach via the website, social media, e-newsletters, and traditional media.

Student-Centered Focus on Education

The teachers, administrators and staff working in our school system have been through quite a year. They’ve dedicated their lives to developing lifelong learners, through all kinds of challenges, and they deserve as much support as we can give them. Having a strong school system has a ripple effect that reaches every corner of our community. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed us outside of our comfort zone and brought many issues to the forefront, like our outdated technology. As Chair of the School Committee, I have worked with my colleagues and our school administration to identify critical issues, build a strong relationship between the School Department, City and community, and set the foundation to move forward after the COVID-19 pandemic.

What have we accomplished?

Secured $625,000 in federal grant funding for PACT (Partnership for Amesbury Community and Teens) to hire a Program Coordinator, and expand programming, education and opportunities for youth to connect with the community, businesses and nonprofits prioritizing substance abuse and mental health concerns.
Bonded $30 million dollars at a record low interest rate of 1.89% for 20 years to fund the AES project. The borrowing structure saved taxpayers millions of dollars over the life of the bond.
Led the Amesbury Elementary School (AES) Building Committee process through permitting and contractor selection to ensure the project remains on budget and meets educational standards.
Directed nearly $1 million in CARES Act funding from the City to the School Department during the pandemic for IT, infrastructure and curriculum that will support the schools beyond this crisis and save future taxpayer dollars.
Led all (nearly 60) School Committee meetings helping to navigate learning and reopening during the coronavirus pandemic as well as the Amesbury Elementary School Building Committee meetings.
Created the AES Implementation Committee who is working to ensure that the new elementary school will be properly utilized and assisting with the transition of the grade reconfiguration with proper budget planning.
Determined that Amesbury Public Schools needed to select district leadership who shares the objectives and philosophies of the School Committee; hired a new Superintendent who will lead us into the future.
Formalized ASSET, the Amesbury School Support and Empowerment Team, a group of professionals from Amesbury Public Schools, the Amesbury Police Department and the Pettengill House to fully assess student needs and address them, including mental health supports. This work has become even more important as we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, and adjust to a post-pandemic learning environment.

Thoughtful Economic Development

I know that Amesbury residents want to see new growth and development, so long as it’s balanced with maintaining our unique character, open space and charm. In the last year, my team and I have taken steps towards making Amesbury a more business-friendly City while honoring our residents’ quality of life. I continue to build relationships with commercial property owners and plan strategically for our future.

What have we accomplished?

Created the Business Economic Adjustment Team (BEAT) at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic to support our business community, overseeing expedited outdoor dining permitting, newsletters, training and professional development, advocacy, e-commerce opportunities and overall pandemic response.
Launched OpenGov, a publicly accessible online permitting process that establishes a linear approval process for projects of all sizes which will ultimately continue to save the residents and City time and money.
Provided a transparent and open process for the proposed East End Smart Growth Overlay District (40R); Ultimately received unanimous approval from the Planning Board to proceed with a determination of eligibility from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Assisted business owners with complaints regarding customer parking availability downtown. Through increased parking enforcement and the addition of 15-minute spaces, parking space turnover has provided enhanced access to our businesses.
Secured MassDOT grant funding and combined with Mass Cultural Council funding to initiate public art projects as a tool for economic development; working with the Amesbury Cultural Council and local artists to paint murals on electric boxes and crosswalks in areas where they can serve as magnets for social connection and foot traffic that our small businesses need.
Secured grant from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the Reimagining a Resilient Downtown Amesbury Project, merging the I AMesbury 2030 initiative and the Lower Millyard visioning project with a downtown-specific assessment to determine what actions the City can take to ensure Amesbury is prepared for and can adapt to economic, social and environmental challenges and shocks.
Secured our AA bond rating with S&P Global Ratings in the midst of the pandemic and a volatile market, which was reaffirmed in 2021.

Investing in Infrastructure

I continue to be committed to improving City-wide capital planning for municipal spaces and buildings. In Fiscal Year 2021 over $500,000 was invested from surplus overlay funding and in Fiscal Year 2022 the approved budget includes investing $10 million for capital projects in our community. Amesbury’s landscape is what makes it home and attracts newcomers, and I am committed to smart, long-term planning for maintenance and improvement.

What have we accomplished?

Leveraged a $38,000 Shared Streets & Spaces Grant to make improvements to the Al Capp Amphitheater, including a tot lot that had been previously budgeted for with taxpayer dollars and adding a shade sail, solar charging station, and public WiFi.
Prioritized the creation of accounts to begin saving for future maintenance costs, starting with the new AES, setting ourselves up for success and ensuring we can properly care for our buildings and assets avoiding unplanned expenses and burden to the taxpayer.
Funded the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Plan; investing $10 million in capital improvements for Public Works, Information Technology, a feasibility study for City buildings, planning for vehicle replacement and maintenance, and field equipment for the schools.
Received a grant from the Urban Land Institute to hold a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) providing recommendations for the best way to activate and utilize the Lower Millyard.
Gradually increased Public Works staff, which was cut over 10 years ago, to return to staffing levels needed for proper care and maintenance of our public buildings and spaces and prevent costly repairs and tax increases.
Focused on reducing the stress on city infrastructure through decreased City-wide speed limits; promoting safer streets for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Increased accessibility to City Hall by having automatic doors installed and putting a secure dropbox on the sidewalk, and to the USPS by successfully collaborating with Congressman Moulton to have the drive-up mailbox returned after its removal in 2020.

COVID-19 Response

I took office just two months before the COVID-19 pandemic changed our world. I’ve led the City through this crisis by prioritizing health and safety, business support and communication, with strong partnerships with our Fire Department, Public Health professionals, Public Works, Police and School Departments.

What have we accomplished?

Successfully collaborated with Governor Baker and the Department of Public Health to bring vaccine clinics to Amesbury / region, became fiscal agent for clinics, leading the Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative, administering almost 30,000 vaccine doses.
Partnered with Newburyport and acted as the grant administrator to receive and distribute $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) grant funding for small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic.
Created COVID-19 information section of the website with regular updates, resources and a dashboard.
Initiated Aid4Amesbury with the Pettengill House, creating a donation and financial assistance portal for Amesbury residents who needed help making ends meet.
Led City staff with the creation of health and safety protocols, pandemic related employee policies, trainings, regular staff meetings and internal updates to share information and resources.
Managed multiple revenue streams (CARES, FEMA, ARPA, CDBG-CV and more), directing funds strategically to reduce the burden on taxpayers now and in the future.