Northampton
Upcoming
City Council Committee on City Services
The committee will consider the appointment of a new Veterans Services Director. Additionally, they will review several new appointments and reappointments for various city commissions and boards.
- Appointment of Daniel Nye as Veterans Services Director
- Appointments to Disability Commission, Council on Aging, License Commission, Conservation Commission, and Board of Assessors
- Reappointments to Zoning Board of Appeals and Historical Commission
- Reappointments to Energy and Sustainability, Human Rights, and Urban Forestry Commissions
- Reappointment to Central Business Architecture Committee
Housing Partnership
The Northampton Housing Partnership will discuss updates on the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund and a rent control update. They will also approve previous meeting minutes and receive project updates as needed.
- Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund update
- Rent Control Update discussion
- Approve minutes from June 1, 2026
- Project updates as needed
Housing Partnership
The Housing Partnership will review the status of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund and receive an update on rent control. The board will also coordinate its August meeting schedule.
- Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund (MAHTF) review
- Rent control update
Northampton Reparations Study Commission
The Northampton Reparations Study Commission will review the status of their report presented to the City Council and discuss the development of a preliminary report. Members will also explore how to establish official accounts for accepting philanthropic and private reparations donations.
- Status update on the report presented to the governing body
- Plan for interviewing residents and business owners on equitable actions
- Data collection update on Black-owned businesses
- Process for setting up municipal accounts for reparations donations
- Update on UMass Amherst grant for Black Sovereign Land research
Board of Registrars
The Board of Registrars will meet to review previous meeting minutes and current voter registration statistics. The agenda follows a standard monthly state calendar for election administration.
- Review of ROV (Registered Voter) statistics
Planning Board
The Planning Board will continue a hearing on a site plan major project and special permit for demolition and construction at 33 King St. The proposal includes demolishing a 21,000 sq ft building and constructing 114,000 sq ft of mixed uses in two buildings. The board must decide if site plan standards are met and if special permits for building footprints over 10,000 sq ft are warranted. Other items include a discussion on sign ordinance amendments and approvals of minutes and ANRs.
- Demolition of 21,000 sq ft building and construction of 114,000 sq ft mixed-use in two buildings at 33 King St (Map ID 32A-127)
- Special permit requested for building footprints over 10,000 sq ft (one ~10,000, one ~12,000 sq ft)
- Discussion of proposed sign ordinance amendments
- Approval of minutes from June 11, 2026
- ANRs for Fairview Ave and Spring Street (ANR-26-7 & 8)
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold public hearings on two special permit applications. One seeks to amend a permit to change use and structure from principal to accessory at 105 Pine St in Florence. The other seeks a permit to replace a nonconforming house with another nonconforming house at 32 Clark Ave.
- Special permit amendment for Eric Winkler at 105 Pine St, Florence (change use/structure from principal to accessory)
- Special permit for Jared Starr at 32 Clark Ave (replace nonconforming house with another nonconforming house)
Board of Registrars
This meeting covers monthly topics from the state calendar, including annual street listing, inactive voter outreach, early voting plans, and election warrants. The board will also review previous meeting minutes and election statistics.
- Review minutes of previous meeting
- Annual Street Listing updates and additional inserts
- Inactive Voter Status and outreach plans
- Early Voting Plans and Accessible Vote System (Omniballot)
- Election Warrant and other election items
Board of Registrars
The Board of Registrars will discuss the State Primary Election wrap-up for September. They will also review plans for vote-by-mail applications, early voting, and the Election Warrant. The meeting includes approval of minutes and new business.
- State Primary Election wrap-up discussion
- Plans for Vote By Mail applications (June)
- Early Voting Plans for August and October
- Election Warrant and other election items
- Annual Street Listing status and inserts
Board of Registrars
The Board of Registrars meets to review minutes and discuss monthly election-related tasks for the year, including street listings, vote-by-mail, and early voting plans. The meeting is mostly procedural with no major decisions expected.
- Review of meeting minutes from previous meeting
- Monthly topics: January annual street listing, February status update, March second mailing, April inactive voter outreach
- June plans for vote-by-mail applications
- August early voting plans and vote system (Omniballot)
- October plans for counting overseas ballots after election
Board of Registrars
The Board of Registrars will meet to review voter registration statistics and handle monthly administrative tasks. The primary focus for this November meeting is approving additional inserts for the annual street list mailing.
- Approval for additional inserts for Annual Street List mailing
- Review of ROV (Registered Voter) statistics
- Approval of previous meeting minutes
Board of Registrars
This is a procedural meeting of the Board of Registrars to review minutes, discuss recurring monthly tasks for voter registration and elections, and handle routine administrative items. No significant decisions or new business are noted.
- Review of January Annual Street Listing and inserts
- Status update on February Annual Street List
- Outreach for inactive voters in April
- Plans for Vote By Mail applications in June
- Early voting and accessible voting system plans in August
Last 30 days
City Council Committee on Legislative Matters
The Committee on Legislative Matters will discuss five proposed ordinances: parking restrictions on Parsons, Vernon, and Elm Streets (ordinances 26.070, 26.071, 26.083, 26.084) and bus stop locations (26.085). They will also consider a report from the Ordinance Review Committee and how to incorporate its recommendations. Public comment will be heard at the start.
- Ordinance 26.070: Parking restrictions on Parsons Street
- Ordinance 26.071: Parking restrictions on Vernon Street
- Ordinance 26.083: Parking restrictions on Elm Street
- Ordinance 26.084: No parking at certain times on Elm Street
- Ordinance 26.085: Bus stop locations, with memo re Elm Street bus and parking
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold two public hearings for special permits to add decks to nonconforming houses. One at 73 Warner St (single-family) and one at 31 Elizabeth St (two-family). The board must find the changes not substantially more detrimental. Other agenda items include approving prior minutes and discussing board operations.
- Special permit for deck addition at 73 Warner St, Florence (nonconforming single-family house)
- Special permit for deck addition at 31 Elizabeth St, Northampton (nonconforming two-family house)
- Approval of minutes from May 14, 2026 meeting
- Discussion of next hearing dates and summer schedule
- Discussion on board operations
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold public hearings regarding special permits for residential properties. Both requests involve modifying nonconforming setbacks for single- and two-family homes.
- Special permit for new nonconforming setbacks at 73 Warner St, Florence
- Special permit to increase nonconforming setbacks at 31 Elizabeth St, Northampton
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold public hearings on two special permit applications to add decks or increase setbacks for nonconforming houses. One application from Elaine Kersten at 73 Warner St in Florence; the other from David Murphy at 31 Elizabeth St. The board must find the changes not substantially more detrimental. Other agenda items include approving past minutes and discussing board operations.
- Public hearing for special permit to add deck at 73 Warner St, Florence (LU-26-16)
- Public hearing for special permit to increase nonconforming setbacks at 31 Elizabeth St (LU-26-18)
- Board must vote 3-0 with super majority for each permit
- Review of minutes from May 14, 2026 meeting
- Discussion of summer meeting schedule and board operations
Northampton Retirement Board
The Northampton Retirement Board will review actuarial results and determine the funding schedule and COLA base increase for FY2028. The board will also process retirement applications and approve payroll warrants.
- FY2028 Retiree COLA Base Increase vote
- FY2028 Funding Schedule review and vote
- Actuarial results presentation by Stone Consulting
- FY2027 Chair and Vice Chair appointments
- Review of disability and superannuation retirement applications
Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission will hear public comments, review May minutes, debrief the Juneteenth event, and discuss Northampton Fair Housing Advocacy. They will also reimagine how to address complaints, potentially leading to changes in procedures.
- Public comment session
- Review of May 28, 2026 minutes
- Debrief of Juneteenth event and tabling communication
- Discussion on fair housing advocacy
- Reimagining complaint handling process
Conservation Commission
The Commission will evaluate a request regarding loading dock alterations on Mt. Tom Rd and a notice of intent for a home addition at 162 Main Street. Additionally, members will consider approving the Mineral Hills South Conservation Restriction and a certificate of compliance for Riverside Drive sewer work.
- Loading dock alteration determination (Mt. Tom Rd)
- Home addition and accessory structure modification (162 Main Street)
- Mineral Hills South Conservation Restriction approval
- Riverside Drive Sewer Certificate of Compliance (DEP File 246-0794)
City Council Committee on Finance
The Committee on Finance will review and compare price proposals from CBIZ and Scanlon for auditing services. The committee will also discuss client experiences with CBIZ regarding the FY2027 audit.
- Comparison of CBIZ vs. Scanlon price quotes
- Review of Scanlon proposal for FY27-FY29
- Inquiry into CBIZ client experience
City Council
The City Council is meeting to approve the final transfer of funds for the 2026 fiscal year. The discussion focuses on miscellaneous accounts and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB).
- Order 26.092: FY2026 End of Year Transfers - Miscellaneous
- Order 26.093: FY2026 End of Year Transfers - OPEB
Parks & Recreation Commission
The Parks & Recreation Commission will hear a director's report covering the Soccer Festival, summer camps, and a parks update on the Maines Field Resilience Study public engagement. They will also discuss Community Preservation Committee updates and any new business.
- Soccer Festival June 14 recap
- Summer camps update
- Maines Field Resilience Study public engagement
- Community Preservation Committee updates
Public Shade Tree Hearings
This is a brief, procedural public hearing on municipal shade tree management. The agenda includes a short period for resident comments, a reading of the official notice, and a brief discussion by the Tree Warden. No specific tree removals, contracts, or fee changes are listed for this session.
- Public comment period (5 minutes)
- Reading of the Public Shade Tree Hearing notice
- Brief discussion and adjournment