Sign in Subscribe

Dave Watkins

Newburyport Planning Board Advances New B-4 Mixed-Use Zone for Industrial Corridor

NEWBURYPORT -- May 6, 2026, Newburyport Planning Board advances plan to create a new mixed-use B-4 Business Park district along the industrial corridor linking the MBTA commuter rail station to Parker Street. Member Rick Tainter presented a slide-based concept that would convert the northern and eastern sections of

Newbury Planning Board Grants Solar Permit Two-Year Extension, Clears Storage Sale

NEWBURY -- May 6, 2026, Newbury Planning Board approves solar permit extension and self-storage transfer in May 6 remote session. The board voted unanimously four times on substantive matters, granting a two-year extension of a special permit for a proposed landfill solar array at 75 Boston Road through June

Newbury Library Board Begins Director Search After June 4 Resignation Deadline

NEWBURY -- May 6, 2026, Newbury Library Board moves to fill director vacancy opening June 4. The Library Board of Trustees held a special meeting May 6 with two of its three members, Chair Alexander Burke and Trustee Terry Luthorst, to launch a search for a new director after the current

Lowell School Committee Votes to Restore Three Student Support Specialist Positions in $287.9M Budget

MIDDLETON -- May 6, 2026, Lowell School Committee approves cuts to fund three disputed student support positions ahead of $287.9 million budget vote. The seven-member committee voted 7-0 on May 6 to authorize $400,000 in line-item reductions, cutting $52,000 from two part-time positions, $100,

Gloucester City Council Unanimously Accepts $178.7 Million FY2027 Budget for Review

GLOUCESTER -- May 6, 2026, Gloucester City Council votes 9-0 to accept Mayor Lundberg's $178.7 million FY2027 budget and open a 45-day review. The council convened a special meeting May 6 solely to receive the balanced spending plan, which totals exactly $178,690,650 in both

Essex Planning Board Continues Bell Point Subdivision Hearing Toward June 9 Deadline

ESSEX -- May 6, 2026, Essex Planning Board advances first-ever OSRD subdivision toward a June 9 decision deadline. The board unanimously continued its public hearing, now on its fifth continuation since March 4, on the Bell Point LLC application for a 36-lot open space residential development at Zero Essex

Swampscott Select Board Approves Trinity Ambulance Deal and $503K Street Contract

SWAMPSCOTT -- May 6, 2026, Swampscott Select Board approves ambulance contract, $502,900 street redesign deal, and five department head employment agreements in wide-ranging May 6 session. The board unanimously approved a one-year agreement with Trinity Ambulance, with up to two renewal options, formalizing an arrangement that had lapsed

Lynn Disability Commission regains quorum, approves April minutes

Lynn Disability Commission opens without quorum, then regains it and approves minutes.

Lynn Board of Health upholds tobacco fine, orders nuisance cleanup

Lynn Board of Health upholds a $1,000 fine and orders emergency cleanup of a nuisance property.

Newburyport Conservation Commission closes 30-year-old permits, clears waterfront boardwalk project

Newburyport Conservation Commission unanimously closes two 1990s-era open permits and clears a major waterfront boardwalk rehabilitation project in a single meeting.

All Essex County towns we cover · Every Massachusetts town on the Townbrief network.