Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

Parks and Recreation Committee

The Parks and Recreation Committee will meet to discuss updates on beach operations, including credit card payments, a parking sign, and a building project. They will also consider a special event application for the ME Athletic Boosters Carnival and receive an update on WiFi sales at the beach. The agenda includes approval of prior minutes and a director's report.

• Special Event Application: ME Athletic Boosters Carnival (Amy Lage attending)
• Beach Update: Credit cards, parking sign, building project
• WiFi sales at the beach - Update
• Adult Fitness Grant – John Round’s email
• Brook St Scoreboard Update

Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee will hold a public meeting to approve minutes, discuss committee vacancies, and review past and upcoming events including Festival by the Sea and fall activities. Climate Leader Communities and waste hauling plans will also be addressed.

• Review Festival by the Sea recap
• Discuss fall events planning
• Climate Leader Communities update
• Waste hauling plan and education discussion

Select Board

The Select Board will conduct a public hearing regarding water and sewer rates and receive a presentation on the Ocean Street Project. The board will also consider proposals for WiFi-by-the-Sea LLC and updates to curbside waste collection.

• Water & Sewer Rates Public Hearing
• Ocean Street Project presentation by Fuss & O’Neill
• WiFi-by-the-Sea LLC proposal
• Senior Trash Fee Abatement and curbside collection update
• Approval of events: Cub Scout sleep out at Singing Beach, Coast to the Cure cycling, and Touch-a-Truck

Facilities Planning Committee

The Facilities Planning Committee will meet to discuss and approve past meeting minutes, review an updated action item list, and receive updates on the Senior/Community Center project and a property at 197 School Street. The committee will also discuss its charge and future meeting dates.

• Review and approval of July 15, 2026 meeting minutes
• Update on Senior/Community Center project with Olsen Lewis + Architects
• Update on property at 197 School Street, OPM

Planning Board

The Planning Board will meet at Town Hall and conduct a site walk around the General District. The meeting is a public site walk, not a regular business meeting with votes or decisions.

Planning Board

The Planning Board will continue a public hearing on a site plan review for two multi-family homes at 1 Deer Hill Road. They will also discuss the Housing Production Plan, a demolition delay bylaw with the Historic Commission, and potential zoning changes for the fall Town Meeting.

• Continued public hearing: 1 Deer Hill Road – two multi-family buildings
• Discussion of Housing Production Plan
• Discussion with Historic District/Historical Commission on Demolition Delay By-Law
• General District Zoning Study discussion
• Discussion of zoning changes for Fall Town Meeting

Planning Board

The Historic District Commission and Planning Board are meeting jointly to discuss the timeline and strategy of the Demolition Delay By-Law. No other items are on the agenda.

• Discussion of timeline and strategy for the Demolition Delay By-Law

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission is meeting jointly with the Planning Board to discuss the timeline and strategy of the Demolition Delay By-Law. No other items are on the agenda.

• Joint meeting with Planning Board to discuss Demolition Delay By-Law timeline and strategy

Winthrop Field Committee

The Winthrop Field Committee will hold a monthly meeting and site visit at Jersey Lane Gate. They will discuss a culvert-drain line assessment and clean out, as well as dead tree removal on Jersey Lane. A field stewardship work session will cover pond cattail removal and north field brush trimming.

• Culvert-drain line assessment and clean out
• Dead tree removal on Jersey Lane
• Pond cattail removal
• North field brush trimming

Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee will meet to discuss and potentially act on a waste hauling contract and a Hooper Fund proposal, along with committee vacancies and summer/fall events.

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission will hold public hearings on three Notices of Intent, including a major 136-unit apartment building at 0 School Street, a seasonal ramp and float at 19 Proctor Street, and utility trenching at 5 Kings Way. Orders of Conditions may be issued for the same projects if hearings are closed. Other business includes a presentation from JAG/Gordon College and a recalculation for Lincoln Street Well.

• Public hearing on 92,560 sq ft, 136-unit multifamily building at 0 School Street
• Public hearing on seasonal ramp and float at 19 Proctor Street
• Public hearing on utility trenching in buffer zone at 5 Kings Way
• Orders of Conditions for all three projects if hearings are closed
• Presentation from JAG/Gordon College and Lincoln Street Well recalculation

Select Board

The Select Board will vote on a temporary art installation at Reed Park, discuss a drought management update and a waste/recycling contract, and consider a short-term rental license for 150 Pine Street. The meeting also includes recognition of retiring Harbormaster Paul Stone and Claude Beaudet.

Board of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will hold an open session followed by an executive session on July 16, 2026. The meeting includes procedural items such as approving minutes, reviewing June 2026 sales and abatement reports, and discussing potential motor vehicle excise denials or abatements. No formal decisions are listed on the agenda.

• June 2026 sales report review
• June 2026 abatement report review
• Possible motor vehicle excise denials or abatements discussion
• Approval of June 18, 2026 meeting minutes

Affordable Housing Trust

The Affordable Housing Trust will hear a presentation from the Jefferson Apartment Group on a proposed 40B development on Upper Pine Street (Gordon College land). The board will also appoint a chair and treasurer, receive a status update on Powder House Apartments, and hold a public comment period. The meeting will then enter executive session to discuss real property acquisition.

• Presentation of Jefferson Apartment Group's 40B proposal for Upper Pine St (Gordon College land)
• Appointment of Chair and Treasurer
• Status update on Powder House Apartments
• Executive session to discuss real property purchase or lease

Board of Health

The Board of Health will hold a public hearing to review and discuss proposed amendments to its fee schedule. The meeting also includes a period for public comment on non-agenda items.

• Public hearing on proposed amendments to the Board of Health fee schedule

Bike and Pedestrian Committee

The committee will hold a moment of silence for a cyclist killed in Boston, review a recent Rotary event and July 4th parade, and discuss advancing a Safe Routes to School award from silver to gold. Project updates include a traffic study at Pine/Bennett/Central/Bridge intersection and pedestrian beacon repairs.

• Moment of silence for Louisa Gag, a Boston transportation planner killed while biking on July 9
• Discussion of Rotary 'Wheels for Good' event with guest Ken Riehl
• Safe Routes to School (SRTS) award: ways to move from silver to gold
• Pine/Bennett/Central/Bridge intersection traffic study and DPW update
• Pedestrian crossing beacon repair status

Manchester Housing Authority

The Manchester Housing Authority will review and vote on the Annual Plan for 2027 and Contract for Financial Assistance (CFA) #13. The board will also review financials through May 2026, accounts payable for June 2026, and hear the Managing Director's report. Public comments are limited to 5 minutes.

• Review and Approve Annual Plan 2027
• Review and Approval of Contract for Financial Assistance (CFA) #13
• Review Financials through May 2026
• Review of Accounts Payable June 2026

Downtown Improvement Committee

The Manchester-by-the-Sea Downtown Improvement Committee will convene virtually to approve past meeting minutes, receive updates from the Department of Public Works and Town Planning, and discuss ongoing projects including the Pine/Bridge/Central initiative and a Pine Street sidewalk. No formal decisions are listed on this agenda.

• Pine/Bridge/Central Project update
• Pine St. to Elm St. sidewalk discussion
• Business Improvement District planning for 2026 season
• DPW Update
• Town Planning Update

Facilities Planning Committee

The Facilities Planning Committee will discuss and potentially approve meeting minutes from July 1, 2026, review an action item list, and discuss an updated committee charge. They will also discuss municipal solar potential, the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), and receive updates on the Senior/Community Center, Singing Beach Bathhouse, and 197 School Street (OPM). Future meeting dates are set.

• Discussion on Municipal Solar Potential
• Discussion on WWTP
• Update on Senior/Community Center
• Update on Singing Beach Bathhouse
• Update on 197 School Street, OPM

Planning Board

The Manchester Planning Board will hold continued public hearings on a site plan review for two multi-family homes at 1 Deer Hill Road and a special permit for a new dwelling at 214 Summer Street. The board will also discuss the Housing Production Plan with a planning consultant and review a preliminary draft, along with a discussion on the General District planning study.

• Continued Public Hearing: 1 Deer Hill Road – Site Plan Review for two multi-family homes
• Continued Public Hearing: 214 Summer Street – Special Permit for new dwelling and access driveway
• Discussion with planning consultant Karen Sunnarborg on Housing Production Plan and preliminary draft
• Discussion concerning the General District planning study

The Board approved a special permit for 214 Summer Street with specific conditions regarding stormwater, blasting, and traffic. The Board also reviewed a preliminary draft of the Housing Production Plan and discussed potential zoning changes for the General District.

• Approved Special Permit for 214 Summer Street (unanimous)
• Continued Public Hearing for 1 Deer Hill Road to July 27, 2026 (unanimous)

Planning Board

The Planning Board will hold a site walk around the General District, starting at Town Hall, 10 Central Street. No decisions or proposals are listed on the agenda.

• Site walk around the General District, beginning at 10 Central Street

Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Library Trustees will discuss and potentially vote on the FY27 budget and the Library Director's contract. The meeting also includes reports from the director and Friends of the Library, a discussion of building renovation and fundraising, and approval of prior meeting minutes.

• Budget FY27 discussion and possible action
• Library building renovation / fundraising update
• Library Director contract discussion and possible action
• Library Director's report
• Friends of the Library report

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission will continue discussing the demolition delay by-law and consider future historic district boundaries. The meeting also includes approval of prior minutes and allows for other unanticipated business.

• Continued discussion of Demolition Delay By-Law
• Discussion of future Historic District boundaries
• Approval of June 11, 2026 meeting minutes

Select Board

The Joint Finance Committee and Select Board will vote on year-end transfers and the Finance Committee reserve for FY26. They will also discuss the sanitation contract's impact on the FY27 budget, review capital project contracts, and consider rescinding portions of previously approved overrides.

• Vote on FY26 year-end transfers & Finance Committee reserve
• Discussion of sanitation contract impact on FY27 budget
• Status update on contracts for capital projects
• Process to rescind portions of approved overrides not needed
• Update on Launch Service Subscriptions

Finance Committee

The Manchester-By-The-Sea Joint Finance Committee & Select Board will vote on FY26 year-end transfers and Finance Committee reserves. They will also discuss the sanitation contract's impact on the FY27 budget, the status of capital project contracts, and the process to rescind unneeded portions of approved overrides.

• Vote on FY26 year-end transfers & Finance Committee reserve
• Update on sanitation contract impact on FY27 budget
• Status of contracts for capital projects
• Approved overrides: process to rescind unneeded portions
• Update on launch service subscriptions

Select Board

The Select Board will hold a public hearing on a National Grid project on Harbor Street and consider action items including a drought level update, FY27 appointments, and proposed increases to building and trash fees. Discussion items include a capital plan review, a waste disposal and curbside collection contract update, a brick sidewalk project at One School Street, and Powder House roles. The consent agenda includes meeting minutes, declaring a 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 dump truck as surplus, and a special event permit for the Cape Ann Public Safety Softball Tournament.

• National Grid hearing – Harbor Street
• Building & trash fee increases
• Capital plan review
• Waste disposal and curbside collection contract update
• Declare surplus property – 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 dump truck

Facilities Planning Committee

The Facility Planning Committee will discuss and potentially approve meeting minutes from June 17, 2026, and review an action item list. The main topics include updates on the Senior/Community Center, the Singing Beach Bathhouse, and the 197 School Street project with an Owner's Project Manager. Future meetings are scheduled for July 15, July 29, August 12, August 26, and September 9.

• Discussion and/or approval of meeting minutes from June 17, 2026
• Update on Senior/Community Center
• Update on Singing Beach Bathhouse
• Update on 197 School Street, OPM
• Discussion on FPC Charge

The Facility Planning Committee tabled final action on its draft charge document, agreeing to recirculate an updated version before seeking Select Board endorsement. The Committee reviewed revised floor plans for the Senior/Community Center, including an expanded commercial kitchen, and discussed a concept plan for the Singing Beach Bathhouse focused on interior reconfigurations without structural expansion. No formal votes were taken on these projects.

• Approved minutes of June 17, 2026 (unanimous)
• Tabled final action on FPC charge document until next meeting
• Agreed to maintain and distribute updated action item list going forward
• Agreed to investigate Town of Marion as benchmark for DPW facility
• Adjourned meeting at 9:00 p.m. (unanimous)

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission will hold public hearings on five Notices of Intent for projects affecting wetlands or coastal areas, including a large multifamily building at 0 School Street. They will also consider Orders of Conditions for several previously heard projects and discuss a scoreboard installation.

• Notice of Intent for 136-unit apartment building at 0 School Street (92,560 sq ft, 3 stories)
• Seawall improvements at 18 Boardman (MassDEP #039-0947)
• Seasonal ramp and float at 19 Proctor Street
• Utility trenching at 5 Kings Way within 100-foot buffer of BVW
• Temporary sculpture at Reed Park by Tidekeepers Foundation

The Commission approved an Order of Conditions for raising an existing seawall at 18 Boardman by one foot, a climate adaptation measure. A temporary sculpture installation at Reed Park received a negative determination. A hearing for a seasonal ramp and float at 19 Proctor Street was continued for more engineering details. A hearing for utility trenching at 5 Kings Way was continued to July 21.

• Approved Order of Conditions for seawall height increase at 18 Boardman (unanimous)
• Issued Negative Determination (Category 3) for temporary sculpture installation at Reed Park (unanimous)
• Continued public hearing for seasonal ramp and float at 19 Proctor Street to July 21, 2026 (unanimous)
• Continued public hearing for utility trenching at 5 Kings Way to July 21, 2026 (unanimous)

Winthrop Field Committee

The Winthrop Field Committee will meet for a monthly meeting and site visit to discuss a culvert-drain line assessment, a 2026 mowing contract, re-staking and maintenance of the walking path, removal of a dead tree on Jersey Lane, spring clean-up, and new business including a Cub Scout rockets event and a proposal for sheep grazing.

• Culvert-drain line assessment and clean out
• 2026 mowing contract
• Dead tree removal on Jersey Lane
• Cub Scout rockets event
• Livestock operation (sheep grazing) proposal

Board of Health

The Board of Health will discuss several public health updates, including a grant update from the Cape Ann Public Health Alliance, beach water testing, recreational camp licensing, and the tobacco control program. The board will also review its fees and schedule a public hearing, along with considering approval of prior meeting minutes and a draft agenda for Title 5 review.

• Cape Ann Public Health Alliance (CAPHA) Public Health Excellence (PHE) Grant update
• Beach water testing
• Recreational camps licensing
• Board of Health fee review and public hearing scheduling
• Draft Manchester agenda for Title 5 review

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Manchester Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on an application from David & Maria Tauro for a Special Permit and Variance to construct a front covered porch in the front setback of an existing residential structure on a non-conforming lot at 64 Beach Street. The board will also review and approve prior meeting minutes, discuss decision statuses, correspondence, and items for the next meeting.

• Public hearing on Special Permit and Variance for front porch at 64 Beach Street (Map 15, Lot 18)
• Review and approve May 27, 2026 meeting minutes
• Status of decisions
• Correspondence
• Applications submitted for next meeting

Planning Board Design Review Subcommittee

The Design Review Committee will meet to review plans for a four-unit residential development at 1 Deer Hill Road submitted by T Ford, LLC. The committee will provide an advisory opinion to the Planning Board on the design elements of the proposed development.

• Review of four-unit residential development at 1 Deer Hill Road
• Applicant: T Ford, LLC
• Advisory opinion on design elements to the Planning Board