Methuen meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Methuen roundup: School property sales, $850K trash shortfall, paving contract on City Council agenda; Conservation Commission takes up wetland permits

City Council — July 6

The Methuen City Council had a packed agenda July 6, with several items involving land, money, and city services. Because minutes have not yet been published, the items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

Surplus school properties: Resolutions would declare three properties surplus and authorize their sale or redevelopment: Pleasant Valley School at 180 Pleasant Valley Street, Currier School at 36 Boylston Street, and 30 Railroad Street.

Solid waste shortfall: The Council was set to receive a presentation on the Trash Coordinator position and an $850,000 free cash request to address a solid waste/tipping fee shortfall.

Paving contract: Contract C-27-1 with Brox Industries for $111,425 for bituminous concrete for the FY26 paving season was on the agenda.

Solar agreements: Solar Project License Agreements between the City and Solect Energy Development LLC were listed for Tenney Grammar School at 75 Pleasant Street and Comprehensive Grammar School at 100 Howe Street.

Ambulance rates: Ordinance TO-26-18 would increase ambulance rates and establish a new lift assist fee.

Cooper Lane: A public hearing was scheduled on Resolution TR-25-75, declaring the Council's intent to lay out Cooper Lane as a public way. The layout plan is available in the City Clerk's office.

National Grid: A separate public hearing was scheduled on Public Service Grant #31043582 for National Grid to replace direct buried cable with a conduit system on Temple Drive, Westgate Circle, and Jewel Circle.

Licensing Board — July 8

The Licensing Board was scheduled to review several applications:

• A one-day alcohol license for a beer garden at El Potro Mexican Grill, 90 Pleasant Valley St., on July 11 during the 4th of July fireworks.
• A one-day alcohol license for a wedding reception at St. Basils, 30 East St., on July 18, listed under Sevmar Mediterranean Bistro.
• A change of manager application for Olive Garden at 90 Pleasant Valley St.
• An application for all-alcohol and common victualler licenses for KPOT Korean BBQ and Hotpot at 90 Pleasant Valley St.

Conservation Commission — July 16

The Conservation Commission was scheduled to hold public hearings on four Notices of Intent:

• DEP File #219-1323, 109 North Street, filed by Andover Consultants, Inc.
• DEP File #219-1321, 397 Transmission Line Asset Condition Refurbishment Project, filed by BSC Group.
• DEP File #219-1320, 11 Cross Street, filed by CROSSLD QOZB, LLC.
• DEP File #219-1324, Brook Street Culvert, filed by TEC, Inc.

A stormwater permit application for 11 Cross Street, also filed by CROSSLD QOZB, LLC, was listed. The agenda also included existing notices of violation for properties on Thayer Street, Brown Court, Conte Drive, Riverside Dr., and Lindberg Ave., plus the Conservation Officer's report.

Cultural Council — July 13

The July meeting of the Methuen Cultural Council was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for August 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Nevins Memorial Library.

Coming up

• **Zoning Board of Appeals — July 22:** The board will consider a fence ordinance waiver for a 6-foot privacy fence in a front yard at 1 Autumn Lane, and a variance for a 16'x16' two-story addition at 1 River Place that was already built without permits. The variance request seeks 5.02 feet of side setback where 15 feet is required, and 5.28 feet of rear setback where 20 feet is required, in the CBD zone.
• **Charter Review Committee — July 23:** The committee may finalize charter revisions and transmit them to the City Council, following review of Solicitor recommendations.

Methuen roundup: Council to weigh sale of three school properties, $850,000 trash shortfall fix

The Methuen City Council's July 6 agenda includes the most consequential items of the past two weeks: resolutions to declare three surplus school properties available for sale and redevelopment, and a presentation on an $850,000 free cash request to address a solid waste and tipping fee shortfall. All meetings summarized below are listed as agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed.

City Council — July 6

The Council was scheduled to vote on resolutions declaring the Pleasant Valley School (180 Pleasant Valley Street), Currier School (36 Boylston Street), and 30 Railroad Street as surplus property, authorizing their sale and redevelopment.

Also on the agenda: a presentation and discussion on the Trash Coordinator position and an $850,000 free cash request to cover the solid waste/tipping fee shortfall.

Other scheduled items include:

• Solar Project License Agreements between the City and Solect Energy Development LLC for Tenney Grammar School (75 Pleasant Street) and Comprehensive Grammar School (100 Howe Street).
• Contract C-27-1 with Brox Industries for $111,425 for bituminous concrete for the FY26 paving season.
• Ordinance TO-26-18 to increase ambulance rates and establish a new lift assist fee.
• Ordinance amendments on Arcadia Street rezoning and trash collection changes.

A separate July 6 public hearing covers Resolution TR-25-75, which declares the Council's intent to lay out Cooper Lane as a public way. The layout plan is available in the City Clerk's office.

Another July 6 public hearing addresses Public Service Grant #31043582 for National Grid, involving replacement of direct buried cable with a conduit system on Temple Drive, Westgate Circle, and Jewel Circle.

Conservation Commission — July 2

The Commission was scheduled to address an emergency certification (#26-010) for beaver dam flooding at 34, 36, and 38 Oak Street.

Continued public hearings were listed for three Notices of Intent:

• 11 Cross Street — CROSSLD QOZB, LLC (DEP #219-1320)
• 397 Transmission Line Asset Condition Refurbishment — BSC Group (DEP #219-1321)
• Brook Street Culvert — TEC, Inc. / DPW (DEP #219-1324)

A Certificate of Compliance was also on the agenda for 175 Pelham Street — MDR FL Realty LLC (DEP #219-1315), along with a Request for Determination at 4 Gleason Street.

Commission on Disability — July 2

The Commission was scheduled to review the ADA Coordinator's report and recent See Click Fix reports, and receive a DPW update on city accessibility issues. Old business included discussion of Disability Pride Day, potential new commission members, consideration of appointing a new ADA Coordinator, and a possible meeting with the mayor.

Licensing Board — July 8

The Board was scheduled to review two one-day alcohol licenses: one for a beer garden at El Potro Mexican Grill (90 Pleasant Valley Street) on July 11 during the 4th of July fireworks, and another for a wedding reception at St. Basils (30 East Street) on July 18 hosted by Sevmar Mediterranean Bistro.

Also on the agenda: a change of manager application for Olive Garden at 90 Pleasant Valley Street, and an application for all-alcohol and common victualler licenses for KPOT Korean BBQ at the same address.

Coming up

The Methuen Cultural Council's July meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for August 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Nevins Memorial Library.

No other upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should note that because minutes have not yet been published for the recent meetings above, the agenda items reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.