Council refers $2.5 million water loan to committee

Select Board · Meeting of August 3, 2026

Newburyport City Council referred a $2.5 million water treatment plant design loan to committee and heard an update on a regional school cost vote. The mayor told councilors a Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee vote recommends shifting to a per-pupil capital cost formula, which could cut Newburyport's share from about 11.7 percent to roughly 2 percent, after a competing 50-50 compromise failed 7-3-1. "When close to 70 percent of the kids is coming from one district, they should be responsible for the costs," the mayor said.

Councilors also voted unanimously to accept $100,000 gifts from the Lutz Foundation for opioid recovery coaches and from the state's MVP 2.0 program for water-equity outreach, and confirmed Michael Wolchowski as a special police officer, 11-0. The water loan, Order 869, was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee and Committee of the Whole, with member questions due August 10 ahead of an August 27 session.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,900 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.