Newburyport Council Bonds $2.2 Million for Aging Water Pump Station Replacement

NEWBURYPORT — June 22, 2026 — Newburyport City Council approves $2.226 million water pump station bond and clears five year-end free cash transfers. The council voted unanimously Monday to bond $2.226 million for the Indian Hill-Story Avenue water pump station, whose pumps, motors, and drives are at or near end of life; work is expected to start in the fall with no anticipated service interruption. A $3.5 million Community Preservation Act bond for the Bartlett Mall project passed 10-1, with Budget and Finance Committee Chair Councillor Zied casting the lone dissenting vote. Five year-end free cash transfers totaling roughly $1 million covered shortfalls in compensated absences, city solicitor expenses tied to the Kmart 40B project and Waterfront West negotiations, firefighter overtime and injured-on-duty obligations, school technology, and a police cruiser purchase. The council also approved a nine-member fire chief screening committee, as the incumbent's last day is expected August 26 and the six-month search window runs to late November. Councillor Zied warned that the assessment center required for the search is not funded in the just-passed budget: "Don't put us in the emergency preamble position constantly."