What’s on the Agenda: Monday, May 18, 2026 City Council Meeting
Promotions, paving, pickleball, a $1.2M paving season, and an executive session nobody’s talking about … this is Methuen.
Written by: Dan Shibilia InsideMethuen@gmail.com
Watch live at methuen.gov/livestream | Channel 8 (Comcast) or Channel 32 (Verizon) | YouTube: youtube.com/@MethuenMeetings
Full agenda: View the May 18, 2026 Agenda
Life moves fast. Methuen city government moves… differently. But if you want to have a say, you have to know what’s going on. Here’s your plain-English breakdown of Monday’s City Council meeting, so you can decide if it’s worth showing up or speaking out.
Procedural Opening
They all start the same way:
Roll call
Acceptance of the agenda
Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, moment of silence
Public participation
Minutes from the April 21 Regular Meeting (removed from table), the April 28 Special Meeting, and the May 4 Regular Meeting
Public participation is your time. If anything below moves you, that’s your window. There’s plenty here to be moved by.
I’m always curious if the Council will reference religion in their invocation.
Appointments
Four public safety personnel are up for promotion on Monday. These are worth a look.
Fire Department: Two New Lieutenants
Firefighter Jesse Kattar is being promoted to Lieutenant. View backup. Firefighter Sean Wholley is also being promoted to Lieutenant. View backup. These are Civil Service-driven promotions, meaning the candidates went through a competitive state-run process. Both should be routine.
Police Department: Lieutenant and Sergeant Made Permanent
Acting Police Lieutenant Matthew Mueskes is being confirmed as a permanent Lieutenant. View backup. Acting Police Sergeant Matthew St. Jean is being confirmed as a permanent Sergeant. View backup. Moving from “acting” to “permanent” matters because it affects pay, benefits, and job protections. Again, Civil Service-driven, so these should move quickly.
Like I said last time, in a time where we are looking at furloughs, layoffs, and other budget reduction tools… is it wise to be promoting or should we be looking to restructure departments to run leaner in our time of need? This has absolutely nothing to do with the candidates, this is purely a financial discussion.
Mayor’s Report & CAFO Report
These sections are usually a mix of updates and councilor questions. Several recurring items are back on the agenda this week:
Searles Estate Finances (Chair Soto)
Chair Soto is again requesting a full accounting of Searles Estate expenses and revenues. Although this may surprise the Chair, I agree with her. The public deserves to know what the city has spent, and what it’s taking in, on this property.
However, the irony of Soto proactively killing any potential sale on the property is not lost on the team at Inside Methuen.
Assessor Appointment Process (Chair Soto)
Soto is asking for a legal opinion on who has the authority to appoint the Acting Assessor, City Assessor, or Chief Assessor, and what that process should look like. This matters. The Assessor’s office sets property values, and therefore tax bills, for every property owner in the city.
As a real estate investor who has been rumored to routinely strong-arm permits and approvals behind City Hall's closed doors, this is concerning. First, because she could be angling for more “friendly” appointments. More importantly, because the power to appoint for these positions are subject to Section 3.3 of the City Charter.
Paving List Online (Chair Soto)
Soto wants the city’s paving list posted publicly on the Methuen website. Simple transparency ask. If your street is (or isn’t) getting paved, you should be able to find out without calling City Hall.
Echo Lane Sewer Connection (Councilor Valley)
The RFP status on this sewer connection is being asked about… again.
Rail Trail Depot Overhangs (Councilor Valley)
Valley wants an update on the historic depot overhangs along the Rail Trail, specifically, whether the city can acquire them, what legal options exist, and whether grant money could be used to preserve them.
Is this a legitimate historic preservation question? You may recall an earlier article where we did the research and these overhangs were slated for removal several decades ago. This building is owned by the Laborers’ Union. The City should not be spending taxpayers’ money on OVERHANGS.
Route 110 Sidewalk/Bike Lane (Councilor Valley)
When does this project wrap up? Valley is asking for a completion date. Straightforward.
Searles Estate Liability (Councilor Valley)
Valley wants the City Solicitor to weigh in on liability concerns related to events being held inside the Searles Estate. Insurance and liability exposure are real questions whenever the public is using a city-owned historic building.
Oakland Avenue Bridge State Report (Councilor Santos)
The state’s inspection report on this bridge has been asked for before. It should exist. Where is it? Santos is asking again.
Our suggestion is that she go back and watch the last meeting where the Mayor explained this or, perhaps, the meeting prior to that one where he explained this in essentially the same words.
Public Safety & DPW Buildings Feasibility Study (Councilor Santos)
The study is ongoing but “it’s moving” isn’t a timeline. Santos wants a status update.
This shows a lack of understanding of government, how it works, how it moves, and what time of the year it is… BUDGET SEASON.
Parks Audit & Buildings Audit RFPs (Councilor Drew)
Are the RFPs for the parks audit and buildings audit actually out the door yet? Drew wants confirmation that the city has followed through on its commitments here.
The Mayor, at the last meeting, said this would be parked until after Budget season. It’s not unreasonable.
Pickleball Courts (Councilor MacLaren)
MacLaren is asking for an update on the public’s petition regarding pickleball courts. This has generated real community interest and the council should give it a real answer.
Forest Street Paving (Councilor MacLaren)
Is Forest Street in the paving plan for FY’26 or FY’27? A simple yes or no would do.
Public Service: Contracts
Seven contracts are on the table on Monday. This is where real city money moves.
C-26-87: Milk Street Traffic Calming — $48,600
View contract — Apex Companies, LLC will provide engineering services for a traffic calming project on Milk Street. Traffic calming usually means things like bump-outs, crosswalk improvements, or speed table design. If you live near Milk Street, this is worth paying attention to.
C-26-88: Public Safety & DPW Feasibility Studies — $75,750
View contract — Weston & Sampson will conduct expanded feasibility studies on the Police, Fire, and DPW facilities. These buildings are aging. This is the study that tells the city what it’s dealing with. Money well spent if it leads to actual action.
C-26-89: Oakland Avenue Bridge Emergency Repair — $57,503
View contract — NEL Corporation has been awarded a DCAMM emergency waiver contract to repair the Oakland Avenue Bridge. Emergency designation means the city bypassed the normal bidding process, presumably because the bridge couldn’t wait.
C-26-90: Arlington Neighborhood Streetscape — $235,500
View contract — Woodard & Curran will provide engineering for Phase I-A of the Arlington Neighborhood Streetscape Improvement Project. Streetscape improvements typically include sidewalks, lighting, and street furniture. If you’re in or near the neighborhood, this matters.
C-26-91: Veterans Memorial Park Fitness Court Slab — $34,900
View contract — Hilltown Demolition will pour a concrete slab at Veterans Memorial Park as the base for an outdoor fitness court. Parks’ infrastructure is a public good. This is a reasonably priced investment in a public space.
C-26-92: FY2026 Paving Season — $1,197,448
View contract — E.J. Paving Company (a Methuen-based company, notably) will handle this year’s paving through the Chapter 90 program. This is the big one,over $1.2 million for road resurfacing across the city. Chapter 90 is state transportation funding, so this isn’t entirely coming out of city coffers. This is where the rubber meets the road… literally.
C-26-93: Water Treatment Plant Emergency Tank Replacement — $897,677
View contract — Another DCAMM emergency waiver. Seven bulk chemical tanks, plus pipes, valves, fittings, and transfer pumps at the Water Treatment Plant need emergency replacement. This is drinking water infrastructure. You don’t let that slide. The emergency designation here is appropriate.
Unfinished Business
TR-25-75: Cooper Lane as a Public Way
View resolution — This resolution has been sitting since 2025 and is now up for a second read. Developer JR Builders wants Cooper Lane officially accepted as a public way, meaning the city would take over maintenance. Once that happens, plowing, pothole repairs, and all upkeep become the city’s responsibility indefinitely. The council needs to confirm the road was built to city standards before they vote yes. Questions about road quality should be asked before any vote is taken.
TR-26-32: Evaluating Health Insurance Options Under Chapter 32B
View resolution — This resolution, coming off the table - maybe, would have Methuen formally adopt sections 21–23 of Chapter 32B of Mass. General Laws. What that means in plain English: it opens the door to a formal process for evaluating changes to employee and retiree health insurance. This can affect city workers and their families significantly. Worth watching.
Let’s be clear what this DOES NOT do… it does not give the Mayor unilateral authority to move the health insurance to GIC or anything else. This merely gives him the ability to explore GIC and other options. Hopefully, this will run cooperatively with the PEC.
TR-26-49: PACE Massachusetts Clean Energy Program
View resolution — This is a second read and should an easy yes. As a refresher, PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. Here’s how it works: a business wants to upgrade to solar panels, better HVAC, or LED lighting but doesn’t want to pay up front. A private lender finances the project, and the business repays through a special line on their property tax bill over up to 20 years. If the building is sold, the assessment transfers to the new owner.
For Methuen to allow this, the city has to opt in, that’s what this vote does. The city takes on zero financial risk. Private capital funds it all. 82 Massachusetts municipalities have already signed on, including Lowell, North Andover, and Peabody. This is a no-brainer for local businesses and a good economic development tool. Expect it to pass.
TO-26-11: Pest Control for Demolition and Commercial Waste
View ordinance — Second read. Sponsored by Councilor DiZoglio. Simple concept: when a building is demolished or a commercial waste operation runs nearby, rats get displaced into surrounding neighborhoods. This ordinance puts the cost and responsibility of pest control on whoever is doing the demolition or running the waste operation, not on the neighbors stuck dealing with the aftermath. The fine is $300 per day per offense. The Board of Health sets the standards. Good public health legislation.
TO-26-13: Nepotism Ordinance (as amended)
View ordinance — It’s back again. It will be interesting to see if this makes it off the Table this time. Chair Soto’s updated nepotism ordinance is back, with amendments. The ordinance expands the definition of “family member” to include first cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews which is broader than what state law covers. It bars family members of department heads from working in the same department, and if two city employees become family members after passage, one has to transfer out within 90 days.
Police and Fire are carved out and that’s actually legally required because those departments operate under Massachusetts Civil Service law, which the city cannot override locally. That exemption isn’t suspicious; it’s mandatory.
What to watch: the 90-day transfer requirement is real employment disruption with real legal exposure, and the ordinance is silent on whether the city is obligated to make a transfer spot available. Also, 30 days to disclose all existing family relationships across city departments is a very tight window. The council should press on with the implementation details before voting.
New Business
TR-26-50: Home Rule Petition on Seniority-Based Reinstatement
View resolution — Sponsored by Chair Soto, Councilors DiZoglio and Valley, and Mayor Beauregard. This resolution asks the state legislature for permission to reinstate laid-off city employees by seniority within their departmental unit. Home Rule Petitions are how Massachusetts cities ask for powers that state law doesn’t automatically grant. If layoffs happen, or have already happened, this would govern the order in which people get their jobs back. This is a significant labor and employment policy.
TR-26-51: $15,200 Fire Department SAFE Grant
View resolution — Requested by Mayor Beauregard and Fire Chief Toto. The state Department of Fire Services is awarding Methuen $15,200 through its SAFE (Student Awareness of Fire Education) and Senior SAFE programs. Free money, no city match required, goes directly to fire safety education. Easy yes.
TO-26-14: Self-Service Gas Station Ordinance
View ordinance — Requested by Councilor DiZoglio and Police Chief McNamara. This ordinance adds rules for self-service gas stations to the city’s municipal code. The details matter here as self-service stations have specific safety and operational requirements. With Chief McNamara’s name attached, this is likely focused on safety and crime prevention at gas station locations. This is its first reading, so it won’t get a final vote on Monday.
Executive Session… The One to Watch
After all regular business concludes, the Council will vote to enter executive session, closed to the public, with the Mayor and City Solicitor. The reason cited is Exemption 7, which is the exemption for complying with legal obligations and court rules.
The specific matter: Commonwealth v. Joseph Solomon, two Essex County Superior Court cases (docket numbers 2377CR00451 and 2377CR00452). The council will not reconvene in open session afterward regardless of whatever happens in executive session ends the night.
Oh, to be a fly on that wall….
Keep an eye out for the meeting recap on Tuesday.