Essex Finance Committee unanimously approves $13,046 reallocation from police officer salaries to overtime funding. A full-time officer's unexpected August 2025 resignation created staffing gaps; the position has since been filled but overtime costs reached 77 percent of budget as of January 21.
Essex Conservation Commission issues formal Determination on Turtleback Road exemption. The Commission voted unanimously to issue a negative Determination ruling that grading and filling work on a common driveway spanning the Turtleback Road and Pond Street parcels was exempt from state Wetlands
Essex adopts first Housing Production Plan to address affordable housing shortage. The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen unanimously approved "Welcome Home, Essex" on January 21 after incorporating nine revisions from board members, including corrections to terminology, parking-strategy
Essex Council on Aging approves financial security planning goal. The Strategic Planning Committee approved financial security education as an overarching goal for senior services and identified three supporting objectives: partnering with social services agencies, providing direct help with
Finance Committee approves emergency elections funding while adopting new budget software. Chair Jodi Harris guided unanimous approval of a $7,500 line-item transfer to cover two special elections triggered by an elected official's passing. The committee adopted ClearGov budget software at a
Planning Board unanimously approves Site Plan Review and building siting for 31 Apple Street. Chair Lisa O'Donnell and Board members approved the project following a presentation of revised plans by applicant representative Alex Filias and consultation with Building Inspector Bill Sanborn. The
Essex Council on Aging approves job-description updates and two-part FY27 budget submission. The Board voted to add a two-year college degree as a preferred qualification to the Volunteer and Activities Coordinator position; Susan Parady and Sue Lufkin opposed the addition on grounds it might limit
Essex Selectmen approve FY26 budget, appoint three firefighters. The Board unanimously approved the town's FY2026 capital and operating budget requests and submitted them to the Finance Committee. The Board appointed three probationary firefighters for a partial one-year term ending June 30, 2026,
The Essex Board of Public Works approved its FY27 budget for submission to the Finance Committee, marking overall departmental spending down roughly $400,000 despite line-item increases tied to union contracts and rising service costs. Chairman Nick Ellis, Commissioner Westley Burnham, and
Essex Board of Selectmen unanimously named Amanda Davis as acting superintendent of public works and hired three new police officers at its December 15 meeting.
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