Gloucester City Council Authorizes $100,000 Loan for Hesperus Avenue Road Repairs

GLOUCESTER -- June 10, 2025, Gloucester City Council approves $100,000 private road repair loan and new Board of Health permit fees at June 10 meeting. The council voted 8-0 to authorize borrowing for permanent paving and drainage work on the private way at 181-188 Hesperus Avenue, with full repayment through betterments assessed on eight to 10 abutting property owners over no more than 10 years; Councilors Sean Nolan and Tony Gross were credited by residents with shepherding the petition. The council also voted 8-0 to approve a revised Board of Health fee schedule, the first update since 2007, based on a risk-tiered inspection model and introducing a new annual permit for vendors participating in multiple seasonal events. Mayor Greg Verga opened a public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget, citing $147.4 million in projected revenue and a 5.32 percent increase in school funding; CFO Connor McCorkle told the council a projected $3.3 million shortfall identified in January was closed largely through level-funded department budgets and fee adjustments, with a beach fee amendment contributing up to $800,000. By 6-2, the council adopted an ordinance requiring the building commissioner to report annually on multifamily overlay district permits beginning January 1, 2026, over objections from Councilor Valerie Gilman that the data could be obtained by request without new legislation.