Gloucester City Council Rejects School Department Audit Request 8-1

GLOUCESTER — February 25, 2025 — Gloucester City Council defeats school audit request 8-1, sets April zoning ballot. The full council voted down a Councilor Holly Worthley order to direct Mayor Greg Verga to facilitate a management audit of the School Department under City Charter Section 7-12, with opponents including Councilor Jason Groh citing the department's upcoming state tiered focused monitoring review and estimated audit costs of $150,000 to $300,000 — far exceeding the council's $30,000 audit budget line. The vote was 1 in favor — Worthley — and 8 opposed. The council voted 7-0 to place the city's Multifamily Overlay District zoning ordinance on a special municipal election ballot for April 24, 2025, following a certified referendum petition; a no vote would strike the ordinance and imperil the city's MBTA Communities compliance, which must be fully achieved by late July. The council also approved a $115,000 betterment loan for drainage repairs on Harriet Road and Grapevine Road — repaid entirely by abutters over 10 years — and voted 9-0 to raise Solomon Jacobs Landing fees to a $20 flat fee for up to three hours plus $10 for a fourth hour maximum, up from $5 per hour, after two floor amendments restructured the proposal.