City Government
Methuen City Council
The Methuen City Council is the nine-member body that turns ideas into the ordinances and resolutions the city lives by. Three councilors are elected citywide, the “at-large” seats, and six are elected from the city’s three districts, East, Central, and West, two per district. Councilors serve two-year terms, and the charter caps them at three terms in a row. Each year the Council picks one of its own to serve as Chairperson.
- Makes the rules by adopting the ordinances and resolutions that govern the city.
- Controls the money by voting up or down on the Mayor’s proposed budget.
- Checks the executive by confirming many appointments and reviewing how the city runs.
Council Members
Every Methuen voter helps pick the three at-large councilors. The six district councilors each answer to one corner of the city. The East District covers Precincts 3, 7, 9, 12, 13 and 13-A. The Central District covers Precincts 1, 2, 6, 6-A, 10 and 14. The West District covers Precincts 4, 5, 8, 11 and 15.
Ryan DiZoglio
John Drew Jr.
Jana Pesce
Ella MacLaren
Yanilda Santos
Ronald Marsan
Neily Soto
Michael Simard
Patricia Valley
Individual councilor emails and direct lines are on the city’s City Council directory at methuen.gov.
Meetings & How to Participate
- Where: the Great Hall on the third floor of the Searles Building, 41 Pleasant Street.
- When: meetings start at 7:00 p.m. on the dates in the Council’s 2026 schedule, with the agenda deadline at noon.
- Agendas and minutes: posted ahead of time on the city’s Agenda Center at methuen.gov.
- Watch: every meeting is carried live and on demand by MCTV at methuentv.org.
How to Speak at a Council Meeting
You do not have to be old enough to vote to be heard. Public comment is open to residents, and a clear two-minute case from a student lands harder than people expect.
- Find the item. Read the agenda on the city’s Agenda Center at methuen.gov and note where your issue sits.
- Show up early. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Searles Building, 41 Pleasant Street, and the agenda closes at noon that day.
- Say it plainly. Give your name, your street, the one thing you want, and why it matters to you.
- Cannot make it? Watch live on MCTV at methuentv.org and email your district councilor instead.
Sources
Methuen city government (methuen.gov). Verified July 2026.
Methuen election results (methuen.gov). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your Town or City Council
A local ordinance, the city or town budget, or a problem in your own ward or district. The real testimony happens at committee hearings rather than at the full council meeting.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.