City Government
Northampton City Council
About the Council
Nine people hold the power of the purse in Northampton, and two of them answer to you no matter which street you live on. The city is divided into seven wards, each holding an equal number of voters, and each ward elects its own councilor. Two more councilors are elected at large by the whole city. Terms run two years, short enough that every councilor faces the voters again almost as soon as the work begins. The Council is the city’s legislative body under Article 2 of the charter: the Mayor submits the budget, but the Council is the body that adopts it, and it hires an independent auditor every year to examine the city’s books.
- Sets policy and law by adopting ordinances and resolutions.
- Controls the money by adopting the budget, approving non-scheduled appropriations, and approving the city’s tax rates.
- Checks the Mayor by approving appointments to the city’s multi-member boards and commissions.
Council Members
Seven councilors each represent a single ward, and two are elected at large by every Northampton voter. The Council elects its own President and Vice President to run its meetings. For the term sworn in on January 5, 2026, that is Rachel Maiore of Ward 7 as President and Deborah L. Klemer of Ward 2 as Vice President.
Gwenevra Lodi Nabad
Deborah L. Klemer
Laurie Loisel
Jeremy Dubs
Aline Davis
Christopher Caleb Stratton
Rachel Maiore
Margaret Robbins
Garrick M. Perry
Every councilor’s own phone and email are published on the city’s City Council page, or call the Council office at 413-587-1210.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., except July and August, when the Council meets once a month. Special meetings are posted on the city calendar.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in the city’s Agenda Center at northamptonma.gov.
- Public comment: every regular meeting begins with a public comment period, and any member of the public can address the Council for two minutes on any matter.
- Committees: much of the detailed work happens in four standing committees of four councilors each: Finance, Legislative Matters, City Services, and Community Resources. Most meet monthly.
- Office hours: the Council holds office hours on the first and third Wednesday of the month, 10 a.m. to noon.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.