Talk Over Tea

We're pulling this episode from the archive as Amesbury and other communities in our region initiate changes in community trash pickup. Kassandra and Claudel talk trash with Jason Mello of G. Mello Disposal and review trash and recycling pick up programs, changes in resident behavior, navigating the industry, costs, and more. Did we ask a question you’ve always had on your mind? What didn’t we ask...

Joined by Noah Berger, Administrator of MeVa, the Regional Transit Authority for the greater Merrimack Valley, Kassandra and Claudel learn with you about public transit in our neighborhoods. As MeVa celebrates their 50th Anniversary, they have raised the bar for service, gone fare free, increased ridership, adjusted fixed routes, grown staffing, and more in just the last few years. Listen to this...

Kassandra and Claudel have shared with you why diverse experiences help build good government and better communities. In this episode they will share how City Councilors reflecting on what they would need to support their civic engagement turned around and made that available for Amesbury residents during an important public meeting. How could you help make your community more family friendly?

The City of Amesbury developed a new brand for their voice and visual communications. Kassandra and Claudel will discuss the importance of an established brand and how it impacts the way stakeholders identify factual and authentic correspondence. In a time of information overload, cutting through the noise is a constant challenge. Hear from them about where they see value and where they struggle t...

It’s March Madness in the world of local and state government. Kassandra shares a piece of legislation making its way through Beacon Hill that’s important to cities and towns in Massachusetts. Since this episode was filmed a bill extending remote meeting laws has been approved, moving the expiration to 2027. Otherwise, tune in to hear more about the Municipal Empowerment Act (MEA) and the ways it...

In this episode Kassandra interviews Claudel. Take this opportunity to get to know a City Councilor in a new way. She keeps Claudel on his toes with questions that are personal and professional. Learn more about his habits, motivations, favorite things, and family recipes. Something you won’t find out about him on google… well, you’ll have to listen.

In this episode Kassandra and Claudel share stories about the places they’ve lived. Learn more about the cities they’ve lived in, what brought them there, and how their experience shaped their personal and professional life. 

Municipal officials across the Commonwealth have just returned from the annual Connect 351 Conference with Mass Municipal Association (MMA). Kassandra and Claudel will share conference highlights with you to give you a sense of what’s top of mind for leaders this year. Listen for keynote speakers worth a follow, why attending gets our elected officials and staff fired up, and how it benefits the c...

2025 is a local election year, consider this the first call for candidates. Deciding to run for office takes internal motivation, external encouragement, and a lot of logistics. In this episode Kassandra and Claudel will cover some of the reasons you might consider running for office and the challenges that keep many from getting involved. These are important considerations for candidates and for...

Kicking off the new year like you did, in this episode Kassandra and Claudel talk about tax bills. As another step in the annual budget process property values are certified and a tax rate is set in the fall so that January tax bills can be sent on time. Learn more about how bills and rates change, why New Growth makes a difference, and a little about split tax rates.

Claudel took the questions you submitted and got answers from the Mayor in their most casual conversation yet. This episode is full of unexpected laughs and opportunities to get to know Kassandra that you’ve never had before. Kassandra will cover everything from handling stress and criticism to where she finds inspiration. Claudel even asks her to break into a song… does she do it?

In this episode Kassandra and Claudel contemplate the challenges of building a government that meets your expectations. Can the system be data informed and built on a long term vision but also pragmatic and responsive to market conditions, current events, and opportunities? Our City is experiencing tremendous growth and with it comes growing pains but this push and pull is not new. Listen and drop...

One of the top priorities for municipal officials today is tackling the housing crisis. Massachusetts built approximately 900,000 new homes from 1960 to 1990 and half has many homes in the 30 years since. Seeing this as a production issue we can focus on increasing housing options to balance supply and demand. Cities and towns don’t typically build housing but they can create an environment that e...

They might not be as entertaining as a Schoolhouse Rock song but they’re breaking down the life of a Council Bill for you. Kassandra and Claudel share the ins and outs of navigating city council and making bills into laws at the local level. They’ll talk about when you can get involved and how. Admitting the distinctly unique schedule and process they also discuss opportunities for improving the p...

Kassandra gave Claudel homework to prepare for this listener request. Tune in and you can skip the homework but benefit from the lesson. Jeff Speck is a city planner who wrote the book Walkable City and he’s actually visited Amesbury. In this episode you’ll get a crash course on what makes a walkable city, how street design impacts driver behavior and placemaking principles. Kassandra and Claudel...

Kassandra and Claudel are members of the Partnership of Amesbury Community and Teens (PACT). PACT is a youth-centered substance prevention coalition that brings Amesbury teens and adults together to cooperatively address concerns that can lead to youth substance use. Together they foster a culture of empathy and understanding towards young people in the community. In this episode you’ll learn more...

Stick with us for one more episode about local budgets. Kassandra will break down how the characteristics and amenities in your community influence local receipts, or revenue, and what that means for your wallet. By comparing municipal budgets from different corners of the Commonwealth you’ll learn how to read the numbers and make informed decisions about what to expect from the city or town you l...

Now that you know where to find more information about what’s happening in your city or town, learn who is making those decisions. In this episode Kassandra and Claudel talk about the school and city budget process, state involvement in our budget, budget hearings with department heads, and your opportunity to get involved.

Everyone who pays taxes expects some level of service. Before you buy a house or move to a city or town do you research what services are provided by that municipality? Learn more from Kassandra and Claudel about what to look for and where to find that information.

Kassandra and Claudel talk about their professional backgrounds and shared experience in real estate. They’ll explore how it’s helped them transition to their elected positions in the City of Amesbury. As you listen, think about how your professional experience could help your city or town. Think about how you consider the experience of people running for office in your city or town. Do you look f...

In the first episode Kassandra and Claudel introduce themselves and tell you why they decided to join forces and start a podcast.