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City Council Minutes 06-29-2020Beverly City Council June 29, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 6 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: City Council SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: June 29, 2020 LOCATION: Held virtually over Google Meet MEMBERS PRESENT: President Paul Guanci, Tim Flaherty, Julie Flowers, Todd Rotondo, Stacy Ames, Estelle Rand, Scott Houseman, Kathleen Feldman, and John Frates MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor Michael Cahill, Finance Director Bryant Ayles, Budget Analyst Gerry Perry, Planning Director Darlene Wynne, City Planner Emily Hutchings RECORDER: Sarah Scott- Nelson President Guanci confirms member access and calls the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. over Google Meet. Lisa Kent takes the roll, finding that all members are present. Stacy Ames - Yes Todd Rotondo - Yes Estelle Rand - Yes Tim Flaherty - Yes Julie Flowers - Yes Scott Houseman - Yes John Frates - Yes Kathleen Feldman - Yes President Paul Guanci - Yes Houseman leads the Council in the pledge of allegiance. Guanci suggests suspending riles temporarily so that they can hear from Gerry Perry about what Houseman has been working on in regards to municipal aggregation before the public hearing at 6:15 p.m. A�>'o President Paul Guanci reads the introduction to the virtual meeting due to the state of emergency caused by COVID -19, stating that the meeting will be recorded and streamed live. The Council takes a roll call vote to move out of subcommittee voting to the full Council. Stacy Ames - Yes Todd Rotondo - Yes Estelle Rand - Yes Tim Flaherty - Yes Julie Flowers - Yes Scott Houseman - Yes John Frates - Yes Kathleen Feldman - Yes President Paul Guanci - Yes Beverly City Council June 29, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 PUBLIC HEARINGS #138 - Petition Axis Group -Sam Fonzo Drive Guanci calls to order the public hearing on #138 Petition Axis Group -Sam Fonzo Drive. Kent reads the order. Shelly Cullen, with Axis Engineering, states that Crown Castle is requesting a grant of location to excavate between an existing electric manhole onto private property in order to bring fiberoptic onto that address. Feldman asks if any work needs to be done on the road. Cullen clarifies that all the work will take place underground. Guanci closes the Public Hearing, refers the matter back to the full City Council, and asks for a roll call vote to approve. Stacy Ames - Yes Todd Rotondo - Yes Estelle Rand - Yes Tim Flaherty - Yes Julie Flowers - Yes Scott Houseman - Yes John Frates - Yes Kathleen Feldman - Yes President Paul Guanci - Yes Houseman clarifies that he is not asking for a vote on this resolution this evening, but has asked Gerry Perry to speak on further details. Perry states that this resolution would help to reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions, allows more choices in terms of energy providers for the residents of Beverly, comes at no extra cost to Beverly residents, can save residents' money, and serve as an economic stimulus for the city. Perry states that he does not see a downside to this proposal, but sees many benefits from it, particularly in the long term and as it would benefit the environment, and urges the Council to consider this resolution. Perry gives more details on the Sustainability Director position. Flaherty expresses his support for the resolution, but also some concern about next year's budget and about finding someone to fill the position, and suggests collaborating with some neighboring cities. Houseman comments that there are residents in Beverly with experience and talent which would benefit the city as it seeks to fill this role. Mayor Cahill thanks the Council for its progress and work on this topic and expresses his support for this resolution, whether immediately or in the future. Catherine Barrett states that she would like to have the position funded, ideally with a three year position, but states several options for phasing in the cost of the position overtime to ease the transition for the city. Guanci states that several members would like to speak about elections and asks Ames to begin. Ames comments on the recently purchased poll pads' method of scanning IDs and that this technology has had issues in the past and that a back -up plan should be put in place. Deborah Collabro comments that the system relies heavily on the Apple hardware system, but lacks security details in some other aspects. Collabro asks the Council if they have a fall -back system in case the system fails. Houseman comments that allowance for mail -in voting is also moving forward. Beverly City Council June 29, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HIS HONOR THE MAYOR #141 -Grant $107,355 /year to find a Municipal Assistance Coordinator in the Northeast District 2 for a three year term Kent Reads order. Houseman asks if this is a similar position as that which already exists or if it is a different kind of position. Catherine Barrett clarifies that it is the already existing position. Housman moves to approve the order. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 8 -0. #142-Grant-9,000 from MassDOT Aeronautics to support ADA access into the building. (A reduction of 1000 dollars from Previous Order #126 -2020) Houseman moves to approve the order. Seconded by Rand. The motion carries 8 -0. Councilor Flaherty has lost connection. #143 -Hale House Preservation Restriction Kent reads the order. Mayor Cahill agrees but first asks Emily Hutchings to speak more about the order. Houseman moves to approve the order. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 8 -0. #152-Grant-$8,000 MPPF Grant for the Powder House Houseman moves to accept the late file on order #152 for Mayor Cahill. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 8 -0. Ames moves to approve the Mayor's request and accept the grant. Seconded by Rand. The motion carries 9 -0. #153 -Loan Authorization to facilitate the ordering of a new ladder truck (set P/H July 13th Rand moves to accept the late file from Mayor Cahill on order #152. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 8 -0. Guanci reads the order. Rotondo moves to set a public hearing for July 13, 2020 at 7:15 p.m. Seconded by Ames. The motion carries 9 -0. COMMUNICATIONS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS AND BOARDS #144 -City Clerk- Renewals of Petroleum Licenses (List attached) (will only issue inspections completed and approved l Kent reports that due to COVID -19, the inspections are still slowly coming in. Guanci paraphrases Kent's letter. Houseman moves to approve Miss Kent's request. Seconded by Ames. The motion carries 9 -0. Beverly City Council June 29, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 LATE FILE - #151- Reappoint David Alden- St.Pierre to represent Ward 5 Open Space & Recreation Flowers moves to accept the late files for Councilor Feldman and then order #151. Seconded by Rand. The motion carries 9 -0. Kent reads the order. Feldman explains the reappointment order. Houseman moves to approve Councilor Feldman's request. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 9 -0. #145- Second Hand Junk Dealer License - hardwired Rescue, 6 Broadway Kent reads the order. Ames moves to approve as it is a renewal. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 9 -0. #146 - Petition from National Grid plan # 29527209 - Replacing direct buried underground electric cables Conant Street Kent reads the order. Houseman moves to set a public hearing from Monday, July 13, 2020 at 7:05 p.m. Seconded by Flowers. The motion carries 9 -0. #147 - Second Hand Junk Dealer Lisence -Lena Nargain Ga11ery,130 Cabot Street. Kent reads the order. Houseman moves to renew the order. Seconded by Ames. The motion carries 9 -0. #148 - Hawkers & Peddlers License -Joes on a roll 61 Federal Street. (will only issue with approval of Chief LeLacheur) Kent notes that the order will not be approved until the Chief has reviewed and approved it. Guanci refers to the order to the Committee on Legal Affairs. #149 - Hawkers & Peddlers License -Fast Food & Casual 112 Corning Street. will only issue with approval of Chief LeLacheurl and #150 -Food Truck -Fast Food and Casual, 112 Corning Street will only issue with approval of Chief LeLacheurl Kent notes that the order will not be approved until the Chief has reviewed and approved it. Guanci refers #149 and 150 to the Committee on Legal Affairs, and invites Sue Gabriel to give a background on the application for the food truck. Guanci conforms that action will be taken on this on July 6, 2020. PUBLIC HEARING 7.15PM #110 - Special Permit Application, Briscoe Village, LLC Kent reads the order. Flowers recused herself from the hearing and subsequent vote. Darlene Wynne provides a brief introduction to the purchase and repuiposing of the Briscoe Village. Beverly City Council June 29, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Mayor Michael Cahill addresses the need for affordable senior housing and his support for the order. Guanci invites Miranda Gooding to begin the presentation for this project. Gooding notes that the school building will be preserved and repurposed for housing. The intersection at the edge of the turf bowl will be restructured and the turf bowl will be preserved but remodeled. A new access drive will be constructed to provide better access to the parking lot as well as to the recreational fields. Gooding discusses the special permit requirements for the project. Andrew Defranza discusses the provision of affordable senior housing with services to allow residents to maintain their independence for as long as possible. Defranza also notes the intention to preserve the historical aspects of the location, including preserving the theatre, as well as the preservation of the location's open space. Flaherty asks how many jobs will be created by this project. Defrnza states around half a dozen permanent jobs for property management, a large spike in construction jobs for about a year, as well as other employees which will not be employed by the site. Samasskou explains the parking lot design, prioritizing walking and biking while still maintaining adequate parking. Samasskou then explains the layout of the building conversion as well as the changes to historic windows and doors. Rebecca Brown covers the parking and traffic highlights, including the reduction of daily traffic from location use as a middle school to the of a senior housing facility. In terms of sustainability, electric car chargers will be available on the facility as well. Rotondo asks about the rental of several parking spaces to a used car dealership and as to the size of the sign son property. Darlene Wynne comments that these spaces should be the property of the location owner. Samasskou comments that the signs will likely be between four to six feet in size. In response to Houseman's question, Brown clarifies that the traffic signal is currently unable to sense whether traffic is present, and the city is working on repairing the traffic cycle loops for this light. Defranza clarifies that the City Council's approval is the last step in the approval process for this project. In response to Ames' question, Defranza clarifies the three main methods for the public to ask questions about the project. Deframza also states that they are requesting $700,000 from the Community Preservation Committee, $200,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust which are both local funds, and federal funds for $100,000 from the City's Federal Home Allocation. Gooding summarizes the presentation and asks for the Council's approval. Darlene Wynne suggests the motion's phrasing. Guanci, Gooding, and Houseman discuss whether to make the motion today or refer the matter to the Committee on Legal Affairs and wait until July 6, 2020. Houseman moves that the City Council approve order #110 application for special permit for residential reuse of former public building Briscoe Village for the living and the arts 7 Sohier Road, Broscow Village LLC, by incorporating by reference the text of the document consisting of proposed findings, proposed vote, and special permit conditions that was emailed to the City Council by Planning Director Darlene Wynne on June 27, 2020. Seconded by Rand. The motion carries 8 -0. Beverly City Council June 29, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 Kent reads reports from committees, order #134. Houseman moves to approve. The motion carries 9 -0. Kent reads order #133 about the Human Rights Committee. Ames moves to approve. Seconded by Rand. The motion carries 9 -0. Kent reads order #135. Houseman moves to waive the residency requirement and approve the appointment. Seconded by Rand. the motion carries 9 -0. Kent reads order #132. Houseman moves to approve. Seconded by Ames. the motion carries 9 -0. ADJOURNMENT Houseman moves to adjourn at 9:02 p.m. Seconded by Ames. Kent takes the roll, finding that all members are present. Stacy Ames - Yes Todd Rotondo - Yes Estelle Rand - Yes Tim Flaherty - Yes Julie Flowers - Yes Scott Houseman - Yes John Frates - Yes Kathleen Feldman - Yes President Paul Guanci - Yes The motion carries 9 -0. The next regular meeting of the Council is Tuesday, July 7, 2020, held virtually over Google Meet rather than Monday because of the holiday at City hall.