City Council Minutes 09-08-2020 (2)City of Beverly
City Council Meeting
Public Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
This meeting was conducted under the `Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the
Open Meeting Law G.L. c.30A, §20', signed on March 12, 2020. This remote meeting was held
over Google Meet and live streamed by BevCam. Public access information for the hearings was
provided on the meeting agenda.
Paul Guanci, City Council President, called the meeting to order at 7:00pm over Google Meet.
City Clerk, Lisa Kent, took the attendance by roll call.
Members Present: Stacy Ames, Kathleen Feldman, Timothy Flaherty, John Frates, Estelle Rand,
Paul Guanci, Todd Rotondo
Members Absent: Julie Flowers, Scott Houseman
Also Present: Director of Grants Catherine Barrett, Planning Director Darlene Wynne, Finance
Director Bryant Ayles
Rand led the councilors in the pledge of allegiance.
Guanci made a statement about the meeting being recorded by the City of Beverly and streamed
by BevCam on channel 99 and BevCam's YouTube channel. He confirmed that all members
present could hear him and noted the remote meeting format and process due to Covid -19.
Guanci read Rule 22 of the Beverly City Council. He introduced a vote to allow items to be
voted on the floor as opposed to referring them out to subcommittee. Kent took a roll call vote
and the motion carried (7 -0).
Guanci reviewed the process for virtual meetings and hearings, including having those present
state in the chat window when they would like to speak, muting themselves when not speaking,
and speaking clearly for the minutes. He asked that those speaking state their name and
affiliation at the beginning and keep within the three minutes.
Resolution
Order #194 - Beverly Police Department
Guanci stated he would entertain a motion to hold #194 until the next meeting. Moved by
Rotondo. Seconded by Ames. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried (7 -0).
Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meetings: July 13, 2020 and AuLyust 24, 2020
Rand moved to approve. Seconded by Rotondo. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2020, page 1 of 5
Communications from His Honor the Mayor
Order #183 - Grant - National Urban Search and Rescue Response System grant from Emergency
Management Task Force for $1,211,631 from the US Department of Homeland Security and
FEMA.
Catherine Barrett, Director of Grants, spoke on the item stating that this grant is brought in each
year by a team lead by Mark Foster and thanks to his team for securing this important funding
this year.
Ames motioned to approve. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Order #184- Grant - $62,535 Green Communities grant from MA Department of Energy
Resources. These will be used for HVAC improvements at Cove and Hannah Schools
Barrett said this grant is annual and led by Mike Collins and the engineering team. The HVAC
improvements under this grant will only be done at Cove School.
Rand asked that the captions be turned on for the meeting.
Ames asked about efficiency and the cleanliness of the air and requested a little more detail on
what this was funding.
Barrett said Mike is the expert, and these types of improvements have been done on other
elementary schools. She said she could get more information. It is finishing up a multi -year
project to renovate the HVAC at the elementary schools, and Cove and Hannah are remaining to
finish this fall.
Ames moved to approve. Feldman seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(7 -0).
Order #185 - Appointment -Mr. Paul Goodwin, 26 Michael Road to serve on Human Rights
Committee.
Referred to Committee on Legal Affairs.
Order #186- Reappointments - Open Space & Recreation Committee -Mr. Charlie Mann, Mr.
Gregory Sharp, and Mr. Todd Callaghan
Referred to Committee on Public Services
Order #187 - Subordination agreement for the property owned by Lisa and Michael Curtis at 20
Cressy Street.
Kent noted that the order should be #187 all the way through the document, not #188. Guanci
asked Planning Director Darlene Wynne if she had any comments. Wynne noted that the City
had previously approve a subordination agreement in 2009 for this exact property. The City does
not typically subordinate loans if someone is taking equity out, but they have done it in the case
of refinancing. The loan to equity ratio is very good in this case so the risk is lower for the City
in terms of if they were to default. She is fairly comfortable recommending this one.
Guanci confirmed with Wynne that the bottom line is when they sell the house, they owe the
City $5,500 plus interest.
Ames motioned to approve. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2020, page 2 of 5
Order #188- Reappointinent -Labor Representative on the Beverly Housing Authority Board, Mr.
Bruce Abbott
Referred to Committee on Public Services
Order #197- Late File- Grant -From Department of Housing & Community Development -
utilized to address emergency needs in light of the Covid -19 Pandemic.
Ames motioned to accept the late file from Mayor Cahill Order #197. Rotondo seconded. A roll
call vote was taken, and the motion carried (7 -0).
Barrett apologized for the late file, stating that the deadline is September 28, and they didn't
think the next Council meeting on September 21 would allow time.
Wynne noted that the City will not see the money; it will be paid directly from Mass Growth
Capital Corporation to businesses. There will be a lottery system for the application period for
businesses who qualify. The City will be able to review who has applied. Businesses can get up
to $10,000. By not doing first come first serve, it gives a wider berth of businesses the
opportunity to participate and apply. There are a number of criteria, and the application will be
online.
Rotondo said he will need to recuse himself as he is a business owner who would participate in
the grant application. Rotondo left the meeting.
Ames asked how it will be publicized.
Wynne stated it was tweeted and put on facebook this afternoon through the Mayor's page.
Wynne will send an email to Main Streets, the chambers, anyone on the business list. There will
be a press release going out.
Ames suggested the Patch, newspapers, and the local radio station. Ames highlighted that is a
grant, not a loan that needs to be repaid, and asked about restrictions on where it can be spent.
Wynne noted that there are some restrictions that were set by CDBG. Businesses will need to
have under five employees, have been opened for a certain amount of time, a certain income, etc.
Mass Growth Capital will help people fill out the application. Certain businesses are excluded
like alcohol sales, firearm sales, marijuana retailers, real estate, etc. Wynne noted that the
deadline was September 25, but they are trying to push it out a couple more days.
Ames motioned to approve. Rand seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(6 -0, Rotondo recused himself).
Public Hearinl4s
7:20 PM Order #180- National Grid Petition —Plan # 29850210- Hillside Ave and Bridge Street
At 7:30pm Guanci called the public hearing to order.
Michael Byrne represented National Grid and gave a summary of the project.
Rotondo returned to the meeting.
Ames motioned to approve. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
7:30 PM Order #168 - Transfer from FY2021 reserve for unforeseen account in the amount of
$150,000 -11 Charles Street
Guanci called the public hear at 7:32pm.
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2020, page 3 of 5
Bryant Ayles, Finance Director, spoke on the item. He said a contractor could not complete the
project, and the funds approved in March effectively expired as of June 30 and the money would
go into free cash which would be certified later this year.
Ames asked if a final quote was received for this.
Ayles stated that if the bid is lower than the money appropriated, the money can be returned to
the general fund at a later date.
Guanci closed the public hearing.
Ames motioned to approve. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Communications from Other City Officers and Boards
Order #190 - Community Preservation Committee- Proposed CPA Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
Guanci moved to set the public hearing for September 21 at 7:30pm. Seconded by Ames. A roll
call vote was taken, and the motion carried (7 -0).
Order #191- Community Preservation Committee - Recommendation for (out of cycle) funding
for Briscoe Village for Living and the Arts.
Rand moved to set the public hearing for September 21 at 7:25pm. Seconded by Rotondo. A roll
call vote was taken, and the motion carried (7 -0).
Guanci confirmed Wynne would be available September 21.
Order #192 - Council President- Appointment letter- Elected Salary Commission -Ms. Rebecca
Beckman, 5 Penny Lane
Ames motioned to approve. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Order # - 193 - Council Vice President Rand - Reappointment- Marilyn McCrory, 2 Lovett Court as
Ward 2 Representative of the Open Space and Recreation
Feldman motioned to approve. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Order # 4182 -City Clerk -Order #179 was a duplicate. Please approve Order #179- Hawkers &
Peddlers, Romaine Price to change to Order #182
Rand motioned to approve. Ames seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(7 -0).
Communications, Applications, and Petitions
Order #195 - Application- Second Hand Junk Dealers License Application- Alina Rudneira,
WKND LLC., 261 Cabot Street
Referred to Committee on Legal Affairs. Guanci asked Kent to make sure she can attend on
September 21st.
Order #196 -Late File- Application for Hawkers & Peddlers License Anthony LeBlanc -Food
truck Cheese Please!
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2020, page 4 of 5
Ames motioned to accept the late file on Order #196. Rand seconded. A roll call vote was taken,
and the motion carried (7 -0).
Rotondo motioned to approve. Feldman seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Motions and Orders
Order # 174 - An Ordinance Amendment Vehicles and Traffic Section 240 -41 "Parking
Prohibited at all times"
Kent read the legal order. The first reading was tonight, September 8, 2020 and final passage will
be Monday, October 5, 2020. It was in the newspaper on August 28.
Rotondo motioned to approve. Feldman seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Reports of Committees
Committee on Legal Affairs
Order #182- Application- Hawkers & Peddlers, Romaine Price
Houseman spoke to Sue Gabriel and is okay with approval now.
Ames motioned to approve. Rand seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(7 -0).
Order #181- Appointment -Human Rights Committee -Abu Toppin
Rotondo motioned to approve. Ames seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Committee on Public Services
Order #170 - Reappointment Constable Douglas Vigliotta, 9 Deerhaven Road.
Rotondo motioned to approve. Ames seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (7 -0).
Guanci asked if there were any last comments or questions before the meeting ended.
Rand congratulated the Clerk's Office for a job well done on early voting and the primary
election. Guanci echoed the comments.
Ames motioned to adjourn. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(7 -0). The meeting adjourned at 7:49pm.
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — September 8, 2020, page 5 of 5