City Council Minutes 01-04-2021/q 6
City of Beverly
City Council Regular Meeting
Public Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 4, 2021, 7pm
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 7:02pm over Google Meet.
City Clerk, Lisa Kent, took the attendance by roll call.
Members Present: Stacy Ames, Dominic Copeland, Kathleen Feldman, Timothy Flaherty (joined
meeting at 7:05pm), Julie Flowers, Scott Houseman, Estelle Rand, Todd Rotondo, Paul Guanci
Members Absent: None
Houseman 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
taken out of committee and voted on the floor. Kent took a roll call vote and the motion carried
(9 -0). Guanci read the guidelines for public hearings.
Old Business
Order #279 -A Comprehensive Master Plan of the City of Beverly
Darlene Wynne, Planning Director, presented on the master plan process and highlighted some
of the themes and principles of the master plan.
Cahill highlighted the community engagement during the process, the need for housing and
economic investment, and the idea of redeveloping existing parcels in order to protect existing
green space.
Rand asked about the map, noting that places in green for priority preservation areas are not
shoreline and asked why those areas are not included for preservation.
Wynne noted that the map is not the be all and end all. There are other restrictions where
coastline will be reserved. She stated she does not anticipate or predict any redevelopment on
any of the beaches, and there are recommendations in the plan to increase shoreline public
access.
Rand noted Ward 2 has a lot of overlay districts in it already, and she asked about the
opportunity zones for growth in the master plan and how those may play out and how they relate
to the overlay districts. Rand noted she was happy to see that targeted growth areas are spread
across the City.
Cahill noted the two largest target growth areas are Cherry Hill Industrial Park and the Dunham
and Otis Roads area along Brimbal Ave, including Sohier and Tozer. Those are the two
commercial industrial sectors along the highway. The others are mixed -use areas around transit,
some around the Depot, Enon Street in North Beverly, and there are some neighborhood
development opportunities around the other train stations.
Wynne noted the difference between the federal term for "opportunity zone" as part of an
existing program having to do with census blocks and the master plan's target growth areas.
Copeland asked about the values of the program versus the implementation, and as it goes along
if there is going to be a way to check back in. For example, with affordable housing, it might be
affordable for a year, but then things change. He asked if we are going to be able to look back
into these things.
Wynne stated there are a variety of different strategies in this plan; some of them can be
implemented from an administration or staff - level, and many of them are things that will require
City Council review and approval- zoning changes, funding allocations, and things like that. This
plan is really a road map to start from, and there will be opportunities for city councilors and
community members to check in as we develop those strategies. This has to be a fluid document.
Feldman thanked Ms. Wynne and Mayor Cahill for the work put into this. She talked about the
interesting opportunity she had to participate in the master plan process as a resident before she
started on the Council. She wanted to reinforce the idea that the Council will continue to have a
part of this process and a say in it on behalf of constituents.
Flowers echoed the thanks for the work that has gone into this and the public process. She noted
the focus on transit - oriented development and being a multimodal community and asked how we
as a City imagined what the impact on our plan may be due to current MBTA cutback and if we
envision the way that as a City we may offer supplemental public transit, probably not to Boston,
but around our community.
Cahill said there's a little bit to the question. He noted the time he served on MBTA's Rail
Vision Advisory Committee and the group unanimously recommended a full electrification and
station rebuild of the whole system, which would be a 20 -25 year project. He stated that it's a
real critical piece of the region remaining economically vibrant and relevant, and there's the need
to address transportation holistically. When looking at a transit system, it's really important that
people are able to walk to more, not all, of their needs and commuting for their education,
healthcare, and work.
Flowers asked if we as a City imagine thinking creatively about what kind of supplemental
public transportation we want to offer. If things are slowed down with the MBTA, how could we
supplement some of that? She mentioned bike share programs and that Salem has their own ride
share program now.
Cahill stated there was talk about a bike share pre - Covid. The North Shore region went in on an
RFP for a bike share; we got the bids back and then Covid hit. Nobody wanted to do a bike share
unless they could do a scooter share, and nobody was willing to respond on bikes unless they
were electric- boosted bikes. We got a grant to do a study of the mobility hub at Beverly Depot
where we would put resources together from there- walking routes, our bus route coming
through town, bike share, scooter share, Zipcar availability- a range of things right near the
Depot. It's going to come back around; a lot of things are on pause. Some things might come
after some of the transit improvements as opposed to before. For example, there is going to come
a day when it will work financially to run a shuttle bus from North Shore Community College in
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — January 4, 2021, page 2 of 7
Danvers through downtown Danvers right into downtown Beverly. These are things we have to
figure out, how to finance them, subsidize them, and make them work. The question is how
much can we do in advance of commuter rail transit improvements and how much will follow
on.
Houseman echoed thanks for all the work that has gone into this nearly two year long process.
He has not finished going through the plan and won't be ready to take a vote one way or another
tonight and hopes the Council can continue the discussion at their next meeting. He observed that
the plan makes reference to the fact that growth in the City is necessary because it provides
revenue that the City needs to pay for high quality schools and services. He said at times he
would say the City is addicted to new growth structurally, fiscally, in order to be able to provide
those kinds of services that people expect from us and he feels somewhat conflicted about it. He
understands the pressing need for that revenue, but given his experience with development in the
City, there can be a lot of sensitivity around development issues. There is a tension around
development and the opportunity for it and the resistance that sometimes comes from change. He
said one of the things he is really focusing on in a deep dive into the master plan is trying to
weigh the tension between those two things. He asked what is envisioned regarding priority
growth areas along the Cabot Street corridor and what that means in terms of retaining the
character that is important to most Beverly residents about the way Cabot Street is presently.
Cahill stated the design guidelines are going to undergo significant updating.
Wynne noted priority growth areas don't always mean changes in density that are significant.
There are ways to grow and redevelop that may maintain a similar scale, structure, look and feel.
One of the strategies for the downtown zoning in particular is to distinguish better between
Cabot Street and Rantoul Street- what the parameters should be of what those streets look like
when future development is proposed. Maybe Cabot Street should not have the same height
limits that Rantoul Street does. She recommended looking at the way the CC zoning district is
worded and simplifying that in a way that can better get what we want, because the best zoning
tells somebody exactly what we want to see. The design and the look and feel for buildings is
very important in that nature. There are opportunities for commercial and mixed use growth
along both Rantoul Street and Cabot Street corridors, but they might look very different, and it's
important to calibrate that correctly for us.
Cahill noted that when looking at Cabot Street, the height zoning there currently is 55 feet, but
you wouldn't think so based on what you see. There are a couple of parcels to look at together.
One is the Dollar Store building, and the Archdiocese is looking at what to do next with St.
Mary's School and Convent. There's work to be done together on how we proceed there.
Houseman noted that the development behind the old Casa de Moda building is very sort of
design - specific that helps retain the character of Cabot Street and this new growth. No matter
how well written the zoning ordinance or master plan is, there will be a lot of room for
interpretation as you go along. It's important to make sure that we are all comfortable not only
with the general scope of the master plan but also some of the more detailed aspects of what's
there.
Flaherty thanked the mayor and Darlene Wynne for the work put into this. He said he wished the
Council was more involved as a city body in the process of making the master plan. He noted the
difference between the Walgreens, which would fit in any state and doesn't fit the character of
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — January 4, 2021, page 3 of 7
the community, and CVS who worked with the City when it was built and looks like it fits in
Beverly. He said that we need to strengthen the design review guidelines so in twenty years you
can look back and say the City fits the character of the community. We're not going to be here
forever; the document is going to be a blueprint.
Rotondo thanked Mrs. Wynne and the mayor for visiting Apple Village soon after he was
elected. He thanked them for their work on the master plan and for including some of the
neighborhoods that will be affected by the mobility part of this document.
Ames thanked them for the long hours put towards this project. She asked about the long term
fiscal picture that this plan will bring, speaking to Councilor Houseman's comment in terms of
revenue generations and how this plan, in terms of the development and public services that will
be required, will impact the City budget next year, in 10 years, and so on.
Cahill stated that the areas that have been zoned historically as commercial /industrial are largely
kept in that way. They hope to bring forward a plan on the Bass River and are looking to provide
some redevelopment opportunities. One of the priorities is to try to facilitate investment in
different sectors of the economy so to not be overly dependent on one sector; there is a pretty
good cross section already. In one of the studies that was done during the process, they found
that more people commute into Beverly on a daily basis than commute out, which spoke in a
positive way to the City's economic health and vibrancy. Looking ahead, the balance in what is
put together on the economic development front lends itself to that health continuing.
Wynne noted in terms of looking at development, they wanted to discourage development on
open and untouched areas both for preservation and because those areas aren't already served by
city infrastructure services like water, sewer and electricity. There are studies that show that
transit - oriented development has a significantly lower cost to a city, so it's a fiscally sound
investment in terms of that aspect. Beverly is a Housing Choice community, which is a program
through the Governor's Office, and one of the grants Beverly had the opportunity to receive was
to create a fiscal impact model tool. They recently got the final product, which is a proprietary
database that was built. That will be a tool to be able to basically input development projects into
and figure out on a case by case basis what the impact to City services is. It's something that will
be implemented along with the master plan.
Ames stated that blue jobs, blue companies are really important to the City's future. She
expressed her concern with the plight of those neighborhoods between Cabot and Rantoul and
the ability to maintain the character in those neighborhoods, and even over by Gloucester
Crossing, without too much gentrification and the ability to keep many of those neighborhoods at
a price point that is more working class and where you can have a hopefully more diverse group
of people living there. She pointed out that Salem just started a program to give some tax relief
to seniors who have been in their homes for ten years, and stated she would love to create
something like that here. Homeowners are saying that taxes are pricing them out of the City. She
asked what would be the public process for zoning changes, for really making sure they are
zoning changes that will be productive for the people who live in those neighborhoods now and
for the City as a whole, because that is something that councilors and the people living the
neighborhoods would really like to have a solid say in.
Cahill said they can discuss the opportunities for seniors. About zoning changes, any zoning
change has got to be voted by the Council or it doesn't become effective. There's a joint public
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — January 4, 2021, page 4 of 7
hearing, Planning Board will consider and make a recommendation, but even before that they
would anticipate a community conversation. He stated they would look for conversations and
input ahead of time so the products coming to the Council are even further vetted.
Rand noted that her goal is to use this document as a guide to talking to constituents and to
prepare constituents to be ready to participate in the public processes.
Feldman asked how this can be shared effectively.
Wynne noted it is on the website as of today.
Guanci thanked those that worked on the project.
Cahill thanked Aaron who was the Planning Director before Mrs. Wynne, and they were very
lucky that she was here to continue the work.
Houseman said he did not want to take a vote this evening.
Copeland echoed some of the sentiments of Councilor Houseman and said he would like to have
another meeting to come back with questions.
Guanci said his intention was to hold it until the next meeting on January 19th.
Rotondo moved to hold. Houseman seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(9 -0).
Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meetings: December 17, 2020
Houseman moved to approve. Flowers seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (9 -0).
Communications from His Honor the Mayor
Order # 284 - Grant- $1,400 from Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) for
Parks and Recreation staff certification training in 2021
Catherine Barrett, Director of Grants, spoke on the grant stating that it was delayed from last
year because the training was cancelled due to Covid.
Houseman moved to approve. Flowers seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion
carried (9 -0).
Order #285- Appointment- Ms. Chelsea Zakas as Planning Department representative on the
Design Review Board
Referred to Committee on Legal Affairs.
Order #286 - Reappointments- Mary Behrle, 21 Cobblers Lane; Kevin O'Reilly, 6 Mason Street;
Margaret Altman, 114 Water Street; Myron Shirer- Suter, 12 Munroe Street; Marshall Handly, 6
Clark Avenue; and Ivy Mahan, 38 Crescent Avenue as Trustees of the Beverly Public Library
Referred to Committee on Public Services.
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — January 4, 2021, page 5 of 7
Order #287 - Reappointments- Victoria Burke Caldwell, 7 Bancroft Avenue and James
Lavasseur, 27 Pershing Avenue to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Referred to Committee on Legal Affairs.
Order #288 - Reappointments- Susan Gabriel, 26 Dartmouth Street; Richard Dinkin, 93 Bridge
Street; and Michael P. Cahill, Mayor as Trustees on the Beverly Affordable Housing Trust
Referred to Committee on Finance and Property.
Order #289 - Reappointment- William Lowd, 18 Pierson Street, to the Beverly Golf and Tennis
Commission
Referred to Committee on Public Services.
*LATE FILE* Order #294 - Lease- 10 -year lease with Highland Electric Transportation for
$26,000 per year for electric school bus
Houseman moved to accept the late file. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the
motion carried (9 -0).
Cahill said this is a longer lease than usual. The school department had been leasing -to -own
diesel buses, and he is working on making the transition away from gas and diesel transportation
fleets. There is a big delta right now between a diesel, which can cost $85,000, and an EV, which
is around $330,000. Part of that is because the scale of production isn't there yet and the cost of
the batteries. The City wouldn't be doing it this year if it wasn't for a partner at Highland
Electric having sought and secured grants to help meet the gap. He noted their model of
charging, storing, and selling clean electricity to the grid when the buses are parked and not in
use. The idea is not to try to transition the whole fleet this way, but the hope is to begin the
process to learn about the performance of the EVs and be at the forefront regionally and
statewide.
Rotondo asked about the lease term and what the traditional term on a diesel bus is.
Cahill stated the diesel leases have been five years and at the end of five years the City owns the
bus. That is not the case with these leases; the City won't own at the end of the lease, but on the
flip side they have far lower maintenance costs and will save money significantly over time on
fueling.
Rotondo asked who is responsible for the maintenance.
Barrett stated the only things that would really need to be replaced or fixed are the windshield
wipers and tires, so the maintenance costs are extremely low. Highland Electric is responsible for
the charging, the software updates, and the maintenance over the term of the lease.
Houseman asked for a chart or checklist to provide what the administration is going to use to
monitor relative to diesel to track the experience with this vehicle.
Cahill said they could get that information to the council.
Feldman asked about the difference in cost of this compared to an annual diesel lease payment.
Cahill said it is calculated to be the same.
Houseman asked for a term sheet comparing the two contracts between the diesel and EV bus.
Beverly 00 Council Meeting Minutes — January 4, 2021, page 6 of 7
Ames asked for a solid number on a diesel bus to put it in perspective.
Rotondo asked if it is traditional with leasing buses for it to be typically on the school -side or
city -side budget.
Cahill stated lease to own diesels have been in the school budget; he committed to them the EV
ones would be carried on the city side.
Referred to Committee on Finance and Property.
Communications, from other City Officers and Boards
Order #291 - Budget Analyst -FY21 Tax Rate Approval
Flowers moved to receive and place on file. Rotondo seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and
the motion carried (9 -0).
Order #292 - Council President - Dominic Copeland to Committee on Legal Affairs and Scott
Houseman as Chair of Committee on Legal Affairs
Feldman moved to approve. Rand seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(9 -0).
Order #293 - Councilor Copeland - Sinkholes in Beverly Farms
Guanci referred to Committee on Public Services and asked the City Clerk to make sure
Commissioner Collins gets a copy and is invited to the meeting on January 19th.
Communications, Applications and Petitions
Order #290 - Petition - National Grid Plan # 29496588 Install 55 Feet of 1 -3 inch PVC conduit
between intersection of Hale Street and East Corning Street
Houseman moved to set the public hearing for January 19 at 7:15pm. Flowers seconded. A roll
call vote was taken, and the motion carried (9 -0).
Reports of Committees
Committee on Legal Affairs
Order #280- Appointment - Constable -Mr. Christian Rivera, 9 Williams Street, Roxbury
Houseman motioned to approve. Feldman seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the
motion carried (9 -0).
Rotondo motioned to adjourn. Rand seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried
(9 -0). The meeting adjourned at 9:1Opm.
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes — January 4, 2021, page 7 of 7