20230130 City Council Legal Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes Estelle M. Rand-Chair
Todd C. Rotondo
Brendan S. Sweeney
LEGAL AFFAIRS/CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, January 30, 2023, 7:OOPM
City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot St.
Rand called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Members present: Todd Rotondo, Brendan Sweeney, Estelle Rand
Other Councilors present: Hannah Bowen, Steven Crowley, Kathleen Feldman, Matthew St. Hilaire, Scott
Houseman
Others present: City Solicitor Stephanie Williams, City Council Budget Analyst Gerry Perry, Marilyn Contreas
from the Collins Center
Order Date to
Number Committee Description Action Taken
#276 11/14/2022 Mayor's response to Order 75A proposed amendments Approve (3-0)
to 1995 Beverly Home Rule Charter
Solicitor Williams-Regarding Order#276 Mayor's
#276A 12/20/2022 Edits Incorporated into Draft Charter Approved by the Receive and place on
City Council Order#75A file (3-0)
Councilor Bowen-A letter regarding Accessory
#282 11/14/2022 Dwelling Units Hold
#006 1/3/2023 City Clerk-Renewal Application for a lodging license Hold
for Garden City Residences, 490 Rantoul Street
City Clerk-Renewal Application for a lodging license
#007 1/3/2023 for Grigor Qirjazi, 32 Broadway Hold
City Clerk-Application for a New Lodging license for
#016 1/17/2023 278 Rantoul Street LLC, located at 278 Rantoul Street Hold
(new ownership)
Application for a renewal of a lodging license for
#017 1/17/2023 Turner Properties, Cabot Lodge 91-93 Cabot Street Hold
Discussion on Order#276
Perry spoke about the process and recommended adopting the mayor's proposal. No one individual is going to
agree with the whole document. There are several elements that will go to a referendum in the fall where the
residents will be allowed to decide. Perry expressed concern about time management. There will need to be
another vote on this, as well as a vote on the home rule petition to get it to the state so that it can be sent back
before the election. One of the things the state will look at is the vote of the council as a whole. If they see a 9-0
vote, it may go faster than if they see a 5-4 vote. Perry reiterated his recommendation to support the mayor's
proposals.
Contreas stated the last local step will be to approve the petition itself, which is the proposed legislation that
will go to the state and be filed. Then there is a hearing before the Committee on Municipalities and Regional
Government. The city will be notified of the date of the hearing. They do expect community officials to testify
or submit written testimony. If you want to get it on the November ballot, it would have to come out of the
governor's office by August.
Sweeney asked if the changes to Section 8-15 would be considered a substantive change.
Williams stated the mayor did not approve of 3-4, which would be a substantial change, so there would be a
renumbering of 8-15. Williams stated another change in this section would be that the notice would go to
human resources instead of the city clerk since it would be a personnel matter. If it was for an appointee of the
city council,the notice would go to human resources and then be forwarded to the city council president.
Sweeney asked Perry's perspective on the mayor wanting to strike 6-2.
Perry stated he agrees with the mayor on this one. Perry said in his own view it is a redundancy.
The motion to accept the mayor's modifications as proposed (Order#276) was made and seconded. A vote was
taken, and the motion passed(3-0).
The motion to receive Order#276A and place it on file was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the
motion passed (3-0).
The motion to adjourn Committee of the Whole was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion
passed(8-0).
The motion to adjourn Committee on Legal Affairs was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion
passed(3-0).
The meeting adjourned at 7:25pm.
Beverly City Council Committee on Legal Affairs Meeting Minutes—January 30,2023 page 2 of 2