20231030 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes RECEIVED'
City of Beverly CITY G l_ _ --
Regular City Council Meeting `
Public Meeting Minutes 10A JAN -9 A U 3 8
Monday, October 30,2023,7:OOpm
City Council Chambers, 191 Cabot St.
Julie Flowers, City Council President, called the meeting to order at 7:OOpm. City Clerk,Lisa
Kent,took attendance by roll call.
Members Present: Hannah Bowen, Steven Crowley, Kathleen Feldman, Scott Houseman,
Brendan Sweeney, Estelle Rand,Todd Rotondo,Matthew St. Hilaire, Julie Flowers
Members Absent: None
St. Hilaire led the pledge of allegiance.
A moment of silence was held for the families of those killed and injured in Lewiston,Maine this
past week.
Comments by Citizens
Lisa Searle, Ben Searle, Justin Freedman
Justin Freedman, 8 Thomas Rd., spoke on behalf of himself and neighbors to urge the City of
Beverly to construct sidewalks along Boyle Street and Cross Lane. These streets have become
increasingly dangerous over the past few years. There has been increased traffic due to increases
in development and population. These streets are narrow and curvy and are major roads that
connect large sections of Beverly. Freedman stated he and neighbors have gathered nearly 200
signatures from concerned residents and believe the number could be doubled in the next couple
weeks. Safety and accessibility are the key points. Freedman stated they want to safely utilize
community areas such as Sally Milligan Park,Kimball Haskell Park, Lynch Park, Cove
Elementary School, Brackenbury Beach, Camp Paradise and the Cross Lane soccer fields. Some
Cove Elementary School students along these streets are unable to walk to school and don't
currently qualify for bus service. Many neighbors stated they don't walk or don't allow their kids
to walk or ride bikes in these areas due to safety concerns. Many folks said they would gladly
walk to these sites versus drive to them if it was safe to do so,which would also cut down on
traffic and parking issues.Now a unique and time-sensitive opportunity has presented itself in
the form of National Grid's regional reliability project which will already require Cross Lane to
be rebuilt on National Grid's dime. This is a rare win-win-win. These scenarios don't come
along very often, and we can't afford to let this one slip by.
A motion for a brief recess was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried(9-
0). The meeting recessed at 7:16pm. The meeting was called back to order at 7:21pm.
Communications from His Honor the Mayor
Order#259-Appointment-Design Review Board-Rachel Matthews, Ellen Flannery as Planning
Board Representative and Michael Barone, Jr. Zoning Board of Appeals Representative
Referred to Committee on Legal Affairs.
Order#260-Grant-A$325,375 Coastal Zone Management Coastal Resilience grant from the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to be used to assess the
vulnerability of Lynch Park to flooding and erosion and develop resilience strategies
Referred to Committee on Finance and Property.
Order#261-Grant-A $59,965 Municipal Road Safety Program grant from the Executive Office
of Public Safety and Security Office of Grants and Research to be used for traffic enforcement
campaigns with a goal of reducing vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and loss of life
Referred to Committee on Finance and Property.
Order#262-Donation-A $3,000 donation from Bill Skillman of Velico Medical, Inc to be used
by the Beverly Fire Department to purchase a defibrillator
Referred to Committee on Finance and Property.
Order#263-An update on Order#253-2023-A budgetary transfer of$100,000 and a request to
continue the October 30, 2023,public hearing until November 20, 2023
A motion to receive and place on file was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion
carried (9-0).
Order#264-A budget transfer request of$60,500 from the reserve for unforeseen account into
the Clerk's Election account to allow the purchase of the requested voting machines (set public
hearing)
Referred to Committee on Finance and Property.
Communications from other City Officers and Boards
Order#265-Councilors Flowers and Rotondo-Fourth quarter fiscal year 2023 and first quarter
fiscal year 2024 school subcommittee for Finance and Facilities report
A motion to receive and place on file was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion
carried(9-0).
Order#266-City Clerk-Second Hand Junk Dealers License for Lion Gas and Auto Service, Inc.,
44 Enon Street
Referred to Committee on Legal Affairs.
Communications,Applications, and Petitions
Order#267-National Grid-Petition 30810584 West Dane St. (set public hearing)
Referred to Committee on Public Services.
Order#268-National Grid-Petition 30804998-Hale St. (set public hearing)
Referred to Committee on Public Services.
Unfinished Business from a Previous Meeting
Order#282-2022-A letter regarding Accessory Dwelling units
Order#184-Proposed Amendments to the Beverly Zoning Ordinance: Accessory Dwelling Unit
Ordinance; Definitions Regarding Transient Lodging, Bed and Breakfasts; and Other Minor
Clarifications
Order#184A-Planning Board-City Council Order#184-2023-Recommendation from planning
board relative to proposed Zoning ordinance amendments regarding accessory dwelling units,
definitions regarding transient lodging, bed and breakfasts, and other minor clarifications.
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes—October 30,2023 page 2 of 4
Flowers stated these are all related to an upcoming public hearing on November 20 having to do
with the proposed accessory dwelling unit ordinance and will continue to be held.
Public Hearings
Order#253-7:30 PM-Transfer-A budgetary transfer of$100,000 from the reserve for
unforeseen account which will allow the city to perform surveying, wetland delineation and
conceptual design work in Obear Park
The public hearing was opened.
Flowers stated this relates to Order#263 which was received and placed on file earlier this
evening. There is a pending grant that would potentially reduce the amount that is being
requested, so it would make sense to continue this item until the city knows if it will receive
grant funding.
A motion to continue the public hearing to November 20 at 8:15pm was made and seconded. A
vote was taken, and the motion carried (9-0).
A motion to break for committee work was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the
motion carried (9-0). The meeting recessed at 7:31pm. The meeting was called back to order at
7:48pm.
Reports of Committees
Finance and Property
Order#260-Grant-A $325,375 Coastal Zone Management Coastal Resilience grant from the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to be used to assess the
vulnerability of Lynch Park to flooding and erosion and develop resilience strategies
A motion to approve was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried(9-0).
Order#261-Grant-A$59,965 Municipal Road Safety Program grant from the Executive Office
of Public Safety and Security Office of Grants and Research to be used for traffic enforcement
campaigns with a goal of reducing vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and loss of life
A motion to approve was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried (9-0).
Order#262-Donation-A $3,000 donation from Bill Skillman of Velico Medical, Inc. to be used
by the Beverly Fire Department to purchase a defibrillator
A motion to approve was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried (9-0).
Order#264-A budget transfer request of$60,500 from the reserve for unforeseen account into
the Clerk's Election account to allow the purchase of the requested voting machines (set public
hearing)
A motion to set the public hearing for November 20 at 8:40pm was made and seconded. A vote
was taken, and the motion carried (9-0).
Legal Affairs
Order#254-An Appointment for Wendy Pearl, 21 Morningside Drive to serve as the Historic
District Commission representative on the Design Review Board
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes—October 30,2023 page 3 of 4
A motion to approve was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried (9-0).
Order#266-City Clerk-Second Hand Junk Dealers License for Lion Gas and Auto Service, Inc.,
44 Enon Street
A motion to approve was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried(9-0).
Public Services
Order#267-National Grid-Petition 30810584 West Dane St.
A motion to set the public hearing for November 20 at 7:15pm was made and seconded. A vote
was taken, and the motion carried(9-0).
Order#268-National Grid-Petition 30804998-Hale St.
A motion to set the public hearing for November 20 at 7:20pm was made and seconded. A vote
was taken, and the motion carried (9-0).
A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion carried(9-0).
The meeting adjourned at 7:56pm.
Beverly City Council Meeting Minutes—October 30,2023 page 4 of 4
Scott D. Houseman-Chair
Julie R. Flowers
Matthew J. St. Hilaire
Finance and Property/City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes
Monday, October 30,2023, 7:OOPM
Within the Confines of the City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers,3rd Floor,Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot St.
Houseman called the meeting to order at 7:33pm.
Members present: Julie Flowers, Matthew St. Hilaire, Scott Houseman
Members absent: None
Order Date to Description Action Taken
Number Committee
#326- 4/18/2023 Councilor Bowen-Regarding Beverly Regional Airport Held
2022
#104 4/18/2023 2023 Capital Expenditure Plan pursuant to the City Charter Held
#165 6/5/2023 Councilor Houseman-Update and petitions regarding the Central Cemetery Held
A $1,000,000 earmark from the United States Department of Housing and
#210 8/21/2023 Urban Development to support the main Library HVAC system Held
replacement and weatherization
A $100,000 earmark from the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership within
#211 8/21/2023 the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to support Held
HVAC improvements and weatherization for the Beverly Public Library
A $200,000 earmark from the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership within
#212 8/21/2023 the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to support Held
HVAC improvements and weatherization for the Beverly Public Library
Councilor Bowen-Letter to discuss the current status and future direction
#258 10/16/2023 of major building projects in the city Held
Grant-A $325,375 Coastal Zone Management Coastal Resilience grant
from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental
#260 10/30/2023 Affairs to be used to assess the vulnerability of Lynch Park to flooding and Approved (3-0)
erosion and develop resilience strategies
Grant-A $59,965 Municipal Road Safety Program grant from the
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Office of Grants and
#261 10/30/2023 Research to be used for traffic enforcement campaigns with a goal of Approved(3-0)
reducing vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and loss of life
Donation-A $3,000 donation from Bill Skillman of Velico Medical, Inc. to
#262 10/30/2023 be used by the Beverly Fire Department to purchase a defibrillator Approved (3-0)
A budget transfer request of$60,500 from the reserve for unforeseen Set public
#264 10/30/2023 account into the Clerk's Election account to allow the purchase of the hearing for
requested voting machines November 20 at
8:40pm (3-0)
The motion to adjourn Committee on Finance and Property was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the
motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:45pm.
Estelle M. Rand-Chair
Todd C. Rotondo
Brendan S. Sweeney
Legal Affairs/City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 30, 2023, 7:OOPM
Within the Confines of the City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers, Yd Floor,Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot St.
Rand called the meeting to order at 7:35pm.
Members present: Todd Rotondo, Brendan Sweeney, Estelle Rand
Order Date to Description Action Taken
Number Committee
President Flowers-A letter regarding Section 8-5 of
#239 9/18/2023 our City Charter(Review of Ordinances) Held
#183 10/2/2023 A request for temporary "Resident Only Parking" Held
An Appointment for Wendy Pearl, 21 Morningside
#254 1016/2023 Drive to serve as the Historic District Commission Approved(3-0)
representative on the Design Review Board
Appointment-Design Review Board-Rachel
Matthews, Ellen Flannery as Planning Board
#259 10/30/2023 Representative and Michael Barone, Jr. Zoning Board Held
of Appeals Representative
City Clerk-Second Hand Junk Dealers License for
#266 10/30/2023 Lion Gas and Auto Service, Inc., 44 Enon Street Approved(3-0)
The motion to adjourn was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45pm.
Kathleen M. Feldman-Chair
Hannah L. Bowen
Steven M. Crowley
Public Services/City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes
Monday, October 30, 2023, 7:OOPM
Within the Confines of the City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot St.
Feldman called the meeting to order at 7:34pm.
Members present: Hannah Bowen, Steven Crowley, Kathleen Feldman
Order Date to Number Committee Description Action Taken
Set public hearing
#267 10/30/2023 National Grid-Petition 30810584 West Dane St. for November 20
at 7:15pm(3-0)
Set public hearing
#268 10/30/2023 National Grid-Petition 30804998-Hale St. for November 20
at 7:20 m(3-0)
A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. A vote was taken, and the motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:43pm.