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1998-08-09Special Meeting of Beverly City Council, August 9, 1998 R o II C a II: A II Council Members were present Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.' ledby Counci/orFlaherfy Communications from His Honor the Mayor.' #255 Honorable City Council City Hall Beverly, MA 0915 Dear Honorable Council: Given the need for a special meeting on Monday, August 9, 1999 I would like to take the opportunity to update you on a variety of issues. The update should require only a few minutes. Thank you. Very truly yours, William F. ScanIon, Mayor I wish to take this opportunity to update you on a variety of matters. First, with respect to FY '99, the year recently ended, all indications continue to point to a favorable revenue surplus of at least $1,000,000. While the figures are unaudited, we are increasingly confident in them. There is a chance that Beverly will be able to certify "free cash" in a modest amount for the first time in nearly a decade. Every well-run city needs to reach the point of having some free cash. I will have more to say about this subject in the coming weeks. One issue of concern which has arisen over the summer is the condition of the High School track. The track has been found to be seriously deteriorated and could be a safety hazard. 1 will deliver a definitive proposal and report to you at your first September meeting to reconstruct the track. Estimates indicate the need for an expenditure of nearly $200,000 to make these improvements, most of which could be effected this fall. Work at the Brisoce School is proceeding. You may recall that both the exterior masonry work as well as interior improvements, including the painting of essentially all walls, are in progress. The Council did transfer $625,000 from the Hardie School sale to cover part of the cost of these repairs. Another transfer of $175,000 was put on hold. 1 will in fact request a transfer at your first September meeting in an amount of at least $175,000. Work on the Hannah School has begun as well as some work on the grounds at Cove. The Ayers School is substantially complete. The State Legislature has approved the Governor's bill which includes the funds for reconstruction of Route 62 and Route 1A. The bill has now been returned to the Governor for signature. His expected signature will be good news because both roads will be improved significantly. It will also mean that the drainage issues along Beverly Hills Avenue and Sunset Drive will soon be corrected. The Riverview project to provide sanitary sewer in Ryal Side is actually in progress. Speaking of drainage, the Chase Street project has been awarded and the entire new culvert piping system is scheduled for completion around Thanksgiving. The contract for construction of the associated pumping station will be awarded separately. Bidding packages for the first parts of the Lawrence Brook and Chubbs Brook projects are being assembled at this time. Work on these will proceed this fall. I will request funds from you in September to study storm drainage issues in North Beverly. I will also bring forward in September a proposal to complete the second phase of water and sewer improvements in North Beverly to include the remainder of Cabot Street (Route 97) and the remainder of Trask Street. These improvements should cost about $1,000,000 to complete. Work near the airport area is proceeding well. Sam Fonzo Drive now has a binder course along its complete length. Sanitary sewer work is nearing completion. We will be resurfacing Cabot Street and improving the sidewalks on the west side of the street from Conant Street to Trask Street. A number of streets are scheduled for paving and involve more than six miles of new pavement. In the case of Grover Street a public informational session will be held this Thursday, August 12th, here in the Council Chamber to review the design. Separate informational sessions will also be held regarding Brimbal Avenue which will be repaved and improved from Colon Street to the Herrick Street Extension and from Dunham Road to and including Budleigh ending at Laurel. Some design work remains on this road. We believe we have an approach which will not require the removal of any trees. Dates for these public meetings will be announced soon. While I am on the subject of roads, I have requested ideas from outside engineers on traffic calming, or slowing the pace of cars, on Lothrop Street which is very straight and invites speeders. On the subject of sanitary sewer we have accelerated the project to sewer all of Boyles Street and Cross Lane. RFP's will soon be sought for engineering services, and we anticipate bringing sewer to all these homes as soon as possible, certainly within two years. As a long-term goal, we anticipate providing city sanitary sewer to essentially every Beverly home or business. Turning to other subjects, the Standley Street facility is working well, the City is saving money while providing for better service. Final approval from DEP as a compost facility is expected soon. This site is being better operated than at any time in the past fifteen years. With regard to the cemeteries, the City Solicitor has issued an opinion, after consultation with State officials, which confirms that our long-standing practices are entirely appropriate. As you may know, we transfer income from the Perpetual Care Account to the General Fund. That income pays part of the cost of maintaining our cemeteries. The condition of our cemeteries has improved continually over the past several years. The dump capping is proceeding on schedule. Projects to make our City more livable and beautiful continue. Bartlett Gardens has been completed. Veteran's Memorial at Odell Park is complete. Vittori Park is complete. The Common is complete. A few bushes which did not take will be replaced in September and the roses in the ovals near the flag will be planted in September once the summer heat subsides. Money has been budgeted for benches and trash receptacles in the FY 2000 budget. Councilor Flaherty is working on a sign to properly identify the Common and explain its history. The skating facility concept at the Vitale site will be further explored. I intend to put forward a recommendation to transfer some City-owned land, not now under conservation, to make up for the land to be removed and thus suffer no net loss in total land under conservation jurisdiction. We have a productive organization. We are getting things done. 1 believe that anyone who takes the time to look around at our City will see that it is better. I look forward to seeing you in September to move things further forward. Receive and Place on File Communications from other City Officers and Boards: #256 Call for Special Meeting for August 10, 1999 Receive and Place on File #257 Honorable City Council 191 Cabot Street Beverly, MA 01915 Dear Honorable Council This is to inform you that, as of this date, the Board of Registrars of the City of Beverly has certified the necessary signatures (3,627) to have a charter revision question placed on the ballot in the November election. In accordance with M. G. L. Chapter 43B: 4, the "city council shall by order provide for submitting the question of adopting or revising a charter to the voters of the City or Town, and for the election of a charter commission, at the first regular city election, held on or after the sixtieth day following the adoption of the order." This order should be passed within thirty days of receipt of this notice. It does not require concurrence of the Mayor and can be accomplished at one meeting of the City Council. Sincerely, Frances A. Macdonald, CMC Clerk of Board of Registrars Referred to the Committee of the Whole Communications, Applications and Petitions Reports From Committees: #260 The Committee on Legal Affairs and Accounts to whom was referred the matter of Subdivision Tot Lots have considered said matter and beg leave to report as follows, to wit: Submit the accompanying order and recommend its adoption Ordered: That the City Council approve the order presented by Councilors Gilmore and Murray that "Any subdivision plans which include the creation of recreation facilities, to be owned and maintained by the City, must be reviewed and approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission before final subdivision approval is granted by the Planning Board." Order read once and adopted 9-0 Vote #244 The Committee on Public Service and Aid to whom was referred the matter of Open Space Appointments by Mayor have considered said matter and beg leave to report as follows, to wit: Recommend the Council approve the Appointments Order read once and adopted 9-0 Vote #261 The Committee in Public Service and Aid to whom was referred the matter of Open Space Appointments by the City Council have considered said matter and beg leave to report as follows, to wit: Submit the accompanying order and recommend its adoption Ordered: That the City Council appoint the following to serve on the Open Space and Recreation Commission: Claire Thompson16 South Terrace, Beverly, for a term of One Year Kathern Tracy, 16 Hale Street, Beverly, for a term of One Year Elyse Cotreau, 11 Simon Street, Beverly, for a term of Two Years Robert Buchsbaum, 12 Bertram Street, Beverly, for a term of Two Years John Hopkins, 22 Devon Avenue Beverly, for a term of Three Years Richard Baker, r643 Hale Street, Beverly, for a term of Three Years Order read once and adopted 9-0 Vote #257 The Committee of the Whole to whom was referred the matter of Charter Revision Petitions have considered said matter and beg leave to report as follows, to wit: Submit the accompanying order and recommend its adoption Ordered: That the question of a Charter Revision and Election of a Charter Commission be placed on the Ballot for the November 2, 1999 Election Order read once and adopted 9-0 Vote Motions and Orders: #258 Resolution Elizabeth (Betty) Tuff, 1999 Senior Citizen of the Year Receive and Place on File #259 Resolution Eagle Scout Chris Besse Meeting adjourned: 9:12 PM Frances A. Macdonald, CMC City Clerk