Capital Improvement Plan 2004-2
CITY OF BEVERLY
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
FY 2004 – 2008
Thomas M. Crean, Mayor
May 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW 3
FINANCIAL CLOSEOUT OF PAST PROJECTS 5
PROJECTS COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY IN 2003 7
DESCRIPTIONS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS
Public Safety 9
Schools 13
Water & Sewer, Drainage 16
Roads & Sidewalks, Parking Lots 20
Parks & Open Space 22
Waterfront 23
Recreation – Active & Passive 24
Cemeteries 25
Libraries 25
Other Capital Assets – Acquisition & Maintenance 25
Tables:
PROJECT EXPENDITURES BY FISCAL YEAR
General Fund 26
Water and Sewer Funds 27
CASH & DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS AND 28
FUNDING SOURCES
Review of Capital Project Activity (report to Beverly City 31
Council from council budget analyst, May 12, 2003)
2
OVERVIEW
The Capital Improvement Program is intended to be a blueprint for the city’s anticipated
capital construction and improvement program for the next five years. While the cost
figures and schedules contained in it are necessarily estimates, and are thus subject to
variation due to financial and economic conditions in subsequent years, this plan represents
the best projections of what we as a city will be able to accomplish in the next five years,
along with our best estimates of the costs and funding sources of those projects.
Recent developments in the state and local economy have unavoidably had a direct impact
on the city’s ability to sustain the heavy pace of capital construction of the past decade.
The overhang of past project over-expenditures (see page 5) and the need to straighten out
the city’s capital construction accounts also seriously hampers our ability to engage in new
spending with limited resources.
The completion of the elementary school building program that spans two administrations
represents a major commitment to the education of our children. The focus on building or
rebuilding six elementary schools, however, has had the twin effects of adding heavily to
the city’s debt service burden, and pushing aside or postponing many other important
projects in such areas as public safety, water and sewer, drainage, waterfront development,
environmental clean-up, and – very importantly – proper maintenance and upkeep of the
city’s existing capital assets.
It is thus my intention, as the elementary school construction project comes to completion,
restore some balance to the city’s capital construction program
to . The schools will
continue to be the most important single area of city capital construction, both in the
amounts of investment and maintenance and the impact it has on our city, but many of the
other projects that have been on hold will now move to the forefront.
The need for a new academic wing at the high school is not in question. The issue remains
one of timing, and of the possibility of School Building Assistance funding to reimburse
the city for a portion of the projected cost. The most recent information at my disposal
(which is, like everything else at the state level, subject to change in this volatile
environment) is that the SBAB list and program will remain closed for as much as four
years. Its future structure and eligibility requirements remain entirely uncertain.
This makes repairs to the high school in order to preserve its accreditation even more
urgent. The school’s downgrading from Accredited with Warning to Accredited with
Probation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, a private
accreditation group, must be addressed as soon as possible. Since the city simply cannot
afford the entire $60+ million price tag to construct a new school without state assistance, I
have shifted my immediate focus to a program of repairs designed to restore the
accreditation of the current building. A general overview of that plan is given below. The
city’s capital spending within the budget, meanwhile, will be turned to other long-deferred
projects.
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First among the deferred projects mentioned above is public safety. The first project that
will be resumed is a new police and emergency communications center. The police
department has been working for far too long under substandard and inadequate
conditions. I have instructed the city’s architect, Donham & Sweeney, to proceed on the
basis of a design for a new police station at the Cummings Center site. The design money
has already been appropriated as part of the original $600,000 design funding.
The city’s fire safety needs must be addressed. The study I commissioned by a former
state fire marshal recommended that the city have a total of four fire stations instead of the
current three. This will require the addition of more fire equipment and staffing when the
plan is implemented, but I believe the fire safety of our city makes this expansion essential.
Second, I believe that furnishing adequate water and sewerage service to the residents of
our city is a fundamental obligation of city government. I am hopeful at this writing that
the City Council will also consider it appropriate to approve the proposed West St./Hale St.
sewer improvements. This work is funded out of the water and sewer improvement funds
and not the city’s General Fund, so it does not represent an addition to the debt burden on
the taxpayers. The same is true of the Cross Lane and, eventually, Rezza Road projects.
Third, it is also incumbent on city government to help prevent the flooding of residents’
homes. That motivated my decision to recommit to the full funding of the Chubb’s Brook
drainage project despite the fact that the money previously appropriated for that project
was expended for other projects. The City Council, despite the obvious difficulty of
additional debt service in difficult economic times, saw its way clear to renew its
commitment to the residents of that area, and they are to be commended for that vision and
commitment.
These projects will restore the balance in city capital construction in the coming decade,
and will address several long-neglected and urgent areas of our city’s infrastructure.
4
FINANCIAL CLOSEOUT OF PAST PROJECTS
The city’s ability to move forward with new capital spending is contingent on the
completion and closure of past projects. The financial overhang from past capital project
over-expenditures impedes the city’s ability to afford new spending, and takes resources
away from new projects to complete and close out those past projects.
The following projects require new or additional funding as of May 2003. These project
overruns will require either appropriations from the FY2004 budget or from free cash to
remedy the deficits. The total at this writing is a minimum of $757,355 in past capital
project overruns with unauthorized expenditures (not including the additional $1.9 million
in overruns that was reauthorized by the City Council in early 2003 to complete the Chase
Street/Lawrence Brook/Chubbs Brook projects); for most of these projects, the borrowing
authority has expired (necessitating expenditures from future budgets or free cash).
Project 506: School Buses (Deficit of $13,002)
A total of $140,000 was expended on buses in the face of an appropriation of $127,000 in
November 1995 and 1996. The period to borrow has expired, and the deficit thus must be
funded from other sources.
Project 521: Dump Trucks (deficit of $273,423)
The council authorized $200,000 to buy this equipment in October 1996. The actual
expenditure was $273,423, and moreover the borrowing authorization for the original
$200,000 expired several years ago and thus it cannot be bonded.
Project 522: Departmental Equipment (deficit of $30,623)
The total expenditure was $900,244 in the face of total authorizations of $869,621. The
borrowing authorization for this project has expired as well, and the deficit will have to be
funded through free cash or FY04 appropriations.
Project 529: BHS Track (deficit of $18,252)
The expenditures on this project of $238,252 are $18,252 in excess of the spending
authorization for this project. Deficit funding is from the sources cited above (free cash or
FY04 budget).
Project 534: BHS Boiler Replacement (deficit of $86,000)
Only $250,000 has been authorized and appropriated by the council, but $336,000 has
been expended or encumbered. Borrowing is still available to fund this overrun.
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Project 563: Landfill Capping (deficit of $202,393)
The council’s original authorization was $5.3 million, and expenditures exceeded those
authorizations by $202,393. It is not clear at this time if bond counsel will allow additional
borrowing. If not, free cash or the FY04 budget remain the available options.
Project 564: Drainage (variance of $2,994,565)
This is complex situation, and I refer the reader to the detail contained in the Review of
Capital Project Activity as prepared for the Beverly City Council by the council’s
Budget/Management Analyst on May 12, 2003 and appended to this report (page 31).
Project 579: Land Takings at Airport (deficit of $23,662)
Grants and contributions totaled $545,863, which were $23,662 less than the total spent.
The deficit will need to be funded from future taxation or a free cash appropriation.
Project 577: Airport Road (deficit of $300,245)
The $300,245 is the total by which expenditures have exceeded grants and receipts from
contributions and other revenues. This deficit is being aggressively pursued by the current
Finance Director, and it may be possible to eliminate it with better follow-up and closure
of PWED grants and other corporate contributions that have not yet been able to be traced.
Financial Practices
The Finance Director has instituted a number of new practices to prevent such capital
project overruns and deficits in the future. These include the use of recorded budgets for
all active capital projects, and encumbrances in the capital projects funds to record all
contractual obligations to contractors, engineers etc. The city also intends to implement
additional recommendations as specified in the Review of Capital Project Activity for City
Council appended to this report.
6
SYNOPISIS OF PROJECTS COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY IN FY2003
Some 37.4 acres of landlocked open space was acquired at the Hill Property by eminent
domain for its appraised value. The former owners have been in discussions with the city
about additional compensation, and the outcome of those negotiations remains open as of
this writing. But those 37.4 acres are now part of Sally Milligan Park, and are free for the
use of Beverly residents.
The environmental clean-up of the former Gurnard Manufacturing site at the airport is
nearing completion. The original problem has been mitigated, and a small additional
appearance of EPH (extractable petroleum hydrocarbons) is being addressed. The clean-up
is expected to be completed in 2003, and the site will be returned to use as a commercial
storage facility, bring tax revenues to the city and lease revenues to the airport.
The clean-up of the surface debris at the former Vitale dump site on Henderson Road and
the removal of the former structure there has been completed. This represents the
completion of the city’s commitment to preparing the site for New England Power to
continue with the clean-up of fly ash from Wenham Lake.
The city has obtained a commitment from the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with
the next stage of preparations for much-needed dredging at Norwood Pond. The process is
expected to continue in 2004-2005.
The Chubbs Brook drainage project will continue thanks to the re-appropriation of
additional funds in early 2003 to make up for past over-expenditures. This work is
expected to begin before the end of 2003.
The Lawrence Brook drainage project is wrapping up with the completion of sidewalks,
street surfaces, and restoration of the staging area at Central Cemetery. The project will be
fully completed in 2003.
Phase II of the Bass River II sewerage project in North Beverly along Cabot Street (Route
97) from Trask Street to Henderson Road and the northern leg of Trask Street has been
completed. This improvement cost approximately $625,000, and was partly subsidized by
a federal grant achieved with the help of Congressman John F. Tierney.
The long overdue sewerage tie-in project on Cross Lane has begun, within the design
phase now underway. The project is expected to be completed in 2003-2004.
The renovation and expansion of the Beverly Farms Library is about one-third complete.
It is currently expected to be finished in December 2003.
Three new playgrounds will have been installed at Holcroft Park in Ward 3, Gillis Park in
Ward 2, and Cahill Park in Ward 6. Private and community initiative was the driving force
behind these park improvements.
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The Cox Court access road was constructed in 2003. It was intended to allow easier egress
from the area to Rantoul or Cabot Streets while reducing driving through the
neighborhood. The funds for the land takings and construction came from the Stop &
Shop mitigation monies, which were fully expended for this purpose.
The fire department acquired a new pumper for the Fire Department, and three new
cruisers were procured for the Police Department.
The North Beverly Elementary School renovations were completed and dedicated in time
for the 2002-2003 school year, and the Centerville School renovations and improvements
are expected to be completed in time for the 2003-2004 school year.
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DESCRIPTIONS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Beverly City Council approved $600,000 in 1999 for the design of a joint Public
Safety Facility on land under the city’s control at Cummings Center. The parcel under the
city’s control was long and narrow (somewhat pencil shaped), so the city negotiated with
Cummings for a revised parcel more square in shape with more frontage on Elliott Street
(Route 62). The city took ownership of the revised parcel in 2000.
Given my serious doubts regarding the placement of a fire station at the Cummings Center
site and the abandonment of Central Fire Station, I commissioned a study by former State
Fire Marshal Joseph O’Keefe to look at the city’s overall needs for fire station placement
and fire protection. His report, received in March 2003, indicated that the city should have
four fire stations rather than the present three, and that the Cummings Center does not
represent the best siting for a fire substation from the standpoint of overall fire protection.
Previous city planning had centered on one new station on Brimbal Ave. to complement a
combined police/fire facility at the Cummings Center. However, no corroboration of the
availability of the potential site on Brimbal Ave. at the Route 128 overpass has been found,
either in city records or with the Mass. Highway Department. That site would have to go
through the normal surplus and bidding procedures for state surplus property, and the state
has no current plans to do so. However, the fire needs study has suggested that Brimbal
Ave. is not the optimal location for a new substation in any case.
The consultant’s recommendation was that the city retain the present stations in Beverly
Farms and on Hale Street (Central Fire Station), and add two new substations – one in the
area of McKay St. to cover Ryalside and North Beverly, and one on Essex St. to cover the
rapidly growing Centerville section of the city.
The Cummings Center site remains entirely suited to a new police station and the housing
of dispatch, communications, and administrative functions.
Some $150,000 of the original $600,000 design appropriation has been expended by the
city’s architect of Donham & Sweeney, Inc. I have now instructed them to redirect their
efforts to the design of the following at the Cummings site:
·
the Police Department;
·
state-of-the-art emergency communications and emergency management center;
·
vehicle maintenance facilities;
·
support spaces for the above functions;
·
capability to contain a firing range.
We are at this time carrying an estimate of $10,500,000 to be expended from this time
forward to complete this project, including an estimated $8 million in construction costs.
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The fire department administration and fire prevention functions are presently planned to
remain at their present locations, where the fire department management can have direct
contact with their personnel.
I am also committed to improving the city’s fire protection and response times. I will thus
proceed with the implementation of the former fire marshal’s recommendations for two
new substations as the city’s financial capabilities permit. I am particularly concerned with
the response times to parts of Centerville, and I feel that a new station on Essex St. is an
urgent priority.
The North Beverly substation, built in 1906, is becoming functionally obsolete for today’s
larger fire equipment. However, it will remain in service for the next several years. To
that end, we have installed a new roof on the building to improve the working and living
conditions for the firefighters. Several improvements to the exterior will be carried out in
2003 to improve its overall functionality and appearance. This substation will eventually
be sold to help fund the construction of a new and modern station in the McKay St. area,
which will improve coverage of Ryalside while accommodating modern equipment.
The use of a McKay St. site on golf course property, because of the terms of purchase of
the golf course using state and federal grants, would require that an equivalent amount of
land be substituted elsewhere to compensate for the area used for a fire substation. That is
not expected to be an insurmountable problem.
My long-range public-safety plan will ultimately require that the city maintain and staff
four fire stations instead of the current three, but I am certain that in the long term the
improved fire protection for our city, and especially the under-served Centerville area, is
worth the expense. I am currently seeking design ideas from Donham & Sweeney for
standardized fire-station designs that will cut the design and construction costs and time
frames for the two new stations significantly.
The timetable for proceeding with this plan is now as follows:
1) Design of new police station and communications facility at Cummings Center in
Fiscal Year 2004;
2) Acquisition of site and design of new fire substation on Essex St. in 2005-06;
3) Start of construction of new police station at Cummings in 2005;
4) Construction of Essex St. fire substation in 2005-06;
5) Acquisition of site and design of new fire substation on McKay St. in 2006-07;
6) Construction of new fire substation on McKay St. or McKay St. area in 2007-08.
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Departmental Equipment – Fire Department
The Fire Department projects the following public safety and lifesaving equipment needs
in the next five years:
FY2004
One 110’ aerial ladder truck (replacing 1988 model) $ 800,000
One 4x4 (Blazer/Explorer) Fire Prevention vehicle to replace
1988 model 28,000
FY2005
One 1,250 GPM engine company to replace current
1989 model 450,000
FY2006
One F-350 4x4 pick-up truck with slide-on tank and pump
to replace 1985 4x4 (Squad 3) 45,000
One hydraulic rescue tool to replace current oldest set of
Jaws of Life 20,000
FY2007
One 4x4 command vehicle with radio, lights, and siren to
replace current Car One 42,000
Five automatic defibrillators with maintenance contracts
to replace current models 20,000
FY2008
One 4x4 command vehicle with radio, lights, and siren to
replace current Car Two 42,000
(Potential Fire Department assumption of full EMT
responsibilities – acquisition of two fully equipped
ambulances and one reserve ambulance) 350,000
The prospect of a fourth fire substation in the 2006-07 time frame would necessitate the
acquisition of at least one major piece of fire apparatus to equip that substation. The cost
of that equipment will be added when the substation moves closer to becoming a reality.
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Departmental Equipment – Police Department
The police department will require the acquisition of three new cruisers to replace current
older models. The cost per cruiser is approximately $27,000, for a total of $81,000.
The Police Department was recently equipped with new Glock pistols to replace their
increasingly unreliable older weapons, thanks to funding from a federal grant. The cost
was approximately $30,000.
The purchase of the cruisers will be subject to financial conditions in early calendar 2004,
as the city’s budget situation is clarified.
Departmental Equipment – Public Works
Public Services requires the following equipment:
·
a vacuum flusher at a cost of $210,000;
·
four dump trucks for water & sewer department at $100,000 each;
·
two sweepers for $110,000 apiece;
·
one 11’ mower for $50,000;
·
five-six pick-up and one-ton dump trucks at $40,000 each;
·
one backhoe for water department at $100,000.
This total of $1.18—1.22 million of capital requirements will be funded as resources
permit.
A TV video camera system for internal inspection of buried water, sewer and drain pipes
estimated to cost $75,000, remains a desirable acquisition as well.
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SCHOOLS
Beverly High School
No issue has been more in the public eye in the last year and a half than the physical
condition of the Beverly High School. The initial plan to complete the renovation and
construction of the six elementary schools and move directly on to new construction and
renovation at the high school has proven beyond the city’s financial capabilities. Beverly
is simply unable to assume the debt load of $60+ million – a minimum of $3 million per
year – within the city’s budget, given current annual debt service approaching $10 million.
However, the accreditation status of the high school has fallen into jeopardy, due to both
natural aging processes and the under-funding of maintenance and repairs over the last
decade. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges will meet in May 2003 to
act on a recommendation from its director to downgrade the school’s accreditation status
from “Accredited with Warning” to “Accredited with Probation,” and the downgrade is
very likely to occur. That action is solely the result of the NEASC’s perception of the
physical facility, and is in no way a reflection of the quality of the education being
received at the high school.
On the subject of accreditation, it is important to note that the school remains fully
accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Education. While I do not intend to
downplay the significance of the building’s shortcomings and deficiencies, the school is
expected to remain fully accredited by the state for the foreseeable future. I regard the
recommendations of the NEASC, a very dedicated private organization, to be crucial
indications of what repairs and improvements we must undertake to keep the current high
school building in serviceable condition until we can afford to proceed with a new school.
I had developed a two-tracked approach in conjunction with the School Committee and the
City Council that would have kept the prospect of building a new high school academic
wing and renovation of the existing facility on track, although on a delayed basis, while
pursuing the immediate repairs needed to maintain the accreditation status of the building
for the 8—10 years that it may take to get a new high school facility planned and built.
Circumstances have changed drastically since the development of the two-tracked
approach. Most significantly, the state has suspended its School Building Assistance
program indefinitely. That program used to provide 64% reimbursement of new school
construction costs. The program’s future structure and date of re-opening are entirely
uncertain at this date.
In addition, the Beverly City Council voted in April 2003 to reject my request to approve
borrowing of $734,000 to prepare the schematic design of the high school, which was the
next step on the track of building the new facility.
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These circumstances necessarily makes the repair and maintenance of the current facility
the priority for the foreseeable future.
It is my intention to review the NEASC’s concerns regarding the current facility, sort out
operational and maintenance changes from true repairs and upgrades that are needed, and
then place before the voters a request to fund the cost of those repairs. My previous
estimate of $5 million prepared by architect James FitzGerald was based on a previous
NEASC list that included fewer items. The repair cost will thus most likely be somewhat
more than $5 million. However, much of what is on the new list of concerns can be
addressed through better operational and maintenance practices, and does not represent a
capital spending issue. Other items on the list have already been remedied or addressed.
I remain committed to the construction of a new academic wing and renovation of the
common facilities at Beverly High School, but the timing is subject to the recovery of the
state and city budgets. The future availability and structure of the School Building
Assistance program will be a defining element in the resumption of new construction.
Design and Renovation of Middle Schools
The pressing accreditation needs of the Beverly High School have caused the middle
school renovation programs to be deferred indefinitely. After the high school repair
program is underway by the end of calendar 2003, attention will be given to planning and
scheduling the overhaul, renovation, and modernization of the two middle schools.
Bus Garaging Location and Maintenance Facility
The bus garage at Briscoe School was torn down in 1999 due to its dilapidated condition.
Bus maintenance is currently being done at the Beverly Airport. There are several possible
options being considered for the parking and maintenance of school buses, including an
area at the rear of the Hannah School site with direct access to and from Brimbal Ave.
No funds are appropriated for this project in FY2004.
Centerville School
Part of the Elementary Facilities Plan, this school was originally estimated at $5,739,000.
When the project is done in 2003 it is currently anticipated the cost will be approximately
$11.8 million, partly owing to the fact that some expansion was included in the design
(additional classrooms). Beverly is currently scheduled to be reimbursed at 64% of the
construction cost, but the timing of those reimbursements is in question owing to the
under-funding of the SBAB line item in the state budget.
Centerville is the sixth and final school of the schools in the Elementary Schools Facilities
Plan that has spanned two administrations.
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Construction began in June of 2002, and it is expected to be completed on schedule in time
for the 2003-2004 school year. The larger school will have larger cleaning and
maintenance, which are expected to be offset somewhat with the efficiencies created with
fewer and larger schools as Edward and McKay cease to be used as schools.
Edwards School
The School Department is beginning preliminary evaluations of the feasibility of
surplusing the Edwards School as a source of revenue for the school budget. The school
will be used for at least part of the 2003-2004 school year by the students from the
Carleton School in Salem, which is undergoing repairs and renovations. The earliest date
that the Edwards School is expected to be available for surplusing is February of 2004.
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WATER & SEWER, DRAINAGE
Water
The City of Beverly is currently engaged in replacing all residential and commercial water
meters with new city owned remotely readable radio meters. The city now has the ability
to read all residential meters over any two-day period and to read any particular meter at
any time. Billing has remained on a quarterly frequency.
The city will generate the maps—planimetric, topographic and digital orthographs—using
SRF funds. Mapping and inventorying the city’s sanitary water system and story water
system are also planned using SRF funds.
The GIS Capital Plan will provide the following benefits to the City:
·
The SRF loan is a low-interest loan (2%) that is equivalent to a 25% grant.
·
The SRF repayment schedule is over a 20-year period.
·
The city is required to submit a Phase II Stormwater Management Plan to EPA by
July 2003. The plan is aimed at achieving this objective.
·
The DEP has cited the city for high coliform violations in several brooks. This
program provides funds to use in pursuing the problem and defining a solution.
·
For the first time the city will be able to develop a detailed stormwater drain system
map and incorporate it into the city’s Geographical Information System.
·
The city will have an electronic database to locate utilities and an accurate asset
inventory.
Beverly has 162 miles of water mains beneath the surface of the ground which bring water
to the vicinity of all the homes and businesses throughout the city. Many of these mains
are over 50 years old, and some are as much as 100 years old. No regular replacements or
cleaning and lining programs have ever been implemented.
It is expected that over the next ten years we must replace some 25% of the mains in the
city (approximately 40 miles). This translates into 4 miles of water main per year. Cost
will depend on the size of the main in question (diameter) as well as the depth of burial of
the pipe and the proximity of other utilities.
One large specific project is the need for 5,500 feet (about one mile) of a new 12” main on
Sohier Road, Herrick Street and Tozer Road. This line would reinforce the water system
around the High School and the hospital, at a cost of approximately $1,000,000.
It is very desirable to loop water service to all sections of the city to allow back feeding of
water in the event of an outage. In other words we can feed water to any location from
either up the street or down the street in a system that is looped. We have identified that
approximately 25,000 feet (5 miles) of 8” lines will be required to improve our back
feeding capabilities at a cost of approximately $2,000,000.
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We have identified the need to replace approximately 200 gate valves throughout the city,
and the need to add approximately 50 additional valves in order to limit the impact of an
outage. The total cost is projected to be $1,500,000.
We have also determined that we must add hydrants to unprotected locations and replace a
number of hydrants that lack control gates. Presently Beverly has approximately 1100
hydrants. We expect to need to replace or add approximately 110 hydrants to improve
protection and to ensure effective flow from each hydrant at a cost of $250,000.
Because the water system improvement needs are so great, we will budget approximately
$4,400,000 per year for the next five years to bring our systems to an appropriate level of
service and safety. In addition to that described above, work will also be necessary on
both the Brimbal Avenue and Folly Hill water tanks in the near term. While our water
system improvements needed are very extensive, our sanitary sewer system needs less in
the way of investment. We anticipate an increase in the water rate to be achieved by a
decrease in the sewer rate thus leaving the combined rate which the homeowner pays
unchanged.
The first 5,000 replacement meter installations revealed 200 homes with poor water flows
despite copper services from the sidewalk to the home (i.e. under the homeowner
property). The likely culprit is an inferior galvanized service from the main in the street to
the back of the sidewalk (i.e. under city property). Galvanized services clog themselves
over a period of time (a process called tuberculation). Since we have over 10,000 homes in
the city, we can extrapolate there is a total of over 400 homes with this problem which
would need to be remedied at the city’s cost of about $2,000 per home, or a total of
$800,000. Tuberculation gets worse and worse each year in every case until flow becomes
entirely blocked.
This problem is further aggravated by the fact that 1,300 homes of the first 5,000 meter
installations have galvanized lines both under the city property (street and sidewalk) and
the line underground in the homeowner’s yard.
Thus we can deduce there are more than 2,500 homes whose water flow is limited by a
clogging galvanized pipe service to some extent. A city-sponsored offer to correct this
situation on a shared cost basis was proposed in past years. As the water meter
replacement program nears completion, that plan will be researched further and each
affected homeowner will be contacted. This is not a question of safety or health, but a
question of how much water flows how fast from the tap when one turns on the faucet.
The city will eventually offer a program to replace the entire run of galvanized pipe from
the cellar wall to the main on the following shared basis. Participation will be at the
discretion of the homeowner.
The section under city property (expected to cost some $2,000 on average) will be paid for
by the city. The section under homeowner property will be paid for by the homeowner.
The city will do the entire job and charge the homeowner a standard $1,000 charge if the
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cellar wall is within 20 feet of the back of sidewalk, or an additional $50 per foot of
distance if the cellar wall is more than 20 feet from the back of sidewalk. This work will
not be performed simultaneously with the new meter installation, because it will take much
longer. Replacement will be with copper pipe, and should guarantee a lengthy period of
good service. A program will be established to allow homeowners two years to pay off
their obligation.
Sewer
The City of Beverly provides sanitary sewer service to 95% of the homes in the city with
the effluent traveling to the SESD plant for treatment. Our objective is to improve this
service level to close to 100%. Three remaining significant areas without city sewer are:
·
Hale Street, which will require a 5,500’ gravity line and 1,000’ of pressure main at
an estimated cost of $1,900,000. This project is currently before the City Council
for approval of the appropriation.
·
Cross Lane for a distance of 750’ and Boyles Street for 2,600’ at an estimated cost
of $700,000. A public meeting was held in May 2003, and the project will be
placed before the City Council when the cost estimates and plans are received from
the design engineer.
·
Rezza Road – The sewerage needs of this road have continued to be postponed
from year to year. However, this administration intends to begin the RFP proposal
process to seek plans for providing sewerage services to this road in 2003 or 2004.
The city also needs to accelerate improvements to sewer pump lift stations, at a cost of
$200,000, and also needs to acquire a vacuum/flusher truck to aid in making appropriate
and timely repairs.
Raymond Farms
This project will be administered by SESD and funded through SESD. It has been
approved for partial SRF (State Revolving Fund), which allows the money to be borrowed
at zero interest, a highly advantageous situation. This project is the next major project in
Beverly.
The project calls for sanitary sewer and drainage improvements in the Raymond Farms
area. The project will allow homeowners plagued by flooding to pump these waters into a
new drainage system relieving the sanitary sewer line into which the water is currently
pumped. The project will reduce flooding concerns and add to the sanitary sewer capacity
in the area. The 18”-diameter sewer in Balch Street will also be relined with a cured-in-
place polypropylene liner under this contract. This project will be carried financially at
SESD and its cost will be reflected in our assessments. The construction cost is estimated
at $4,000,000.
Drainage
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The third project in an original group of drainage projects (along with Chase Street and
Lawrence Brook), Chubbs Brook in Beverly Farms, encountered some financial
difficulties owing to the fact that the original $9,000,000 appropriated for the three projects
was expended on the first two projects and several unrelated projects. It became necessary
to return to the council in 2003 for an additional appropriation to begin this project, which
was passed in the amount of $1,945,000. Final design and construction of these drainage
improvements is planned for Fiscal Year 2003.
Other Drainage
A 4’ diameter drainage line needs to be installed along much of Tozer Road from Walden
Street south running approximately 3,000 feet in order to help restrain drainage problems
in Ward 5. This project will be designed in FY 2004 with construction expected in
FY2005. We will continue to assess the need for additional drainage projects throughout
the city.
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ROADS & SIDEWALKS, PARKING LOTS
Small Road – Ward 2
This road was constructed in 2003. It was intended to allow easier egress from the area to
Rantoul or Cabot Streets while reducing driving through the neighborhood. The funds for
the land takings and construction came from the Stop & Shop mitigation monies, which
were entirely expended for this project.
Ayers Access From Bridge Street
The City had previously had a very preliminary design for a roadway from Bridge Street to
the Ayers School. The entrance would be located near the bottom of the hill on Bridge
Street. The cost to build the access road was estimated at $500,000, with some portion of
these funds expected to be available from the traffic mitigation monies paid to Beverly by
Stop & Shop.
However, the Stop & Shop money was expended entirely for the construction of the Cox
Court access road. In addition, the present administration does not intend to do any
roadway construction in the recently acquired Green’s Hill open space along the Bass
River. This project has thus been removed from active consideration.
Improvements to Streets and Sidewalks
The state continues to cut back on Chapter 90 aid. Beverly contains some 135 miles of
roads. A one-time project calling for $500,000 to be invested in sidewalks and $1,000,000
in roads was developed in past years. For these amounts, the plan was to redo one mile of
concrete sidewalk, plus one and three quarter miles of asphalt sidewalk, and overlay at
least six miles of roadway which would allow the improvements of the worst 5% of our
total road network. Adding $350,000 in available Chapter 90 funds will increase the
roadway coverage to eight or nine miles. This project would allow for road and sidewalk
improvements in each ward of the city. However, this project may need to be delayed due
to funding constraints.
Interchange Design/Build
This project continues to move through the design phase. The Engineering Department is
working closely with state authorities, and hopes to receive funding and approval to bring
the project to the 25% design stage in the near future. However, financial uncertainties at
the state level have affected all capital construction projects.
This project, to be located near Brimbal Avenue and Route 128, will include a bridge over
Route 128 near the Burger King. While originally conceived as an overpass, analysis has
suggested that an interchange is far more appropriate than simply an overpass.
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The interchange plan includes on and off ramps and will allow all traffic to the Music
Theatre and nearby locations to come and go without ever driving on local Beverly streets,
i.e. direct access and egress to and from Route 128. Although more expensive than an
overpass, this quality of life project will reduce emissions and pollution, improve safety,
decrease traffic delays, and provide convenience in addition to improving the city’s cash
flow by allowing the development of some land zoned for business but currently hard to
access.
No additional development will be created by the project beyond what is already allowed
under current zoning, but properties will be more valuable and the bulk of the cost is
expected to be borne by the state. As previously envisaged, this project included some
private contributions and no city funds.
Downtown Parking Lots
The city will proceed this year with the refurbishing of the first of five downtown parking
lots, beginning with the lot at Hale and Briscoe streets. The renovations and improvements
to the parking lots will be funded entirely out of the parking revenues collected from the
meters at those sites.
The plans for the parking lot rehabilitation, provided by the Beta Group, are available for
viewing at the city’s Planning Department.
The plan as reflected in the table (page 26) currently projects the renovation of one lot per
year for five years. Improved revenue flows would allow this timetable to be speeded up
in subsequent years.
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PARKS & OPEN SPACE
This section is devoted to discussion of land acquisition and site preparation or renovation.
Last year the total funding was increased to $200,000 per year during the plan period to
better match our needs. It is important to note that active recreation is equally as noble as
important as passive recreation. However, financial constraints have caused the indefinite
suspension of budget allocations for open space acquisition. A portion of the $200,000
allocated last year, however, remains available for further acquisitions.
Active – This administration is dedicated to finding space for seven athletic fields as
determined necessary by the Recreation Commission. Two additional fields could be
created behind the Memorial Middle School on school property.
Significantly, three others could be located on the Vitale site, an 18.4-acre parcel located in
North Beverly at Route 97 and Henderson Road. These three fields would be a major step
toward meeting the needs of the Recreation Commission, but we will await further
resolution of that site before discussing this matter further. (The reader should be aware
that the resolution of that site is under active investigation by the State Department of
Environmental Protection and many other interested parties because of the fly ash located
on the site. New England Power Co. which is responsible for the fly ash has indicated its
willingness to pay all costs associated with returning the site to a useable condition.)
Another field can be created by the reactivation and enlargement of the field behind
Briscoe Middle School when the school is renovated and the bus storage activity is moved.
Another alternative is the recently capped dumpsite on Brimbal Ave. (below).
Dump Risk Assessment
With the completion of the dump capping we proceed with a risk assessment, which will
help predict when the dump area can be safely used for recreational purposes. That
assessment is expected to cost under $50,000, and includes the measurement of
decomposition gases escaping from the vents on the landfill. Factors affecting future use
of the landfill relate to its undulating contours, road access and utility availability.
Sally Milligan Park & Other Open Space
The city continues to pursue the acquisition of other fragmented parcels that can complete
the composition of the Sally Milligan park area, in addition to the 37.4 acres that were
added as part of the Hill property acquisition.
The city is also investigating other smaller parcels around the city for acquisition, and has
been negotiating with the owners of a small parcel in Ryalside in particular.
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WATERFRONT
Glover’s Wharf
The city waterfront is currently a beehive of planning and consideration of various
opportunities. More slips could be put in the water, yielding more revenue. Most believe
the Federal Channel should be reconfigured. One investor has brought forward a proposal
whereby he would invest significant personal funds in the building of the Hannah to a
reasonable facsimile of the original ship, but up to current Coast Guard standards. This
proposal is exciting but currently appears to be undercapitalized. Any activity carried out
at the waterfront should be self-supporting based on marine-related revenues and the like.
Therefore, this plan has no financial immediate implications.
Ventron – Site Purchase
There had been some thought that the City should acquire this 3.7-acre waterfront site so
as to be able to exert some control over its development. Morton Thiokol, parent of
Ventron, had reportedly committed to sell the property for $925,000, but the city’s files
and those of Rohm & Haas, the owner, contain no record of that commitment.
A proposed Purchase and Sale Agreement was presented to the City Council at the end of
2001, but the council’s Finance and Property Committee tabled that request in December
2001.
This administration determined that given the history of the acquisition of the McDonald’s
property and the on-going expense of that debt service (over $100,000 per year), as well as
the city’s current difficult financial state, the acquisition of another piece of property
without explicit plans did not make sense. The city thus decided to forego its reported
right of first refusal in early 2002.
The property is currently reportedly under a purchase and sale agreement by a private
buyer, and details of the purchase or the purchaser have not been disclosed. The city will
make certain that all applicable zoning, land use, and waterfront access conditions are met
in full under any future development scenario.
Bass River Seawall at Innocenti Park
This wall is failing and needs immediate repair along a 500-foot section amounting to
$625,000. The poor condition of this wall came into focus after the installation of the
adjacent section at the Margin Street Pump Station. The presence of contaminated soils
has escalated the cost of the repair. No funds are currently allocated for this repair.
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RECREATION - Active
Hurd Stadium Seats
Work has been done to improve the condition of the stands at Hurd Stadium by installing
concrete footings in locations where the stands were essentially bearing on bare earth.
Work was also done to improve the seats for safety reasons.
This administration has resurrected the Hurd Stadium Advisory Committee, and that
committee is expected to provide its suggestions for the comprehensive overhaul and
refurbishing of the Hurd Stadium athletic complex. A decision will be made on the next
steps once the scope of the necessary repairs and upgrades is determined and priced.
Beverly Golf & Tennis
A study indicated that the century-old clubhouse is in need of extensive repairs and
improvements, requiring approximately $1,500,000 which we would expect to bond. The
first steps in these repairs and renovations was begun in the spring of 2003, with extensive
repairs to the veranda, men’s locker area, and adjoining areas. This part of the project,
estimated to cost $750,000, is the first significant repair and renovation work that has been
done at the clubhouse in at least ten years. These repairs are expected to be completed
before July 2003.
YMCA Teen Center
Cummings currently houses the Balch Street Teen Center of the YMCA. Cummings is
eager to move the “Y” Teen Center elsewhere so as to utilize the Balch Street location for
their purposes. Cummings has offered the “Y” a matching grant of up to $1,000,000
toward the construction of a new facility.
The likely location of this facility is McPherson Drive. The existing McPherson Youth
Center may be torn down and a larger building located at that site. City participation, if
any, is as yet undefined. The entire site is very restrictive because of its small size.
Hockey Rink
The city has long suffered from a scarcity of adequate ice-skating facilities. The city has
been working with some private investors and facilitators to explore possible sites for a
hockey rink in Beverly. The facility will most likely be placed on city land, but privately
operated. The investigation of possible sites has turned up several prospective locations
that will be investigated further before any definitive plans are announced.
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CEMETERIES
There had been concern last year that the city was running out of cemetery space, but
thanks to some creative use of space and some new approaches, the city currently has
sufficient space to meet current needs.
Several abandoned grass roadways in Central Cemetery will be converted for interment
use, which will provide considerable additional space. The North Beverly cemetery is
reaching its capacity and has only a few years of new lot sales left. Overall, however, the
city has sufficient space to meet its needs.
The city will be testing four acres of land it owns on Cole Street in order to get a picture of
the water and ledge conditions at that site. It may be necessary to do some preliminary
rock blasting to prepare the site before it can be used for burials. The testing will be done
as funds become available.
LIBRARIES
Beverly Farms Library
The renovation and expansion of the Beverly Farms Library is approximately one-third
completed as of this writing. Work has been done on drainage, exterior finish, water and
electrical service, walls and brickwork, and other areas. The project is still expected to be
completed some time in calendar 2003.
The cost of the project has escalated from a projected $3 million to slightly over $4
million. Volunteers succeeded in raising over $1,000,000 toward the renovation of the
Beverly Farms Library, and a total of $1,250,000 is expected to be available in all from
donations. The City of Beverly has held to its original commitment of $1,750,000. The $1
million shortfall in funding has been met by a pledge by the library’s Board of Trustees to
dedicate the revenue stream from the state library funds in the amount of $50,000 per year
for the next 20 years. However, at this writing, given the difficulties at the state budget
level, the availability of those funds must be confirmed. Additional private and volunteer
fundraising may become essential to close the funding gap.
OTHER CAPITAL ASSETS – ACQUISITION & MAINTENANCE
Park Street Roofs
The Department of Public Services buildings at Park Street have roofs which leak badly
and suffer from structural weaknesses. Some minor work is being performed at this time.
$180,000 has been identified as the cost for improvements to bring these facilities into
reasonable condition. We have up-to-date estimates at this time confirming the costs.
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GENERAL FUND
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLAN
PROJECT EXPENDITURES BY FISCAL YEAR
PROJECT 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Departmental Equipment 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000
Drainage 1,900,000
Chase/Lawrence/Chubbs
Other drainage 700,000
Dump Risk Assessment 40,000
Interchange Design/Build 300,000 300,000 200,000
Public Safety Facility 400,000 2,000,000
Design Build
Hurd Stadium Seats 250,000
Annual Parks/Greenspace 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000
Bass River Seawall 125,000/500,000
Bus Garage 250,000
Cemeteries 250,000
Bridge Street 105,000
Rantoul/Cabot 100,000
Street (Rte. 1A)
Cabot Street (lots) 64,000 140,000 204,000 280,000 154,000
Centerville School 11,800,000
Fire House Design/Build 1,650,000
Golf Course 750,000
Beverly Farms Library 1,250,000
__________
TOTAL 15,809,000 6,715,000 1,354,000 1,128,000 954,000
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WATER AND SEWER FUNDS
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLAN
PROJECT EXPENDITURES BY FISCAL YEAR
PROJECT 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Departmental Equipment 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000
Meter Replacement 400,000 400,000
Service Replacements 1,600,000 2,000,000 1,000,000
Main Line Replacement 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000
Back Feeding 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000
Valve Replacements 500,000
GIS 275,000
Hydraulic Model 100,000 100,000
Hydrant Improvements 125,000
Hale Street Sewer 900,000 900,000
Cross Lane/Boyle St. Sewer 300,000 300,000
Cabot and Trask St. Sewer 500,000 125,000
Pumping Station Renovations 100,000
__________
TOTAL 5,975,000 4,450,000 4,700,000 2,500,000 2,500,000
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