2001-01-027:15 PM Committee of the Whole-Executive Session Beverly Golf & Tennis Club
7:58 PM Public Hearing Keyspan Energy for installation of gas main in Balch St.
Referred to Public Service and Aid
MEETING OF BEVERLY CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 2, 2001
Roll Call: Councilors present: Costa, Guanci, Martin, McGlynn, McMahon,
Smith, Troubetaris, Flaherty, and Murray
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: Led by Councilor McMahon
Appointments:
Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Meeting of December 18, 2000
Communications from His Honor the Mayor:
#1
January 2, 2001
Honorable City Council
City Hall
Bevedy, MA 01915
Dear Honorable Council:
I am in the process of preparing a Mid-term Report discussing the activities of the
past year. I would appreciate the opportunity to present this report at your next
Council meeting on January 16.
Very truly yours,
William F. Scanlon, Jr., Mayor
Receive and Place on File
Communications from other City Officers and Boards
Communications, Applications and Petitions
#2
Honorable City Council
191 Cabot St.
Beverly, MA 01915
Dear Honorable Council:
Earlier this year, pursuant to Section 8-1 of the Beverly Home Rule Charter, your
Honorable Council appointed a committee to review the said Charter.
In furtherance of its responsibility, that committee, (hereinafter the Charter Review
Committee), has met eighteen times between March and this month. Minutes of
those meeting accompany this document, except for the last two meetings which
are being prepared. We have carefully read through the entire Charter,
highlighting those works that we believe needed to be further considered for
possible alteration. In many instances we have agreed upon changes that we
deem to be necessary or desirable. In general, we believe that the recommended
changes are to improve the clarity of the Charter's intent, rather than to make any
substantive change to the Charter.
Accompanying this letter, please find recommendations for changes to Articles 1, 2,
4 and 7 of the Charter. The format of the recommendations is that words which we
recommend be deleted are shown with a strikethrough (thus); words which we
recommend be inserted are underlined(thus). Where we recommend longer
portions of text be changed, new text alone is shown. The Committee recommends
that no changes be made to Article 9. With respect to Articles 3, 5, 6 and 8, the
Charter Review Committee believes changes are needed, but has not settled upon
what changes to recommend.
We note, that, while Article 8-1 requires the existence of a Charter Review
Committee this year, there is nothing in the Charter that precludes the existence of
such a committee at other times. Therefore, if it should please the Council, the
Charter Review Committee is prepared to continue its work into the New Year. We
estimate that we could complete our deliberations by April 1.
Of course, both as a Committee and as individuals, we stand ready to assist the
Council or other parts of the City Government with regard to the Charter in
whatever way may be useful.
Respectfully submitted,
The Charter Review Committee
Crystal Atherton Virginia McGlynn
Charles F. Grimes Toni Musante
Paul Guanci Maureen Troubetaris
Marshall Handly
Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts
#3
Petition of Massachusetts Electric for installation of underground conduit and cable
in Hale Street
Referred to Public Service and Aid
Communication from Massachusetts Department of Revenue re Implementation of
the community Preservation Act Finance Provisions
Receive and Place on file
Reports from Commiltees:
#3
The Committee on Public Service and Aid to whom was referred the matter of
Petition of Mass Electric 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 of the City of Beverly hold a public heating on
Tuesday, January 16, 2001 at 7:58 PM in Council Chambers, at 191 Cabot Street, Beverly,
MA relative to a Petition of Massachusetts Electric Company for installation of an
underground conduit and cable in Hale Street
Order read once and adopted 9-0 Vote
The Committee on The Whole to whom was referred the matter of Public Safety
Fadlity have considered said matter and beg leave to report as follows, to wit:
Submit the accompanying amended order and recommend its adoption
Ordered: That the city council authorize the Mayor to execute the following
documents
1. Waive the current options on the "Option Parcel"
2. Take reconfigured parcel by eminent domain (thus perfecting the City's
title to the parcel}
3. Waive the no-build restriction over the City's sewer easements through
the "Option Parcel'.' (any building to be subject to the approval of the
City Engineer}
Order read once and adopted 9-0 Vote
Resolutions:
Unfinished Business:
Motions and Orders:
#6
By Councilor Martin:
Ordered: That city-owned property (formerly part of the Wyner Estate), Map #68,
lots #134 and 134F, be rezoned from R-1O to the Municipal Open Space and
Recreation District.
There are two major reasons why I am requesting this action. First, this property
located at the end of Brimbal Hill Drive and Colonial Road abuts the city-owned
land near Norwood Pond. In June of 1999, the City rezoned all city-owned land
surrounding Norwood Pond as a Municipal Open Space and Recreation District. It is
my priority to preserve as much of the surrounding area as possible for open space
and passive or recreational uses.
Second, residents in the surrounding neighborhood have expressed concerns about
potential drainage problems should this land be developed in the future and the
impact any development might have on their property values. I want to assure
them that the City will take the appropriate action to address these concerns.
By Councilor: Donald G. Martin
Ward Five
Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts
#7
By Councilor Guanci:
Ordered: That the Director of Purchasing, Christopher Bradley, address the City
Council either in the appropriate committee or in front of the entire Council to
explain Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 30. It is to my understanding that all
contracts go through Mr. Bradley's office and in the past the City of Beverly has
come under scrutiny for not following the proper procedures outlined in MGL
Chapter 30. Just a few examples include the Beverly Golf and Tennis dispute, the
recent misunderstanding about the new assessor's program and the awarding of
the Water Meter Installation contract. A thorough explanation of Chapter 30 would
give the entire Council a better understanding to who is responsible for awarded
contracts in the City of Beverly.
By: Councilor: Paul M. Guanci
Councilor at Large
Referred to Committee of the Whole
Meeting adjourned: 9:12 PM
Frances A. Macdonald, CMC
City Clerk