Minutes - Monday 12 June 2017Special Meeting - Beverly City Council, Beverly, MA
MINUTES - Monday, 12 June 2017 @ 7:00 PM
Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3r Floor Council Chamber
Called to Order @ 7:03 PM
Roll Call: John P. Frates Jr., Scott D. Houseman -Vice President, David J. Lang,
James F. Latter, Donald G. Martin, Estelle M. Rand, Matthew J. St. Hilaire, Jason C.
Silva, Paul M. Guanci- President.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: Councilor St.Hilaire
Moment of Silence: None
Resolutions: #437 - William F. Mahoney, Chair, Beverly Airport Commission
- Approved: 9 -0
Presentations, Awards & Memorials:
1. Mayor Cahill — Climate Change
Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meeting: None
Communications from His Honor the Mayor:
FIMI
June 7, 2017
The Honorable City Council
City Hall
Beverly, MA 01915
Dear Honorable City Council:
After some discussion and further review of the Water Enterprise Fund, I am submitting an
amended Water Fund budget for fiscal year 2018. My original budget submission called for a
$367,500 draw from the retained earnings to offset the rate for FYI 8. My amendment seeks to
increase that draw to $617,500 further reducing the FYI water rate for ratepayers. The water
rate as revised by this amendment would be set to $3.04 per unit as opposed to the original
submission which called for a $3.23 rate per unit.
I believe the retained earnings balance of the Water Enterprise Fund is sufficient to handle this
additional draw while continuing to provide relief for future years. I also caution City
Councilors that we have been planning for four significant needed water infrastructure projects
(Pershing Avenue pump station upgrades, Brimbal Avenue and Folly Hill water tower
maintenance, new water meter installations) which will more than triple the debt service line
item within the Water Enterprise Fund by FY2019. Therefore, I would neither propose nor
support any deeper drawdown of the retained earnings at this time. We need to strive to avoid a
significant rate shock when the additional project costs are absorbed into the operating budget.
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I want to thank members of the City Council, particularly Councilor David Lang, as well as the
City Council's budget analyst, Mr. Perry, for your thoughtful analysis and inquiries in this matter.
As a result, we see an opportunity to save our ratepayers money on their water use this coming
year. Again, thank you all.
Sincerely yours,
Michael P. Cahill
Mayor
Received and Placed on File — Vote: 9 -0
Public Hearing:
1. 7.00 PM - #414 — Fiscal Year 2018 Budget — Called to Order @ 7:00 PM,
recessed until 7:20 PM, Called back to Order @ 7:20 PM.
Public Hearing Held and Closed, referred back to Finance & Property
Communications from other City Officers & Boards: None
Communications, Applications & Petitions: None
Unfinished Business: None
Motions and Orders: None
Reports of Committees: None
Council President entertained a motion to enter Executive Session, pursuant to
MGL Chapter 30A, Section 21(3) so the Council may discuss pending litigation
entitled the City of Beverly v. Essex County Sheriff's Department, et al., Essex
County Superior Court, Civil Action No. ESCV1577 -003. The purpose of the
executive session is to discuss litigation strategy. An executive session is
necessary because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the city's
litigation position. The Council will not reconvene in an open meeting after the
Executive Session.
Motion: Council Vice President Houseman
Second: Councilor Martin
Roll Call Vote:
Councilor Frates —Yes
Councilor Houseman —Yes
Councilor Lang —Yes
Councilor Latter —Yes
Councilor Martin —Yes
Councilor Rand —Yes
Councilor St.Hilaire — Yes
Councilor Silva — Yes
Councilor Guanci —Yes
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The Council entered into Executive Session @ 9:55 PM
The Council adjourned from Executive Session @ 10:15 PM.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilor Frates —Yes
Councilor Houseman —Yes
Councilor Lang —Yes
Councilor Latter —Yes
Councilor Martin —Yes
Councilor Rand —Yes
Councilor St.Hilaire — Yes
Councilor Silva — Yes
Councilor Guanci —Yes
Meeting Adjourned: 10:15 PM Attest: D. Wesley Slate, Jr.
City Clerk
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