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1998-01-05 INAUGURATION CEREMONY CITY OF BEVERLY JANUARY 5, 1998 AT 12:00 NOON WELCOME Daniel Murphy PRESENTATION OF COLORS Guard Beverly Fire Honor PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Peter Gilmore NATIONAL ANTHEM BHS A Capella Octet INVOCATION Rev George J. Butera, Pastor St. John the Evangelist Church REMARKS Rev. Charles Hughes, Pastor St. Mary Star of the Sea Church READING OF THE CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION Frances Macdonald Beverly City Clerk OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO THE MAYOR City Clerk OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL City Clerk OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL City Clerk OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO THE NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE City Clerk MUSICAL SELECTION BHS A Capella Octet INTRODUCTION OF THE MAYOR Daniel Murphy INAUGURAL ADDRESS Ladies and Gentlemen: The term of office which begins today will end in the year 2000. As we begin the final term of the 1900; I believe that as elected officials, the nine members of the City Council, the six School Committee members and I, that we have an unusual if not unique opportunity to make a real and positive difference in the quality of life of Beverly's citizens. During the past four years much has been done to move Beverly from the brink of financial disaster. We successfully faced down receivership and put our financial house in order. Later this month the completed audit for the year ending June 30, 1997, will be released. It will show that the General Fund Balance Deficit has been completely eliminated. That deficit was reported in the audit of June 30, 1994 as a problem over $7 million in size. Now it is gone. Some would consider this action a success. I consider it to be a successful beginning, and one of which Council members and I who served over the past four years can be justly proud. While many improvements have been made, perhaps the best news is that going forward we no longer have to remedy the mistakes of the past. We have the opportunity to deal with the future from a level playing field. But looking back, for a great many years there has been talk by Beverly politicians about significant capital projects which would enhance the quality of life in our city. There have been promises but there has been little action. Storm drainage issues remain unsolved decades later. People in parts of our City have given up on having their problem solved. Police and fire stations are woefully inadequate. Schools were allowed to deteriorate to a deplorable state. Water lines in many parts of the City date back to the 1800's. Those parts of our infrastructure below the ground and out of sight were even more ignored than those above ground, if that is possible. Why did this happen? Why weren't the promises kept? The answer is simple. The money wasn't there. Clearly one of our major tasks is to manage this City so that the funds to achieve these necessary improvements are available. Making the capital expenditure plan is relatively easy. Finding the money to make the improvements is the tough part. And beyond that, it is a job that I believe can be done without overrides--if we all continue to work together. I must add that I do not believe we can avoid annual tax increases in the order of 2 1/2%. Those who would suggest that, have not I believe, looked carefully at all the numbers. Implementation of the Education Reform Act demands significant additional new dollars each year of city funds be added to the school budget. That amount is very close to the total funds available under Proposition 2 1/2 without new growth. Beyond that there are strong arguments being made that educational spending must be at levels greater than education reform would demand. To give the citizens of Beverly the government they deserve we must: add new growth, especially light industrial do a better job of purchasing and contracting - the recently negotiated Golf and Tennis Agreement is a good example. It is expected to yield at least an additional $200,000 each year. get value for every dollar we spend no matter where or how we spend it. pay all our employees fairly but insist on high productivity. do preventive maintenance on buildings and vehicles before they fall into major disrepair. take advantage of recently broadened State Programs to subsidize interest costs on some capital projects. To summarize, we must raise revenues from new sources without pain to residents, lower our costs of doing business and make our dollars go further. Much of this can be translated as good management. In each of the past two years the proportion of the real estate tax load on our residents has dropped slightly and shifted to the business sector. That trend will continue. But being penny wise and pound foolish by not paying reasonable salaries for key management positions and performance is a ticket to failure. Department Heads in Beverly are not generally overpaid. Beverly does the job of governing with less employees per 10,000 citizens than do its neighbors. I will have more to say on this point in the future. The lesson of good management over many years is clear. Demand much; pay above average. This must be true for both union and non-union employees. We now have a management team in place that can do a good job. Plan to reward those people. Do not think that the past four years of improved financial results is an accident or that Moody's recent double increase in our bond rating is an accident--it is the result of hard work and thoughtful work. We have in recent times strengthened greatly our Financial Department, Engineering, Public Services, Purchasing and Public Safety to mention but a few. Our school system is better organized and administered. The new Superintendent has gotten off to an excellent start. A word on several especially important initiatives is in order. I will early in 1998 bring to the Council an updated package on the Airport Connector Road. The revenue from that project is absolutely essential to being able to pursue our capital projects. The Blue Ribbon Commission dealing with the overpass over Route 128 and the Connector Road to Brimbal Avenue to be chaired by Don Martin, Ward Five Councilor, will begin its activities this month to take full advantage of the $5,000,000 promised us by Governor Cellucci. This Commission will look at the use of the land on both sides of Route 128, not only the Norwood Pond area, but also the former landfill site. The Dump Capping Project will be very high on our list of priorities. It remains unclear whether we can find ways to offset some of the costs associated with this project such as receiving excavate material from the "Big Dig." Certainly we are working hard to that end. On the other hand the Department of Environmental Protection ordered Beverly to cap the landfill in 1986 and is still waiting. One can understand some annoyance on their part. Later this month I will turn over to the Council the largely developed Standley Street Dump Policy for fine tuning and implementation in time for Spring. Looking even better every day is the decision by the City Council to support the TIF proposal for Cummings Park proposed by the Economic and Community Development Commission and the Mayor. We are very fortunate to have had the goodwill of the people of Beverly who have wanted that project to succeed and have created a very positive environment. In three years time when the first phase of the TIF agreement expires all indications are that construction build-out will be complete and tenant occupancy will be at a high level. The TIF will have done its job by encouraging the maximum investment and the City will reap the rewards in the form of considerably more tax dollars than had been predicted. It is interesting to note that land in the City of Beverly is taking on increased value as evidenced by the price Walgreen's has agreed to pay the City for a one acre parcel. Further evidence is Cummings Properties' desire to build two parking garages at the old "Shoe" site and offered assistance in building a new Public Safety Facility if the City will return to Cummings a portion of the land at the site under the City's control. While Cummings is desirous of proceeding quickly, discussion on these matters must be thorough and all interested parties must have an opportunity to be heard. I could go on and on. New water meters are essential. That project it is believed will pay for itself through additional billings now being missed. That project is in fact behind schedule but it must be done correctly for we can't afford to do it over. The original schedule has slipped because the specification was too narrow and did not allow for sufficient competition. In pursuing these projects we must find enough funds to not be faced with ridiculous choices. Just as the family with food but without shelter will certainly perish so too would a family with shelter but without food be no better off. All those projects which are essential must be funded. To do so we must continue to bring a business like approach to city government, and we must find ways to cooperatively expand on each other's ideas. But enough on the material side of things. Our City of 39,000 people thought by most of us to be a safe place and a special place has seen the past two months of two totally senseless murders, not only brutal but without apparent motive. Discussions with Tim Flaherty who has spent his entire adult life working successfully with our young people indicate we are doing well with teenagers up to about age fifteen. As you know, both of the recent crimes involved older adolescents. I intend to call together a special session involving school officials, members from law enforcement, religious leaders--some of whom are with us today-and other interested parties to determine whether Beverly can take additional actions to combat this issue. I have asked Tim Flaherty to coordinate this effort on a priority basis. Today I have the honor and privilege of beginning a third term today as your Mayor. From the beginning I have wanted only to do a good and fair job without favorites or prejudice. I have never believed that any one person has all the answers, and I see the Mayor's Office as being a collection point for good ideas. I have learned over the past four years that a small portion of our citizens oppose essentially all change, no matter how good it may be. I have learned that the Mayor must lean in the direction of decisiveness or nothing will get done. But I am even more sure than I once was that the Mayor's Office door and telephone must be open and available so that everyone can speak his or her own piece and offer his or her ideas. I will try very hard to listen well. We can end this century on a high note. We can improve handicapped accessibility. Hopefully, we can build a small connector road from Summit Avenue to Cabot Street near the new bridge to make the streets of Goat Hill safer. We can build better access to the Ayers School from Bridge Street making that neighborhood safer. We can finally improve drainage to Sunset Drive and Brimbal Hills Avenue; we can sort out Lawrence Brook and Chubbs Brook. We can have an Airport Connector Road and an industrial park which actually serves to make more safe our water supply. We can get the traffic off Dunham Road, provide fields and playing areas for Ward Five, bring Norwood Pond itself back to life, and get the dump capped. We can move technology forward in our schools. We can complete Bruce Nardella's vision for the Common by finishing that work for the benefit of all Beverly citizens. And we can open the new parking lot near the Depot train station that we were fortunate enough to pave just last week. All this won't be easy. We will be open for criticism. Projects can run late, result in cost overruns or contain poor construction work. Our task is to guard against such outcomes, and doing so will require sufficient manpower to properly supervise these projects. No speech can cover every point. This one is no exception. What I have tried to outline today is that we have an unparalleled opportunity to make progress in the next two years. I would expect and indeed hope that the community will judge us harshly if we do not seize on our opportunity. In closing let me thank all of Beverly's volunteers for their help and once again urge others in the community to step forward and offer their time and talent. Clearly it is the efforts of volunteers which make a community special and Beverly is indeed a special place. CITY COUNCIL MEETING Call to Order Roll Call: All Council Members were present Communications from His Honor the Mayor Communications from Other City Officers and Boards #2 City Clerk City Hall Beverly, Mass. 01915 Dear Fran: This is to notify you that I have made the following appointments: Committee on Finance and Property Russell Rollins, Chair John Murray Carol Van Liere Committee on Legal Affairs and Accounts Joyce McMahon, Chair Peter Gilmore Timothy Flaherty Committee on Public Service and Aid Maureen Troubetaris, Chair Virginia McGlynn Donald Martin Very truly yours, Peter H. Gilmore #3 Honorable City Council City Hall Beverly, Mass Dear Council, RE: Request for Stop Signs, School Street at Wellman Street, both sides, 4-Way Stop We have been asked to look into the possibility of placing 2 STOP signs, one each side of Wellman Street on School Street, to make this intersection a 4-Way STOP. We have conducted a 30-day trial at this intersection and recommend this be made a permanent 4-way STOP. The location meets the warrants for STOP signs. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 89, Section 9, of the Massachusetts General Laws, and Chapter 14, Section 86, of the Revised Ordinance of the City of Beverly, we request the following stop signs: at ADD: School Street, eastbound and westbound drivers on School Street Wellman Street Very truly yours, Dennis O. Tarsook Traffic Sergeant Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts #4 Honorable City Council City Hall Beverly, Mass Dear Council, RE; Request for Stop Signs, Margin Street at River Street, and McPherson Drive at Federal We have been asked to look into the possibility of making the intersections of River Street, Federal Street, Margin Street and McPherson Drive a 4-way STOP. We have conducted a 30-day trial at this intersection and recommend this be made a permanent 4-way STOP. The location meets the warrants for STOP signs. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 89, Section 9, of the Massachusetts General Laws, and Chapter 14, Section 86, of the Revised Ordinance of the City of Beverly, we request the following stop signs: ADD: Margin St. Eastbound drivers on Margin at River St. ADD: McPherson Dr., southbound drivers on McPherson at Federal Very truly yours, Dennis O. Tarsook, Traffic Sergeant Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts #5 Dear City Council members, We, the Student Council of Beverly High School are active in trying to make our school the best it can be, for both the students and the community. In our efforts to do this, we are organizing various events for the students in hopes of raising school spirit. For years, past Beverly High Student Councils have tried to establish a street sign next to the high school. Year after year they have been unable to complete the goal. This year's council now asks for your assistance in making this happen for the Beverly High School Community. After inquiring about the prospect of putting up a street sign with Sergeant Dennis Tarsook and various other employees of City Hall we found that any action taken towards putting up a sign on the road next to the school must go through the City Council first. Sgt. Tarsook was very helpful in identifying the street, and found that it does in fact have a name and exists on city maps. The road in question runs from Sohier Road to the back of the High School, past the tennis courts and practice field. Not only does the road unite the front of the school to the back, but it also serves as a place for many faculty members to park. Presently there is no street sign for the road because the city does not wish to encourage outside traffic use. The school had voted on the name "Panther Park" for the road. Perhaps if the sign was in orange and black the road would still take on the appearance of a private way, thus discouraging traffic use. The Student Council of Beverly High School would greatly appreciate any aid you could give us in attaining a sign. We would like this brief issue to be brought up in the next meeting. Beverly High has come a long way since last year, let's continue the progress. If there are any questions or comments you have regarding the sign, of the BHS Student Council, please call either Stephanie Cameron at 922-1951 or Meghan Driscoll at 922-1118 Sincerely, Beverly High School Student Council Stephanie Cameron, Vice President Meghan Driscoll, Secretary Referred to Finance and Property COMMUNICATIONS, APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS #6 Communication from GB Realty relative to a request for a No Parking Zone on Wallis Street Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts #7 Request by American Red Cross to hang banner across Cabot Street during month of March Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts #8 Petition of Boston Gas for 500' of 3" plastic gas main in Virginia Avenue Referred to Public Service and Aid #9 Claim-Bob Ballentine Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts #10 Communication from Mass Highway re Layout No 7322 and Order of Taking and Revision Referred to Finance and Property #11 Claim- Annette M. Ayers Referred to Legal Affairs and Accounts #12 Communication from Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission-Appropriation for Fiscal Year 1999 ($3,685,787.00) Referred to Finance and Property Motions and Orders #13 By Councilors Troubetaris and McMahon ORDERED: That the thanks of the Beverly City Council be, and the same is hereby extended to Reverend George J. Butera of St. John the Evangelist Church, Reverend Robert J. Wright of the Second Congregational Church, Reverend Charles Hughes of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and Rabbi Jacob Rosner of Temple B'Nai Abraham for their participation in today's Inauguration of City Government for the years 1998 and 1999. Order read once and adopted #14 By Councilors Martin and Rollins: ORDERED: That the City Council extend thanks to His Honor the Mayor for his Inaugural Address and that the City Clerk be ordered to record the address in the records of the City Council Order read once and adopted #15 BY Councilors Van Liere and Flaherty ORDERED; That the gratitude of the Beverly City Council be, and the same is hereby extended to all participants in today's Ceremony: to Mr. Daniel Murphy, the Beverly Fire Honor Guard and the Beverly High School A Capella Octet for their gracious and fitting assistance to the program. Order read once and adopted Meeting Adjourned at 1:00 PM Benediction Rabbi Jacob Rosner Temple B 'Nai Abraham Attest: Frances A. Macdonald, CMC City Clerk