2002-12-09CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board: Beverly Beautification Committee
Date: December 9, 2002
Place: Beverly City Hall, Committee Room, 191 Cabot Street
Board Members Present: Alice Lombardi, Elda Turner, Susan Mueller, Nancy
Ormiston, Ellen Todd, Rod Shropshire
Absent Members: Rosalie Kerr
Others Present: Planning Director Debra Hurlburt, City Arborist Phil
Klimowicz
Hurlburt calls the meeting to order and asked for an update by Nancy Ormiston on the
Traffic Island Program. Ormiston stated that she has been researching other communities
and have found that the City of Peabody has the best signage program while also being
the less costly and nearly maintenance free. She added that she is waiting for the person
responsible for this program from Peabody to give her a call and to send her material on
its program. Mr. Klimowicz was in attendance to give advice as to the best type of
plantings for the Program as it is difficult for the City to provide water to the islands. He
added that it should be the responsibility of each island participant to maintain and water
its own island. Mr. Klimowicz stated that he has reviewed the City’s planting list and it
is fine. He only has a problem with plantings if they are tall in nature such as ornamental
grasses. The Committee stated that it would hold off on approving until final plans of
signage have been reviewed.
Hurlburt stated that she shall be looking at how to undertake improvements to City Hall
and has recently read in the Salem News about how the City of Salem made
improvements to its City Hall and how this was done strictly on donations. She stated
that the work was primarily at the entranceway. Salem looked at business people and
residents for fundraising and volunteer services, and the cost was around $50,000 to
$60,000. She stated that Mary Usovicz had contacted numerous contractors to assist in
the work. She added that in they had two committees to assist in this undertaking; one
was the Friends of City Hall and the other was Employees of City Hall. Ms. Usovicz
stated that they also had an interior designer that helped on the project. They started with
ripping up a Formica floor and uncovered a wooden floor which was refurbished. She
stated that they then painted the interior entranceway and halls and added new carpentry.
Ms. Usovicz stated that the Peabody/Essex museums lent paintings as well. Finally, new
light fixtures and new window treatments were added and old furniture was resorted
along with the front wooden doors.
Hurlburt stated that this was a possibility that the City of Beverly should undertake. The
Board discussed the possibilities and Hurlburt stated that we could discuss this more at
the next meeting.
The Committee then discussed what it could do for a Community Pride Day. The
thoughts included flower planting within the City, street sweeping weekly on Rantoul and
Cabot Streets and an entrance corridor clean up day.
The Committee then discussed a time for its next meeting. It was determined that the
next meeting would be held on January 14, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. in the Committee Room at
City Hall.
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.