2004-02-11CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Beverly Beautification Committee
DATE: February 11, 2004
PLACE: Beverly City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Rod Shropshire, Ellen Todd, Nancy Ormiston
OTHERS PRESENT: Tina Cassidy, Planning Director
I. Call to Order: 3:00 p.m.
Acting Chairman: Rod Shropshire
II. Election of Officers 2004
A. Nominees:
Rod Shropshire: Chairman
From the floor: none
Vice Chairman: Open for Nominations:
Rosalie Kerr, nominated by Ellen Todd
Ellen Todd: Secretary
From the floor: none
Treasurer: Open for Nominations
Nancy Ormiston, nominated by Tina Cassidy
B. The following officers were unanimously elected to office for 2004:
Chairman: Rod Shropshire
Vice Chairman: Rosalie Kerr
Secretary: Ellen Todd
Treasurer: Nancy Ormiston
III. Formal Application for New Members
A. The original members of the Beverly Beautification Committee were
appointed by Former Mayor Thomas Crean and approved by the City Council.
B. New members will be by appointment of Mayor William Scanlon.
1. Procedure: Citizens wishing to serve on the Committee for the 2004
fiscal year are to write a letter to Mayor Scanlon addressing why they wish
to serve on this Committee. Accepted Members will be notified and
approved through the City Council.
2. Nomination forms were distributed to the current committee members.
C. Current Members' Status for 2004
1. Cassidy reported that Susan Mueller has expressed interest in
continuing on the committee but has scheduling problems. After
discussion the committee decided to retain the current meeting schedule.
IV. Finalizing 2003 Projects
A. Business Sponsors
1. Financial concerns are foremost. Additional business sponsors are
needed to complete the funding for the City Council Chamber
improvements.
B. Window treatments
1. Sponsors are needed for four windows at $150.00 each. This will cover
the balance of $549 remaining for the window treatments.
C. Councilors' Photographs
1. Funding is needed for six photographs at $65.00 each. The total amount
needed is $390. Eight photographs have been matted and framed and
eight more remain to be done.
D .Solution:
1. Seven new sponsors contributing $150 each would complete the
funding of the project.
2. The committee will seek additional sponsors. Potential sponsors were
suggested and committee members will follow up.
V. Washington’s Portrait
A. A completion date has not been given for the restoration project.
1. Cassidy has contacted Tom Scully who is handling the arrangements for
the restoration of the portrait. The portrait has been sent to a restorer in
Maine.
VI. New Business 2004
A. Plaques for councilors' photos.
1. This project will remain on hold until further funding is available.
2. The three plaques for the most recent mayors' portraits (Scanlon, Crean,
Monahan,) have been installed.
B. Unveiling Ceremony
1. The committee discussed an unveiling ceremony for the completed
project.
2. Cassidy suggested a Mayoral Proclamation to thank donors and
volunteers who have contributed to the project.
C. Traffic Island Project
1. The top priority of 2004 will be to return our focus to the traffic island
improvement project, to finalize sign conformity and resolve upkeep
issues.
2. Update by Ellen Todd
Todd presented a summary report on the recommendations that the
committee has made on the traffic island issue since its inception. (The
report is attached.) Todd reported that there was significant improvement
in many of the islands last summer as a result of notices mailed to
sponsors concerning their deficiencies. Some abandoned sites remain
problematic. It was suggested that the city crews remove abandoned
plantings.
3. The committee agreed to initiate the report's recommendations
regarding annual renewal of sponsor contracts and implementation of
uniform signage over the next three years.
4. Ormiston reported that Montserrat Nursing home has requested
sponsorship of an island at the Brimbal Avenue and Route 128
interchange.
5. By mid-March new contracts will be sent to all sponsors of record. A
cover letter from the chairman of the committee will explain the new
procedures and signage. New sponsors will be required to use the new
signs agreed upon by the committee (similar to those in use in Peabody).
Old signs will be phased out over three years and replaced with the new
ones.
D. Business District Plantings.
1. Todd suggested the committee focus on increasing civic plantings in the
downtown area. Cassidy suggested collaboration with Main Streets group
and will contact them.
V. Wrap-up
A. Shropshire reiterated that the committees' primary short term objectives are to
complete funding for the current projects by seeking additional sponsors and to
increase membership on the committee.
The next meeting will take place on March 10 at 3:00 p.m. in the Committee Room at
City Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Ellen Todd, Secretary