2014-06-12CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
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RECORDER:
Economic and Community Development Council
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Beverly City Hall Conference Room
Mayor Michael Cahill, Council President Paul
Guanci , Neil Douglas, Charlene St. Jean, Don
Fournier, Bill Howard, Aaron Clausen, Mike
Collins and Michael O'Brien
None
Rich Marino
Eileen Sacco
Mayor Cahill calls the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
Discussion/Update: Beverly Designated Port Area (DPA)
Clausen reports that the Planning Department submitted the City's Boundary Review
request by the office of Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management in April and the
request was accepted. He explained that the public process has started. He noted that the
30 day comment period for CZM ended on June 6, 2014. He estimated that the process
will take 3 -6 months.
Fournier asked if any comments were received during the comment period. Clausen
reported that 4 comments were received. One comment in favor, and three comments
that expressed concerns about protecting the commercial fisherman, and fishing from the
docks. He explains that fishing is allowed primarily from the city docks which are
outside of the DPA.
Clausen reports that a scoping session will be held in July. He also noted that a zoning
amendment is being done in tandem with the DPA review. He reported that another
public hearing regarding the zoning will be held on June 26, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at City
Hall. He noted that the city is requesting public comment regarding the rules and
regulations and the goals for the area.
Clausen reviews the timeline for the process. He noted that the joint public hearing of the
Planning Board and the City Council for the Interim Planning Overlay District will be
held on June 16, 2014 at 7:20 p.m. at City Hall.
Draft ECDC meeting minutes June 12, 2013 Meeting
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Discussion: Proposed ECDC Ordinance Amendment
Mayor Cahill recalled that at the last meeting there was discussion about expanding the
membership of the ECDC and that would require an amendment of the ordinance. He
presented a draft of the revised ordinance for the ECDC to review.
Mayor Cahill explained that he has asked Rich Marino to sit in on today's meeting as a
potential member.
The members of the ECDC reviewed the proposed amendments to the ordinance.
Bill Howard suggested that the membership have no more than 15 members to give the
group some flexibility. The Mayor agreed noting that quorum rules and regulations need
to be considered.
Mayor Cahill noted that Beverly Main Streets has not been represented on the ECDC and
he would see this as an opportunity to include them.
Fournier notes that a representative of the higher education community in Beverly is not
included in the amendment and it was discussed at the last meeting. He also noted that
there was discussion of including a representative of Beverly Hospital as well. Mayor
Cahill suggested that there could be ex- officio non - voting members of the group as well.
Fournier stated that the members should be Beverly residents. Mayor Cahill agreed
noting that they have to be Beverly residents unless they are appointed by the City
Council at the Request of the Mayor. Fournier noted that there may be someone who
lives outside of Beverly who works at one of the larger institutions and we may not want
to lose that connection.
Mayor Cahill stated that they would revise the language for the amendment to include a
representative of the hospital and higher education.
Douglas stated that during the Brimbal Avenue deliberations the ECDC involvement
turned out to be counter productive and cautioned that we should avoid potential bias.
Mayor Cahill stated that the ECDC is an advisory board on economic issues throughout
the city and there are pockets that are important.
Fournier stated that affordable housing needs to be a priority noting that rents are too
high.
Howard noted that all of that is correct and stated that Beverly Main Streets is an
important component of the downtown. He also noted that Beverly Farms, North
Beverly are important as well and suggested that the group needs to be careful not to put
ourselves in a box.
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St. Jean agreed noting that she feels that a larger group makes it harder sometimes to get
things done. She noted that it should be manageable and broad enough to gather enough
input.
Douglas reviews the job percentages throughout the city noting that there is more retail in
North Beverly than there is in the downtown. He also noted that 35% of all jobs are at
Beverly Hospital and 60 -75% are in the Cummings Center.
Mayor Cahill suggested that the ECDC have 12 or 13 voting members and suggested an
at large member position to be designated for someone with housing background
experience.
Douglas noted that the basic responsibility of the ECDC is the strategic plan and that is
not sufficiently defined in the ordinance. He questioned if that should be explained
further. He reported that the group really labored in the past to develop a mission
statement that still has a lot of relevance today. He stated that he would be more
comfortable starting the with existing mission statement rather than the proposed
paragraph.
Fournier questioned if the mission statement is relevant to what we need today. Douglas
stated that he thinks it is.
Mayor Cahill noted that more and more people are working out of their houses and do not
need a downtown office.
St. Jean agreed noting that some office buildings are offering "rent a desk" opportunities
for small businesses.
Mayor Cahill suggested that a real estate agent should be included in the ECDC,
suggesting Steve Archer as a possible member.
St. Jean stated that a real estate representative would be a great addition noting that the
have access to a lot of data and information.
Mayor Cahill suggested that this could be written in such a way that the positions could
be left to fill when the need arises, noting that it would not require an ordinance
amendment when the ECDC wants to add someone with a specific expertise.
Mayor Cahill stated that he and Clausen will redraft the ordinance and include the
mission statement. Douglas suggested that the Mayor may want to make some changes
to the mission statement to make some amendments to the roles and objectives. Mayor
Cahill stated that he will review it to see if it needs to be refined.
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Mayor Cahill explained that the process for the ordinance change requires a public
hearing and two readings by the City Council. He explained that he would like to submit
the ordinance to the Council for the June 16 meeting and they will schedule a public
hearing.
Mayor Cahill also suggested that he would invite potential ECDC members to attend the
next meeting in July.
Discussion: Update on the Route 128 / Brimbal Avenue interchange improvement
rp olect
Mayor Cahill reported that he has been in contact with Frank DiPaolo to expedite the
project. He explained that the drawings are 25% complete and the state has agreed to
fund 100 %. He states that the plans were submitted on 6/2 and the city will be holding a
public meeting in July to give the public a chance to weigh in on the project.
Mayor Cahill reported that he has also met with Steve Cohen of CEA Group and he is
moving ahead with his project for the retail plaza which will hopefully include a Whole
Foods Store. He stated that he expects that they will submit a project to the Planning
Board in September or October of this year. He also noted that they have agreed to work
with the City on the appropriate access on Brimbal Avenue. He further noted that this
will lay the ground work for Phase II, noting that the interchange is an important project
for the full build out with the two round abouts.
Mike Collins noted that they will be coordinating access of the driveway openings and
noted that they are sorting out an odd range of requests regarding who will be paying for
what etc. He explained that Mr. Cohen is looking at constructing four buildings that will
include office space with parking underneath the building.
Mike Collins reviewed the plan briefly and reported that the Sunoco Station on Brimbal
Avenue may be rebuilding. He noted that he would further review the in more detail at
the July meeting.
Douglas stated that the stakeholders support is critical and noted that Cell Signaling, The
Rocci Post, and Lahey Health should be considered in the planning. He noted that he is
less concerned about the gas station. Douglas also suggested that it is important to
include Cummings as they have a need to embrace Phase II as well. He also explained
that the hospital will need access for emergency vehicles on Brimbal Avenue and Sohier
road.
Mayor Cahill stated that he is concerned about first time traffic and the left turns, noting
that he would like to reduce curb cuts as much as possible. He also noted that closing the
128 ramp is a bad idea and he is going to fight that noting that he does not want to lose
the ability to get off 128 in that area.
Draft ECDC meeting minutes June 12, 2013 Meeting
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Douglas stated that this project will have a major impact on jobs and job development.
Mayor Cahill reviewed the workforce data provided by the Northshore Workforce
Investment Board. He noted that they are still working on gathering the under
employment data noting that the WIB data is statewide information. Douglas reported
that under employment is 20% in Beverly.
Clausen suggested that the ECDC look at this over the next couple of meetings. Mayor
Cahill agreed and suggested that the agenda for the next meeting include a 45 minute
discussion on this and the Brimbal Avenue project.
New or Other Business
Mayor Cahill reported that the City is in the process of reviewing the McKay School
RFP's
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the ECDC will be on July 10, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. at Beverly City Hall
in Conference Room B.
Fournier: motion to adjourn, seconded by St. Jean. The motion carries (7 -0).
The meeting is adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Draft ECDC meeting minutes June 12, 2013 Meeting
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