Beverly City Council Meeting - February 3, 2026

The Beverly City Council held its regular meeting on February 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 191 Cabot Street. The meeting featured a presentation from the Human Rights Committee, four public comments, and public hearings on National Grid and GoNetSpeed utility petitions. The council also considered several appointments, ordinance amendments, and financial transfers.

Consent Calendar

• Approved meeting minutes from January 20, 2026 (9-0).
• Referred multiple orders to committees: Order 53 (transfer $160,000 to dispatch operations) to Finance and Property; Order 54 (transfer $150,000 from Recreation Enterprise Fund for park improvements) to Finance and Property; Order 55 ($2,000 donation from Friends of the Beverly Public Library) to Finance and Property; Order 56 (home rule petition on police chief retirement age) to Legal Affairs; Orders 57–57D (easements and disposition at 80 and 84 Cabot Street) to Legal Affairs; Order 58 (animal control ordinance amendments) to Legal Affairs; Orders 63–64 (motor vehicle license renewals for Elite Collision Center) to Legal Affairs; Order 65 (National Grid petition for Broadway) to Public Services; and Orders 66 (notice of filing) placed on file.
• Set public hearings for February 17, 2026 (Tuesday meeting): Order 53 at 7:40 p.m., Order 54 at 7:55 p.m., Order 65 at 8:05 p.m.
• Approved reappointments: Corey Buronella (Zoning Board of Appeals), Atha Athenis, Kevin Lillo, Chad Crindell (all to Golf and Tennis Commission) – all 9-0.
• Approved license renewals for Elite Collision Center (Class 2 and 3) – 9-0.
• Approved the home rule petition for police chief mandatory retirement age (Order 56) – 9-0.
• Approved permanent easements and dispositions at 80 and 84 Cabot Street (Orders 57–57D) – all 9-0.
• Took first votes on ordinance amendments: commercial boarding kennel reporting (Order 45) and nuisance cats/disposal of impounded cats (Order 58) – both 9-0, with final passage scheduled for next meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

Four residents spoke during the public comment period:

• Neil Levine (36 Thorndike Street) congratulated council on re-election and urged immediate actions: clarify and publish the city's policy on cooperation with ICE consistent with the governor's executive order; fill vacancies on the Human Rights Committee; and use council's convening power to support community security.
• Aisha Sidicki (Ward 3) urged the council to pass a law banning future 287(g) agreements with ICE, citing resident feedback and fear in the community. She read statements from several anonymous residents expressing concerns about racial profiling and family separation.
• Carol Rain (27 Pratt Avenue) spoke as an individual (not on behalf of the Human Rights Committee). She praised the Beverly Police Department's de-escalation training and read a poem by Bridget Moy urging protection of all neighbors, including immigrants and transgender people.
• Steve Moffitt (302 Eastern Avenue) called for more holistic budget discussions, including reconsidering the downtown height limit, advancing the Bass River Overlay, and evaluating the use of the Beverly Golf and Tennis land. He emphasized that new growth is the biggest way to solve budget shortfalls.

Discussion Items

Human Rights Committee Presentation

Pervee Harley, chair of the Beverly Human Rights Committee, presented an update on the committee's activities over the past two years. She highlighted support for city events, establishment of an intake tool, and counsel to city leadership. Challenges included limited community connection (no city email, reliance on Facebook), capacity constraints, and difficulty meeting quorum requirements (11 seats, 7 filled, quorum of 6). The committee made four specific requests: (1) steady council representation and consistent guidance from the mayor's office; (2) increased membership, including youth representation and use of a skills matrix; (3) modification of quorum requirements to be based on seated members; and (4) consideration of city appointed seats (police and schools), including possible voting proxies and rotation. The council president noted that she has been appointed as the council liaison to the committee. Questions from council focused on the quorum modification process, which Solicitor Old Mixon confirmed could be reconsidered by ordinance change.

Public Hearings on Utility Petitions

Three petitions from GoNetSpeed to install underground fiber optic conduits on Ashton Street, Friend Street, and East Street were each recessed to the March 2, 2026 meeting after extensive discussion. The GoNetSpeed representative, Heidi Mahoney, explained that the short underground segments would avoid pole replacements and double poles. Councilors raised concerns about the timing of the petitions (licenses from pole owners not yet obtained), potential disruption to recently paved streets (especially Lothrop Street), impact on street tree planting, and the scope of future phases. Residents of East Street and Lothrop Street spoke in opposition, citing ongoing construction fatigue and concerns about disturbing their properties and trees. The council requested that specific questions be compiled and sent to GoNetSpeed via the city clerk, and that the engineering department review the plans for potential conflicts. The first petition (Order 48, National Grid for 300 Dodge Street) was also recessed to February 17, 2026 after clarification of location issues; one resident, Joseph Shearer, expressed concern about the lack of detail on the proposed construction at the property.

Public Hearing on Harbor Management Fund Transfer (Order 27)

The council held a public hearing on transferring $68,750 from the Harbor Management Authority Fund and $68,750 from the Waterways Improvement Fund to provide the 20% match ($137,500) for a $550,000 Seaport Economic Council grant for reconstruction of the commercial fishing hoist pier at Glover Wharf. Finance Director Bryan Ailes and Budget Analyst Jerry Perry spoke in support. Councilors Spang and Houseman urged approval, noting the project has been a high priority for over a decade. The hearing was closed and the order was approved 9-0.

Reappointment of Budget Analyst Jerry Perry (Order 62)

The council voted 8-1 to reappoint Jerry Perry as city budget analyst and increase his salary to half of the city finance director's salary as set by charter. Councilor Mulady voted in opposition, expressing concerns that Mr. Perry's fiscal policies (high reserves, spending restraint) have come at the cost of services for schools, senior center, and other programs. Councilor Houseman and Councilor Feldman spoke in favor, praising Mr. Perry's expertise and his clear distinction between providing data and allowing the council to set policy. The salary adjustment is tied to the finance director's salary, and the council president noted the unique nature of the position.

Other Business

• Referred Order 59 (review of crosswalk removal at Hale and Juniper Streets) and Order 60 (review of signage on Common Lane) to the Parking and Traffic Commission – both 9-0.
• Accepted Order 61 (request for public meeting on Camp Paradise at 44 Cole Street) under unfinished business to coordinate with department heads.
• Heard reports from subcommittees: Legal Affairs approved the first reading of the animal ordinance amendments; Finance and Property recommended approvals for the harbor grant, transfer requests, and donations.

Key Outcomes

• Human Rights Committee: Council committed to ongoing dialogue; council president appointed as liaison; questions about quorum modification to be considered; city clerk to compile questions for GoNetSpeed.
• GoNetSpeed petitions (Ashton, Friend, East Streets): All three public hearings recessed to March 2, 2026 at 7:30 p.m., 7:40 p.m., and 7:50 p.m. respectively to allow further information gathering.
• National Grid petition (Order 48): Recessed to February 17, 2026 at 8:10 p.m. for location clarification.
• Harbor grant match (Order 27): Approved 9-0.
• Budget Analyst reappointment (Order 62): Approved 8-1.
• Home rule petition for police chief (Order 56): Approved 9-0; to be filed with the state legislature.
• Ordinance amendments (kennel reporting and nuisance cats): First votes passed 9-0; final readings scheduled for February 17, 2026.
• Next regular meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (due to Monday holiday) at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.