Beverly City Council Meeting – April 6, 2026

The Beverly City Council convened on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included a presentation from the Parking and Traffic Commission, public comments on rodent control, environmental education, and automated license plate readers, a public hearing on a National Grid utility installation, and votes on numerous orders, including a controversial $241,250 retroactive pay adjustment for Department of Public Services (DPS) employees.

Presentation – Parking and Traffic Commission

• Chairman Rich Benevento provided an overview of the commission’s role, membership (nine members, currently eight), and advisory function to the Planning Board, City Council, and citizens. He emphasized that safety is paramount and that the commission follows the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Massachusetts amendments. Key points:
  • The commission reviews site plans, subdivision applications, and construction traffic management plans.
  • The most notable project in the past year was the Trask Lane Development Project.
  • The commission has no budget and cannot conduct studies; it can only recommend scopes of work.
  • Speed limit changes and truck exclusions require MassDOT approval.
• Councillor Housman thanked Benevento for his 19 years of service and asked about a possible heavy vehicle exclusion study for Boyle Street. Benevento noted that truck volume was previously only 1–2% and that any such study would depend on traffic data.

Public Comments & Testimony

1. Robin Foley (60 Ron Tool Street) spoke against the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (“black boxes”) and urged the city to continue piloting humane birth control methods through its pest control company. She recited a poem illustrating the secondary poisoning of wildlife and pets, and noted that Representative Hannah Bowen and Senator Joan Lovely support a state-level ban. She asked the city to “ditch the black boxes.”
2. Bob McIntosh (29 Atlantic Avenue) advocated for a permanent environmental education center at Camp Paradise, to be run in partnership with Kestrel Education Adventures. He highlighted the need for outdoor education in Beverly and noted that the city had indicated further discussions in January but no action had been taken in four months. He urged the council to act promptly.
3. Aisha Siddiqui (Ward 3) delivered a land acknowledgement honoring the Naumkeag and Patucket bands of the Massachusetts tribe and commended the city’s DEI Director for creating a working group on indigenous engagement. She also amplified the upcoming joint meeting of the Legal Affairs and Public Services committees on April 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM to review the city’s use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), citing the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Commonwealth v. McCarthy (2020) regarding privacy expectations.

Public Hearing – National Grid Petition (Order 65)

• Rafael Kerguelen, representing National Grid, presented a petition to install underground conduit and a handhole on Broadway to provide 600-amp service to a small development. He explained that the work would involve 66 feet of trenching near the edge of the road, with full curb-to-curb repaving committed by the property owner (Mr. Greg).
• Resident testimony: Tiffany Collins (35 Broadway) expressed frustration over repeated street digging on Broadway, which had been under construction for nearly 10 years. She asked if alternative routes (e.g., under the sidewalk) were possible.
• Council discussion: Councillors Spang and Housman raised concerns about coordination and restoration. Kerguelen noted that sidewalk work would be minimal and that the property owner would restore any affected concrete driveway aprons. The council closed the public hearing and referred the matter back to the Committee on Public Services for further review.

Discussion Items

• Order 88 – Retroactive Pay for DPS Employees: The Finance and Property Committee recommended approval of a $241,250 transfer from the reserve for union negotiations to fund retroactive pay adjustments (to July 1, 2024) for 43 current DPS employees and 4 retirees. The mayor explained that the classification and salary study, begun over two years ago, had been delayed but that a commitment was made to retroactivity. Solicitor Dole argued this was a one-time, non-precedential action outside collective bargaining. Budget analyst Jerry Perry noted that the total compensation change was $502,000 (including future years) and that the FY27 budget deficit projection of $3.9 million already accounted for these costs. He recommended approval on equity grounds, citing difficulty hiring and retaining DPS staff. The council debated precedent and financial impact.

Key Outcomes

• Order 88 (Retroactive DPS pay): Passed 7–1.
• Order 101 ($250,000 state earmark for Brimble Avenue and Dunham Road intersection): Approved unanimously (8–0).
• Order 102 (Two solar-powered speed feedback signs from MassDOT): Approved unanimously (8–0). Locations: 299 Dodge Street (by the tree farm) and 98 Essex Street.
• Order 103 ($19,000 FDA grant for Health Department food safety outreach): Approved unanimously (8–0).
• Order 104 ($24,096 fire safety grant for turnout gear): Approved unanimously (8–0).
• Order 105 ($1,500–$2,000 donation from Kinship Farm for Council on Aging vegetable bed): Approved unanimously (8–0).
• Order 119 (Public hearing on accessory dwelling unit zoning amendments scheduled for May 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM): Approved unanimously (8–0).
• Order 122 (Beverly Farmers Market permit, June 15 – October 5, 2026): Approved 7–0 (Councillor Sonia recused).
• Order 118 (Handicapped parking space at 23 Front Street): First reading, approved 8–0.
• Order 58A (Feeding of wildlife ordinance amendment): Final passage with a floor amendment (striking “notwithstanding 117-21 below” from section A). Approved 8–0.
• Various license renewals and appointments: Approved 8–0 (Orders 94, 95, 96, 97, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 123).
• Order 65 (National Grid petition): Public hearing closed; referred back to Committee on Public Services.
• Announcements: The Special Committee on Rental Policies will host a public forum on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The Legal Affairs and Public Services committees will meet jointly on April 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM to review ALPR use.