Beverly City Council Special Meeting, June 25, 2026

The Beverly City Council held a special meeting on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the council chambers at 191 Cabot Street. The meeting focused on three public hearings for funding transfers and a National Grid petition, along with routine appointments and waivers. All items were approved unanimously (7-0) by the close of the meeting, which was the final scheduled session before the summer recess.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak at any of the three public hearings. No public comment was offered.

Discussion Items

• Order 166: Transfer of $1,500,000 for Road Resurfacing — Finance Director Brian Ailes explained the request to transfer funds from the Road Resurfacing (RSR) special revenue account to the Road and Sidewalk Capital account, covering resurfacing work for streets impacted by National Grid’s 115 kV project, gas work at Dane Street Beach, and general opening fees. $1.35 million comes from National Grid’s 115 kV project (final payment from a memorandum of agreement), $116,000 from National Grid Gas for Dane Street Beach area sidewalk and ADA ramp work, and $30,000 from various street‑opening fees. Specific streets identified include Wellman, Weber, Congress, School, River, and Pleasant (Goat Hill area). Councilor Houseman raised questions about the $4.6 million total from National Grid, coordination with ongoing work on East Lothrop Street and Cabot Street, and the 3,000‑foot segment on River Street. Mr. Ailes noted that the RSR account currently holds $1.526 million, leaving $26,000 after the transfer. The council referred the matter to the Committee on Finance and Property.
• Order 167: Transfer of $45,000 from Free Cash for Lynch Park Climate Resiliency Permitting — Sustainability and Resiliency Project Manager Ibrahim Lopez Hernandez presented an update on the Lynch Park climate resiliency project. The $45,000 transfer from the city’s certified free cash balance is needed to cover supplemental MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act) permitting work, with a deadline of July 24, 2026, to avoid a nine‑month project delay. The project aims to protect the Rose Garden and carriage house areas from storm damage. Previous funding included a $100,000 grant from the Coastal Zone Management Agency and $49,000 from the Community Preservation Committee. The city has applied for a $488,000 grant from the Environmental Affairs Agency, with a decision expected in July or August. Budget Analyst Jerry Perry confirmed that if approved, the city would retain approximately $5,061,511 in free cash, about 50% of the initial $10.4 million balance. Councilor Houseman expressed strong support, calling Lynch Park “the jewel in the crown” of the park system. The matter was referred to Finance and Property.
• Order 182: National Grid Petition for Underground Facilities on River Street — National Grid representative Kyle Surrett described the proposal to install eight manholes and conduit along River Street, Federal Street, Park Street, Elliott Street, Rantoul Street, and Lennox Street to improve downtown reliability. Councilor Houseman and Mayor Paul Kehill discussed the city’s leverage in negotiations for road repair payments, noting that streets like Park are in poor condition while Elliott and Rantoul are newer. Mayor Kehill indicated that National Grid has been a good partner and that the project is part of a larger effort tied to the removal of the old 115 kV line and planned January 2027 work on Cabot Street and Bow Street. Councilor Crowley expressed concern about “National Grid fatigue” in wards 2 and 3 due to ongoing projects. He asked about timing; the representative said the timeline is not yet set. No public speakers were present. The hearing was closed and referred to the Committee on Public Services.
• Other Routine Items — The council approved several items including Order 186 (approval of the September 1, 2026 primary state election warrant), Order 183 (appointment of Brad Willebrock to the Human Rights Committee, referred), Order 184 and 185 (waivers of the alcohol prohibition ordinance for the Bubble Bar and Bottle Shop for Beverly 400+ events, referred and later approved).

Key Outcomes

• Order 166 (Road Resurfacing Transfer): Approved 7-0 after committee report. The Committee on Finance and Property recommended approval, and the full council voted to adopt the order.
• Order 167 (Lynch Park Permitting Transfer): Approved 7-0 after committee report.
• Order 182 (National Grid Petition): Approved 7-0 after committee report from Public Services. No additional conditions were attached.
• Order 173 and 174 (Conservation Commission Appointments): Approved 7-0. Order 174 required a separate vote to waive the registered voter requirement for appointee Joanne Miller; the waiver was granted 7-0, then the appointment was approved.
• Order 184 and 185 (Alcohol Waivers): Approved 7-0 for events associated with Beverly 400+.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:40 PM, marking the last regular session before summer recess.