Beverly City Council Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

The Beverly City Council held its first regular meeting after the summer recess on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The agenda included a quarterly update from Mayor Cahill, public comments from three residents, and multiple routine business items including grants, appointments, utility easements, and a first reading of an ordinance regulating cryptocurrency machines. Many items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Michael Sperber (15 Irving Street) requested the council rename the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day, citing Columbus's violent history and Indigenous contributions such as aspirin and syringes.
• Neil Levine (36 Thorndike Street) expressed strong support for a proposed $20,000 supplemental appropriation to the Beverly Human Rights Committee to continue diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work, calling it timely and cost-effective.
• Aisha Sidicki (Ward 3) advocated for a land acknowledgement in council rules, raised privacy concerns about requiring full address disclosure during public comment, and urged the council to hold a public meeting on Flock cameras, noting that over 25 Massachusetts communities have ended their Flock contracts. She also criticized the council's 5–4 vote to eliminate the DEIB director position, noting the position was budgeted at half-time for $62,602.57.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Quarterly Update: Mayor Cahill presented an overview of city projects:
  • McPherson Youth Center: Completed on budget using ARPA funds and a $1 million earmark; operational since late spring.
  • Central Fire Station: Envelope and mechanical work substantially complete; interior work remaining.
  • City Hall Renovation: To avoid a $2 million cost overrun, the project was redesigned to cut 3,050 square feet, eliminating the originally planned inspectional services and health department suites but integrating them elsewhere. Parking loss is 3–4 spaces. The city will move into the former TD Bank building across the street in the first week of October.
  • N192 Transmission Line: Cable removal from streets expected by end of September; railroad work to follow.
  • Water Meter Replacement: 4,500 of 11,000 meters installed; completion targeted for summer 2027.
  • Paving: 24 new streets paved this year; most 2026 program streets will be done.
  • Brimble Avenue Project: Contractor hired; earthwork to begin soon; 12–18 month timeline.
  • Bridge Street Temporary Bridge: Deck completed; approach slabs and utility work pending; substantial completion expected April 2027.
  • Obear and Lynch Parks: Environmental permitting underway; grant applications pending.
  • Cell Service: Agreement with Verizon to place tower on water tower; Verizon also seeking to improve coverage on Prospect Hill.
  • Coast Guard Housing: City may decline due to lack of funding.
  • Dollar Store Property: Initial RFP unsuccessful; working with state to re-market.
  • Spring & Corning Intersection: Preemption issue still unresolved; update expected in October.
• Council Questions: Councilor Feldman inquired about parking at City Hall and requested clearer graphics for the Brimble Avenue rotary; she also noted that some residents may not have received water meter replacement notices. Councilor St. Hilaire asked about the total square footage of the City Hall project and confirmed the $2 million cut kept the budget on target.
• First Reading – Cryptocurrency Machine Ordinance (Order 187): City Clerk Lisa Kent read the full proposed ordinance, which would prohibit cryptocurrency kiosks in Beverly. Key findings cited FBI statistics showing $388,981,267 lost nationally to such kiosk scams in 2025, including $6,834,561 in Massachusetts, and $195,029 lost by Beverly residents since 2024. The ordinance passed its first reading 9–0; a second reading will be required for final passage.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Approvals: The council approved four sets of meeting minutes (March 16, April 6, April 21, and a joint committee meeting) 9–0.
• Grants and Donations Approved (9-0 each):
  • FY27 state earmark awards (Order 188)
  • $8,500 Title IIIB Senior Care Grant (Order 189)
  • $13,950 Emergency Management Performance Grant (Order 192)
  • $1,200 and $100 donations for Senior Day at Lynch Park (Order 193)
  • $15,277 technology gift to Beverly Public Library from UMass Lowell (Order 194)
  • $174,544 FY27 state formula grant for Council on Aging (Order 195)
  • $1,000 donation for Veterans Council (Order 196)
  • $172,520 FAA grant for airport snow removal equipment building design (Order 220)
• Public Hearings Set (all 9-0):
  • Budgetary transfer of $25,000 for harbor patrol boat motors (September 21, 7:45 p.m.)
  • FY27 CPA budget (September 21, 8:00 p.m.)
  • Four National Grid petitions for utility work (September 21, 8:15–8:45 p.m.)
• Appointments Approved (9-0):
  • Carol Gerard to Community Preservation Committee
  • Councilors Retundo, Spang, and Houseman to special screening committee for Budget Analyst position
• Utility Easements Approved (9-0 each): Two easements to Mass Electric Company for work at 191 Cabot Street and 11 South Hardy Street.
• Cell Tower Lease Agreement Approved (9-0): Lease with Selco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless.
• First Reading of Cryptocurrency Machine Ordinance (Order 187): Passed 9–0; second reading at next meeting.
• Order 213 (Supplemental Appropriation for Human Rights Committee): Held in subcommittee for further discussion with the mayor.
• Order 205 (Flammable Registration for National Grid): Held by Councilor Spang for further review.
• Deficit Reduction Committee Update: Councilor Feldman addressed transparency concerns, noting that subsequent meetings were recorded and future ones will be on BEVCAM; the committee's research will be presented publicly on October 20.