[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6322065,"mediaKeyId","2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e","parentId",2348363,"title","Mayor Cahill outlines capital projects timeline; city hall, water meters, bridges and library upgrades highlighted","audioSeconds",1942,"startMs",1440,"endMs",1944240,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e&start=1&end=1944","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e/thumbnail_1440.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322065/Beverly-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Mayor-Cahill-outlines-capital-projects-timeline-city-hall-water-meters-bridges-and-library-upgrades-highlighted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322065-157ff8de1608feb6e19c4c5948fa0346/orig.mp4?Expires=1777116552&Signature=Yg6~pruRSr0U0ewF1XzhVC-Ip01ZeYeyb95awhR~m2FC0gYHk2hc7Wwso3FdoD6DiH5hA7PsPy5YSqh~ZkijBmFqDqrRlFoV2Kk7Z14HrpPThBsa7Tw-E81Tf3CnnDEeTf-MsxDTIgunPCSgCb9~dhQB17xbkR~Kz-zdYovSj8pDla0rDCAD58mOFYydVtGLBmaroDqaCnHBFdoS35prN2xpm8azFyRRXGKQg3ZSHYeJ~5T-3iorHrn-RYF96O8L931dh0~PKLIgZXb68XAxkOhEcEtEMT6~8Z3S~U55zhVsi0NH1uvytPkiSxYPpYJyUXKI4cU15GalKgbYVoILXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Beverly, MA","date","2025-02-19T19:13:42Z","article","Mayor Cahill and city staff on Tuesday gave the Beverly City Council a quarterly update on major capital and infrastructure work, reporting active construction at a youth “use center,” near-term bids for fuel‑tank replacement at a Department of Public Services (DPS) yard, and plans to present a city‑hall project budget to the council in coming meetings.

The update covered a wide set of projects that the administration said are on staggered schedules: an active foundation phase at the youth center; schematic design completed for the city hall renovation with a projected $26.5 million project budget; envelope and HVAC work at the Central Fire Station; a $2.25 million package of HVAC and insulation work at the Central Library; a planned $8 million, 18‑month, citywide water‑meter replacement; temporary and permanent bridge work tied to MassDOT activity; and an expanded paving and sidewalk season.

Why it matters: the projects are large, citywide infrastructure investments that will require future council votes, free‑cash appropriations, or contract awards. Several will affect traffic, downtown parking and residents’ utility bills; the administration repeatedly stressed coordination with state agencies and utilities as schedules overlap.

Mayor Cahill opened the status briefing with the youth center update, saying the project — funded with city dollars and a federal earmark — broke ground in November and remains in a foundation phase. “Ground was broken in November and the goal is that it's about a 12‑month construction period,” the mayor said. The administration said visible above‑grade work will follow once foundation work reaches that milestone.

On city hall, the administration said schematic design is complete and staff are reconciling updated cost estimates with the project manager, architect and construction manager. Brian Ailes, finance director, told the council the project has been budgeted at about $26.5 million for construction and related soft costs, including temporary office space. “We don't have any reason to believe that there's any significant or really any increase,” Ailes said, and he told councilors he expects the administration to bring a formal budget request to the council within two to three meetings, possibly in April.

Work at the Central Fire Station is divided into two streams, officials said: the exterior “envelope” work (windows and roofing) and separate HVAC upgrades. Lisa Chandler, city engineer, said roof and window work is waiting for spring weather and that roofing work aims for late‑summer substantial completion; the HVAC package was advertised the week of the meeting with a planned April start and an estimated three‑month construction window. Councilors and staff cautioned that the station would need later, larger upgrades (structural and electrical) to support a full rooftop HVAC replacement, work that would be considered a separate phase.

The Central Library project will use about $2,250,000 drawn from prior appropriations, multi‑year federal and state earmarks and National Grid incentives to replace rooftop condensing units and compressors, upgrade four smaller rooftop units and associated air handlers, and add targeted insulation along the Winter Street side to address ice‑damming and infiltration. Ailes described the package as designed to “get some years out of the system,” and Chandler said replacing older refrigerants will let the library leave Freon‑based equipment behind.

In other facilities news, the DPS fueling yard needs full replacement of above‑ground tanks and pumps after a leak and equipment end‑of‑life issues. The administration said it will open bids the week following the meeting and seek free‑cash appropriation from the council; a contract cannot be signed until funds are appropriated.

Water infrastructure featured prominently. Chandler said the city is issuing an Invitation for Bids for a citywide water‑meter replacement program covering about 14,000 properties with an anticipated price tag of roughly $8 million and an installation schedule the administration hopes to complete in about 18 months if homeowners cooperate for in‑home access. “We're targeting an 18 month process from beginning to end,” Chandler said, and she said the project will be paid from the water enterprise fund and will be brought to the council for approval before work begins.

Bridges and road projects are moving on separate tracks. Chandler and the mayor described coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and National Grid on three bridge projects: a temporary Hall‑Whitaker bridge with bike lanes and a five‑foot sidewalk off the south side; planned tear‑down and permanent replacements for Hall‑Whitaker and Kernwood bridges; and temporary MassDOT repairs to Kernwood to keep it open for about 2½ years while the temporary Hall‑Whitaker is built. The administration said MassDOT is spending about $15 million to stabilize Kernwood for continued operation while the temporary bridge program proceeds.

Bridge Street rehabilitation, utility relocations tied to a 115‑kV National Grid route and other underground work are overlapping, the administration warned, and they stressed coordination to avoid multiple closures on River Street and other corridors. Chandler said National Grid and Verizon crews have installed new utility poles and that National Grid gas work will follow. Bids for the temporary Hall‑Whitaker bridge were expected to be advertised with an anticipated April contract award window; MassDOT and the city expect work to start in late summer with an opening target in fall 2027.

Public‑works priorities for the spring include a two‑part paving program: repaving tied to a 115‑kV utility route and the city’s annual paving program, which the administration said will repave 17 streets across six wards and launch sidewalk crews in late March. The administration said the city will coordinate water‑main replacements on affected streets before final paving.

Councilors asked detailed scheduling and cost questions across projects. Councilor Sweeney pressed on whether the city’s current $2.75 million authorization for the fire‑station work covers the larger electrical and structural upgrades; staff and Ailes said larger upgrades would likely be a separate phase and that final costs depend on bid results. Councilors also asked about temporary relocation for city hall staff; the administration said it will not seek temporary space until the council approves a project budget and that staying downtown remains a priority but not a certainty.

The mayor and staff framed several items as requests the council will see soon: formal project budget approval for city hall, appropriation requests for DPS fueling infrastructure, and a water‑meter replacement authorization. Staff repeatedly emphasized that numbers in the capital plan are estimates until design documents and bid results refine costs.

The meeting also included a brief public comment praising the council's prior decision to remove a “no loitering” sign from the gazebo at Beverly Commons, and routine committee and appointment business that the council handled later in the session.

Looking ahead, staff said they aim to bring refined budget requests and more detailed rollouts to the council in the next one to three meetings on the projects summarized above. Several projects — water meters, library HVAC, DPS fuel tanks — will require separate appropriation votes and contract awards at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Beverly City Council Meeting 02/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Cahill and staff updated the Beverly City Council on a suite of capital projects — from a youth use center and city hall schematic design to library HVAC upgrades, water‑meter replacement and bridge coordination with MassDOT — and said formal budget requests and contract bids will be presented to the council in coming meetings.","taxTitle","Beverly City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",55069,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6322056,"Votes at a glance: council adopts pet‑sales and traffic ordinances, indemnification measure; appointments approved",1234,4001800,5236480,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e&start=4001&end=5236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e/thumbnail_4001800.jpg","/articles/6322056/Beverly-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-council-adopts-petsales-and-traffic-ordinances-indemnification-measure-appointments-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322056-611e6da9249249a92523472e8fe20dca/orig.mp4?Expires=1777116552&Signature=MVO4naMFRi3TdRfsjJJS~00vpAbc9bBBUr7mAny5Dposhp7QYVUzm-gh-yML7nmy57c9-VckwlJRLmF9sN~fGOqMaLPBuVYZZeVgY682ikCtOFi0DVx7IJqDZyrUcdWE1SYM0vtxZl8h3opXV7bb5j9~R3Kd549Hc5bU-hH7ZtmmuaPYpgdCOpIsdtq6YFR9dTgXBf0ltWUd5STYfldYkI1hYNmPqB~J~4r9inM5LZluLVU232XjySlzuHSq-n4Ni-KjFGLGYu8Bdl6OWJKRw8vUEKg8-S6aq0VxouiNsUpEEjBSbz7-5ILMSPHtUKVAZDb46OliG~IS0fqAu~IXXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Beverly City Council on Feb. 18 adopted several ordinances and administrative orders and approved appointments and committee recommendations. Most measures passed unanimously.

Key outcomes (motions approved by vote unless noted):
- Order 40: Amendment to Chapter 117 (Animals) to prohibit pet shops from selling live reptiles, birds or mammals; pet shops may host animals for adoption but may not charge a fee for display space. Motion adopted; vote 8–0.
- Order 41: Amendment to Chapter 270 (Vehicles and Traffic) establishing no‑parking distances on portions of Congress Street, Wellman Street and School Street as described in the order. Motion adopted; vote 8–0.
- Order 43: Insert new Article 3, section 69‑30 to allow city defense and indemnification of elected/appointed municipal officers for acts within scope of official duties (with enumerated exceptions). Motion adopted; vote 8–0.
- Order 63: Approval of the Beverly Golf and Tennis Commission’s proposed 2025 member rate schedule. Motion adopted (committee recommended); vote 8–0.
- Order 64: Committee on Finance and Property recommended and the council approved use of FY25 funds to pay prior‑year invoices as requested by the finance director. Motion adopted; vote 8–0.

Appointments and reappointments approved (committee recommendations followed by floor vote):
- Order 46: Appointment — Nicole Dobb to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Approved 8–0.
- Order 47: Reappointment — Chuck Clark to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Approved 8–0.
- Order 48: Reappointment — Robert Laws to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Approved 8–0.
- Order 54: Reappointment — Michael Murphy to the Registrar of Voters. Approved 8–0.
- Additional reappointments to the Parking and Traffic Commission and constable appointments were also approved by committee recommendation and floor vote (Orders 49–52; each carried 8–0).

Other procedural items: the council opened and recessed multiple public hearings, set a public hearing for a National Grid petition to install underground facilities on Cabot and Hale Street for March 3 at 7:30 p.m., and referred various communications to standing committees.

All recorded votes listed in the meeting record carried by unanimous margins documented as “motion carries 8 to 0.” The meeting minutes and the clerk’s warrant were approved as procedural business.","The Beverly City Council approved new ordinances restricting pet‑store sales, amended parking rules, an indemnification ordinance for municipal officers, multiple appointments and other committee recommendations in unanimous votes during its Feb. 18 meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":80,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6322060,"Council grants two National Grid petitions for new conduit on River Street; councilors urge coordination with transmission work",932,4303500,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e&start=4303&end=5236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348363-07f373f2ef6e05967d5e54203417498e/thumbnail_4303500.jpg","/articles/6322060/Beverly-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-grants-two-National-Grid-petitions-for-new-conduit-on-River-Street-councilors-urge-coordination-with-transmission-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322060-efccd0735107a0f73858920e1bde6b5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777116552&Signature=fA7SCElkSZYtUoz~og07zNwgcJHiwHvjrljwBfJxTpwoPCzIkwSw7IXSMdY1q5511WVai4ZqGqlpjm-O83o2vQv67MmRGFi~vJkDjblay4UqEvZB5Iu1N7ZuTeVbUqkeIzYJgDfYLe65dmuGgig~v2M9wRBSO0lMPd5vuTWDa4ePnG-KjNrF5QHPDpTcTEM31TOdKAwPALVZHOKzeM0qPY7TjPmTv20ms1genyuEnFAF5FmFo~dpEM8CBgRlJ0F1057kSQZMCWpeUIw3wSKVuWFKX0Wz9i4lORT-Squzzoq4o56nvTdkVk1ijLygRGarYXjBynZmJF07HW2DHNI5Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Beverly City Council on Tuesday granted two National Grid petitions to install new underground conduit (duct bank) segments on River Street and urged the utility to coordinate timing with other planned work in the corridor.

The petitions—filed as Order 59 (National Grid petition 30473249) and Order 60 (National Grid petition 30926878)—were the subject of public hearings at which a National Grid representative described the work as installation of new conduit for primary feeders exiting the company’s substation at 44 River Street. After brief council questioning, both petitions were approved on motions carried 8–0.

National Grid representative Michael Casati (first hearing) and a second representative identified as Michael Kazadi (second hearing) described the conduit installations as new infrastructure tied to the utility’s distribution system. A councilor asked whether the conduit replaces an existing duct; Casati said the conduits are brand new though manholes already exist. When asked how long a single conduit installation would take, the National Grid representative estimated “max probably a week.”

Councilors emphasized the need for calendar coordination with other major projects on River Street, including MassDOT bridge work and a separate National Grid transmission‑line project that will remove older lines from the corridor. Councilor Spang asked the utility to coordinate so the street is not closed repeatedly; Councilor Bowen asked for a traffic‑management plan given the proximity to multiple construction zones. The utility said it intends to provide police details to regulate traffic during work.

Actions
- Order 59 (National Grid petition 30473249): Petition to install 85 feet of new duct bank from National Grid property to existing MH‑1 on River Street and 15 feet to MH‑2; referred to a public hearing and then granted by council vote 8–0.
- Order 60 (National Grid petition 30926878): Petition to install 75 feet of new duct bank from National Grid property to existing MH‑1A on River Street; referred to a public hearing and then granted by council vote 8–0.

Councilors said they will follow up with National Grid and staff to ensure work windows and traffic plans are coordinated to limit disruption to River Street, Weber Avenue and neighboring corridors.","After two public hearings, the Beverly City Council approved National Grid petitions to install new duct banks/conduits on River Street and asked the company to coordinate timing with other planned utility and state projects to limit repeated street disruptions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor Cahill outlines capital projects timeline; city hall, water meters, bridges and library upgrades highlighted

Votes at a glance: council adopts pet‑sales and traffic ordinances, indemnification measure; appointments approved

Council grants two National Grid petitions for new conduit on River Street; councilors urge coordination with transmission work