Planning department seeks staff and grant funding; raises data gaps on local shuttle ridership

Darlene Winn, planning director for Beverly City, told the finance and property committee on the committee of the whole that her office has largely stabilized after turnover but still carries one vacancy: “We only had 1 staff turnover last year, and we're still carrying that vacancy,” Winn said.

Winn said about 70% of the planning department’s budget pays staff, and the office supports more than 10 boards and commissions and handled nearly 350 permit applications last year, including almost 200 conservation commission permits. She said the department managed grants totaling roughly $170,000 in the prior year and has applications outstanding for more than $900,000, including an $850,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) request to create a housing rehabilitation program.

The CDBG award, if received, would be a one‑year grant (typically issued for up to 18 months) and Winn estimated the requested funds could support about 14 to 15 homeowner‑occupied one‑to‑four‑family rehabilitation projects. “If we get the CDBG grant, we would find out in early fall. That would be an October 1 start date,” Winn said, adding that the city would likely contract with an existing program operator and would expect to hire program staff funded by the grant.

On staffing, Winn described the associate planner role as an entry‑level technical position that helps staff two boards, process permit intake and meet nightly meeting demands. Councilor Sweeney pressed on operational impacts of the vacancy; Winn said the department is covering board staffing internally but that the vacancy reduces capacity for longer‑range projects and customer service. The FY26 proposal budgets six months of salary for the associate planner; Councilor Sweeney and others urged budgeting a full year to avoid an FY27 gap.

Winn also described ongoing policy projects and priorities: finishing a revised sign ordinance, updating accessory dwelling unit (ADU) zoning to align with state rules, starting an economic development action plan (12 proposals were received for a grant‑funded 12‑month project), and examining the city’s transportation programs and service mix.

On local transit, Winn said the Beverly shuttle (an MBTA supplemental services grant recipient) remains a fixed route with approximately 1,300 riders per month, back above pre‑COVID levels. She noted counting is limited because the shuttle provider does not capture on/off stop data. By contrast, the Salem Skipper on‑demand pilot operated by Via shows strong ridership and about 20% of its rides touch Beverly. “It’s a difficult question…there’s also the transportation services that the senior center provides, and how can we kind of look at this whole picture,” Winn said.

Several councilors asked about language access; Winn said her office had begun using on‑call translation and iPad translators for outreach and CDBG public hearings and is coordinating with the city’s DEI office to centralize services.

The committee took no final funding votes on department lines tonight; the overall budget (Order 171) was referred back to the full council for a public hearing the next evening.

The planning department presentation included specific program timelines tied to grant awards: the CDBG, if awarded, would start Oct. 1 and would require administrative oversight by the city and a contracted provider; the MBTA supplemental services grant has up to two remaining years for fare reimbursement to the city under current arrangements.