Harbor Management Authority outlines marina upgrades, council advances federal boat grant
Summary
Paul Earl gave the Beverly City Council an update on marina maintenance, public-pier improvements and operations; the council's finance committee recommended acceptance of a $349,272 FEMA port security grant to buy a 27-foot patrol boat and set a January 21 public hearing on the city's matching funds.
Paul Earl, representing the Beverly Harbor Management Authority, told the City Council on Jan. 6 that the authority has a slate of maintenance and public-access projects under way at Glover Wharf Marina and elsewhere on the waterfront.
The update included routine operations — a replanking project that is about 40% complete, replacement of all public-pier benches and installation of a windsock — and plans for longer-term “beautification” of public access areas. Earl said the authority will install a webcam in the spring and is working on interactive displays and additional seating. “We're replacing all the benches on the public pier. That's a 100% on our nickel,” Earl said.
Why it matters: the harbor and marina improvements affect waterfront safety and tourism, the volunteer-run Harbor Management Authority finances many projects from fee revenue and grants, and the council advanced a federal grant that would fund a patrol boat used for public safety and emergency response.
Key details from the presentation: the authority will begin charging $50 a year to remain on long marina waiting lists; it has begun charging slip-by-slip electricity use based on sensors; it is investigating an ice machine and expanding automated data collection for visitor patterns. Earl reported more than 450 short-term boat visits in 2024 and approximately $14,000 in short-term-visit revenue against roughly $23,100 in costs for those services. He said the authority has invested about $1.1 million in non-tax revenue on waterfront projects since 2011 and promoted the 14th Harborfest, scheduled for Sept. 7, 2025.
Grant action: the finance committee recommended approval of Order 1, a $349,272 Port Security Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to purchase a 27-foot patrol cabin boat for the Harbor Master Department. The grant pays 75 percent of the purchase; the city's matching obligation of $58,212 was discussed and the committee set a public hearing on the city match for Jan. 21 at 7:45 p.m. The council voted to accept the committee recommendation and to set that public hearing.
Operational constraints and projects: Earl said bids for a new hoist pier have come in substantially higher than two years ago and a decision to proceed may be deferred if costs cannot be reconciled. He also said the authority financed 50 percent of a Lynch Park camera and supported boat mooring maintenance and radio upgrades.
Committee and next steps: the council's finance committee voted to recommend the grant acceptance and the additional city-match hearing. The match will require a separate appropriation or public hearing, which the committee scheduled for the Jan. 21 council meeting.
Ending: the Harbor Management Authority presentation stayed informational on operational changes and capital planning; the council moved the FEMA grant toward final approval by scheduling a public hearing on the matching funds.
