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Beverly council approves grants and gifts, sets tax‑levy public hearing and other items
Summary
The Beverly City Council on Nov. 10 approved a package of routine orders including a $60,000 state tourism grant for Independence Park and a $174,544 elder‑affairs formula grant, and scheduled public hearings on the FY26 tax levy and a building‑naming proposal.
The Beverly City Council on Nov. 10 approved a series of routine orders and referrals covering grants, gifts, appointments and permitting, voting unanimously on items recommended by subcommittees.
In mayoral communications the council accepted Order 247, a $60,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s Destination Development Capital Program to fund updates at Independence Park related to Beverly’s 400th anniversary preparations; the council’s finance committee recommended approval and the full council recorded the vote in favor. Councilors also accepted Order 248, a $1,750 gift from the University of Massachusetts Lowell Digital Equity Partnership to support digital‑access work at the Beverly Public Library, and Order 252, a $100 gift from Renee Hogan to buy books for the Beverly Farms branch library in memory of Ron Pruitt and Elizabeth Hogan.
The council approved Order 249, a FY25 state formula grant of $174,544 from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to support operations at the Council on Aging; committee members explained the formula is based on the number of residents age 60 and older counted in the census data used for the formula. The council also approved a lease transaction with Pitney Bowes for the city’s mail machine contract and accepted a recommendation to grant a taxi/livery license (application for Boston Limo Services at 2316 Bridal Drive).
Councilors set a public hearing for Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. to consider the FY26 tax levy (Order 254) and set a Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. public hearing for a proposal to name the Beverly Recreation Office building in honor of Gail Jean Carmody (Order 255). The council also approved the reappointment of James Butler as director of municipal inspections.
Councilor Feldman, who chairs the finance forecasting effort, reminded residents that the first financial forecasting meeting will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. in council chambers and broadcast on BevCam, saying the session will help residents “understand the process of the financial forecast and its importance for our city's budget.”
Votes at a glance: Order 247 (tourism grant) — approved; Order 248 (library gift) — approved; Order 249 (elder affairs grant) — approved; Order 252 (library memorial gift) — approved; Order 250 (Pitney Bowes lease) — approved; Order 253 (taxi/livery license referral) — approved; Order 251 (reappointment James Butler) — approved; Order 254 (set public hearing for FY26 tax levy) — set for Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Order 255 (set naming hearing) — set for Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.
All votes recorded during the meeting on these items were carried unanimously, 8–0, as recorded on the meeting minutes.
