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Beverly City Council elects vice president, sets public hearings on City Hall renovation and CPA funding

Beverly City Council and Beverly School Committee · January 5, 2026

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Summary

At its first meeting of 2026, the Beverly City Council elected Matt St. Hilaire as vice president and voted to set public hearings on a $25.895 million City Hall renovation loan authorization, a $2 million debt stabilization transfer, an $850,000 housing rehabilitation grant, and CPA funding recommendations; multiple board appointments were referred to committees.

The Beverly City Council convened its first meeting of 2026 on Jan. 5 at Beverly High School and elected Councilor Matt St. Hilaire as vice president by voice vote, with the final recorded tally 7-0.

The council then heard communications from the mayor's office about Order 10, which includes a proposed $25,895,000 loan authorization for renovation of City Hall and the adjacent former police station annex, and a $2,000,000 debt stabilization transfer request to support that project. The council voted to set public hearings on those items for Jan. 20, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. and 8:10 p.m., respectively.

Councilors also moved and approved a set of appointments and reappointments (Orders 11—6) to boards and committees, including appointments to the city accounts, veterans advisory committee, trustees of public libraries, and the director of municipal finance; those appointments were referred to the appropriate standing committees for further review.

An $850,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to support housing rehabilitation projects for low- and moderate-income residents was announced and referred to the finance and property committee. The council also set a public hearing for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding recommendations on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Most motions were approved by voice vote with recorded tallies noted in the minutes as typically 7-0. After concluding its agenda, the council adjourned.

Votes at a glance: Matt St. Hilaire elected vice president (motion carried 7-0); motions to set public hearings on Orders 9 and 10 and to approve the listed appointments all carried by voice vote with recorded approvals typically 7-0.