Beverly City Council Meeting 09/21/2026

The Beverly City Council held a regular meeting on September 21, 2026, which included multiple public hearings, committee reports, and routine business. Key procurement-related discussions involved several petitions from utility companies National Grid and Gonet Speed to install and maintain underground fiber optic and electrical facilities in various city locations. These petitions were reviewed by the Committee on Public Services, which recommended approval with specific conditions such as compliance with city ordinances, repaving impacted streets, and tree replacement. The council approved budget transfers, including a $25,000 transfer from the reserve for unforeseen expenses to the Harbor Management Authority Fund to cover half the cost of replacing patrol boat engines. Additionally, the council accepted several donations to support the senior center and approved appointments and reappointments to various city committees. A notable policy decision was the final passage of an ordinance banning cryptocurrency machines in the city to protect residents from financial scams. The council also approved changes to rules allowing public speakers to provide their address confidentially to the city clerk to encourage participation. The meeting included extensive public commentary on the elimination of the city's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) position, though no direct procurement actions related to that topic were recorded.