Beverly Council Approves Four Grants, Signs On to Varian Cleanup Comment Letter

BEVERLY — November 21, 2022 — Beverly City Council unanimously approved more than $327,000 in grants and signed a public comment letter pressing Varian Medical Systems on site contamination cleanup at its November 21 meeting. The council voted 9-0 on all four grant acceptances: a $113,107.71 FY 2023 911 Department Training Grant, a $163,964 FY 2023 911 Support and Incentive Grant, a $5,000 unrestricted donation from resident Peter Coleman for the Senior Center, and a $45,500 Recycling Dividends Program grant from the state DEP. Council President Estelle Rand and all eight colleagues added their names to Order 295, a public comment letter submitted by Councilor Hannah Bowen demanding a phase two comprehensive site assessment from Varian Medical Systems, with Councilor Bowen calling the letter "one of those steps" toward a cleanup "the neighborhood and we as a city really need." The evening opened with a full-department recognition ceremony led by Fire Chief John O'Connor, who honored service milestones ranging from 20 to 36 years and swore in new hires from the classes of 2018 through 2022, and commended three firefighters — Belanger, Cronin, and McCormick — for saving a life in August.