Beverly Council Approves Parking Overhaul, Strips Overnight Ban at Restaurant Lot

BEVERLY — June 26, 2023 — Beverly's City Council overhauled downtown and waterfront parking rules and approved nearly $795,000 in year-end financial transfers at its June 26 meeting, the last before summer recess. The council voted 8-0 on final passage of Order 162, renaming several municipal lots, expanding paid-parking enforcement at the Waterfront and Summit-Congress lots to 8 a.m.-to-8 p.m. seven days a week, and creating a new three-hour time-limited lot at the former McDonald's site now occupied by Mission Boathouse — but stripped out, 5-3, a proposed overnight parking ban at that restaurant lot after Councilor Scott Bowen argued the change was "premature." Separately, the council approved an 8-0 transfer of $240,000 from certified free cash for a library van, fire truck, and $90,000 elevator repair, and an 8-0 transfer of $382,913 in sewer retained earnings to close out culvert work near Shoe Pond. The council also heard phase one findings and a phase two launch from HRNA Advisors on the city's racial equity audit, with Beverly's diversity director Wangari Fahari and Mayor Mike Cahill participating; a separate request for temporary resident-only parking on Front, Davis, and South streets was referred to the Parking and Traffic Commission, leaving that neighborhood without relief until at least August.