Beverly Council refers $12.6 million ARPA grant to committee, passes five other funding items

BEVERLY -- August 2, 2021, Beverly City Council defers vote on $12.6 million federal ARPA allocation, approves five other grants. At a special meeting Monday, the full council voted 7-0 to accept a $180,000 Massachusetts Department of Mental Health grant doubling the Beverly Police Department's co-responder clinician program to two positions, a $180 Massachusetts DOT grant for Council on Aging hiring ads, 35 donated child car seats, and a $250,000 private gift to Lynch Park, while also voting out a reciprocal easement agreement enabling the Briscoe Village affordable housing project on Sawyer Road. Mayor Michael P. Cahill presented the $12,606,097 American Rescue Plan Act grant and asked the council to authorize expenditure that evening, but Councillor Ames argued the council needed time to "catch up" and build a community plan before spending what amounts to roughly 10 percent of the city's operating budget. The council referred the ARPA order to the Committee on Finance and Property, with a final vote expected no earlier than the second September meeting.