Beverly Council Unanimously Approves $1.3 Million Loan Order for New Fire Ladder Truck

BEVERLY — July 13, 2020 — Beverly City Council unanimously approved a $1.3 million loan authorization Monday to allow the city to order a new ladder truck for the fire department. Council President Paul Guanci presided over the 9-0 vote, which Finance Director Brian Ailes said is designed to accelerate the truck's delivery by roughly five months by allowing a purchase order to be issued now, with the loan later rescinded using free cash once it is certified this fall. Budget analyst Jerry Perry told the council he expects free cash certification to come in between $8 million and $9 million, consistent with last year's certified balance of $9.2 million, bolstered by more than $2 million in COVID-related spending holdbacks. Fire Chief Carter, on the call by phone, said the city's backup quint truck is now 25 years old and that the new 107-foot straight ladder — eight thousand pounds lighter than the current quint — will allow crews to focus on search and rescue rather than splitting duties. The council will need to return in the fall for a second vote to transfer the free cash and formally rescind the loan order.