Beverly Mayor Praises Resilience, Eyes Future In State of City

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill remembered a year of sacrifice and loss, while looking forward to a future of more equitable opportunity, climate consciousness and culminating projects, during his State of the City address Monday night.

The city has lost 199 residents since the start of the coronavirus health crisis last March, with Cahill allowing "the health toll — both mental and physical — sadly may lead to more loss in the weekend and months to come," but he added the hope is that the city is on the cusp of being "much closer to a return of the familiar" as residents can "look forward to a summer of gatherings and celebrations.

"In many ways, we are almost there," he said. "And, yet, together we still need to be vigilant and we still need to respect this virus. Even as vaccines continue to roll out, we are still traveling this path together."

Cahill praised city workers who took on additional responsibilities throughout the pandemic, and businesses that complied with evolving state and local restrictions while trying their best to support employees amid all the uncertainty.

"You have been our partners throughout, keeping in regular contact and doing your collective very best work to help the constituents we all serve," Cahill said. "And your work has made a real difference for all of us."

While he said the city avoided the direst financial forecasts through level-funded state aid this fiscal year and slight increases next year, he noted that excise tax collections are down 9.4 percent from the three-year average and meals and room excise taxes are down 24.7 percent because of the pandemic.

"While we are in a stable financial position to manage through these types of shortfalls, the reality is that there simply is less money available in some areas than we typically would have to work with," he said. "It is important we do not overextend the city and risk erosion of the city's sound financial footing that we have strategically achieved together."

Funding from the CARES Act and American Rescue Act will help, but carry restrictions in that they can only be used to fund certain programs.

Low-interest rates are helping the city divert more taxpayer money to city services and less to interest payments.

Cahill cited the work the city has done on equity and environmental planning with creating the full-time position of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Direct position filled by Abu Toppin and Sustainability Director Erina Keefe.

Cahill said the new, 32,000-square foot police station is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall, the Council on Aging is preparing to reopen to activities late this spring for the first time in more than a year and that the city will support expanded outdoor dining for the second straight year.

Among the longer-term projects in the city are the waterfront restaurant at the former McDonald's site, expected to be completed next summer, and the Depot Square Two project, which is a mixed-used redevelopment of the Rantoul Street block close to the transit station that will include more than 100 new apartments and both commercial and retail space on the first floor.

"We know the people of Beverly will continue to support each other and all of us as they have so incredibly this past year," Cahill concluded. "We are all excited and optimistic for the year ahead — working with you all on behalf of this city of Beverly continues to be our great honor and privilege."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)