Harbor Management Authority
Minutes of January 28, 2026 Meeting
[Clerk's receipt stamp: CITY OF BEVERLY, RECEIVED, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, 2026 FEB 19 A 11:54]
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board: Harbor Management Authority
Date: January 28, 2026
Location: Beverly Public Library - Barnet Gallery and via Google Meet
Members Present: Chair Paul Earl, Todd Callaghan, Joe Crowell, David Lane, Todd Rotondo, Danielle Spang, David Suminsby, Scott White
Members Absent: Vice Chair Scott Freeman
Others Present: Peter Dickman (Harbormaster), Sean Ciancarelli
Recorder: Brett Bauer
Earl calls the meeting to order at 6:50 pm.
Financials
Earl has received no updates but notes that the capital fund will soon go down by $69-70k for projects.
Approval of Minutes
Approval of September 10, 2025, and November 19, 2025 minutes are postponed until there are enough members present that were also present at those meetings to vote on approval. Callaghan motions to approve October 15, 2025 minutes. Seconded by Spang. The motion is approved, 6-0.
Harbormaster Update
Dickman reports there were a couple of incidents his office has responded to. A Sail Salem dock broke loose and debris washed up. They had to reach out and there will be a significant cost for the clean-up. There was an abandoned boat at a Jubilee guest mooring - $3k in fines have been assessed so far. Dickman has been in touch with the owners, but this may need to go to court. The MBTA train bridge keeps breaking down and will get repaired soon. Because of the train bridge issues and the Bass River being frozen, some boats from Bartlett have asked to use Glover Wharf and others have requested safe harbor during the storms. The conduit work under the bridge is ongoing now, Monday through Sunday, until the end of March. The office continues to do trainings, some covered by grants. DMF (Dept of Marine Fisheries) has a program that will open up scalloping on the North Shore. Birarelli wants to extend their dock to accommodate vessels for this new initiative. Dickman and Ciancarelli attended the Business of Boating Conference. Cinacarelli notes they made some good contacts for legal counsel about abandoned boats.
Facilities
Ciancarelli sent out the contracts for the recreation side which includes the new prices. There will be an auction on February 6th for the sailboat that was evicted. He contacted the next person on the waitlist for when the sailboat is gone to fill that space. There are some boats on the commercial side that still have money owed. The winter customers have all paid. Earl will send out renewals for kayaks. Next year, this will be handled by the new harbormaster software. Bob Cook produced documentation requested but there is still documentation pending from his attorney, including ownership details. The security gates are next to be installed and they have some quotes. The order of remaining projects is discussed, including funding. Earl suggested the availability of WIF funds to Ayles for part of the match for the hoist project. We will need to discuss the ice machine and outside use of the hoist once the other work is further along. Earl is hoping DPW can get new balusters and railings done by Memorial Day.
Dockwa - Transient Floats and Moorings
Earl, Ciancarelli, and Dickman will take a look at this for the upcoming season and will bring any changes to HMA.
Innoventure Labs
Earl asks White to follow up on making connections and continuing conversations.
Kayak racks
Earl says the average turnover is 15-20 each year and the waitlist is pretty current. He suggests they hold off on any new racks this year.
Beverly 400+
Rotondo reports they had very good attendance at their winter events. The boats for the battle reenactment have been secured.
Glover Wharf Upgrades - Knot Spot
Earl notes that they need to wait to set a date for the Knot Spot unveiling event until there is more certainty about the other Glover Wharf work getting done.
New Members
Earl asks if anyone has any suggestions. There are two positions that need to be filled.
Website
Suminsby made one update to the info about the slip application for Glover Wharf.
Tiki & Fishing Vessels in 2026
There has been interest in using Glover Wharf for commercial pick-ups and drop-offs. In addition to a tiki boat interested in this, Bob Cook wants to do a fishing camp for kids.
Mission Boathouse Event
Earl reports that the Mission Boathouse's proposal (distributed prior to the meeting) to hold a Spring Celebration event at Glover Wharf has been referred to HMA for approval. Members at the meeting were very supportive.. Spang suggested they ask The Anchor and Joe's on a Roll if they want to be involved. It's suggested that there should be a permit for use of the promenade in front of the restaurant. Callaghan motions to develop a one-pager on how to reserve the promenade for event use. Seconded by Lane. Discussion: It is asked if the area would still be open to the public during such events. And it is noted that the area should be able to be reserved by anyone, not just the Mission Boathouse. Rotondo motions to table this matter until it can be run by the City Solicitor for input. The motion to table is approved by consensus.
E-engine charging center
Callaghan recently heard about a company in Bristol, RI that installs electric engines in boats. Dickman spoke to the company about a pilot program for the Harbormaster fleet. It would cost $70k to outfit one boat. They would need grants to cover the costs. The batteries are warrantied for seven years, and the lifespan is estimated at twenty years. The batteries could be charged with the current pedestals at the marina, or a fast charger would be a $20k-35k investment. It could be a charging station for the public. Dickman is excited about the potential opportunities; this could position Beverly to be on the cutting edge for electric boats. It is acknowledged that it probably makes more sense to procure a new electric boat rather than trying to retrofit an existing one. Suminsby mentions checking that the electric service to the marina has enough capacity for a fast charger.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the Harbor Management Authority this evening, Rotondo makes a motion to adjourn. Spang seconds. Motion to adjourn is approved (8-0).
The HMA Meeting is adjourned at 8:08 pm.
CITY OF BEVERLY massachusetts
Lisa Kent <lkent@beverlyma.gov>
Re: Agenda - Public Services Committee 2/23 at 6:30pm
1 message
Danielle Spang <dspang@beverlyma.gov>
To: Lisa Kent <lkent@beverlyma.gov>
Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Thanks very much. I'm still coughing and not feeling great, so I'm sorry to miss the breakfast for Will. Best wishes to him, and please send my regrets!!
Danielle M. Spang
Ward 2 City Councilor, City of Beverly
dspang@beverlyma.gov | 978-712-8250
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Schedule a time to meet with me
Sign up for the Ward 2 Newsletter
On Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 9:30 AM Lisa Kent <lkent@beverlyma.gov> wrote:
No worries at all. Sarah or I may be available. I will let you know. But I really appreciate you for offering to do it. I will post it today. If you are feeling better, come by for breakfast and say goodbye to Will.
Lisa
Lisa Kent, CMC
City of Beverly
City Clerk
Clerk of the Council,
Notary
Justice of the Peace
978-605-2325
lkent@beverlyma.gov
On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 8:58 AM Danielle Spang <dspang@beverlyma.gov> wrote:
Hi Lisa,
Sorry to do this again, but could you please post another Agenda for the Public Services Committee to meet on Monday, Feb. 23rd at 6:30pm in Council Chambers? I will borrow the spare key from you if that works, and I can draft the minutes for you from the meeting. The only thing on the agenda is Order #40, and hopefully this will be the last time.
Thanks,
Danielle
Danielle M. Spang
Ward 2 City Councilor, City of Beverly
dspang@beverlyma.gov | 978-712-8250
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Schedule a time to meet with me
Sign up for the Ward 2 Newsletter
City of Beverly massachusetts
Lisa Kent <lkent@beverlyma.gov>
May 18th Exemplary Youth Award (EYA)presentation
1 message
Todd Rotondo <trotondo@beverlyma.gov>
To: Julie Flowers <jflowers@beverlyma.gov>, Lisa Kent <lkent@beverlyma.gov>
Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Hi Julie and Lisa
I was wondering if May 18th would work to have the 3rd Annual EYA presentation at council meeting? Im not sure if there is anything booked already. Once you confirm either way, I can send an invite to Cahill
Thank you
Todd