Harbor Management Authority
Minutes of February 18, 2026 Meeting
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Clerk's stamp: RECEIVED AND RECORDED, CITY OF BEVERLY, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, 2026 Mar 19
Board: Harbor Management Authority
Date: February 18, 2026
Location: Beverly Public Library - Barnet Gallery and via Google Meet
Members Present: Chair Paul Earl, Vice Chair Scott Freeman, Todd Callaghan, Joe Crowell, David Lane, David Suminsby, Scott White
Members Absent: Todd Rotondo, Danielle Spang
Others Present: Peter Dickman (Harbormaster), Sean Ciancarelli
Recorder: Brett Bauer
Earl calls the meeting to order at 6:45 pm.
Approval of Minutes
Approval of the September 10, 2025 and November, 19, 2025 minutes is postponed until there are enough members present that were also present at those meetings to vote on approval. Crowell motions to approve the January 28, 2026 minutes. Seconded by White. The motion is approved, 6-0, with Freeman abstaining.
Financials
Earl reports that the recreational contracts have just gone out and they expect a flood of payments by next month for the early pay discount. They have about $14k in receivables on the commercial side with over half owed by one customer. Three other customers owe partial payments. The grant matches line will go up by $68,750. The $99k from the waterway fund line will go down to $30k. The capital fund will go down from $733k to $650k.
Harbormaster Update
Dickman reports no major incidents. The Bass River is still frozen over. The vessel abandoned at a Jubilee mooring is now at the Glove Wharf transient float and is being assessed regular fines, currently at $3500. $10k will be assessed for an abandoned vessel and over $3k has been assessed by Jubilee. Dickman will eventually be going to court to collect on the fines. LinksLog, the new harbormaster software, is in the works and just awaiting signature by the mayor. The cost is being split between the HMA and the Harbormaster with each paying $3370. Dickman will be keeping permit fees the same this year but is looking to match Salem next year at $7.50/foot. The bridge work detail continues, but he is struggling to staff this work. He is looking to raise the detail work rate from $55/hr to $65/hr. Dickman's office will help Salem Sound Coast Watch with collecting samples for a study. Dickman intends to submit a letter of support to change the retirement group for staff in harbormasters departments to Group 2. White asks if the current status affects staff recruitment. Lane makes suggestions about use of city letterhead and first confirming support from the mayor. Dickman was asked to present on the derelict trap project for the Boston Sea Rovers Conference and Salem Sound Coast Watch. And lastly, Beverly 400+ has reached to interview Dickman and may be included in the stories project.
Facilities
Ciancarelli reports that the recreation contracts will receive the early pay discount if paid in full by March 1st. After Coast Guard approval, HMA will be the owner of the sailboat that was evicted and will then sell or surplus it and may try and collect the fees owed to the HMA. The two 50-amp pedestals for the electrical upgrade are paid for and ordered. The completion of the hoist pier construction will likely be delayed until May and Sean may need to work with customers on help getting their traps back out. The security gates on the commercial floats are in line to be installed - being added as a change order to the hoist pier project.
Electrical Usage Monitoring
Lane reports that the sensors are still installed at the marina but not collecting data without the Falco software. One company offered to do everything they want, but it would involve installing all new pedestals. Other options will likely be manual. There may be options to track electrical usage with smart meters. HMA could come up with a flat rate for electrical overages from the existing data they have. Earl is not certain that they own the Falco sensors. He thought they would likely have heard something by now regarding the future of Falco but is still waiting for something in writing from the French Bankruptcy Court.
Vessel Ownership Status
Earl is still going back and forth with Bob Cook to show he owns at least 51% of his boat.
Commercial Contracts and Rates
Ciancarelli plans to send these out in late April or May. Suminsby reports that the rate is currently $80/foot. He likes the idea that the commercial rate be 50% of the recreational rate and still continue to support the commercial fishing industry with a substantially lower slip fee. Earl notes that it is difficult to confirm active commercial fishing or to break out commercial fishing activity into more specific categories. For example, they could consider a discount for customers that submit a letter saying 90% of their income is from fishing but that is also difficult to confirm. Crowell offers to ask for commercial marina rates from Gloucester and New Bedford. Suminsby notes that Sandwich is at $80/foot, but he has found little other rate information online. Callaghan notes that data shows Beverly fishermen have done well relative to other North Shore communities, behind only Gloucester and Marblehead. Earl suggests delaying the vote for setting commercial rates until March to allow time for the collection of more data.
Innoventure Labs
Earl reports that they just got the grant award signed and they would like to meet and discuss future plans. Callaghan adds that it could be helpful to have Innoventure Labs at a meeting held at Glover Wharf so that they could see the facilities. White has still not received a response back from MassPort about BlueTech.
Kayak racks
Earl reports they have received $5k so far, or roughly one-third of the fees. The returning customers have until April 15th to pay in full and reserve their spot. Nine customers have said they will not be returning, and the waitlist is currently at 70. Callaghan asks if there are problems with abandoned small boats, such as kayaks. He notes that this has been a big problem in other communities. Earl responds that it hasn't been an issue.
Beverly 400+
Rotondo notes that the HMA's donation is not needed until after July 1st.
E-engine charging center
Callaghan spoke to CleanEnergy about grant opportunities and they're excited about the potential here. More conversations are to come.
Mission Boathouse Event
Earl had back and forth communications with the Police Chief about this event. The City Solicitor said the HMA has jurisdiction over the area of Glover Wharf in question, and therefore approval (or not) of private events using the public areas. Doig said the parks department can do the permitting. The police only need to get involved if there are traffic flow issues. Liquor license permitting is the same as it would be for the block party. Rotondo notes that it still may be prudent for the HMA to have policy on this. He believes that if liquor is brought down from the restaurant onto public property, then permission is needed from City Council. Earl responds that their plans have liquor contained to their property. After further discussion about jurisdiction over the area and whether they are subject to an ordinance, Earl says they can modify Doig's permit form. Rotondo adds that much of the concern is about indemnification and insurance requirements.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the Harbor Management Authority this evening, Suminsby makes a motion to adjourn. White seconds. Motion to adjourn is approved (7-0).
The HMA Meeting is adjourned at 8:05 pm.