Conservation Commission

City of Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* March 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Conservation Commission DATE: March 25, 2025 LOCATION: Virtual via Google Meet MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Christine Bertoni, Vice Chair Amber Redmond, Robert Buchsbaum, Grace Charles (left early), William Squibb (arrived late) MEMBERS ABSENT: Tara Duffy, Eilidh Hall OTHERS PRESENT: Conservation Agent David Spidaliere, Field Agent Scott White RECORDER: Lucy Goss 1) Chair Bertoni calls the special meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and conducts a roll call. There is a quorum of seated members. Bertoni reads the public notice regarding holding meetings remotely due to COVID-19. 2) Recess for public hearings Buchsbaum: Motion to recess for public hearings. Charles seconds. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion carries (4-0). 3) Notices of Intent a) Cont.: Multiple Addresses, DEP File #5-1409 – City-wide Beach Management Plan – City of Beverly Michael DeRosa from DeRosa Environmental and Eric Barber from the Beverly Department of Public Services (DPS) are present to discuss this Notice of Intent (NOI) for the City of Beverly’s Beach Management Plan (BMP). Commissioner Squibb joins the meeting. The Commissioners, Agent Spidaliere, DeRosa, and Barber discuss the following sections of the updated BMP draft, submitted on March 11, 2025: • Section 1: o Commissioners ask for clarification related to the maps identifying Beverly’s public beaches. o The parties discuss the proposed process for the Conservation Agent to review and comment on planned DPS maintenance projects. • Section 2: o DeRosa and Barber agree to add a section that defines “Coastal Dune” to the list of resource areas in section 2.2. 1  City of Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* March 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 o The parties discuss press releases, public signage, and other methods of notifying abutters and the public about DPS maintenance projects. • Section 3: o Barber explains the proposed DPS process for keeping records of maintenance activities and reporting updates to the Conservation Agent. o The Commissioners, DeRosa, and Barber discuss details related to DPS maintenance activities, including: grass mowing, tree and brush trimming, mulching, beach raking, seaweed removal, trash picking, debris removal, and hardscape sweeping. Commissioner Charles leaves the meeting. o The Commissioners, DeRosa, and Barber discuss DPS maintenance activities related to asphalt and concrete repair, court and surface maintenance, building maintenance, and sand redistribution. o Spidaliere provides an overview of questions and concerns raised by the City Solicitor related to the maintenance of unlicensed seawalls. DeRosa and Barber agree to remove section 3.18 on Seawall Parging and Patching from the BMP. The Commissioners express the intent to address the issue of DPS seawall maintenance in a separate vehicle, to be determined at a later time. • Other: o The Commissioners, DeRosa, and Barber discuss best management practices (section 4), authorization of emergency maintenance (section 5), and DPS oversight over contractors performing maintenance work (section 7). o Spidaliere shares written comments from Commissioner Duffy related to the removal of dead marine animals or large debris from public beaches. DeRosa and Barber agree to consider edits to the BMP language to address this issue. Bertoni opens the discussion to members of the public. Suzie LaMont, property owner of 20 Porter Street, asks for clarification about the frequency of beach raking, noting that she has observed DPS staff beach raking at Pleasant View Park up to three times per week. LaMont expresses concern about the effect of beach raking on erosion. Barber states that he will look into DPS beach raking at Pleasant View Park and provide an update. Spidaliere reads a letter submitted by Salem Sound Coast Watch, expressing concerns about beach raking and its potential negative impacts on beach erosion and local wildlife, including horseshoe crabs and piping plovers. The letter recommends editing the BMP language to limit the frequency of raking. The Commissioners, DeRosa, and Barber discuss potential edits to the language in sections 3.6 and 3.7 of the BMP, related to beach raking frequency and the protection of beach wildlife. Buchsbaum: Motion to continue the hearing for the City-wide Beach Management Plan, DEP File #5-1409, to the meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Redmond seconds. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion carries (4-0). 2  City of Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* March 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3 4) Adjournment Buchsbaum: Motion to adjourn. Squibb seconds. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion carries (4-0). Meeting adjourns at 11:00 a.m. The next regular meeting of the Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 6:30p.m. 3