With the signature accomplishment of a new high school behind him, Mayor Bill Scanlon plans to turn his attention to the nuts and bolts of repairing city buildings, streets, sidewalks, and underground water and sewer pipes in the next two years.
In his annual State of the City address last night at City Hall, Scanlon said the city will spend $4 million to repair City Hall and the Beverly Public Library and $2 million to fix streets and sidewalks, and will also take on "major" water and sewer projects.
"Improved service to our citizens is our major goal this year," he said.
Scanlon, beginning his 17th year as mayor, said the city is at a "pause point" in terms of new construction after last year's opening of the $81 million high school.
Instead, he said he will concentrate on improving the city's infrastructure while "planning extensively" for such future projects as a new middle school and a Brimbal Avenue interchange.
"It is essential that we invest heavily in our streets and sidewalks over the next several years because, left unattended, increased deterioration of our roads will rapidly increase the cost of repairs," he said. "As it turns out, better roads when seen together with many improvements we have made to schools and drainage, as well as parks and playgrounds, will add to the value of real estate throughout the city, and thus add to the equity of all Beverly property owners."
Scanlon said the city will pay for the street and sidewalk repairs using $1 million from state road repair funds and another $1 million from money saved by refinancing debt at interest rates that are at or below "historic lows."
Scanlon said City Hall, which has not undergone a major improvement since 1933, needs new windows, a new roof, an improved heating system and brickwork. The library also has had problems with leaks and flooding and needs repairs to the front stairs.
The combined work will cost about $4 million, with construction to start in 2013.
As for the longer-term projects, Scanlon said a new middle school would not open until the fall of 2017. The city has applied for state assistance to renovate and expand the former Memorial Middle School into its middle school of the future, but Scanlon said other communities have projects with a higher priority.
"Our project will have to take its turn," he said.
Scanlon did not give a timetable on the Brimbal Avenue interchange project, but said he is "increasingly optimistic" about the chances of persuading the state to invest the $20 million to $25 million it would take to get it done.
Scanlon said the project is the key to funding two of the city's other major needs, a new public safety building and new public services facilities. The interchange and overpass over Route 128 would open up access to land on both sides of the highway without increasing traffic on local roads and "should create many jobs and bring significant revenues to both the city and the state," Scanlon said.
"Projects such as the commuter rail parking garage and the Brimbal Avenue project take time, but the garage is proof they can happen," he said. "With success, we will be able to further develop a first-class infrastructure in our city."
Another state project, a 500-vehicle MBTA parking garage near the train station, is scheduled to begin this year and open in the fall of 2013, he said.
Scanlon reiterated a campaign promise to improve the downtown. The city has a thriving nighttime restaurant business estimated at $80 million per year based on meal tax revenues, he said, "yet it is true that Beverly is less active in the daylight hours."
Scanlon said he will include funding in the next city budget to market the city to prospective businesses and assist them in moving here.
Scanlon said the economic picture is beginning to brighten for the city. The city expects to save $1.2 million per year in health care costs under a new agreement with city and school unions. Building permit revenues have been better than expected, and the mild winter has saved the city money on snowplowing.
In addition, after four years of cuts, state aid is expected to stay the same next year, he said.
The construction of a Black Cow restaurant on the waterfront has been held up by an appeal by neighboring Beverly Port Marina, but Scanlon said he expects the appeal to be rejected in court.
"There is much that is good in our city, but there remains much to do," he said.
After the speech, newly elected Councilor-at-Large Jason Silva praised Scanlon for the "impressive update."
"The level of accomplishment being done here is quite astonishing," Silva said.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.
Scanlon's plans
Spend $4 million on City Hall and main library repairs
Spend $2 million on street and sidewalk repairs
Save $1.2 million on health care costs
Upgrade sewerage system
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