Council approves $1.6 million for new trash carts

Select Board · Meeting of June 1, 2026

BEVERLY — The Beverly City Council voted 8-1 to transfer $1.6 million from free cash to buy new automated trash and recycling carts ahead of a July 1 contract start. Finance Director Brian Ailes said delay risked contract penalties of roughly $125,000 a month from hauler Casella. Mayor Mike Cahill also presented a $180,884,417 fiscal year 2027 budget, adding $4.5 million for Beverly Public Schools while cutting roughly 15 city positions.

Residents including Tony Musante and Terry Maylue criticized the rollout, saying Casella never appeared before the council and that cart-size decisions remained unresolved. Councilor Estelle Sonia said the city "don't frankly know the needs right now of the community." The council also voted 9-0 for a first reading of new accessory dwelling unit zoning rules and approved three free cash transfers totaling $3.79 million for roads, OPEB and snow and ice costs.

In the full story:

• FY27 Budget Presentation
• National Grid Transmission Line Project Update
• Public Comment Period
• Naming "Matzeliger Way" (Order 127)
• The question before the body: Whether to approve naming the roadway "Matzeliger Way."
• Free Cash Transfer Hearings (Orders 138, 139, 140)
• Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Amendment (Order 119)
• Trash Carts: $1.6 Million Transfer and Rollout Debate (Order 141)
• Routine Business and Committee Reports
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,890 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.