[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Beverly
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. 265]
The purpose of this article is to establish a uniform process
for the naming of City-owned real property, including, but not limited
to, buildings, parks, open space, land, and public ways, in a manner
that acknowledges and honors the values and history of the City of
Beverly.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Real property that is owned by the City and is under the
care, custody, or control of the Airport Commission, the Conservation
Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission or Department, the
Harbor Management Authority, or other board, committee, or commission.
Real property that is owned by the City and is held as general
corporate property or other real property over which the City has
a right of control and a right to name, including but not limited
to ways that have officially been laid out, designated and/or accepted
as public ways and the areas within such public ways. Property that
is under the care, custody, or control of the School Committee, the
Airport Commission, the Conservation Commission, the Parks and Recreation
Commission or Department, the Harbor Management Authority, or any
other board, committee, or commission is excluded from the definition
of "municipal property."
B.
No commission
property shall be the subject of the process set forth herein unless
the commission or authority that has care, custody, or control of
the property in question votes in the affirmative to support such
action before any City Council vote on the matter.
C.
No name
shall be given to municipal property or commission property until
after the City Council holds a public hearing and allows for a thirty-day
public written comment period that shall conclude at the close of
the public hearing. Notice of such public hearing and public written
comment period shall be published on the City's website and in a local
newspaper at least 30 days before the date of said public hearing.
Extraordinary facts or circumstances must be found that would
justify the City's ongoing and permanent recognition, including but
not limited to the following:
A.
Individuals.
City property may be named to acknowledge or honor an individual.
The proposed honoree must:
(1)
Have
died in the line of duty either to the City or in the United States
Armed Forces;
(2)
Serve
or have served the City and contributed in a significant way to public
life and the well-being of the City; or
(3)
Prominently
figure into the history of the City through their contribution to
the City and public life.
B.
Historic
event or place. City property may be named in honor of a relevant
historic event or place.
C.
Donations.
The donation of funds may be considered in the naming of any City
property, but is not a prerequisite to such. Any such naming in consideration
of a donation shall be subject to the process and criteria set forth
herein.
D.
Renaming
or rescission of name. The renaming of City property or the rescission
thereof is subject to the additional requirement of findings by the
City Council that:
In addition to the foregoing, the following procedure applies:
A.
An initial
written request shall be submitted to the City Council with a copy
to the Mayor. The request must be made by or sponsored by a City Councilor
or the Mayor. The request shall include:
(1)
Identification
of the municipal property or commission property to be named or renamed;
(2)
Full
name of the proposed honoree, historic event, or place;
(3)
Honoree's
verifiable dates of service with the City and/or United States Armed
Forces;
(4)
Narrative
as to the extraordinary facts, circumstances, events, or achievements
on which the request is based;
(5)
Proof
that the property is owned by the City.
B.
The City
Council shall review the written request and perform any additional
inquiry it so deems necessary.
