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As of July 1, 2026, Beverly no longer has a DEI director. The Mayor's proposed budget reduced the role to half time, but the City Council voted 5-4 to eliminate the position altogether. We're rallying folks to give public comment and fill chamber seats at City Council meetings during Fall 2026.
How City Council voted
How City Council voted
✅ Keep DEI role
✅ Keep DEI role
At Large: Julie Flowers
At Large: John Mullady
At Large: Keith Sonia
Ward 2: Danielle Spang
❌ Eliminate DEI role
❌ Eliminate DEI role
Ward 1: Todd Rotondo
Ward 3: Steven Crowley
Ward 4: Scott Houseman
Ward 5: Kathleen Feldman
Ward 6: Matthew St. Hillarie (he proposed the cut)
How did it go down?
How did it go down?
Watch the 20-minute discussion among City Councilors during the June 23, 2026 meeting (timetamps 35:48 - 55:02).
All three Councilors At Large (Flowers, Sonia, Mullady) gave impassioned remarks about the importance of keeping the role, as did the Mayor.
Other Councilors disagreed. Councilor Feldman said, "This falls under the nice-to-have at this point in time, in the situation we're facing budget-wise. And it would be nice to have. I would like to have these things, but we can't have nice things in this budget."
We consider DEI work essential, not "nice to have."
What can I do about it?
What can I do about it?
We're rallying people to give public comment and fill chamber seats during City Council meetings this fall. We'd like to highlight speakers from each of the wards where a City Councilor voted to eliminate the position (see list above). But we also encourage folks to come and fill the audience, showing their support with signs and cheering. Learn more below.
Schedule of City Council meetings
Schedule of City Council meetings
All meetings start at 7:00 PM. Public comment may or may not be at the start of the meeting - best to plan for 2 hours.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Monday, September 21, 2026
Monday, October 5, 2026
Monday, October 19, 2026
Monday, November 9, 2026
Monday, November 23, 2026
Monday, December 7, 2026
Monday, December 21, 2026
Show support as an audience member
Show support as an audience member
The more people we have in person the better! Feel free to bring a homemade sign and/or wear a shirt with a slogan that signals your values (like this diversity shirt or this racial justice one or even this Dolly Parton one).
If childcare is an issue, please let us know, and we'll see what we can do.
Speak during public comment
Speak during public comment
We're excited you want to speak! Here's a rundown of everything you need to know.
About public comment in general:
About public comment in general:
At each City Council meeting, there are 5 spots available to anyone who lives or works in Beverly.
To sign up, email City Clerk Lisa Kent at lkent@beverlyma.gov no later than 9:30 AM on the day of the meeting.
You can also email much further in advance, but if you do, please note that your name and address will be published on the meeting agenda that's posted on the city website 2 business days before the meeting.
You attend a City Council meeting in person (location TBD during City Hall renovation).
You speak at the podium in front of the council.
You state your name and address - we recommend saying your Ward # (and only your Ward # if you want privacy)
Your remarks should be no longer than 3 minutes.
Your comments are livestreamed by BevCam, and a recording will live on their YouTube channel after.
For full details, see City Council rules (page 11, Appendix A).
What to say during your DEI public comment:
What to say during your DEI public comment:
Name your city councilor; express disagreement with their vote to eliminate the DEI role
Talk about why/how this change impacts you; personal narratives are powerful
Conclude by urging the council to do something concrete - e.g. approve the DEI role in future budgets, create a DEI subcommittee, or other ideas
Can't make it but still want to support?
Can't make it but still want to support?
You have options!
Contact your Ward Councilor and Councilors At Large and let them know your thoughts
Submit your comments, and we'll try to read them during public comment (anonymously or not)
Join us!
Join us!
If you have questions about any of the above or are on the fence, we're happy to provide guidance and coaching.
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