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Danvers Select Board Meeting - 6/18/26
Published: Jun 18, 2026
Town Manager Reports on Infrastructure Improvements, Grant Applications, and Community Events
The town manager provided updates on various town initiatives. Pope's Landing will receive improvements to its curb, concrete, ramp, and new floats, with repainting of the parking lot. The downtown streetscape improvements are underway on Elm, High, Maple, and Conant Streets, including ADA-compliant ramps and sidewalks. Holton Street drainage work and paving will be finished on June 22nd. The outdoor water restriction has been reduced to Level 4. Updates were given on the project for banners on new downtown light poles, with designs being reviewed and a timeline to be provided. Flower baskets are up, thanks to the Danvers Garden Club. Grant applications are being pursued for economic development, including Seaport Economic Council funding for dredging and Phase II of the Endicott Street visioning project. Police applied for grants related to jail diversion, traffic safety, and 911 services. The leadership team met at Northeast Arc, partnering on the rec program and discussing the Endicott Street visioning project. HRIC hosted a Pride event, and Juneteenth was celebrated. A land use summit was held to prepare for potential zoning bylaw amendments. Upcoming events include Downtown Rewind on June 23rd, summer concert series starting July 6th, and holiday closures for Juneteenth and Independence Day.
Select Board Approves Cooperation Agreement for Danvers Housing Authority's Section 8 Conversion
The Select Board reviewed a cooperation agreement between the Town of Danvers and the Danvers Housing Authority (DHA) related to DHA's repositioning of public housing into a Section 8 platform through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program. This conversion aims to preserve affordable housing and ensure financial viability by utilizing more robust Section 8 funding compared to Section 9 public housing. The agreement ratifies and documents the existing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) that DHA pays to the town for its federal properties. It clarifies that the PILOT applies to properties owned by DHA or its instrumentalities, with DHA maintaining fee ownership of the land and a long-term ground lease with the instrumentality that will own the project. A point of clarification was made regarding a potential typo in numbering and a clause stating no lien shall attach to project assets or accrue penalties upon failure to make PILOT payments, which was explained as the town not being able to foreclose but still being able to stop services or bill back for them. The agreement was approved.
Conners Farm Secures 7-Day Entertainment License Renewal, Moves to Consent Calendar
Robert Conners, doing business as Conners Farm at 30 Valley Road, applied for a renewal of a 7-day entertainment license. The farm's operations remain unchanged from the previous year, including a farm stand, pick-your-own options, children's birthday parties, school field trips, community supported agriculture programs, a corn maze, and a haunted walk-through in the fall. The proposed days and hours are identical to the 2025 license, with the farm stand open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until November 2nd. Weekend hours in October extend to 11:00 p.m. for 11 specific days. Importantly, there will be no live music. The farm has remained in compliance with previous requests, monitoring sound levels and actively addressing neighbor concerns through its security manager. The application was approved and moved to the consent calendar for future renewals, provided no complaints or operational changes arise.
Town Addresses Youth Behavior Concerns with Coordinated Community Response
The town manager, alongside the superintendent of schools, chief of police, and recreation director, addressed concerns regarding recent youth behavior. An open letter to the community was issued, detailing issues such as unsafe bicycle/e-bike operation, disruptive conduct, vandalism, and graffiti, including racist and anti-Semitic incidents. The letter emphasized that these actions do not represent the town's values and acknowledged that most young people are responsible. A coordinated response involving families, schools, local government, and law enforcement is underway, with increased police enforcement, collaboration between schools and municipalities, and thorough investigation of hate-based conduct. The importance of education, accountability, mentorship, and parental involvement was highlighted, encouraging parents to monitor their children's activities and discuss respect, responsibility, and safety. The community is urged to report concerns and partner in finding solutions to ensure a safe and welcoming environment.
Select Board Workshop Yields Action Items for Procedural Rules, Fiscal Assessment, and Communication
The Select Board discussed action items from a June 4th workshop focused on improving town operations and board processes. Three main action items were identified: 1) Forming a subcommittee to develop procedural rules for select board meetings and operations, including public participation and meeting conduct; 2) Collaborating with the town manager and finance director to assess the fiscal landscape, explore revenue enhancement, investigate economic development, and improve public education on these matters; and 3) Enhancing communication and education through better board member communication, more frequent staff updates, and increased public engagement. Member Trask suggested an incremental approach to developing rules and highlighted the need for codifying unwritten historical processes. The board agreed to consider appointing a subcommittee for procedural rules and to focus on developing a work plan, with examples from other communities to be reviewed.
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The Danvers News archive
Danvers Accessibility Commission - 6/25/26
Conservation Commission Meeting - 6/25/26
Zoning Board of Appeals - 6/22/26
Peabody Institute Library of Danvers Trustees Meeting: 6/10/26
Planning Board Meeting: 6/9/26
Danvers School Committee Meeting - 6/8/26
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