Beverly Moves To Provide Free Parking For Veterans

BEVERLY, MA — A proposal to waive parking fees for veterans at municipal lots and meters moved a step closer to becoming reality in Beverly on Monday night when the City Council Committee on Legal Affairs recommended its passage to the full City Council.

The ordinance change will come up for a first reading in front of the full Council at its Sept. 5 meeting.

Veterans would be eligible for free parking with a veteran license plate issued from any state. Veterans could also get a parking sticker from the city's Veterans Services Department.

"Obviously, we want to recognize the service of our veterans," said City Councilor Todd Rotondo, who proposed the ordinance change along with Councilor Steve Crowley. "Our Veterans Services Agent David Perinchief also sees it as an opportunity to get veterans into his office and have a relationship with them that not have ever happened, and a chance to provide them services that that they might not be aware of."

Salem put in place a similar program earlier this summer.

"It's a small gesture but it's always nice when the Council is able to do things that honor the service of the veterans and of veterans coming into our city," City Councilor Brendan Sweeney said. "I think it will reflect very well on Beverly."

"It makes us look and feel and act like a more inclusive community," Committee Chair Estelle Rand agreed.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)