Tag Archives: Peabody city council

Council expected to side with Mayor on removing Civil Service as criteria for picking police, fire chiefs

27 Mar

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt

The Peabody City Council’s Legal Affairs Committee did the right thing last night in voting to advance to a vote of the full City Council Mayor Ted Bettencourt’s request to remove the police and fire chief’s jobs from the jurisdiction of Civil Service.

Councilor At-Large Jim Liacos said it best last night when he argued that the Mayor should have the ability to “pick his own team” without being hamstrung by Civil Service scores. Removing the barrier allows Peabody to find the best candidate for filling those executive positions, starting with the selection of a new police chief when Chief Robert Champagne retires on June 1.

There is also the issue of a Mayor being able to fire a department head based on performance.  Right now, unless there is some malfeasance, that’s not allowed under the Civil Service system.

Although Civil Service test scores need to remain an effective way of avoiding political patronage when it comes to hiring rank-and-file firefighters and police officers, a Mayor should have the right to pick his/her own department heads and executive team, regardless of test scores. I wrote about this earlier in the Eye, if you’d like to read more.

“We all want the best candidate, the most qualified person, for this critically important position and I believe removing the chief position, for both police and fire, from Civil Service gives us the best chance of finding the right person,” Bettencourt said.

Just three members of the Legal Affairs Committee were present last night, with Councilors Liacos and Bob Driscoll supporting the Mayor’s request. Councilor At-Large Anne Manning-Martin wasn’t supportive of the Mayor’s request.

The matter will now go before the full council on Thursday, where it’s expected to pass. The vote would serve as a home rule petition that the state legislature would then have to approve and have signed by the Governor.

You can read the full story here in the Peabody Patch.

Please let me know where you stand by leaving a comment.

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City should hold firm on its decision to ban pot shops

14 Mar

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

Although the Attorney General yesterday ruled that cities and towns can’t enact outright bans on marijuana dispensaries, here’s hoping that our elected officials stand their ground on this one.

Due to its vagueness and lack of regulatory control, the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Law is a potential threat to public safety and quality of life.  Most, including myself,  aren’t against medical marijuana, but many people thought it would be dispensed through a qualified, well-regulated pharmacy, and not through fly-by-night pot shops that anyone can own and operate.

The Peabody City Council voted in January on a request from by Mayor Ted Bettencourt to fully ban medical marijuana facilities from any zoning district in the city. But AG Martha Coakley has ruled a similar ban in Wakefield illegal. Here’s a rundown on the latest details surrounding this issue in the Peabody Patch.

Will be interesting to see how this all plays out. But as we’ve written here before: some lawsuits are just worth fighting. Let’s hold our ground on this and every quality of life issue

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Learning what the job of being a member of Peabody’s City Councilor is all about

13 Feb

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

Peabody's St. Adelaide Roman Catholic Church

Peabody’s St. Adelaide Roman Catholic Church

In this quest of running for the open Ward 5 Councilor seat on Peabody’s City Council, I’m learning that sometimes it’s not only about campaigning.  Sometimes, it’s about being a student. It’s about sitting back, watching, listening, and learning what it truly means to be a public servant.

That was certainly the case last night when I attended a special meeting at Wiggin Auditorium at Peabody City Hall. The meeting was held because people from a neighborhood community had a major concern about a pedestrian safety issue.  In this case, the community was  St.  Adelaide Catholic Church, my family’s parish, near the neighborhood in which I grew up.

The meeting was prompted by the tragic death less than two weeks ago of 87-year-old Ted Buttner. Mr. Buttner was struck by an elderly driver in the Lowell Street crosswalk outside of the church after attending a Saturday mass, and passed away shortly thereafter. He was from Somerville, but he often visited his daughter Patty Caton in West Peabody, and liked to attend mass at St. Adelaide.

The meeting last night came about because this horrible tragedy was another reminder of the dangers of that crossing. Recognizing the concerns of the St. Adelaide community, Ward 6 City Councilor Barry Sinewitz requested his fellow city councilors convene a meeting to discuss what could be done to make the situation safer for pedestrians.

The meeting was well attended, almost 40 parishioners, and five City Councilors. Mrs. Caton spoke first, telling everyone about how her dad was a wonderful, vibrant gentleman, and how important it was to keep a tragedy like this from ever happening again.

“We are heartbroken to have lost such a gentle, loving man who always had his arms extended to help everyone who knew him,” said Caton, the first of several parishioners who spoke, including church pastor, Father David Lewis.

Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who is a St. Adelaide parishioner, was there too to speak, as were City Councilors Mike Garabedian, Tom Gould, Anne Manning-Martin, and Arthur Athas. Peabody Police Captain John DeRosa spoke about more immediate visibility by officers, and other steps they are taking now to make the crosswalk safer.

The parishioners would like a pedestrian crossing light, a matter that will be taken up shortly the City Council’s sub committee on public safety.

You can read the full details of what transpired last night here in this well done article in the Peabody Patch.

My reason for bringing it up today was to not only update you on something we posted here earlier about this safety concern, but to point out an example of how government should always work for the people. Citizens have concerns. Elected leaders are supposed to bring everyone together to address those concerns.

I learned a lot last night about the type of City Councilor I’d like to be.

Sometimes campaigning isn’t just about working hard to become the most-popular name on a ballot. Sometimes, it’s about learning what the job is all about first, and taking those lessons with you into office.  It’s not about me, or what I know.  It’s about doing the peoples’ business,  first,  foremost, and always.

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Approve funding for library repairs now, but how can we make this asset sustainable?

6 Feb

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

library

The historic Peabody Institute Library

A balancing act is going on right now between the need to be watchful of a limited pool of taxpayer dollars, and the necessity for preserving a historic and valuable community resource.

I’m talking about the current request to fund $3.1 million to make repairs on the Peabody Institute Library, a historic landmark downtown that was given to the city in 1852 by native son and world-renowned philanthropist George Peabody.  Since then, it has been a treasured resource for the community and in 1973 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Now, we come to our dilemma.

Being that it is a 161-year-old structure, continuous repair costs are soaring, and they are soaring during days of dwindling state aid to cities and towns, and an already increasing tax burden on the middle class citizenry of working class Peabody.

Making matters more complicated are the current infrastructural needs all over the city. Among the largest projects are the tens of millions to be spent on a flood mitigation plan for Peabody Square, and a $40-plus million dollar (and much-needed) new middle school.

Complicating matters further are those in the community, and on the City Council, who feel that brick and mortar libraries are nearing obsolescence in a big data world where almost everything is available electronically, and where there are more personal electronic devices than there are toothbrushes.

But … can we afford as a society to just abandoned brick and mortar libraries?

Of course not.

If I were on the City Council, my vote on the $3.1 million would be “yes.” But my yes vote would come with conditions. I think some people have misunderstood Councilor Jim Liacos’ use of the phrase “money pit” during the recent debate on funding of the repairs. I haven’t spoken to Jim about this, but I think what he might be saying is, OK, we’ll approve the $3.1 million now, but can we please take a more extensive look at the future of the library and come up with a plan that ensures the building is sustainable from the standpoint of what the community can afford?

That doesn’t mean that we should ever consider bringing in the wrecking ball on a building of such historic significance. After all, I don’t think the citizens of Mount Vernon would knock down Washington’s farm house just because it was too expensive to maintain.

But what it does mean is a sensible master plan when it comes to refurbishment and ongoing maintenance. In other words, if we spend $3.1 million today, let’s hope it doesn’t mean another $3.1 million next year, and the year after that. After all, it was only two years ago that we spent another $3.1 million to fix the HVAC system.

If it meant that it could operate without further cost and within its annual budget for the next 20 years, I actually believe the taxpayers would warm up to spending even more on the library now. Maintenance would obviously then be the key factor, and at this point it should trouble taxpayers that many of these current repairs are being requested for a wing of the building that’s only about 40 years old. If we did an even larger renovation now, might we also be able to tap into some historic preservation funds, or perhaps, solicit some help from the private sector?

The bottomline, though, is – even in the age of smart phones, tablets, and data constantly at our fingertips – the main branch library needs to remain what it is now: A valuable community asset.

By the way, before the City Council takes this vote, I hope all 11 city councilors will tour the library to see what we’d be getting for our tax dollars. Library Director Martha Holden invited the entire council for a tour this week, and only four of them showed up. Let’s give the benefit of the doubt that the remaining seven didn’t show because of conflicts.  But  let’s hope they will tour on their own before voting to bond for the $3.1 million.

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Time to save Crystal Lake: Action needed now

1 Feb

 

LakeBy Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

It’s an issue that has been understandably on Mayor Ted Bettencourt’s back burner since he took office just over a year ago. There were, after all, larger, more urgent priorities to address in Year 1.

But I’m writing now to express my strong feeling that the revitalization of Crystal Lake should make it onto the Mayor’s second-year agenda.

It’s time to save this vitally important watershed, and potentially outstanding recreational area for the residents of Peabody. I live less than a quarter mile from the lake, and I’m troubled by its continuous decline each time I ride past. The current blanket of ice can’t hide what’s underneath, and once spring turns to summer, the lake will once again be a blanket of green goo that covers a shallow muddy-covered pond. Crystal Lake is dying, but it could be a gem. There are tremendous opportunities to create environmentally breathtaking resource.

I know that there is a Peabody City Council sub-committee in place to look at revitalizing the lake, but it hasn’t met since Mayor Bettencourt took office.

I know too that there’s a lot to pay for and limited tax revenue. But why can’t we put together a committee of residents, business leaders, and elected officials to start brainstorming on how we can create a public-private partnership designed to Save Crystal Lake?

Mr. Mayor, I’m in and ready to be one of those residents to work on this. I’m sure there will be plenty of other volunteers too. We just need to bring to the front burner once again.

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Quick response in seeking to make St. Adelaide Church crosswalk safer

1 Feb

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

Lately, we’ve been seeing more action by our elected officials to ensure that they are indeed doing the peoples’ business when it comes to quality of life issues in Peabody’s neighborhoods.

A few weeks ago, Mayor Ted Bettencourt ordered a cease and desist order on a Route 1 developer who is destroying residents’ property near Winona Street, and yesterday – after hearing the concerns of City Councilors Anne Manning-Martin and Tom Gould – the Mayor ordered a cease and desist on a billboard monstrosity on Lowell Street near Route 1 that might violate the terms of a special permit.

Councilor Barry Sinewitz

Councilor Barry Sinewitz

Now, we add to this list some quick action on a safety issue in front of St. Adelaide’s Church.  After an elderly parishioner was tragically hit by a car in the crosswalk and died while leaving mass, parish leaders – including Ms. Colleen Derrivan – reached out to Ward 6 Councilor Barry Sinewitz.

Doing what a ward councilor is supposed to do and recognizing this as a safety issue for those residents he represents, Sinewitz immediately asked City Council Safety Committee Chair Mike Garabedian if he could convene a meeting at City Hall to talk about ways to make the crosswalk on Lowell Street in front of the West Peabody church safer.

The public meeting at City Hall will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m., and while it’s unfortunate that it took such a tragedy to make everyone realize that something needed to be done about that crossing, it’s great to see immediate action by our elected officials yet again.

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Update: Mayor wants billboard removed

1 Feb

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

Moving quickly to protect the quality of life of those Ward 5 residents affected by the monstrosity of a billboard on Lowell Street near Route 1,  Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt has issued a cease and desist order through the building inspector’s office.

“As we speak, the building inspector is issuing a cease-and-desist order,” Mayor Ted Bettencourt told the Salem News said yesterday. “I want the pole taken down, and I want the pole put behind the building where it’s supposed to be.”

The request to place the giant poll and billboard near the new Subway sub shop was originally rejected by Peabody’s City Council. The vote was 6-5 in favor, but the special permit needed at least 8 votes for passage. The billboard company then got a court order, with a judge allowing for the billboard, citing that there were other such structures in the same vicinity.

The problem, though, according to the Mayor, is that the 90-foot poll for the billboard has not been erected in the right place. The city says it should have been erected well behind the sub shop and out of site to people driving along Lowell Street. Instead, it’s set up next to the shop, where it overwhelms its surroundings.

We’ll see what happens now, but hats off to the Mayor for moving quickly on this, and continuing to understand that there is no issue more important than resident quality of life.

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Sign of our times: What do you think of Peabody’s first giant billboard?

31 Jan

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

This space wrote about this back in November, and now here’s a real example of  what this might actually look like. For now,  I thought I’d throw a photo out there and let you weigh in on what you think about the first of our  gigantic billboards.

The first one, for which the city of Peabody collects a 5-figure permitting fee, is up on Lowell Street near Route 1, and it’s been causing quite a stir so far with a debate on Facebook. There are dozens of comments,  all of them negative.

City Councior Anne Manning-Martin even posted the following photo. No, that’s not a giant ape at the top swatting at airplanes. Let me know what you think in the comments section as to whether you think this in an infringement on quality of life:

sign

The new billboard on Lowell Street near Route 1

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Peabody won’t bogart those pot shops, and that’s the right move by our city’s officials

11 Jan

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

budThe Peabody City Council last night came one step closer to ensuring that a deceptive new state law that allows for “medical” marijuana “dispensaries” doesn’t  negatively affect quality of life and safety for city residents.

A procedural matter kept the council from voting to change the zoning in an effort to ban pot shops in any part of the city. But there was still a public hearing, during which it became clear that the move to prohibit these establishments will meet with overwhelming support from the councilors when they take a vote at their next meeting on Jan. 24th.

They couldn’t vote last night because the Planning Board’s unanimous decision to support the zoning change came a little too late to be included in the city council agenda.

But it’s just a small delay and won’t affect what is the right move in rejecting a law that can best be described as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

You see, proponents of the law have been deceiving people all along here. They’ve been making it seem like this is designed to help people with medical conditions ease their pain. The fact is that those who truly need medicinal marijuana can and always pretty much could get prescriptions though other legal means, and get their pot in pill form at a legit pharmacy.

What this new so-called medical marijuana law is all about is creating a stepping stone toward full and open legalization of cannabis sativa. At this point, I’ll tell you that, personally, I have no problem with legalization of marijuana. But why wasn’t that the ballot question we all voted on? Hmmm?

As Ward 2 Councilor Arthur Athas rightly pointed out last night, “when I saw this ballot question, I didn’t read all of the fine print, and I just figured it was going to be prescribed by doctors and through drug stores.”

The reality is quite the opposite, and what’s worse, there are currently no rules or details around any of this. As Mayor Ted Bettencourt pointed out, there are even no rules or regulations right now around who can operate one of these dispensaries.

Will there be background checks for the owners of these dispensaries? No one knows.

How will it be dispensed and will you need a prescription from a physician? No answers.

Ward 6 Councilor Barry Sinewitz asks how large will these shops be? No one has the answer.

The list goes on, and with all of this uncertainty, Mayor Bettencourt is right to say that he has public safety concerns. “It’s not in the best interests of Peabody,” Bettencourt said appropriately last night. It’s also of NO other benefit to Peabody, since these dispensaries will operate as “non profits,” meaning there will be no taxes coming back to the city.

Bettencourt says he has been inundated with calls from wannabe pot shop entrepreneurs asking how they can open in the city, and the mayor relates that a few of the people he’s heard from sound a little scary. He adds that local law enforcement officials and District Attorney Jon Blodgett are also very concerned, and don’t approve of the new law.

So, let’s take the vote and be done with this.

Peabody doesn’t need more seediness up on Route 1, and people who truly need marijuana for medical purposes can already get it through their physicians and at a reputable pharmacy.

As Councilor Athas also pointed out, aren’t there already communities that legally ban the sale of alcohol within their town limits?

We can do the same here with pot, allowing those interested in smoking the wacky weed to simply get their fix somewhere down the road.

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Mayor’s address was on point, effective, and … brief

8 Jan

By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher

ted

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt makes his mid-year state of the city address last night while newly elected City Council President Tom Gould looks on.

It was straight forward, on point, effective, and most of all … brief.

A few minutes before the annual city inaugural ceremony began last night in the Wiggin Auditorium at Peabody City Hall, I whispered to Mayor Ted Bettencourt, in good-natured fashion, “Please, no two-hour speeches tonight.”

His response? “Don’t worry, I’ll get everyone out of here in time for kickoff,” said the Mayor while smiling, and referring to the other big event of the night, the college football national championship game between Alabama and Notre Dame.

And, yes, we did indeed make it in time for kickoff over at the AOH.

In this case, “brevity” was perfect.  During his “state of the city” address,  Mayor Ted talked about his mid-term accomplishments, which included reaching a compromise with the city’s unions on healthcare to save taxpayers millions, approval of plans and financing on a much-needed new middle school, and the steps he’s taken toward business development in an effort to get more revenue by expanding the commercial tax base. He left us with positive messages like this, and then brought his address to a close in less than 20 minutes:

“I expect the upcoming years in Peabody to be a time of evolution, a time of revitalization, a time of challenge and a time to better position Peabody for long-term prosperity,” Bettencourt said.

Mission accomplished …  for now. More to come in the Mayor Ted Bettencourt story.

There are more details from what the Mayor said in a nice wrap up by John Castelluccio in the Peabody Patch.

Other observations around the Wiggin last night

Councilor At-Large Tom Gould’s middle name is Lloyd? Who knew? Maybe not many until his fellow councilor’s voiced their vote for “Thomas Lloyd Gould” when it came time to select the new Peabody City Council President. As is customary, Gould, became the unanimous pick for president, and then also gave an effective, yet brief address … Councilor At-Large Mike Garabedian drew seat No. 1, meaning, as some wise guy quipped, he’ll be under the gun and really have to pay attention! …

There was a whole lot of politicking going on, which became a clear indicator that the race is on to fill Peabody’s vacant stat rep seat.  Announced candidates Beverley Dunne (school committee member) and Dave Gravel (Councilor At-Large) were there as part of their duties as elected officials, but clearly each was doing whatever they needed to “work the room” of mainly Peabody insiders, many of whom could be influential this spring. Announced state rep candidate and former Ward 3 Councilor Jim Moutsoulas was also there schmoozing. … Other elected officials there last night included newly elected Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff, and newly elected State Senator Joan Lovely. …

Outstanding job last night by the Peabody High chorale and concert band.  The very talented kids in the chorus sang a stirring rendition of the National Anthem … Hats off to the Mayor last night for acknowledging the contributions of former State Rep Joyce Spilliotis-Jarvis, who passed away late last year. Bettencourt also recognized her husband, and my friend, Dick Jarvis, who watched the ceremony from the balcony.

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