OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Peabody City Council Regular Meeting - November 25, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, November 25, 2025
BodyPeabody, Massachusetts
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 25, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 22:29

Transcript — Verbatim
2:42

Good evening.

2:43

I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the city council for Tuesday, November twenty-fifth, two thousand twenty-five.

2:50

I'm Julie Daigle, Ward for City Councillor and City Council President.

2:54

Present tonight are all counselors except for Councillor Manning Martin.

2:58

Public participation to this meeting is provided in person and remotely via Zoom in accordance with Mass General Laws.

5:00

Um I have no issue with continuing this to December 11th meeting, so I'd make a motion to continue.

5:04

So moved.

5:07

You heard the motion to continue item 4A.

5:11

Roll call vote, please.

5:15

Counselors Turko.

5:16

Yes.

5:16

Peach, yes, Goulds, yes, Gamash, Higgins, Welton.

5:21

Yes.

5:22

McGinn.

5:22

Yes.

5:23

Rosignal.

5:24

Yes.

5:24

Melville.

5:25

Yes.

5:26

Hagel.

5:26

Yes.

5:27

Motion carries 10 to 0.

5:29

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

5:30

Moving on to hearings item 4B, special permit.

5:33

Would the clerk please read the notice?

5:36

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of PBD acting as the special permit granting authority will conduct a public hearing on Thursday evening, November 25th, 2025 at 7.30 p.m.

5:47

in the Frank Elwigan Auditorium.

5:48

24 Lowell Street, PBD Mass remotely and remotely via Zoom on the application from 4951 Lowell Holdings LLC 38 Bowditch Street PBD Mass for a special permit to operate the shop of contractors in the BC Zoning District at 49-51 Lowell Street PBD Mass is filed in accordance with sections 4.2.5, 6.1 and 15.7 of the PBD zoning ordinance for remote participation using the Zoom platform.

6:13

Please visit WW.pvd hyphenma.gov under the city calendar on the homepage or contact the city clerk's office.

6:20

PBD City Council, Councilor Julie K.

6:22

Daigle, City Council President.

6:26

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

6:27

Attorney Kelty, would you like to state the Yes?

6:31

Thank you.

6:32

John Kelty, 40 Lowell Street, PBD Mass hearing on behalf of 49 4951 Lowell Holdings LLC.

6:44

My client uh acquired this property in uh May of uh 15, 2025.

6:51

Uh properties in the BC district.

6:53

It's classified as commercial uh use.

6:56

At the last meeting, um it was requested that I make certain revisions to the plan, most notably uh showing uh an area for uh the trash dumpster.

7:08

Uh secondly to show a landscaped area which would uh assist in achieving compliance with the downtown design uh requirements.

7:17

Uh the third alteration to the plan uh was the addition of a double uh catch basin that's right in the center uh of the uh parking area.

7:28

I've uh had the opportunity to speak to my client about uh certain uh uh certain conditions that councillor McGinn uh has suggested, and we are in complete uh agreement with those conditions, and we are uh happy to uh have appeared before you in hope that you'll grant this special permit.

7:51

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have at the appropriate time.

7:57

Thank you, Attorney Kelty.

7:59

Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak in opposition to this application?

8:05

Seeing none, is there anyone that would like to speak in favor?

8:09

Seeing none, is there anyone on the Zoom platform?

8:13

Seeing none.

8:14

Counselor McGinn.

8:16

Thank you, Madam President.

8:17

Uh on the suspension of the rules, move to receive item 8C and refer to this hearing, so moved.

8:24

You heard the motion.

8:25

All in favor, any opposed, it's a vote.

8:27

Counselor McGinn.

8:28

Thank you, Madam President.

8:30

Uh as you heard, uh been in contact with the uh applicant's attorney, attorney Kelty.

8:36

Uh this is a site that's seen some considerable cleanup in recent months.

8:43

Uh it was a dilapidated uh residential property that was demolished.

8:49

Ummately uh on the uh on the uh front line of on right on Lall Street.

8:59

Uh and there were there are two commercial buildings at the rear of the parcel that have been improved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Zoning Changes████████████████████████32%
Public Engagement███4%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Peabody City Council Regular Meeting - November 25, 2025

The Peabody City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM in the Frank Elwigan Auditorium (24 Lowell Street) and via Zoom, presided over by Council President Julie Daigle. All councilors were present except Councillor Manning Martin. The meeting covered a continuation of a prior item, a public hearing for a special permit, and several motions and resolutions.

Hearings

  • Item 4A – Continuation: A motion to continue this item to the December 11, 2025 meeting carried 10-0.
  • Item 4B – Special Permit (49-51 Lowell Street): Attorney John Kelty, representing 4951 Lowell Holdings LLC, presented revisions to the plan requested at the prior meeting: adding a trash dumpster area, a landscaped area for downtown design compliance, and a double catch basin in the parking area. Councillor McGinn reported that conditions were worked out with the applicant and departmental responses (Community Development, Conservation Commission, DPS) were addressed. The public hearing was closed, and a motion to approve the special permit with conditions (including site plan dated November 13, 2025; delivery vehicle restrictions; no overnight storage; dumpster screening; no outdoor storage; compliance with downtown design standards; landscape buffer; sign compliance; hours 7 am to 6 pm Monday–Saturday) carried 10-0.

Motions, Orders, and Resolutions

  • Councillor Gamash moved under suspension of rules to receive and set up a special permit hearing (Item 8A) – carried by voice vote.
  • Councillor McGinn moved to receive and refer items 7A-I to the tax classification hearing – carried.
  • Received late communication one (clarification that Item 8B is duplicate and off agenda).
  • Councillor McGinn moved to receive Item 9A in lieu of a public hearing – carried.
  • Co-motion with Councillor Gamash to receive Item 9B and set a public hearing – carried.
  • Received late communication two and approved the fee listing attached to it (recodification closure) – roll call 10-0.
  • Councillor Rosignal moved to receive and send Item 7H to legal affairs – carried.
  • Councillor Rosignal moved to receive and adopt Item 10A as advertised – roll call 10-0.
  • Councillor Daigle (President) moved to request a report from finance/police on all fees collected under Chapter 19 (parking permit and ticket fees) for budget review – carried.
  • Councillor Turco co-motioned with Councillor Welton to request DPS ask PMLP to install a street light at 32 Aberdeen Avenue – carried.

Councilor Comments

  • Councillor Higgins thanked DPS Director Will Pollett and Kevin Kelly for repairing a water main leak on Winona Street without requiring a work order.
  • Councillor Welton thanked the Mayor’s office and Parks & Rec (Brian Grant) for installing a memorial bench for Jason Bernard at Brown School; also congratulated Peabody Youth Football Spartans on their league championship.
  • President Daigle reminded everyone of the city’s holiday stroll (Saturday, November 29) with trolleys and a tree lighting at 4:30 PM.
  • Many councillors wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Key Outcomes

  • Continued Item 4A to December 11, 2025.
  • Approved special permit (Item 4B) for 49-51 Lowell Street with conditions (10-0).
  • Approved the fee listing from late communication 2 (10-0).
  • Adopted Item 10A as advertised (10-0).
  • Initiated a report on parking fees (Chapter 19) for upcoming budget.
  • Directed DPS to request street light installation at 32 Aberdeen Avenue.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the city council for Tuesday, November twenty-fifth, two thousand twenty-five. I'm Julie Daigle, Ward for City Councillor and City Council President. Present tonight are all counselors except for Councillor Manning Martin. Public participation to this meeting is provided in person and remotely via Zoom in accordance with Mass General Laws. Um I have no issue with continuing this to December 11th meeting, so I'd make a motion to continue. So moved. You heard the motion to continue item 4A. Roll call vote, please. Counselors Turko. Yes. Peach, yes, Goulds, yes, Gamash, Higgins, Welton. Yes. McGinn. Yes. Rosignal. Yes. Melville. Yes. Hagel. Yes. Motion carries 10 to 0. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Moving on to hearings item 4B, special permit. Would the clerk please read the notice? Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of PBD acting as the special permit granting authority will conduct a public hearing on Thursday evening, November 25th, 2025 at 7.30 p.m. in the Frank Elwigan Auditorium. 24 Lowell Street, PBD Mass remotely and remotely via Zoom on the application from 4951 Lowell Holdings LLC 38 Bowditch Street PBD Mass for a special permit to operate the shop of contractors in the BC Zoning District at 49-51 Lowell Street PBD Mass is filed in accordance with sections 4.2.5, 6.1 and 15.7 of the PBD zoning ordinance for remote participation using the Zoom platform. Please visit WW.pvd hyphenma.gov under the city calendar on the homepage or contact the city clerk's office. PBD City Council, Councilor Julie K. Daigle, City Council President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Attorney Kelty, would you like to state the Yes? Thank you. John Kelty, 40 Lowell Street, PBD Mass hearing on behalf of 49 4951 Lowell Holdings LLC. My client uh acquired this property in uh May of uh 15, 2025. Uh properties in the BC district. It's classified as commercial uh use. At the last meeting, um it was requested that I make certain revisions to the plan, most notably uh showing uh an area for uh the trash dumpster. Uh secondly to show a landscaped area which would uh assist in achieving compliance with the downtown design uh requirements. Uh the third alteration to the plan uh was the addition of a double uh catch basin that's right in the center uh of the uh parking area. I've uh had the opportunity to speak to my client about uh certain uh uh certain conditions that councillor McGinn uh has suggested, and we are in complete uh agreement with those conditions, and we are uh happy to uh have appeared before you in hope that you'll grant this special permit. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have at the appropriate time. Thank you, Attorney Kelty. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak in opposition to this application? Seeing none, is there anyone that would like to speak in favor? Seeing none, is there anyone on the Zoom platform? Seeing none. Counselor McGinn. Thank you, Madam President.

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