Peabody City Council Meetings – March 12, 2026: Mayor's Salary, Police/Fire Overtime, and Multiple Special Permits
Peabody City Council Meetings – March 12, 2026
The Peabody City Council held three consecutive meetings on March 12, 2026: a Committee of the Whole, a Finance Committee, and a Regular City Council meeting. Key actions included a 3% raise for the mayor, approval of $2.1 million in overtime and salary transfers for police and fire, and passage of several special permits and license transfers. Discussions highlighted ongoing overtime cost concerns and budget pressures.
Committee of the Whole – Mayor's Salary Review
- Councilors discussed increasing the mayor's salary by 3%, consistent with raises given to union and non-union city personnel. After clarification of the base salary (which had increased from $139,000 to $142,000 in the prior year), the motion passed in committee 8-2. The new annual salary was set at $146,260. Later, the full council adopted the ordinance by the same vote (8-2, with Councilors Manny Martin and Corvo opposed).
Finance Committee – Transfer of Funds for Police and Fire
- Item 1: Police and Fire Overtime and Salaries – A transfer of $2.1 million from free cash was requested. Discussion focused on escalating overtime: police overtime projected at $2.1 million and fire overtime at $2.3 million (total $4.4 million for the year). Police Chief noted 708 lost patrol shifts due to long-term sick and duty injuries, and that six officers are entering the police academy in May. Fire Chief reported staffing at 73 firefighters after recent retirements. Councilor Gamash voiced frustration with recurring overtime overruns and suggested a freeze. The committee passed the transfer 5-0. Full council later approved 10-0.
- Item 2: Software and IT Services – A $55,000 transfer from budgeted reserve to fund IT services for the library. Originally, funds were to come from a capital account, but that capital was used for a data incident in summer 2025. Committee passed 5-0; full council passed 10-0.
- Item 3: Cable Fund Transfer (RCN) – Quarterly installment of $13,885.51 from reserved cable fund to cable fund expense. Passed committee and full council unanimously.
- Item 4: Cable Fund Transfer (Comcast) – $174,054.63 transfer for Comcast receipts. Passed committee and full council unanimously.
Regular City Council Meeting – Public Hearings
- 4A: Special Permit – Sunday Hours Extension for St. Bashoy Inc. – Petitioner sought to extend Sunday liquor sales from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 598 Lowell Street. Councilor Gamash noted no resident objections and that business was hurt by construction. Public hearing closed, motion approved 10-0.
- 4B: Special Permit – Auto Sales at 1R Newbury St (Boss Motors LLC) – Applicant Jad Saleh sought to operate used auto sales with conditions from prior permit (King Motors). No repairs on site, maximum 10 vehicles, parking plan as per 2012 site plan. Approved 10-0.
- 4C: Transfer of Class II Motor Vehicle License – Transfer from King Motors to Boss Motors LLC. All conditions carry over. Approved 10-0.
- 4D & 4E: Special Permit and Entertainment License for 120 Main St / Greg's Mediterranean Restaurant – Continued to April 9, 2026, to allow site visit and further review of parking arrangements. Approved 10-0.
- 4F: Special Permit Amendment for 5 Stars Corporation – Continued to March 26, 2026, at petitioner's request. Approved 10-0.
Reports of Committees
- Committee of the Whole Report – Presented by Council President Higgins. The prior meeting on mayor's salary approved a 3% raise. Ordinance vote in full council: 8-2.
- Finance Committee Report – Presented by Councilor Peach. All four transfer items were reported out and adopted by the full council.
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
- 8A: Annual Report for Amrise at 55 Russell St – Received informationally.
- 7A: Chapter 90 Program Funding – Received as information; Councilor Turco noted a $500,000 increase over prior year.
- Overtime Freeze Recommendation – Councilor Gamash motioned to recommend Mayor impose a freeze on all overtime through end of FY26 and that all departments cut budgets by 5% for the remainder of the year. Exceptions for emergencies suggested. Passed by voice vote.
- Hiring Freeze Recommendation – Councilor Manny Martin motioned to recommend a hiring freeze on all departments except police and fire. Passed by voice vote.
- Parking Amendments on Tremont Place – Councilor Peach moved to amend parking restrictions to improve emergency vehicle access: no parking on the westerly side and 50 feet from Tremont Street on the easterly side. Adopted unanimously. Also requested DPS move the sign immediately due to safety concerns.
- Other Items – Received notice of home rule petition submitted to state delegation; approved outdoor dining license for The Bell Inn; approved entertainment license renewals for Macros Pizzeria and VFW; resolved unfinished business on Tri-City license renewal; and various recognitions.
Key Outcomes
- Mayor's salary set at $146,260 per year (3% increase, passed 8-2).
- $2.1 million transferred from free cash for police and fire salaries and overtime (approved 10-0).
- $55,000 transferred from budgeted reserve for library IT services.
- Cable fund transfers totaling $187,940.04 approved.
- Special permits and license transfers for 598 Lowell St (extended Sunday hours), 1R Newbury St (auto sales and license transfer) all approved 10-0.
- Two items continued: 120 Main St restaurant/entertainment to April 9; 5 Stars Corp auto repair amendment to March 26.
- Non-binding recommendations to mayor: overtime freeze and 5% budget cuts; hiring freeze except public safety.
- Parking restriction on Tremont Place adopted.
- Next finance committee meeting scheduled for March 23, 2026, for budget updates.
Meeting Transcript
Like the call to order the committee of the whole meeting. We have two items. I'm sorry, we have one item on the agenda. And it's to uh the it's the review of the salary of the mayor. Section two dash thirteen. Yeah. Is there any discussion to be had Councillor Turco? Thank you, Councillor Higgins. Um I am correct. We're we're discussing the uh salary of the mayor, correct? I just walked in the door. So yes, with that, um I think the standard raise given to uh you know every uh municipal department in the city uh this past year would be uh appropriate to give to the mayor the three percent raise given to all union and non-union personnel, and I would gladly support the three percent. Thank you, Councilor Turko. Any other counselors have any comments? Uh I could make it in the form of a motion. Uh yeah, I didn't to take a motion. Okay. Uh be it ordained by the city council of the city of KPD as follows. Section one of the code of the city of PB adopted on April eleventh, two thousand twenty-four, and amended is here by further amended deleting the following section salary of the mayor. The salary of the mayor shall be one hundred and thirty-nine thousand dollars per annum and such excuse me, Chair. Just one moment, Councillor. I think you're reading the ordinance that we adopted last year. Right. I was gonna read that ordinance and then uh change. Okay. Oh, okay. Um so the motion is to adjust the salary the mayor of the salary uh to uh three percent to a total of one thirty one forty-three thousand. I have two different numbers here. I'm gonna go by counselor here again uh to the clerk through you to the clerk. Do we need an exact uh amount, um Alison, or can I just use the three percent number? Council, I think it's a good idea if we give the exact amount. Okay. Uh we might need a recalculation then because Councillor Gamash, uh excuse me, Counselor uh Hawkman has one forty-three one seventy. Uh but the number given to me was one forty-three two twenty-one. So let's get some verification on that if we can uh hold off on the motion for about one minute. I think you had one forty-three one seventy, is that correct? Correct. Uh so to increase the mayor's salary uh three percent to a total of one hundred and forty three thousand one hundred and seventy dollars per year. So moved. You heard the motion uh Councillor Gabash? Yeah, I um I'm trying to figure out this. This was given to us by Mike Ingers, the um uh from his office. And I'm looking at the at the uh hearing tonight of one thirty nine, that was that was given to me is one hundred thirty-nine oh forty nine effect of seven one twenty-four. And seven one twenty-five. It was one forty three two twenty-one twenty-six. On the one forty-three two twenty-one. Which I would the ordinance that was advertised and adopted is one hundred and thirty-nine thousand dollars back in twenty twenty-five. I'm sorry, one hundred and forty-two thousand dollars. Right. So is it on that one forty two, or is it on the so what was that figure again?
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