Peabody City Council Meeting - May 28, 2026

The Peabody City Council held subcommittee meetings for Public Services, Legal Affairs, and Aggregate Industries, followed by a regular meeting on May 28, 2026. The Public Services Committee addressed sewage backups on Linden Road. The Legal Affairs Committee discussed a tax title payment plan, mattress disposal fee increases, a condo-to-apartment conversion issue, and the Independence Greenway extension. The Aggregate Industries Committee reviewed the 2025 annual report and heard resident concerns about emissions. The regular meeting approved appointments, received committee reports, and voted on numerous motions and resolutions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved appointments: Buquia Shalvere to Board of Registrars, Dagmar Whitaker to Commission on Disability, Martin Goldsworthy to Cemetery Commission, Alan DeFranzo as Cemetery Superintendent (one-year term), and Dave Cronin to Community Preservation Commission (alternate, one-year term). (Roll call 11-0)
• Received and approved junk dealer licenses for Blue River Diamonds (210 Andover Street), Bill Salem Music (136 Main Street), and Kay's Jewelers (210 Andover Street) subject to public hearing and papers in order.
• Received and approved entertainment license for Red T (126 Newbury Street) subject to hearing.
• Approved block party requests for 2 Page Street and 6 Page Street on July 18, 2026.
• Approved special event applications: Mayor's Summer Concert Series (Sundays July 12–August 16, 2026) and Portuguese American Community Cookout (June 20, 2026).
• Approved use of Wiggin Auditorium for Department of Social Services and Behavioral Health event (May 27) and Peabody Education Foundation event (October 14, 2026).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ted Neary (50 Linden Road) thanked the DPW team for quick response to sewage backups but noted delays in locating blockages.
• Audrey Gordon (194 Newbury Street) expressed frustration that a development approved as condos was converted to apartments, despite council assurances during the special permit process. She requested future protections.
• Eric Lampadecchio (3 Madison Avenue) requested that Aggregate Industries either cease emissions during inclement weather (low cloud cover) when odors accumulate, or install best available control technology (blue smoke system). He reported health concerns and said he had contacted the Board of Health, MassDEP, and the fire department.

Discussion Items

Linden Road Sewage Issues (Public Services Committee)

• DPW Director Will Paulitz reported that sewage backups on Linden Road have been a recurring problem since July 2024. CCTV inspections revealed excessive grease, foreign debris, and root penetration in aging pipes. The city cleared roots in 2024 and 2025, issued flyers (in multiple languages in 2026), and placed the area on an annual flushing program. The next step is to add annual root cutting in the fall.
• Councilors Corvo and Turko noted the problem dates back decades; prior DPW directors only took reactive measures. Councilor Manning Martin praised the proactive approach. Councilor Hockman asked about a six- or nine-month cycle; Paulitz proposed combining spring flushing with fall root cutting.
• Key Outcome: The committee received the update with approval. No formal vote was recorded at the subcommittee; the matter was reported out at the regular meeting and accepted.

Tax Title Payment Plan (Legal Affairs Committee)

• Treasurer Titelbaum presented a new ordinance (Section 11-35) to allow payment plans for tax title properties per M.G.L. c. 60 § 62A. Key terms: 5-year term, 20% down payment, waiver of up to 50% of treasurer's interest, late payment defined as 3 business days, default after 3 missed payments. The committee made amendments to clarify interest assessed by treasurer vs. collector and to use business days.
• Councilor Hockman requested language to allow up to five years and down payment of not less than 20%; Titelbaum explained the attorney general requires definite terms. Current tax title parcels: 94 parcels, $2.3 million total, average $25,000 per parcel. Collector's interest is 16% for existing, 8% for new takings.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted 5-0 to adopt and advertise the ordinance. The full council later voted 11-0 to approve.

Mattress Disposal Fee and Ordinance Review (Legal Affairs Committee)

• Councilor Gamash proposed changes after noticing mattresses dumped at DPW. Residents pay $20 for a sticker, but haulers charge $100+ and use resident stickers. The city spent over $59,000 on mattress disposal last year. He proposed raising the fee to $40 (matching Salem and Beverly) and having Community Development review ordinances from those cities, including curbside pickup services like Tough Stuff or UTEC.
• Councilors discussed potential limits on stickers per address, landlord access, and enforcement.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted to refer to Community Development to review Salem/Beverly ordinances and seek curbside pickup services. Separately, the fee was increased to $40 per mattress and $40 per box spring. Both motions passed 11-0 at the regular meeting.

194 Newbury Street – Condo vs. Apartment Conversion (Legal Affairs Committee)

• Resident Audrey Gordon reported that a development approved as condos under a special permit was converted to apartments. City Solicitor Kahn provided a memo citing a 1982 SJC case (CHR) that state law treats condos and apartments equally; the council cannot enforce the condo condition. Councilor Hockman and others expressed sympathy but noted legal limits. Councilor Turko raised concerns about 40B projects with condo conditions.
• Key Outcome: No motion; matter disposed. Councilors advised residents to contact state legislators to seek statutory change.

Independence Greenway Extension Easements (Legal Affairs Committee)

• Community Development Director Kurt Bellavance presented the final step for Phase 2 of the bike path from Lieutenant Ross Park to Peabody Road, including a bridge over Route 1. The project is funded by $19.5 million in state/federal grants (including $3.5 million amendment received in March 2026). The city needs 17 easements (13 temporary, 4 permanent) including a 28,000 sq ft permanent easement at a cemetery. Total compensation: $221,000. Councilor Peach clarified that bike path funds come from separate grant buckets, not the general fund.
• Key Outcome: The committee approved the order of taking, a 99-year MBTA lease, and acceptance of MassDOT easements. The full council voted 11-0 to authorize the mayor to execute the documents.

Aggregate Industries 2025 Annual Report (Ad Hoc Committee)

• Resident Eric Lampadecchio requested emission mitigation during inclement weather or installation of a blue smoke system. Aggregate representative Jarrett Temple stated they are not in violation of air quality regulations and are waiting for MassDEP approval to install the blue smoke system (cost over $1 million) without reopening their air permit. He estimated 15 months for DEP action.
• Councilors discussed noise monitoring, blasting schedule (9 blasts in 2025, expected 16 in 2026), truck routes (Lake Street vs. Lowell Street), and hours of operation. Captain Dowling and Inspector Pelizzaro provided safety oversight. Noise levels were within limits (125 dB vs. 133 dB limit) but one location briefly reached 12 dB over background (limit 10 dB), attributed to nearby lawn mowing.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted to request DEP to add the blue smoke system to the facility (passed 11-0). The 2025 annual report was approved with conditions: additional noise mitigation to ensure 10 dB increase not exceeded, spring groundwater sampling, noise monitoring twice a year (spring and fall), and compliance with all 2002 special permit conditions. (Vote 11-0)

Key Outcomes

• Sewage on Linden Road: DPW will implement annual root cutting in addition to spring flushing.
• Tax Title Payment Plan: Ordinance adopted (11-0).
• Mattress Fee: Increased to $40 per mattress/box spring (11-0). Community Development to review curbside pickup programs.
• 194 Newbury Street: No action possible; council advised legislative remedy.
• Independence Greenway: Easements approved (11-0), project to advertise August 3, 2026.
• Aggregate Industries: DEP requested to allow blue smoke system; annual report approved with conditions (11-0).
• Police at Polling Places: Motion to assign at least one officer per precinct passed (10-1); separate motion to ask city clerk to explore single officer per location (where multiple precincts share a building) passed (10-0, Daigle recused).
• Salary Information: Motions passed to obtain school employee salaries (10-1) and comparable salaries from DART district schools (10-1).
• Other: Received and referred several items to finance, legal, or planning boards; approved August 18, 2026 regular meeting date; requested DPW to repair guardrail and street sign; requested org chart and triple net leases; congratulated Ward II scholarship recipients.