PEABODY — There’s been a changing of the guard at Peabody City Hall.
After 43 years of service to the City of Peabody, City Clerk Timothy Spanos announced his retirement in a Nov. 6 letter to the City Council.
The Council wasted no time finding Spanos’ successor, appointing Beverly native and current City Clerk office employee Allyson Danforth by a unanimous 9-0 vote at the Nov. 14 City Council meeting at Frank Wiggin Auditorium.
Danforth becomes Peabody’s ninth City Clerk. She was hired as a full-time employee in the clerk’s office in May, 2017 and will assume her new position on Jan. 31, 2020 following Spanos’ last day on the job on Jan. 30.
“Allyson has been with the City Council since July 1, 2005 when I took over as City Clerk,” wrote Spanos in a Nov. 6 letter of recommendation. “Allyson has attended almost every City Council meeting and sub-committee meeting ever since in the transcribing of Council minutes, verbatim public hearings and committee meetings, budget sessions, tax classification hearings, etc. Allyson has great historical knowledge of City Council matters for the past 15 years.
“She has been involved in every facet of day-to-day operations of the City Clerk’s office. (She) has great communication skills and has a great rapport with the public.”
The Council was unanimous in its praise of both Spanos and Danforth.
Councilor-at-Large Tom Rossignol thanked Spanos for his years of service and the dignity and respect he brought to the office.
Ward 4 Councilor Ed Charest said the city is lucky to have someone step up the way Danforth has and is confident she will continue to do so in the future.
“I want to thank Tim for his service and also for staying on for one more year after he wanted to retire last year,” said Councilor-at-Large Anne Manning-Martin, who made the motion to appoint Danforth.
Councilor-at-Large Ryan Melville agreed.
“I’d like to echo Councilor Manning-Martin’s sentiments,” he said. “I appreciate that you stayed on to ensure a smooth transition.”
Ward 2 Councilor Peter McGinn said the city was fortunate to have someone like Danforth step up to help make the transition seamless.
“I am so enthusiastic in my support for Allyson and would like to reinforce what Ed (Charest) said in that we are very fortunate to have her ready to step right in,” he said.
For her part, Danforth said she prefers to stay in the background and just do her job.
“I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to getting to work,” she said.
In other business, the Council approved two special permit applications, both by unanimous 9-0 votes.
Claiton Cruz, doing business as Boston Granite, was issued a special permit for use of his premises at 58 Walnut Street as an office and shop for a contractor specializing in the design, construction and installment of countertops without outdoor storage. The permit was conditional pending compliance with the recommendations of the Building Inspector and Board of Health as detailed in an attachment.
Despite concerns over parking, Christine Lander was issued a special permit for a four-chair hair salon at 99 Lynn Street.
Council president Jon Turco he was convinced that there were no solutions to the parking issues in the area.
“There have been many businesses for decades and they always made parking work,” Turco said. “I know there have been concerns, but (compared to the other options) for the property, I’d prefer a hair salon.”
“This has been a dream of mine since I was 6 years old,” said Landers, who received her cosmetology license at Peabody High. “I am so excited to come back to Peabody and start a business here. I have been working outside of Peabody in a salon and I cannot wait to come back.”
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
