PEABODY — Peabody Pride was the central theme of Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt’s inaugural address Monday night at City Hall’s Wiggin Auditorium.
“I believe our greatest strength as a city is our Peabody Pride,” said Bettencourt, now in his fifth term. “In our schools … on our streets and in our neighborhoods … on Main Street and downtown where entrepreneurs are opening new businesses and creating new jobs, and at places like Crystal Lake where families once again gather to enjoy the great outdoors, Peabody Pride can be seen in many places throughout our city every day.”
Bettencourt noted that 2019 was full of preparation for several major projects the city expects to launch this year, noting that “Peabody Pride means investing in our city’s future by rebuilding our aging infrastructure.”
Work on approximately $36 million in improvements and upgrades to the city’s water infrastructure will begin this spring.
“This will result in significant improvements in water quality,” he said.
Bettencourt said the rebuild of the Winona Treatment Plant and the Coolidge Treatment Plant will allow the city to produce its own water and control water rates without reliance on the MWRA for “decades to come.”
Thanks to $10 million in state and federal funds, Bettencourt said the city will continue preliminary design on the Central Street Corridor project, which will “improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of Peabody residents.”
Bettencourt noted that major upgrades to the Welch School, Center School and high school are also in the works.
Among the plans at the high school are improvements to the athletic complex and field house, cafeteria and auditorium which Bettencourt said, “will help our students succeed as we plan for a new high school in the next five to seven years.”
Bettencourt highlighted the continued revitalization of the downtown district that has seen the opening of several new restaurants and businesses. He also said plans are in the works for a new Children’s Museum on Washington Street.
“This is exactly the kind of destination attraction that will cement downtown Peabody as a vital center of people, culture and commerce,” he said.
Bettencourt said the city has received $200,000 from the state for a feasibility study of a trolley connection between downtown and the Salem commuter rail station and thanked Senator Joan Lovely and Representatives Tom Walsh and Ted Speliotis for their leadership.
Bettencourt said that with all-time high property values, outstanding police and fire departments and a city-wide, age-friendly action plan to help the city adapt to changing demographics, the quality of life in Peabody is excellent, adding that this year Peabody will have the lowest average tax bill in Essex County. He said the addition of RCN as a cable option that ended Comcast’s 40-year monopoly will also result in enhanced benefits to residents and businesses alike. RCN’s solicitation campaign began in late 2019 and now offers service to 10 percent of the city’s residents.
Bettencourt singled out out-going city clerk Timothy Spanos and out-going city councilor Dave Gravel for their years of dedicated service. Each was presented with a token of appreciation.
Thomas J. Rossignoll was elected city council president, while Beverley Griffin-Dunne was elected chairman of the school committee.
In a twist of irony, new councilor Craig Welton drew the No. 1 slot seat position for voting order.
“I am eager for the opportunity to get going regardless of where I sit,” Welton said. “What better way to get acclimated than to jump right in and I’m looking forward to Thursday’s meeting.”
While the mood was upbeat and full of optimism for the upcoming year, there was also significant sadness reflecting on 2019, a year marked by the unexpected and tragic deaths of four residents with strong ties to the schools — mom Evelyn Pinto, 13-year-old Higgins student Jackson Frechette, 44-year-old school superintendent Cara Murtagh and PVMHS vice-principal Judith Maniatis.
“Peabody Pride was never more evident that it was in November when we came together as a community to support and comfort one another in the face of such great loss,” said Bettencourt.
