PEABODY — The City Council unanimously approved the transfer of funds requested by Mayor Ted Bettencourt for overtime for the Fire and Police departments.
Ward 2 City Councilor Peter McGinn said that $780,000 will cover overtime for the Fire Department, while $700,000 will be going to the Police Department’s overtime.
McGinn added that Bettencourt is concerned about the current situation.
“Going forward there will be an effort to avoid these types of transfers in future years,” McGinn said.
McGinn said that the city should avoid the potential of structural deficits that can come from excessively relying on the American Rescue Plan Act.
According to McGinn, in the past two years, there have been 11 major illnesses in the Police and Fire departments. Resignations and retirements, both expected and unexpected, have also contributed to the situation. McGinn added that attempts to recruit new members of the Police and Fire departments have been unsuccessful.
Additionally, a bond order of $9,125,000 will be loaned to fund water-main replacements at Central Street and Wilson Square and a segment of Lowell Street, repairs to Center Elementary School, vehicles for the Fire Department, a fire pump, and other costs.
