Peabody Above Water in State of the City Speech

PEABODY, MA – Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt is relieved the city isn't under water – literally. The fact that the city was flood-free so far this season, despite seeing heavy rain, high tide, and ground saturation, was one of many points in Bettencourt's State of the City speech this week.

Areas of Peabody Square have been notorious for flooding in the past decade, particularly around Foster and Walnuts streets. But the addition of the Scouting Woods retention pond and a robust maintenance schedule for the city's culverts and catch basins seems to have done its job.

"We have not ended our flooding issues," Bettencourt cautioned. "We held up extremely well during this most recent storm."

Bettencourt compared the state of Peabody today with what the city government was coping with in 1917, mere months after Peabody voted to implement city government instead of town government.

Here are his full remarks:

I WANT TO START BY THANKING DEANNE HEALEY AND THE PEABODY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND FOR YOUR ON-GOING COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF PEABODY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS AT A MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE IN BOSTON MEETING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. AND I CAN TELL YOU VERY FEW CITIES HAVE SUCH A HARD WORKING AND PROFESSIONAL GROUP AS WE HAVE HERE IN THE PEABODY AREA. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ABOUT PEABODY AND HIGHLIGHT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS YEAR AND MENTION SOME ON-GOING PLANNED INITIATIVES,

SOME WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMISSION AND BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES AND OUR LEGISLATORS: THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO EACH DAY ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENT HEADS, STAFF, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES FOR DEDICATING THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES TOWARDS IMPROVING OUR CITY. I ALSO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE AND HAVE SERVED OVER THE YEARS ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
100 YEARS AGO ON JANUARY 1ST 1917 – PEABODY'S FIRST CITY GOVERNMENT WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE IN A CEREMONY AT CITY HALL SIMILAR TO THIS ONE.

THE PREVIOUS NOVEMBER, VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF PEABODY HAD GONE TO THE POLLS AND APPROVED A CHARTER TO BECOME THE 37TH CITY OF MASSACHUSETTS. THE VOTE CAST WAS 1,170 IN FAVOR OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO 1,115 OPPOSED, A MARGIN OF JUST 55 VOTES.

DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, PEABODY WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF LEATHER. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TANNERIES AND OTHER MANUFACTURING INTERESTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE CENTURY BROUGHT IMMIGRANTS TO PEABODY FROM ALL OVER EUROPE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING: IRELAND, ENGLAND, GREECE, TURKEY, PORTUGAL, ARMENIA, RUSSIA AND CANADA.

THESE IMMIGRANTS CAME TO PEABODY SEEKING A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEIR HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE FORMED THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY THROUGHOUT THE 20TH CENTURY AND HELPED CREATE THE THRIVING 21ST CENTURY CITY THAT WE HAVE BECOME.

THIS PAST YEAR WE HELD THREE OUTSTANDING EVENTS TO CELEBRATE PEABODY'S CENTENNIAL AND HONOR THIS PROUD TRADITION OF IMMIGRATION. A FAMILY FESTIVAL AT BROOKSBY FARM, A CENTENNIAL CONCERT & FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR AND, OF COURSE, OUR GRAND CENTENNIAL PARADE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A COLD AND DRIZZLY DAY, THOUSANDS OF PEABODY RESIDENTS TURNED OUT TO HONOR OUR CITY’S HISTORY, OUR ETHNIC DIVERSITY, OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES, OUR MILITARY HEROES, OUR SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING WE HOLD DEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK PARADE ORGANIZERS DEBBIE MACGREGOR, CATHY GRAVEL, MARTHA HOLDEN, AND PETER MCGINN FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB!!

FOLLOWING THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY WE HELD AN OLD-FASHIONED CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY.

THEN ON SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2016, A GRAND CENTENNIAL BALL WILL BE HELD AT THE NORTHSHORE MALL. I WANT TO THANK OUR OUTSTANDING CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE, LED BY CITY COUNCILOR TOM GOULD AND MARY BELLAVANCE FOR THE WORK THEY DID TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.
THIS YEAR WITH ALL THE MANY FESTIVITIES AND CELEBRATORY EVENTS, I TOOK THE OPPPORTUNITY TO RESEARCH THE ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 28, 1916, WHEN MAYOR S. HOWARD DONNELL WAS ELECTED AS THE CITY’S FIRST MAYOR AND THE FIRST CITY COUNCILOR WAS ELECTED. I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT ISSUES FACED THAT CITY GOVERNMENT 100 YEARS AGO.

THE CHALLENGES WERE MANY BUT SO WERE THE OPPORTUNITIES. AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE SIMILARITIES OF THE ISSUES FACING MAYOR DONNELL AND THAT FIRST CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE. WHAT HE AND THE CITY LEADERS FOCUSED ON AND INVESTED IN WERE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR DOWNTOWN, EDUCATION, AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE. MAYOR DONNELL INITIATED A PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CEMENT STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, HIGHLIGHTED BY A MASSIVE PROJECT IN PEABODY SQUARE IN WHICH THE WHOLE AREA WAS DIRT AND COBBLESTONE AND THEN CHANGED TO CEMENT.

IN 1917, THE FUTURE OF PEABODY HIGH SCHOLL WAS BEING DEBATED. THE 3RD PHS WAS OPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1904 ON CENTRAL STREET. COST OF CONSTRUCTION WAS $95,000. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE NEW SCHOOL WOULD ACCOMMODATE THE TOWN FOR 50 YEARS BUT ONLY 12 YEARS LATER, IT HAD TO BE DOUBLED IN SIZE.

ALSO, MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WERE BEING DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED AT THE BROWN SCHOOL AND CARROLL SCHOOL BECAUSE OF INCREASED POPULATION.
IN A SIMILAR VIEW IN 2017, WE ARE FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR DOWNTOWN, AND QUALIFY OF LIFE.

AND THANKS TO SO MANY DEDICATED PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND THROUGHOUT THIS CITY--WE HAVE MUCH TO CELEBRATE!!

TOGETHER, WE HAVE INVESTED IN EDUCATION. OUR NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART HIGGINS MIDDLE SCHOOL OPENED IN SEPTEMBER TO RAVE REVIEWS. IT’S WONDERFUL TO SEE OUR STUDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF: TECH UPGRADES, SCIENCE LABS, CULINARY ARTS, THE PERFORMING ARTS/THEATRE.

I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN OUR CITY’S HISTORY AND TOGETHER WE HAVE DELIVERED IT ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS, THAT RESULT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN. IT’S AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT ALL OF US HERE IN PEABODY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF.

OF COURSE, WE WOULD LOVE TO BUILD ALL NEW SCHOOLS, BUT FINANCIALLY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. WHAT WE MUST DO IS EXTEND THE LIFE CYCLES OF OUR CITY BUILDINGS BY INVESTING ANNUALLY IN REPAIRS AND CRITICAL MAINTENANCE. THIS YEAR, THE MCCARTHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNDERWENT A MAJOR RENOVATION WITH A NEW ROOF AND WINDOWS WHICH WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN ENERGY COSTS. PEABODY HIGH SCHOOL HAS A NEW ATHLETIC COMPLEX AND A NEW STUDENT HEALTH CENTER, WITH PLANS THIS SUMMER FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY FUNDED: OUR PHS AUDITORIUM AND GYMNASIUM, AS WELL AS A NEW PHS ROOF.

OUR INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION HAS HELPED PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE VERY LATEST IN 21ST CENTURY LEARNING TECHNOLOGY. (SOMETHING I’M VERY PROUD OF) EVERY STUDENT FROM 6TH TO 9TH GRADE IS EQUIPPED WITH A CHROMEBOOK (EXPAND—EVERY YEAR) AND EVERY 4TH AND 5TH GRADE CLASSROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH A CHROMEBOOK CART.

TOGETHER, WE HAVE INVESTED IN PUBLIC SAFETY. LAST YEAR, AS YOU REMEMBER, WE ADDED OUR NEW ENGINE 1 LADDER TRUCK WHICH IS NOW IN FULL OPERATION. EVERY FIREFIGHTER NOW HAS A NEW AND IMPROVED ART SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH 15 MINUTES OF ADDITIONAL OXYGEN IN CASE OF FIRE EMERGENCY. AND IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET, WE ADDED ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS TO THE RANKS TO INSURE THAT EACH OF OUR FIVE CITY FIRE STATIONS HAVE A MINIMUM OF 3 FIREFIGHTERS STAFFED AT ALL TIMES. (INCLUDING A RANKING FIREFIGHTER) THIS INVESTMENT WE BELIEVE WILL PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION AND QUICKER RESPONSE TIME FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING GREATER PROTECTION FOR OUR ON-DUTY FIREFIGHTERS.

(JUST LAST WEEK, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE CITY OF PEABODY WAS LISTED IN THE TOP 100 SAFEST COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES BY NEIGHBORHOOD SCOUT.COM. WONDERFUL RECOGNITION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND A TESTAMENT TO OUR OUTSTANDING POLICE, FIRE, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.

TOGETHER, WE HAVE INVESTED TO IMPROVE OUR DOWNTOWN. THE 2ND MASSWORKS DOWNTOWN PROJECT IS COMPLETE AND HAS MADE PEABODY SQUARE SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS ALIKE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR SQUARE HAS UNDERGONE A MUCH-NEEDED FACELIFT IMPROVING OUR APPEARANCE AND MAKING THE ENTIRE AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE TO DEVELOPERS. THE COUNCIL’S SUPPORT OF BOTH MASSWORKS PROJECTS WAS CRUCIAL TO THEIR SUCCCESS. I WANT TO CREDIT THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. WE STILL HAVE IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AND SOME EMPTY STORE FRONTS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED, BUT PEABODY SQUARE HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED ITS APPEARANCE AND ITS SAFETY CONDITIONS. WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK TOWARDS THE DOWNTOWN ALL OF US WANT.
IN JUST THE PAST 2 MONTHS, WE WITNESSED 2 NEW RESTAURANT/EATERIES ADDED TO OUR DOWNTOWN. AFTER 17 YEARS AWAY, BROTHER’S DELI IS BACK PROVIDING EXCELLENT FOOD & FIRST CLASS SERVICE. AND A NEW COFFEE SHOP--BREAKING GROUNDS OPERATED BY NORTHEAST ARC--HAS OPENED TO RAVE REVIEWS. AND MORE GOOD NEWS SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
OUR GOAL TO ATTRACT MORE SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS DOWNTOWN RECENTLY GOT A BIG BOOST FROM THE BLACK BOX COMMUNITY THEATER PROJECT AT 22 FOSTER STREET. THE BLACK BOX THEATER STRIVES TO BECOME AN ANCHOR IN PEABODY’S DOWNTOWN CULTURAL DISTRICT WITH PERFORMANCES THAT WILL ENTERTAIN THOUSANDS EACH YEAR WHILE PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ACTORS, MUSICIANS, SET BUILDERS, TICKET SELLERS AND CONCESSION WORKERS.

AND AT CITY HALL, WE ARE DOING OUR PART TO EXPAND CULTURAL OFFERINGS IN DOWNTOWN PEABODY. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE PLANS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CONCERTS, PLAYS, MUSICALS, AND OTHER PERFORMANCES AT THE WIGGIN AUDITORIUM. WE HAVE SET ASIDE MONEY TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE AUDIO VISUAL CAPABILITIES IN THE WIGGIN WHICH WILL HELP ATTRACT DIVERSE ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE REGION
AND, THE SCOUTING WAY RETENTION BASIN FOR A THIRD YEAR IS WORKING PROPERLY AND HOLDING BACK MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER THAT PREVIOUSLY FLOWED TO OUR DOWNTOWN.

TOGETHER, WE HAVE INVESTED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEABODY RESIDENTS.

OUR SOUTH PEABODY NATURE TRAIL AND CONSERVATON AREA IS FULLY COMPLETE OPENING UP 300 ACRES OF CITY LAND ABUTTING SID’S POND AND SPRING’S POND TO WALKERS, JOGGERS, AND CYCLISTS.

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, THE LONG-AWAITED CRYSTAL LAKE RESTORATION AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT IS UNDERWAY WHEREBY 50K CUBIC YARDS OF SEDIMENT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE LAKE BASIN TO RESTORE THE WATER TO ITS NATURAL LUSTER AND EXCITING NEW AMENITIES WILL BE ADDED TO THE AREA MAKING IT AN INVITING PLACE FOR PEABODY FAMILIES AND NATURE LOVERS.

ONE OF THE GREAT ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF THE NEW HIGGINS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A NEW OUTDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX FOR OUR COMMUNITY. JUST LAST WEEK, WE DEDICATED THOSE FIELDS TO THE MEMORY OF FIREFIGHTER JIM RICE. JIM WAS A TRUE PEABODY HERO AND NOW GENERATIONS OF PEABODY STUDENT/ATHLETES WILL PLAY TOGETHER ON FIELDS THAT WILL FOREVER BEAR HIS NAME.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF 2017 BY DEDICATING PEABODY’S NEWEST OUTDOOR FAMILY RECATIONAL VENUE ‘COACH BOB DRISCOLL’S OLD-TIME SKATING RINK’ THE RINK IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE NEW HIGGINS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JAMES STREET PARK.

OUR INVESTMENTS ARE PAYING OFF.

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, OUR AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL HOME VALUE HAS INCREASED. IN JUNE, WE PROJECTED A 5% INCREASE. THE ACTUAL INCREASE IS NOW 5.3%.
IN 2015, 5.5%.
IN 2016, 6.7% (TOTAL FOR 3 YEARS, 18.5%).

NOW, CERTAINLY SOME OF THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED CONDITIONS IN THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS WITH THE INVESTMENTS I OUTLINED EARLIER CONTINUE TO MAKE PEABODY A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND ONE OF THE HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKETS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
AND WITH OUR INVESTMENT IN QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE CONTINUED DELIVERY OF CORE MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO EXPECT, WE ARE STILL AMONG THE VERY LOWEST RESIDENTIAL TAX BILLS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU TODAY ONE NEW WAY WE MIGHT FURTHER ADVANCE OUR CITY’S FUTURE IN EVERY ONE OF THE AREAS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

INTERNET SERVICE AT A MINIMUM OF GIGABIT SPEED IS THE 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT POWERS THE DIGITAL NEEDS OF THE TODAY’S WORLD, TO BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS AND CITY GOVERNMENT AND ALSO SUPPORT THE DAILY WORK OF EVERY ONE OF YOU, IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

I SEE SMALL TOWNS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, AND CITIES AND TOWNS ALL OVER THE US, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, ALREADY BEING SERVED BY PROVIDERS OFFERING THIS GOLD STANDARD OF GIGABIT SPEED INTERNET SERVICE.

SOME IN PEABODY ALREADY HAVE RESORTED TO STRING UP FIBER AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, TO GET AN ALTERNATIVE INTERNET SERVICE FOR THEIR BUSINESS. I WANT TO EXPLORE THE BEST WAY TO OFFER THIS VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SO WE CAN REMAIN IN THE FOREFRONT OF COMPETITION AND TO MAKE OUR CITY A VIABLE CHOICE TO LOCATE A BUSINESS OR FOR A RESIDENCE.

I WILL ASSEMBLE A TEAM IN THE CITY TO SEE IF GIGABIT INTERNET IS SOMETHING TRULY IN DEMAND IN PEABODY AND, IF SO, FOR US TO THEN EXPLORE WITH EXISTING PROVIDERS, OR CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO US, TO OFFER THIS SERVICE. THE TOWN OF PEABODY WANTED ELECTRIC SERVICE IN THE 1890S, AND ULTIMATELY FORMED THE PEABODY MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT. IN 2017, MY DOOR IS OPEN FOR THIS NEW DISCUSSION.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE INVESTING APPROPRIATELY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY IN PEABODY’S FUTURE. LIKE MAYOR DONNELL AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DID BACK IN 1916. OUR INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE CONTINUE TO PAY DIVIDENDS, AND WE’VE DONE IT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE AFFORDABILITY THAT HAS LONG BEEN PEABODY’S CALLING CARD AND ACHIEVING THE STATUS OF THE CITY WITH THE LOWEST TAX BILL ON THE NORTH SHORE.

PEABODY HAS COME A LONG WAY IN 100 YEARS FROM OUR TIME AS THE LEATHER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WITH DIRT ROADS AND COBBLESTONE SIDEWALKS TO A THRIVING 21ST CENTURY CITY FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

WORKING TOGETHER, PEABODY’S FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT.
THANK YOU.

Image via Ted Bettencourt