[{"_1":2,"_120":-5,"_121":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84,96,108],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6183533,"mediaKeyId","5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8","parentId",5095078,"title","Peabody mayor and council appoint Sandra Howland Osgood as Water Superintendent","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",8437000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8&start=8437&end=8437","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8/thumbnail_8437000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183533/Peabody-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Peabody-mayor-and-council-appoint-Sandra-Howland-Osgood-as-Water-Superintendent","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183533-437c44a47bb74665f6bd17ebbdcf29ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209284&Signature=R9KXfjZvHqS42DFfmnD8GkFBQjBW6mota9YYRYqPFdw8s-34C~7x1PQTmWgSbNyyCu~18ZAzKCAELFZ9S-ar7P0yLrUsvyiYWG23OIxK181~ozBBhB2eSSY2PaOkLfiq7G~u5QAyly~piEDzkS5wuGmFpKvASaG4g2eoaX5nT91RVCoRtJHg77x8Bn57lFMhgGUnbDD~dqQQSBYTF7acTIhGrhAulgi1VANqDt7yzzbVLHh07Y58VI7IQ7w185MrtclYm~qQDT67KWV2aO9Mc4PJKHcXbyw7AUjwwDAvPkNwsaOv4PnXFFx6-zQaKmvcavWNdRxl3LMxNRmBvblKOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Peabody, MA","date","2025-06-27T13:37:35Z","article","Mayor Bettencourt introduced Sandra Howland Osgood as his nominee for Water Superintendent at the June 26 City Council meeting and said she has worked nine years for the city at the Walsh Water Treatment Plant and recently had been running the water system.

\"She's done an outstanding job...very knowledgeable and brings a great deal of wealth of knowledge in understanding our systems at a very high level,\" the mayor said. Ms. Howland Osgood, who spoke briefly to the council, said she had \"literally grown up\" in the drinking‑water field, has been a Peabody resident since childhood and is committed to continuing to provide \"safe drinking water for the city.\" She said she welcomed questions from councilors.

The council received the nomination and voted unanimously to approve the two‑year appointment (term to expire 12/31/2026). No councilor asked substantive questions during the confirmation.

Ending: The council's vote installs a long‑time city water operator in the superintendent role; the mayor said she has been effectively running the system in recent months and the administration will provide any requested follow‑up documentation about operational status and recent projects upon council request.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Finance Committee Sitting as Committee of the Whole and Special Meeting - June 26th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Bettencourt nominated Sandra Howland Osgood to lead the city's water department; the council unanimously approved the appointment June 26 after brief remarks from Howland Osgood about her local ties and commitment to safe drinking water.","taxTitle","Peabody City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",5128,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183538,"Community Preservation Committee funds George Peabody Legacy Park; state grants supplement local CPC allocation",6916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8&start=6916&end=6916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8/thumbnail_6916000.jpg","/articles/6183538/Peabody-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Community-Preservation-Committee-funds-George-Peabody-Legacy-Park-state-grants-supplement-local-CPC-allocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183538-76abb5f6c19355a0e2da139037e2d779/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209284&Signature=Cwn3xDsT2yunNzRH3UYCZwXiGelvahAqT-o3wD3-hpaIJ8dLBRqEOj4lc2ON9pIeT5BgWvtLKj8bGORjy2tKFHRA8kkbH03B4V8WXWfUKGoB4fMRy8awmHeCGCaxuAGZjf~UggjrHeqWIeZnYjzCFNLxmHN~iICniGrLK0s0KD8jB2eu4sYFtpjZZ0FnH0assgsUCdU4WIasrqo6FhQE-Ei-FkWK3fNB46g7K9HJgv48JreMFX9DCaBbR5e4HZHWQ31KW-5ER8T~oKqcpkpvMBcke-2d2Eu8YR8yv8J555zcY0J6BBpconSWvOXB75mAsyM2tldlDNQfgsGYypKcHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on June 26 approved Community Preservation Act (CPC) transfers to support the George Peabody Legacy Park and to fund archival preservation at the Leather History & Museum.

Specifically, the council approved allocating up to $100,000 from the CPC open‑space account for the George Peabody Legacy Park, and a $5,000 historic preservation transfer to preserve the museum's records. Finance director Mister Gingras said the CPC is a separate fund composed of a local surcharge and state matching and recommended the transfers after the Community Preservation Committee's review.

Mayor Bettencourt noted two state grants augmenting the project: a $75,000 Senate grant obtained by Senator Lovely and a $50,000 House grant obtained by Representative Tom Walsh. \"We have asked for up to $100,000 from community preservation. I don't think we're going to need that much, but this project has been funded with those additional grants from the state as well,\" the mayor said.

The Leather History & Museum preservation award ($5,000) was approved in the same set of motions. The CPC transfers passed by unanimous roll call (motion carries 11–0).

Ending: Councilors said the CPC funding source is dedicated to open space, historic preservation and community housing, and the transfers will allow the city to proceed with the park's development and required preservation work while state grants supplement the local commitment.

","The council approved transfers totaling $205,000 from Community Preservation Act accounts and state grants to support development of the George Peabody Legacy Park and a $5,000 preservation award for Leather History & Museum records.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183543,"Peabody City Council votes to accept state law enabling tax 'work‑off' program for seniors",1912,6174000,8086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8&start=6174&end=8086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8/thumbnail_6174000.jpg","/articles/6183543/Peabody-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Peabody-City-Council-votes-to-accept-state-law-enabling-tax-workoff-program-for-seniors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183543-2238e032ce4a1e9c45cbd357cd14dd10/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209284&Signature=BCuB0GYf5HpAxklOKMpyZD4vn7vCztZMVYKa0PUwBGrXi~FG2Uew5BxO2uie8sXQAzW6w3g5VjqNigfCWAiZC43myTsYqHQ0cdy6bJ8NeNfQWRXm58p0zRM020f8PCB0YqIAhhzdJXr0iD4t1v3mdgPJ0hAW8clK8BaBDyZsl9BQQTosFFChDTDK41sLWERXq-U-kOTQLQ-m-kzHJ9bYECgOq68TfKYFqDEs3eQDlLqici9doy8tL8RXKsfjFveh7VsCt3thO7-bviiaXgTrugLIxrwXK9jNduDJMTnFxBhOXJf5kYwwondnMeu4PS~R8rOkp2aQ5JrozRu0YVf-BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Peabody City Council on June 26 voted unanimously to accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5(k), enabling municipalities to reduce real‑property tax obligations for residents over age 60 in exchange for volunteer service.

Under the accepted statute, a city may reduce a qualifying taxpayer's bill by up to the equivalent of the Commonwealth's minimum wage per hour for hours worked, with a statutory cap per year (the law text referenced $1,500–$2,000 caps in different clauses depending on local choices). The statute requires municipalities to maintain records of hours and tax reductions, provide copies to assessors and taxpayers before bills are issued, and allows local rules to set procedures and limits.

Mayor Bettencourt told the council the item \"would allow us to start working on\" a potential program, citing models he has reviewed in other municipalities and saying the city will bring a detailed proposal back to the council before any program is implemented. He and Director of Finance Mister Gingras said typical local approaches include a cap (for example, $1,000 per year in some communities), qualified placements at senior centers, libraries, city hall or other municipal operations, and a requirement that the city and finance office track hours and reductions.

Council questions focused on oversight and limits. Councilor Terkel asked about caps and a potential flood of applicants; the mayor replied caps, qualifying criteria and program rules would be recommended and can be structured to limit exposure. Councilor Rosignol asked which city offices would oversee the program; the mayor suggested the Finance Department and Mayor's Office would administer it and that senior center staff would be involved for placements at that facility.

Ending: The council's acceptance of the statute is a required step to create a program; Mayor Bettencourt said he will return with a detailed proposal including eligibility, caps, placements and administrative procedures for council approval before implementation.","The council voted unanimously to accept M.G.L. c.59 §5(k), allowing the city to create a volunteer work‑off program permitting residents 60+ to reduce property tax bills by volunteering for municipal services, subject to local rules and limits.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":100,"_45":101,"_46":102,"_48":103,"_50":104,"_52":105,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":106,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":107,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183548,"Peabody City Council approves $207.9 million FY2026 budget after cuts and late communications",542,9840000,10382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8&start=9840&end=10382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8/thumbnail_9840000.jpg","/articles/6183548/Peabody-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Peabody-City-Council-approves-2079-million-FY2026-budget-after-cuts-and-late-communications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183548-999eaca5baa7a904c40327765bfa4cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209284&Signature=L5eOTRszIonHM9Ydp-vujCHuZY7DOgpQJWMTlBDqihHkT1~VQGidGciz23gYBZvM-w5hqnCeDLBoDTVOwyWw84c5TzzrzZLT1H2Kk0Ax2balzk3NzREtSWtPZYt9tlq8a5DIelRKzgsz6VStubbR0LtbSuiBguBs-pqB~NQ~tUk6p5iVAeH0P1bVQFXAb0gAfAozncu~3r1NfAWU0xAbWnT28fe8GFzV~EbNST0~h1OggkUd3pUSfx8FDjPcaHOSXWvI~nydtR2uAeG07t6KYz5btfSBsAjxZkHIhFkRN0YSb-o19S3aOUiNLYzP2mCQtQniqNlcHcwo4N3303NiIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Peabody City Council voted on June 26 to adopt the fiscal year 2026 municipal budget at $207,868,341 after a multi‑day review that included late communications, several motions to reduce line items and separate votes on enterprise budgets.

The nut graf: Finance Committee Chair Councilor McGinn led a series of hearings June 17, June 24 and June 26 that produced multiple amendments and transfer motions; the council approved the final aggregated budget by roll call (motion carried 8–3). The council also approved the water & sewer enterprise budget ($21,961,000) and the recreation enterprise budget ($2,961,000) under statutory enterprise procedures (M.G.L. ch. 44 §53F½).

Key details: The council considered each major city section (general government, public safety, public services, council on aging, human services, culture and recreation, debt service and employee benefits) and made ten motions to cut specific line items; five of those motions succeeded at the committee level. The aggregated adjustments were incorporated into the final appropriation. Enterprise budgets for the water and sewer system and for recreation (including Meadow Golf Course and McVan O'Keefe rink) were approved separately and unanimously. The water & sewer enterprise was approved at $21,961,000 (personnel $4,732,414; operating $17,228,586). The recreation enterprise was approved at $2,961,000 (personnel $1,408,187; operating $1,552,813).

Procedure and timing: Several late communications (items 1–12) were formally received and made part of the record; the council voted to accept those late materials during the hearings. Chair McGinn explained that the city council has limited authority to reallocate school accounts but may make non‑binding monetary recommendations to the school committee under Mass. Gen. Laws ch.71 §34; that statutory distinction guided the council’s handling of the education portion of the budget.

Votes and outcomes: The motion approving the full FY26 municipal budget passed on roll call (final vote summary: motion carried 8–3). Individual budget transfer requests to close FY25 accounts and to move reserve and receipts for cable and CPC items were approved by unanimous votes where recorded.

Ending: Councilors and department heads agreed to improve earlier communication and to provide more accessible line‑item data during next year's process; multiple councilors urged quarterly or earlier public updates so elected officials and residents can review proposals well before final votes.

","After several late communications and line‑by‑line adjustments, the City Council adopted a $207,868,341 FY2026 budget on June 26; individual motions trimmed several departmental line items and the council also approved enterprise budgets for water/sewer and recreation.",{"_33":109,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":110,"_41":111,"_43":112,"_45":113,"_46":114,"_48":115,"_50":116,"_52":117,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":118,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":119,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183553,"Peabody superintendent rebuts 'top-heavy' claims as school committee reallocates positions and council approves education budget",869,499000,1368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8&start=499&end=1368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5095078-27be9c4ae23d23cc746ca835850444c8/thumbnail_499000.jpg","/articles/6183553/Peabody-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Peabody-superintendent-rebuts-top-heavy-claims-as-school-committee-reallocates-positions-and-council-approves-education-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183553-c6021c20aca12f38640f6488853e8c9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209284&Signature=LQ-F3rRsi~8ANRvKpHInpuUkzsdZOoQlpn6Aqd5HBBfaULgBTBEZBbDwbyYA0Iq6jsIFDgsPJXIAUkE2Gi9qP~SgZ81l7TbK5f1eoEU38Zuq2lC2FO~jjdZ56GSiVU1o~CsCXep1rwjTO~gD1lkFwsubHDhItDa7XWhKZ9EggHQE8ZfHDUtPMMRNL27y68dH1nO4KkT4uNOvql820wKGL~mdLUktkAWN9LIVcUp1CwJQ8THyA1ZtaJoTNWUEtN7l9Hi7P168HpU09CmHNKCFs6NnmgKlsfy3eUwPwFBQ~yge-hoz9ODXhZJ2HY2fhb8dEZ2dz-zENi9-F6go5qYz9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Peabody Superintendent Dr. Vedala told the City Council on June 26 that the school district has reduced its central-office administrators since fiscal 2019 while adding teachers and student-facing staff, and described targeted changes the school committee approved after receiving council feedback.

The superintendent presented DESE (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) “radar” comparisons and multi‑year staffing and budget tables to show the district’s administrative counts are lower than many peers. \"We have 53 more teachers, but we're supervising those teachers with 10 less administrators,\" he said, summarizing the district's staffing changes since FY19.

The nut graf: The school committee met June 23 after the council asked for more time to review the proposed school budget. That committee approved reallocations — moving two English‑language‑learner (ELL) teacher positions from some schools to higher‑need schools and restoring a fifth cluster on the Higgins eighth‑grade schedule — using turnover savings and unfilled positions to remain budget‑neutral; the full council then voted to approve the total education appropriation on June 26 amid sustained debate over whether administrative positions had been spared cuts.

Most important facts: Dr. Vedala said the school committee voted to reassign an ELL teacher from the Center and one from the South to Carroll and Welch to support higher‑need students. He told the council those moves were funded partly by two unfilled teaching positions at the Center School (a Grade 1 and a Grade 4 slot that had not been posted) and partly by about $150,000 in expected turnover savings. \"So we're able to reduce grade 2 and 4 to 1 teacher next year...and make this change budget neutral,\" the superintendent said.

Councilors repeatedly pressed the administration about perceptions that classroom staff bore the bulk of cuts while administrators were insulated. Councilor Rosignol said constituent calls described \"hits\" to guidance and direct services, and asked whether the positions reallocated at the Center were new hires or reassignments; the superintendent replied the positions were unfilled and not a layoff. Councilor Peach and others urged clearer, earlier budget information and more public explanation of union classifications (Unit A/Unit B) and grant funding that support some roles.

Councilor Turco, who voted \"no\" on the education budget, said he remained concerned that executive and administrative staff did not take proportional reductions. Councilor Daigle said she feared denying the budget would harm students and chose to support approval while pressing for future changes. The council ultimately approved the mayor‑recommended education appropriation — including the district budget and the Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School assessment — by roll call (motion carried 8–3).

Background and context: Dr. Vedala highlighted accountability and recovery from the pandemic: he noted district accountability dropped in 2020–23 and then improved from 2023 to 2024, citing gains at Burke, Center and South schools. He credited new curriculum adoption and additions of special‑education teachers and counselors (\"We've added 9.4 school adjustment counselors and 2 guidance counselors...a total of 11.4 counselors,\") while acknowledging Carroll, Welch and the high school remain most in need.

Ending: Councilors and the superintendent agreed on the need for earlier, more transparent budget conversations and quarterly reporting; Dr. Vedala said the district already produces quarterly memos and posts budgets online, and he invited more collaborative meetings between the school administration and council ahead of next year's cycle.

","After a contentious review, Peabody school leaders and the city council agreed to reallocate two ELL teachers and restore an eighth-grade cluster at Higgins; the council approved the total education appropriation June 26 following debate over administrative staffing and transparency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Peabody mayor and council appoint Sandra Howland Osgood as Water Superintendent

Community Preservation Committee funds George Peabody Legacy Park; state grants supplement local CPC allocation

Peabody City Council votes to accept state law enabling tax 'work‑off' program for seniors

Peabody City Council approves $207.9 million FY2026 budget after cuts and late communications

Peabody superintendent rebuts 'top-heavy' claims as school committee reallocates positions and council approves education budget