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Peabody council approves pay adjustment for Public Works foreman, police retroactive payments and funds for site assessment
Summary
The council unanimously approved an amendment setting the Public Works Foreman (Water) salary, transfers to cover retroactive police payments and longevity, and a transfer to complete a Phase II environmental study and well testing for the Rousselot property.
The Peabody City Council on Thursday approved three finance committee recommendations: an amendment setting the salary for Public Works Foreman (Water), a transfer to cover retroactive police pay and related items, and a transfer of bond premium reserve funds to complete a due‑diligence site assessment of the Rousselot property.
Councilor McGinn, reporting for the finance committee, said the committee unanimously passed an amendment to section 18‑21 to set the salary for the Public Works Foreman (Water) position at $107,302, effective March 1, 2025. The change followed clarification that the position has no involvement with the sewer department and included a correction to the originally submitted text.
The committee also recommended transfers to cover retroactive payments for police captains (July 2022–February 2025), and step/ longevity payments for patrol and superior officers. The transcript lists line items of $185,000 for police salaries, $70,000 for police overtime and $30,000 for police longevity. Committee discussion listed $201,280.03 from one account and $83,711.97 from unreserved fund balance (free cash) for a combined figure the committee referred to as $285,000; later in the report the transcript also cites a total of $280,000. The council approved the transfers unanimously; the transcript contains inconsistent totals and account references that require bookkeeping verification.
Councilors also approved a transfer from the bonds premium reserve for projects to cover an expanded Phase II environmental study of the Rousselot property, including additional well testing that the mayor requested verbally. Councilor Gould moved the transfer for a total of $139,000 from account 2700033015; councilors approved the motion 11‑0. Committee discussion said the work would extend the city's potential walk‑away date on the purchase to July and an anticipated close to August.
All three items passed the full council by roll call vote recorded as unanimous (11‑0). Councilors noted the police transfers were to cover retroactive obligations and that the Rousselot expenditure was for due diligence rather than acquisition costs.
The council instructed staff to complete the environmental work over the coming months and to return with updates as required by procurement and closing timelines.
