The Peabody City Council on Jan. 8 conducted routine municipal business including continuances, appointments, license renewals and committee referrals as it opened the 2026 calendar.

Key procedural actions:
- The council moved to continue hearing item 4a to January 22 to allow clarification of application discrepancies.
- Hearing item 4c was continued because the petitioner was not present.
- Councilor Manning Martin asked the administration to provide all Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreements to the council and/or auditor in advance of budget deliberations.
- Under suspension of the rules the council approved appointments to the Community Development Authority (Gary Boar and Brian Benagro) and appointed Councilors Turco and Rosignol as primaries to the Community Preservation Commission with alternates named.
- The council approved several routine Class 2 motor vehicle license renewals and an entertainment license renewal for Sue Chang (373 Lowell Street); Tri City Services renewals were held for further review.
- Councilor Rosignol moved and the council approved a request for the city attorney and Community Development staff to update language and fines for abandoned billboards.
- Councilor Peach initiated discussion on commercial-vehicle parking rules and moved to refer potential ordinance changes to Legal Affairs for drafting and review; he asked traffic staff to attend future committee discussions.
- Councilor Walton moved to schedule a public hearing on a special permit application for 101 Lynn Street.

Representative Walsh was mentioned in relation to a long-approved bond for the senior center; Councilor Peach said the city will provide plans to help advance bonding. There was no final action on the bond at this meeting.

The council concluded with appointments and an adjournment. Several items were referred to committees or legal staff for follow-up, and the clerk will process approved licenses and appointments.