Peabody Mayor Bettencourt Launches Re-Election Bid

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt touted the city's response to the coronavirus crisis challenges, the resolution of a long-debated cell tower proposal, and ongoing road improvement and quality-of-life projects in declaring his intention to run for a sixth term as mayor.

"I am really proud of what we have been able to accomplish despite the tragedy and hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a statement provided to Patch. "Our community has been through so much during the past year. But we persevered, and together we look forward to much brighter days ahead."

Bettencourt lauded how the city maintained essential city services throughout the pandemic, while moving forward on several long-term infrastructure and parks projects.

"It is a great tribute to our dedicated city workers who adapted to changes brought on by the pandemic to help keep our city safe and operational," he said. "Their contributions during these difficult times are immeasurable and we are forever grateful to them."

He said he was proud of how Peabody Public Schools began the school year with at least some in-person education through a hybrid model before bringing students back full-time in spring for those families that wanted it.

"This past year, we disagreed, debated, and challenged one another but always respectfully and with the best interest of our students at heart," Bettencourt said. "Now we have come together, and I am very proud that Peabody is among the first cities to return to school full-time.

"It is a major step toward the normalcy that we all crave."

City Hall reopened on April 7, the main library branch reopened on April 20 and Bettencourt recently said City Hall will resume full business operations on June 21. The citywide state of emergency will be lifted on June 15 in line with Gov. Charlie Baker's lifting of the statewide state of emergency.

He said the Community Development Authority approved pandemic relief grants totaling more than $380,000 for 110 small Peabody businesses and that "these grants were unique among North Shore cities and towns and offered business owners comfort and flexibility during the darkest days of the pandemic."

Eighteen restaurants were able to have outdoor dining last summer with the request to extend that through the end of 2021 also approved.

The six-year battle over a 60-foot Verizon cell tower in South Peabody was finally resolved under Bettencourt's watch as he said he "advocated for the neighborhood and kept residents informed each step of the way" until Verizon and Peabody Municipal Light Plant reached an agreement in October to install wireless equipment on existing utility poles.

"This is a wonderful example of citizens and their government representatives working together for the best interest of our city," he said. "That cell tower would have been an awful thing for the neighborhood. The agreement we reached addresses Verizon's coverage gap in the area and eliminates the need for the massive tower."

He also touted the upcoming development of a bed-and-breakfast and speakeasy-style bar at the former O'Shea Mansion, the $11 million project to rebuild Central Street and a $10 million state grant to extend the Peabody Independence Greenway, as well as the designing of a riverwalk between Main and Walnut streets as a way to revitalize downtown Peabody and alleviate flooding.

He said under his administration "Peabody homeowners continue to get exceptional value for their tax dollar" and that "while they enjoy a level of municipal services that meet or exceed those of nearby cities and towns, they benefit from property tax bills that are on average hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars less than those communities."

"I am committed to maintaining Peabody's affordability while delivering the high level of municipal services that residents expect," he concluded. "It has been a very difficult year for all of us, but Peabody is a very strong community made up of very resilient people.

"I believe our best days are yet to come."

Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)