Peabody City Council Meetings Reopen For In-Person Attendance

PEABODY, MA — The Peabody City Council will welcome back residents to watch their meetings in person Thursday for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus health crisis.

Thursday night's meeting begins at 7:30 at the Frank L. Wiggin Auditorium in City Hall. Zoom and teleconference attendance will continue to be offered.

"We are one of the few City Councils in our local area returning to in-person meetings for the general public," City Council President Mark O'Neill said. "The health and safety of our residents will remain a key focus during these challenging times."

The City Council has been meeting in person since September, bur residents were not allowed because of coronavirus protocols.

Those attending the meetings will enter through the handicapped-accessible entrance on Chestnut Street. They will be asked to self-screen for coronavirus symptoms and check in with staff for contact tracing purposes.

All those attending will be required to wear face masks at all times, observe 6 feet of social distancing, and remain seated in the auditorium with the balcony available if needed for distanced seating.

Each speaker will clean the microphone after his or her turn speaking.

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(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.)