Peabody Mayor Hopes City Services Guide Showcases Value Of Municipal Employees

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt released his promised city services delivery guide on Tuesday, designed to improve accessibility to those services as well as to inform residents of the work municipal employees do each day.

The guide was among the initiatives that Bettencourt told a City Council subcommittee last week that he intended to employ as budget discussions begin amid a very difficult financial environment.

• Peabody Mayor Proposes Trash Fee, Water, Sewer Rate Hikes Amid Budget Crunch

Bettencourt told the City Council that a new trash fee, increased water and sewer rates, the potential sale of city property, and staff cuts will all be part of his proposals to help avoid a Proposition 2 1/2 override vote for at least the next two years.

"We are taking a real, hard, critical look at positions where there are potential savings and where it makes sense," Bettencourt said. "The budget is primarily people. ...

"Without question, there will be a budget presented that has less people working, in budgeted positions, than the year before."

The first Operations and Service Delivery Guide is designed to offer a unified overview of each municipal department's mission, structure and core responsibilities. It also explains how Peabody's workforce works across departments each day to support services residents rely on, according to the Mayor's Office.

Bettencourt said the guide is meant to show work that may not always be visible to the public.

"This guide highlights something that isn't always obvious: our municipal workforce touches people's lives in countless ways every single day," he said. "From protecting public safety and public health to delivering the essential services people rely on, our teams work with dedication and purpose, which makes a real difference in the lives of Peabody residents."

He said the guide reinforces three pillars in Peabody's approach to local government: transparency, efficiency and service excellence.

The new guide is also intended as a practical resource for residents looking for information about city departments and services.

Residents can access the Operations and Service Delivery Guide on the City of Peabody website, through Peabody's official social media platforms, or they can call City Hall to request a digital copy by email.