Monday night was filled with pomp and circumstance as Peabody swore in its 2026 city government officials.
The evening began with a musical prelude by the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Concert Band, directed by Jason Jones, and a presentation of colors by the Peabody Veterans Council. After the flag salute and pledge of allegiance, which was led by the Police and Fire Honor Guard, the PVMHS Chorale, directed by Jon Simmons, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Rabbi Evan Sheinhait gave the invocation.
“I recently shared with my temple, Temple Tiferet Shalom, that ‘by the people for the people’ is not a hypothetical motto. It is lived and breathed in every action we take to better our society… May those sworn in today remember that authority is trusted by the people, and that democracy endures when it is protected with integrity, care, and commitment to the common good,” he said.
City Clerk Allyson Danforth administered the oath of office to Mayor Ted Bettencourt. She did the same for the new City Council, which consists of: Ward 1 Councilor Craig Welton, Ward 2 Councilor Wendy Lattof, Ward 3 Councilor Stephanie Peach, Ward 4 Councilor Julie Daigle, Ward 5 Councilor Dave Gamache, Ward 6 Councilor Michael Higgins, and Councilors-at-Large Jaclyn Corriveau, Jarrod Hochman, Anne Manning-Martin, Thomas Rossignoll, and Jon Turco.
Danforth also administered the oath to the School Committee members-elect: Suzanne Cox, Beverley Griffin Dunne, and Pamela Milman. She lastly swore in Tracy Valletti to the Municipal Light Commission and Peter Bakula, Stephanie Dallaire, Caitlin Guyette, and Cassandra Lee Loizides to the Peabody Institute Library Board of Trustees.
The next order of business was for the Council to elect its 2026 Council President. Rossignoll said it was his “distinct honor” to nominate Higgins, and there were no other nominations made.
When Higgins took the podium, he was sure to thank the Council’s three outgoing members: Ward 2 Councilor Peter McGinn and Councilors-at-Large Ryan Melville and Tom Gould.
“When I was first elected, I knew I wanted to serve our residents to the best of my abilities and to leave a legacy I could be proud of. However, I was not 100% certain that I knew the best approach to accomplish this goal. I look for examples of leadership to help guide me. These three outgoing councilors are incredible role models for anyone who wants to do this job well,” Higgins said.
Higgins also welcomed the three newcomers — Corriveau, Hochman, and Lattof — to the Council.
The Council then went up to Danforth alphabetically to choose their randomly assigned seat positions for the year. There was a contagious laugh that spread throughout the room when Daigle, who ran Council meetings all last year as Council President, chose seat number one, making her the person who will kick off every vote this year.
The School Committee then held an organizational meeting, where they also chose their randomly assigned seats. Additionally, Dunne was voted as Vice Chair and Cox as Secretary.
The PVMHS Chorale sang a musical selection called “Patriotic Trilogy” before Bettencourt took the podium for his mayoral address.
“As we look ahead to the coming year, I feel both a deep sense of responsibility and genuine optimism. This year’s not about maintaining the status quo. It’s about delivering on the generational projects already in motion while continuing to plan for tomorrow’s opportunities,” Bettencourt said.
He highlighted three projects that are currently underway and will “shape Peabody’s future.”
He first brought up the new Public Safety Building which will house the Police Department and serve as administrative headquarters to the Fire Department and Peabody’s Emergency Management Services. Bettencourt shared that the project is ahead of schedule, on-budget, and on track for a grand opening this fall.
He also spoke on the Central Street Improvement Project, which is using “$20 million in state and federal funds to completely rebuild the corridor beginning at its intersection with Walnut Street near Dunkin’ Donuts and through the intersection of Endicott Street and Route 114 at Wilson’s Square.”
“When it started, I said this project would be a monster — and it certainly has lived up to that expectation… Replacing well-over-a-century old drainage and road infrastructure with modern systems is complex work, and it’s created real inconveniences for residents, business owners, and drivers,” Bettencourt said.
He thanked everyone for their patience with this project, saying, “It’s going to be amazing when it’s done.”
Bettencourt lastly brought up the new PVMHS, which will be “the largest construction project in our city’s history.” He said, “It’s going to be an absolute game changer for our students, providing the modern facilities and opportunities all of our students and families deserve.”
He added, “We are committed to deliver this project through clear, phased milestones, maintaining full transparency on costs and providing regular public updates every step of the way.”
He also said that this year is when “the exciting work begins to happen.” Later this winter, the City will be selecting the PVMHS building project manager, and later this spring or summer, the City will be selecting its architect and design team.
“I can’t wait to take these next steps,” Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt additionally brought up how the completion of the Welch and Center School projects “reflect our commitment to education and to giving every child in Peabody the tools they need to succeed.”
“In 2026, we will continue laying the groundwork for new opportunities for Peabody to prosper,” Bettencourt said. “We are working to finalize an agreement to purchase 164 acres of open space from Rousselot. This land purchase includes significant water well sources that, with proper infrastructure in place, will provide Peabody residents with millions of gallons of additional drinking water. The purchase could further lessen our City’s reliance on expensive MWRA water and may provide the City with a significant new revenue source going forward.”
He added, “Our Vision 2025 Master Plan is now complete and ready to be presented to the City Council and the public in the very near future. This plan represents many months of collaboration and community engagement, outlining a clear roadmap for Peabody’s long-term future, addressing land use, transportation, housing, and open space in ways that reflect our shared values. At the same time, the Centennial Park Master Plan focuses on targeted growth, mobility improvements, and design standards to strengthen one of our most-important economic hubs.”
He continued, “We’re also looking to evaluate options for the City’s landfill. This site represents a potential source of significant new revenue, and we are approaching it with careful and strategic due diligence, ensuring full environmental compliance and prioritizing community benefits.”
Bettencourt said that, in addition to the aforementioned initiatives, the City will be working on projects that “enhance everyday life for our residents.”
“The extension of the bike path and the development of the river walk will create new opportunities for our recreation and connectivity, making Peabody more vibrant and accessible,” he said.
Bettencourt also mentioned that, this spring, he will present a comprehensive municipal business plan to the Council. The plan will modernize the organizational structure, update job descriptions, and align roles with performance and accountability, “ensuring city government operates efficiently, transparently, and with a clear focus on results.”
“This is our moment. I can’t wait to continue this meaningful and transformational work. The future is bright, and I’m proud to work with all of you to continue to secure Peabody’s future for generations and generations to come,” Bettencourt concluded.
The evening wrapped up with hors d’oeuvres, hugs, and heartfelt congratulations.
