Council hears SESD plea for Prop 2.5 relief

City Council · Meeting of April 23, 2026

Peabody's City Council heard the South Essex Sewerage District ask for relief from Proposition 2.5. District Chairman Mike Parsons told a Committee of the Whole session the district needs special legislation to fund a $390 million capital plan and a one-time $4.5 million operating increase, to $30.5 million. Peabody's share would be about $1.9 million a year for five years, then roughly $5.1 million, financed over 30 years.

Finance Director Mike Gingras said residential bills could rise "three or four or five times." State Rep. Thomas Walsh said state money is limited. The council took no position. At its regular meeting, it voted 9-0 to adopt a billboard ordinance with annual fees of $15,000 and $25,000, and cut a used-car lot's request from 77 vehicles to 60.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Peabody's community access TV: City Council meeting, April 23, 2026
• The complete report: 1,185 words

Source: the City Council meeting of April 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.