Meeting report · City Council
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City Council — June 2, 2026
The meeting was marked by a high volume of public speakers and spirited debate among councilors regarding the legality and fairness of new fees.
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Summary
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Peabody residents are facing a significant increase in the cost of living following the June 2, 2026, City Council meeting. In a contentious session, the Council approved several measures that will directly impact household budgets.
First, a new $200 annual trash fee was approved for single, two, three, and four-family residential homes. While the Mayor presented this as a necessary tool to maintain fiscal stability and manage rising contract costs without hitting Proposition 2½ limits, many residents and councilors raised concerns that this is effectively a tax being implemented without a public vote. Although the ordinance includes a five-year freeze and $100 abatements for seniors and veterans, the long-term impact on renters and low-income residents remains a major point of contention.
Second, water and sewer costs are set to rise significantly. The Council approved an 8% rate increase for FY27 and a 5% increase for FY28. Additionally, the Council passed a 7-3 vote to implement new quarterly administrative fees—$25 for residential accounts and $50 for commercial accounts. Some council members argued these administrative fees are regressive and disproportionately affect those least able to afford them.
As the City moves into full budget discussions later this month, residents should stay informed about how these new costs will be implemented and how the city plans to address the growing financial burden on the community.
❝ Notable statements
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Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed
$200 annual fee per unit
What happened
The ordinance was approved 8-2, featuring a five-year freeze, $100 abatements for seniors/veterans, and credits for composting/vacancies.
What's next
Ordinance is being drafted and advertised; full budget discussions continue in late June.
What was discussed
8% increase for FY27 and 5% for FY28, plus new quarterly administrative fees
What happened
The 8% increase and the 5% increase (limited to one year) were approved; new quarterly administrative fees were also approved.
What's next
Approved components are being drafted and advertised.
Topics discussed
Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Rhonda Anderson, Mike Radinowski, Ron D'Ambrosio, Travis Wojcik, Amanda Green, Jason Stone, Ms. Swirling, John Lewis, Tracy Pessia, Sue Brochie, Ted Gamache, Mayor Benton Court, Councilor Cherko
What was discussed
Mayor Betancourt proposed a new $200 annual trash fee for single, two, three-family homes and residential structures with four units or less to ensure fiscal stability and delay hitting Proposition 2½ limits.
What happened
Proposal presented with North Shore comparison handout received. Motion to refer back to Mayor after budget failed 4-1. Finance Committee voted favorably (4-1) to report ordinance with abatements and five-year freeze to Committee of the Whole. Full Council approved ordinance 8-2.
What's next
Ordinance drafted and advertised; full budget discussions scheduled for the 16th, 18th, 23rd, and 25th.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed
Councilors discussed broader fiscal challenges including infrastructure needs, rising healthcare costs, and state-level funding shifts.
What happened
Discussion framed the trash fee and budget within unavoidable rising costs.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed
Proposal for an 8% water/sewer rate increase for FY27, followed by a 5% increase for FY28, plus new quarterly administrative fees and removal of early payment discount.
What happened
8% FY27 increase approved 5-0; single 5% FY28 increase approved 8-2; quarterly administrative fees ($25 residential/$50 commercial) approved 7-3; repeal of 10% early payment discount failed 4-6.
What's next
Approved components drafted and advertised.
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Establishment of a $200 Annual Trash Fee
The fee is contested by residents who view it as a 'tax in disguise' intended to bypass Proposition 2½ limits. Residents expressed concerns regarding equity for single-person households, seniors on fixed incomes, and renters.
Board position: The board approved the ordinance with specific mitigations like a five-year freeze and abatements for seniors and veterans.
Internal dissent
The Finance Committee and Full Council both saw a 4-1 split on the initial reporting/referral stages, and the final ordinance passed with an 8-2 vote.
high concern
02
Water and Sewer Rate Increases
The proposal includes an 8% increase in FY27 and a 5% increase in FY28, alongside new quarterly administrative fees, leading to concerns about the cumulative financial burden on residents.
Board position: The board approved the majority of the rate increases and new fees, though they rejected the repeal of the early payment discount.
Internal dissent
The FY28 increase passed 8-2, the administrative fees passed 7-3, and the repeal of the early payment discount failed 4-6.
medium concern
Split votes
Motion to refer the trash fee proposal back to the Mayor for rework
4-1
Implementation of quarterly water/sewer administrative fees
7-3
Repeal of the 10% early payment discount for water rates
4-6
Community vs. board tension
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Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
19
Total speakers
6
Addressed
8
Partial
5
Not addressed
Larry Roberti
Not addressed
The speaker expressed that the proposed fee is essentially a tax and noted that it is simply transferring money from one pocket to another. He argued that if the fee is intended to be permanent, it should require a Prop 2.5 override vote rather than a council vote.
Key concern
The fee is a tax and should require an override vote for permanent implementation.
Board responseThe board (specifically the Mayor and Councilors) did not provide a direct response to his specific demand regarding the override vote during his comment.
While the Mayor discussed the mechanics of Prop 2.5 and the fee, he did not address the speaker's specific contention that this particular fee should be subject to an override vote.
Diane Full
Partial
The speaker inquired whether the fee would be charged per unit in multi-family homes or just once per property owner. She also expressed concern about how the fee would be enforced and whether landlords would be allowed to pass the cost on to tenants.
Key concern
Clarity on fee application to multi-family units and the legality/impact of passing costs to renters.
Board responseThe Mayor responded by stating that for two and three-family homes, it would be $200 per unit, though the specific billing method (to the owner vs. resident) was still being determined.
The Mayor answered the question regarding the amount per unit and the potential billing methods, but did not address the legal concern regarding whether landlords can pass the fee to tenants.
Lee Cardens
Partial
The speaker criticized the Mayor's reliance on future economic improvements and questioned the state's role in health care costs. He also questioned why the city pays the prevailing wage for a private contractor's employees.
Key concern
Skepticism of economic forecasts and questioning the city's liability for private contractor prevailing wages.
Board responseThe Mayor responded to the prevailing wage concern by explaining that prevailing wages are established at the state level and that the city is required to pay them.
The Mayor addressed the prevailing wage question but did not address the speaker's comments regarding state health care initiatives or his skepticism of future financial stability.
Mike Barton
Partial
The speaker questioned the trustworthiness of the administration's promises regarding the fee and suggested that the city should negotiate health insurance via competitive bidding rather than just with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Key concern
Trust in administration and the lack of competitive bidding for health insurance.
Board responseThe Mayor responded to the health insurance comment by explaining that insurance changes must be negotiated with unions under state law and that they have previously explored other options like GIC.
The Mayor addressed the health insurance negotiation process but did not address the speaker's direct challenge regarding the trustfulness of the administration.
Linda D'Ambrosio
Partial
The speaker asked if the fee would include restrictions on the number of trash barrels allowed or if extra fees would still apply for large items. She also questioned why residents are responsible for the city's rising health insurance costs.
Key concern
Trash collection restrictions and the fairness of residents paying for city employee health insurance.
Board responseThe Mayor addressed the health insurance concern by explaining the negotiation process with unions and the limitations on unilateral changes, though he did not specifically address the trash barrel restriction question during her turn.
The Mayor addressed the health insurance concerns extensively, but the specific question regarding whether the $200 fee would still require extra stickers for large items was not answered in that moment.
Rochelle Agneta
Addressed
The speaker asked for a comparison of the proposed trash fee against 'Pay As You Throw' programs, noting that only a small percentage of communities use a flat fee.
Key concern
Whether the city thoroughly researched 'Pay As You Throw' as an alternative to a flat fee.
Board responseThe Mayor responded to the general topic of alternatives later in the meeting, stating that they did look at various options but were constrained by existing contracts.
The Mayor eventually addressed the comparison of different programs during the council discussion section.
Cindy Yates
Not addressed
The speaker asked for confirmation on whether HOA residents are exempt and inquired about the specific percentage of headcount reductions. She also asked about the ratio of unionized versus non-unionized employees.
Key concern
HOA exemption, scale of budget cuts, and unionization percentage.
Board responseThe Mayor and Councilors did not provide a direct response to her specific questions during her time.
While the Mayor mentioned the 20 positions being cut, he did not address the HOA exemption or the unionization percentage during her specific comment.
Russell Donovan
Partial
The speaker argued that the fee is inequitable because it targets homeowners while businesses and apartment complexes do not bear the same burden. He also suggested the fee should remain a tax to ensure it is tax-deductible.
Key concern
Inequity of the fee (targeting homeowners vs businesses) and tax deductibility.
Board responseThe Mayor and Councilors discussed the tax-deductibility and the distinction between business and residential trash services in the broader discussion.
The Mayor addressed why businesses don't pay the fee (they have private contracts), and Councilors discussed the tax aspect, but the core concern of inequity was treated as a matter of debate rather than a resolved issue.
John Salisbury
Addressed
The speaker argued that the fee is just moving money from one bucket to another and fails to address the root cause of spending. He also suggested that 'Pay As You Throw' might be better as it encourages waste reduction.
Key concern
The fee is a superficial fix that doesn't address budget mismanagement and the benefits of 'Pay As You Throw'.
Board responseThe Mayor and Councilors discussed the merits and drawbacks of 'Pay As You Throw' and the necessity of the fee to avoid the Prop 2.5 cliff.
The board engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the merits of 'Pay As You Throw' and the budget's fiscal reality.
Rhonda Anderson
Not addressed
The speaker questioned why the city didn't use Woburn as a comparison, noting they have a similar population but no trash fee. She also urged the council to hold the administration accountable for spending.
Key concern
Why Woburn was excluded from the comparison and general lack of administrative accountability.
Board responseNo direct response to the Woburn comparison was provided during her comment.
The Mayor's previous comparison list was defended, but the specific question about why Woburn was omitted was not directly answered.
Mike Radinowski
Partial
The speaker asked if the city is trying to increase fees from Republic due to fuel prices and if city departments would see budget reductions to offset trash costs. He also suggested the city should own its own trash trucks.
Key concern
Offsetting trash costs via department cuts and the idea of municipalizing trash collection.
Board responseCouncilor Gamache and Councilor Peach addressed the idea of owning trash trucks, explaining the high costs of maintenance, gas, and salaries.
The council addressed the municipalization of trash, but did not specifically answer the question about whether police/fire budgets would be reduced to pay for trash.
Ron D'Ambrosio
Not addressed
The speaker expressed frustration over wasteful spending and demanded the administration be held accountable. He suggested the city should take its issues to the state level and urged the council to reject the fee.
Key concern
Wasteful spending and the request to reject the fee.
Board responseNo direct response to the speaker's specific anger regarding wasteful spending was provided during his comment.
The speaker's general grievances were noted, but no specific rebuttal or explanation regarding 'waste' was provided in response to him.
Travis Wojcik
Addressed
The speaker supported the idea of municipal trash trucks and suggested more analysis of 'Pay As You Throw' programs. He noted that the community consensus seems to be that trash should be covered by taxes.
Key concern
Municipal trash trucks and 'Pay As You Throw' analysis.
Board responseThe council addressed the municipal truck idea and the 'Pay As You Throw' idea in the subsequent discussion.
Councilors responded to both the municipal truck and the 'Pay As You Throw' points in the ensuing debate.
Amanda Green
Partial
The speaker expressed a preference for a 'Pay As You Go' program, noting that as a single-person household, a flat $200 fee is unfair compared to larger households.
Key concern
The unfairness of a flat fee for single-person households.
Board responseThe Mayor and Councilors discussed the equity of the fee vs. 'Pay As You Throw' in the general discussion.
While the board discussed the fairness of different models, they did not specifically address her concern about the burden on single-person households.
Jason Stone
Addressed
The speaker requested more transparency regarding the 'non-negotiable' Essex Tech bill and asked if the city had considered charging commercial properties for trash services.
Key concern
Transparency on Essex Tech costs and including commercial properties in the fee.
Board responseThe Mayor and Councilors discussed the Essex Tech costs and the fact that businesses pay for their own trash services.
The Mayor and Council addressed both the commercial property question and the need for transparency in the budget discussion.
Ms. Swerling
Partial
The speaker urged the council to vote against the fee, citing the burden on seniors and families. She argued that developers of massive apartment complexes should pay for the resulting infrastructure strain rather than long-term residents.
Key concern
The burden of fees on residents and the impact of new apartment developments.
Board responseCouncilor Peach addressed the development/revenue issue by noting that while apartments bring revenue, they are often unpopular with residents.
The council addressed the tension between development revenue and resident opposition, but did not specifically address her demand to prioritize resident relief over budget shortcuts.
John Lewis
Addressed
The speaker expressed concern about how the city reached this fiscal state and asked how the city plans to generate more revenue beyond taxing homeowners. He questioned if the city is doing enough to attract business.
Key concern
Revenue generation strategies and long-term fiscal planning.
Board responseCouncilor Peach and Councilor Gamache addressed revenue generation, mentioning rezoning industrial parks and the potential of the landfill.
The council discussed strategies for increasing revenue (rezoning, landfill) in response to the general sentiment of the comments.
Tracy Pessia
Partial
The speaker suggested looking into automation for trash trucks and noted the inequity of a flat fee for a two-person household versus a large multi-family household.
Key concern
Automation and the inequity of the flat fee for smaller households.
Board responseThe council discussed automation and the comparative costs of different fee models.
The council discussed automation and the debate between flat fees and per-use fees, but did not address her specific household size comparison directly.
Sue Brochie
Not addressed
The speaker suggested that the city could generate revenue through better enforcement of traffic rules, building codes, and illegal parking. She also expressed the difficulty of making ends meet as a senior on a fixed income.
Key concern
Revenue generation through enforcement and the financial hardship for seniors.
Board responseThe board did not provide a direct response to her suggestion regarding traffic/code enforcement during her comment.
The speaker's suggestions regarding enforcement were not addressed by the board during or immediately after her comment.
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Motion to receive the Mayor's trash fee comparison handout as laid on the table.
The committee voted to officially receive the handout containing trash fee comparisons for North Shore and similar-sized communities.
Approved
Motion to refer the trash fee proposal back to the Mayor's desk to be reworked and heard after the budget release.
The motion was made by Councilor Cherko and failed with four 'no' votes and one 'yes' vote.
Failed (4-1)
Motion to receive a late communication from a resident.
The motion to receive the communication was made by Councilor Gamache and passed without opposition.
Passed
Motion to report the trash fee ordinance favorably out of the Finance Committee to the Committee of the Whole.
The ordinance establishes a $200 annual trash fee for residential structures of 4 units or less, effective July 1, 2026. It includes a $100 discount for seniors (65+) and veterans, a $100 discount for residents with private composting contracts, credits for vacancies, and a five-year fee freeze.
Passed 4-1
Adopt July 1, 2026, water and sewer rates (8% increase for FY27).
Replaces the 2023 rate table with the new FY27 rates.
Passed 5-0
Adopt a 5% water/sewer rate increase for FY28.
The motion was amended to remove the FY29 increase, limiting the multi-year increase to one additional year.
Passed 8-2
Implement quarterly administrative fees for water/sewer accounts.
$25 per quarter for residential accounts and $50 per quarter for commercial accounts.
Passed 7-3
Repeal the 10% water rate discount for early payment.
The motion to delete the existing discount from the ordinance did not carry.
Failed 4-6
Establish an annual residential trash fee.
$200 per dwelling unit, effective July 1, 2026, with a five-year freeze on increases through June 30, 2031.
Passed 8-2
Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Address specific concerns raised by the public regarding the trash fee implementation, including enforcement and rental impact, during future discussions.
Assigned: Mayor Betancourt
Present the city budget for review and discussion during scheduled meetings.
Assigned: Mayor · Due: Within two weeks (specifically meetings on the 16th, 18th, 23rd, and 25th)
Provide estimated revenue impact if the trash fee abatement is expanded from a $100 reduction to a full waiver for seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
Assigned: Finance Department / Administration · Due: Prior to the Committee of the Whole vote
Incorporate language into the ordinance to include all existing state-mandated abatements (e.g., for disabled family members) into the trash fee structure.
Assigned: Finance Committee · Due: Next meeting/Committee of the Whole
Clarify if the fee is assessed per unit or per property owner, and confirm the billing cycle (goal is quarterly).
Assigned: Administration · Due: Next meeting
Prepare the finalized ordinance language incorporating the discussed amendments (abatements and fee freeze).
Assigned: Clerk
Draft and advertise the new trash fee ordinance.
Assigned: City Clerk / Finance Team
Draft and advertise the amended water and sewer rate ordinance.
Assigned: City Clerk / Finance Team
Member positions
1 issues · 1 explicit · 1 inferred · 2 unclear
A split vote in this meeting was recorded without naming the dissenter (e.g. a voice vote). Members whose individual vote could not be confirmed are marked UNCLEAR below — this is not the same as a “yes.” Named votes will be filled in if official minutes record them.
Present
Establishment of a Trash Fee
UNCLEAR
Proposed 100% fee abatement for low-income/veteran residents via verification.
Establishment of a Trash Fee
UNCLEAR
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-07.
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