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Local woman still missing: police forces search local ponds and
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DA report says cop justified in shooting
Grant for Park Street rehab project OK'd after council grilling
City mid-term address to be held Monday
by John Castelluccio
PEABODY – The city mid-term inaugural ceremonies will be held
on Monday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. in Wiggin Auditorium at City Hall.
The highlight of the event is the mid-term speech by Mayor Michael Bonfanti,
who is serving his fourth consecutive term in office. Bonfanti said on
Monday that his speech would include a progress report of the past year
– a standard of many a mid-term address – as well as his concerns
about the coming year and a few things he would like to accomplish going
forward.
Bonfanti has said the city may be in much worse financial shape for
the 2010 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, as state aid will likely
be cut for cities and towns to help close the state budget gap and the
nationwide financial crisis shows no signs of abating anytime soon.
As for his wish list of municipal projects, Bonfanti did not mention
any particulars, but last year’s list holds several that have yet
to be accomplished, such as a new senior daycare facility at the Seeglitz
on Central Street and moving forward on downtown rezoning discussions.
Other items, such as renovations to Higgins Middle School, which has
received a commitment for state aid, are in the planning stages. Also,
the flood mitigation project for the downtown, which received millions
in state aid last year, has moved further along in planning and implementation
stages and is under review by state environmental agencies.
Monday’s ceremony also features the formal organization of the
new City Council, which will choose a new leader to preside over the legislative
body and who will appoint members to the council’s various subcommittees.
Last year’s president was Ward 2 Councilor Arthur Athas, the most
junior council member prior to newcomers Barry Sinewitz, David Gravel
and Anne Manning, who all won seats in last year’s election. Traditionally,
the longest-serving member who hasn’t yet served as President is
the default choice, but this year that distinction falls to all three
junior members, whom have all served the same amount of time. The decision
then comes down to a simple majority vote.
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