The City Council voted to increase Mayor Ted Bettencourt’s salary by 3%, raising it from $135,000 to $139,000.
Each year in February, the council is required to discuss the mayor’s salary by statute. Councilor-at-Large Tom Gould started the discussion by talking about the salaries of mayors and town managers in nearby municipalities.
Gould mentioned that in Danvers, which has half of Peabody’s population, Town Manager Steve Bartha earns about $220,000 annually. He also said that Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson earns $145,000, and that Lynn’s population is closer to Peabody’s than that of Danvers. He added that Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree earns $187,000, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo earns $150,000, Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill earns $119,000, Lynnfield Town Administrator Rob Dolan earns more than $200,000, and Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald earns $162,000.
“We’re trying to keep on track to fund that position and make it appropriate, so that we’ll get good people to run for office,” Gould said at the council’s meeting Thursday night.
He also noted that Bettencourt has declined multiple raises in the 12 years he has been mayor. Gould concluded by saying that a 3% increase from $135,000 to $139,000 is appropriate, and he put forward the motion to increase the mayor’s salary.
After no further discussion, ten of the council’s 11 members voted in favor of the motion. Ward 6 Councilor Michael Higgins voted present.
Gould clarified that the salary increase was made for the position of mayor in general, and not just for Bettencourt.
