PEABODY
Your Hometown Newspaper!
ADVOCATE Vol. 2, No. 50
-FREE-
www.advocatenews.net
20 Years of Holiday Cheer
Info@advocatenews.net
PAID
PERMIT #67
Peabody, MA
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Friday, December 15, 2017
City Council passes slight tax increase By Christopher Roberson
T
Mayor Ted Bettencourt is shown with Marie Bishop at the 20 Years of Holiday Cheer Christmas Concert, featuring the Hillyer Festival Orchestra at the Frank L. Wiggin Auditorium at City Hall Sunday. See more photo highlights on page 8. (Advocate photo by Ross Scabin)
978-777-6397
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
he City Council recently voted in favor of a new residential tax rate of $11.46 per $1,000 and a commercial/industrial/ personal property rate of $24.11 per $1,000 for 2018. Although the new residential rate will increase the average tax bill by $141, that figure is $16 less than what was projected during the city’s Budget Presentation in June. Business owners will also see an average increase of $202 in their tax bills. In contrast, Danvers has a residential rate of $13.54 and a CIP rate of $21.15 while Lynnfield recently approved a residential rate of $13.77 and a CIP rate of $17.09. For fiscal year 2017, Salem had a residential rate of $15.86 and a CIP rate of $29.99 and Beverly had a residential rate of $14.28 and a CIP rate of $26.83. Mayor Edward Bettencourt said residential property values have been on the rise for the past four years. He said that
in 2014, the average Peabody home was worth $287,000; now a home will sell for an average of $327,000. “Peabody is one of the hottest real estate markets in Massachusetts,” Bettencourt said during the council’s Dec. 7 meeting. He also touted the progress of the Crystal Lake Restoration and Beautification Project, saying an area of 50,000 cubic yards has been dredged. He also called attention to the various improvements that have taken place in Peabody Square. “Our square has undergone a major facelift,” he said. Councillor-at-Large David Gravel said he is impressed that so many things could be accomplished without the need for a major tax hike. “This is probably one of the most modest increases that I’ve seen,” he said. Gravel was also impressed that the city’s tax levy was held to $104.1 million – $10.4 million less than what is allowable under Proposition 2 ½. “We are so far below the levy limit; we have
plenty of buffer for an emergency,” said Gravel. Bettencourt said health insurance is expected to climb by $2 million and city employees’ union contracts will expire on June 30, 2018. Therefore, he plans to take $2.1 million from the city’s reserve accounts to “further reduce the [tax] burden on homeowners.” Bettencourt said that this action would not have an adverse effect on Peabody’s bond rating. “I feel good about where we stand right now,” he said. “I truly believe we are investing appropriately.” In other news, the meeting marked the end of the road for Councillor-at-Large Michael Garabedian, who had served on the council since 1993. Gravel said he and Garabedian grew up together. “If you ever saw him as a kid – nobody messed with him,” said Gravel. “He’s a great guy, he’s been a lot of fun to work with.”
CITY COUNCIL | SEE PAGE 5
Peabody artist releases new holiday cards for Dana-Farber By Christopher Roberson
F
or the sixth year, artist Gina Hagen, owner of the Hagen Gallery, has included a holiday card in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Holiday Cards and Gifts Program. Hagen said this year’s card, which is titled “Patriot Snowmen,”gives a nod to the New England Patriots for the team’s epic Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 5 of this year. “I tried to give it a real celebratory feel,” she said, adding that tremendous progress continues to be made in the fight against cancer. “It’s one of the ways, as an artist, that you can give back.” Although Hagen’s 2017 card features the Patriots, she said her cards from prior years have portrayed the Boston Red Sox, as her father used to be a scout for the team.
The cards are sold in boxes of 20 and can be purchased for $20 at https://dana-farberholiday.org/patriot-snowmen.html. The card’s image is also available on a 14.5 ounce candle that also sells for $20. In addition to the Dana-Farber website, Hagen said her cards and candles can be purchased at Stop & Shop Supermarket, at The Paper Store and at Crafty Yankee in Lexington. Hagen said she has been a full-time artist for the past 12 years. After graduating from Salem State University with a degree in graphic design, she continued to hone her skills under the tutelage of an artist in Rockport. From there, Hagen left her publishing job so that she and her family could open the art gallery.
DANA-FARBER | SEE PAGE 10
Artist Gina Hagen has been participating in Dana-Farber’s Holiday Cards and Gifts Program since 2011. (Courtesy Photos)