Staff writer
In response to discussion at a previous meeting about whether or not to replace the animal control and ordinance enforcement officer, Peabody City Administrator Mac Manning presented an evaluation of the position to Peabody City Council Monday evening.
The choices he presented were to hire a part-time person to do the job; not hire such a person, but have public works handle animal control and police take care of ordinance enforcement; or hire an animal control officer and have the police and municipal court clerk handle ordinance enforcement.
The last option was recommended by Manning as the best solution.
Following discussion of the pros and cons of each option, the council voted to adopt Manning’s recommendation. They will hire an animal control officer and assign the duties of ordinance enforcement to the police and municipal court clerk.
In other business:
- Manning presented information he gathered from other communities about purchasing a Toyota Prius as a police vehicle. The request for information came during the Sept. 26 meeting when council member Pam Lamborn requested the city look into purchasing a Prius to save on gas money. After lengthy discussion, the council tabled any decision until a future meeting when Police Chief Bruce Burke could be present to offer his input.
- Mark Penner and Steven King requested permission to us the city-owned Butler House at Second and Sycamore as a training house for search-and-rescue work. The fire department would shore up weak areas of the floor and relinquish the building when the city decides to do something different with the structure. There is no plan to burn the building. The council approved the request.
- A cereal malt beverage license for Mendoza’s restaurant was approved.
- A request for barricades was approved for an auction Oct. 29 at 305 Pine St. Pine Street will be closed between Third and Division streets from 7 a.m. to the completion of the sale.
The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 31.