The Select Board formalized a major restructuring of town government Wednesday night by appointing longtime Peabody planner Brendan Callahan as Marblehead’s first Director of Planning and Community Development.
The Marblehead resident’s appointment marks the culmination of more than a year of work to establish the new department, which was narrowly approved by Town Meeting in May 2024 by a vote of 373-360. The reorganization came after the retirement of Rebecca Curran Cutting, who served as town planner and chief procurement officer for 36 years.
“I finally got to sit down with the staff today. We had a nice staff meeting,” Callahan told the Select Board before his appointment. “It’s a good team, solid team. They’re really eager, they’re really excited to get to work.”
Callahan, who will make around $126,000 annually, will oversee a new department that includes Grant Coordinator Donna Cotterell, Town Planner Alexander Eitler, Administrative Assistant Lisa Lyons and Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey. The department aims to coordinate planning, economic development, housing policy, transportation, historic preservation and sustainability efforts.
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer, who spearheaded the department’s creation, highlighted its importance for boosting “new growth” tax revenue while preserving town character.
“One, ensure we’re capturing everything that is already happening,” Kezer said of the department’s priorities during his Feb. 5 State of the Town Address. “Two, find ways to encourage more positive development for the community. I say ‘positive,’ meaning it fits the character of the community.”
The department represents a significant shift in how Marblehead approaches planning and development. Kezer noted that “municipalities that are financially healthy are capturing every dollar of new growth,” emphasizing the department’s role in expanding the town’s tax base.
Callahan brings 19 years of municipal planning experience from Peabody, where he worked in various roles including assistant director of planning. A Marblehead resident himself, he noted he has lived in three different houses in town.
Kezer has said The new department comes at a critical time for Marblehead. As a largely built-out community, the town faces challenges in growing its tax base while maintaining its historic character. The department will play a key role in identifying development opportunities that complement the town’s character while expanding the tax base, he said.
Funding for the department comes through what Kezer and Select Board member Moses Grader have called a creative combination of municipal budget allocations, COVID relief funds and reallocated positions. They argue this restructuring was designed to minimize additional burden on taxpayers while maximizing service delivery.
Kezer praised Callahan’s experience and local connection.
“Lots of experience in the city of Peabody, doing a lot of great work for a number of years, and also happens to be a Marblehead resident,” he said, “so he’s going to bring a lot of professionalism, and he understands the local flavor with it.”
