PEABODY - Gov. Deval Patrick came to City Hall yesterday and threw Peabody a life preserver - a promise of $2 million in state funds aimed at keeping the city above water despite a history of repeated flooding.

"We're so glad to be able to help," Patrick said to the crowd at Wiggin Auditorium. "I'm told it's been five floods in 11 years."

"It might be raining out," a cheerful Mayor Michael Bonfanti said, "but for me it's a very sunny day. After many, many years of advocating for assistance, somebody has finally listened."

As the governor spoke, city officials provided a slide show to his left, photos from past storms that showed city streets better suited to gondolas than cars.

The money, originally approved by former Gov. Mitt Romney, will come from the state's capital improvement budget.

"It's not flush," Patrick said of the fund. "But it was enough for this."

Prior to speaking, Patrick met privately with city officials and downtown businesspeople, who described the difficulties they've faced because of the city's frequent flooding.

"We talked about not being able to sleep when there's a storm," said Patrick, describing the anguish of property owners worried that one of the city's many brooks and streams would soon be lapping at their doors.

Albert and Gladys Riso, owners of the Firebull Restaurant at the corner of Walnut and Central streets, spoke briefly with the governor about flooding. "It cripples our business," Albert Riso said. Last May's storm closed the restaurant for a week, and customers stayed away even longer than that.

"(The governor) was highly interested and highly concerned," Riso said.

The $2 million is earmarked to implement a city plan to lessen - not eliminate - flooding by cleaning and widening culverts and pipes that carry water to Salem Harbor. Peabody has already spent $1.5 million from its own budget on the project and expects to spend at least another $1.5 million.

"We came up with a cost-effective solution," Public Services Director Dick Carnevale said, "that's going to save Peabody and the state in the long run." Stopping flooding altogether could cost up to $75 million, he said, and remains beyond consideration.

Patrick was quick to note that the state investment supplements the city's spending commitment and is designed "to help you help yourselves." He credited those recent efforts with keeping the city dry during last weekend's fierce nor'easter.

"We finally have an administration that listens," said Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, D-Peabody, whom Bonfanti credited with helping obtain the funds. Reps. Ted Speliotis and Joyce Spiliotis were also saluted for their efforts.

On his way out, Patrick stopped to praise the beauty of historic Wiggin Auditorium. "This room is spectacular." His $2 million also earned him a pile of "Pride in Peabody" T-shirts from a grateful mayor.

Enough for the whole family," the stylishly dressed Patrick said, sounding a little doubtful.

The governor even managed the correct pronunciation of Peabody (PEA-budie) - but city officials conceded, given the $2 million he promised, he can pronounce it any way he likes.

The check's in the mail

The media was there, city officials were dressed uncharacteristically in their Sunday best, and a smiling Gov. Deval Patrick announced the release of $2 million in funding to fight flooding in Peabody yesterday.
But by midafternoon, the word was all over City Hall - no check.

In fact, Patrick merely announced that he was awarding the money. No actual check passing was seen, because the city hasn't gotten the money yet. But no one's worried about it.

"The check's in the mail," said city Finance Director Patty Schaffer with a chuckle. In fact, it's all green eyeshade stuff. In order to satisfy state budgeteers, the city has agreed to apply for a grant, which will be transferred sometime in July. In other words, it won't show on the commonwealth's books until next fiscal year.

That works out for them, Schaffer said, and it works out for the city.