The Peabody City Council moved on Oct. 23 to draft and advertise a municipal code ordinance addressing cryptocurrency automated teller machines, after the Legal Affairs Committee held an informational discussion with prosecutors and police about scams tied to crypto kiosks.

Councilor Rossignol, chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, told the council the subcommittee met earlier with District Attorney Paul Tucker, Police Chief Griffin, Sergeant Betancourt and Detective Matt Whelan, and that those officials and the mayor had collaborated on the recommended ordinance language. Rosignol said the committee found the conversation “enlightening” and identified a gap in the current municipal code that the measure is intended to fill.

The council approved a motion to have city staff draft and advertise the ordinance language (to be finalized with the city clerk and the city attorney) by roll call vote, 11–0. Rosignol said the sections were not read in subcommittee because the code currently lacks a clear place for the topic; the city clerk and city attorney will insert the ordinance’s final section references before advertising.

District Attorney Paul Tucker and police representatives told the committee there have been scams that frequently target seniors and other vulnerable residents. Rosignol said Gloucester and other communities have already moved on similar measures; Peabody’s action is intended to provide a local regulatory tool for law enforcement and prosecutors while statewide action can take longer.

No ordinance text was read into the record at the Oct. 23 council meeting; the vote authorized drafting and advertisement only. The council did not adopt an ordinance at this meeting.