David W. Cody, BH selectman candidate
Address: 32 McFarland Point Drive
Occupation: Retired Fire Chief, Salem, Massachusetts.
Education: Associate Degree, Fire Science, North Shore Community College, Beverly, Massachusetts
Political History: Just the politics of working with people to get things done. Fire Chief and Emergency Manager, Salem MA. Enforced Fire Codes and oversaw Fire Prevention in addition to general fire safety for a Community of 42,000. Worked with the Planning Department, Health Department, Building Department, DPW, Events and more.
Clubs/Organizations: Knights of Columbus membership since 1978, Vice Chair, Northeast Regional Planning Council overseeing regional Federal Homeland Security Funds. Essex County Fire Chiefs Association. Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association.
Housing
Our locals are being priced out. Too many homes are either used only a few weeks a year or treated purely as investment properties. We are dangerously close to becoming a summer-only community—and that comes with real consequences. When we lose year-round residents, we risk losing essential services, like we lost the hospital.
We need a balanced, thoughtful plan. That starts with regulating short-term rentals—not eliminating them, but creating reasonable guardrails so they work for the community. We also need to expand employee housing so that more of our existing homes can return to being family homes. And we must create incentives for the development of starter homes and multiple levels of affordable housing, so our kids can afford to stay, work, and raise families here.
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
This may not sound exciting, but it impacts everyone. After serving on the Planning Board, I’ve seen firsthand how confusing and inconsistent our current zoning codes can be. They are often rigid, difficult to apply to projects of different scales, and in some cases, contradictory.
We need a comprehensive re-write to make the code clearer, more consistent, and easier to navigate—for residents, and town officials alike. Removing the guesswork will strengthen decision-making, streamline the process, and better position our town for the future.
Shared Services
We also need to take a hard look at how we operate across the peninsula. Right now, we have multiple fire chiefs and public works directors serving neighboring communities. There is a real opportunity to share services—particularly between Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay—to improve efficiency and make better use of taxpayer dollars.
This isn’t about eliminating jobs. Through natural attrition and thoughtful planning, we can build a more sustainable structure that allows for smarter capital investments, stronger career pathways for employees, and better service overall. Many of the challenges we face are not unique, and we should be working more closely with neighboring communities to address them together.
I served as Emergency Management Director, helping coordinate communications between the Town and FEMA after the 2024 flooding, to expedite recovery efforts and reimbursements. I secured a grant that improved air quality for our Fire Department—real results that made a difference for the people who serve here.
I spent 35 years in the fire service, including 13 years as Fire Chief in Salem, Massachusetts, where I managed an $8M budget and led more than 100 firefighters and support staff. That experience shaped how I approach leadership—focused on responsibility, planning ahead, and making steady, informed decisions.
Like you, I care deeply about keeping this town strong, financially responsible, and a great place to live.
