Beautification Committee

Salem Beautification Committee Meeting Minutes April 10, 2018 Chairman Lisa Lyons opened meeting at 7:00 p.m., Present were Ellen Talkowsky, City Liaison, members Sam Fiore, Mary Ellen Halliwell, Giulia Bellofatto, Sandi Power, Annie Scott, and new member, Bill Doane. Welcome, Bill Doane and Annie Scott, newly appointed members to the Salem Beautification Committee. Minutes approved for November 14, 2017 and January 30, 2018 meetings. Note: No meeting in March due to storm. Denise Balfe has decided to leave our group but would like to participate in future events including planting and caring for the window box at Salem Access TV on Derby Street. Clean Sweeps – May 5, 2018 – members suggested areas to focus on, including Lafayette Park, YMCA parking lot, Mary Jane Park, The Point. It was decided the committee would tackle the YMCA/Sewall parking lot. Ellen said that schools, PTOs, neighborhood committees, city councilors, chamber of commerce, others have been contacted about the event. Annie suggested contacting Salem State University groups for participation, as well. Ellen will be at the Salem Common on May 5th at 8:30 a.m. to hand out supplies. The cleanup will take place between 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Pizza will start about noontime. Lisa will get bananas, Giulia will get snacks from Shaws. Lisa will bring signs promoting Plant Sale on the 19th and have pinwheel flowers as eye- catchers, and promote events on BComm Facebook page. Ellen handed out flyers for both the Clean Sweeps and Swap and Drop event on May 5th and the Plant Sale. Members are encouraged to find places around town to hang them up. Ellen will email the flyers to members, also. Sandi will get t-shirts for Giulia and Bill and Annie. Plant Sale – May 19th Sandi has been working with Darlene’s and we’re all set with our order of annuals (maybe some tomatoes; depends on if plants are ready). We should have plenty of homegrowns, including spider plants from Marcia. Sandi inquired if we should have the sale on Sunday and/or plan on Sunday as a potential rain date. We will decide at the May meeting. Annie suggested purchasing ‘plugs’ (perennials, pollinator plants, etc.) and selling them at the Plant Sale with instructions provided. Annie will review the list and make recommendations. Financial Update Ellen gave a brief update about Salem Beatification financial condition. There is about $3,699 available for project use. Potential uses include irrigation on Washington Street. Traffic Islands Sandi noted that bulbs are coming up on some of the islands. 35 letters have been mailed to sponsors. The Lafayette Park sidewalk garden once sponsored by Gorilla will not be serviced by the BComm volunteers this year. Sandi made a request to contribute $150 to fund mulch and plants at to Plummer Home/Leavitt and Congress Streets. The committee voted and approved this expenditure. Sam discussed the two new urns at Washington Street/RCG traffic island – they’re ready to be installed. She presented red color swatches for the urns at Mill Street. The committee reviewed and chose a color. Sam will look into who/how the urns can be primed and painted sometime this year. Lady of Salem Mary Ellen Halliwell gave an overview of the Lady of Salem project for the newcomers and talked about upcoming season that includes prepping the Ladies for installation and reviewing events for the summer season. The next meeting will beheld at 7 p.m. on May 8, 2018. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Lyons Chairperson