City Council

CITY OF SALEM SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING A Special Meeting of the City Council was held in the City Council Chambers on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. for the purpose of taking action on Unfinished Business listed below. Notice of this meeting was posted on September 21, 2022 at 1:19 P.M. Councillors In-Person: Council President Morsillo, Councillor Dominguez, Councillor Hapworth, Councillor Varella, Councillor Cohen, Councillor Prosniewski, Councillor Merkl, Councillor Riccardi and Councillor McClain Councillors Remote: Councillor McCarthy and Councillor Watson-Felt Also in attendance: Asst. City Clerk, Maureen Fisher and Dominick Pangallo Chief of Staff Council President Patricia Morsillo presided. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Second Passage of an Ordinance amending Ch. 40 – Public Guides An Ordinance to amend an Ordinance relative to Public Guides - Enforcement Section I. Chapter 40 – Tourism and Public Marketing, Article II, Division 1. – Generally, is hereby amended by deleting the third sentence of Sec. 40-31 in its entirety and replacing it with “This article may be enforced by any police officer, enforcement officer or agent of the board of health, inspectional services, fire services and licensing department personnel.” Section II. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by city charter Councillor Riccardi: Recap, the current statement reads the Police Department and Special Investigator assigned to the Licensing Board to assist the City Council enforcing this division. Adding “Police Officer, Enforcement Officer, Agent of the Board of Health, Inspectional Services, Fire Services and Licensing Department Personal. Councillor Hapworth: Appreciation of Tour Guides 99% of them do a great job. Right across the street from my house is where a tour happens. They Follow rules, respectful to residents and do a good job telling Salem’s history. This just allows the City to enforce the rules, and it gives the City leeway to do that. Councillor Watson-Felt: In agreement with the Ordinance some concern from Tour Guides, more curious when it reads personal of Licensing, or Inspectional Services, what does that mean? In the past there has been some stresses when it comes to  CITY OF SALEM SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING enforcement. Knows that more enforcement is necessary talk about the “Good Will” around this and that no one is out to hassle anyone. Council President Morsillo: Are you asking a specific question on who exactly can enforce the Ordinance? Councillor Watson-Felt: No, it states in the Ordinance which departments can enforce, I am not looking for specific names, just a statement and know that the Tour Guides feel if there are concerns, they should feel free to call the Departments and ask questions. Councillor Riccardi: Again, to recap, we are not making any changes to the existing Ordinance, we are just expanding the enforcement of the Police Department, as said 99% of our Tour Guides are great, the enforcement will just enforce our existing Ordinance. Also, an additional letter from the Chief of Police that will assist our Tour Guides on a capacity level. Those that will be doing the enforcing, will be brought up to speed on what should be enforced. Councillor Riccardi to wave the rule to allow Chief of Staff Dominick Pangallo to speak. Seconded by Councillor Dominguez (as well as other Councillors). As we don’t have Asst. City Solicitor Sharyn Lubas here. Encourage anyone who has questions, to please reach out, as there is a working group put together also. This is a much larger conversation that needs to be had, however, we are not having it right now. Dominick Pangallo Chief of Staff: This change came out of a meeting that happened with the Tour Guides and others this spring. Might help crack down on other industry workers, that are not licensed in the City. More eyes on the ground. Councillor McCarthy: The people added to the enforcement list are the people who are already out there during the month of October., They are already, so it helps to have them to be able to enforce these rules. Councillor Merkl: Echo Councillor McCarthy, it streamlines what we already have to support the Tour Guides. I live in the area and I can hear their tours and they do a wonderful job. Councillor Riccardi Moved for Adoption for second passage by RCV: 11 Yeas 0 Nays and 0 Abs The Matter Carries. Councillor McCarthy motions to adjourn the meeting at 6:13PM ATTEST: ILENE SIMONS CITY CLERK