City Council

City of Salem, Massachusetts “Know Your Rights Under the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 30A ss. 18-25 and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033.” The City Council Committee on _Ordinances, Licenses & Legal Affairs________________________ _____ will met in the Council Chamber on _March 30, 2023_ at __6:30 P.M.________ for the purpose of discussing the matters(s) listed below. Notice of this meeting was posted on March 23, 2023 at 2:45 P.M. (This meeting is being recorded) ATTENDANCE: Chair Morsillo, C. Cohen, C. Dominguez, C. Prosniewski, C. Varela. C. Watson-Felt (not being a member of the Committee) joined remotely. ABSENT WERE: SUBJECT(S) _______To amend two (2) Ordinances (#151 & #152) relative to Traffic - Federal Street ____________________________ Chair Morsillo: (Opens meeting by reading the agenda and notes for the record that C. Watson-Felt has joined remotely, but is on her way in). I recognize David Kucharsky of the Traffic & Parking department and Lt. David Tucker from the Salem Police Department, Traffic Division. This was sent to the Committee because it was a Ward 2 item, complicated. The Ward 2 Councillor was not at the meeting. It makes sense for our Traffic & Parking department to show diagrams and explain. This is a case study of what happens when you don’t keep ordinances up to date! David Kucharsky shares screen and shows a diagram of Federal Street from Washington to North Streets (on file in the City Clerk’s Office). Explains removal of some meters and making parking spaces 24/7 resident parking. Chair Morsillo: Thank you, D.K. Is there a sign for Police parking? Lt. David Tucker: Yes, it is faded. We will work with DPW to update signage. Chair: Do any members of the committee have questions? C. Dominguez. C. Dominguez: Thank you, Chair. D.K., changes are unclear. What concerns neighborhood association about North Street? Please explain. D.K.: Next section of slides will include that section of North Street. Residents would be able to purchase resident parking permits, no visitor passes. Neighbors think this would add strain on parking, but it is only six (6) units/ six (6) passes if approved. Chair Morsillo: Extension of Green Zone down one full building? D.K.: To make four (4) spaces into 24/7 resident parking. C. Cohen: Thank you, Chair. Very supportive of this. Should we vote on each ordinance individually? Chair Morsillo: We will clarify ordinance sections with diagrams. Let the record show that C. Watson-Felt has joined us. C. Watson-Felt: Thank you, Chair. Not being a member of the committee, four (4) spaces to full-time is beneficial. I support this. Chair Morsillo: Motion on second ordinance? C. Cohen: I move we accept #152 as written. Chair Morsillo: C. Cohen motions to refer back to full Council with favorable recommendation for first passage. C. Varela seconded. Show of hands from the committee? Passes, 5-0. D.K.: Presentation of second section (on file in the City Clerk’s Office). C. W-F: Thank you, Chair. Not being a member of the committee: I am speaking for the residents of the North and Beckford Streets section. They are feeling stress with historic “chunk” next to the Peabody Essex Museum. Very dense with rentals, condos, individual units. Stress for resident parking. To extend would give relief to residents. Concerns of residents: Slippery slope with conversions of properties to dwellings that increase residents and reduce parking. Need to stand by rulings that were made. Why do we need to increase stress with additional six (6) parking spaces? Recommend we take out 27 North Street. Federal Street neighbors need relief. C. Donimguez: Thank you, Ward 2 Councillor for clarification! I am in favor of removing 27 North Street. C. Cohen: Residents of 27 North Street are residents, too. Does 27 North Street have four (4) spaces for units? C. W-F: Yes. C. Cohen: Only distress for two (2) units. I feel comfortable separating 27 North Street. C. W-F: Thank you. I have compassion for all who struggle to find parking. Chair Morsillo: open to Public Comment. Seeing none. D.K., can you explain the amendment? D.K.: There was an error. Change in section 51. Chair Morsillo: Change “Eastern” to “Western”. C. Dominguez: Motion to accept the amendment to take 27 North Street out of the equation. Chair Morsillo: Strike whole paragraph? C. Dominguez: Yes. C. Cohen” Friendly amendment to include changing first page “Eastern” to “Western”. Chair Morsillo: C. Dominguez motions to remove last paragraph, change “Eastern” to “Western”. C. Cohen seconded. All in favor 5-0. C. Dominguez: Motion to refer to full Council with positive recommendation to approve as amended for first passage. Chair Morsillo: C. Dominguez motions to refer back as amended with positive recommendation for first passage. Seconded by C. Varela. Thank you, D.K. Thank you, Lt. Tucker. C. W-F? C. W-F: Personal privilege: As representative of the neighborhood, I thank the committee for positive recommendation! C. Dominguez: Motion to adjourn. C. Merkl: Referred both #151 & #152? Chair Morsillo: Yes. C. Dominguez made a motion to adjourn, C. Varela seconded. All in favor? Adjourned. On the motion of C. Dominguez, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 P.M. ________________________________________________________ (Chairperson)