City Council

CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS Salem City Council & Mayor Strategic Planning Retreat Meeting Minutes January 8, 2026, 5:00 pm Salem City Hall Annex 1st Floor Large Conference Room Present: Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Councillor-at-Large Kyle Davis, Councillor-at-Large Alice Merkl, Councillor-at-Large Ty Hapworth, Councillor-at-Large Conrad Prosniewski, Ward 1 Councillor Erin Turowski, Ward 2 Councillor Andrew Smith, Ward 3 Councillor Jason Sydoriak, Ward 5 Councillor Lydia King, Ward 6 Councillor Katelyn Holappa 1. Called to order and welcome Mayor Pangallo welcomed attendees and began the retreat at 5:30p.m. Department heads introduced themselves and talked about the work that their department does (Legal, Planning, Clerk, Purchasing, Library, Park & Rec, COA, Treasurer, Finance, Technology & Innovation, DPS, Engineering, Transportation, Harbormaster, Police, Electrical, Health, Fire, Building Inspector, Sustainability, HR, Assessor, Collector, Facilities, Schools). 2. Councillors and the Mayor discussed processes, communication, and how to provide constituent services most effectively. Review of major projects and issues facing the city, including Salem High School project, housing and homelessness, City budget for FY27, contracts, South Salem Commuter rail stop, roadway safety. 6:26pm – Councillors on OLLA left the retreat for the OLLA meeting at City Hall. 3. Retreat concluded with discussion about MMA and trainings available for City Councillors. 4. Adjourn The retreat adjourned at 6:38p.m. Minutes prepared and respectfully submitted by: Sabrina Trask, Office Director, Office of Mayor Dominick Pangallo Salem City Hall • 93 Washington Street • Salem, Massachusetts 01970 p: (978) 619-5600 • www.salemma.gov/mayor