Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 13, 2016 7:00 P.M. City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor Members Present: Hope Carpenter, Gabe Ciocola (for Jerry Smith), Lucy Corchado, Bob Femino, Christian Haselgrove, Cynthia Johnson, Jim Kearney, Pat Liberti, Rosemary O’Connor, Flora Tonthat Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Mayor’s Chief of Staff) Guests Present: Julie Rose (Business Manager, Engineering Department), David Holland (Recycling Coordinator, Engineering Department), Beth Melillo (Chair, Salem Recycles committee), Myrna Soper (member, Salem Recycles committee), Kym Craven (Public Safety Strategies Group), Rick Bailey (Public Safety Strategies Group) Approval of November 12th Meeting Minutes: Unanimously approved. Public Comments: Bonnie Belair, 92 Wharf Street, spoke about her concerns regarding the proposal by Mobilitie Inc. to install cellular signal equipment on several telephone poles in Salem and to install additional new poles for the equipment in other locations. She encouraged members to learn more about the proposal, which is before the City Council for approvals. Guest Speakers: Julie Rose, David Holland, Beth Melillo, and Myrna Soper introduced themselves and spoke about the activities of the Salem Recycles committee, special events, and the cigarette waste recycling initiative. Flora Tonthat, who also serves on the committee, shared information about a new effort to collect Styrofoam from residents for recycling at ReFoamIt in Peabody. Kym Craven and Rick Bailey spoke about the recently begun organizational review of the Salem Police Department and provided a background about their company, the purpose of the review, and what initiated it. The explained the goal of the study is to plan appropriately for the future of the department, including identifying potential issues, staffing needs, and so forth. As part of the study a steering committee has been created, which includes neighborhood association representatives. The consultants will conduct personal and small group interviews, hold larger public neighborhood meetings, and conduct a review of existing data and policies. The data review will include an analysis of calls for service, shift schedules, and other data sources. They will then issue a final report with their recommendations. Craven and Bailey then led the Council members in two exercises to get members’ feedback on their impressions of the police department and their perceptions of the top crime and quality of life issues in Salem. Council members asked clarifying questions about the process timeline, additional meetings, and what prompted the study. The third agenda item, Walk Your Way to Health, was deferred to the March meeting. City Updates: The 2016 Snow Brochure is now out and available at www.salem.com. One change is the establishment of a downtown snow district, where on-street parking will be allowed later than elsewhere in the city during a snow emergency. A team of researchers unaffiliated with the City have identified the probable location of the executions of 1692 near Gallows Hill. The City is now working with the Ward Councillors and abutting residents to plan for potential visitors to the site, including possible traffic and parking changes and a CPA grant to fund the construction of a small memorial and improvements to the location. Utility relocation work is underway in part of Riley Plaza in anticipation of the RCG project on that site. It is expected to last through the end of June. The City Engineer will be conducting a public meeting on the Canal Street project, on January 19, 7pm, at the SSU Enterprise Center. The City Council will be holding a public hearing on several matters related to the redevelopment of the former Universal Steel parcel on Bridge Street, on January 26, 6:30pm, at Salem City Hall. MassDOT will be holding a public meeting as part of the Route 107 Corridor Study process, on January 27, 6pm, at Salem High School. The No Place for Hate Committee will hold a fundraiser on February 2, 6pm, at Adriatic restaurant. Salem So Sweet festival takes place February 5-7 throughout downtown Salem. Visit www.salem.org or www.salemmainstreets.org for details. Applications for a booth on Artists Row are now available and are due back by February 12. They can be downloaded at www.salem.com/artists-row. Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Adjournment: 8:45 p.m.