Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 11, 2017 7:00 P.M. City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor Members Present: Flora Tonthat (Bridge Street Neck), Anne Sterling (Northfields), Rosemary O’Connor (Mack Park), Bob Femino and Barbara Mann (Greater Endicott Street), Justin Whittier (Federal Street), Christian Haselgrove (Historic Derby Street), Gabe Ciociola (Salem Common) Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Mayor’s Chief of Staff) Guests Present: Matthew Smith (Director of Traffic & Parking), Tom Daniel (Director of Planning & Community Development) Approval of November 9, 2016 Meeting Minutes: Approved Public Comment: Phil Yates (2 Gifford Court) and Bill Grover (12 Carpenter Street) discussed issues they are encountering with parking in their neighborhood. Traffic and Parking Director Matthew Smith offered to meet with them and an officer from the Salem Police Department’s Traffic Division to try to address their issues and concerns. Mr. Yates also shared a concern with a proposed street tree near his property. Council Updates: MPNA-former Sheriff Frank Cousins speaking at February meeting. SCNA-PEM is scanning the original McIntire carvings from the Common Arch, which are in their collections; a contractor will then use them to create a resin copy to go on the restored replica arch. GESNA-High Street Playground seems to have been missed during leaf clean-up. Dominick said he will ask DPW to address. Guest Speakers: Matthew Smith introduced himself and talked a little about his background and his responsibilities as Director of Traffic & Parking. He also discussed the role of the new Traffic & Parking Commission, the City’s complete streets policy, upgrades to the parking garages, the new traffic calming program, and roadway improvement projects in general. Tom Daniel discussed the “Imagine Salem” visioning initiative, including the engagement strategy, deliverables, and the public process. He outlined the four major focus areas: housing, transportation, employment, and inclusivity. He also talked about some of the demographic and housing data collected and shared with the stakeholder group thus far. The purpose of the initiative is to develop a shared community vision and build on existing plans for the City as it approaches its 400th birthday. City Updates: The Council voted to move its March 8th meeting to different date, due to the “Imagine Salem” city-wide forum that date. The meeting was moved to Tuesday, March 14th at 7 p.m. Blasting going on for NSMC access road. SFD is monitoring and they are in compliance with all the regulations to conduct the blasting, but any concerns or questions should be directed to NSMC at 978-354-1200. It’s expected to be completed by April. National Grid gas is replacing the mains and services along Essex from North to Washington. Work should last until early March, weather permitting, and the City is beginning design on the surface improvements that will follow: new road surface, sidewalk work, trees, etc. That work is being funded primarily with the proceeds from the sale of the Riley Plaza parking lot to RCG for the new hotel. The Museum Place Garage stairwells are being replaced. That will likely take several months, but there will always be at least one stairwell open at a time, in addition to the elevators. A public presentation of design alternatives for improvements to Lafayette Park will take place at the Park & Rec Commission meeting on January 17th at 6:45pm at the COA, 5 Broad Street. The annual public hearing for the City’s CDBG Action Plan will be held on January 19th at 6pm at 120 Washington Street. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 14, 2017, 7:00 p.m. Adjournment: 8:16 p.m.