Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

City of Salem Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Meeting Minutes Called to order: 7:00pm Members Present: Barbara Mann (GESNA), Barbara Mank (Downtown), Mira Riggin (Historic Derby Street), Patti Morsillo (Broad Street), Dennis Colbert (Barnes/Clark/Wyman), Cindy Jerzylo (Wllows), Gabriel Ciociola (Commons), Anne Sterling (North Street Northfields) Staff Present: Laura Assade (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of July 10, 2019 Meeting Minutes: Approved pending the change of the date to reflect July 10th, 2019. Public Comment: None FY20 Community Preservation Plan: Representative was not present, an email sent by Jane Guy was read to the group. Email content will be forwarded to the group. Neighborhood Association Updates: • Historic Derby Street: Monday the 9th, the mayor attended their meeting to give the group an update and discuss important points. Construction at Collins cove memorial is beginning most times before 7am – they may need another reminder. Scooters: people riding on sidewalks, are there signs or will there be? Is there a safety video they have to watch? What are the fines for misuse of the scooters and does the city benefit from these fees? Will Zagster be used in October? • Broad Street Neighborhood: Block party was great, very all attended. The speeding issue has gotten better as there is a lot more police presence in the area and it has helped a lot. • Wyman Road: The fire hydrant has been installed (Thank you). 2nd annual block party went well. Neighbors are supportive of the developers request to change the zoning from b2-r3 for the 125 residential units in the area of highland avenue near Puleo’s… that is currently under agreement. The storage place is cutting down to 3 stories- they had an initial meeting with the planning department. There is a storm drain in front of 20 ½ Barnes road, it has a broken cover. Resident believes the cover was broken by a construction vehicle. Says the city is asking the homeowner to pay $2500 to replace it even though it’s on city property. Do we have a record of a cover ever being installed? • Salem Willows: Neighbors to have a meeting with CPC regarding the Seawall on Columbus Ave on 9/12/2019 – City working on state funding. Sand issues up against the  walls – the group is working with engineering. Trucks leaving the sewage plant leaking from the plant to the train station. Very bad odor. Neighbors on Derby Street can smell it – To be reported to BOH. There are too many road races, who can decide the limit of road races we have in Salem? Residents feel barricaded almost every weekend because of a race. Can they be moved elsewhere? Lastly there is street resurfacing project currently happening in the area. • SCNA: 1920 themed lawn party went well. Next event is a yard sale at 9am on 9/21. Table is $20 open to anyone who wishes to participate. Condition of the grass at the commons: burnt out grass, drain at the dog water fountain is has not been cleared out, playground is not in the best condition. The bench that wraps around the tree is falling apart, other benches are getting moldy, landscaping is not done well – not mowing areas correctly along the fence. Garbage cans are overflowing requesting for more frequent pick up or additional barrels. There will be a kids fest the last 2 weekends in October (fundraiser). There are repairs plans for the fence and bandstand. The plans for repair for the arch at the commons. The PEM has a digital scan machine as well as another organization called artisan’s asylum can do an exact replica carving of the arch for $9k. • Downtown: Parklets… how long will be up? Will they be up in October? How many do we have? Will this be revised like the scooters and Zagster? On Lafayette street and central, two parking spaces were taken away for loading zones, city is losing revenue from meter parking, how is this money being replaced by having parklets? Are the bike lanes on Lafayette street permanent? How are the businesses being affected by them as they have lost parking also? Are the trees going to be replaced on Lafayette street on fire house side (entire street mostly near trolley area)? • North Street: On 9/20/19 a walk audit will be conducted with Walk Boston “get walking tour of the city”. Bike lanes are not popular in the area. Residents now on weekends have to park far. Bike lanes are not being used nor are they connected to the downtown area. The candidate forums went well. There will be an at large forum at Mac Park (50 Grove St) at the Moose lodge on 10/8/19 at 630pm dinner and 7pm meeting to start. Compost bins: ones at the community gardens – the garden club tells people they are not to be used by anyone else. There is an event on the History of North Salem at Dickerson Chapel • GESNA: On July 31st Mayor attended their meeting. Group held the Ward 3 debate with help from LWV over 95 attendees. There is an uptick of rodents, rats from either hotel, pizza place (overflowing dumpsters). Dumpsters are being emptied at 3am-4am. They will be partnering with Mac Park for at Large Debate. City Updates: • September Salem Days is taking place right now: Salem residents get free admission to the New England Aquarium this month with proof of residency.  • Street sweeping is underway. Find the schedule (as well as a map where you can look up sweep days by address) at www.salem.com/streetsweeping. • Saturday, September 14th from 10am to 1pm is the next Salem Recycles Book Swap event at the CLC. You can drop items off on Friday from 5-7pm or Saturday from 9:45am to noon. • Saturday, September 21st from 10am-2pm at Palmer Cove, Salem Food for All will be hosting the first Food for Thought Festival, with games, activities, cooking demos, food, and more. • Salem has been selected to participate in the Solarize Mass program for the second time. This is a state program where the City is able to procure a vendor for residents interested in solar, solar hot water, and air source heat pumps at reduced prices. You can find more and sign up at www.solarizenorthshore.org. • Salem for All Ages and the COA have launched “Are You OK?” – an automated call service that can check in on senior residents. To find out more or to sign yourself or someone else up for the service, please visit the social workers’ offices at the CLC or call them at 978-744-0924. Next meeting: October 9th, 2019, 98 Washington Street Adjourned: 8:15pm