Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:00 P.M. City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street Called to Order: 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Flora Tonthat (Bridge Street Neck), Meg Riccardi (North Street Northfields), Gacbe Ciociola (Salem Common), Wendy Meigs and Mira Riggin (Historic Derby Street), Barbara Mann (Greater Endicott Street), Christy Evans (Mack Park), Amy Witherbee and Jeff Kabriel (Orne Square), Patti Morsillo (Broad Street) Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of September 11, 2019 Meeting minutes: Approved Public Comment: None Special Guests: Lucia Coale (Salem for All Ages Task Force) spoke about the history of the program and what its mission is. Lucia serves on the Task Force’s Social Inclusion Subcommittee and led a discussion with the Council members about how the City and neighborhood associations could help improve engagement and connections with seniors in Salem. The group discussed the need for paper notifications and invitations, including door-to-door connections and how to bring seniors to neighborhood association social events. They also discussed the use of automated event notifications and calls, mailing event imitations and guides, the use of an online shared calendar, and holding a “meet the neighborhood associations” open house event at the Community Life Center. Neighborhood Association Updates: • Mack Park: At-Large candidates forum was on the 8th. Speakers are scheduled for the year. • Broad Street: David Kucharsky & Lt. Tucker will be at 11/4 meeting to discuss speeding. • Bridge Street Neck: No October meeting, next meeting in November. Ward 2 has a Council race now, heard that FSNA/HESNA are trying to schedule a forum, but no definitive date yet. Neighborhood concerns/questions remain about the proposed New View Addiction Recovery center. New restaurant Chez Casa has opened in the neighborhood. • Greater Endicott Street: Uptick in rat activity in neighborhood. Sidewalk damage on Endicott. • Historic Derby Street: Waiting on timetable for sidewalk and street work remaining on Derby Street and the side streets. Parking enforcement has been good this October so far. Ward 1 candidates forum with the League of Women Voters takes place 10/15 at the Waterfront Hotel. • North Street Northfields: Clean ups with Salem Sound Coast Watch take place at Furlong on 11/9 and 9am and along Commercial Street on 10/20 at 10:30. Adjustments are being made to the pedestrian crossing timing at North Street and School Street. Next meeting is 11/14. • Salem Common: The association’s yard sale and the Food Truck Festival were both big successes. The Kids’ Fun Fest returns with rides on the Common for the last two weekends of October. City arborist/tree warden was at the last meeting and offered helpful input to the group. • Orne Square: Held first meeting recently. Also have seen increase in rat activity. Top priority on the street is improving the level of street lighting and getting decorative street light fixtures at three locations. City Updates: • Gallows Hill Park closure and partial lot closure for improvement project coming soon. Langdon Street work, separate work, postponed by EPA but still will take place. • Salem Willows survey online at salem.com/news through November 15th. • Scholarship & Education Committee now accepting applications for their Education Fund micro- grants for educational non-profits, teachers, and other organizations that serve Salem kids. More at www.salem.com/scholarship. • RUOK automated well-being check-in calls for senior. To sign up, call the COA at 978-744-0924. • 2020 Meet & Eat dates announced. Fliers distributed to members. • Haunted Happenings ongoing: family movies at Forten Park, MDA Ride on Saturday, world record Ouija Board on Salem. No carnival this year. On October 31st roads will close no later than 4pm. Salem PD anticipates potentially having to close roads the weekend prior, as well. Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 13, 7pm, 98 Washington Street Adjourned: 8:00 p.m.