Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:00 P.M. City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street Called to Order: 7:04 p.m. Members Present: Mira Riggin (HDSNA), Anne Sterling and Andrew Meegan (NSNF), Lucy Corchado (PNA), Marlene Faust (DNA), Pat Liberti (W4/GH), Christy Evans (MPNA), Dennis Maroney (SCNA), Amy Witherbee (OSNA), Flora Tonthat (BSNNA) Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of February 12, 2020 minutes: Approved Neighborhood Association Updates:  Downtown: Police have been very helpful curtailing early deliveries. Jolie Tea is moving into the Derby Lofts building. Next meeting is May 12th and speakers will be CIU and Councillor Hapworth.  Point: Chief Butler spoke at last meeting, along with the Salem High School interim principal.  Ward 4: Traffic Department met with the association to discuss speeding on Valley Street. Still having congestion issues on Highland Avenue due to the traffic light malfunction.  Bridge Street Neck: Curtis Park CPA grant was approved. Walk Boston will be doing an audit along Bridge Street this year.  Orne Square: Volume of rats has decreased. Hoping for streetlight project to advance this spring. Planning a neighborhood event for later this year.  Mack Park: Presentation on Food Farm at Mack Park at the last meeting.  North Street North Fields: Coyote reports are up. Working with Councillor Riccardi on a stop sign for Walter and Osborne Streets intersection. May 2 nd will have a talk about neighborhood history by Jim McAllister at the Dickson Chapel.  Historic Derby Street: State floodplain manager and the Office of Coastal Zone Management attended recent meeting to present on local impacts from sea level rise. Seth Lattrell, harbor planner, also presented on the Harbor Plan update. Next meeting March 16th with North Shore CDC about their St. Mary’s School project. Sidewalk and street construction work scheduled to start in April, including the remaining utility work on Herbert Street.  Salem Common: City has done a good job on the Common clean-up. Bandstand project starts March 16th through May. Fence project phase 3 starts this summer. First Muster is currently scheduled for April 11th at 10AM. Issues with metal detecting people digging holes. All the decorative lights are now functioning. Some trees still in need of pruning or replacement. City Updates:   The City is preparing for coronavirus, with multiple cancellations and closures. Keep an eye on salem.com/news for the latest updates.  Book Swap and Repair Café have been cancelled, others are likely to be, as well.  Bandstand phase 1 work will be starting this coming week.  Salem-Ota Cultural Exchange is seeking host families for this summer’s exchange. See the notice at salem.com/news for details and contacts if you’re interested or would like more information.  The Harbor Connector Path construction is underway and on schedule.  Bid opening for the Bridge Street complete streets project is expected this month and work is expected to begin this spring if the bids are within budget. Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 8, 7pm, 98 Washington Street Adjourned: 7:50 p.m.