Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:01 p.m. Members Present: Barbara Mann, Donna Romano, Dennis Maroney, Dennis Colbert, Laurie Albury, Richard Lindeman, Anne Sterling, Denise Regan, Mira Riggin, Nina Cohen, Linda Stark, Lucy Corchado Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of September 9, 2020 minutes: Approved Mayor Kim Driscoll and Kate Fox, of Destination Salem, presented to the group about the status of the City’s response to the ongoing October season during COVID-19. The Mayor opened up by giving an update on the City’s current public health situation. She took questions from the Council members about Thanksgiving and potential ramifications from that holiday on the spread of the virus, the City’s contact tracing process, and recent case attribution and data. Following that Mayor Driscoll and Kate updated the group on Haunted Happenings and October visitation. They discussed and took questions on a wide range of topics, including walking tours, marketing/messaging out of state, expanding mask signage and zone, use of digital signage, the role of hotels and lodging operators to reach travelers, Halloween night plans, trick-or-treating, road closures, and the financial impact to the City. Neighborhood Association Updates:  Barnes/Clark/Wyman: Overlook Acres project is wrapping up before the Planning Board. Rock crushing is still a concern for the neighborhood.  Willows: Quieter at the park with the cooler weather. Still some displeasure with the new bike lanes on Fort Avenue.  Northfields North Street: Meeting coming up on October 28th. HSI is conducting a virtual Halloween house tour benefit.  Broad Street: Parking complaints have been addressed, still speeding on Winthrop Street, however.  Greater Endicott Street: Speeding on Winthrop and Endicott Street. Someone is “selling” parking in the City lot at the High Street playground and on High Street Court.  Historic Derby Street: Happy to see the crosswalk striped in at the Narbonne House on Essex Street, wondering if one can be added back in at Orange Street. Harbor Plan update is ongoing, public comment period is now open.   Federal Street: Good enforcement of resident parking restrictions. Issues with speeding and driving through the stop sign.  Chestnut Street: Park is open and available for small group gatherings.  Point Neighborhood: Met with Acting Chief Dennis King and Sergeant Harry Rocheville from the CIU. Trash pick-up pilot program ended and the neighborhood thought it worked well. Additional barrels are going to be going in, especially near restaurants.  Salem Common: Halloween Season - Performance spaces on Common: Usage limited to performers but no musicians. SCNA would have preferred better communication. Vendors on Common: Advanced notice would be good on number & type of vendors. On both, concern for distancing and need for Mask Ambassadors & Police. Parking - Side streets (Williams, etc.) effectively blocked on weekends. Towing would help. Litter - Trash rapidly accumulating along with numerous downed branches. Photo Contest - SCNA is hosting a contest for pics taken under the orange lights with prizes for the winner. #orangelightsofsalemcommon Common Updates - Non-Smoking Signs: Signs up designating 3 non-smoking areas: Bandstand, Playground & BB court. SCNA requests all Common be non-smoking. Hawthorne Lighting: City working with Hawthorne on repairing Common lighting in front of hotel. Holiday Decorating: With planned donations from O’Donnell’s (tree) & Witch Museum (wreaths/holly), SCNA will decorate the Common on 11/29. Arch Restoration: Community Grant process for brick pad underneath Arch being worked on with City. Landscaping: Placing rose bushes and flower beds by Arch & Bandstand is in planning process with City. Lawn: ant & mushroom infestation issues in discussion with DPS & Councilor Madore. Others - Stop Sign. Placing sign at intersection of WSE/Andrew St request in discussion with Councilor Madore. Crosswalk. Creating one at Essex St connecting to Narbonne House in discussion with Dave Knowlton. City Updates:  Salem Police Department survey is open through November 15 th. Find the link at www.salem.com/news.  Early voting starts October 17th and is taking place in two locations: City Hall Annex during regular business hours and on weekends, and at Salem High School on weekends only.  Free COVID-19 testing being offered at Salem High School six days a week and Old Town Hall five days a week. Find complete details at www.salem.com/stopthespread. Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 18, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned: 8:10 p.m.