Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:02 p.m. Members Present: Barbara Mann, Barbara Mank, Dennis Colbert, Marlene Faust, Mira Riggin, Lucy Corchado, Anne Sterling, Flora Tonthat, Richard Lindeman, Denise Regan, Nina Cohen, Linda Stark Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of October 14, 2020 minutes: Approved Dr. Stephen Zrike, Superintendent of Salem Public Schools, introduced himself to the members and shared a bit about his professional background. He then spoke about the school’s ongoing COVID-19 response efforts and the model by grade for the return to school for some grades this past week. Dr. Zrike reviewed the core values behind the district’s COVID response planning and shared the timeline of activities from August to November that have shaped decision- making. Following that, Dr. Zrike spoke about what the planning looks like for additional returning students in hybrid fashion starting in January, the district’s baseline and ongoing COVID-19 testing program, and lessons learned from the pandemic. He took questions from members about the process for responding to a potential positive case in the school, MCAS this year, interactions between the district and Salem Academy Charter School, homeless students in the district, emotional and social supports for students and families, and absenteeism. Neighborhood Association Updates:  GESNA: Met with Lifebridge to discuss plans for winter overflow and expansion of beds. Sign and flex post on Endicott Street have been fixed.  Barnes/Clark/Wyman: Fence down at old Cinemaworld site on sidewalk. Culvert on Clark Road clogged with leaves.  HDSNA: Restaurant outside seating barriers have slowed traffic, but wondering when they will be removed for the winter. Still speeding issues on Essex Street. Mira reported it was her final meeting at the HDSNA NIAC representative, and she would be replaced by Margaret Crosby and Christin Hatch.  Downtown: Crosswalk collapsing in at Central and Derby. Also seeing speeding along Derby Street. Leaves on the pedestrian mall are accumulating in places. Can the City enforce mask mandate inside the Museum Place/Witch City Mall?  Broad Street: Speeding issues along Broad Street, especially near Hathorne.  Chestnut Street: Encouraging members to get COVID-19 tests. Members grateful for the City’s efforts during Haunted Happenings this year.  Point: Prime Group attended last meeting to listen to the PNA members; coming back in January to talk more about potential plans for Shetland Park. Would like Peabody and Palmer added to paving list. Bus shelter was removed from Lafayette Park, would like it returned.   Bridge Street: Volunteers complete a community clean-up along the bike path. Dog waste issue increasing at Remond Park.  North Street/North Fields: Door-to-door window salespeople reported in the neighborhood. Residents are blowing leaves into the street. Christmas in Salem house tour is coming up, details to come.  Federal Street: Also pleased with October response efforts by the City. Creating a Traffic Calming Committee and plans to submit an application to the City for the program. Association encourages donations to the Salem Public Library fountain restoration project: (1) Using Facebook: Search for Friends of the Salem Public Library Fountain. (2) Using the Salem Public Library website: HOME > HELP SAVE THE SALEM PUBLIC LIBRARY. Or (3) Using Amazon Smile: Select Trustees of the Salem Public Library  Salem Common (sent by email): Overall fall cleanup of Common needs to be scheduled. Creative Collective backdrops were well received but cleanup slow to be done including stakes still buried in the ground which create tripping hazards. Graffiti continues to be a problem particularly on playground equipment. New Common signage is small & hard to read particularly regarding non-smoking rules. Residents have raised issues such as more frequent crosswalk painting, speedbumps by children’s playground & additional stop signs (e.g., corner of WSE/Andrew). City to lead the development of a master plan with the widest possible community involvement under the Signature Park initiative. The SCNA strongly supports such a path. Washington Arch Restoration: the previously promised installation of a brick pad under the Arch is to be funded through a Community Development Block Grant. The installation of the pad will precede future planned SCNA landscaping efforts. Common Holiday Decorating: A neighbor is donating the holiday tree. The Witch Museum will donate wreaths/swags & SCNA decorations/lights. Decorating will happen on Sunday Nov. 29th from 11 AM - 1 PM. Social distancing/mask wearing rules will apply & no refreshments will be offered. City Updates:  The last curbside yard waste collection for the year will be the week of November 30th through December 4th, please place your leaves and grass clippings in brown paper yard waste bags or uncovered garbage cans curbside on the same day as your trash day. The Transfer Station at 12 Swampscott Road which is open on Saturdays 7-3 and Sundays 9-5 will close for the season on Dec 13th and will reopen in the spring.  SalemRecycle's annual Clothing & Household Textiles Recycling Drive is Saturday, Nov. 21 from 8am-1pm in Riley Plaza.  The recent COVID Town Hall can be viewed online at www.salem.com/covidtownhall or listen to the audio of it on the latest FYI Salem podcast.  Those planning to go to a Stop the Spread testing site, whether in Salem or elsewhere in Massachusetts, should pre-register to help reduce the time spent waiting in line. The state’s information is at www.mass.gov/stopthespread and Salem info is at www.salem.com/stopthespread. Testing dates and times for next week will be changing due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned: 8:20 p.m.