Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:03 p.m. Members Present: Barbara Mank, Denise Regan, Richard Lindeman, Barbara Mann, Cynthia Jerzylo, Dennis Colbert, Flora Tonthat, Jerry Smith, Dennis Maroney, Margaret Crosby, Wendy Meigs, Christy Evans, Gabriel Ciociola, Nina Cohen Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of April 14, 2021 minutes: Approved Guest Speaker: Police Chief Lucas Miller introduced himself to the members and after speaking briefly about his background, took questions from the Council on the follow topics: race and policing, collection and use of data, homelessness, Haunted Happenings, improving communications with the public, community policing, bike patrols, Citizens Police Academy, use of cameras, increasing number of motorized bikes and scooters, public consumption of marijuana, use of federal resources, approach to recruitment, youth engagement, graffiti, gangs, and department certification. Neighborhood Updates: Derby Street Neighborhood – Gables is replacing some trees on Hardy Street and there will be neighborhood meetings May 24th and June 2nd at 5:30pm. Chestnut Street Associates – Nothing new to report on, but offered a plug for the Salem Community Gardens program, which is planning to expand. Barnes/Clark/Wyman – Clark drainage project is done. Demolition at Life Storage has started. Tropical Products held a neighborhood meeting about their new building last night and it was generally well received. Greater Endicott Street – Still having issues with rats and open dumpsters at Salem House of Pizza and on High Street Court; High Street Court dumpster also attracting illegal dumping near it. Neighbors complaining about suspicious activity around High/Pratt/lower Endicott area and large/loud groups on the High Street playground. Willows Neighborhood – Good turnout at May 1st meeting, next meeting is June 8th where Seth Lattrell, Harbor Planner, will present. Monitoring the Salem Housing Authority’s Lee Fort Terrace project. Bags of trash left at Willows after event there. Reports of homeless camping in Fort Lee. Bittersweet and litter clean up went well. Seawall committee waiting on word for the project permitting. Common – McIntire Arch hardscape plan was approved by Historic Commission. DPS redid the paths and they look good. Neighborhood concerns regarding Haunted Happenings plans, hoping there will be additional police, DPS, etc. due to relocation of events. Crosswalks were restriped and City is starting a combined ADA/traffic management project at the crossings. Working with state legislators on re-designation of Route 1A off of Winter Street. Flower beds at the band stand are in design and going forward for approvals. Upcoming events: July 4 th reading of the Declaration of Independence, June or July yard sale, July or August movie screenings resume, October kids festival. Bridge Street Neck – Also supportive of Route 1A re-designation to improve conditions at Bridge/Winter intersection. Last meeting was April 28 th to discuss use of the commercial corridor fund. Yard sale takes place June 12th, rain date June 13th, 9am to noon. Downtown – Witch City Mall bathrooms locked again over the weekend. Rockaefellas’ outdoor speakers are playing music even when the restaurant is closed. Fire Department roof project is causing a public parking crunch on lower Lafayette Street. Federal Street – Graffiti showing up in the neighborhood on public and private property. Traffic calming application has been submitted. Some rat sighting in the area; asked the Health Department to bait. The Federal/North flower garden is coming along. July 4 th event at Beckford Square for the neighborhood. Mack Park – Speeding traffic on Tremont Street closer to the Peabody line. Potholes filled in the neighborhood recently, looking good. Association is waiting for an update on the future use of the Mack Park house. Discarded railroad ties pile is gone from the freight track near Leslie’s Retreat Park. Food Farm at Mack Park received a grant recently and is coming along nicely. City Updates:  Salem is at about 55% with at least one shot of the vaccine so far. Links to clinics in the area and more details about getting the vaccine at www.salem.com/vaccine.  The Free Trolley ride program for Salem residents is being offered once again, starting June 1st through September 30th. Details are at www.salem.com/news.  The first North Shore Diversity catalog is available now, with 140 minority- and women-owned businesses in Salem and the region. You can find it online at www.salem.com/diversitycatalog.  Free COVID testing has been extended through September 30 th. Salem still will have two locations – drive-up at Salem High School and walk-in downtown, currently at Old Town Hall. The downtown site will be moving from Old Town Hall starting July 1st – the new location is still TBD. Any updates will be posted on www.salem.com.  Curbside textile recycling is now an option. Pickups are free and take place on Saturdays. You need to schedule your pick-up in advance and may do so by visiting www.helpsy.co/pickup. Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned: 8:29 p.m.