Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:04 p.m. Members Present: Dennis Colbert, Anne Sterling, Dennis Maroney, Barbara Mann, Lucy Corchado, Flora Tonthat Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of September 8, 2021 minutes: Approved Neighborhood Association Updates: Barnes/Clark/Wyman: More construction and blasting for four more houses and some renovations along Barnes and Highland, site has been clear cut. Northfields: Crescent lot staircase is in disrepair. Concerns from abutters to Oil & Grease site about recent news about past asbestos violations from previous owner. Common: Traffic/Accessibility - 9/10 meeting with Traffic Dept, SCNA & Ward 2 Councilor items: 6 crosswalk stanchions all destroyed & require replacement. Playground/WSN crosswalks plan needed including reflective paint. Rubber speed bumps needed around Common & on side streets. Rerouting 1A via legislative action to Wash St/Bridge St Ext. Bridge St. neighborhood association also supports. Common & Neighborhood Issues - Playground: Repairs to window an improvement but new unit needed. Swing & Surface Repairs: 2 new holes found - following up with DPS. O’Donnell Funeral Home: Permit to park 100+ cars causing concern. Upcoming Enhancements on Common - Benches: SHC approved 4 new ADA benches & relocation of others. Date? Fence Restoration: 16 WSN sections reinstall scheduled for Nov. 8 th. Lighting: SHC has requested fixtures/bulbs similarity Electrician. Date? Arch: SHC/Park & Rec approved sign, brick pad & landscaping. Date? Haunted Happenings on Common - Trash pickup working well so far. Lawn repair status a concern after event season completes. Address space constraints for Kids Fest, food & artisanal vendors. SCNA Events - Kids’ Fun Fest Saturday & Sunday, Oct 23 & 24, 30 & 31, both weekends, 11-5 PM. Endicott Street: Illegal dumping has become an issue at High Street park, would also like to see if better lighting is possible into the park. Some people have been sleeping in the park at night, too. Rats coming back along Prescott Street. Point: Salem Police have been working with the neighborhood association in response to recent shooting incident and successfully made an arrest in a drug incident on Lynch Street. Would like to see speed bumps placed on Salem Street. Following next phase of Palmer Cove park project and future of On Point. Bridge Street Neck: Abutter to Brake & Clutch business have issues with fluids from vehicles spreading onto property, damage to fence. Meeting on November 16th will feature Barbara Warren and Stacy Kilb to talk about tree planting program and the new Sustainability Department. Public works crew removed from plantings from Remond Park by mistake thinking they were weeds. Guest Speakers: Nick Downing, the City’s federal funds manager, shared a presentation about the American Rescue Plan, what the City’s relief funding allocation will be, what those funds are eligible for use for under federal law, and the City’s approach to planning for and reporting out on the use of the funds. He took questions from the Council members about the use of ARPA funds for COVID testing, rent assistance, and food security. He also took questions about the revenue replacement formula and use of funds for staff and reporting. City Updates:  Request a mailed ballot by submitting the application form to elections@salem.com or by mail to the City Clerk’s office. Applications must be received by the Clerk’s office before October 27 th. The form is online on the Election Central tab at salem.com. Ballots can be mailed back, dropped off in the secure drop boxes outside every fire station, or brought back to City Hall in person.  Early voting in person will take place on the following dates and locations. If you vote early, whether by mail or in person, you cannot vote on Election Day November 2 nd. If you requested a mailed ballot and did not return it by November 2nd, you can still go and vote on Election Day (don’t bring your ballot, you’ll use the ballot they provide at your polling place).  Saturday, October 23rd, 9AM-1PM: Salem High School, 77 Willson Street  Monday, October 25th, 8AM-3PM: City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street  Tuesday, October 26th, 8AM-3PM: City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street  Wednesday, October 27th, 8AM-3PM: City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street  Thursday, October 28th, 8AM-6PM: City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street  The Ward 2 polling place has been relocated from St. Peter’s Church to the Community Life Center, 401 Bridge Street. Polls open on November 2nd at 7AM and close at 8PM.  The second ARPA forum has been moved to Wednesday November 10 th at 7pm and will be held via Zoom again. The link to join will be on salem.com/rescue in the week prior to the forum.  The October shuttles will run the final three weekends of October from 10AM to 8PM. There are three satellite lots – the O’Keefe Center, Salem High School, and the hospital lot on Jefferson Avenue. Parking in the lots and the shuttle itself are free. The shuttle loops between the lots and Riley Plaza. More details are at salem.com/octobershuttle.  The Stop the Spread COVID testing sites at St. Peter’s Church and Salem High School will be continued through December 31st. Hours and locations may change, particularly around the holidays and based on the lab’s hours of operation. Any changes will be posted on salem.com and salem.com/testing.  An FAQ of the most commonly received questions the City has heard about the potential offshore wind marshalling facility at Footprint has been posted online. You’ll find it at the bottom of salem.com/vineyardwind. Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned: 8:02 p.m.