Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:02 p.m. Members Present: Dennis Maroney, Ellie Bloom, Richard Lindeman, Cynthia Jerzylo, Barbara Mann, Dennis Colbert, Anne Sterling, Flora Tonthat, Lucy Corchado Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo (Office of Mayor Driscoll) Approval of October 13, 2021 minutes: Approved Special Guest: Seth Lattrell, the City’s Harbor Planner, introduced himself and spoke on the proposed offshore wind marshalling and construction site proposed for vacant land around the Footprint power plant. After a presentation explaining offshore wind, summarizing the nature of the proposal, and the timeline, Seth took questions from NIAC members regarding state funding, ownership of the property, inclusion of any housing in the plans, truck traffic, impact on recreational boating, when the site will be operational, public access, job creation, the City’s role in the process, if the City can acquire the generated power or get a utility discount, if any City ARPA funds will be used for the project, if turbines will be set up in Salem, what impact would there be from the recent Maine Hydro vote, construction and operating hours, how the electricity will be transmitted to the land, the impact on fisheries and cruising, permits necessary, the role for local groups like SAFE, the Chamber, and SSCW, what if the bid fails, and port tariffs. Neighborhood Association Updates (send by email): Federal Street neighborhood  This year we are offering both in-person and virtual tours  In-person tour tickets must be purchased ahead of time and the number of tickets is limited to due to Covid concerns  Tickets to in-person and virtual tours are available online only at www.christmasinsalem.org and cost $35/person  The tour includes 8 homes in the Orne Square/Broad Street/Hathorne Street neighborhood Salem Common neighborhood Traffic/Accessibility Nothing back yet from Traffic Dept following 9/10 meeting: Hoping that: - Playground/WSN crosswalks plan will happen including reflective paint. - Rubber speed bumps will be in place around Common & on side streets. - Rerouting 1A via legislative action to Wash St/Bridge St Ext. o Bridge St. neighborhood association also supports Common & Neighborhood Issues Swing & Surface Repairs: 2 new holes found - following up with DPS. Raised Benches: Located on WSN side need SHC review & repair. Jersey Barriers: Remove from around Common. Upcoming Enhancements on Common ADA Benches: SHC approved 4 new benches & relocation of others. Date? Fence Restoration: 16 WSN sections reinstall scheduled for Nov. 15 th. Lighting: SHC has requested fixtures/bulbs similarity Electrician. Date?  Arch: Brick pad w/rose inlay & sign to be installed between 11/15 & 12/1. Haunted Happenings on Common - Ellen Talkowsky’s team did a great job on trash, noise & vendor mgt. - Thanks to Chief Miller & team on safety, ticketing & towing enforcement - Plan needed for overall spring refresh of Lawn. City doing repair on tire ruts & regrading followed by adding loam & seed to impacted areas. SCNA Events - Common Decorating and Tree Lighting o Sunday, November 28th Time: 11 AM to 1 PM - Holiday Concert, The Bridge@211 Sunday, December 19 th, 3:00 PM o Benefits Salem Food Pantry & The Bridge@211 - Visit salemcommon.org/events City Updates:  Curative is opening a walk-up PCR COVID testing site in Riley Plaza starting on Monday. It will be available Mondays-Saturdays, 8:30am-4:30pm. Testing is free and results are sent to you in 24-48 hours.  The annual Haunted Happenings residents survey will be online through 11AM on Friday. The link to the survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/HauntedHappenings2021  On December 4th SalemRecycles will hold another Repair Café at the CLC. Advance registration is required, no walk-ins. You can sign up for a time by calling 978-619-5672.  This year’s Veterans Day ceremony takes place at 11AM at the intersection of Larkin Lane and Memorial Drive. While it is open to all, it will also be streaming live on SATV and on the City’s Facebook page.  A municipal job fair featuring opportunities from multiple North Shore communities, including Salem, takes place November 16th and 17th from noon to 3pm at the Career Center, 70 Washington Street.  Two meetings of note on November 23rd: the final public forum on the proposed Wetlands Ordinance and regulations takes place at 6pm and the second public forum on the City’s ARPA allocation will take place on November 23rd at 7pm. The link to join the ARPA meeting is online at www.salem.com/rescue and the wetlands one is at www.publicinput.com/salemwetlands. Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned: 8:02 p.m.