Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

City of Salem, Massachusetts Mayor Dominick Pangallo Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Tom Kusterer, Richard Lindeman, Wendy Meigs, Flora Tonthat, Cynthia Jerzylo, Dennis Colbert, Lucy Corchado, Gabriel Ciociola, Thomas Stilling Staff Present: Lisa Peterson (Office of the Mayor) Special Guests: Daniel Collins – City of Salem Offshore Wind Planner Approval of 10/11/23 Minutes (Richard Lindeman moves, Cindy Jerzylo Seconds): 6 – 0 – 1, minutes approved. Daniel Collins, City of Salem Offshore Wind Planner Presentation: • Daniel Collins gave an update on the status of the proposed Offshore Wind Marshalling Port in the City of Salem. He shared a presentation that explained the designated port area transition/development, the project phases, the image of the site. He indicated that there would be a meeting with Crowley on November 15 including a terminal tour and open house from 4:00-5:30pm and a public information presentation at the House of the Seven Gables from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. For more info, the public should reach out to Crowley at windservices@crowley.com or to Daniel at dcollins@salem.com. Neighborhood Association Updates: • The Willows Neighborhood Association (Cindy Jerzylo): On Tuesday, November 14th, they will be having a meeting about Pioneer Village – it will be members only due to space constraints. • Downtown Neighborhood Association (Tom Kusterer): People were well-behaved over Haunted Happenings, generally. They remain concerned about the encampment of unhoused people behind Wendy’s. • Federal Street Neighborhood Association (Dick Lindeman): Wondering when the traffic calming items will be removed. They have an upcoming meeting on Sunday. Please improve the Ropes Mansion area. • Barnes, Clark Wyman Area Neighborhood Association (Bill Colbert): Please cut back the shrubbery for Winter – the stretch along Barnes across from 26 Clark. • Bridge Street Neck Neighborhood Association (Flora Tonthat); Potholes in front of Northey from Bridge (big dip) – everyone has to go around. Lots of potholes from Bridge to Summer. Gonyea Park – there is a GoFundMe for a number of trees. BSN is restructuring to a rotating chair. • Point Neighborhood Association (Lucy Corchado): The Point has a new ward councillor. The new climate outreach ambassador will be coming to the next meeting. The Beautification Committee will be presenting soon. The end of Park Street (there is a post of some kind) – larger vehicles are having trouble making a right. Will work with Councillor-Elect Jerzylo to update streets and sidewalks.  • Salem Common Neighborhood Association (Gabe Ciociola): A flyer has been published for the holiday concert. Decorating the Common will happen on November 26 from 12:00-2:00pm (all are welcome to join). Christmas in Salem holiday house tours will be in the Common neighborhood this year from December 1-3. Grass cleaning from Halloween is happening. • Historic Derby Street Neighborhood Association (Thomas Stilling and Wendy Meigs); Friendship update; Halloween lament (tours and traffic jams – massive). Meeting coming up – the Mayor and Kim Emerling. Planning for fun. City Updates: • Congratulations to all neighborhoods and residents for another October. • Congratulations to our newest class of elected officials in Salem (including our own member Cindy Jerzylo who was elected to the City Council representing Ward 1). • The City of Salem has started charging a small Electric Vehicle charging fee at our public plug-in stations in order to fund the expansion of our EV infrastructure. • We have launched a new voluntary lockbox registration program for older adults (age 60+) to help facilitate aging in place for those who would like to participate – learn more about it on the city website. • Salem’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board recently launched a construction grant program using ARPA funds to support affordable housing. • Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month flag raising was on November 1st was well attended. • The Veterans Day Ceremony is Saturday, November 11 at 11:00am at SHS. • Over Veterans Day weekend, there will be free parking for everyone from November 10-11. City offices will be closed starting Thursday, November 9 at 4:00pm and all day on Friday, November 10). As a reminder, Veterans park for free all the time in Salem. • Local health departments are holding COVID vaccine clinics (can go to any – make an appointment online) – throughout November. • Fall Street sweeping schedule is out. Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned.