Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council

City of Salem, Massachusetts Mayor Dominick Pangallo Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council - Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 7:00 P.M. Called to Order: 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Hope Carpenter, Gabe Ciociola, Dennis Colbert, Lucy Corchado, Tom Kusterer, Richard Lindeman Staff Present: Lisa Peterson (Office of the Mayor) Special Guests: Janelle Rolke – City of Salem Waste Reduction Coordinator Approval of 11/8/23 Minutes (Richard Lindeman moves, Tom Kusterer Seconds): 6 – 0 – 1, minutes approved. (With one edit: Richard Lindeman wanted the minutes to more accurately reflect that he and the FSNA is urging better pedestrian control in front of Ropes Mansion) Janelle Rolke – City of Salem Waste Reduction Coordinator Presentation: • Janelle Rolke gave a comprehensive presentation about waste reduction and recycling in the City of Salem. Her presentation included an overview of her responsibilities and role, as well as directing people to the online 2024 curbside collection calendar. She also talked about the Green Salem Monthly newsletter. She explained that our recyclable materials go to Billerica – metal, some plastics, some glass, paper, and cardboard. Janelle spoke about the city’s cardboard recycling dumpster at the transfer station. She shared the news that unfortunately the contamination rate of our recycling bins has increased, and encouraged us to use the mantra, “When in doubt, throw it out!” Textiles are now banned, and we all are encouraged to use the bins outside all the public schools – we don’t have to wait until the textile drive days. Mattresses and boxsprings are also now banned. For mattresses, boxsprings and other bulk items, the cost for pickup being passed along to the resident is $20 (a percentage continues to be covered by the city). Watch for upcoming Recycling Committee events as well as events through the Beautification Committee. • Committee members asked about: o Packing peanuts – they are not recyclable but are reusable for future moves, etc. o Fees for e-waste items o Illegal dumping update? – lately bags of shredded paper and construction debris are the most common culprits currently o Plastic on outside of water bottles – not usually recyclable? o Yard waste – could we add an additional curbside or transfer station weekday? Neighborhood Association Updates: • Downtown Neighborhood Association (Tom Kusterer): Moved parking down to 1A – everyone is generally happy with it, but the increased costs are a bit too high for some people. Extra boxes at the encampment.  • Federal Street Neighborhood Association (Dick Lindeman): They just met at the Assemblyhouse for the first time since the pandemic started. The speaker was Kurt Steinberg of the PEM. Kudos to the City for street sweeping efforts. Looking forward to traffic calming reinstallation (wasn’t installed correctly this year). Can NIAC e-mail addresses be shared publicly? • Salem Common Neighborhood Association (Gabe Ciociola): Ray Jodoin is doing a great job on the Common. They are missing some bollards at the corner. There are some lights out. The raised beds are completed, but they’d like the corners/edges shaved down for safety. The arch is decorated. Sunday, December 17 there is a free holiday concert at the Bridge @ 211 from 3:00-5:00pm. • Salem Willows Neighborhood Association (Cindy Jerzylo): The City started traffic calming at Columbus Avenue – they are storing equipment at Fort Lee in the Snow Lot (might be an issue during future storms). • Point Neighborhood Association (Lucy Corchado); Destination Salem came to the December meeting to talk about using the new mural on the cover of their 2024 guide. They are welcoming their new ward councillor – looking toward working toward improvements. Off-shore wind and the Shetland Project are longer term projects. There is no meeting in December. There is overflowing trash in the encampment. • Barnes, Clark, Wyman Area Neighborhood Association (Dennis “Bill” Colbert): The brush along Barnes Road and across from 26 Clark Street needs to be cut back. Barnes Avenue and Barnes Circle need sand barrels. • Bridge Street Neck Neighborhood Association (Hope Carpenter): Putting in more trees, banners and plantings – hope it works with beautification and traffic calming. Problem with one problem neighbor. Illegal AirB&Bs in neighborhood. National Grid is doing work and they hope they never leave! It has really helped with the traffic. State road, not a city road. 15 trees in Gonyea Park ($3,000 to keep them watered this year). City Updates: • City of Salem honors road traffic victims on World Day of Remembrance and announces we received more than $700,000 to fund traffic safety projects (including Jefferson & Willson; Fort Ave @ Winter Island Road; Columbus Avenue and Columbus Square; Derby Street improvements at Daniels Street Intersection and a raised crosswalk at the Custom House; as well as a city-wide sidewalk review and repair project). • Mobile Mayor’s Office was launched – we are taking the Mayor’s office into the neighborhoods – 1st was November 22 where we worked from Espacio on Congress Street for the day. • City of Salem achieved a perfect score on the Human Rights Coalition’s Annual Municipal Equality Index for the 10th year in a row. • Salem High School Witches football team went to the state championship at Gillette Stadium. This was their first trip to the Super Bowl since 1999! • The Salem Scholarship and Education Committee is now accepting applications for education related projects – local educational needs and adult literacy projects. Grant application is on the city website and will be accepted and reviewed monthly on a rolling basis. • Community Preservation Committee (“CPA”) is accepting applications related to open space and recreation, historic preservation and community housing. • There is a curbside composting incentive program happening right now – the next 150 signups will receive a free bin! • The City of Salem comprehensive snow emergency reminders have been issued: o Snow emergency parking rules and lots o Sidewalk clearing (responsibility of the abutting resident – by 6 hours after the snowfall ends) o Clear out catch basins and fire hydrants near your home  o Winter sand is available at DPS (5 Jefferson Ave) o And more – see city website for comprehensive details • Free Covid-19 rapid antigen tests are once again available. Limit 5 kits of 2 tests per household. Keep the upcoming holidays healthy! • Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah – annual holiday events were held and well attended (Santa coming off the Hawthorne Hotel, the holiday tree lighting, and the menorah lighting) • However you are celebrating – happy holidays! Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 10, 7:00 p.m. Adjourned (8:05 pm).