Park & Recreation Commission

FINAL Salem Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 6:52 P.M. Meeting Location: Via Zoom Members Present: Debbie Amaral, James Shea, Bob Callahan, Amy Everitt, Emi Perez Member Absent: Debbie Amaral Also Present: Patricia O’Brien Clerk: Kathleen Fitzgerald Meeting Called to Order Amy Everitt called the meeting to order at 6:52 P.M. This meeting is being scheduled as an in-person meeting as current COVID-19 protocols for remote meeting participation will end on June 15, 2021 unless extended by The Commonwealth. If such protocols are extended, this meeting may be changed to a combination in-person/remote or only remote meeting. Accordingly, you should check the City’s website and the Board./Committee’s page for any updated information on this meeting and how to access it, and if attendance protocols for it have changed to include or require remote participation. James Shea makes a motion to approve the May Minutes. Bob Callahan seconds, and the Minutes were unanimously approved. Amy Everitt introduces the newest Board Member, Emi Perez who said he was honored and humbled to be part of the Commission. Emi Perez makes a motion to approve the Minutes from the May 27, 2021 Special Meeting. James Shea seconds and it passed unanimously. First on the Agenda: Terrell Greene – This is for an event on the Salem Common on Saturday, June 19th. It will be a vigil for all black and brown member who have fallen. There will be music. James Shea asked Mr. Greene if he knew about the noise ordinance and that music cannot be too high. Amy Everitt suggested Mr. Greene work with Trish O’Brien on that. Trish O’Brien advised Mr. Greene to keep music away from the neighbors and towards the museum. Emi Perez makes a motion to approve the event. Bob Callahan seconds, and it passes unanimously. -1- Next: Beth O’Grady, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem – Looking for permission to have an in-person race. The event is the Wild Turkey 5 Mile run to take place on November 25, 2021 starting at Washington Square and ending at the Essex Street Visitors’ Center. James Shea makes a motion to approve the event, Emi Perez seconds and it passes unanimously. Next Milo Martinez, Salem Common Neighborhood Association -- This request is for using the Salem Common for the Summer Movie Series for four days. The requested dates are July 14, 28, August 4, 18 and rain date of August 25th. There will be amplified sound. Movies will be approximately 90 minutes long or less. Bob Callahan said he was 100% this but asking that breakdown be completed by 10:00 P.M. He stated that Mr. Martinez was representing the Salem Common Neighborhood Association and that there are other events on the Common where people were asking for 10:00 P.M. breakdown and the Salem Common Neighborhood Association always objects to that. Mr. Callahan said Mr. Martinez needed to be made aware of that. James Shea makes a motion to approve the event, Bob Callahan seconds and it passes unanimously. Next: Sylvia Hernandez/Felix Lopes – This request is for a gender reveal event on June 19, 2021 from 1:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. with breakdown by 8:30 P.M. Ms. Hernandez and Mr. Lopes were not in attendance. Approximately 25 people will be attending. James Shea makes a motion to approve without amplification. Emi Perez seconds and it passes unanimously. Next: Jenna McNichols – Wedding Ceremony on the Salem Common – (No show) Next: Salem City Church, Maria Mendonca -- This request is for an event on July 18, 2021 using the Gazebo at Salem Willows. There will be amplification. They will be sharing the word of God and feeding the homeless. Approximately 200 people are expected. This event will run from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Set-up at 9:30 A.M. and breakdown by 3:00 P.M. James Shea asked if they would be using gas grills or charcoal and Ms. Mendonca advised propone. -2- Bob Callahan addressed the noise level and Ms. Mendonca said she understood. James Shea makes a motion to approve, seconded by Emi Perez and passes unanimously. Next: Third Citizen Theatre Company, Jillian Blevins –This request is for an event on August 28th and 29th and September 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Salem Willows Shell. There will be amplification. Sound will be vocal or acoustical and amplification will be done by or after sundown. It will be free to the public and a bucket will be passed around for contributions. It is estimated that approximately 50-100 people will be in attendance. Trish O’Brien asked if buckets were allowed and Bob Callahan said yes. Trish O’Brien that parking can be massive and asked Ms. Blevins to ask people to carpool if possible. Bob Callahan advised that there was plenty of parking at the Willows but not near the Shell and people must be made aware that they are probably not going to be able to park anywhere near the shell. Ms. Blevins said they are eager to work with the Commission because they wanted to establish a relation with the City of Salem. James Shea asked if they would be using props. Amy Everitt asked that she work with Trish O’Brien and Joe Candelaria if they needed to bring vehicles in. Emi Perez makes a motion to approve the event. James Shea seconds and it passes unanimously. Next: Washington Arch Landscaping Plan Review – Patti Kelleher, Preservation Planner, stated that the Historical Commission and Salem Common Neighborhood Association were working with the City on site improvements to the Washington Arch located near the northeast corner of the Salem Common. Improvements include the installation of a new brick pad, landscape plantings and a new interpretive sign. James Shea asked who was paying for this and Ms. Kelleher said they were using City funds. Bob Callahan asked if they were going through the Planning Department and Ms. Keller said they were going through the Park & Rec. Department and the Historic Commission, but since at- grade, the Historic Commission does not approve it. Amy Everitt asked where the interpretive signage would be, and Trish O’Brien advised in the upper left side. Ms. Kelleher said the signage would be similar to all City neighborhood signs. Amy Everitt stated she was concerned about brick because it does not hold up well, comes loose and buckles and creates problems with people in wheelchairs and carriages. Ms. Kelleher stated that when it is installed it’s installed in such a way that it won’t be disruptive and there is a base. -3- James Shea asked if it was red brick and Ms. Kelleher stated that the Historic Commission encourages brick. She also stated the Common Neighborhood Association was raising funds for the carving on the arch. James Shea asked if the eagle on top of the arch was wood. Ms. Kelleher said they were trying to do a composite and not sure about the eagle. Bob Callahan stated he was concerned about coordination and it usually comes from the Planning Department and wanted to know who was overseeing this. Ms. Kelleher advised it was part of the signature Parks Project and Jenna ide was working on this. Amy Everitt asked if the money was coming from Jenna’s fund. Trish O’Brien stated it was. No final decision yet on how the money would be spent. It comes from the Mayor’s office. James Shea questioned that it was funding by the City and Salem Common Neighborhood Association not running it. Ms. Kelleher said it was a City funded project. Trish O’Brien asked if the work was being done by the City crew or contracted out. Ms. Kelleher stated she did not know. Bob Callahan again raised concern about a contact person if there was an issue so the Commission could be in touch with them. He further stated that the Commission was not getting the answers they needed from Ms. Kelleher Ms. Kelleher said they coordinated with other Boards and staff to manage projects. Trish O’Brien stated this was a little difference and that maybe Jenna Ide should come back before the Commission and speak about this. Bob Callahan said his biggest concern was passing the buck and that he is looking for some help. Trish O’Brien stated that Dominick Pangallo has worked with the Neighborhood Association. Amy Everitt asked when it was slated to start, and Ms. Kelleher said she didn’t know. It was again suggested that Jenna Ide coming before the Commission to discuss this. James Shea asked if the eagle on the top was the original eagle. Ms. Kelleher said she believed it was the McIntyre Eagle and that they did not add any element that was not part of the original design trying to keep it as historically accurate as they could. Emu Perez moves to table this to the next meeting. James Shea seconds and asked that someone who could answer questions could be invited to the next meeting. It passes unanimously. New Business: Amy Everitt asked if money had been set aside to do repairs on the field at the Willows. Trish O’Brien stated money would be put towards the filed when the project was completed. Bob Callahan advised that there were still plenty of places to park, but more enforcement was needed. Trish O’Brien said that rangers had been hired and working between 11:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. and are given the officer on duty’s number is there were any issues. Bob Callahan suggested that Trish O’Brien call the new Police Chief advising him how important this enforcement was. Trish O’Brien said she was in touch with the Police Chief by -4- email before each weekend and gives him the names of the rangers working and officer’s telephone number to contact. Gabriel Martin, 11 Winter Street -- Mr. Martin advised that he was the Vice President of the Salem Common Neighborhood Association stated he would be happy to be included in any phone calls or if the Commission needed any status updates he would be happy to comply. Trish O’Brien said he was welcomed to participate when Jenna Ide presented an update. Amy Everitt said it would be great if someone from his organization could participate. He stated he would gather as much information as he could. Old Business: Letter from Heather Famico: **Please read the following into record during tonight's Park & Recreation meeting. I will be unable to participate as I will be in rural Vermont without internet or cell signal.** Dear members of the Park and Recreation Commission, I write to you today in regards to the Haunted Happenings item on your agenda for this evening, specifically the sub item regarding the common. I am in favor of having vendors on the common. As a downtown resident (as downtown as you can get - I live at Central and Essex) I thought it was great last Halloween season Not having so many tents on the pedestrian mall - it allowed for greater ADA accessibility, and flow of people (usually it gets sooo crunched down, and tents keep things behind them as well). In regards to the "Kiddie Carnival" on the common --- can there please be bumper cars? This has been a quest of mine since 2019, I even have a handwritten note from Madam Mayor herself from 2019 thanking me for my bumper car advocacy, haha (I really do though!). Why bumper cars? Kids age out of rides like the dino coaster pretty young in life, and bumper cars is a ride that literally makes everyone smile, is age friendly, and would 100% bring in money for the city and association! Bumper cars are a smart, FUN idea! and, if they currently aren't part of the plan (I'm not actual sure what was submitted) then they should be - people need to smile, now more than ever! :D I shared the idea on a few facebook groups again yesterday evening (5/18), asking people to like or comment on the post if they are Pro #BumperCarsForSalem ... and here are the results (less than 24 hours in): 56 people are pro bumper cars! The 56 people are people of all ages - with and without kids, grandkids etc. even Jim Fleming of the school committee wrote "Awesome ‼ I would l love to have bumper cars." here's a video that was shared with the post: https://youtu.be/iod6-IM9IY8 -5- BumperCarsForSalem #BumperCarsForSalem youtu.be (to note in the video: it was taken two years ago at the Topsfield fair, the riders are all ages, and ALL are smiling!) In case some arguments against bumper cars are made. If the argument is made that there isn't room for bumper cars, please remember that the world's largest ouija board was on the common a couple years back and had a far larger footprint than bumper cars. And, the dino coaster takes up a bigger footprint than bumper cars too.. as do the big blow up slides that go on the Common for National Night Out. + another ride can be swapped out, or a few less vendors (vendors can also go on Hawthorne Blvd or Charlotte's park). If an argument is made regarding the weight of the bumper cars - we have tanks, horses, large trucks, stages etc. on the common on a pretty regular basis for events (and I'd say they all weigh more). If an argument is made about the noise -- the offerings that are happening anyway will create noise, and no matter what there will be quiet times (and bumper cars aren't even that loud) If an argument is made about a city ordinance that says no amusement rides on the common.. well, the kiddie rides are amusement rides also (and, the Park & Recreation Commission and/or City Council could waive that ordinance, or amend to allow with approval of the commission). Please bring #BumperCarsForSalem to the city and its residents and visitors this Halloween Season! It's time to smile, and it's time to switch the rides up - that way people of all generations can enjoy! Thank you for your time, Heather Famico 195 Essex Street #2b the Great City of Salem Bob Callahan stated that the Commission approves the Common Neighborhood Association for rides on the Common and all was coordinated with Ellen Talkowsky so the request for bumper cars was moot. Amy Everitt stated that the Commission did not approve individual rides and she should go the Common Neighborhood Association and ask them about bumper cars. Amy Everitt further stated that Ellen Talkowky brings to the Board a packet for Haunted Happenings and the Board approves and does not micro-manage. The Commission just approves the space and if there are any concerns next year the Commission would say no. Forest River Update -- Bob Callahan said it does not look like the pool will be done this year, but the everything is looking good. He stated he had seen many family gatherings with balloons, etc. and Forest River should be promoted. He said it was great to see it getting so much use. James Shea wanted to advise the Board the Franklin Street tennis court was being well used. Easement at Forest River National Grid for Electric Car Stations – BC stated there would be plug-in meters. -6- Trish O’Brien advised the Commission that there is a new rule whereby only one Board member can be on Zoom with 48 hours’ notice to the chair because of personal illness, personal disability, etc. Trish O’Brien further advised that the Board must be in person for meetings, but not sure if actual presenters must. She said it would be a good idea when we have applicants from other areas to come in and present and not sure if they can participate via Zoom James Shea asked if Zoom was going to be eliminated. Trish O’Brien advised that the Mayor would like people to be able to comment by phone but it was up to the Board to see if presenters wanted to be here. James Shea said he thought presenters should be in person. Amy Everitt stated the Board should see what happens tonight before making a decision. Bob Callahan asked if any planning had been done with the Police Department about the Black Picnic. He said it was always the third Saturday in July and he was sure they would have a crowd at the Willows. He asked if the Police Department had done any talking about it and a telephone call may be worthwhile. James Shea stated there could be thousands of people if the weather was good. Trish O’Brien said she has gotten some phone calls about the picnic, but no one has applied for a permit and no vendors. Emi Perez makes a motion to adjourn. James Shea seconds and it passes unanimously. The meeting ended at 7:55 P.M. Next meeting – Tuesday, July 20, 2021 Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Clerk -7-