Park & Recreation Commission

CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS JEAN A. LEVESQUE COMMUNITY LIFE CENTER 401 Bridge Street, Salem MA 01970 Tel. (978) 744-0180/(978) 744-0924 Dominick Pangallo Fax (978) 219-1665 MAYOR Trish O’Brien Superintendent MINUTES OF THE SALEM PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION May 21, 2024 A meeting of the Salem Parks and Recreation Commission was held on May 21, 2024, at 6:45 p.m., in person at 401 Bridge Street and via remote participation in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023. Present were Johnel Roberts, Chair; Members: Bob Callahan, Amy Everitt, and James Shea; Trish O’Brien, Superintendent and Commission Clerk Joanne Roomey. Absent was Deborah Amaral. Mr. Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. 1. Approval of Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of April 16, 2024 Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes meeting of April 16, 2024. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Visitors and Requests: a. Luiso appeared on behalf of FEPAU Inc., for approval to have a Christian Community Event at the Common on August 17, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. They will have amplification with speakers for worship from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and are aware of the decibel level. They estimate 1,000 attendees. They will get portable toilets, and make sure that there are accessible toilets as well. They will have five 10 x 10 tents. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Ms. Everitt made a motion to approve the use of the Salem Common to have a Christian Community Event. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. b. Elmer Galvez appeared on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club for approval to have their 21st Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run through Winter Island on November 27, 2024 (Thanksgiving Day) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Doug Bollen oversees the event. Everything is the same as last year and they will get portable toilets as well. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the 21st Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. c. Matt Boler appeared on behalf of Angie Cornwell from Danvers Church of the Nazarene for approval to have a Christian Music Concert at the Willows Shell on August 24, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 1  This is the same as last year and there were no issues or complaints. The commission wanted to make sure they were aware of the decibel limits and explained that you could not exceed 10 decibels above ambient noise from 25’ away. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Ms. Everitt made a motion to approve the use of the Willows Shell for a Christian Music Concert. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. d. Deana McManus appeared for approval to have her daughter’s graduation party at the Willows Gazebo on June 16, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m. They will have small speakers and a radio from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be approximately 20 to 25 people. They are having one 12’ x 12’ tent. Phil Laffy, a neighbor of the Willows, made a comment to make sure they are respectful and not to have the music too loud. Ms. McManus said she would be very respectful in regard to the volume and that they were mostly going to be over at the arcades. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Ms. Everitt made a motion to approve the use of the Salem Common for a Food Truck Festival. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. e. Natalie Metellus appeared on behalf of Wendy Brito for approval to have the Ministerio Cristiano Monte De Sion Evangelical Campaign at the Salem Common Bandstand on August 31, 2024 from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. to preach the word of god. They have been doing this for the last eight years and there will be no changes. They expect approximately 150 attendees and will have speakers and need electricity. Mr. Shea said they had reports of cars on the common and the volume being too loud, and they received an email from Milo Martinez regarding there being noise disturbances over the last several years. One person was yelling into a PA system for multiple hours. The email also stated instances of harassment and said armed guards were there. The neighbors were not happy with the music, the homophobic speech and did not think the armed security was appropriate. One of the neighbors appeared, Jennifer, and said last year they asked her if she wanted to be saved and she was in fear because of the armed men. She wanted them to get police details for this year. The commission said if they ask one organization to get a police detail, then they have to ask all other organizations to get one. Jennifer said the neighbors did call the police department to complain about guns on their person. Mr. Callahan said there should be a police report if there was a complaint about someone having guns. Ms. Metellus refuted and explained that they did not hire or have armed forces because they have children there. That it was no one from their congregation. She also said they will abide by the decibel rules for the noise and will make sure no cars are on the commons. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of the Salem Common with NO amplification. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2 f. Brendan McKenna appeared for approval to have a CosPlay Idol Showcase at the Willows Shell on September 7, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. He said people dress up as fictional characters and it is fun to watch them perform. He estimates 30 participants. They will have music, a microphone and singing. Mr. Shea asked if they get the choice to sing whatever they want and said there should not be any vulgar words in the lyrics. Mr. McKenna guarantees that will not happen. He said the participants are full of energy and it is a nice way to entertain people. The commission explained again about the decibel noise and that no one should drive into the parking lot. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of the Willows Shell for a CosPlay Idol Showcase. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. g. Carrie Cabot appeared for approval to have her daughter’s High School Graduation at the Willows Shell on June 8, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. They will have music, and someone will be playing a guitar. She is aware of the decibel levels. The commission reminded her that no food trucks are allowed. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Willows Shell for her daughter’s High School Graduation. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. h. Alex Bergeron appeared to request a Local Music Showcase at the Willows Shell on June 22, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Everything is the same as in previous years. He is mindful about the volume and the noise ordinance. They will have appropriate and friendly music for everyone. They will have four bands. He acknowledges that he knows that no vehicles are allowed in the Willows Park. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Willows Shell to have a Local Music Showcase. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. i. Beth Marrie appeared on behalf of Lynn Vocational Technical Institute for approval to have an 8th Grade Fun Day at the Willows Large Pavilion on June 11, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a rain date of June 10, 2024. They will have amplification from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They will have approximately 283 students and 25 chaperons (the entire staff). They will play Frisbee, pack lunches, and have a picnic. Ms. Marrie asked about where the bus should park, and the commission said on Fort Ave. They could drop off and pick up the students there. Any trash they bring in, they will also take out. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of the Willows Large Pavilion to have 8th Grade Fun Day. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 3 j. Kelly Baldassarri, SCNA, Reading of the Declaration of Independence -Commons Bandstand- July 4, 2024 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. SCNA, Summer Movie Series -Salem Common- 4 event dates: July 10, 2024, July 24, 2024, August 7, 2024, Augst 21, 2024 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. Did not appear. k. Socrates Trinidad appeared for approval to have Salem Summer Jam Inc., Family Fun Day at the Willows Shell on July 28, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is a family fun day for youths and teens. They are going to have three bouncy houses, music, games and gifts. They will have the proof of insurance and all the proper paperwork together well before the event and will make sure they are within the decibel levels. There were a couple of neighbors that disagreed with the 9:00 p.m. ending time and that they keep changing the time every time they come in front of the commission. They said usually all events end at 8:00 p.m. The group has a light show and needs some darkness for their show. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of the Willows Shell with an ending time of 8:45 p.m. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. l. Newton De La Cruz appeared on behalf of Word International to get approval for a Community Event at Mary Jane Lee Park for three days: June 29th, July 27th and August 31st, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. They will have music, games and gifts. They have done this before in the past. They are going to have speakers and will stay within the decibel levels. They are requesting three 12 x 12 tents. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of the Mary Jane Lee Park. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. m. Russell Pouline appeared on behalf of Lynn Shelter Associates to get approval to have a Family Fun Day at the Salem Willows Greens on June 29, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Previously they held events in Lynn but wanted to hold this one in Salem. They anticipate 150 attendees and will have a band and amplification. They also will have a bounce house and six 10 x 10 tents. They are aware of the decibel level. They know all the requirements and will abide by them. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Salem Willows Greens. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. n. Crystal Boschard, Overdose Awareness -Willows Shell- August 18, 2024, 2:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. Did not appear. 4  o. Jeremy Fiske, the City of Salem Special Events Manager appeared to get approval to have Juneteenth Movie on the Salem Common on June18, 2024 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with the usual SCNA movie set up. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Commons. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. p. Jeremy Fiske also appeared to get approval to have the Food Truck Festivals on the Salem Common on September 21 & September 22, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Everything is the same as last year. They will have 40+ food trucks and will follow the guidelines from Park and Recreation Department. They are aware of the new trees. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of the Commons. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 3. Old Business: None 4. New Business: Ray Jodoin appeared and said that the Fagus sylvatica (European Beech Tree) at the Willows will have to be taken down, it is a public safety issue. It is a 200-year-old tree, next to the Clam Shack. The tree is infected with insects and has just deteriorated over time. Ms. O’Brien mentioned that the city had a second opinion by a tree company to make sure there was nothing that could be done to save the tree. 5. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Salem Park and Recreation Commission this evening, Mr. Shea moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Everitt The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joanne M. Roomey Commission Clerk Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A §18-25 and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033 5