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 JUNE 18, 2024 A meeting of the Salem Parks and Recreation Commission was held on June 18, 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 Members: Bob Callahan, Amy Everitt, and James Shea; Trish O’Brien, Superintendent and Commission Clerk Joanne Roomey. Absent were Johnel Roberts and Deborah Amaral. Ms. Everett called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. 1. Approval of Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2024 Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes meeting of May 21, 2024. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Visitors and Requests: a. Haunted Happenings Events: 1. Jeremy Fiske appeared from the City of Salem on behalf of Rinus Oosthoek for approval to use the Salem Common for the 2024 Haunted Biz Baz on October 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on October 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Everything is the same as last year. 2. Jeremy Fiske appeared for approval to use the Salem Common Gazebo for the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade on October 3rd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No changes to the route, same as previous years. 3. E.J. Dean appeared from Fiesta Shows for approval to use the Salem Common for the 2024 Food Court from October 1st through the 31st from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. No changes from last year. 4. John Andrews appeared from Creative Collective for approval to use the Common for the 2024 Markets on the Common on September 28th and 29th (to do markets on the Common); October 12th and 13th, October 19th and 20th and October 26th through the 31st with a start time of 10:00 a.m. End time on Saturdays 9:00 p.m.; Sundays 6:00 p.m.; and October 31st at 9:45 p.m. 1  Mr. Callahan said it was tight last year with the vendors on both sides. Mr. Andrews said he will spread it out differently this year. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion, with the stipulation if there are “choke points”, than they need to bring it to the commission’s attention, to approve the use of the Salem Common for Haunted Happenings Event. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. b. Lloyd Benson appeared for approval to use the Salem Willows to have a North Shore Senior Citizen Barbeque on June 22, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until sunset. They will have a Bluetooth speaker for amplification from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. only for announcements, no music. All volunteers and seniors will bring their own picnic lunch. They will have a free raffle to give away gift cards. They estimate 100 seniors from Lynn to Newburyport to be there. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of Salem Willows to have a North Shore Senior Citizen Barbeque. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. c. Kelly Baldassarri from SCNA appeared for approval to use the Commons Bandstand on July 4, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for a Reading of the Declaration of Independence and for SCNA 2024 Summer Movie Series on the Salem Common on the following dates: July 10, 2024; July 24, 2024; August 7, 2024; and Augst 21, 2024 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with (Rain dates July 31st and August 28th). They need amplification and it is the same as last year. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Salem Common. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. d. Ventura Loredo appeared from Salem Methodist Church for approval to use Mary Jane Lee Park for Evangelism Campaigning on Saturday, July 13, 20224 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. They will set up a sound system for music. Ms. O’Brien explained the decibel criteria and they said they will make sure they are within the levels. They will give out bible verses and it is open to the public. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion to approve the use of Mary Jane Lee Park for an Evangelism Campaign. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. e. Jocelis Espinal appeared on behalf of P2P Basketball for approval to use the Forest River Basketball Court on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from July 1st to Aug 9th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for their summer league basketball games. They will need lights and amplification. Mr. Callahan said to make sure the sound level is within the decibel limits. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Forest River Basketball Court. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2  f. EvaristusNdun, Ekona USA Association Youth – McGrath Park - Saturday July 13, 2024 Ekona Youth Assoc vs Sobans – BBQ, drinks, food, music 2:00pm-8:00pm. Did not appear. g. Crystal Boschard, Overdose Awareness Event – Willows Shell – August 18, 2024 2:00pm- 6:00pm amplification Did not appear. h. Stephen Smart appeared for approval to use the Salem Common Pavilion for a music event on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be approximately eight musicians. They will have guitar and base players. They will sing hymns and have sing along. They will need the lights to be on until 8:00 p.m. They estimate 100 to 200 attendees. They will stay withing the decibel limits. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the use of the Salem Common Pavilion for a music event. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 3. Old Business: The commission had a discussion to return to in-person meetings only or hybrid. Ms. Everitt said the technology is sometimes unreliable and it makes it difficult for folks to hear remotely. Ms. O’Brien said they have received complaints regarding the volume, and that people cannot hear the attendees clearly. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to return to in-person meetings only. Mr. Shea seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously 4. New Business: There was a discussion about the golf carts and going through a different vendor and outside groups having a hard time with the billing and paying up front for extra carts. Ms. O’Brien will look into this with Paul Lever. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Salem Park and Recreation Commission this evening, Mr. Callahan moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Shea. The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 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 3