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 NOVEMBER 19, 2024 A meeting of the Salem Parks and Recreation Commission was held on November 19, 2024, at 6:45 p.m., in person at 401 Bridge Street. Present were Chair Johnel Roberts; Members: Deborah Amaral, Bob Callahan, Amy Everitt and James Shea; Trish O’Brien, Superintendent and Commission Clerk Joanne Roomey. Mr. Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. 1. Approval of Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of August 20, 2024 Ms. Everitt made a motion to approve the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes meeting of August 20, 2024 as revised. Ms. Amaral seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Visitors and Requests: a. Alexis Pekrul and Brian Cogger – Wedding Ceremony - Salem Common Bandstand – December 14, 2024, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Did not appear. b. Ray Jodoin, Director of Public Works, appeared and gave a presentation of the Tree Planting Plan at Salem Willows. He said they will be doing routine pruning, stump grinding and adding 14 trees in the Fall of 2024. The 14 trees that will be added are 6 Willows; 6 Red Cedars and 2 Red Oaks. They will be adding seven more trees in the Spring of 2025 to reestablish lost tree canopy, help aid soil retention and create wind breaking. Mr. Jodoin explained where they would place the new trees and said they should have a variety of species. He suggested the Willow (Salix myrsinifolia), Red Cedar (Juniperus scopulorm) and the Red Oak (Quercus rubra). He was concerned if one tree of the same species got a disease or infected with something, then they all would. Mr. Jodoin also said they would set up a public meeting for comments or concerns. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the Tree Planting Plan for 14 trees, as listed, not including the trees along the beachside at Salem Willows. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 1  c. Darleen Melis, the Chair of the Tree Commission since 2019, appeared to describe the Salem Tree Permit process. She explained that a public or setback tree may be removed under a Tree Permit when a tree is replaced on an inch-by inch basis “as determined by the warden” (Salem Tree Ordinance Sec. 43-60). In August 2024, acting Tree Warden Conor Morgan recommended that the 32 caliper inches that the North Shore Community Development Coalition applied to remove on Union Street, could be replanted on the 13 Hawthorne Boulevard small front lawn, as well as in the Hawthorne Boulevard mall (abutting land). Mr. Morgan laid out a planting plan in a photographic display. The idea of planting new trees on the mall arose because three elms planted in 2017 in the mall had split in half and needed to be removed. The 5-elm plan was unanimously approved by the Salem Tree Commission at their August 28, 2024 meeting. Ms. Melis explained the reason why she wanted monoculture trees and also explained the opinion of the two landscape architects, the horticulturalist and the other Tree Commission members, regarding the term monoculture. Ms. Melis wanted to know why the Parks Department hired outside arborists when Salem already employed a certified arborist on staff? Ms. O’Brien stated that this was just brought to her attention and that the Tree Warden never discussed this plan for trees on parkland. Ms. O’Brien sought the opinion of the DCR arborist as the Tree Warden was no longer working for the city. Ms. O’Brien stated that there seems to be strong opinions of Landscape Architects vs Arborists or design vs. science in the field. Ms. O’Brien said tree diseases also have major impacts on the budget trying to save them – as witnessed with the Emerald Ash Borer experienced MJ Lee and Forest River Park. A variety would limit the chances of losing a shade canopy all at once. The Park and Recreation Commission was uncomfortable with a single species because of the possibility that if one tree gets a disease, all of the trees could contract it. Ms. Melis read into the minutes the attached document from the U.S. National Arboretum. Mr. Shea asked if she was willing to compromise on the tree selection/tree variety and Ms. Melis said “No”. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Shea made a motion for Mr. Jodoin and Ms. O'Brien to select three of the tree species and the Tree Commission could choose species for the two remaining trees. Ms. Everitt seconded the motion. Four voted yes and Ms. Amaral voted no. The motion carried. 3. Old Business: Tom Devine, the Senior Planner from the Planning Department, gave a project update on Palmer Cove and Mansell Field. He said Palmer Cove is at 95% completion. It started in 2015 and now it is in the final phase and ready to wrap it up. The following needs to be completed: • Seal coating of the basketball court; • Correct the basketball court drainage; • Pouring of the concrete pads for the public art; and • Signage He also said it had been so dry that they were having a hard time with the grass and may have to get someone back in the spring. Mr. Callahan wanted to know why this project has taken 2  so long. Mr. Devine said the owner of the construction company passed away this time last year and this resulted in a delay. Mansell Field is a multi-phase project and has taken years to complete. They found arsenic in the soil and had to close it down. There is an attorney working with the EPA to do one- half of the project (removal of the soil). They have an agreement with the EPA that the city is responsible for the second half of the project. They have not started Phase 2 yet. Mr. Callahan said every time he went by there, they just moved one pile of dirt to one spot and then moved it again from that spot to the original spot. Mr. Callahan asked who is overseeing the EAP and Mr. Devine said he is the Project Manager and the handling of contaminated material is overseen by a Licensed Site Professional. Mr. Devine tried to explain why they were moving the dirt all around basically to stabilize the arsenic before disposing of the material. Mr. Devine will work with the contractor to get a timeline for Phase 2. He hopes to be able to do soil removal and disposal this winter and wrap it up by the spring. Ms. O’Brien said she has ARPA funds to purchase playground equipment. She is also going to figure out ADA surfacing versus mulch to see what budget options there might be. 4. New Business: • Ms. O’Brien said there is going to be a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Salem Willows Pier on December 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Lisa Peterson from the Mayor’s office will send out an announcement. • Mr. Callahan got a call from a children’s charity for them to donate golf passes to a fund raiser. • The principal wanted to put a portable box that could be chained down at the Curtis Memorial Park to put equipment in it. • Ms. O’Brien asked if anyone was interested in being involved with the Curtis Memorial Park Focus Group. Bob Callahan volunteered to be a part of the group. • Mr. Jodoin will follow up with Chief Dion regarding gas generated lights and to see if they have different lights in Charter Street near the PEM. He has already spoken to the PEM security, Mary Butler. 5. 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 Ms. Everitt. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 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 4 5