Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee

Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee January 4, 2017 – Minutes Attendees: Chairman Dominick Pangallo, Adria Leach, Ben Szalewicz, Marcia Lambert, Dana Lothrop, Polly Wilbert, Councillor Josh Turiel, Councillor Steve Dibble, Captain Riggs, Jack Hoar Absent: Guests: Councillor Tom Furey 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of December 7, 2016 Minutes • Approved with edits 3. Construction Updates A. Sophia Gordon Center for the Creative & Performing Arts - Ben Szalewicz, SSU • State building inspector will be on site on Friday for inspection. o Hoping to have a Certificate of Occupancy (COA) issued. • Questions/Comments o Polly asked about removal of the jersey barriers. Ben advised they to need to wait for the final sign off on the building. o Polly asked if the barriers will need to remain up while the sign is installed. Ben advised they would not need to stay up because they can use a lift to install the sign. o Chairman Pangallo asked how long it will take to put the sign up. Ben advised a few days. o Councillor Dibble requested that they not drive the lift on the new sidewalk. o The ribbon cutting for the theater will be held in April. o There are several upcoming events at the theater. These events will be advertised and promoted. o Dana asked when the sign will arrive & what the design plans of the sign are. Ben advised the sign has been shipped. Adria advised the design plans of the sign have not been changed since originally shared. o Ben shared that if the sidewalks are damaged from the lift, it is the contractor’s responsibility to fix it. Councillor Dibble commented that if the lift damages the sidewalks, it would not be evident for a number of years. B. Administration Building Energy Upgrades – Ben Szalewicz, SSU • A few issues came up with the state plumbing inspector on the HVAC units. o Hoping to have the issues resolved in the beginning of February. C. 287 Lafayette Street – Ben Szalewicz, SSU • Councillor Turiel & Adria have both talked to David P. There has been a lot of discussion in regards to the appearance of the HVAC unit. Councillor Turiel stated that David has advised they will paint the unit a flat color, and add additional screening. • Polly passed around a letter she wrote requesting the HVAC screening be reopened with the historical committee. • Councillor Turiel said the original biggest issue with the unit was the noise, which the screening was supposed to help. However, with the AC not being used right now, it is difficult to tell how well it is working.  • Councillor Turiel shared that he thinks the entire HVAC unit needs to be screened and that there is a glare issue as well. It is noticeable from Lafayette Street & ideally it would be screened so that you cannot see it. • A neighbor added that the screening has stopped the glare from coming into the homes. The neighbor advised that David went to the neighbors and shared several color options for the unit to be painted. • Councillor Turiel shared he believes once there is a plan in place to have further screening, it should land on the historical committee’s desk as it is a visual change. 4. Old Business A. Garage Update – Adria Leach, SSU • Occupancy sensors are not working o The lights are on during break due to this issue o SSU is working with the vendor to come out and fix the sensors o Adria advised that she is in communication with the neighbors about the lights o Councillor Furey expressed that with the technology not working in the garage, neighbors should be given options to screen their homes from the lights in the garage. • Adria shared the frustration and advised they are working on it. B. North Campus precinct study – Ben Szalewicz, SSU • Ben advised that later this month (January) there would be a presentation for the neighborhood group. • There will be a presentation to the SSUNA group in March. C. Neighborhood disturbances None 5. New Business • Councillor Dibble asked for the date of the first day of classes. Adria advised classes begin January 17th & move-in date is the weekend before. • Councillor Dibble has requested that the Salem Police have a presence in the neighborhoods for the first week when the students are back. • Councillor Dibble asked for the numbers of students who were denied parking at Central Campus. Councillor Dibble expressed his concern about where the students are going to park with the new dorms that have been built. o Adria advised that they can sit down and go over the numbers and share with the group in February. • Polly asked if there is currently a policy in place restricting residency on campus based off student’s permanent residency. o Adria advised if someone is from Salem they could live on campus. Polly asked for the numbers of students from nearby surrounding towns that are living on campus. o Adria advised that they have no plans on restricting residency on campus based on permanent residency. • Councillor Turiel expressed his thoughts on limiting who brings cars to campus (no freshman, no sophomores).  • Councillor Dibble stated he requested consideration for Sophomore resident students be restricted from bringing their cars to campus. o Adria advised she had not heard anything on this topic but will follow up for the February meeting • Marcia stated the lights on the soccer field have been on when school is not in session. o Adria will look into why the lights are on. • Councillor Dibble asked for an update on SSU’s status in the Burr Building. He asked what the lease terms are, how many parking spaces will they have & anticipated move-in date. o Ben advised they will be occupying 100% of the 2nd & 3rd floors. They are anticipating a fall move in date, and do not know about the parking yet. • Councillor Dibble asked about the baseball field at Pickman Park and where guests of the field park. o Adria advised that a packet goes out listing the address of the Enterprise Center with verbiage stating the walk from the Enterprise Center is shortest way to the field. • Councillor Dibble asked who SSU rents the field out to. He also requested to see the rental agreement and would like to add verbiage about parking. o Adria advised it is usually rented to Little League, AAU teams, etc. • Councillor Dibble advised that the state legislature has a deadline of January 20th for legislation to file. He requested to know if SSU will be hitting that date to file for the Horace Mann move. o Adria advised that the goal is to get it filed by January 20th and they have reached out for assistance from Representative Tucker. o Chairman Pangallo added they need to make sure the language appeases DCAMM. o Councillor Dibble asked who is the point person at SSU for the submission. Adria advised that she is. • Councillor Dibble asked if the draft language has been done yet. Adria advised that they are working on it. Councillor Dibble asked what is going to be included in the bill. Adria advised that all she is aware of is the Horace Mann and Harrington building swap. Councillor Dibble requested that the Horace Mann & Harrington swap be entered in as one bill for the January 20, 2017 deadline, and that other projects Salem State plans to submit be done separately so that the Horace Mann move is a simple and clean request. 6. Next meeting: Wednesday, February 1, 2017, 7:00pm Enterprise Center