Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council
City of Salem
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 4, 2009
7:00 pm
Members in Attendance: Jim Moskovis (Chair), Michael Coleman (V. Chair), RoseMary O’Connor, Jim Rose, Stan Franzeen, Shirley Walker, Leslie Limon
Members not in Attendance: Meg Twohey, Patricia Zaido, Lucy Corchado
City Staff: Jason Silva, Tom Watkins
Public: Pat Libertie, Scott Weiseberg, Beverlie McSwiggin, Teasie Riley-Goggin, Mary Beth Cambridge, Joe Cultrera, Lisa Connelly
Introduction
The group introduced themselves and identified each neighborhood group they belong to. Meeting minutes for the May meeting were reviewed and approved as amended.
Public Comment
Jim opened up the public comment period.
Beverlie recommended a change to the Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council mission statement and also informed Tom that Polly Wilbert’s name needs to be removed from the website and Jim Rose’s name added. She also stated that she supported a representative from the newly created Endicott Street Neighborhood Assoc. be formally added to NIAC. Jim said the mission statement will be under advisement.
Pat Libertie informed the group that 8 children have been funded from the Ward 4/Gallows Hill Neighborhood Assoc. to attend the summer camp at Forest River Park for a week. Rosemary mentioned a similar child camp is run by the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and is free to all children in Essex County from ages 12 – 15. It’s called the Youth Academy. Jim said he would like to get the word out on this city wide.
Scott stated that a bench has now been installed at the corner of Highland Ave and Marlborough Road blocking handicap access from the curb cut. Jason and Tom will follow up with MassHighway about removing the bench.
Beverlie informed all that the house at 103 Mason Street has been torn down by City Officials and every one in the neighborhood is thankful. She would like to see some green space put in at this location. Both she and RoseMary are looking for donations of perennials; contact RoseMary to donate. Jim Rose will give Beverlie the contact information for Sandy Power of the City’s Garden Club.
Lisa Connelly of Kosciusko Street stated that trolleys are stopping in dangerous areas along Derby Street creating a traffic flow problem. Some cars are speeding past the trolleys while they are parked. She would like to see a designated parking spot for the trolleys in front of the Friendship. She mentioned that two safety zones (painted in green_ used to be there for the buses but one was turned into two parking spots making the other spot not useable to a tourist or trolley bus – when cars are parked in the former spot buses can not navigate themselves into the other spot in front. Teasie mentioned that the trolley buses do this on Chestnut Street too and stated that all trolleys, pedicabs and horse buggies need to be better regulated.
Public Comment period closed.
Endicott Street Neighborhood Association
The group was visited by Joe Cultrera and Beth Cambridge of the newly formed Endicott Street Neighborhood Association. They stated they had their first meeting earlier this week and nearly 100 people showed up. The co-chairs of the group were voted in and are Kevin Beckwith and Jeffrey Cox. The main issue of the group is the future of St. Mary’s Italian Church and the plans the Salem Mission has for it. They also stated that the group is interested in being represented at the NIAC table. Jim will follow up with Jason on this. The group is also hosting a fundraiser at Strega Restaurant for their efforts and proposal to convert the church into a community arts center.
Trees
Jim read an email from Meg Twohey. She is concerned that the City is not replanting trees that they are removing. Jim had spoken with Jason about this. He said one of the reasons why they are not being replanted are from resident complaints and requests to have them removed.
Boston Street
Jim will follow up with Jason and Councillor Jerry Ryan on this.
Neighborhood Crime Stats
Shirley stated that there is a lot happening in the downtown and throughout all of Salem. She would like to see crime statistics from 2008 and 2009 comparing different neighborhoods of the City. Tom and Jason will work on getting this info from the Police Department.
Peabody Street Park Update
The Planning Department will be sending out a letter to area residents about the latest on the Park – including the removal of the asbestos from the site. The City is not sure who is covering the cost of the removal just yet but does know that the EPA will do the cleanup.
City Wide Construction Project Update
Jason will give a presentation at the next meeting.
Other Business
Stan stated that motorists have been running the stop sign at the intersection of Forrester Street at the Common. He also mentioned that festivities at the PLAV Club have created some disturbance in the neighborhood. Jason will follow up with Councillor McCarthy on this.
Leslie stated that a resident on Franklin Street Court is complaining of fumes and noise coming from an abutting business. Jason said that he and the Health Department are aware of this issue and he will follow up with the Health Department on this.
Shirley stated that there is a lot of sand on the sidewalks of Derby Street in the area of the garage.
Meeting Minutes recorded by Tom Watkins
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm
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