Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council
City of Salem
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Draft Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 4, 2010
7:00 pm
Members in attendance: Jim Moskovis (Chair), Jim Rose, Jeff Cox, RoseMary O’Connor, Leslie Limon, Liz Cronin, Ana Gordan
Members not in attendance: Michael Coleman (V. Chair), Lucy Corchado, Patricia Zaido, Meg Twohey
City staff in attendance: Jason Silva, Chief Administrative Aide to the Mayor
Public in attendance: Pat Liberti, Scott Weisberg; Matt Veno
Introduction
NIAC members introduced themselves and which neighborhood group they represent.
Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes (February 2010)
The board reviewed draft minutes from the February 4, 2010 NIAC meeting. Corrections were discussed and minutes were approved with corrections.
Public Comment Period
Pat Liberti thanked Jason Silva for following through on her request that the sidewalk at Highland Ave. & Marlborough Road be made handicap accessible.
Recent Storm & Power Outage
RoseMary O’Connor said she was pleased with the City’s website & emails updating residents of the recent power outage. She said that her neighbor, Lisa Gilbert, reported that emergency shelter at the Bowditch School had been provided for residents without power. Leslie Limon reported that the power outage in the Northfields neighborhood had lasted for two days. She said that the City had notified neighborhood residents of updates 24 hours after they had first lost power. She said that other City residents had received a different message earlier in the day, and asked if the notifications had been staggered. Jason replied no, that the City had sent the same notification to all residents at the same time. Jim Moskovis mentioned that landline phones should still work during a power outage.
Jason reported that the City suffered $125,000 in storm damages & repairs. He said that the Willows suffered the brunt of the storm damage – the pier and gazebo had been damaged. He said that the Blaney Street Pier suffered $25,000 in damage. In addition, the Collins Middle School Roof had been damaged, and approximately 50 trees were lost in the Greenlawn Cemetery. Jason said that the Federal Government might assist with funding for repairs, but only if all damage from the storm in Massachusetts exceeds a threshold of $8.5 million. If not, Salem will have to cover its own repair costs.
Public Comment Period Closed
Double Poles
Jason reminded the group & meeting attendees that he has postcards available for anyone interested in voicing support for the State bill that would allow communities to fine utility companies for double utility poles. The postcards contain a statement to local state representatives in support of the bill; residents can sign the postcards and return them to him at City Hall, and he will forward them to the representatives. Jason will check on when the vote for the bill is anticipated to occur, and added that Rep. John Keenan supports the bill. NIAC Draft Meeting Minutes 3/4/10 Page 2 of 3
Other Business
Paving Priorities
Jason said that David Knowlton, City Engineer, has offered to attend the April NIAC meeting to provide an update of the City’s paving management plan. The group was open to adding this item to the agenda. RoseMary mentioned that repairs have been made recently to Route 114 pavement.
Salem CDC / Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition
Jason said that Mickey Northcutt, a representative of the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition, asked to present at the May NIAC meeting to discuss the proposed merger of the BAHC with the Salem Harbor Community Development Corporation. The group was open to adding this item to the agenda.
Transfer Station Project
Jason gave an update on the City’s progress with selling the current Transfer Station land on Swampscott Rd. to Northside Carting. The City currently owns the land (surplus property), which for the past 20 year has been, and is currently, operated by Northside Carting to process and transfer trash. Recently, the Mass DEP required that the current site be cleaned up. In order to gain revenue from the surplus property and hand off the clean-up responsibility to another party, the City had issued an RFP to garner proposals for redevelopment of the land. The City received two proposals – both for continued use as trash processing/transfer facilities. Northside Carting had the more attractive proposal, in which it proposed a processing capacity of 400 tons/day, as opposed to Capital’s proposal of a 650
ton/day capacity. Under Northside Carting’s proposal, the new transfer station will process construction & demolition waste, as well as household trash – currently, the transfer station only processes C&D waste.
Under pending agreement, Northside Carting would be responsible for the site clean-up, which involves “capping” the existing land and increasing processing capacity. Both the Salem Conservation Committee and the Board of Health have approved the proposal, and as of March 4, a 30-day appeal period is in effect for the Board of Health’s decision. Jason said that the City Council still needs to approve the proposal with a 2/3 vote in favor, and the date for that vote is still TBD.
Jason will send a list of FAQ’s about the project to the group to distribute to their neighbors, so that residents can better understand the project and its status. He said that there is some opposition to the plan; some have expressed that the increase in trash processing capacity will mean an undesired increase in truck traffic on Highland Ave (the transfer station is proposed to serve several surrounding communities).
Liz Cronin asked if the DEP has set a deadline for site clean-up. Jason replied that they have, and that the deadline has passed, and keeps being pushed later. He said that the DEP has so far been cooperating with the City, but could at any time fine the City $2,000 for each day past the deadline.
RoseMary asked what the potential revenue will be for the City once the deal is completed. Jason replied that the City will be collecting $250,000/year in property tax plus a fee per ton of waste processed.
Jason will find out how the site clean-up will affect current operations. Pat L. asked if the new facility will be open-air, as it is now, or if it will be enclosed. Jason said he believes that it will continue to be open-air. Jeff asked if Salem has considered a “pay-as-you-throw” system to help pay for trash collection.
Jason replied that the City had considered it, but it’s unlikely to implement such a program. He said that a PAYT-type program is not related to the current Transfer Station deal.
Jeff Cox mentioned that the increase to weekly recycling pickup has been a great boon for the City. Jason said that it costs $100,000 more per year to pick up weekly, but that recycling rates have doubled as a result. He said that setting a barrel limit per household for curbside pickup has saved the City significant money. He said that the State regulations for C&D waste and cardboard recycling are being strictly enforced. NIAC Draft Meeting Minutes 3/4/10 Page 3 of 3
Website
Jeff asked if the City’s online Constituent Service Center on www.Salem.com, where residents can report issues, will be a mobile app. Jason replied that while it’s technically possible, there aren’t any immediate plans to implement a mobile app. He added that the online reporting service is working well; each complaint is assigned at tracking number. If a concern is not acted upon sufficiently, he said to call him at the Mayor’s office to expedite the action.
The Willows
RoseMary said that the men’s room at the Willows will be converted into a BBQ concession stand. Jeff said that small vendors, such as the kayak rental business, help make the Willows a more attractive destination. Jason added that the City has been investing in the Willows as a destination. RoseMary mentioned that having parking meters at the Willows lots may deter people from spending time there. Leslie Limon reported that the Salem Sound Coastwatch has new adopt-a-beach clean-up opportunites.
Citizens’ Academy
Jason distributed a handout describing plans for a free series of workshops designed to education residents about various aspects of City operations. He said that similar programs in other communities have been very successful. RoseMary mentioned that the Mack Park Neighborhood Association has been making an effort to do this on a smaller scale, and it has been very popular.
Themes proposed for the Citizens’ Academy include Public Safety, Mayor/City Council/Finance, Schools, and Parks & Recreation. Jason hopes that the Citizens’ Academy will become an annual occurrence.
Jim Moskovis announced that the next NIAC meeting will be held on April 1.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm
Meeting minutes by Ana Gordan
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