Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council
Thursday, August 5, 2010
7 p.m.
120 Washington Street, 3rd~Floor
Present: Meghann Ackerman, Michael Coleman, Dorothy Hayes, Lisa Joubert, Jim Moskovis (chair), Sandi Power, Teasie Riley-Goggin, Jim Rose, Jim Treadwell, Patricia Zaido
Introductions: Everyone introduced themselves.
Neighborhood litter campaign: Sandi Power said residents could organize neighborhood litter watches, similar to crime watches. She said the City’s “Let’s Make a Clean Sweep” program wasn’t working and that police were not issuing littering tickets.
Jim Moskovis said there are also issues when properties have absentee landlords. Patricia Zaido said their need to be more trash cans so when someone does pick up litter, he or she does not have to carry it around.
Lisa Joubert asked if prisoners could be brought in to do an annual clean-up.
Jim Treadwell said the cemeteries needed attention. Meghann Ackerman said issues with the cemeteries should be reported to Ron Malionek.
Salem Common Fence: Michael Coleman shared information about the Salem Common Fence. The fence is 160 years old and has 247 sections, which are made out of cast iron. There should be nuts and bolts between the sections, which would allow the fence to expand and contract with temperature, but many sections were repaired without the nuts and bolts.
Meghann Ackerman said the City had included $50,000 in this year’s Capital Improvement Plan for fence work and that it would, hopefully, be an annual line item.
Michael Coleman said only two companies had worked on the fence and that he would like to see an outside party evaluate the fence and prioritize the work. Several people suggested other ironworkers who could repair the fence.
New NIAC membership: Jim Moskovis introduced Dorothy Hayes from the Historic Essex Neighborhood Association.
Dorothy Hayes explained that the group met for the first time and June and included the neighborhood from North to Boston streets.
The Historic Essex Neighborhood Association was accepted as a NIAC member.
Anti-Speeding Campaign: Meghann Ackerman said signs and flier had been ordered and the Salem Police were ready to start additional traffic enforcement.
Several streets; including Boston, Dearborn and Dunlop; were mentioned as either not having signs or having what members thought were improperly placed signs. Meghann Ackerman said she would find out how Police determine where to put signs.
City Survey: Meghann Ackerman handed out copies of the results of the Resident Survey that had been run through the City’s website and explained how it was conducted and some of the results.
Several members pointed out things they found interesting about the results and problems they found with the survey – including that it was limited to online and only allowed one response per computer.
The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
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