Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Committee
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
7:00 p.m.
120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Lucy Corchado, Linda Haley, Dorothy Hayes, Barbara Mann, Jerry Smith
Staff Present: Kristian Hoysradt (Mayor’s Office), Jason Silva (Mayor’s Office), Karen Partanen (Director of Parks & Recreation)
Meet & Greet with New Parks & Recreation Director Karen Partanen: Karen began her new position with the City four weeks ago. She came to us from Florida where she worked in Parks & Recreation for Palm Beach Gardens overseeing 100 employees for the past 10 years, though she is originally from New England. Karen oversees the development, management and day-to-day operation of the Parks and Recreation Department and the Council on Aging. Karen plans, coordinates and directs a diversified year round, city-wide parks and recreation program including the management of the City’s parks, golf course, ball parks, swimming pool, races and various fields, parks and open spaces. Karen’s contact information is (978) 744-0733 or kpartanen@salem.com.
Online Parks & Rec Registration & Reservations: Karen has a goal of transitioning all registration for Parks & Rec programming and park reservations online.
Park Iron Barrels: Jason Silva explained that park barrels are removed during the winter months, but he would follow-up with more information.
Return of Mary Jane Lee Park Counselor Doreen Thomas: Though Karen is planning to run the same program as last summer at the park, hiring has not yet begun for the upcoming summer so she is unaware if Doreen plans on returning.
Lifeguard at Collins Cove & Extra Cops for Triathlon: The seasonal manager of lifeguards reports that the City no longer staffs Collins Cove during the summer due to the irregular tides. Karen is unsure if it would be cost effective for the City to attempt staffing the cove only on days that have the correct tides. She will look into further, and if it looks like it is in fact a reasonable and feasible request, then she would be happy to provide a lifeguard. Karen will also look into the addition of traffic cops during the triathlon.
City Fountains: Most fountains in Salem have not worked for quite a while, so Karen and Jason will speak with DPW Director Rick Rennard to see if there is a plan in place to turn the fountains back on during the upcoming summer months.
Choate Statue: NIAC members asked that a hat be removed from atop the statue and that the City trim the shrubs to prevent the obstruction of the statue’s plaque. DPW Director Rick Rennard was contacted and had the hat removed and will have the shrub trimmed before the end of January.
City Updates: Jason Silva provided the following City Updates:
Universal Steel Building
Building next to F.W. Webb has been completely torn down. The site was both vacant and decrepit for the last 20 years, and highly contaminated. All levels of government helped kick start the demolition at little cost to the City. Once the site is cleared, it will be used as temporary satellite parking while the new MBTA garage is under construction, after which the site will be sold through an RFP process. Jason provided fact sheets on the site.
Community Preservation Act
The CPA was passed during last November’s election and is in the process of implementation. The CPA working group (consisting of three members from the CPA Alliance, three City Councilors and a representative from the Mayor’s Office) will develop the ordinance which will determine the composition of the CPA Board. This board will then work to make recommendations on how to allocate the CPA funds. Board should be appointed before the end of the fiscal year.
Holiday Parking
The City is providing free parking (up to four hours) at all municipal garages, meters and lots every weekend in the lead up to Christmas.
Wind Turbines
The turbines are now officially functioning on the South Harbor Garage and will provide the following: free wireless in the area, energy for the electronic (TV) community bulletin board inside the garage, and for the garage’s security cameras.
MBTA Project
The project is on schedule.
City’s Trash Contract
Salem’s 5-year trash contract with Northside Carting expires in June. The City is re-bidding the contract in collaboration with the City of Beverly in hopes of acquiring lower bids. The City is exploring mandatory recycling as part of the new contract – the City received a State grant for recycling enforcement staff that will probably be a part time position spread over two years.
Online Permitting
The City is acquiring software to allow for all permitting and inspectional enforcement activities to be streamlined online.
Salem Common Improvements
Aggregate Industries of Swampscott Road recently donated nearly 450 tons of stone dust and provided all the equipment and labor needed for the laying of new stone dust all along the paths at Salem Common. The path was last improved 10 years ago. Globe North carried a quick blurb about the donation:
Next Meeting: NIAC will select a new Chairperson
Adjournment: 8:15 p.m.
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