Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 21, 2013
7:00 p.m.
120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Members Present: Linda Haley, Dorothy Hayes, Leslie Limon, Barbara Mann, Rose Mary O’Connor, Jerry Smith
Staff Present: Mayor Kim Driscoll, Kristian Hoysradt (Mayor’s Office)
History of NIAC: Mayor Neil Harrington established NIAC to serve as a vehicle to better have neighborhood issues addressed. The committee went dormant until Mayor Kim Driscoll revived the Council in 2008 so that neighborhoods would have a direct line of Communication with the Mayor’s Office.
New Staff in the Mayor’s Office: Mayor Driscoll’s new Chief Aide, Dominic Pangallo begins on March 18th. He replaces Jason Silva who became the new Executive Director of the Salem YMCA on February 11th.
Senior Center Proposal Overview: Mayor Driscoll provided NIAC members with a full overview of the proposal and financing that will go before the City Council in March. The Mayor’s Office will let NIAC know when the public hearing is set – looking like the second week of March.
Power Plant Overview: Mayor Driscoll provided NIAC members with a full overview of the power plant status and potential development. The power plant is set to close in June of 2014 and there is a public hearing set for February 26th at 6:30 p.m. for public input. The city is expecting 62 acres that will be set for redevelopment while the plant is converted into a natural gas plant without smoke stacks.
New Trash Contract: Mayor Driscoll discussed the status of the new 5-year trash contract for the city. Six or seven bids had been submitted and recycling will be mandatory, but not in a punitive sense. The State will provide a grant for staff to engage the city in recycling education without a focus on fines. Contract will go before the City Council in March.
Gateway Cities Meeting: Mayor Driscoll provided a summary of the Gateway Cities meeting last week and explained that the criteria for designation are per capita income, education and unemployment. The designation makes Salem eligible for grants ($1.8 mil in total so far) and there are no strings attached. Affordable housing has nothing to do with the designation, and the city simply qualified for it, we did not seek it out.
Kernwood Bridge: Does not appear that repairs were made. Mayor’s Office will check in with Mass DOT to double check. Rep. Keenan and Sen. Lovely’s offices have been contacted.
Mayor Jean A. Levesque Event: Sunday, March 24th from 1-3pm at the Moose. Donations welcome and all are invited to attend.
Annual Salem Award Presentation: Tuesday, March 27th at 7:30 p.m. at the PEM. Free for Salem residents. More information is available on the honorees at
Adjournment: 8:20 p.m.
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