Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
7:00 p.m.
120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Members Present: Lucy Corchado, Linda Haley, Dorothy Hayes, Pat Liberti, RoseMary O’Connor, Jim Rose, Jerry Smith
Staff Present: Kristian Hoysradt (Mayor’s Office), Dominick Pangallo (Mayor’s Office), Kate Fox (Destination Salem)
Special Guest, Kate Fox, Destination Salem: Kate spoke with the group about various Destination Salem initiatives including the new 2013 Salem Visitors Guide which is now available via an online, downloadable flip book. Two years ago, DS increased funding for marketing and added a wine/dine focus to their tourism promotion, rather than just heads/beds. Last summer, DS included a Salem insert in Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston edition – 350K were printed. DS also provides a Haunted Happenings guide, website and calendar all located on Salem.org. Though there is a brief introduction translated into Spanish on Salem.org, it is generally cost-prohibitive for DS to translate their materials into foreign languages.
Salem has lost 50% of bus tour business over the last three years – DS is working on more parking to accommodate buses and motor coaches (Salem Common is not an option).
DS is appealing to boutique cruise vessels to visit Salem – the first of which should arrive in August with 100 passengers. Shore excursions will be developed – larger cruise ships are not being pursued.
DS works to promote products created by Salem Main Streets including the farmers market, various festivals etc. DS will also work to improve food vendors at various events.
Approval/Amending of Minutes: In February minutes, Kristian will fix grammar correction in the “Trash Barrels” section and change senor to sensor in the “NIAC Requests” section. Minutes for January and February meetings were approved.
Review of NIAC’s Purpose
- Allows the Neighborhood Associations to come together, foster communication, and bring issues to light for common discussion and attention, promote best practices
- Provides a direct line of communication to the Mayor’s Office for Neighborhood Associations
- Allows a forum for the Mayor to distribute fact-based information and announcements
City Updates
Community Life Center
- Named for former Mayor Jean Levesque
- Final approval is tomorrow night
- Development will break ground in one year
Canal Street Project
- $6 million flood mitigation bond going to the Council tomorrow night
- Mitigation will move forward, followed by state-funded recurbing and road improvements.
National Grid Cable Replacement
- National Grid is considering various options for relaying two cables that need to be replaced, one of which is HDD which would lay cable under the harbor
- National Grid does not want to pay for the extra costs of laying the cable along the harbor route
- The Administration is pushing to keep HDD on the table to alleviate nuisances for residents
2013 Street Paving Program
- Schedule is currently being developed
- The City has received less Chapter 90 funding which will impact the amount of roads we can pave – still need to finish up the 2012 priority list
- The revised list will soon be distributed
- City is looking into a different paint for striping, and putting in place a crosswalk painting program in high traffic areas
Power Plant Update
- Stakeholders Advisory group has met – NIAC Chair Linda Haley of the Historic Derby Street Neighborhood is a member
- Oil tanks may need to stay as part of the redevelopment
- Concern about vibrational affects and ordors
- Linda recommends an offsite location where workers would be bused in to the project to avoid additional traffic in the Derby neighborhood
Autism Awareness: The City will turn on the blue emergency lights on Tuesday, April 2nd to recognize World Autism Day – Kristian will follow-up with more information.
Adjournment: 8:48 p.m.
| 