City of Salem Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board or Committee: Salem Redevelopment Authority, Regular Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday June 10, 2015 at 6:00pm
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Chairperson, Conrad Baldini, Robert Curran, Russell Vickers, Grace Harrington
Members Absent: Robert Mitnik
Others Present: Executive Director and City Planner Lynn Duncan, Economic Development Planner Andrew Shapiro
Recorder: Jennifer Pennell
Chairperson Robert Mitnik calls the meeting to order. Roll call was taken.
Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Duncan noted that she did not have a specific report and that she wanted to focus her comments on the old/new business items regarding the District Court RFP.
New/Old Business
- Discussion of Request for Proposals (RFP) review process for former District Court property:
Duncan explained that she had looked through archived information about the Old Salem Jail RFP review process and noted that nine proposals had been submitted at the time. SRA board members reviewed all of the submitted proposals, so we will be prepared to share all of the District Court proposals. The SRA shortlisted finalists without specifically ranking them and did not consider price proposals at that point. Public interviews were then arranged for the finalist candidates. Duncan commented that confidential information could be reviewed in an executive session. Duncan noted that at some point price proposals will need to be opened after the interviews but before selecting the developer.
Duncan than shifted to note that she had just been informed that DCAMM is now requesting that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) be executed.
Vickers noted that he felt that the RFP process should proceed, while addressing the issue of an MOA with DCAMM.
Duncan explained that she felt that an extension of 30 days would be necessary to ensure that there would be time to work with DCAMM prior to having proposals submitted.
Vickers: Motion to extend RFP proposal submission by 30 days,
Seconded by Baldini. Passes 3-0.
Urban Renewal Area Projects
- 24 New Derby Street (Artists’ Row): Discussion and vote on installation of signage for:
- Stall #5 (DINO and Sheila Farren Billings)
- Stall #1 (Boston Woodturning)
- Stall #4 (Nikky Bergman Jewelry, Witch City Wicks, and The Pack Paper Co.)
- Stall # 2 (Ceramics by Sibel)
Shapiro explained that the following four proposals to be considered are all for the current Artists’ Row tenants.
Stall #5 (DINO and Sheila Farren Billings)
Shapiro noted that the proposal is for a 44” x 24” screen-printed wood sign that is to be hung on the existing sign post. There are two distinct logos on the sign. Shapiro commented that the DRB requested all brackets to be painted a black finish. The DRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal.
Baldini: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Curran. Passes 3-0.
At this point, SRA member Grace Harrington arrived and joined the meeting.
Stall #1 (Boston Woodturning)
Shapiro commented that the proposal is for a round wood painted sign with a white background and black lettering. All lettering would be hand carved. The DRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal.
Curran: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Baldini. Passes 4-0.
Stall #4 (Nikky Bergman Jewelry, Witch City Wicks, and The Pack Paper Co.)
Shapiro commented that the proposal is for a 36” x 36” sign that has 3 tiers. All signage would have a deep navy blue background with a white typeface. Shapiro noted that all signs would have black brackets. The DRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal.
Curran: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Baldini. Passes 4-0.
Stall # 2 (Ceramics by Sibel)
Shapiro commented that the proposal is for a 42” x 27.5” ceramic sign with a glazed typeface lettering screwed into a 1” thick wood. The proposed signage would be hung with black brackets.
Baldini: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Vickers. Passes 4-0
- 2-26 Front Street (Goldberg Properties): Discussion and vote on proposed replacement of roof.
Shapiro noted that the proposal is to replace the existing synthetic slate roof shingles, with new synthetic roof shingles that would resemble a “wintergreen mix” color scheme. Shapiro commented that the DRB requested that snow guards would not have a shiny metal finish. Snow guards should be a powder-coated steel or copper finish. The DRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal.
Curran: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Harrington. Passes 4-0.
- 45 Lafayette Street (The Cheese Shop of Salem): Discussion and vote on proposed installation of signage.
Shapiro noted that the proposal is for the installation of a building sign located above the entry and an additional blade sign located within the existing black bracket. Shapiro commented that the DRB requested the building signage text to be lowered slightly, and blade sign margins located on the top and bottom to be increased so lettering is more centered. The DRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal.
Harrington: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Curran. Passes 4-0.
- 7 Church Street (Jodi Bee Bakes): Discussion and vote on:
- Proposed installation of signage; and
- Proposed outdoor seating area
Shapiro noted that the proposal is for the existing green awning to have raised letters with a bee logo located above, a bee and logo located on two storefront windows with bordering along the top, and the museum mall entrance would have a raised bee located on the brick with the store name on the door. Shapiro commented that everything would be gold as recommended by the DRB. Lettering located with-in the gold border area would be black. Shapiro noted that the proposed signage does fall within the City’s dimensional allowances and that the DRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal.
Shapiro also briefly commented that the signage was being supported with a grant from the City’s Storefront improvement program.
Harrington: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Baldini. Passes 4-0.
Shapiro commented that the DRB approved the proposed 3 slate tables with two chairs located at each. Shapiro noted that the DRB requested that the brick area path would have no chairs or tables placed on it.
Vickers: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Curran. Passes 4-0.
- 144 Washington Street (Hauswitch Home and Healing): Discussion and vote on proposed installation of signage.
Shapiro commented that the proposal is for a 27”x95” building sign with the store name to be located above the main entry. The proposal also includes a blade sign to be located on the existing circular backing with the proposed applied design. Signage would have black vinyl lettering with a white background. Shapiro noted that the proposed signage exceeds allowance by 5’-0” square feet but the DRB board voted to recommend approval as presented. Shapiro noted that the DRB requested that the building signage have a larger top and bottom margin. The DRB also requested the blade signage lettering to get lowered a bit so the logo visually appears centered.
Baldini: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB,
Seconded by Harrington. Passes 4-0.
Minutes
The minutes from the May 13, 2015 regular meeting were reviewed.
Baldini: Motion to approve,
Seconded by Curran. Passes 4-0.
Adjournment
Baldini: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Vickers. Passes 4-0.
Meeting is adjourned at 6:44 pm.
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