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January 26, 2009
Attendees:      Beth Bower, Marcia Lambert, Adria Leach, Joseph O’Keefe, James Rose, Jason Silva, Andrew Soll, and John Walsh

Absent:         Lee Brossoit, Fran Carson, Jack Hoar, Robert McCarthy, and Matt Veno

Other:  April Holland, Adam Knowlton-Young, Leif Lamoray, Tom Moran, and Sandra Powers

RESIDENCE HALL
  • Beth Bower reviewed the response from President Meservey that addressed the letter the college received from Mayor Driscoll and Councilor O’Keefe, dated December 15, 2008. The presentation explained the purpose of the building and responded to concerns regarding building height, exterior design and massing of the North Wing, rooftop mechanical units, the shadow study, screening of the loading dock area, and landscaping behind the existing residence hall on Central Campus. See attached letter.
  • Councillor O’Keefe, Marcia Lambert, and Jason Silva noted their appreciation for the efforts the college has made in addressing the issues regarding the new residence hall.
  • Councilor O’Keefe asked if neighbors would be involved with the screening plans for the bike path. Ms. Bower responded that the college has been working with Bike Path Coordinator, Frank Taormina and will discuss all plans with neighbors who abut the path.
  • Councilor O’Keefe requested that the college mail the letter to all Raymond Road residents who abut the Central Campus property. The college responded it would.
  • Ms. Bower introduced Leif Lamoray of Leftfield, LLC who will serve as one of the two project managers for the length of the new residence hall project. He will be the college’s main contact for neighborhood issues. Neighbors should continue to contact the college’s Campus Police at (978) 542-6111 so that any issue is resolved in a timely manner.
  • Ms. Bower and Mr. Lamoray reviewed the overall construction schedule (See attached) and mitigation concerns.
  • Work hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If additional hours or weekend work is required, neighbors will be notified.
  • All truck access will be from Loring Avenue’s south entry. Initial delivery prior to steel erection will be at the south east gate, which is nearest to the existing Residence Hall entrance. Once the steel is erected, deliveries will be restricted at this end and will shift to the west entrance off of Loring Avenue in front of Building #1.
  • Construction Worker Parking –The contractor will lease parking spaces off campus.
  • No parking spaces will be lost on the Central Campus lot to the truck route or construction staffing needs.
  • Dust Prevention – Wheel wash, fence mesh, cover stockpiles, and wet-down dust will be written into the contractor’s specifications as requirement of the contract.
  • Noise – The contractor will be required to abide by all Commonwealth of Massachusetts noise abatement requirements. All vehicles and equipment will have appropriate mufflers. Utility excavation will follow City of Salem noise requirements
  • Vibration – The design of the foundations has been revised to be a conventional concrete spread footing foundation rather than geo-piles. Thus, vibration is not an issue.
  • Pest Control – The team will bait the surrounds of the site initially prior to the start of excavation and will follow the college’s program of baiting as the project proceeds.
  • Communication Plan
  • 24-hour hotline – Hotline calls would first go to the college’s campus police and will be forwarded to the Walsh superintendent for response.
  • Website – The college’s External Affairs webpage will house bi-weekly construction updates for the length of the project.
  • SSCNAC – The contractor and MSCBA will have a staff person available to attend meetings as necessary at the discretion of the college. The Walsh Superintendent and Mr. Lamorey will be regularly available.
  • Jim Rose asked about the status of the bond issue. Andrew Soll responded that the bonds are sold, and the project is ready to go.
  • Tom Moran stated that he is still upset with the 5-stories and the impact the college has on the neighborhood. He feels as though all decisions are made by people who don’t live in the neighborhood.
  • Tom Moran asked about plans for a subsequent residence hall. Andrew Soll responded that options for future facilities will be addressed in a master plan and will be based on the students’ demand for housing after the new facility is completed. Nothing is planned at this time.
  • Sandra Power stated that she is in favor of this residence hall project because she would rather see more students on campus than in the neighborhoods.
  • April Holland asked if increased resident students would mean less parking for commuting students. Beth Bower responded that there is no intention to grow undergraduate day enrollment. The college does not have the facilities to accommodate a larger undergraduate day population. The residence hall would allow more students to live on campus decreasing the number of students who would have to commute. Andrew Soll added that students who will live in the new residence hall will have residential parking at another campus and will not affect the commuter spaces on Central Campus.
ARTIFICIAL TURF AT O’KEEFE CENTER AND BASEBALL FIELD
  • The college and the city have received a communication from the South Salem Neighborhood Association Executive Committee in reference to the January 19, 2009 Boston Globe article, “In fake grass, some see real threat: Tests reveal lead in school fields” by Megan Woolhouse, regarding synthetic turf and potential lead leeching. The article stated that issues have arisen nationally with older, synthetic turf installations in reference to possible lead levels.  The college is in contact with the manufacturers of their turf and will provide additional information at the February meeting.
MEETING TIME
  • It was requested by Councilor Matt Veno that the meeting time be moved from 5:30 p.m. to a later time. The committee voted that all future meetings will take place at 6:30 p.m.


MEETING WITH THE CITY OF BEVERLY
  • Jason Silva relayed that he, Councilor O’Keefe, and Salem Police met with the City of Beverly regarding the City’s issues with college students in their neighborhoods. The cooperation between the City of Salem and Salem State College is seen as a model for other college towns to follow.
SSC COMMUNITY DAY
  • Jason Silva called for ideas for Salem State’s community service day on March 19, 2009. This event is a follow up to the freshman orientation community service day and is an opportunity for students who are not able to travel to New Orleans to work with hurricane Katrina victims the opportunity to provide community service at home. In addition to the partnerships the college has established with area non-profits, it is looking for project ideas in and around South Salem. Members with project ideas should contact Jason Silva.
  • Sandra Power suggested that the City come up with a project for students to clean the bike path, between the fences in particular.
NEW BUSINESS
  • Jim Rose reviewed input he received from members of the South Salem Neighborhood Association:
  • Parking along Loring Avenue hinders travel of fire trucks – City will check into this as it is public parking. City will also review with the state as it is a state highway.
  • Students and faculty parking in bus stops – Beth Bower noted that reminders have gone out to the campus community to not park in bus stops along Loring Avenue and Lafayette Street. She also noted that the legislature passed a bill (H4314) that raised the penalty for parking in a bus stop to $100, which should prevent repeat offenders who receive a ticket.
  • Harrison Road Traffic Light – Jason Silva stated that this is a Massachusetts Highway Division issue, but that he has spoken to the city electrician about the timing and he feels it is appropriate for the location.
  • Parking along Monroe Road and blocked access to the neighborhood park – Jason Silva believes that resident parking was in the works between Councilor O’Keefe and Lieutenant Robert Preczewski. Beth Bower added that the college posted parking signs for baseball field and tennis court activity. Letters have also gone out to opposing teams with instructions on where to park and how to access the field. Mr. Silva noted that he will ask Councilor O’Keefe to address this matter in the next meeting.
  • John Walsh stated that there are several neighbors on Broadway who do not shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes, causing students to walk in the middle of the street. He asked if there was a way to have this path plowed by the college or monitored by the city. Andrew Soll noted that there were ethical concerns with having state employees plow private property on state time and that if there was damage done to the property during the snow removal process, the college would be held liable. Jason Silva noted that City Hall is keeping a running tally of non-plowed sidewalks based on neighbor complaints. The first complaint will result in a warning, the second in a fine. He added that all non-plowed sidewalks should be reported so that the issue can be monitored.
  • Marcia Lambert asked that the neighborhood representatives remind their constituents to remove their cars from the O’Keefe lot following snow emergencies.
  • Adam Knowlton-Young introduced himself as a representative from North Shore Community Mediation, Inc.
MEETING SCHEDULE
The next meeting of the SSCNAC will take place on Monday, February 23 at 6:30 in the Enterprise Center Training Room B located on Central Campus at 121 Loring Avenue.