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Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee Minutes 5/15/2013
Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee
May 15, 2013 – Minutes
6:00pm - SSU Central Campus - Enterprise Center Training Room B

Attendees:      Dave Coleman, Jack Hoar, Adria Leach, Joseph O’Keefe, Dominick Pangallo, Jim Rose, and Josh Turiel

Absent:         Maureen Call, Jason Doviak, Marcia Lambert, Robert McCarthy, and Shawn Newton

Guests:         Leif Lamoray (Leftfield Inc.), Karen Cady, & Tom Torello (Salem State University)

CITY ANNOUNCEMENT
  • Dominick Pangallo announced that the city will receive $3 million from MEMA for drainage improvements on Canal Street. Work is expected to begin in early June.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
  • Library/Learning Commons Update – Adria Leach
  • The building is in the final stages
  • Landscaping and site work is ongoing
  • The contractor will be starting College Drive road work next week. The work will close College Drive near Peabody Hall and will cause traffic to be directed in and out at the Loring Avenue and Lafayette Street campus access points. Police details will be on site. This work is expected to last two weeks.
  • Phase II Deconstruction – Adria Leach
  • The contractor is waiting on regulatory approval of the work plan. They expect to begin work between now and the June meeting. The university will keep the committee and neighborhood informed through the email blast and website if anything happens between meetings.
  • Fitness & Recreation Center Addition – Leif Lamoray
  • Construction is progressing. The building is substantially enclosed and should be weather tight by the end of the month. Interior rough in is ongoing.
  • Once the building is weather tight, the contractor will begin drywall and interior finishes.
  • Councillor O’Keefe asked if a sun study had been done. Mr. Lamoray replied that it was.
ISSUES IN PROGRESS
  • Neighborhood Disturbances
  • No complaints were reported to committee members.
  • Alumni Field Lights – Adria Leach
  • The university’s facilities department has confirmed June 4 as the date for the manufacturer to return after dark to try to adjust the lights to determine if they can maintain light levels on the field while directing light away from the neighborhood. The manufacturer is short staffed and was not able to schedule a return visit until this date. Adria Leach will attend and report back at the June meeting.
  • Crossing at Former Weir Property and Central Campus – Adria Leach
  • The university is continuing to explore various alternatives. The goal is to have mitigation in place by the fall.
  • Upcoming Projects– Adria Leach
  • Modular Housing
  • The university is moving forward with a 3-story, 113-bed modular facility on a 5-year lease.~ They will be finalizing the location within the next few weeks. The area behind Peabody Hall in lot A or the area next to it in lot C are under consideration.~The plan is to have it open for Fall 2013.
  • 2015 Residence Hall
  • An architect is expected to be appointed by the MSCBA board at its meeting on May 21.~Immediately after appointment by the board, the architect will begin a study that will determine the location, scope and estimated cost of the project. At this point, several locations are still under consideration.~The plan is to take the project to the Board of Trustees in the fall for approval to proceed.~The design of the building will begin upon Board approval.
  • A member asked if the university will hire more campus police officers when there are more students living on campus. He added that they have good control now, but he was concerned about having enough personnel to deal with any issues with more students living on campus. – Ms. Leach responded that she will look into this question and will report back.
  • A member expressed concerned with a tipping point in the neighborhood for pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow. – Mr. Pangallo noted that the city is looking to test making a portion of Raymond Road a one-way street in June. He added that intersection enhancements at Loring Avenue and Lafayette Street are scheduled to be part of the city and roadway improvements in mid to late July.
NEW BUSINESS
  • Commencement – Adria Leach
  • Graduate Commencement will take place on Thursday, May 16 at 4 pm.
  • The undergraduate commencement exercises will be split into two ceremonies on Saturday, May 18. The College of Health and Human Services and Bertolon School of Business will begin at 10 am, and the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education Commencement will begin at 3 pm.
  • North Shore Community College’s commencement ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 23.
  • All commencement ceremonies are held at the O’Keefe Center.
  • Summer Meetings – Councillor O’Keefe
  • Councillor O’Keefe proposed that the SSUNAC disband for the summer.
  • The committee agreed that the June meeting should be held and that moving forward with the July and August meetings can be discussed at that point.
DEFERRED ITEMS
  • Raymond Road Traffic Study
  • Mainstage Theatre
MEETING SCHEDULE
  • The next meeting of the SSUNAC will be on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. in the Enterprise Center Training Room B located on Central Campus at 121 Loring Avenue.