2026-09-24 - City Council

00:20A regular meeting of the city council

00:22was held in person on Thursday,

00:25September 24th, 2026 at 7 p.m. for the

00:28purpose of transacting any and all

00:30business. Notice of this meeting was

00:32posted on September 22nd, 2026 at 4:31

00:36p.m. This meeting is being recorded and

00:38is live on SATV and Zoom unless

00:41technological issues interrupt the

00:43transmission. Councilors absent,

00:45councelor Prosnki, Council President

00:48Merkel presiding. Councelor King moves

00:50to dispense with the reading of the

00:51record of the previous meeting. All in

00:53favor? So voted.

00:56I now request that everyone please rise

00:58to recite the pledge of allegiance led

01:00by counselor

01:00>> heard

01:03to the flag of the United States of

01:06America and to the republic for which it

01:08stands one nation under God indivisible

01:12with liberty and justice for all.

01:19The Salem City Council honors that this

01:21land is Namkeg or fishing place where

01:24generation of Namkeg people from the

01:26potucket band of the Massachusett tribe

01:29lived and passed through for centuries.

01:31We acknowledge that this is unseated

01:33indigenous land and also acknowledge the

01:36Massachusett tribe who continued to

01:38honor and hold this land into the

01:41present. Salem City Council is committed

01:43to having ongoing meaningful dialogue

01:46with the indigenous peoples who have

01:48presence in Salem in order to dismantle

01:51the legacies of oppression and

01:52inequities that persist today. Public

01:55comment. Public testimony is not to

01:58exceed 15 minutes. Public testimony is

02:00not a public hearing or question and

02:02answer period. Sign up must occur 30

02:04minutes prior to the meeting. The

02:06president shall, depending on the number

02:08of speakers, set a time limit not to

02:11exceed 3 minutes which each individual

02:13presenting testimony must abide. Tonight

02:16we have two people signed up to speak

02:18and each will receive three minutes to

02:21talk.

02:22And first we have Paulie Wilbert. And if

02:26you like, please state your name and

02:28address for the record.

02:39Can we see Polly?

02:46>> Hi Paulolly. Can you hear us?

02:53>> Please raise your hand if you can.

03:12We're just working on the transmission.

03:14Paulie,

03:17>> go ahead. Paulie.

03:18>> Thank you. Uh, Madame President, I have

03:21three quick comments. One is about the

03:25backup materials package to the agendas

03:29which I believe is too difficult for the

03:31average citizen to find. Um I would

03:35point to you the city council agendas

03:38for both Beverly and Peabody which is a

03:42oneclick open of the package which

03:45includes the agenda and the backup

03:47materials and I would urge us to go to a

03:50similar system. Um there are too many

03:53steps to find the backup materials for

03:56the agenda for the city council. My

03:59second point is tonight

04:02uh in my viewing of the backup package

04:05which I find I did find if you go to

04:08page 74, page 84, page 89, page 94, page

04:1599, page 104, those are all duplications

04:20of the same materials.

04:22Now, in my mind, this says there's

04:24either not been enough training,

04:27the technology is too difficult

04:30or staff is rushing.

04:33Um, I I don't think this is helpful. It

04:37doesn't speak to credibility. Um, and I

04:40think that needs some examination.

04:44And my third point tonight is the agenda

04:46item for the new skipper.

04:49Uh I find this uh candidly to be

04:53insulting. There is not enough data in

04:56the materials that were provided.

04:58There's no dollars and cents. Um there's

05:01no information that details the kind of

05:04contract that you are being asked to

05:07create a 5-year timeline on. Uh my

05:10understanding is that the previous

05:12skipper contract uh may have um created

05:17rides that were $20 a piece. Um it we're

05:21a small city. I find that really

05:25difficult to support. So, um I don't

05:29think these kinds of agenda submissions

05:32where there's so little detail that the

05:35public cannot even get an initial

05:37understanding

05:38of what's actually going to be

05:41considered uh is appropriate and I would

05:45urge the council not to accept these

05:47kinds of agenda items with so little

05:50detail um to be published uh before you

05:54all consider it. and that's even if it's

05:57going to committee. Uh I just don't

05:59think that this is an appropriate way to

06:01start uh a subject trail um and to have

06:06the public understand what h what's

06:08happening. So those are my three

06:10comments and I'm very concerned about

06:13each of the three uh issues that I've

06:16raised here tonight. Thank you.

06:19>> Thank you.

06:23Next we have Carol Kent.

06:28Go ahead.

06:34>> Carol, can you hear us?

06:52Carol, if you're here, if you could

06:54raise your hand.

07:03Do we see her online at all?

07:13Okay. And I'm not sure my mic is working

07:16now because I have it on.

07:24Carol, go ahead and talk.

07:32Carol was still working on the it to see

07:34if we can get you on. Carol, can you

07:37please unmute yourself?

07:52Hello.

07:54>> Hi, Carol. Can you hear us now?

07:56>> I can. I'm sorry.

07:58>> I saw you for a moment.

08:00>> Oh, I just have been trying to get

08:01online. Uh, sorry. I wasn't expected to

08:05talk, so

08:08I'm not sure. signed up to be on the

08:12Zoom.

08:15>> Okay. Thank you. Would you like to give

08:17any public comment?

08:19>> Well, um I had written to um some of the

08:23counselors at large. I live at uh

08:25Harborview Terrace across from Salem

08:28State College and as [snorts] many of

08:30you know that it's been under

08:31construction for several years and this

08:34summer has just been very loud and um

08:38there is supposed to be done with it at

08:40the end of October [snorts] the parking

08:43area. My concern is the noise factor

08:46noise ordinance and I'm not sure what it

08:48is in Salem in [snorts] regard to

08:50residential. Um, I had submitted my

08:54thoughts about uh possibly obviously

08:58restricting the gas leaf blowers and

09:03substituting them obviously for the

09:05electric blowers and sooner the better

09:08and I know that it takes time, but um it

09:11has been just an really loud ward five

09:15here uh especially for folks on uh

09:18Lafayette Street right across from the

09:20college. uh spoke with one of the

09:22residents and she couldn't even open her

09:24windows during the day because the noise

09:26is so loud. This is pretty uh standard

09:30for Salem State. They've been going

09:31under construction, but I do think the

09:33city can do help us in our neighborhoods

09:36for landscaping uh giving them a break

09:39between Memorial Day and Labor Day just

09:42like Marblehead and Swampscott and

09:44Conquered and some of the other

09:46communities in Massachusetts. I would uh

09:49put that up for a a vote to do that for

09:52next year 2027.

09:54Uh while you're trying to get the leaf

09:56blowers uh you know uh changed out. Um

09:59also just the timing of people uh during

10:02the week when they do their landscaping.

10:04It'd be really nice to have Sunday off.

10:07At this time Salem State is working on

10:10Saturday, so we have it on six days a

10:12week right now. and landscapers are free

10:16to blow and use their chainsaws wherever

10:19and whenever. I do think Sunday should

10:21be a day of rest. And that's my comment.

10:24Thank you.

10:26>> Thank you.

10:26>> Thank you.

10:30>> And that concludes our public testimony.

10:34>> Hearings.

10:39We have an order from National Grid to

10:40install conduits on Bridge Street in

10:42front of 252 Bridge Street, MBTA

10:46station.

10:47Is there anyone appearing in favor?

10:51And please state your name and address

10:52for the record.

10:55>> Hi, my name is John Jenkins. Um, I'm

10:59representing National Grid from the 44

11:01River Street office at Beverly.

11:05Um we are petitioning for the

11:08installation of

11:11121 ft of 24in concrete encase PVC

11:16um coming from the property line of 252

11:18Bridge Street to manhole

11:2331 located uh on Bridge Street. Um

11:28there's currently a AT&T cell antenna on

11:33pole 480 um 4849

11:38that is fed from poles located within

11:41252 Bridge Street that need to be

11:44removed for their construction. So this

11:46is the way to refeed it.

11:49>> Great. Thank you.

11:51>> Yep.

11:52>> Anything further you'd like to offer?

11:54Oh, I was going to say that um the

11:57customer will be completing all the

11:58construction for this one besides Oh,

12:02they'll be completing the installation

12:04of the handhole on their property

12:06[snorts]

12:06and the conduit in the street and then

12:10our civil will [snorts] be um stuffing

12:13it in into the existing manhole.

12:16>> Great. Thank you.

12:17>> Yep. Is there anyone else appearing in

12:20favor

12:23in person or on Zoom? Anyone in favor?

12:28Oh, I don't see anyone. Is there anyone

12:30appearing in opposition that would like

12:33to come up?

12:35Is anyone appearing in opposition uh on

12:38Zoom?

12:40Seeing none, uh do any of the counselors

12:43have questions or comments at this time?

12:48Okay, seeing none, councelor Halapa.

12:50>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move to

12:52close the public hearing.

12:54>> All those in favor of closing the public

12:56hearing is so voted. Councelor Halapa.

13:00>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move this

13:01be granted.

13:02>> Council Halapa moves that this be

13:04granted. Under discussion, Council

13:05Halapa.

13:07>> No discussion.

13:08>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

13:11Seeing none on council Halapa's motion

13:14that these conduits on Bridge Street be

13:16granted. All those in favor? All those

13:19opposed. The matter carries.

13:24Further hearings. We have an order from

13:25National Grid to install conduits on

13:27Naple Road Naples Road at the

13:30intersection of Naples Road and

13:32Hemingway Road. Thank you. Is there

13:35anyone appearing in favor? Again, please

13:38state your name and address for the

13:39record. Uh I'm John Jenkins from

13:42National Grid. Um I'm from the 44 River

13:45Street office in Beverly.

13:49Um

13:50we are proposing the installation of

13:53plus or minus 5 ft of conduit um going

13:57from pole 2881

14:01through the sidewalk to the property

14:03line of

14:06sorry one sec.

14:09um 17 Naples Road. Um this is for uh

14:14customer service. Uh they will own the

14:17conduit and complete the trenching.

14:21>> Great. Thank you. Is there anyone else

14:23appearing in favor?

14:28>> Would you like to appear in favor, sir?

14:30Um

14:31>> if if you would please come up so they

14:33can hear you in our in our meeting.

14:35Okay.

14:37>> [snorts]

14:39>> Thank you. And please state your name

14:41and address for the record.

14:47>> Eden Milroy,

14:499 Naples Road.

14:51Um, I'm not here to speak either in

14:55opposition or in support. Uh I would

14:59just like to have uh and and a number of

15:04the people on on Naples Road would like

15:07to have more information about the work

15:10that's actually taking place.

15:14>> Great. Thank you.

15:18>> Would you like to add any additional

15:19information? Um the customer will be

15:24installing conduit from the pole which

15:26is

15:28on the it's sidewalk and then grass in

15:30the street. So they're going to be going

15:33just through the sidewalk to their

15:34property line.

15:35>> So all the work is just right at that

15:39local

15:40>> Yep. It it'll be contained basically to

15:43>> you know the sidewalk entirely.

15:45>> Thank you.

15:46>> Great.

15:46>> Yep.

15:47>> Thank you. Anything further? No. Great.

15:50Thank you. Uh, anyone else appearing in

15:53FA favor either in person or online?

16:02>> Carol Kent, do you have your hands ra

16:04your hand raised uh to speak on the

16:06conduits, the proposed conduits on

16:08Naples Road?

16:10>> Oh, I'm just a neighbor and um it was

16:13just a mistake that my hand rose.

16:16>> Okay, great. Thank you.

16:21Is there anyone appearing in opposition

16:25either in person or online?

16:31Seeing none, do any of the counselors

16:33have questions or comments? Councelor

16:36King.

16:38Thank you, [snorts]

16:38uh, President Merkel. Um, just for the

16:41folks that are uh watching online and

16:43are not as fluent in the language of

16:46conduits, could you describe what you

16:48mean when you say a conduit that is

16:50going from this pole to the to the

16:53customer's house? Can you just like talk

16:55about what that actually physically is

16:57like a is it a cable whatever it is?

17:00Yeah.

17:00>> Um, when I say conduit, I mean it'll be

17:03probably be I don't think it says the

17:05size in this, but it's a PVC pipe that

17:09goes usually 2 ft underground and is um

17:12concrete encased.

17:14And that will be the part going through

17:16the sidewalk. And then there is a metal

17:18riser that goes up the pole, which if

17:21like if you've seen um any electric pole

17:24with the like metal coming up from the

17:26ground, that's what that is. Um, so

17:29that's right on the pole, so it's not

17:31really like a uh it doesn't interfere

17:33with anything.

17:34>> Okay. And then my follow-up question is

17:37because it has to go underneath a

17:39section of the sidewalk. I imagine

17:41you'll be digging up some amount of

17:43sidewalk. Do you have a sense of how

17:45much like how many chunks of sidewalk

17:47you're planning to to pull up this? Um,

17:50this is the customer owns this, so

17:53they'll be the one um completing the

17:56trenching or whoever they contracted out

17:58to. But the sidewalk there is uh

18:04[snorts] like cement slabs. So, it would

18:06be, you know, within one that they're

18:09probably like four 4T or so cuz you only

18:12need per trench maybe 18 in.

18:16>> Okay. Your estimate is probably one slab

18:18of sidewalk. Pretty straightforward.

18:20Okay,

18:20>> great. Thank you. [snorts]

18:22>> Thank you. Do any of the counselors have

18:25any further questions or comments?

18:29>> Seeing none, council Varela.

18:33Oh, I'm sorry, Councelor King.

18:35>> Thank you. I move that the hearing be

18:37closed.

18:41>> Councelor King moves that the hearing be

18:43closed. All those in favor?

18:46It is so voted.

18:49Councelor King.

18:50>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

18:52this be granted.

18:53>> Councelor King moves that this be

18:55granted. Under discussion, Councelor

18:56King.

18:57>> No discussion.

18:58>> Any further discussion?

19:00Seeing none on Councelor King's motion

19:03uh that these conduits on Naples Road be

19:06granted. All those in favor?

19:08All those opposed? The matter carries.

19:14>> [snorts]

19:15>> Further hearings.

19:17>> We have an order from National Grid to

19:18install conduits on Web Street at the

19:20intersection of Web Street and Fort

19:22Avenue.

19:26>> Is there anyone appearing in favor?

19:28Again, please state your name and

19:29address for the record.

19:30>> I am John Jenkins. Um, I'm representing

19:34National Grid from the 44 River Street

19:36office in Beverly.

19:38Um, we are proposing the installation of

19:41plus or minus 5 ft of conduit and

19:44customer service cables through the

19:46sidewalk from pole 3005 located on um,

19:52Web Street.

19:54Uh, this is for [snorts]

19:58uh, the customer service for the new

20:00construction at 21 Web Street.

20:03>> Thank you.

20:05Is there anyone else appearing in favor?

20:10Is there anyone appearing in favor

20:11online?

20:14Seeing no one, uh, is there anyone

20:16appearing in opposition?

20:20Seeing no one, does do any of our

20:23counselors have questions or comments?

20:27Seeing none, Council Tr.

20:31>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move to

20:32close the public hearing. Councelor

20:33Trroski moves to close the public

20:36hearing. All those in favor? It is so

20:39voted.

20:41Councelor Trroski.

20:43>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

20:44this be granted. Councilor Trosky moves

20:46that these be granted. Under discussion,

20:48councelor Trroski.

20:50>> No discussion.

20:52>> Any further discussion?

20:54Seeing none, on councelor Trrosk's

20:57motion that the conduits on Web Street

21:00be granted. All those in favor, all

21:03those opposed.

21:05Matter carries.

21:07>> Thank you. [snorts]

21:10>> And further hearings. We have an order

21:13from Go Net Speed to install and

21:15maintain underground fiber optic

21:16facilities on Jefferson Avenue.

21:20>> Is there anyone appearing in favor?

21:23>> Please state your name and address for

21:24the record.

21:26>> Hello, my name is John Delahan

21:28representing Go Net Speed. um 25 Campus

21:31Drive, New Glower, Maine.

21:34Um so the purpose of this, well, let's

21:35back up. It's the corner of Jefferson

21:37and Dove. As you stated, this is uh

21:39we'll be starting at pole number 34 and

21:41we will bore approximately 235 ft. Um

21:46and heading northeast and then terminate

21:48at pole number 32. Um we'll have our

21:51fiber optic cables buried in there. The

21:54purpose for this is continuity. So um

21:56maybe a little bit of background go net

21:58speed we are coming in or planning to

22:00come into Salem to provide uh fiber

22:02broadband internet to residents and

22:04commercial folks. Uh we [clears throat]

22:06are now uh serve about 11 we serve 11

22:09states in the northeast. Um we've been a

22:12provider for quite some time. We have we

22:14do everything from construct to then

22:15operate the network. We have our own

22:17customer care, our own techs. Um, we

22:19have active service in Massachusetts,

22:21but it's in the eastern part of the

22:23state right now in Springfield in the

22:24surrounding greater Springfield area.

22:26Um, and the construction for Salem isn't

22:30slated until the fourth quarter of next

22:33year. And of course, we'll work with the

22:34city to figure out timing and all the

22:37um, you know, follow all the proper

22:38ordinances when it comes to that. And

22:40just one other point is we are um, we

22:42build aerally. So, we build and attach

22:44to poles. We license Wood National Grid

22:47to attach our fiber strand to those

22:48poles. We do not go underground except

22:51for this scenario. The reason why we're

22:52looking to go underground is as I said

22:54continuity because in Massachusetts um I

22:57want to get too deep here, but there's

22:58no legislation that's called one-touch

23:00make ready. So it can take up which that

23:03means one contractor can move all the

23:05facilities from one pole to the other.

23:07There won't be all double woods

23:08everywhere. Unfortunately, double poles

23:11um that happens quite a bit in

23:12Massachusetts and it can take a year

23:14plus to get that um new pole set and

23:16facilities switched over. So, as we're

23:18building, we don't want to have one side

23:19of the street have service and the other

23:21side wait a year plus to get that uh

23:23service. So, that's the purpose is to

23:25make sure um we have that continuity

23:27when the build schedule is ready.

23:29>> Thank you.

23:31Is there anyone else appearing in favor?

23:35Is there anyone else online appearing in

23:38favor?

23:40Is there anyone appearing in opposition

23:44in person or online?

23:47Seeing none, uh, do any of the

23:49counselors have questions or comments?

23:53>> Yes, Councelor Sedora.

23:55>> Thank you, President Merkel. Uh, I just

23:56want to, uh, thank you for being able to

23:58do that site visit with you. Um, doing

24:01research into your company. Um, I I I

24:04hear a lot of great things and I'm just

24:06excited to get a lot more competition

24:08and uh opportunities for our residents

24:11here and taking another go at fiber. Um,

24:14you know, Fiverr is pretty great. Thank

24:16you. Thank you, [clears throat]

24:16President Merkel.

24:18>> Thank you.

24:20Seeing no further questions uh from the

24:23counselor, councelor Sedorak,

24:25>> move to close the public hearing.

24:27[snorts]

24:27>> All those in favor of closing the public

24:29hearing, it is so voted. Councelor

24:32Sedorak.

24:33>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

24:34this to be granted.

24:35>> Councelor Soryak moves that these be

24:37granted. Under discussion, Council

24:39Sedorak.

24:40>> No discussion.

24:42>> Any further discussion?

24:45Seeing none on Council Sidorak's motion

24:47that these underground fiber optic

24:51facilities on Jefferson Avenue be

24:55granted. All those in favor? All those

24:58opposed? The matter carries. Thank

25:00>> Thank you.

25:06Appointments and reappointments. We had

25:08held from the last meeting that may

25:10appointment of Alons's right of 23 and a

25:13half Broad Street to the Food Policy

25:15Council with a term to expire November

25:1716th, 2028.

25:20Councelor Smith.

25:21>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

25:23confirmation by roll call vote.

25:25>> Councelor [snorts] Smith moves for

25:26confirmation by roll call vote. Under

25:28discussion, Councelor Smith.

25:30>> Thank you. Uh Mr. Wright has uh had

25:33years uh as an accessibility inclusion

25:36strategist. He's uh collaborated with

25:38disability groups, Department of Labor,

25:40and very impress impressive background.

25:42Previously served on the Food Policy

25:44Council. He's coming back. He's also was

25:46the vice chair of the uh Race Equity

25:49Commission for a year there, the Salem

25:51Human Rights uh Coalition uh for a

25:54number of years. So, he served the city

25:55well, and we're we're happy, I hope, to

25:58uh reappoint him here.

26:01Thank you. Any further discussion?

26:05Seeing none, on Councelor Smith's motion

26:08for confirmation by roll call vote uh

26:10the appointment of Alons Wright to the

26:12Food Policy Council. Madison, Madam City

26:15Clerk, please call the role. Council

26:17Davis,

26:17>> yes.

26:18>> Council Flynn,

26:19>> yes.

26:20>> Council Hapworth,

26:21>> yes.

26:21>> Council Halapa,

26:22>> yes.

26:23>> Council King,

26:24>> yes.

26:25>> Council Smith,

26:26>> yes.

26:27>> Council Sidoriaak,

26:28>> yes.

26:29Council Trouski.

26:30>> Yes.

26:32>> Council Varela.

26:36>> Council Merkel.

26:37>> Yes.

26:49We have nine members voting. Uh one

26:52absent. Uh we have nine in the

26:54affirmative, none in the negative. The

26:57matter carries. Councelor

27:01Smith. Um, yeah, Councelor Smith

27:10[clears throat]

27:11mot. Yeah, a motion to suspend the

27:13rules.

27:14>> Councelor Smith,

27:15>> I may address.

27:17>> Thank you. Councelor Smith motions to

27:20suspend the rules. Seeing no objection.

27:22if uh Alons Wright is online if he would

27:27like to speak.

27:35Okay,

27:37seeing him not present online, uh we

27:39welcome Alance White Wright to the food

27:42policy council.

27:44Further appointments and reappointments.

27:46We have held from the last meeting the

27:48mayor's appointment of Katarina Meyers

27:50Four-Wheel Avenue to the bicycling and

27:52shared path advisory committee with a

27:54term to expire February 10th, 2028.

27:57Councelor King.

27:59>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

28:01confirmation by roll call vote.

28:03>> Councelor King moves for confirmation by

28:04roll call vote. Under discussion,

28:06Councelor King.

28:08>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um, yes. Uh

28:10we are very lucky to have uh Miss Meyer

28:13uh joining the bicycle and shared path

28:16advisory committee. Um she has

28:18experience as a certified planner and an

28:21expert in GIS and has also uh extensive

28:24experience in transportation planning

28:26and uh multimodal uh mobility. So we are

28:29really really lucky to have her here

28:31joining us. Thank you.

28:33>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

28:36Seeing none, on councelor King's motion

28:38for confirmation by roll call vote, the

28:41appointment of Katarina Meyers to the

28:45bicycling and shared path advisory

28:47committee. Madame city clerk, please

28:49call the role.

28:50>> Councelor Davis,

28:51>> yes.

28:52>> Council Flynn,

28:53>> yes.

28:54>> Council Hackworth,

28:55>> yes.

28:56>> Council Halapa,

28:57>> yes.

28:58>> Council King,

28:59>> yes.

29:01>> Council Smith,

29:02>> yes.

29:02>> Council Sedorak,

29:03>> yes. Council Terroski.

29:06>> Yes. Council Varela.

29:08>> Yes.

29:08>> And Council Marco,

29:10>> yes.

29:21We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

29:24the affirmative, none in the negative.

29:26The matter carries.

29:28Councelor King.

29:30>> I move to suspend the rules to allow uh

29:32Mrs. Myers to speak.

29:34Council King motions to suspend the

29:36rules. Seeing no objection, would and

29:39I'll say it correctly this time. Katrina

29:41Meyers like to come up and speak.

29:43>> Thank you. Yes, Katrina Meyer. Um,

29:45appreciate the opportunity. Looking

29:47forward to serving on the bicycle and

29:48shared use path committee and lending my

29:50perspective and skills and expertise.

29:52Thank you everybody.

29:54>> Thank you.

29:58Further appointments and reappointments.

30:01We have held from the last meeting the

30:03mayor's appointment of Elena Rodriguez

30:05Depal of 26 Lynden Street to the Race

30:08Equity Commission with a term to expire

30:10September 10th, 2029. Councelor King.

30:14>> Thank you, Chair Merkel. I move for

30:16confirmation by roll call vote.

30:18>> Councelor King moves for confirmation by

30:19roll call vote. Under discussion,

30:21Councelor King.

30:22>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um, uh,

30:25Miss Rodriguez Depal has experience as

30:27an anti-racist, trauma-informed educator

30:29in our Salem schools, and we are really

30:31lucky to have her joining our race

30:33equity commission. Thanks.

30:35Thank you. Any further discussion?

30:39Seeing none, on Councelor King's motion

30:42for confirmation by roll call vote, the

30:44appointment of Elena Rodriguez Depal to

30:47the Race Equity Commission. Madame City

30:50Clerk, please call the role.

30:51>> Council Davis,

30:52>> yes. Council Flynn,

30:54>> yes.

30:54>> Council Her,

30:55>> yes.

30:56>> Council Loer,

30:57>> yes.

30:57>> Council King,

30:58>> yes.

30:59>> Council Smith,

31:00>> yes.

31:00>> Council Sedora,

31:01>> yes.

31:02>> Council Terroski,

31:03>> yes.

31:03>> Council Varela,

31:04>> yes.

31:05>> Council Merkel,

31:06>> yes.

31:13>> We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

31:16the affirmative, none in the negative.

31:18The matter carries.

31:20Councelor King.

31:21>> Thank you, President Merkel.

31:22[clears throat] I move to suspend the

31:23rules to allow uh Miss Rodriguez Depal

31:25to speak. I see her online. [snorts]

31:28Great. Thank you. Councelor King motions

31:31to suspend the rules. Seeing no

31:33objections, would Miss Rodriguez Depal

31:37like to speak if she would raise her

31:39hand?

31:41>> Yes. Thank you so much for this

31:43appointment. It is a great honor to

31:45serve my city.

31:49>> Thank you.

31:53Further appointments and reappointments

31:56we

31:59sorry we have held from the last meeting

32:01the mayor's appointment of Samantha

32:02Stringfellow at 40oot Bay View Zurkel to

32:04the zoning boards of appeals with a term

32:07to expire September 10th 2028.

32:10Councelor Terroski.

32:11>> Thank you President Merkel. I move for

32:12confirmation by roll call vote.

32:14Councelor Trroski moves for confirmation

32:16by roll call vote. Under discussion

32:18councelor Trroski. Thank you, President

32:20Merkel. Um, Miss, uh, Samantha

32:22Stringfellow um, is currently an

32:25engineering manager at Spotify, uh,

32:27where she leads technical strategy and

32:29roadmap execution across multiple

32:31engineering domains. And [snorts] she

32:32previously served as a product owner and

32:34team lead at the Broad Institute of MIT

32:36and Harvard, uh, managing

32:38multi-disiplinary engineering teams and

32:40[snorts] overseeing infrastructure

32:41serving thousands of physical and

32:42virtual systems. Um, we're going to be

32:44really fortunate to have her on our ZBA.

32:48um and we're going to have a really tech

32:50forward uh ZBA uh with her appointment.

32:52So I wanted to thank you for her thank

32:54her for her service and uh really

32:56excited to see what she can bring. Thank

32:58you. Any further discussion?

33:02Seeing none, councelor Trosky's motion

33:04for confirmation by roll call vote the

33:07appointment of Samantha Stringfellow to

33:09the zoning board of appeals. Madame city

33:11clerk.

33:13>> Council Davis.

33:14>> Yes.

33:14>> Council Flynn.

33:15>> Yes.

33:15>> Council Hapworth.

33:16>> Yes. Council Halapa,

33:18>> yes.

33:18>> Council King,

33:19>> yes.

33:19>> Council Smith,

33:20>> yes.

33:22>> Council Sedorak,

33:23>> yes.

33:23>> Council Terroski,

33:24>> yes.

33:25>> Council Varela,

33:26>> yes.

33:26>> And Council Merkel,

33:28>> yes.

33:32>> You have 10 members voting. We have 10

33:35in the affirmative, none in the

33:36negative. The matter carries.

33:39Councelor Terowski.

33:41>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

33:42suspension of the rules to allow Miss

33:44Stringfellow to speak.

33:46Councelor Trroski moves for suspension

33:49of the rules. Seeing no objections,

33:52would Samantha Stringfellow like to come

33:54up and say a few words.

33:59Hi everyone. Thank you so much. Uh thank

34:00you for this appointment. I want to

34:02quickly correct for the record it's for

34:04Bay View Circle. Uh 44 will take you I

34:07think across town. Um I am incredibly

34:10excited to be appointed to this board. I

34:13have the utmost respect for them and

34:14feel very privileged to be among them.

34:16So, thank you all very much.

34:21[applause]

34:23>> Thank you. Further appointments and

34:25reappointments. We have the mayor's

34:27reappoint of the following with terms to

34:29expire. Elena Elmar to the planning

34:31board um September 22nd of 2031.

34:36Mark Mechi to the historical commission

34:38September 13th of 2029. Craig Bilo to

34:42the bicycling and share path advisory

34:44committee September 13th of 2029 and

34:47Steven Laric to the zoning board of

34:49appeals uh September 10th 2031.

34:54Council Trroski.

34:55>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

34:57confirmation by roll call vote.

34:59>> Councelor Trroski moves for confirmation

35:01by roll call vote. Under discussion,

35:03councelor Trroski.

35:05>> Uh thank you to all of these individuals

35:06for your willingness to serve.

35:09>> Thank you. Any further discussion? And

35:11seeing none [clears throat] on councelor

35:14Trosk's motion for confirmation by roll

35:17roll call vote the reappoint of Elenahur

35:21to the planning board. Mark Mitchi to

35:23the historical commission. Greg Bowo to

35:27[clears throat] the bicycling and shared

35:28path advisory committee and Steven Laric

35:31to the zoning board of appeals. Madam

35:33city clerk, please call the role.

35:35>> Councelor Davis,

35:36>> yes.

35:36>> Council Flynn,

35:38>> yes. Council Hab,

35:39>> yes.

35:39>> Council Halapa,

35:40>> yes.

35:41>> Council King,

35:42>> yes.

35:42>> Council Smith,

35:43>> yes.

35:44>> Council Sedora,

35:45>> yes.

35:45>> Council Terowski,

35:46>> yes.

35:47>> Council Varela,

35:48>> yes.

35:48>> Council Merkel,

35:49>> yes.

35:56>> We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

35:58the affirmative, none in the negative.

36:00The matter carries.

36:03Further appointments and reappointments.

36:06We have the mayor's appointment of the

36:07following to the taxpayer relief

36:09committee with a term to expire

36:10September 24th, 2029. Joe Fenari,

36:14Kathleen Welker, Jill Alaska,

36:20Council Troski.

36:22>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

36:23these be held under the rules.

36:24>> Councilor Trosky moves that these be

36:26held under the rules. All those in

36:28favor? All those opposed? The matter

36:30carries. Further appointments and

36:32reappointments. We have the mayor's

36:34reappoint of the following with terms to

36:36expire. Alli Krufeld to the Food Policy

36:39Council September 24th, 2029. Brian

36:42Apedo to the public art commission

36:44September 24th, 2028. And Jim Bostik to

36:48the public arts commission September

36:5024th, 2028. Councilor Troski. Thank you,

36:53President Merkel. I move that these

36:54beheld under the rules. Trroski moves

36:56that these be held under the rules. All

36:58those in favor? All those opposed? The

37:00matter carries. Further appointments and

37:03reappoints. We have the may appointment

37:05of Darien

37:07Morazzo of Harbor Street to the Zeroway

37:10Salem and this is forformational

37:12purposes only. Council Troski. Thank

37:15you, President Merkel. I move that this

37:16be received and filed. Councelor Trroski

37:18moves that this be received and filed.

37:20All those in favor? All those opposed?

37:22The matter carries. Communications from

37:25the mayor. We have per mass general law

37:28chapter 44 section 64 which is allows

37:30for a municipality to pay for prior

37:32fiscal year expenses using current

37:34fiscal year appropriations. We need a

37:372/3 vote for this. The sum is $10,76848

37:42for the school department.

37:45>> Council Davis.

37:46>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

37:47adoption by roll call vote.

37:49>> Suspension of the rules.

37:51>> I'm sorry. I move for suspension of

37:52rules. Councelor Davis moves to the

37:54suspension of the rules. Seeing no

37:57objection, councelor Davis.

37:58>> Thank you, President Merkel. Move for

38:00adoption by roll call vote.

38:02>> Councelor Davis moves for adoption by

38:03roll call vote. Twothirds vote needed.

38:05Under discussion, councelor Davis.

38:07>> Thank you, President Merkel. This order

38:08is necessary to retroactively pay three

38:11individuals um employed by Salem Public

38:13Schools. Uh this is part of a collective

38:16bargaining agreement uh with the Salem

38:18Teachers Union.

38:20>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

38:23Seeing none, and councelor Davis's

38:24motion for adoption by two by roll call

38:26vote, twoth3s vote needed, uh that the

38:29prior fiscal year invoices uh for the

38:32schools be paid in a for a total of

38:35$10,76848.

38:38Madam City clerk, please call the role.

38:40>> Councelor Davis,

38:41>> yes.

38:42>> Council Flynn,

38:43>> yes.

38:43>> Council Halfworth,

38:44>> yes.

38:45>> Council Hilapa,

38:46>> yes.

38:46>> Council King,

38:47>> yes.

38:47>> Council Smith,

38:48>> yes.

38:49>> Council Sedoryak,

38:50>> yes.

38:50>> Council Teroski,

38:51>> yes. Council Varela.

38:52>> Yes.

38:53>> And council Merkel. Yes.

39:03We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

39:05the affirmative, none in the negative.

39:07The matter carries.

39:11Further communications from the mayor.

39:13Perms general law chapter 44 section 64

39:16which is allows for a municipality to

39:18pay for a prior fiscal year invoice

39:20using current fiscal year appropriations

39:22by 2/3 vote request the sum of

39:27$900 81 to the parking department.

39:31>> Councelor Davis.

39:32>> Thank you, President Mkeley. I move for

39:34suspension of the rules.

39:35>> Councelor Davis moves for suspension of

39:37the rules. Seeing no objections,

39:39Councelor Davis.

39:40>> Thank you, President. I move for

39:41adoption by roll call vote. Councelor

39:43Davis moves for adoption by roll call

39:45vote. Twothirds vote needed. Under

39:47discussion, Councelor Davis.

39:49>> Thank you. So, this is an order uh

39:51that's necessary to pay an invoice uh

39:53from National Grid for electrical

39:55services um for a uh recently received

39:59uh delayed invoice.

40:01>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

40:04Seeing none, on councelor Davis's motion

40:07for adoption by roll call vote,

40:08twothirds vote needed, that the prior

40:11fiscal year invoice for the parking

40:13department national grid in the amount

40:15of $900.81

40:17be paid. Madam city clerk, please call

40:20the role.

40:20>> Council Davis,

40:21>> yes.

40:22>> Council Flynn,

40:23>> yes.

40:23>> Council Hapworth,

40:24>> yes.

40:24>> Council Halapa,

40:25>> yes.

40:26>> Council King,

40:27>> yes.

40:27>> Council Smith,

40:28>> yes.

40:29>> Council Sedora,

40:30>> yes.

40:30>> Council Cherowski,

40:32>> yes. Council Varela.

40:33>> Yes.

40:33>> Council Marco. Yes.

40:44We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

40:46the affirmative, none in the negative.

40:48The matter carries.

40:50Further communications from the mayor.

40:54We have, excuse me, per master general

40:57law chapter 44 section 64, which allows

41:00for your municipality to pay for a prior

41:02fiscal year invoice using current fiscal

41:04year appropriations with 23 vote

41:06required by the city council for $330

41:10for the engineering department.

41:14>> Councelor Davis.

41:15>> Thank you, President Muro. I move for

41:17suspension the rules.

41:18>> Councelor Davis moves for suspension of

41:19the rules. Seeing no objections,

41:22councelor Davis.

41:23>> Thank you. I move for uh adoption by

41:25roll call vote.

41:26>> Councelor Davis moves for adoption by

41:28roll call vote. Twothirds vote needed.

41:30Under discussion, councelor Davis.

41:32>> Thank you, President Merkel. This order

41:33is necessary to pay an outstanding 2025

41:36invoice from Hart Hollyy uh for a police

41:39detail at a recycling event at the high

41:42school.

41:43>> Any further discussion?

41:46Seeing none on councelor Davis's motion

41:48for adoption by roll call vote

41:50two-thirds vote needed that the prior

41:52fisc year invoice uh for the engineering

41:55department housey LLC in the amount of

41:58$330 be paid. Madame city clerk, please

42:02call the role.

42:03>> Councel Davis,

42:04>> yes.

42:04>> Councel Flynn,

42:05>> yes.

42:06>> Council Her,

42:07>> yes.

42:07>> Council Hilapoa,

42:08>> yes.

42:08>> Council King,

42:09>> yes.

42:10>> Councelor Smith,

42:11>> yes.

42:11>> Council Sedora,

42:13>> yes.

42:13>> Council Teroski,

42:14>> yes. Council Varela.

42:16>> Yes.

42:16>> And Council Merkel.

42:17>> Yes.

42:23>> Thank you.

42:25>> We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

42:27the affirmative, none in the negative.

42:29The matter carries.

42:31Further communications from the mayor.

42:35We have an order that the city council

42:37hereby authorize the mayor to enter into

42:39a 5-year contract with Via

42:41Transportation Incorporated doing

42:42business as North, excuse me, River

42:45North Transit LLC of New York, New York

42:48for an ondemand ride share program.

42:51>> Councelor Davis.

42:52>> Thank you, President Mkeley. I move for

42:54adoption.

42:54>> Councelor Davis moves for adoption.

42:56Under discussion, Councelor Davis.

42:58>> Thank you, President Merkel. This is an

42:59exciting one. Um, this is the Salem

43:02Skipper. Um, so, uh, most of us probably

43:05know we got a recent, uh, Mass DOT

43:07grant, um, which will enable us to, uh,

43:10maintain the service until at least June

43:1230th, uh, 2027. Um, this being a 5-year

43:16contract, uh, is going to allow, um, for

43:19periodic extensions um, past that uh,

43:22point um, subject to future funding.

43:25>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

43:28Councelor King.

43:30>> Thank you, President Merkel. I'm also

43:32thrilled to see this on here because it

43:34means extending the program through June

43:36of next year. I will note um just the

43:40the city council's voting because

43:42they're extending the contract for 5

43:43years and that's why it's in front of

43:45us. I would love to see the contract in

43:47future cases when the whole point is the

43:49contract is why we're reviewing it. I

43:51think this has happened before where

43:52there's no contract in the backup. So I

43:54I agree. I would love to see the

43:56contract in the future. Thank you. Uh

43:59any further discussion? Councelor Halap.

44:02>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um, I have

44:04a mind to vote against this tonight,

44:06which might sound crazy if you've ever

44:08met me or heard me talk about

44:10transportation and it's because of how

44:12little information the council has

44:14around this. We, as was mentioned, we

44:16have not seen the contract. Um, there is

44:20information in the backup material that

44:22there's a notion to find a more

44:24sustainable funding plan. As was

44:26mentioned by councelor Davis, there's a

44:27grant that is going to extend this until

44:30next year, mid next year. Uh, and I

44:32really would prefer to have this

44:35information so we can make an informed

44:37decision and try to really

44:38collaboratively discuss with the

44:40transportation department how we can

44:42make this critical service work in the

44:44long term and understand how this is

44:47going to be different this time. I swear

44:49from what just happened, which is that

44:51for the last 6 months, people that we

44:53have all heard rely deeply on this

44:56service have had very little

44:58understanding of how long they're going

45:00to be able to use this service because

45:02it kept getting extended and then it was

45:03getting extended again, which is great.

45:06But I hope that we all understand this

45:07is critical transportation

45:08infrastructure and we should not be

45:10playing with people's lives like this.

45:12That said, my understanding, and I have

45:14not had this confirmed that from the

45:16transportation director, but my

45:17understanding is the existing contract

45:19expires next Wednesday.

45:21So, I would like to send this to

45:23committee,

45:25but because it's 6 days before the

45:27expiry of the contract, I'm not

45:29interested in playing with people's

45:30lives like that. So, I would like this

45:32to be granted, but I'm I'm not happy

45:33about the circumstances of this. Thank

45:35you.

45:36>> Thank you. Any further discussion,

45:38councelor Trouski? Um I if we could just

45:41maybe not tonight but before next

45:43Wednesday get some clarity on whether or

45:45not um there's a um an expiration date

45:49associated with that grant. Um because

45:51if we don't want to delay this to the

45:53point where we lose the money that we've

45:54already been promised. Um thank you.

45:59>> Thank you. Uh I'll make the point that

46:01when the agenda is posted um which is

46:05Tuesday evening before the meetings uh

46:08we're all welcome to reach out to the

46:10departments uh with questions uh and

46:14feel free to um direct questions at me

46:16and if if you if the response isn't

46:20there and uh yes um just want to put

46:23that out there that you know we have a

46:25couple of days to reach out with

46:27questions uh any further discussion

46:29Councelor

46:32Smith.

46:33>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um,

46:35I I'll ask the if anybody anybody did

46:38reach out uh and has this information,

46:40but if this is voted down, it still

46:43means that they can enter into 3 years

46:45of contract, but we are only entering

46:47into a contract through June as of now.

46:51So it would mean that there are now they

46:53can still enter into a contract for

46:54three years with VIA still provide the

46:58skipper just they're asking for this

47:00extended term perhaps for negotiations

47:03perhaps so that there's some continuity

47:05in the future I don't think we really

47:07know um and so again do we want to play

47:12with folks lives I'm not sure but if

47:14anybody has that information I would

47:15love to hear it

47:17>> thank you any further discussion council

47:22Thank you, President Merkel. I would

47:23just um offer up that I'm happy to

47:26schedule a ANF meeting about this. Um

47:30maybe maybe not sending this to that

47:32meeting. I I think there's um probably a

47:36um some consequences of not voting this

47:39through, but it it sounds like there's

47:40there's discussion to be had. We've not

47:43had administration finance meeting in a

47:45long time um because most things have

47:47not had a lot of discussion um or or

47:50reason for discussion. So throwing that

47:52out there if that's um the will of the

47:54body. If there's interest in that, happy

47:55to schedule that meeting.

47:57>> Councelor King.

47:59>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um I I

48:01don't have the official answer from the

48:03transportation department. I I will say

48:05I would guess they're not

48:07>> I would guess they're not entering into

48:08a 5-year contract just for fun. like I

48:10would assume that it had something to do

48:12with the RFP that they put out or for

48:14general terms. Um the the the language

48:17in the backup that we have about it

48:19being like conditional upon extensions

48:23has to do with funding and not the

48:24contract. So it's not a contract for 9

48:26months. It's still a contract for 5

48:28years and it's just written into the

48:30language that it's contingent the

48:32contract extending is contingent upon

48:34the city being able to continue to find

48:35money. And the fact that we are 6 days

48:37away. I mean, I'll be voting yes for

48:39this because I think we need to continue

48:40this program and I don't think it's

48:42worth holding it up in committee. I

48:43think it's more of a point that in

48:45general it would be helpful if we

48:46received the contracts when we have

48:49votes like this, but I I don't think it

48:51um I don't think anyone in this room

48:52probably has enough information to put

48:55this at risk to hold it up is my

48:57opinion.

48:59>> Councelor Hworth.

49:00>> Thank you, Madam President. Um I'd just

49:02add that if if if we want to pass this

49:04tonight, that makes a lot of sense. If

49:05someone wants to put in a late file, um

49:07there's paper in your desk, you can

49:08write out a late file, put that in there

49:10just to get get into ANF, um if they

49:12have questions. Um and I'll just second

49:14the the point that these these agendas

49:17come out come out in a bit of a flurry

49:20from the mayor's office. Sometimes the

49:21backup is extensive and it's excellent.

49:23Sometimes we need more. Um reach out,

49:26please. You have we have time to reach

49:28out uh to ask questions, to get clarity

49:30from the mayor's office. Uh you know

49:32hopefully today is not the day where

49:33we're asking those questions uh live in

49:35a meeting. Reach out, ask those

49:37questions. If you want more, then we can

49:39put a late file in and discuss it more

49:40in committee. Thanks.

49:43>> And for clarity, you mean to pass it,

49:46but put in a late file to have

49:50like a a meeting for an update on the

49:52skipper. Yeah. To discuss the Salem

49:54skipper in general. Yeah, we we've done

49:55that previously. Uh, councelor Halapa.

50:01>> Thank you, President Merkel. Just to

50:02clarify the point I was made I made

50:03earlier, I'm going to read a sentence

50:04from the backup here. Uh, the

50:06transportation department is continuing

50:07to pursue additional grant and funding

50:09sources for the service and we are

50:10reviewing options for possible

50:12sustainable funding streams on a more

50:14permanent basis. Once those are more

50:15refined, we expect to propose a plan to

50:17the city council. So, just just

50:19[clears throat] for reference, you know,

50:20I uh I don't think it it does any good

50:23to reach out to the transportation

50:24department, ask for the thing that

50:25they're telling us they don't have ready

50:26yet. Um I think my my main gripe with

50:29this is the fact that this is coming to

50:31us 5 days before the contract is done

50:33and this part hasn't been done. Uh and

50:35that is that is frustrating to to be in

50:38this position where we're not able to

50:39really review these more sustainable

50:42funding streams um as part of this uh

50:45long-term discussion. Thank you. I'm

50:48going to call a point of order for the

50:50rest of this being under discussion.

50:52Please refrain from characterizations of

50:55city departments uh and return to the

50:57matter before that which is voting on

50:59this matter. Thank you. Any further

51:02discussion,

51:03councelor Flyn?

51:05>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um I think

51:08as a council, I have a hard time voting

51:10on something that we don't have all the

51:12information on. I I I think the skipper

51:14is a is a good thing and people need it.

51:17But also as elected officials, I feel a

51:21responsibility not to vote for something

51:23blindly

51:25even though it is a good thing. So I I I

51:27can't support this at this time till we

51:29have all the data. Thank you.

51:33>> Thank you.

51:36Any further discussion?

51:39Seeing none, on councelor Davis's motion

51:41for adoption that the mayor enter into a

51:435-year contract with Via Transportation,

51:46Inc. for an ondemand ride share program,

51:49the skipper. All those in favor?

51:55All those opposed.

51:57The matter carries.

52:00Further communication from the mayor.

52:04We have an order that the city

52:06[clears throat] council hereby approves

52:07and adopts the submittal of the city of

52:09Salem hazard mitigation plan update as

52:13prepared and submitted in accordance

52:14with the requirements of the federal

52:16emergency management agency and the

52:18Massachusetts Emergency Management

52:20Agency.

52:22>> Councelor Trasi.

52:23>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

52:24this be adopted.

52:26>> Councelor Trroski moves for adoption.

52:28Under discussion, Councelor Traski.

52:31Um, no discussion. Any [clears throat]

52:33further discussion? Seeing none, on

52:36councelor Trrosky's motion for adoption

52:38that the city of Salem's hazard

52:40mitigation plan update

52:44be adopted. All those in favor? All

52:46those opposed. The matter carries.

52:50Mayor'sformational page.

52:53The city of Salem Sustainability,

52:55Energy, and Resiliency Committee, CIRC,

52:58revised the miss revised their mission

53:00statement. The original statement was

53:03written before the city created and

53:05staffed the sustainability and

53:07resiliency department. This is

53:09forformational purposes only. Councelor

53:12Davis.

53:13>> Thank you, President Mkeley. I move that

53:14this be received and filed.

53:16>> Councelor Davis's motion that this be

53:17received and filed. All those in favor?

53:20All those opposed? The matter carries.

53:24Motions, orders, and resolutions.

53:26Councelor Hapworth.

53:28>> Thank you, President Merkel. uh

53:30resolution honoring Eileen Simons.

53:32Sorry.

53:34Whereas Eileen Simons has devoted more

53:36than 25 years of service to the city of

53:38Salem and its residents, including as

53:40assistant city clerk and since 2018 as

53:42city clerk. And whereas throughout her

53:44career, Eileen has served the people of

53:45Salem with professionalism, integrity,

53:47patience, good humor, [snorts] and an

53:49unwavering dedication to public service.

53:51And whereas as city clerk and Salem's

53:53chief election official, Eileen has

53:55overseen the fair, accurate, and orderly

53:56administration of our elections,

53:58faithfully safeguarding the democratic

54:00process and ensuring that Salem's

54:01residents can exercise their most

54:03fundamental civic right with confidence.

54:05Whereas Eileen has been a trusted

54:07partner, confidant, counselor, and

54:09mentor to council countless city

54:11councilors, providing guidance rooted in

54:13deep institutional knowledge, sound

54:15judgment, and enduring respect for the

54:16responsibilities of public office. And

54:19whereas through decades of service at

54:21the center of municipal government,

54:22Eileen has become a steward of the

54:24city's city council's institutional

54:26memory and a guardian of Salem civic

54:27history, customs traditions, preserving

54:30continuity of an institution that

54:31extends far beyond any individual

54:33elected official. And whereas over those

54:36many years, Eileen has seen the full

54:37range of Salem's famously engaged civic

54:39life and has met it with patience,

54:42steadiness, discretion, and good humor.

54:44And whereas her dedication to the city

54:46council, city government, [snorts]

54:47Salem's residents, and the democratic

54:49institutions we share represents the

54:51very best of public service. Now,

54:54therefore, be it resolved that the Salem

54:56City Council on behalf of the residents

54:57of the city of Salem expresses its

54:59profound gratitude to Eileen Simons for

55:01her extraordinary service and for the

55:03wisdom, integrity, steadiness, and

55:05friendship she has brought to City Hall

55:06throughout her distinguished career. And

55:08be it further resolved, the city of

55:09Salem extends its warmest

55:11congratulations to Eileen upon her

55:12retirement and its sincere wishes for

55:14happiness fulfillment in the years

55:16ahead.

55:19>> And I move for adoption.

55:22>> Council Hapworth moves for adoption by

55:24roll call vote. Under discussion,

55:26Councelor Hapworth.

55:27>> Thank you. Uh just really appreciate

55:29Eileen for all the years of service she

55:30gave to the city council. It is not an

55:32easy job serving 11 bosses um and trying

55:35to figure out what the what the

55:36priorities are while um while serving

55:39the public in a very public facing role

55:40in elections. Um every city clerk we've

55:43had we appreciate uh but Eileen Alen

55:45gave 25 years of service uh to the city.

55:49Um and we just appreciate everything she

55:50did for us and and and everything she

55:52did for us individually. A lot of us

55:54couldn't do it without without a good

55:55city clerk. Um um so just appreciate her

55:58and her uh wish her the best in her

56:00retirement.

56:02>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

56:04Councelor Flynn.

56:07>> Thank you, President Merkel. I want to

56:09thank the good at large counselor for

56:10bringing this in. Uh I wanted to bring

56:12this in next month, but I'm glad you did

56:14it now. Uh this is this is welld

56:16deserved. Um I was very fortunate. I

56:19think I'm I am the only one here um that

56:21was on the council when we appointed

56:23Eileen in 2018

56:26and I have seen her do a really good

56:29job. I've always said that the city

56:31clerk's position is is kind of like the

56:34heartbeat to city hall. Everything seems

56:36to go through the city clerk's position.

56:39It is extremely important. And even

56:41though the clerk does work for us,

56:45she definitely guides us at our meetings

56:48and how things um continue. And I want

56:51to wish her a really really long, happy,

56:54healthy um retirement. She she earned

56:56it. Um I love resolutions like this

56:59where we recognize

57:01our citizens and our city employees that

57:03have really done something spectacular

57:05in Salem and um in my mind, Eileen

57:08Simons is one of them. Um, I've always

57:11kind of followed our city clerks. I got

57:14to know some of them. Um, Josephine

57:16Fusco, Deborah Burkenshaw, Cheryl Le

57:18Point, and now Eileen Simons on and that

57:21that's kind of like my um superstar

57:24all-star list there. Um, there's been a

57:26ton of great city clerks. Um, but I've

57:29got to known these these individuals and

57:32I think the most important thing we

57:34should never forget as a council is that

57:36each one learned from the previous one.

57:40I think that's very important because if

57:42you break that chain um you're losing

57:44tradition and you're losing history and

57:47I don't ever want that to happen. I hope

57:49we can continue with tradition and again

57:52Eileen I wish you the very best. Thank

57:54you and um you did a great job. Well

57:58done. Thank you.

57:59>> Thank you.

58:01Any further discussion?

58:03Seeing none on Council Hop's motion for

58:06adoption by roll call vote, a resolution

58:09honoring Eileen Sim Simons, our retired

58:11city clerk. Madame City Clerk, please

58:14call the role. Council Davis,

58:16>> yes.

58:16>> Council Flynn,

58:17>> yes.

58:18>> Council Hap,

58:18>> yes.

58:19>> Council Halapa,

58:20>> yes.

58:20>> Council King,

58:21>> yes.

58:22>> Council Smith,

58:23>> yes.

58:23>> Council Sedoryak,

58:24>> yes.

58:25>> Council Teroski,

58:26>> yes. Council Varela,

58:27>> yes.

58:27>> And Council Merkel,

58:28>> yes.

58:35>> We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

58:38the affirmative, none in the negative.

58:39The matter carries.

58:42Further motions, orders, and

58:44resolutions. Councelor Smith.

58:46>> Thank you. President Merkel ordered the

58:48committee on ordinances, licenses, and

58:49legal affairs co-posted with the

58:50committee. the whole meeting to discuss

58:51the to discuss uh administrative review

58:54for reasonable accommodations and their

58:55land use and zoning regulations for

58:57individuals with disabilities.

59:00See attached with full description. Uh

59:02the attached uh will show you sorry I

59:05move that uh this uh be referred to the

59:08committee on ordinances license legal

59:10affairs.

59:13>> Okay. Councelor Smith moves that this be

59:16referred to the committee on ordinances,

59:18license, and legal affairs. Under

59:21discussion, Councelor Smith,

59:22>> thank you. Um, you'll see the attached

59:25has the full ordinance. It's it's quite

59:26long. Uh, essentially, I'll just give a

59:28quick background on this. Uh, when

59:30someone has a disability, they need to

59:32put something in, ramp, elevator, be

59:33what, whatever it may be. Uh, change

59:36something on the outside of their home.

59:38Um, there's a long process. And that

59:41process involves going to eventually the

59:43ZBA, the zoning board of appeals, and

59:46presenting the disability, explaining

59:49it, explaining why you need the thing,

59:50waiting for a decision, finally getting

59:52a building permit, building. Uh

59:55sometimes people don't have that time.

59:56They need the uh use and enjoyment of

1:00:00their home as provided by the fair

1:00:01housing laws uh which are linked in the

1:00:04ordinance.

1:00:05um

1:00:07this would cut that process down to be

1:00:10just an internal administrative view

1:00:11review similar to what we did with

1:00:13handicap plates uh where we took that

1:00:15out of the public realm and put it into

1:00:18um you know a simpler process. So I

1:00:22would like to discuss this further

1:00:24specifically and this is why I want uh

1:00:27in in a committee where we can talk

1:00:29about who would do that within the city

1:00:31as well as any other questions and any

1:00:33other things. But I do want folks to

1:00:34weigh in um because we need to discuss

1:00:37that with various city departments and

1:00:38figure out who can actually do this. But

1:00:40I do think it's very valuable. So I hope

1:00:42we'll send it to committee, have that

1:00:44discussion, get this on their way

1:00:45because there there are people that are

1:00:47waiting in this process and it's it's

1:00:49quite convoluted. Thank you.

1:00:52>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:00:54Councelor King.

1:00:56>> Thank you uh President Merkel. I just

1:00:57wanted to thank the W 2 counselor for

1:00:59bringing this in. I think this is the

1:01:00epitome of what we would refer to as a

1:01:02reasonable accommodation for someone

1:01:04with a disability to be able to um still

1:01:06navigate our often difficult city uh

1:01:10processes but in a way that is um

1:01:14reasonable given given the very personal

1:01:16situation that they're dealing with. So

1:01:17thanks.

1:01:19>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:01:22Seeing none on councelor Smith's motion

1:01:24for adoption that the committee on

1:01:27ordinances licensed and legal affairs

1:01:29co-posted with the committee of the

1:01:30whole meet to discuss administrative

1:01:33administrative review for reasonable

1:01:35accommodations for individuals with

1:01:37disabilities. All those in favor? All

1:01:40those opposed. The matter carries.

1:01:44Are there any further motions, orders,

1:01:46and resolutions? Oh,

1:01:57[laughter]

1:01:57>> yes.

1:02:02>> Councelor Varela.

1:02:04>> Thank you, President Merkel. City of

1:02:06Salem City Council December 2024th

1:02:08ordered that the committee on

1:02:10administration and finance co-post of

1:02:12Kamia Hull be discussed the skipper

1:02:14program and any contracts with the Via

1:02:16Transportation Incorporated DVA River

1:02:19North Street Transit LLC of [snorts] New

1:02:21York for an ondemand ride share program.

1:02:26>> Thank you.

1:02:28>> Do you want to bring it up?

1:02:36Thank you. So, acceptance of the late

1:02:40file that the administration and finance

1:02:42committee meet to discuss uh the um the

1:02:46proposed contract with via uh for the

1:02:49skipper and get an update on the skipper

1:02:51in general. Um so, order.

1:02:59>> Thank you.

1:03:01Are there any further motions, orders,

1:03:03and resolutions? Councelor Flynn.

1:03:06>> Thank you, President Merkel. I want to

1:03:09bring a motion to suspend the rules at

1:03:10the next city council meeting, October

1:03:128th, 2026, to take a reconsideration

1:03:15vote on the motion for reconsideration

1:03:17of the city council September 10th, 2026

1:03:21vote to adopt the recommendation of the

1:03:23city seal task force.

1:03:26>> Thank you. Motion accepted to bring in a

1:03:29motion to suspend the rules at the next

1:03:31meeting to take a reconsideration vote

1:03:33on motion for reconsideration of the

1:03:36city council September 10th, 2026 vote

1:03:39to adopt the recommendation of the city

1:03:41to seal task force. Motion accepted.

1:03:46Committee reports. Councelor Varela.

1:03:49>> Thank you, President Merkel. City of

1:03:50Salem and the city council September

1:03:5124th, 2026. The committee on ordinances,

1:03:54license, and legal affairs co-post with

1:03:56the committee of a whole to whom the

1:03:57matter was referred to the matter

1:03:58relative to ordinance amendment relative

1:04:01I'm sorry wait yep the living wage

1:04:03requirement for the city of Salem has

1:04:05considered said matter and would

1:04:06recommend it be discharged from the

1:04:08committee

1:04:10>> on acceptance of the report. All those

1:04:12in favor all those opposed it is so

1:04:15voted on adoption of the recommendation.

1:04:18under discussion. Council Varela.

1:04:20>> Thank you, Council President Merkel.

1:04:22I'll be brief. I just wanted to thank

1:04:24Councelor Davis for the thoughtful

1:04:26conversation. I think it's it's really

1:04:28important that we all talk about how we

1:04:29can

1:04:31really bolster not only our residents,

1:04:34but the employees here and make sure

1:04:36that we're taking care of everyone here

1:04:38within our capacity as city officials.

1:04:41So, thank you, Councelor Davis, for

1:04:43that. Uh concerning the meeting, uh what

1:04:45we kind of came down to, it seems like,

1:04:48you know, when it comes to either

1:04:50[clears throat] a living wage, this

1:04:52could be done through obviously the

1:04:55budget process, uh reclassification with

1:04:58the mayor's office. I think we had a

1:05:00really good conversation with our

1:05:03administration about how we move forward

1:05:06with a little more transparency as far

1:05:09as making sure we're all on the same

1:05:11page. Um, so I think, you know, this was

1:05:14a very a very productive conversation

1:05:16and I do believe going into budget

1:05:18season next year, I think it kind of

1:05:20changes the dynamic a little bit about

1:05:22about what employees are getting paid

1:05:24and making sure that everyone is is

1:05:26being paid more of a wage and that we're

1:05:28we're we're addressing that and we're

1:05:30not making we're making sure that our

1:05:32wages are not stagnant within our city

1:05:34employees. Thank you.

1:05:36>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:05:40Seeing none on adoption of the

1:05:42recommendation council's motion that the

1:05:45matter of the living wage ordinance be

1:05:48discharged. All those in favor all those

1:05:51opposed the matter carries. Further

1:05:54committee reports.

1:05:56Councelor Hapworth.

1:05:59Thank you. President Merkel. Uh city of

1:06:01Salem and city council December uh

1:06:03September 24th 2026. The committee on

1:06:05ordin uh public health safety and the

1:06:08environment co-posted with the committee

1:06:09of the whole tombs referred the matter

1:06:11of the camping ordinance to review the

1:06:12policy and get updates from the police

1:06:14department has considered said matter

1:06:15and recommended it remain in committee

1:06:18>> on acceptance of the report. All those

1:06:20in favor all those opposed so voted on

1:06:23adoption of the recommendation under

1:06:25discussion. Councelor Hapwart.

1:06:27>> Thank you President Merkel. Um just want

1:06:30to thank everyone in the committee and

1:06:31the committee the whole for the

1:06:32conversation that we had. I thought it

1:06:33was um a thoughtful, respectful, and

1:06:37productive conversation on uh what is a

1:06:40what is a charge topic in many many

1:06:42cities across this country. I want to

1:06:43thank um the police department for a

1:06:47very professional and thorough

1:06:48presentation. Uh also, I just I think

1:06:50that going back to 2024, I think we

1:06:53continue um to discuss this matter even

1:06:57though we may disagree on policy. I

1:06:59think we continue to discuss this matter

1:07:01um in a way that centers our unhoused

1:07:03neighbors. And again, I think that I

1:07:06think we have disagreements on policy

1:07:08and the best way to address them. But

1:07:10going back to 2024, we first started

1:07:12this conversation forward to today. Um I

1:07:16think we're a rare city that that

1:07:18centers [snorts] the most marginalized

1:07:20in our community in that conversation.

1:07:22Um, and there are no easy answers here.

1:07:25And, uh, I think we're lucky to have the

1:07:27Salem CIU and the work that they do,

1:07:29which has been on the ground for almost

1:07:3020 years now. Um, trying to work in an

1:07:34often impossible situation to help every

1:07:37single individual in Salem on an

1:07:39individual basis. Um, so just appreciate

1:07:41the the committee for the conversation,

1:07:43appreciate the tone of the conversation,

1:07:44and appreciate everyone in Salem who's

1:07:47working to make this um um this

1:07:50situation uh better or easier or just um

1:07:54less impossible. Um thank you.

1:07:57>> Thank you. Any further discussion,

1:08:01Councelor Davis?

1:08:02>> Thank you, President Merkel. Yeah, I

1:08:03thought it was a a great meeting. It was

1:08:05great to hear an an update. Um, I'm glad

1:08:08that that kind of we're maintaining that

1:08:11as an annual kind of check-in. Um, the

1:08:13Q&A was really helpful. Um, I just

1:08:17wanted to name I guess a couple things

1:08:19that have kind of been on my mind as we

1:08:21have these conversations um about how to

1:08:24deal with this issue.

1:08:26One of them being I think there's a

1:08:30difficulty in a lot of the conversations

1:08:33happened recently where it's not

1:08:36possible for us to abide by the kind of

1:08:38principle of um nothing about us without

1:08:41us right uh during the the city seal

1:08:43conversation um you know we're not

1:08:46fortunate to have the AAPI uh community

1:08:49representing this council um during this

1:08:51conversation you know we don't have the

1:08:52perspective of someone that's unhoused

1:08:54on this council um it is what it is. I

1:08:57just want to kind of um name that and I

1:09:00think that it gives us uh all more of a

1:09:04responsibility to make sure that we are

1:09:06having conversations with unhoused

1:09:08people and and and advocates of unhoused

1:09:10people. Um I think that's a hard thing

1:09:12to do um when our circles and and the

1:09:14people that tend to reach out to us

1:09:16[snorts]

1:09:17um are people with homes. Um,

1:09:23we saw a lot of I think pictures and and

1:09:27videos at the presentation last night um

1:09:31of people that are unhoused um with with

1:09:35substance abuse disorders um engage in

1:09:38um domestic uh kind of disputes. Um I

1:09:42understand the context of why these

1:09:43things were brought up. I think it's

1:09:45important to I think just contextualize

1:09:48that and remember that these things

1:09:51happen also in the homes of people that

1:09:54are housed. Um we just don't have

1:09:57pictures and videos of it. Um it it it

1:10:00goes on without us knowing um in the

1:10:03private lives of people. Um, I point

1:10:05that out because I think very easily in

1:10:07these conversations we can get to a

1:10:10level unintentionally where we where

1:10:13where dehumanization happens um when

1:10:15we're painting um generalizations in a

1:10:18picture of people. There was a statistic

1:10:21or I guess I'd say more of kind of a

1:10:23guesstimate that was mentioned last

1:10:25night um that perhaps 70% of people that

1:10:28are unhoused suffer from substance

1:10:30abuse. Um

1:10:32the mental health services um

1:10:34administration um statistics show that

1:10:37it's uh more like 38% of unhoused people

1:10:40struggle with um alcohol abuse while 26%

1:10:43um abuse or misuse other drugs which is

1:10:45quite different um number um and that

1:10:48actually 2/3 of those with substance

1:10:51abuse issues develop the problem after

1:10:53they became homeless. Um, so I think

1:10:56that just it kind of speaks to

1:10:58dispelling this kind of notion that that

1:11:02people tend to have that um that either

1:11:05addiction problems lead to homelessness

1:11:07or that the vast majority of people that

1:11:09are are homeless um suffer from those

1:11:12issues. Neither of which are true. Um

1:11:14and it's also really interesting how how

1:11:16few how many people are shocked by the

1:11:18statistic that around 50% of people who

1:11:21are unhoused are employed. Um, so I

1:11:25think just just

1:11:28being accurate and and and

1:11:30contextualizing um that is is very

1:11:34important um to to kind of not give into

1:11:37those kinds of generalizations. So want

1:11:39to put that out there. Thank you.

1:11:40>> Thank [snorts] you. Any further

1:11:41discussion? Councelor Hoff.

1:11:44>> Thank you, President Merkel. I was

1:11:45really grateful to have that

1:11:46conversation last night. You I want to

1:11:48mention for the for the sake of the room

1:11:50uh folks at home who weren't here like

1:11:51you know the room was packed. It was

1:11:53full of folks that uh feel very uh

1:11:55passionately about this complicated

1:11:57topic. Um and one of the takeaways that

1:12:01I had from both the presentation and

1:12:03from talking to some folks afterwards uh

1:12:05is that again folks care a lot about

1:12:07this and to paraphrase one of the slides

1:12:10um from the the police department

1:12:12presentation. Uh there are you know

1:12:14ongoing issues that are still are still

1:12:16persisting. Uh we learned that the

1:12:18number of unhoused folks in the city

1:12:20have probably doubled over the last year

1:12:22or the last two years, excuse me. Um

1:12:24incident reports that they respond to

1:12:26are still on the rise. There are ongoing

1:12:29concerns about um

1:12:32what's the right word for it? Think uh

1:12:35belongings that are left in public

1:12:36spaces uh and whether or not like those

1:12:39are at first glance safe. I had an issue

1:12:41with that in my ward a few weeks ago

1:12:42where there was something that was left

1:12:43in an area that I had heard reports that

1:12:46there was some some drug activity in the

1:12:48area. So, I did call the CIU to come

1:12:50help me with that and I was very

1:12:50grateful for that. Um, and I'm I'm

1:12:54looking forward to the conversation

1:12:55we're going to have about amendments to

1:12:57the camping ordinance, but I also really

1:12:59think that, you know, this is, of

1:13:02course, a large and complicated issue

1:13:03that I don't think anyone has really

1:13:05solved yet. But I'm really open to ideas

1:13:07from um other counselors about how we

1:13:11can try to continue that conversation

1:13:14separate from the camping conversation.

1:13:16How can we have conversations about how

1:13:18to deal with some of the impact that our

1:13:20housed and unhoused residents are

1:13:22facing? Um I my my takeaway from the

1:13:26meeting was that the I think the very

1:13:28clearly the camping ordinance is not

1:13:31fully achieving the hope which I don't

1:13:33think anyone fully believed that it was

1:13:34going to solve homelessness. Right? I

1:13:36remember hearing listening to committee

1:13:37meetings the last session of council

1:13:39that it was acknowledgement that this

1:13:40was not going to solve everything. Uh

1:13:42but I do really want to have those

1:13:44conversations. I think those

1:13:45conversations are probably more valuable

1:13:46than the conversations around this

1:13:49specific ordinance. Uh, and I'm open to

1:13:52thoughts about process and solution.

1:13:55Thank you.

1:13:56>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:13:59Councelor Flynn.

1:14:01>> Thank you, President Merkel. I also I

1:14:03just want to go on the record to say

1:14:05that um it was really an eyeopening

1:14:07meeting last night and the presentation

1:14:09from the police. um you know hearing uh

1:14:13the officers say besides Lynn Salem on

1:14:16the Northshore is one of the most

1:14:18affected with unhoused population. So,

1:14:21um, you know, Chief Miller, Captain

1:14:24Burke, and his staff, I I can't imagine

1:14:27what they go through daily. And, um, I'm

1:14:29glad that the previous council came up

1:14:31with the cap camping ordinance to, uh,

1:14:34give them some tools, um, cuz it seems

1:14:36like they really did make a difference

1:14:39to a lot of people and and placed a lot

1:14:41of people as well. And, um, I can't

1:14:43imagine without that um, how they would

1:14:46be able to do their job. So, um, again,

1:14:48once again, I want to give a shout out

1:14:50to our police department and thank each

1:14:51of the officers for all they do. Thank

1:14:53you.

1:14:54>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:14:58Seeing none on councelor Hworth's motion

1:15:00that the matter of the camping ordinance

1:15:02review remain in committee. All those in

1:15:05favor? All those opposed? The matter

1:15:07carries.

1:15:10Communications from city officials.

1:15:15We have a communication from the

1:15:16veterans agent Kim Emerling requesting

1:15:19council's consideration for naming a new

1:15:21veteran square O'Neal Square which would

1:15:23be located at the corner of Lafayette

1:15:25Street in College Drive in Ward 7. And

1:15:28this is for US Captain Army Captain

1:15:30Walter C. O'Neal.

1:15:32Councelor Varela.

1:15:34>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

1:15:36this be adopted.

1:15:37>> Council Varela moves for adoption. Under

1:15:38discussion, Council Varela.

1:15:40>> Thank you, President Merkel. I'll be

1:15:41brief. Just wanted to thank uh our

1:15:43veteran agent Kim Emerly for his

1:15:47consideration and diligence on making

1:15:49sure we're thoughtful about honoring our

1:15:52veterans here in Salem. So, thank you

1:15:54Kim and uh looking forward to the event.

1:15:56>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:16:00Seeing none, I'm council's motion for

1:16:03adoption the naming of the new veteran

1:16:05square O'Neal Square to be located at

1:16:08the corner of Lafayette Street and

1:16:09College Drive. All those in favor? All

1:16:12those opposed. The matter carries.

1:16:15Further communications from city

1:16:16officials. We have ordered per the Salem

1:16:19Salem's traffic ordinance section 28

1:16:22experimental regulations for the propose

1:16:24of a trial. Dodge Street shall be one

1:16:27way in an eastbound direction from Dodge

1:16:30Street Court to Lafayette Street. And

1:16:32this condition will be in effect from

1:16:34October 1st to October 31st of 2026.

1:16:38Councelor King. Thank you, President

1:16:40Merkel. I move that this be tabled.

1:16:43>> Councelor King moves that this be

1:16:45tabled. Under discussion, Councelor

1:16:47King.

1:16:48>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um, so this

1:16:50is related to the next agenda item,

1:16:53which is related to taxi, ride, share,

1:16:54pickup, and drop off activities, which

1:16:56I'm a huge fan of. Very excited about us

1:16:58pursuing that as a city. Um, the issue

1:17:01with this particular street is that

1:17:04turning it one way could possibly impact

1:17:06the businesses. And there's a also a

1:17:08apartment building that's kind of right

1:17:10on the street. And none of the

1:17:11businesses or residents were necessarily

1:17:14informed or consulted about uh this

1:17:16happening. Um and while I understand

1:17:19it's just a one-mon trial, it is also

1:17:20the busiest month of the year for all

1:17:22those businesses. So I spoke with

1:17:24director Kucharski uh earlier today and

1:17:26basically indicated that I would be

1:17:28pushing a table it so we could have a

1:17:30chance to talk to those businesses and

1:17:31warn them about it. um and then we can

1:17:33bring this back at our meeting in the uh

1:17:36middle of October and then they can do

1:17:38the trial for the back half of October

1:17:40essentially and he was fine with that

1:17:41solution. So just wanted to make sure

1:17:43that the businesses have enough time to

1:17:45be aware and prepare for that uh change

1:17:47to the traffic pattern on their street.

1:17:50Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:17:53Seeing none, on Councelor King's motion

1:17:55uh that the trial for Dodge Street to be

1:17:58one way in an eastbound direction uh

1:18:01through October 1st to October 31st be

1:18:04tabled. All those in favor? All those

1:18:07opposed? The matter carries. Further

1:18:10communications from city officials.

1:18:13We have an order that the following

1:18:14locations identified below shall be

1:18:17designated for taxi and ride share

1:18:19pickup drop off activities. North

1:18:21Street,

1:18:22>> wave the reading. I don't know if we can

1:18:24do that on the city clerk or not, but

1:18:29>> okay. Councelor Hapworth.

1:18:33>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

1:18:35adoption.

1:18:36>> Councelor Hapworth moves for adoption.

1:18:38Under discussion, councelor Hapworth.

1:18:40>> Thank you. Uh so this is um this is this

1:18:43could have come out come to us as an

1:18:45ordinance. has come as an order for uh

1:18:46for a trial this October on um Saturdays

1:18:50and Sundays in October. Um this is the

1:18:55issue that we run into with the with uh

1:18:57ride shares and taxis is that we close

1:18:59streets. We're already closing streets

1:19:01uh by midepptember. This is the earliest

1:19:03I think that we've been closing a vast

1:19:05majority of the downtown streets

1:19:06including every single street around my

1:19:08house uh during soccer games. Um but it

1:19:11makes it very very difficult for ride

1:19:12share pickups. Uh so this is

1:19:15establishing set places uh for those to

1:19:17happen. Uh it's uh uh the intersection

1:19:22of it's North Street, the Green Trail,

1:19:24Margin Street, uh Dodge Street we just

1:19:25mentioned, and the Old Salem Jail

1:19:27parking lot. Um the Green Trail, by the

1:19:29way, is the uh at the head of Leslie's

1:19:31Retreat Park. Uh Uber and Lift have

1:19:34already been notified and apparently are

1:19:36able to make that make that adjustment

1:19:38uh for this month of October. Um, and it

1:19:40was it was discussed and adopted by the

1:19:43transportation commission as a as a

1:19:44trial.

1:19:46>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:19:49Councelor Smith.

1:19:50>> Thank you, President Merkel. Just want

1:19:52to say because this is a lot of a lot of

1:19:54my area there. The um uh this is

1:19:56fantastic for downtown. I think it's

1:19:58something that people have been asking

1:19:59for for a long time. similar to an

1:20:01airport or similar to any other any

1:20:03venue and event where there would be set

1:20:05zones people can go there and then the

1:20:07cars aren't thinking they can get

1:20:08downtown and getting stopped at a gate

1:20:10and trying to turn around. Um so I'm so

1:20:13thrilled that they brought this and uh I

1:20:16hope this trial goes well. I'm I'm very

1:20:18hopeful. Thank you.

1:20:19>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:20:22Seeing none on councelor Hapworth's

1:20:25motion that the designated locations for

1:20:27taxi and ride share pickups and drop

1:20:29offs be adopted. All those in favor? All

1:20:32those opposed? The matter carries.

1:20:35Further communications from city

1:20:37officials. We have a report from the

1:20:39planning board regarding zoning proposed

1:20:41amendment to section 3.1 table of uses

1:20:44for data centers. Councelor Terroski.

1:20:47Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

1:20:48this be received and filed. on councelor

1:20:50Trosky's motion that this be received

1:20:52and filed. All those in favor? All those

1:20:54opposed? The matter carries. Further

1:20:57communications from city officials.

1:21:00>> We have number 385 section 1 section

1:21:033.1.

1:21:04>> The reading.

1:21:09>> Uh council Varela.

1:21:12>> Thank you president Merkel. Move for

1:21:14adoption for first passage uh while also

1:21:18referring this to committee on

1:21:19ordinances licensed legal affairs

1:21:21co-post with the committee

1:21:25and I do have some amendments as well.

1:21:36I just want to check it.

1:21:55If you like to read it, that's fine.

1:21:57>> Okay. Councelor Bella moves uh for

1:22:00adoption for first passage and also to

1:22:04refer to the committee on ordinance,

1:22:06license, and legal affairs co-posted

1:22:08with the committee of the whole under

1:22:10discussion. Councelor Varela.

1:22:12>> Thank you, President Merkel. So, uh, we

1:22:15did get our recommendation from the

1:22:17planning board back and I would like to

1:22:20make an amendment to that before we vote

1:22:22on it. So my motion

1:22:26So make a motion to include the addition

1:22:28of

1:22:31and has an aggregate power demand of 2

1:22:33megawws or higher to the end of the

1:22:36first sentence of the definition of data

1:22:38center.

1:22:42>> Can you repeat that

1:22:44slowly?

1:22:45>> Slowly.

1:22:46>> Yeah. The motion is to include the

1:22:48addition of and here we go and has an

1:22:52aggregate power demand

1:22:55of 2 megawws or higher

1:22:59to the end of the first sentence of the

1:23:02definition of data center. So again and

1:23:06has an aggregate power demand of 2

1:23:08megawws or higher.

1:23:16And where does that go at the end of

1:23:18>> that goes the end of the definition of

1:23:20data center

1:23:23>> for clarity this is the exact

1:23:24recommendation of the planning board if

1:23:25if we're worried about catching that

1:23:27exact language.

1:23:28>> Yeah. At the end of definition of

1:23:33the end of definition of what's

1:23:35>> of the data center

1:23:36>> of data center. Okay. Okay. So we have a

1:23:40motion uh by councelor Varela to include

1:23:44addition of NH has an aggravate an

1:23:47aggregate power demand of 2 megawws or

1:23:51higher at the end of the definition of

1:23:54data center.

1:23:56Do we have a second? And then I'll put

1:23:59it under discussion.

1:24:01Seconded by councelor king.

1:24:03>> Yes.

1:24:05Do we have a second? Yes. Okay. Your

1:24:08microphone wasn't on. Okay. Seconded

1:24:12by councelor King.

1:24:15Under discussion. Councelor Varela.

1:24:18>> Thank you, President Merkel. So, this is

1:24:21exactly why we have to have the second

1:24:22meeting. Um, also I do believe that

1:24:25residents want a little more clarity on

1:24:27data centers and I think that we need a

1:24:29little more opportunity to discuss maybe

1:24:31why this works or doesn't work for Salem

1:24:35and and why we've made these amendments.

1:24:37So that's again why we'll be having a

1:24:38committee meeting. Thank you.

1:24:40>> Thank you. Any further discussion on uh

1:24:43the the proposed uh amendment?

1:24:47Councelor Halapa.

1:24:49>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um with

1:24:52regard to the amendment, I am opposed.

1:24:55I'm happy to have this conversation in

1:24:56committee, but if the motion is if if

1:24:58this amendment passes, I will be voting

1:25:00against sending this to committee in

1:25:02first passage. And I'll try to explain

1:25:04why.

1:25:05Picture, if you will, biking to city

1:25:08hall, locking up your bike, and in the

1:25:10summer, an air conditioner blowing in

1:25:12your face all of the heat from, I think,

1:25:14the elections office that is right next

1:25:16to that. Now, picture about 4,000 of

1:25:19those blowing heat out of a 2 megawatt

1:25:23data center.

1:25:25The unique thing with data centers

1:25:26compared to many other uses that we are

1:25:29used to is that nearly 100% of the

1:25:32energy that is consumed is turned

1:25:34directly into heat. Many other things

1:25:37will have some sort of motion or light.

1:25:412 megawatts of heat is an egregious

1:25:43amount of heat to have in a small area.

1:25:47It is I suspect it is probably the most

1:25:49heat output per square foot of any use

1:25:51that we could imagine. Um, I don't think

1:25:53that's appropriate for the city. I'm

1:25:56fairly concerned about it. Um, I have

1:25:58other concerns about the language of how

1:26:00this would work. If the if the amendment

1:26:02passes,

1:26:04this would put a no in our table of acce

1:26:07acceptable uses for data centers of 2

1:26:10megawatt capacity and more. But we still

1:26:13would not have a use for less than that,

1:26:17which means it's still not allowed. So,

1:26:19I'm not really sure that's achieving

1:26:22what we'd like. I would rather put this

1:26:24into committee without the amendment and

1:26:26have this as a full discussion rather

1:26:27than with the amendment. Thank you.

1:26:29>> Thank you, Council King.

1:26:32>> Thank you. Um, and just to just to

1:26:33clarify, um, the amendment as

1:26:36recommended by the planning board was to

1:26:38insert that line at the end of the first

1:26:40sentence of the definition of data

1:26:43center, which is a whole paragraph. So

1:26:44just I don't know if uh the W 7 council

1:26:47wants to amend his motion but um it's it

1:26:50would read data center or facility

1:26:52portion thereof yada yada yada yada yada

1:26:54storage processing management of

1:26:56transmission of electronic data and has

1:26:58an aggregate power demand of two megawws

1:27:00or higher and then it would go into the

1:27:02rest of the definition. So it's inserted

1:27:05there. I have al also thoughts but I

1:27:07just wanted to offer that clarification

1:27:09first. Thank you.

1:27:12Uh I don't know who I saw first. Um

1:27:15actually you haven't spoken so counselor

1:27:18how uh

1:27:18>> just a point of clarity not not on the

1:27:19issue but on the uh on the process. Uh

1:27:22we can amend it here right now if we

1:27:24want to send it to committee change the

1:27:26amendment amend the amendment. We've

1:27:27done that many times. We can bring it

1:27:28back as long as it's within the four

1:27:30corners of the zoning ordinance. That's

1:27:31fine. We could also take what we have

1:27:33right now, uh, send that to committee,

1:27:35[snorts] discuss the amendment, figure

1:27:37out where we want to be on on the

1:27:38megawatts and what that exactly means

1:27:40and talk to somebody who has some more

1:27:42knowledge around that. Um, either one

1:27:44works. Uh, if if, for instance, we amend

1:27:47it tonight and you're opposed to that

1:27:48amendment, you can still vote yes, send

1:27:51it to committee, and then bring it back

1:27:52and hopefully if you want to change it,

1:27:54you're able to change it in committee

1:27:56and and amend it uh, coming back from

1:27:58there.

1:27:59>> Thank you.

1:27:59>> As long as that stays within the four

1:28:00corners. Obviously, we're not changing

1:28:02the ordinance substantively.

1:28:04>> Thank you. Thank you for the clarity.

1:28:08>> Okay, Councelor King.

1:28:10>> Okay. Thank you. Um I just wanted to

1:28:12echo the thoughts of the W 6 counselor.

1:28:14Um I obviously staying within the four

1:28:17corners of the ordinance is uh a little

1:28:19difficult given all the different um

1:28:21items that was discussed during the

1:28:22joint public hearing with the planning

1:28:24board, but we talked a lot about noise

1:28:26and environmental impact and all sorts

1:28:29of other things that aren't really

1:28:30included in this language that I think

1:28:32should be at least discussed in a

1:28:34committee meeting and seeing if there's

1:28:35any way to include that while staying

1:28:36within the four corners of the

1:28:37ordinance. Um, and I'll just make a note

1:28:39that that we could also at any point

1:28:41just do a temporary moratorium on data

1:28:43centers for like a year while we figure

1:28:44this out for a future meeting. So that's

1:28:47another option if we feel rushed.

1:28:50>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:28:52Councelor Smith.

1:28:54>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um, so just

1:28:56to cl I want to clarify that the a the

1:28:58motion right now is for first passage

1:29:01and to send it to committee. So, we

1:29:03would be we we want something that at

1:29:05least I would say goes with with what

1:29:08the planning board has has recommended.

1:29:11It's a good recommendation in some ways,

1:29:13but we definitely need to have this

1:29:14discussion. 2 megawatt is incredibly

1:29:16noisy still. Uh it is a low humming

1:29:20noise that can penetrate through walls

1:29:22to up to a half a mile. [snorts] There

1:29:24is a lot of heat generated potentially,

1:29:26although the cooling is often done air

1:29:28cooled here in our climate. That's

1:29:30probably why people like to be here. Um

1:29:33there are things to consider about land

1:29:35use. There are things to consider.

1:29:36There's so much more beyond this power

1:29:38and water and the things that we think

1:29:40of. Uh I would say that there is a haste

1:29:43around this and that is why it seemed

1:29:46like some kind of a moratorum rather

1:29:48than a full I guess this would be the

1:29:50way to do it may be a good stop gap

1:29:53solution. So we should move this forward

1:29:56while also sending it to committee so

1:29:58that we have a chance to uh work with it

1:30:01a little bit but we are going to have to

1:30:03do this pretty quickly. Uh I am also

1:30:06still concerned if we set this 2

1:30:07megawatt limit. What's happened below is

1:30:10is it could probably be found as an

1:30:13acceptable use through the zoning board

1:30:15of appeals process provided they didn't

1:30:18do something like lie on an application.

1:30:21Uh it would typically go through. So

1:30:24maybe, you know, we just don't know. I

1:30:26think we have so many questions here and

1:30:27we really need to have this discussion

1:30:29soon. I'm willing I want to vote for

1:30:31this, but I am I'm very concerned about

1:30:34that 2 megawatt number not really

1:30:36necessarily reflecting the reality of

1:30:39what will be disturbing to neighbors in

1:30:41our very dense city. At the same time, I

1:30:44do understand edge computing and the

1:30:46need for some of these smaller data

1:30:48centers that we aren't what we think of

1:30:50as a data center in order to facilitate

1:30:53various medical uh operations

1:30:55[clears throat]

1:30:56uh schools. They they need this kind of

1:30:58uh infrastructure, but it is quite a bit

1:31:00smaller than what we're talking about

1:31:02here. Um so there may be a different

1:31:04number. We just need some experts and we

1:31:06just need some folks to weigh in and we

1:31:07need to look into this. this was uh very

1:31:10quick that we got this back from them

1:31:13and then had to kind of decide within

1:31:15two days. So, thank you to the W seven

1:31:17counselor for pushing this towards a

1:31:19committee.

1:31:20>> Thank you. And um just for clarity and

1:31:24correct me if I'm wrong, councelor

1:31:25Varela, uh when it's uh moves for

1:31:27adoption for first passage and referred

1:31:30to uh the OLA committee of the whole, we

1:31:32would have the committee meeting first

1:31:34before we would vote for second passage.

1:31:38So that's how how this would play out

1:31:40for clarity. We would have the committee

1:31:42meeting and then have it before a second

1:31:45passage vote. Councelor Gerowski. Thank

1:31:48you, President Merkel. Um I I did just

1:31:50want to echo the concerns for noise and

1:31:52for greenhouse gas emissions that I

1:31:54think are definitely worth um redising

1:31:58in the light of this 2 megawatt limit.

1:32:01Um, I had a conversation just today with

1:32:03some representatives from the Salem

1:32:05Academy who are quite concerned about

1:32:06background noise um and other

1:32:08environmental conditions affecting the

1:32:10learning environment of of their

1:32:11students. Um, 2 megawws is I think a

1:32:15third of what was in the the proposal

1:32:18that was rejected um from uh Prime the

1:32:21other day. I think that was six megawws.

1:32:22Um, but I think just some time to really

1:32:24look at this closely and consider it as

1:32:26a body um because we really haven't had

1:32:28the time to do that yet. So, I look

1:32:29forward to that discussion. Thank you.

1:32:31Thank you. Any further discussion? And

1:32:34we're still on the amendment. There will

1:32:36be discussion if whether even if it

1:32:40passes or not passes, there will still

1:32:42be opportunity. Uh any more discussion

1:32:44on the proposed uh amendment?

1:32:48Okay. Seeing none, on the proposed

1:32:52amendment uh by councelor Varela,

1:32:54seconded by councelor King,

1:32:57uh to include the addition of and has an

1:33:00aggregate power demand of 2 megawws or

1:33:04higher at the end of the addition uh

1:33:07definition of data center.

1:33:10All those in favor?

1:33:12All those opposed?

1:33:15The amendment carries.

1:33:19Okay, back to uh the the motion by

1:33:22councelor Varela for adoption for first

1:33:25passage as amended and also um to be

1:33:31referred to the committee on ordinances,

1:33:33license and legal affairs co-posted the

1:33:36committee of the whole any further

1:33:38discussion

1:33:42seeing none.

1:33:44So, I'll repeat it just for clarity uh

1:33:46for for on council Varela's motion for

1:33:48adoption for first passage by roll call

1:33:50vote as amended and also referred to the

1:33:53committee and ordinances license and

1:33:55legal affairs co-posted with the

1:33:56committee of the whole a zoning

1:33:58ordinance relative to data centers.

1:34:01Madame city clerk, please call the role.

1:34:05>> Councelor Davis,

1:34:06>> yes.

1:34:06>> And council Flynn,

1:34:08>> yes.

1:34:08>> Council Hapworth,

1:34:09>> yes.

1:34:10>> Council Hapa,

1:34:11>> no.

1:34:13Council King,

1:34:14>> yes.

1:34:15>> Council Smith,

1:34:16>> yes.

1:34:17>> Council Sedorak,

1:34:18>> yes.

1:34:19>> Council Terroski,

1:34:20>> yes.

1:34:20>> Council Varela,

1:34:21>> yes.

1:34:22>> And Council Merkel,

1:34:23>> yes.

1:34:34Thank you. We have 10 members voting. We

1:34:37have nine in the affirmative, one in the

1:34:39negative. The matter carries.

1:34:43Further communications from city

1:34:45officials. We have a report from the

1:34:47planning board regarding zoning

1:34:48amendment for a two family dwelling

1:34:50units parking minimum.

1:34:53Um councelor King.

1:34:55>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move that

1:34:56this be received and filed.

1:34:58>> On Councelor King's motion that this be

1:35:00received and filed. All those in favor?

1:35:03All those opposed? The matter carries.

1:35:06Further communications from city

1:35:08officials. We have amended section 5.1.8

1:35:12table of required parking spaces by

1:35:14deleting the phrase dwellings to family

1:35:17in the first row of the table. B adding

1:35:19the phrase dwellings two family to the

1:35:22second row of the table. So it reads use

1:35:24dwellings two family dwellings multif

1:35:26family required parking none. Section

1:35:30two amends section 6.11.8

1:35:33Eight, parking and loading. A inserting

1:35:36inserting the phrase in two family

1:35:38dwelling units after four multif family

1:35:41dwelling units at the beginning of this

1:35:43section. In section three amending

1:35:46section 8.7.8.4

1:35:49development standards parking standards

1:35:53section B parking ratios section I by

1:35:56inserting the phrase in two family

1:35:58dwellings after four multif family

1:36:01dwellings. Council Varela.

1:36:03>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

1:36:05first passage by roll call vote.

1:36:08>> Council Varela moves for adoption for

1:36:10first passage by roll call vote. Under

1:36:12discussion, Council Varela.

1:36:14>> Thank you, President Merkel, and thank

1:36:16you for council King for bringing this

1:36:17in. I I do believe this is consistent

1:36:19with what uh the planning department is

1:36:22doing with parking minimums. This is

1:36:24just something that I think is a

1:36:26benefit. So, thank you for bringing this

1:36:27in. It's a it's a no-brainer.

1:36:32Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:36:34Councelor King.

1:36:36>> Thank you, President Merkel, and thank

1:36:37you to the uh planning board for their

1:36:39unanimous recommendation that we move

1:36:41forward with this language. Um, we had a

1:36:43great discussion during our joint public

1:36:45hearing uh with the planning board and I

1:36:47was um particularly excited about the

1:36:50the language around and the and the

1:36:53discussion around how this really

1:36:54encourages more variety in our housing

1:36:56in Salem and having um more opportunity

1:36:59for two family dwellings to be built um

1:37:01which is just a such a unique housing

1:37:04opportunity both for um certain styles

1:37:07of families and also a great opportunity

1:37:08for first-time home buyers as well. So,

1:37:10I just am excited that this would

1:37:12encourage that style of housing. There's

1:37:14lots of other arguments for it too that

1:37:16we discussed last year um before I was

1:37:18on the council, but that is the thing I

1:37:20am most excited about. Thanks. Thank

1:37:22you. Any further discussion?

1:37:25Seeing none,

1:37:27councelor,

1:37:29sorry about that. Council's motion for

1:37:32adoption for first passage uh by roll

1:37:34call vote the amendments to parking

1:37:37space requirements for two family

1:37:39dwellings. Madame city clerk, please

1:37:41call the role. Council Davis,

1:37:43>> yes.

1:37:44>> Council Flynn,

1:37:45>> no.

1:37:46>> Council Hwart,

1:37:48>> yes.

1:37:49>> Council Halapa,

1:37:50>> yes.

1:37:50>> Council King,

1:37:52>> yes.

1:37:52>> Council Smith,

1:37:53>> yes.

1:37:54>> Council Sedorak,

1:37:55>> yes.

1:37:55>> Council Terroski,

1:37:56>> yes.

1:37:57>> Council Varela, yes. And council Merkel,

1:37:59>> yes.

1:38:07We have 10 members voting. We have nine

1:38:10in the affirmative, one in the negative.

1:38:12The matter carries.

1:38:16Further communications from city

1:38:18officials. We have communication from

1:38:20the interim city clerk, Maren Fischer,

1:38:23submitting the 2026 state election

1:38:25order. And this goes from page 15 to

1:38:28page 36.

1:38:30>> We have the reading.

1:38:31>> The reading. Thank you.

1:38:34>> Council Horth.

1:38:35>> Councelor Hapworth.

1:38:40>> Believe I'm looking for adoption. But

1:38:42>> I'm sorry.

1:38:43>> Roll scroll

1:38:45>> on the top of page 36.

1:38:47>> Getting there.

1:38:49I'm getting there. Thank you though.

1:38:52>> It's a big uh uh Thank you, President

1:38:54Murv. Move for adoption by roll call

1:38:55vote.

1:38:56>> Councelor Hapworth moves for adoption by

1:38:58roll call vote. Under discussion,

1:39:00councelor Hapworth.

1:39:01>> No discussion.

1:39:02>> Any further discussion?

1:39:05>> Seeing none on council Hapworth's motion

1:39:07for adoption by roll call vote the 2026

1:39:10state election order. Madam city clerk,

1:39:12please call the role. Council Davis,

1:39:15>> yes.

1:39:15>> Council Flynn,

1:39:16>> yes.

1:39:17>> Council Hart,

1:39:18>> yes.

1:39:18>> Council Hapa,

1:39:19>> yes.

1:39:19>> Council King,

1:39:20>> yes.

1:39:21>> Council Smith,

1:39:22>> yes. Council Sedorak,

1:39:23>> yes.

1:39:24>> Council Terroski,

1:39:25>> yes.

1:39:25>> Council Varela,

1:39:26>> yes.

1:39:26>> And council Merkel,

1:39:28>> yes.

1:39:34>> We have 10 members voting. We have 10 in

1:39:36the affirmative, none in the negative.

1:39:38The matter carries.

1:39:40Petitions.

1:39:44We have across from National Grid to

1:39:46locate relocate one jointly owned pole

1:39:48on Summit A at the corner of Summit A in

1:39:50Eden Street.

1:39:52Hearing ordered on October 8th, 2026.

1:39:57Further petitions. We have a request

1:39:59from the residents of Orange Square to

1:40:01hold a block party on Halloween, October

1:40:0331st, 2026 from 3 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

1:40:06Council Sidoriaak.

1:40:08>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

1:40:09this to be granted.

1:40:11>> Council Doryak moves that this be

1:40:12granted. Under discussion, Council

1:40:14Sidoriaak.

1:40:14>> Uh, if you've not been to Orange Square

1:40:16before, it's the [clears throat] cutest

1:40:18little neighborhood. It's right around

1:40:19the corner from me. It looks like a

1:40:21little English cottage uh neighborhood

1:40:23and they do a fantastic job dressing it

1:40:25up for the October season. So seeing

1:40:27that they're going to do a block party

1:40:29on Halloween is going to be pretty cool.

1:40:31So excited for it.

1:40:33>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:40:35Seeing none on council Sedorak's motion

1:40:38uh that the Orange Street Orange Square

1:40:41block party on October 31st be granted.

1:40:44All those in favor? All those opposed?

1:40:46The matter carries. Further petitions.

1:40:49We have a long list of public guides.

1:40:52Councelor Varela.

1:40:54>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move

1:40:56that's be granted.

1:40:57>> Council Varela moves that these be

1:40:59granted. Under discussion, Council

1:41:00Varela,

1:41:00>> no discussion.

1:41:02>> On Council Varela's motion that these

1:41:04licenses be granted. All those in favor?

1:41:07All those opposed. The matter carries.

1:41:09Further petitions.

1:41:11We have um four taxi operators and two

1:41:15vehicle for hire operators only.

1:41:18Councelor Varela.

1:41:20>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move

1:41:21these be granted.

1:41:22>> Councelor Varela moves that these be

1:41:23granted. Other under discussion.

1:41:25Councelor Varela.

1:41:26>> No discussion.

1:41:28>> On council's motion that these be

1:41:30granted. All those in favor? All those

1:41:32opposed? The matter carries. Further

1:41:35petitions.

1:41:36>> We have two claims.

1:41:38>> Council Varela.

1:41:38>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move

1:41:40these be referred to the committee on

1:41:41ordinances, license, and legal affairs.

1:41:43>> Council Varela moves that these be

1:41:44referred to the committee on ordinances,

1:41:46license, and legal affairs. Under

1:41:48discussion, council.

1:41:49>> No discussion

1:41:49>> on council's motion to refer these

1:41:52claims to the committee on ordinanceless

1:41:54license and legal affairs. All those in

1:41:56favor? All those opposed? The matter

1:41:59carries. Unfinished business. We have an

1:42:02ordinance relative to noise control.

1:42:05Councelor Smith.

1:42:06>> Thank you, President Merkel. I move for

1:42:08adoption for second passage.

1:42:11>> Councelor Smith moves for adoption for

1:42:13second passage. Under discussion,

1:42:14Councelor Smith. No further discussion.

1:42:17>> Any further discussion? Council Halapo.

1:42:21>> Thank you, President Merkel. I'm mostly

1:42:23saying this for the record. Um earlier

1:42:26this year, we uh corrected the uh

1:42:29parking for adjusting earlier September

1:42:32happening. There's a part of this

1:42:34ordinance that we neglected to mention

1:42:35relating to amplification. Uh I was

1:42:38speaking to Chief Miller last night and

1:42:39that's something that we might want to

1:42:41address in the future. It's about to

1:42:43show up now. This is second passage. But

1:42:44I'm not going to put it forward, but I

1:42:45wanted to put that in here for the

1:42:46record. Thank you.

1:42:48>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:42:51Seeing none, on Councelor Smith's motion

1:42:53for adoption for a second passage, an

1:42:55ordinance relative to noise control. All

1:42:57those in favor? All those opposed? The

1:43:00matter carries.

1:43:02Further unfinished business. We have an

1:43:04ordinance relative to traffic

1:43:07on Lafayette Place, Salem Street.

1:43:11>> Councelor King. Thank you, President

1:43:13Merkel. I move for adoption for second

1:43:15passage.

1:43:15>> Councelor King moves for adoption for

1:43:17second passage. Under discussion,

1:43:19Councelor King.

1:43:20>> Um, thank you. Uh, we are just uh

1:43:23cleaning up all of the uh changes that

1:43:25were made to the back of uh the Sarah

1:43:28Parker Ramon, formerly Sult School on

1:43:31Salem Street for um all the kids that

1:43:33are there. Thank you. Any further

1:43:35discussion? Seeing none on council

1:43:38king's motion for adoption for second

1:43:40passage an ordinance relative uh to

1:43:42traffic and parking on Lafayette Place

1:43:44and Salem Street. All those in favor?

1:43:47All those opposed? Matter carries.

1:43:50Further unfinished business. We have an

1:43:52ordinance relative to traffic chapter 42

1:43:55section 13B Fire Lanes Beach Avenue and

1:43:58Sutton Avenue. Councelor Traski.

1:44:01>> Thank you. President Merkel. I move for

1:44:03adoption uh for second passage.

1:44:04Councelor Trosky moves for adoption for

1:44:06second passage. Under discussion,

1:44:08councelor Troski. No discussion. Any

1:44:11further discussion? Seeing none on

1:44:13councils motion for adoption for second

1:44:16passage, an ordinance relative to fire

1:44:18lanes on Beach and Sutton avenues. All

1:44:21those in favor. All those opposed. The

1:44:24matter carries. Further unfinished

1:44:26business. We have an ordinance to amend

1:44:28an ordinance relative to offenses and

1:44:31miscellaneous provisions.

1:44:34um for gas powered leaf blowers.

1:44:38Councelor Hapworth.

1:44:40>> Thank you. President Merkel move for

1:44:41adoption for second passage.

1:44:43>> Councelor Hapworth moves for adoption

1:44:45for second passage. Under discussion,

1:44:47councelor Hapworth.

1:44:48>> Uh no discussion.

1:44:49>> Any further discussion? Council Varela.

1:44:53>> Thank you, President Merkel. I'd like to

1:44:54make a motion.

1:44:58I can make a motion that we add back in.

1:45:01City departments, city of Salem shall

1:45:03comply with the gas power leaf blower

1:45:05provision no later than 2030.

1:45:11>> Repeat that one more time.

1:45:12>> Sure. So, this comes from the original

1:45:15language. City departments hyphen the

1:45:18city of Salem shall comply with the gas

1:45:21powered leaf blower prohibition no later

1:45:24than 2030.

1:45:37>> Do we have I just

1:45:38>> I don't I'm not seconding it. No,

1:45:40>> I second I'll second it.

1:45:41>> Okay.

1:45:43>> Okay.

1:45:48Okay. Seconded by councelor King to add

1:45:51back in a city department shall comply

1:45:54with the leaf blower uh prohibition

1:45:57under discussion.

1:45:59>> I just uh

1:46:01>> Thank you. Thank you, President Merkel.

1:46:02I just would want clarity. There's a

1:46:03there's many It sounds like you're

1:46:05trying to add the city back in. Okay. If

1:46:07you're trying to add the city back in,

1:46:08there's many places that this exists in

1:46:09the ordinance. So, there's many

1:46:10amendments and we're back in the where

1:46:13we were two weeks ago. Uh,

1:46:17so there'll be many many amendments to

1:46:18make. I guess maybe we take that first

1:46:20one first and see how people feel on it

1:46:22and and then maybe not make the rest of

1:46:23them if there's not a will in the body

1:46:25to do it. Um, but it's not just in one

1:46:28place, it's in several places.

1:46:31>> Noted. Thank you.

1:46:34Any further discussion? Councelor

1:46:35Varela.

1:46:37>> Thank you, President Merkel. So, the

1:46:38reason I want to bring this back in is I

1:46:40understand the residents want this. I I

1:46:43do understand the reason we want to ban

1:46:45leaf blowers. I just can't get by the

1:46:49the fact that the city is exempt from

1:46:51this. We've heard from our DPS director

1:46:54that he doesn't believe the technology

1:46:56is there and that that's going to be the

1:47:01same for any landscaper.

1:47:03I I think we need to be cautious about

1:47:05this. if the city says they can do it.

1:47:08And I and I trust Ray in this. Ry is a

1:47:11landscaper. That's what he's done for

1:47:14many many years. He knows the industry.

1:47:16And I just don't think it's it's fair

1:47:19for the city to be exempt and the and

1:47:23businesses and individuals to be privy

1:47:26to this ordinance. So that's the reason

1:47:27I want to bring this in. I think it

1:47:29should be fair all around. If the city

1:47:31doesn't feel they can do it for

1:47:32feasibility reasons, it's going to be

1:47:34the same for residents and businesses

1:47:36here in the Commonwealth. Thank you.

1:47:39>> Thank you, Councelor Smith.

1:47:41>> Thank you, President Merkel. Uh the city

1:47:43would incur a cost of over $400,000 to

1:47:46switch their gear. They can't just go

1:47:48out and buy a leaf blower at Walmart.

1:47:50They have to go to uh set purveyors of

1:47:55leaf blowers and they have to purchase

1:47:57them under Massachusetts state law.

1:47:59There's only certain ones they can get.

1:48:01If you I want you to think about the

1:48:04largest pieces of property that are in

1:48:06this city.

1:48:08They are city property. There's

1:48:10cemeteries, parks. These are huge areas

1:48:14that we would have to add numerous

1:48:16personnel to. We're not talking about

1:48:18private contractors, people who choose

1:48:21to have yards. Instead, we're talking

1:48:24about residents that choose to have

1:48:26parks,

1:48:28cemeteries, people that choose to bury

1:48:29their dead in cemeteries now incurring a

1:48:32cost of $7.50 per person in this city

1:48:36just to keep those spaces clean. And uh

1:48:42and not to mention the fire, right? The

1:48:45fire department has to borrow leaf they

1:48:48have to get leaf blowers from somewhere.

1:48:49They actually get them from DPS. uh they

1:48:51had said in the committee meeting that

1:48:53they do not when I talked to the chief

1:48:54they do and so we want those to be on

1:48:57hand. Switching the city now

1:49:01would be very costly have to add

1:49:04personnel and be dangerous. And so I

1:49:07think that leaving them off until the

1:49:09technology

1:49:11as provided by state law what they can

1:49:13actually buy is where it needs to be. It

1:49:17makes sense to leave them out. there's

1:49:19four years to put them back in. Chances

1:49:22are we go to Ray in two years and maybe

1:49:25he's ready and they can get in even

1:49:26earlier. I just think right now leaving

1:49:29them out is the wisest choice because of

1:49:32those main issues. Thanks.

1:49:34>> Thank you. Any further discussion? Uh,

1:49:38councelor Sedoryak.

1:49:41>> Thank you, President Merkel. I just want

1:49:43to echo the W 2 counselor's comments. I

1:49:45think the scale and the responsibilities

1:49:48of the the city government makes it so

1:49:51distinct that it isn't really a

1:49:53discussion about fairness. Uh it's it's

1:49:55kind of apples to oranges. Like there's

1:49:57two different things happening here of

1:49:59the responsibility

1:50:01and public health and safety that is

1:50:03very distinct from a resident that needs

1:50:06to clear off their um their yard. And I

1:50:10I think giving that scale uh it's

1:50:13important that we do set this aside and

1:50:15maybe give the city some time uh to wait

1:50:19out to see if the technology can meet

1:50:22that scale can become feasible um and

1:50:25they can actually achieve what they can

1:50:28achieve now with that technology. Thank

1:50:30you, President.

1:50:31>> Thank you, Council Halapa.

1:50:33>> Thank you, President Merkel. Um, I've

1:50:36always sort of been in favor of this of

1:50:37this notion of having the city um

1:50:39practice what we preach and and lead on

1:50:42this uh lead by example. Um, I want to

1:50:44just clarify that the new that the old

1:50:47the new old language um does not dictate

1:50:50that DPS replace its entire fleet of gas

1:50:53leaf blowers by 2030. It simply states

1:50:56that they would not be able to use them

1:50:58except under certain conditions. Um, so

1:51:00they would potentially still be

1:51:02available for the fire department to

1:51:03use. it would not necessarily be that

1:51:05giant cost. Um, and again, this is

1:51:08several years from now when this would

1:51:09go into effect. I would be more

1:51:11comfortable 2 years from now effectively

1:51:14granting them an extension rather than

1:51:16saying, "Hey, guess what? Now you only

1:51:18have 2 years because now we're deciding

1:51:20we're going to add you back in later."

1:51:22Um, the downside to that, if we don't

1:51:24want to give them two years and we want

1:51:25to be more reasonable, then we're

1:51:26pushing it out even further. Um, I think

1:51:28this is a reasonable way to get it

1:51:30forward and I think there is a off-ramp

1:51:33if we choose to if we decide that it is

1:51:36necessary later on. Thank you.

1:51:38>> Thank you. Any further discussion?

1:51:40Councelor Hapworth.

1:51:43>> Thank you, President Merkel. Uh, I mean,

1:51:45I would be a no vote on on this both

1:51:47ways. So, I think that the uh if if if

1:51:50you can't untangle that knot, which I I

1:51:52don't feel that I can, that the city

1:51:54needs these. And uh for the time being

1:51:57the technology is not there and

1:51:59procurement is not able to get us

1:52:01something that that makes sense

1:52:02financially. Um this is not an

1:52:05enforcement priority and I I I I

1:52:08shouldn't probably say that but this is

1:52:09not I don't believe this is an

1:52:10enforcement priority for Salem PD. So,

1:52:12this if this is passed applying to

1:52:14commercial businesses and residents

1:52:16only, it feels hypocritical to me. Um, I

1:52:19guess just on a as a as a as a

1:52:21counselor, [snorts] but as a as a

1:52:23practical matter affecting uh the city

1:52:25of Salem, some people will buy electric

1:52:28now that weren't wouldn't otherwise, and

1:52:30that's great. Uh, but if we add the city

1:52:33of Salem back into this, that has an

1:52:35actual effect on Salem's taxpayers, the

1:52:38services Salem receives, and the the the

1:52:40[snorts] work that Salem's uh public

1:52:43safety and uh DPW are able to do. So, I

1:52:45will not vote yes on this amendment uh

1:52:48to to add the city back in, but I also

1:52:50not vote yes to to pass this as is. I

1:52:53would advise anyone who has issues with

1:52:54that sort of that for rules for me and

1:52:57not for thee or rules for thee and not

1:52:59for me just to vote no on the on the

1:53:01full um order but uh but trying to go

1:53:04back through and amend this thing again

1:53:06let's not go down that please.

1:53:09>> Thank you councelor King.

1:53:12>> Thank you. I have a point of

1:53:13clarification and this this could just

1:53:15be we were making so many amendments on

1:53:17the fly and I can't even find um like

1:53:20minutes from the last meeting. Um it

1:53:23looks like we removed

1:53:25any effective date from this ordinance.

1:53:28I'm not seeing anything printed here

1:53:30unless it's not unless it's somewhere

1:53:33else and I don't see anything in the

1:53:34backup but there's no effective date

1:53:36which means if we pass this it would be

1:53:37effective now. Wait,

1:53:39>> 20.

1:53:40>> I don't think the agenda reflected the

1:53:43whole order.

1:53:45>> It's not

1:53:46>> okay. I I understand the agenda is

1:53:48missing the full text. There's also

1:53:50nothing in the backup given all the

1:53:52amendments we took last meeting.

1:53:57I don't know if I feel particularly

1:53:59comfortable voting on it unless I know

1:54:00we're actually voting on to be honest

1:54:02that I'm very sorry to say that but I I

1:54:05not having a clear effective date that I

1:54:07actually know is true is an important

1:54:09piece of information.

1:54:12Any further discussion?

1:54:14Councelor Davis. Thank you, President

1:54:16Merkel. So, we removed the effective

1:54:18date that's at the end of the ordinance

1:54:19just because it was redundant. The

1:54:21effective dates is are laid out in a

1:54:24earlier section. I don't have it in

1:54:25front of me, but uh in an earlier

1:54:27paragraph,

1:54:30section D. [snorts]

1:54:34Council Varela,

1:54:35>> that was a fun exercise. I withdraw my

1:54:38motion. [laughter]

1:54:43>> Motion withdrawn.

1:54:46Councelor King. Thank you. Um, I if

1:54:49anyone has a version of this language

1:54:51that is posted publicly, I would love to

1:54:53see it because I'm also looking back at

1:54:54the original committee meeting we had on

1:54:56it and there's nothing there's no

1:54:57language in that committee meeting.

1:54:59There's no language in the minutes. I

1:55:00know there was language that was brought

1:55:01in by the atlarge counselor, but I I

1:55:05can't find a version of this language

1:55:07that is the final version that we are

1:55:08voting on on anywhere online. And if

1:55:10anyone can point me to it, that would be

1:55:11great. But I that's all. I just don't

1:55:14think it's great to vote on something

1:55:15that we don't know what we're voting on.

1:55:17>> Thank you. Any further disc I just add

1:55:20that we this is exactly what we voted on

1:55:21two weeks ago. So if you're worried

1:55:23about voting on something you haven't

1:55:25seen, you voted on that two weeks ago.

1:55:26This is this was voted on as amended.

1:55:28This is second passage we're voting on

1:55:29right now.

1:55:32>> Thank you, Councelor King. Thank you.

1:55:35Um,

1:55:37when we voted on this two weeks ago,

1:55:38there was a handout on our desks that

1:55:40then people were marking up as we made

1:55:42amendments.

1:55:44I don't know about you, I recycle the

1:55:46amendments on my desk. And I don't think

1:55:48most the people for people who are at

1:55:50home and trying to figure out what we

1:55:51are voting on

1:55:57the paper.

1:55:59>> Ah, okay. The ad that was placed in the

1:56:00paper is the version that is we're

1:56:02voting on. Okay, great. Um,

1:56:06okay. I guess I should just have read

1:56:07the paper. I'll do that next time. Thank

1:56:09you.

1:56:12Thank you.

1:56:14Any further discussion? And uh for

1:56:17clarity, we are back um to the um

1:56:20original emotion without the amendment.

1:56:25Any further discussion?

1:56:27>> Councelor Smith.

1:56:28>> Thank you, President Merkel. I'd like to

1:56:29propose an amendment that we add in

1:56:31section F just to the best of their

1:56:33ability within just for the city of

1:56:35Salem just to clarify this language that

1:56:38they conducting outreach. So it makes it

1:56:40a little bit more palatable uh for a

1:56:43city department that is already overt

1:56:45taxed and overburdened to uh have this

1:56:47on their plates coming down the pike. So

1:56:51after at the end of that I would just

1:56:52say to the best of their ability

1:57:02Second.

1:57:06>> Just give me one second. I'm writing the

1:57:08notes.

1:57:16Okay. We have a a motion for a proposed

1:57:21amendment

1:57:22uh under this section um that requires

1:57:24the city to for to outreach um to

1:57:28landscaping companies that they be

1:57:30notified of our change of rules. And the

1:57:34motion is to add uh to the best of their

1:57:38ability.

1:57:40And this was seconded by councelor

1:57:42Davis. Under discussion,

1:57:45>> self-explanatory. No further discussion.

1:57:47>> Any further discussion?

1:57:50Seeing none on the proposed amendment uh

1:57:54by councelor Smith, seconded by

1:57:55councelor Davis uh under the section

1:57:58that um the city is shall notify

1:58:01landscaping uh companies, entities um to

1:58:05notify them of our of our ordinance uh

1:58:09that it is to the added to the best of

1:58:12their ability. Um,

1:58:15all those in favor,

1:58:18all those opposed.

1:58:21The matter carries.

1:58:26Okay. So, we are back uh to the original

1:58:30uh motion um which would be um councelor

1:58:35Her's motion for adoption for second

1:58:38passage. It would now be as amended.

1:58:42Any further discussion?

1:58:47Seeing none,

1:58:49on Councelor Hapworth's motion for

1:58:51adoption for second passage as amended,

1:58:55an ordinance relative to gas leaf blower

1:58:58restrictions.

1:59:00All those in favor?

1:59:04All those opposed.

1:59:08Just want clarify clarity. Could those

1:59:10that were in favor raise their hands

1:59:12again so I do a clear count.

1:59:21All those opposed.

1:59:29We have six voting in favor for against.

1:59:32Uh the matter carries.

1:59:39Councelor Hapworth.

1:59:49>> I move for and if there's nothing else,

1:59:52uh I [snorts] move for adjournment.

1:59:54>> Council Hapworth moves for adjournment.

1:59:56All those in favor? All those opposed?

2:00:00We are adjourned. Thank you everyone.