[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6330803,"mediaKeyId","2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd","parentId",2313483,"title","Votes at a glance: Salem City Council actions, Feb. 13, 2025","audioSeconds",336,"startMs",6562000,"endMs",6898000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd&start=6562&end=6898","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd/thumbnail_6562000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330803/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Salem-City-Council-actions-Feb-13-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330803-cdf3167526193c8740d0c8f85ae9ba8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207653&Signature=HjCKZuLKSL61tKEvuf7eDN2jw0-Ydmqx--0hooHBoh4DyLJxt-d7q3mR-iGOV2FwYrxoBkILywnUwInPwQ5~krkv9Y1cpQ2f1cl4eHq~MQSFkFfZpANKYpRyZksoGZCqKSoq4fLyS4fHAv4bfOEy8rtSMkyra3Sr~LIEnKXvJuOtHXNZmPXD1ROLTVUJDj6N0KjrSmlwPhlMPiqzcKDxElSPmBCwbgWaIQbbOkRn5~yRcw7TxO7U04ZqP8yJVlPDPx9AefN6qQmgtJp0YADBI-xiN3d1IAuRkDkieCwNLqx9zBLD0ajvWpvqFh-m~VB~qBnoq~NLFmtfKg3u9zV4mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Salem City Council recorded multiple formal actions on Feb. 13, 2025. This roundup lists motions, vote outcomes and key details drawn from roll calls or announced tallies during the meeting.

• Appropriations and fiscal items
- $75,000 appropriation to the retirement buyback account to cover sick leave buybacks for active employees. Motion to adopt carried by voice vote (no roll call recorded in transcript). Outcome: approved.
- $37,635.35 appropriation within retirement buyback account for contractual buybacks for a public library and school department employee. Motion to adopt carried by voice vote. Outcome: approved.
- Payment of a prior fiscal year invoice (CivicPlus) using current fiscal year appropriation: $5,593.43 to the IT department (Mass. General Laws Chapter 44, §64 cited). Councilor Merkel moved adoption by roll call; roll call produced 10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent. Outcome: approved.
- $5,000 appropriation to the golf course souvenir merchandise account to cover purchases through the end of FY 2025; motion carried by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

• Appointments and confirmations (examples)
- Multiple mayoral appointments and reappointments were confirmed by roll call votes; individual motions recorded multiple times with roll calls showing 10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent for lists of appointees (examples include zoning board of appeals appointees and various board and commission members). Outcome: confirmed.
- Committee of the Whole recommended the reappointment of City Clerk Eileen Simons (see separate article). Outcome: approved by roll call, 10‑0 (1 absent).

• Ordinances, referrals and committee actions
- Ordinance to amend rules regulating maintenance of abandoned and foreclosed residential and commercial properties: Councilor Hathworth moved to refer to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs (OLA); motion carried. The ordinance would replace a flat annual fee with escalating fees by year and require property owners to provide a contact for the city; it will be reviewed in committee. Outcome: referred to OLA.
- Home rule petition regarding increasing the local option tax on the sale of marijuana and marijuana products: referred to OLA and co‑posted with Committee of the Whole for further discussion; councilors characterized the move as a signal to the state legislature. Outcome: referred to OLA/co‑posted.

• Public safety and operations
- Police Department request to install video surveillance cameras at specified parks and intersections (Forest River Park, Castle Hill Park, Highland Ave/Proctor St., Lafayette St./Palmer St., Derby St., Boston St. at Aborn, Essex St. at Hawthorne Blvd.): Councilor Abbreath moved adoption; after discussion the motion carried (voice vote). The council and speakers emphasized cameras are video‑only (no audio) and used as investigative and safety tools. Outcome: approved.

• Capital/design study
- Committee on Administration and Finance, co‑posted with the Committee of the Whole, recommended adoption of an $80,000 appropriation for a design study of permanent and retractable bollards and other infrastructure for the Essex Street pedestrian mall (Ballard’s installation design study). Committee voted unanimously in favor; council accepted the committee report. Outcome: committee recommendation accepted; design appropriation to follow committee process.

• Other procedural votes
- Multiple petitions (road race permit, secondhand dealer licenses, taxi/public guide licenses) were granted or denied as listed on the agenda; examples: B & S Fitness Black Cat 10/20 Miler road race permit granted; taxi operator licenses granted; one public guide license denied. Outcome: varied by petition as recorded.

This roundup captures motions and formal vote outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript. Items that were held under the rules, referred to committee or carried by voice vote are noted as such.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salem City Council OLLA Committee and Regular Meeting February 13th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes taken by the Salem City Council on Feb. 13, 2025, including appropriations, license/appointment confirmations, camera installations and ordinance referrals.","taxTitle","Salem City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",70531,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330807,"Salem City Council reappoints City Clerk Eileen Simons to 2027 term",186,6261000,6447000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd&start=6261&end=6447","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd/thumbnail_6261000.jpg","/articles/6330807/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-City-Council-reappoints-City-Clerk-Eileen-Simons-to-2027-term","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330807-0b7ee3afa5d3189b6f6ca45bb608177c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207653&Signature=CtV-Ihg86oC6VYh~m1B7nhWnVSjB9S-6U0LunVHw-WBn-9U5lgYxyk00NetdvdM0rkTHVEL~fRkBCQy19DkExIaVP78lOChXx28z7MUToEJgIlYqePWEZU6IjXj27pW2rWn8Dqi637UKXYI38vwCpNNcrpCPDLdjyKF~dlTWAX1SHpx8~MnsIe734WgpNWJriHWQgsC6tAJVgYjjPOmJbpXAfABIt0R50hCRqSqc3coEFlhiQYC~ySA4jUuZVmV2~JYgOgFQmHpEAEwnQSzy6kclFEabdOpJV0cFmV4u-aal0QKN2-M75DIr~vdec9x3NqRho971IKCYVLw3~D2AmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted to reappoint Eileen Simons as city clerk, extending her term through June 28, 2027.

Councilor Prozniewski presented the Committee of the Whole recommendation endorsing reappointment, and the council confirmed the appointment by roll call vote, 10 in favor, none opposed, one absent. Councilors praised Simons for work modernizing public access to city records and supporting elections and meeting operations.

Tom Fiore, former city councilor, addressed the council during public testimony and urged unanimous reappointment of the clerk, praising her election oversight and administrative work. Several councilors thanked the clerk and her staff for improvements to transparency and technology, including forthcoming website upgrades.

With the confirmation, Simons will remain the city’s chief elections official and records custodian through mid‑2027. The council’s action followed a Committee of the Whole review that included discussion of the clerk’s duties, modernization initiatives and public engagement.","The council unanimously reappointed Eileen Simons as Salem city clerk, citing modernization efforts and public support; the new term expires in June 2027.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330812,"Council approves Home Rule Petition to establish Salem Elections Commission, effective if approved by Legislature",2689,3527000,6216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd&start=3527&end=6216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd/thumbnail_3527000.jpg","/articles/6330812/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-Home-Rule-Petition-to-establish-Salem-Elections-Commission-effective-if-approved-by-Legislature","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330812-80051f5714c3ca4e24f6cce70483922b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207653&Signature=idqY98QSkw7HqH8OWf-rYx5RfDc2t83JxvQFNqv9l~qdis1IdSTUAMNunsMq0Q2rTYM7xmMKGD9ptRCsRDR~nWAkm70rDsvEHUOxQ6H9FbI8Gv95Htz15d-cKG00xgiXmUXVuxcJApuLYYZQ1xGuWw-1vpmhNP1ity0hnJcbWCX5bwNzyzmuBGQCFi9C3yw~b~e~~yMlbtVC4GmhDYi5hzCDIY8rrs5oNnN-OikfSoLwbCYS9j8lOoQMkSxECNy3PF-xQc6ywVawStV2UYul13EMly8DBXvX9f80cKiXij4qnTMVvQFhHVzkchgGfQCnV9ITkgUFySzhP~JFtRRUrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted to adopt a Home Rule Petition asking the Massachusetts General Court to establish a local Elections Commission to oversee municipal elections and relieve some duties from the city clerk’s office.

Councilor Varela moved the adoption; the measure passed by roll call vote, 10 in favor, none opposed, one absent. Council members said the commission would add two members to the current board structure (for a total of five), maintain bipartisan representation consistent with state law and aim to separate administrative oversight from the clerk’s office.

At the Feb. 13 meeting, Councilor Varela said the change responds to increased election workload and would provide separate governance for election administration. He told the council a Commission, if approved by the Legislature, would take effect July 1, 2026, and incumbents on the Board of Registrars would serve out their terms and be transitioned to the new commission.

Councilor Marcello noted there should be no change in voters’ experience; the change concerns structure and administration. Councilor Cohen encouraged colleagues to contact state legislators once the petition is docketed, to support timely action.

The council’s adoption forwards the petition to the General Court. Final legal effect depends on legislative approval; the council’s motion and the meeting record establish the local policy request and timeline.","The council voted unanimously to send a Home Rule Petition establishing a five‑member Elections Commission to the Massachusetts General Court; the change would abolish the current Board of Registrars and take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted by the Legislature.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330818,"Salem City Council votes to deny mayor authorization to use city seal on 400th‑anniversary medallion",1266,3817000,5083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd&start=3817&end=5083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313483-ec0698a160a73fc282a5cd98a75ef6fd/thumbnail_3817000.jpg","/articles/6330818/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-City-Council-votes-to-deny-mayor-authorization-to-use-city-seal-on-400thanniversary-medallion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330818-bf76184a5367a125fceb23651185c08f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207653&Signature=k99ZQbw4S-pj3~O3lZ69-6s1oGJF2TB~hnQCWTJbJuBBQsoa6dD-RKUBXEG2vdlotv22ghsvIGVgt1gKhHWgv-dU67SK7chel0hl6VLY0Z9MZadwtLAn57f~yEnmY-mIFRXRVks7cofVn20XSXjFFbzwnN13JjnbLRY5Pub6ZXfG-FsL37mSP0onBqQ-N6fGerNpbF9699VXMCn~0k6mwX5AnLLsLp5X~JjfJzAyXhNmPcbXH3lkoUbwPur3xHadntzbbc0H-rf28fx-UBYiMTbs86XtvH1e3N~pZN04RsXpkBfzuu-k8aAONB7kRvYFTNuGN0-~wsAwo5B5O5hRyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted Wednesday night to deny the mayor authorization to use the city seal on a Salem 400 quadricentennial medallion, following extensive public comment and debate over the image’s cultural sensitivity and whether use should wait for a task‑force review.

Councilors debated whether to send the matter to committee for further discussion or to act immediately. Councilor Massillo moved to refer the matter to the Committee on Government Services so the mayor could explain the rationale; that motion to co‑post with the Committee of the Whole failed in a roll call, 4 in favor, 6 opposed, 1 absent. Later, Councilor Rossello moved to deny the mayor’s request to use the seal; the roll call on that motion produced nine yes votes, one no and one absent, and the motion carried.

The question of the seal drew multiple public comments. Brett Safran, 16 Connors Road, told the council he supported reconsidering use of the seal on the medallion because a task force is reviewing the seal and its imagery could change before the 400th anniversary. Safran also said the seal could influence the task force’s deliberations if the city proceeded now.

Caitlin Halapa, 70 Boston Street, urged the council to either wait for the seal task force’s report or choose an alternative symbol for the coin, such as a city landmark, and noted concerns raised by residents about the seal’s imagery.

Councilors opposed to immediate use cited the task force and public input. Councilor Merkel said she would not support expanding use of the seal while the review was ongoing, and Councilor Davis said she had received resident concerns and preferred to wait for the task force’s work. Councilor Watzenfeld read an email exchange and said using the seal now would undercut the deliberative review process and cause harm to members of the community who had asked for reflection.

Councilors who supported moving the matter to committee argued the mayor and Salem 400 organizers should present their rationale and that proceeds from medallion sales would fund anniversary events. Councilor Massillo, who made the referral motion, said sale proceeds traditionally help fund celebratory events and that committee discussion would allow the mayor and event coordinators to explain the plan.

After the council denied the authorization, Councilor Marcello made a follow‑up motion to deny use of the seal; the council approved that motion on the roll call mentioned above, effectively preventing the mayor’s office from using the current city seal on the Salem 400 medallion. The council did not adopt any alternate design in the meeting.

The debate underscored competing priorities: some councilors and residents argued for protecting the symbolic integrity of a review process begun in response to community concerns, while others said committee discussion could provide transparency and the opportunity to explain logistics and potential legal protections for seal use.

The council’s action means the mayor’s office must pursue a different design or seek future council authorization if it wishes to use the existing seal for commemorative items.","After public comment and nearly two hours of debate, the Salem City Council rejected a request to allow the mayor to use the historic city seal on commemorative Salem 400 medallions, first failing to refer the item and then approving a motion to deny use of the seal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Salem City Council actions, Feb. 13, 2025

Salem City Council reappoints City Clerk Eileen Simons to 2027 term

Council approves Home Rule Petition to establish Salem Elections Commission, effective if approved by Legislature

Salem City Council votes to deny mayor authorization to use city seal on 400th‑anniversary medallion