[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6278580,"mediaKeyId","2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d","parentId",2640751,"title","Council sends draft community benefits agreement ordinance to Ordinances, Licenses & Legal Affairs committee","audioSeconds",323,"startMs",6393000,"endMs",6716000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d&start=6393&end=6716","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d/thumbnail_6393000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278580/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-sends-draft-community-benefits-agreement-ordinance-to-Ordinances-Licenses-Legal-Affairs-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278580-efc8b862ac70b3486299b93e21b42482/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207466&Signature=n2i21OEW5jeNmTtheehTmqZug8UDEK3uaf9vrcUVKYVPXgPj4kbgD2-ayznKuf~eJ9qlIH9Ct2Skz3wrpbOeQNQNkM5H6cPKwqE55Tam7oOnG5GnUu99TlDxhezg9jvHbPF6O8eZosy8oghFlisAhu4MwNrAwfSLD9dgs98tTINBzePWKFDkUhekWpQW7b-n6VtZye~pnUpWdKES9Z8LSaYP-gzgye-NvIq2yNJ13StnSKY6pCho5JuQi0pVEq2vSiApCL0G19zqTn6sFSPF6jeeNPNoldHUsRHB-kPd29ZnMn15NobmnUP9tk0WmEB-pmbfSGzWyd036ccv3PzmVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","Councilor Jerzlow and Councilor Davis asked the City Council on March 13 to send a draft community benefits agreement (CBA) ordinance to the Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs committee for further drafting and public discussion.

Councilor Jerzlow described the ordinance as informed by his experience observing the Crowley Wind community benefits agreement and said he aimed to “encourage greater community involvement in development projects across the city, ensuring that more voices are heard.” He said the proposal seeks a more structured and transparent CBA process so neighborhoods can negotiate and secure benefits when major projects are proposed.

The mayor’s legal staff assisted in drafting and councilors agreed the measure should go to committee for collaborative work with the solicitor’s office. The council voted to refer the ordinance to Ordinances, Licenses & Legal Affairs, co-posted with the Committee of the Whole; committee hearings will allow for further review, stakeholder input and redrafting as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salem City Council OLLA Committee and Regular Meeting March 13th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors supported referring a draft community benefits agreement (CBA) ordinance for committee review after sponsors said the ordinance is intended to standardize community input on development projects and to expand neighborhood negotiation opportunities.","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},6278584,"Council committee backs adding an alternate to Salem licensing board to ease quorum issues",7952,1226000,9178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d&start=1226&end=9178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d/thumbnail_1226000.jpg","/articles/6278584/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-committee-backs-adding-an-alternate-to-Salem-licensing-board-to-ease-quorum-issues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278584-19d09a4259bf83a260b54098c57ef2e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207466&Signature=UdVVXCKvvzeKcqhyU14DRvtxfvEsNjZT6mJno6nX6FtM4ZVP5wYaupo5xZSYSlYyR7V6TP5dL8B~CKbvK-1sqJIfEbH2VYpYURMlcUtG1PGWpejNB5tHb5SLM4p3FenZwJmicMfMVL7aOlCoso92R9xS87jcmv-zUqve27skrDSpjPKRG0erHtwhNav4hfTBZBB2kfcKHd9AqtbhNKRLDKg8BvwcGnaMwRzZe9EyMPDrXPbKkpppJ9XpBT6er9tqgnPfwrtDZNAaVjckWdB5YUZtgzK7Dug0zF3uDZE~zst2-Xm0IQJMM-juzGOmtpReiRJSMsdEJxqKHYAm~9R37g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Solicitor presented a home rule petition to amend the composition of the Salem licensing board to add one alternate member. The request came from the licensing board itself, the solicitor said, and is intended to reduce instances when the three-member board lacks a quorum because of illness or conflicts.

City Solicitor Beth Renard explained, “The licensing board, by state statute has 3 members, and it has become difficult at times, due to illness or due to a conflict of interest, to have a quorum... A member would attend the meetings and would only act and vote when one of the members was either conflicted out or was absent.”

Councilors discussed whether to expand full membership versus adding an alternate. The solicitor and comparative research supported the alternate-member approach as a commonly used remedy in other communities. Councilors expressed concern about small boards and said an alternate provides flexibility without increasing the permanent body size.

Outcome: The committee recommended adoption. In the full council roll call, the home rule petition was approved with 10 yes votes, 0 no votes and 1 recusal.","The committee recommended a home rule petition to add an alternate member to the licensing board, citing frequent quorum problems when a three-member board lacks a member because of illness or conflicts; the council later approved the home rule petition.",{"_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},6278590,"Council approves 3% increase to mayor’s salary beginning January 2026 after committee recommendation",1181,7231000,8412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d&start=7231&end=8412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d/thumbnail_7231000.jpg","/articles/6278590/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-3-increase-to-mayors-salary-beginning-January-2026-after-committee-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278590-2be0f4771143d157c1881d3e9a784548/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207466&Signature=HYgPxh0U5UhvOOpPqX3kDokk41wLg9vb4ORos3S2EQzqj3ZNgEACo9PUwhOY7CCMLIceb4RlmUwhVzAtTrW3frlXpWlyy2QNQM4uIIY49VIfqg04nwwHujozh3JhziQ69HxKTzeqtG1rkAhBfGnVSklHlGwIA72brF~OmJCg~nscl1XVS4q7SfzZ24nSnS0kxBg93x5~-MP4BhtXTEJTN5yUpwdlr1fEuIZpmpxmzsvC-1UmWrw-7hxtJQRs9JPRThyfxoAcUA89bZlGnCv6Ztcf8BqP-tLoa9yz0PpCjCXpzY5lNbkfo~2qNB8VWPGqJbf4v0eJcmZNdYxhowg6nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted to approve a 3% increase in the mayor’s salary to take effect in January 2026, following a recommendation from the Administration and Finance Committee.

Committee background: The committee reviewed comparative mayoral compensation for similar-size Massachusetts cities and heard from Human Resources Director Lisa Cammarata and Finance Director Anna Friedman. The committee’s recommendation — a 3% increase starting January 2026 and no second-year adjustment — passed by a 3–2 committee vote.

Council debate: Supporters argued incremental cost-of-living adjustments prevent large future jumps and help retain qualified candidates for the office. Councilor Stott said the salary had not been increased in several years and called incremental adjustments “best practice.” Councilor Watzenfeld noted the math of missed COLA increases and said not granting the increase would make subsequent adjustments larger.

Opposition: Several councilors said they opposed the increase because of current fiscal pressure and staffing shortages in other departments. Councilor Davis and Councilor Harvey cited tight budgets and difficulty in retaining staff in public works and other departments as reasons to defer the raise.

Vote: The roll-call vote on the increase passed 6–5. The change applies to mayoral compensation beginning January 2026 and will also affect proportional pay for councilors and the school committee, which are set as a percentage of the mayor’s salary.","Following a 3–2 committee vote recommending a 3% adjustment, the City Council approved a 3% increase to the mayor’s salary by a 6–5 roll-call vote; councilors debated timing given tight budgets and employee retention concerns.",{"_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},6278595,"Council refers proposed ban on gas leaf blowers to Public Health, Safety & Environment committee",3264,3959000,7223000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d&start=3959&end=7223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d/thumbnail_3959000.jpg","/articles/6278595/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-refers-proposed-ban-on-gas-leaf-blowers-to-Public-Health-Safety-Environment-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278595-ca98458b9109a3967e118f9526a08960/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207466&Signature=O28oJR5DzddOzoKFEhpmzPevIq1bErI~qeAG~CCM0IqmHjP0juAtxzOnnPDmb09uQcrjspZZvIonJztsSUNmoxQmm8qvQr~HquNUslzyfPRcJNU2jxw33idTyGVp2MtmGqUei06bFsA7X2uDT5LDKRyw2SqUGLZHYHwfuarEXTo~9shIdBVLq7kKbQnrB4sJrEhNDVhn6yenoRd~Z6kHBO8rvrU0gyla8FoRWHvDuiifbQDWPnIAFx74Fa1Vphxg9iWm7prqslBXfsiHNA~Buw-7Eu~86elN0WX32mLht~tavlvwlnj0lVH3M-byIgk7xWKkPulst~GZ1eFb3qlaYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council on March 13 voted to refer a proposed ordinance restricting gas-powered leaf blowers to the Community on Public Health, Safety and the Environment for further review.

Public comment and council discussion focused on noise, air pollution, worker health and implementation logistics. A number of residents urged the council to move forward with restrictions; a public speaker, Bellin, described early-morning noise and safety hazards when leaves are blown onto bike paths. Another commenter criticized the proposal’s proposed exemption for city departments, saying it would be “hypocritical” for the city to allow its own crews to continue using gas-powered blowers while regulating residents and contractors.

Councilors said they had researched ordinance models in other municipalities and sought a phased, practical approach. Councilor Davis, who brought the order, said the draft followed other communities that include phased compliance periods and noted department storage and emergency-cleanup concerns that influenced the plan. Councilor Merkel, a co-sponsor, said the committee would examine compliance timelines and possible inclusion of city departments when battery technology and procurement plans allow.

Outcome: The council voted to send the proposed ordinance to committee for detailed review; the committee referral passed during the meeting. Committee hearings will examine implementation timelines, exemptions, departmental transition costs and possible phased compliance windows.","A proposed ordinance to restrict gas-powered leaf blowers was referred to the council's public health committee after several councilors and public speakers raised environmental and implementation concerns including exemptions for city departments.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278599,"Salem committee backs home rule petition to raise local cannabis excise from 3% to 6%",9206,294000,9500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d&start=294&end=9500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2640751-0614921882422a5aaa33ab347338d10d/thumbnail_294000.jpg","/articles/6278599/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-committee-backs-home-rule-petition-to-raise-local-cannabis-excise-from-3-to-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278599-6fe84530272129daa712d05f3cf2df74/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207466&Signature=TAMUnJY~Ld6WNKvAckjkSVEbyRWCkEpzREqB8ac8b7KiWWQ1S4gj0JupnbLkbw4aMBOqxe1InOFAGK-Y8flV5r~SS6JE-3XZj6UxN9mX-syWPVsZ8IDd2XmFVhP9rs8Qig6MJ9wLOIZLru2GlkJUjQqdKpMoVBtReTavCFRF3zjvXSVOzf4Bt2sK7wanvaC2NMRCY4CUkIFvx3A8A5c6FGmN6Q1UZqGQW1sPfH-fJrNy25js5yO~vKjzL4mqieMe3WXrKSbxoIWVGGNWvpXQ1Km3Rzr6v0wC9jjxtMS0b1WjwWJ7IWp53IJlWYqGshAjikvmfVkKU0-AiZLc8LWaQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs Committee on March 13 voted to send a positive recommendation to the full council for a home rule petition that would let Salem increase its local excise on cannabis from 3% to 6% and remove the host community agreement (HCA) / community impact fee model.

The petition was introduced by Mayor Pangalo, who told councilors, “the proposed home rule petition here is regarding granting the city of Salem through the council the ability to increase our local excise on cannabis from 3% to 6%. … Should the city do so, Salem and all of the licensed cannabis establishments in our community would then be exempted from the requirements and structures of the host community agreements mechanism.”

Why it matters: supporters said the change would simplify local regulation, reduce litigation risk tied to host community agreements and create a stable, general-fund revenue stream. The mayor noted Massachusetts currently caps local excise at 3% and contrasted that with other states and local charges, saying the Commonwealth collects “17%” in combined state taxes. Proponents argued excise revenue is easier to administer than negotiated community impact fees and avoids repeated renegotiation or litigation.

Supporters and concerns: Councilor Cohen moved the committee recommendation and later asked whether the petition would likely be accepted by the state legislature. The mayor declined to predict the outcome but said the petition “would send a strong message to the legislature that we are not comfortable with the current manner in which these host agreements are being placed upon cities and towns.” Councilors repeatedly described the HCA process as confusing and prone to legal challenge after regulatory changes in 2023.

Financial detail presented: staff provided FY24 collections for Salem’s cannabis excise at just under $700,000 at the 3% rate; proponents said doubling the local rate to 6% would nominally double that yield to about $1,400,000 using FY24 receipts as an example, while acknowledging market saturation had reduced recent collections.

Outcome and next steps: The committee voted to forward a positive recommendation. In committee roll-call later in the meeting, the home rule petition received 10 yes votes, 0 no votes and 1 recusal (Councilor Varela). The petition must still be filed with the Legislature and would require state approval to take effect.","The Council's ordinances committee voted to recommend a home rule petition that would let Salem replace community impact fees and host community agreements with a 6% local excise tax on cannabis sales; the committee vote was 10–0 with one recusal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council sends draft community benefits agreement ordinance to Ordinances, Licenses & Legal Affairs committee

Council committee backs adding an alternate to Salem licensing board to ease quorum issues

Council approves 3% increase to mayor’s salary beginning January 2026 after committee recommendation

Council refers proposed ban on gas leaf blowers to Public Health, Safety & Environment committee

Salem committee backs home rule petition to raise local cannabis excise from 3% to 6%