[{"_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",6260180,"mediaKeyId","3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5","parentId",3134423,"title","Votes at a glance: Salem City Council meeting, April 24, 2025","audioSeconds",597,"startMs",3638000,"endMs",4235000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5&start=3638&end=4235","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5/thumbnail_3638000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260180/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Salem-City-Council-meeting-April-24-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260180-af9f44883a8e5d2fb463cbac45b4544a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203844&Signature=Eek9DZXyjw6uWec6SpoKwMr9dnChxRFmChI4l1tYTAWF1AN66YgNd18aHAbWCLLKAgM3N6FpeBWsBT809AIacONjsYv7h67ZADVuXaeGzvslbXrmn3bvoF321Jnc6YKaeepl6gnHHnz33wGhpH1kM~ohkCNkVKs5RvRLQF3mVsa-TZeIqW3SEKumJDRfZxk3XSRO-TPohJnq4b6aw4vnCA1sERtEV7MLAwRsDdbfttCAoFtCeMxEUvZZX7~qR6J8sZUxUZus8DEF149T3WtRtXF6Ogcd9HcnpiqGnsgOtrVnwQbcUl7PZ2gRjendXDHS~TDLpkbD04oI4iQZ6wu91Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-04-25T15:03:58Z","article","Below are the formal actions recorded during the April 24, 2025 City Council meeting. This list summarizes motions, outcomes and key details as recorded in the meeting transcript. If a specific vote tally is not stated in the transcript excerpt, the item is marked \"not specified\".

- Appropriation: $125,029.97 to cover increased wage rates (engineering/solid waste). Motion to appropriate the funds and to allow payment of prior fiscal year invoices (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 44 §64) passed by roll call; recorded as carried (roll-call votes noted). The appropriation and the allowance to pay prior FY24 invoices from FY25 appropriations both carried (roll-call totals recorded in meeting minutes as unanimous where specified).

- Tax Increment Financing (TIF) amendment: Council approved amendments to the TIF agreement with Tropical Products (Highland Avenue) to lower the fifth-year TIF percentage from 20% to 10% and to adjust minimum job-creation expectations. Planning/back-up materials referenced remediation costs ($6 million) and total private investment of about $30 million (higher than original projections). Committee/council roll-call recorded unanimous approval (11–0) in the transcript.

- Easement for EV charging/mass. electrical work at Salem Police Station: Council authorized the mayor to execute a grant of easement to the Massachusetts electrical company to install electrical equipment (enabling fast-charging EV charger and microgrid work). Motion carried by roll call (unanimous in transcript).

- Donations and transfers: The council approved multiple transfers and donations recorded in the mayor's communications, including $5,900 moved to the Department of Public Services burial account; $3,500 bench donation to Salem Common; $1,000 donation toward a Park & Rec golf tournament; and other routine appropriations and transfers. These motions carried as recorded.

- Appointments and reappointments: The council confirmed several mayoral appointments and reappointments by roll call, including Graham Hines (Planning Board), Yamales Cruz (Scholarship & Education Committee) and others. The transcript records unanimous roll-call confirmations when stated.

- ADU zoning amendments: First passage adopted as amended (see separate article) by roll call; transcript shows first-passage roll-call votes.

- Flood Hazard Overlay District zoning updates: First passage adopted as amended to reflect updated FEMA maps effective 07/08/2025; roll-call vote carried with 10 yeas and 1 absent as recorded.

- Camping ordinance (Ch. 24 §31): Council adopted the committee-recommended amendments for first passage as amended; committee had recommended adoption as amended (4–1) and the council action adopted the committee recommendation. Specific final council roll-call tally for this first-passage action is not specified in the transcript excerpt.

- Miscellaneous procedural items: The council voted to suspend rules to take up certain matters and approved multiple license applications, block parties, and road-race permits listed in the agenda; the transcript records those motions as carried where roll-call or voice votes were recorded.

For items where the transcript provided explicit roll-call tallies, those tallies are noted above. Where the transcript excerpted for this summary did not specify a final tally for a particular council motion, the item was recorded as \"carried\" or \"approved\" in the meeting record but no numeric roll-call appears in the excerpt; the council minutes and clerk's roll call file should be consulted for exact tallies and individual votes.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Committee on Administration and Finance and Regular Meeting April 24th, 2025 LIVE!","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions and roll‑call outcomes recorded during the City of Salem council meeting on April 24, 2025, including appropriations, TIF amendments, easements and appointments.","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},6260185,"Council advances ADU zoning changes to align with state rules; first passage approved",329,7271000,7600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5&start=7271&end=7600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5/thumbnail_7271000.jpg","/articles/6260185/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-advances-ADU-zoning-changes-to-align-with-state-rules-first-passage-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260185-eeabf829e409fdec889e40a7fc993f16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203844&Signature=BELuOpCjjqIsFOoAHHmq9lTWFO9-7VTiDk8rQu2ordPu8WXnwFzVeOC2nMDFalkdLRsB7Zgl8fD8X4-cFsUxdtSTkih9Z4o1reGSIrG0EaYFo-F5PwDnvbpYaT5nqr0Q~tj1CqSss3lCW0U1tOrajo0OKQOBdo1-bDdxfRR7Qak-InZpNE0cXRdwfPTdpG5SPRXq4zY~CIe1zajFs7bNlUrvsMFbwOi4yxaTkBspruI204uONCNPgjbddUrwm73o3aRuS86ch~wpzrLInWbhFEnYAdEwTXRuqRIAZeywbCRIvJMiRWXdNnXgeZuZI38uM9cELohojA6b-LIt5pcyag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted for first passage on April 24 on a package of zoning amendments to the city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules designed to comply with state regulations and make ADU creation easier for homeowners.

The amendments implement language from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and 760 CMR (state ADU regulations). Key changes remove prior local owner‑occupancy and rent‑restriction requirements that the state has barred, add ADUs by right in more residential and commercial-adjacent zones (including the B1 zone), and clarify dimensional and size limits (generally capped at 900 square feet or 50 percent of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller). For nonconforming lots, the zoning board (ZBA) will determine by majority vote whether an ADU is substantially more detrimental; no special-permit requirement will be imposed by the ADU default rules described in the EOHLC guidance.

Planning staff and the planning board recommended the amendments, noting that they mirror state rules and will make it easier for Salem residents to create ADUs. Attorney Robin Stein (KP Law), who advised during the joint public hearing, explained that the EOHLC has statutory authority to promulgate regulations implementing ADU law; the council's motion to place a \"Y\" in the B1 column of the use table corrected an earlier omission and was approved.

Several councilors said they favored moving quickly because the amendments facilitate small-scale housing production without changing building-code requirements; others asked that questions about code and safety be addressed by staff and committees between first and second passage. Councilor Harpworth and others proposed that the joint public hearing process continue and that committee meetings be used to resolve technical questions before second passage. The council voted to take first passage as amended and co‑post committee review ahead of second passage.

The amendments now move to the next stage of the zoning process, with a committee and second-passage vote expected; building-code and fire-code compliance remains a separate permitting requirement enforced at the department level.","The Salem City Council approved first passage of zoning amendments to expand accessory dwelling unit (ADU) allowances, align local rules with Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) regulations, and permit ADUs by right in additional zones including B1.",{"_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},6260189,"Councilors send proposal to restrict new weddings in council chambers to committee after accessibility debate",1344,4279000,5623000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5&start=4279&end=5623","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5/thumbnail_4279000.jpg","/articles/6260189/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Councilors-send-proposal-to-restrict-new-weddings-in-council-chambers-to-committee-after-accessibility-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260189-554e2f6e627ac6dd54d397b6fc1aa507/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203844&Signature=Al~oJOwx0IbsgWNj13KeSUL1wJ8ne9BYhR8GPKGjHjVv9RdHUPwojvONJOonJhccWtkyKplz~1smyBHTyr6UbO~A7LV47FirLSB3Ll12RoPGCPPvOvWExZ-MYVXzGhJBt3AszrclAntMtGyjijY~30pDiw42DgGIfihirBCOzpwLW0HwAYvZ9XJeCCSvqsHRvzG4QNocEOGu5hEwbXyUNRS6qLSHDlp5DBYCCf8mQAU638Th4ng~LRZRcK2PzNm7V9UiVmBLomR34B~EnFJHWl2zIe9zn1sWbTnWInlrwKIc~8wZ9uf7yQjE3w20Dnd40GQWH45wJpVU3xTUgtdDZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council on April 24 voted to refer to the Government Services committee (co‑posted with the Committee of the Whole) an order from Councilor Stott that would bar new wedding bookings in the council chamber during normal business hours (including 45 minutes before and after business hours) pending a broader policy review.

Councilor Stott introduced the order saying it is intended to protect basic accessibility for the public and staff; he noted multiple prior attempts to seek a written, transparent policy governing use of council chambers and to address the room's configuration and circulation issues. Councilor Stott said the order does not ban weddings at City Hall: ceremonies may still be held outside business hours in the chamber or during business hours in other city facilities such as the clerk's office.

Councilors debated whether to adopt the restriction immediately or send it to committee for a fuller review. Several councilors—including Councilor Merkel and Councilor Marcello—supported the order as a limited, temporary step to preserve ADA access and prevent parties from blocking circulation through the Second Floor. Other councilors, including Councilor Watsonfeld and Councilor Hepworth, favored delaying action and directing staff and relevant offices (the city clerk and accessibility liaisons) into a committee discussion to craft a transparent, consistently applied policy.

Councilor Varela moved to refer the order to the Government Services committee co-posted with the Committee of the Whole; Councilor Jerslow seconded the motion. The motion to refer passed on a roll-call vote, 6–5. Council members emphasized that the referral should include the city clerk and assistant city clerk, disability commission liaisons and relevant staff and that the committee should meet promptly (Councilor Varela proposed April 29) to produce a policy that balances public access and special-event use.

The referral preserves existing confirmed wedding reservations; the order as proposed would not cancel previously scheduled ceremonies. The committee is expected to consider the city's Chapter 2, Section 10 (use of the council chamber) and draft specific scheduling, fee and accessibility rules for council consideration.

","Councilors voted to refer an order restricting new wedding reservations in council chambers during business hours to the Government Services committee co-posted with the Committee of the Whole, after an extended debate about accessibility, public use of the chamber and transparency in scheduling policy.",{"_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},6260194,"Council approves first passage of amended camping ordinance after heated public comment",1361,5934000,7295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5&start=5934&end=7295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5/thumbnail_5934000.jpg","/articles/6260194/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-first-passage-of-amended-camping-ordinance-after-heated-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260194-65fdb0ffa54ff734b1188fafae594203/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203844&Signature=bEq0ZrfmbjJhNRvkSmvVFHKZ-IR5asn5t8m3h0DLE8Wq5WIst5d0SJ32cKOFEHeJdRhAL6tJguQtT6MLDIX9rnZEr3tjDotxGXAPLZGEoQ91qMFeGjznhNv8r3MJ9~lvJhnHewIXKzKmDhPsSGarJH2CkTN1Q5uaVe5C498YfC3W2ixn3zeNjLdESJcN11EwtVUQESHNVrXtndK8lijL7GnbYg-~j2xywxRgo3Wi3liZFESIQtOgabdlGiBjwNZyT7k5xLc9UB4BFcdKSsNJ~ap-cwf7N6AfsIeELuXIjx6J8K1qFCdoogOtt2tcEZ-AYQV~-ihdj9bhtn8MuRQ9qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted on April 24 for first passage of amendments to Chapter 24, Section 31 of the city's camping ordinance, following hours of public comment that included residents, unhoused people and advocates who urged the council to reject changes they said would criminalize survival.

The amendments under consideration revise the ordinance's definitions and enforcement procedures. The council's public-health, safety and environment committee (co-posted with the committee of the whole) considered the changes and recommended adoption as amended for first passage; the committee vote was 4–1 in favor of the amended language. Councilor Cohen presented the committee's recommendation to adopt the amendments with the exception of a proposed modification to the list of personal property considered \"eligible property.\" Councilor Stott successfully moved to retain the original broader list of eligible personal property (including clothing, hygiene products and toiletries) rather than accept a redlined removal suggested in earlier edits.

During public comment, more than a dozen speakers told the council the proposed changes would make homelessness more dangerous. Pamela Geyser, a Salem homeowner, urged the council to \"vote no on the amendment to section 24‑31 of Salem's camping ordinance, and instead focus resources on informing all of our neighbors [about] basic human necessities.\" Skyler Clark, a resident who said they are experiencing homelessness, warned that cutting notice from 72 to 12 hours and removing an explicit list of allowable personal property would let police sweep people even when shelter beds are not available.

Council supporters of the amendments, including Councilor Cohen and Councilor Marcello, described the ordinance as a tool that, when combined with the city's shelters and outreach services, can help get people out of dangerous situations. Cohen, reading from committee minutes, said the amendment preserves a city's obligation to offer shelter before displacement and argued that the ordinance provides local outreach teams and the Community Impact Unit options when other interventions fail.

The amended language gives the city solicitor and certain department heads (police, fire, health, inspectional services) authority to develop regulations to determine whether a campsite represents a public-health or public-safety hazard; those regulations, according to committee discussion, are expected to be completed and posted before the next council vote may occur. Several councilors and public commenters said the changes are a compromise; others said the amendments rollback protections adopted last year. Councilor Davis described the proposed approach as \"really gross\" and \"shameful,\" while Councilor Marcello and Councilor Watzenfeld emphasized the limits of municipal authority and called for more state and federal support for housing and behavioral-health services.

The council adopted the committee's recommendation for first passage as amended; the amendment approved by the council removed the mayoral office's proposed strike of the clothing/hygiene items from the eligible-property definition. The transcript records committee-level votes and the council's first-passage action; specific council roll-call tallies for the final first-passage vote are not specified in the public transcript excerpt. The ordinance will return to the council for second passage at a later meeting, and the solicitor's promised implementing regulations will be published for public review before that vote.

","City Council approved first passage of amendments to Salem's camping ordinance (Ch. 24 §31) after a lengthy public-comment period and committee debate; the amendments narrow some protections and add a regulatory process for campsite health and safety determinations, prompting opposition from unhoused advocates and supporters of expanded services.",{"_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},6260199,"Salem committee keeps $25,000 wastewater H5N1 surveillance request in committee",5391,321000,5712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5&start=321&end=5712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134423-2f3cd509a66a0d44d54a765c892eb7c5/thumbnail_321000.jpg","/articles/6260199/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-committee-keeps-25000-wastewater-H5N1-surveillance-request-in-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260199-8b030ae57afdc1d639f9617bd922a930/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203844&Signature=R0-hhutI4si2IZ1XKcpJL3Vz3Rp37srpYGPC6j6rPZuCDsiRsSAaFRcanKGfTh4A0SrrYkCqeyNKarJkiB7zH43NvPLt1sWkmpOr6pz9pKuK-VDM8c9PfJ6iuzGHrinQh6CngZGupcR96HqQdye5lN71aXTMxH66~Gpf0Ziy5veQ476mk96DStbQN5D5oFnqPwbBrWA3CkCbz2PixryiOsfenp~~bkiMR-1rfKlzsBgCFe5Yhy-nlxx4JLGk9L4wnCghTwrfhEsRQllvoymYMGWMn6qUxIPTlNqeON1Cr0kqnZYqlt4lZ5lbu44mA0wHWRDgcU28utI07zmMDZz1NQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Salem administration and finance committee voted on April 24 to keep in committee a request to appropriate $25,000 to pay BioBot Analytics for one year of wastewater surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1).

The request, presented to the A&F committee by Councilor Merkel, would have funded one year of testing and laboratory analysis that BioBot Analytics would perform on Salem wastewater samples. The committee's report noted the item had been discussed by the Salem Board of Health at its April 8 meeting.

Board of Health data presented to the committee said the U.S. human mortality rate for reported H5N1 cases is low (the committee report summarized the Board as citing about a 1.4–1.8 percent mortality rate) and that, to date, known human-to-human spread was zero. Committee members and public commenters raised questions about local animal registration and monitoring and about the geographic spread of municipal testing in Massachusetts. Committee members asked which treatment plants in the state were already doing testing; Dave Greenbaum, the city's health agent, identified Lowell (Duck Island), Deer Island (Boston), Millbury (Upper Blackstone), Chicopee and Springfield as locations conducting wastewater surveillance.

Public comment included remarks from Andy Varela, a local farmer, who offered to work with the Board of Health on permitting or registration policies for backyard chickens and livestock, and from Councilor Mercillo, who urged caution and said she favored keeping the request in committee so the city could act quickly if surveillance data warranted it. Councilor Watsonfeld moved to leave the request in committee; Councilor Stott seconded the motion. The committee voted unanimously to keep the matter in committee.

The A&F committee report recorded that members will continue to track state and regional wastewater testing activity and Board of Health guidance; no appropriation was approved at this meeting.

The item will return to committee if future data or Board of Health recommendations change the committee's assessment.

","A City of Salem administration and finance committee voted to leave a request for a $25,000 appropriation for one year of wastewater testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in committee, after hearing public comment and a Board of Health update.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Salem City Council meeting, April 24, 2025

Council advances ADU zoning changes to align with state rules; first passage approved

Councilors send proposal to restrict new weddings in council chambers to committee after accessibility debate

Council approves first passage of amended camping ordinance after heated public comment

Salem committee keeps $25,000 wastewater H5N1 surveillance request in committee