[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6217489,"mediaKeyId","3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe","parentId",3643370,"title","Committee recommends police budget; chief highlights staffing gains, body cameras, drones and Halloween security","audioSeconds",2830,"startMs",4671000,"endMs",7501000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe&start=4671&end=7501","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe/thumbnail_4671000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217489/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-police-budget-chief-highlights-staffing-gains-body-cameras-drones-and-Halloween-security","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217489-f79609135e4bc62bc8cd41cf56eeeceb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207646&Signature=MDuZ-LZkxaeAZt-oKecuY21kaw~Nm4ts~YknRnAGPAAh7q~MFJNP57-KusJgM8pFwee208y-cE8q-x9uawg6G7rNpOmUkTawvkpaiDtHExeDopoU8Jk0bAUAjitqUWawEiaFFO2Ye-RHIg8qqT8RYaLuxZ-YGhmj-f4tczNCyOpPvbwRYk2iUoorpXbTknVMYl6084svBuQWvF1uGZwbN4-avzo2A6YQIja-K2u5lBLljryhVwgCAhzEHrwOVYsHsqgsEoWIx~g6w~UnmlNdD7TJoSaXDTSM3QHP0Atco07LeT0rOU1tmp3nZQUd~GdoRw2a9EdGUna-OY9qhMCffg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-06-03T20:52:27Z","article","The City of Salem Committee on Administration and Finance recommended the Police Department FY26 operating budget on May 20, 2025 after Chief Miller outlined staffing, equipment and event-security plans.

The discussion matters because police staffing, event overtime and technology choices (body-worn cameras, drones, plate readers and a mobile public-address system) affect public safety operations and city budgets during high-tourism periods such as October's haunted happenings.

Chief Miller told the committee the department currently has 91 sworn officers, with two in the academy and one queued to attend; he said the city ordinance target is 95. \"We need two more to reach the city ordinance mandated number of 95,\" he said. He said violent crime is down while petty crime is up and calls for service were roughly flat year to year.

The chief described key investments: body-worn cameras (procured largely with federal and state grants, with ongoing storage and licensing costs), an expanded drone program with 12 certified pilots to ensure a pilot is available each shift, and a Milo tactical-simulation trainer purchased with a burn grant. He said the department negotiated new contracts that include education incentives and restored certain benefits; those contractual obligations explain much of the personnel-cost increases between the adjusted prior-year budget and FY26.

On event security, Chief Miller said he increased the haunted-happenings overtime estimate by roughly $128,000 to reflect expanded event size, longer tourism windows in September and November and a higher need for on-the-ground Salem officers. He said the department will also seek additional civilian traffic-worker positions to direct traffic at high-demand events. \"There is no substitute for having Salem Police Officers in the crowds and on the ground,\" he said.

Committee questions covered selective enforcement and grant-funded motor-vehicle enforcement (the municipal road-safety grant), crossing-guard supervision (the department took over the program from the schools last year), school-resource officer coverage (three officers plus a sergeant who supervises youth services), and plate-reader equipment. Finance Director Anna Friedman flagged a duplicate $26,000 plate-reader line that appears both in the department technology budget and in CIP; she and the chief indicated the item should be handled in CIP to avoid double appropriation.

The committee moved to recommend approval of the Police Department personnel line item of $13,510,043 and an expenditures line item of $1,082,574 for a department total of $14,592,617. Councilor Stock made the motion, Councilor Davis seconded, and roll call votes recorded Councilor Davis (yes), Councilor Stock (yes) and Chair Merkle (yes); the committee recommended approval.

The chief said the department will continue outreach to recruit officers who reflect the community and noted progress in hiring people of color and women in recent years. He also described operational partnerships with state police and neighboring departments for event support, and said the department will continue efforts to publicize enforcement outcomes tied to grant-funded enforcement operations.

Ending note: the committee recommended the police operating budget to the full council; CIP items (plate readers, bollards and parking-lot redesign) remain in the five-year plan and will be considered along with other capital funding on June 11, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Committee on Administration and Finance Meeting 5/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee recommended the Police Department FY26 operating budget after Chief Miller described staffing near the city ordinance target, investments in body-worn cameras and drones, and increased overtime estimates for large public events such as haunted happenings.","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},6217495,"Committee recommends Fire Department budget; chief details wildfire response, staffing and capital needs",3182,1571000,4753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe&start=1571&end=4753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe/thumbnail_1571000.jpg","/articles/6217495/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-Fire-Department-budget-chief-details-wildfire-response-staffing-and-capital-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217495-99ddb4a6a775d6192e99da929663bcb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207646&Signature=ZvHzzJkPiL7s-OBGP2YzRiXAj0jcv8H2CxyQvxyEv~Q634wCipNmB~XCgA~4RnUQv1UyCdhpP-p7BbzIGW~AiI6jz7bBzKu9GU8LXAkyEPKGEgjPJZ1-xDj71R~-iupT7lwBmhmE1iCSkwJgHhTmWZfs8-DKvQBzWLtzPuoKeCkcGRyN6lhT4k5KF6X19rzf4TNCbpzZ~Wp9H2ZqQQJlabCB~27gQODOwgBopKQ4~8BaTVMBAI0u7LLnP3TdnGxhIVsB~fbWSg84f9~LKXQVGbObGZCPti9O2e1LocjXL9WyzQJBFgwBT7e85VtogZiUHlaErzdznE0shpBRUMTpZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Salem Committee on Administration and Finance recommended the Fire Department FY26 operating budget on May 20, 2025 after a detailed presentation on 2024 operations, wildfire response and capital needs.

The presentation matters because the department described unusually high operational demand in 2024, extensive mutual-aid reliance during brush fires, and several capital items that affect emergency response and long-term building sustainability, including a $2 million ladder truck request and a planned heating and ventilation retrofit.

Chief (Fire Department) told the committee the department handled 8,223 runs in 2024, about 4,728 of which were medical calls, and that the department averages roughly 8,000 runs per year in recent pre-COVID years. He said Salem currently has 89 firefighters, five dispatchers, a civilian mechanic and a civilian office manager under the fire department budget, and the department also oversees emergency management and dispatch operations.

On wildland and brush fires, the chief said Salem experienced unprecedented activity in September and October 2024, with the department operating in woods fires for 31 straight days and receiving mutual aid on 17 days. State task-force resources and National Guard aviation support were used on multiple days. \"We could not have handled what we had without the mobilization plan in the state,\" he said, describing task-force firefighters and air support that assisted containment and extinguishment.

The chief outlined capital and equipment requests: a $2,000,000 ladder truck request for FY27 (noted as possibly pushed to FY28), a $205,000 brush/light-rescue truck request combined with an $80,000 prior capital placeholder, purchases for two UTVs with trailers and specialty wildland hose and equipment, and station heating and cooling retrofits to replace aging boilers with high-efficiency heat-pump systems. He noted an ongoing $4.5 million radio upgrade project for police and fire that will replace aging repeaters and Verizon copper phone line costs with a modern microwave/fiber system.

Fire prevention and inspections were highlighted: the department\fompleted about 4,100 inspections and 1,153 in-service inspections in the year, and staff completed significant weatherization and building repairs at Station 6 to secure emergency management equipment. The chief also described personal-safety measures including plans for NFPA-compliant ventilation lockers for turnout gear to reduce firefighters' exposure to PFAS and other contaminants.

On grants and donations, the chief said the department applied for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace end-of-life SCBA bottles (hydrostatic and service-life limits apply) and that a Department of Fire Services (DFS) grant funded turnout-gear purchases. He also noted a private $35,000 donation for modern thermal imagers.

The committee moved to recommend approval of the Fire Department personnel line item of $10,804,711 and an expenditures line item of $542,440 for a department total of $11,347,151. Councilor Stott made the motion, Councilor Davis seconded, and roll call votes recorded Councilor Davis (yes), Councilor Stott (yes), Councilor Watsonfeld (yes) and Chair Merkle (yes); the committee recommended approval.

The chief said manning has improved to near-full strength, with recruit graduations and academy candidates in the pipeline; he noted that hiring and training are significant long-term costs. He reiterated that several capital projects (ladder truck lead time, radio system completion, station HVAC upgrades and brush truck procurement) will remain priorities in the five-year plan.

Ending note: the committee
pproved the recommended operating request and forwarded the department's capital projects to the citywide five-year plan; the full council will consider funding-source votes on June 11, 2025.","The committee recommended the Fire Department\u000fY26 operating budget after Chief Dion described a heavy 2024 call volume, wildfire mutual-aid deployments, full staffing improvements and capital priorities including a ladder truck, heating system upgrades and a brush/light-rescue vehicle.",{"_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},6217500,"Committee recommends Harbor Master budget; officials outline mooring, launch and vessel plans",1429,150000,1579000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe&start=150&end=1579","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643370-9da108f2d4379d7d2cac891de71314fe/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6217500/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-Harbor-Master-budget-officials-outline-mooring-launch-and-vessel-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217500-a0650471a604d8ff398291c3b6024dd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207646&Signature=WiDRPQxKZG3eb-JV4FOjD4jGAlg0Xlp7ztBai9R0H~neBtxFuqn6f697VJYwpq1jPlXtneqZZo0HFKJ16-2SUFU9XwtdJcyYDNaBYQ4P63IrFDSLSTaEFlp8~OLPuUCs2YjWI-kX6vgF8Z~8bOkzt0oPSVgx5GA4JI9-4X3crgPMuCwACRMhQCYGKqXHIbUOz1ZFPMMGUoz6AWH1kgFUs~yLptaJtKIDHiloM9gdMXHxAGDPsSVE63VoG7vJOgzC9IZBnnpPERneuU51kTT4Jvxp-9kl~Iu2~zXL~WVBphhnIwIZCjXp2bxtweJFjGx03b~jcgPWaM65-Jk6x02nOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Salem Committee on Administration and Finance recommended approval of the Harbor Master\u000fY26 budget on May 20, 2025 after hearing a status update and capital requests from Harbor Master Bill McHugh.

The vote matters because the harbor's operating revenues and revolving accounts support seasonal staffing, equipment and a FEMA grant match for a new multi-mission vessel. The committee also discussed mooring availability and the return of a water taxi service that could affect transient vessel revenue and harbor operations.

Bill McHugh, the harbor master, told the committee that \"this fiscal year, '26 budget is relatively the same. No major changes.\" He described how the harbor budgets part-time watch staffing by hours and adjusts start dates based on weather and season length; he said seasonal patrols typically continue \"until at least November 1.\" McHugh said the harbor logged an especially busy season the prior year and that personnel levels have been increased this spring to meet higher call volumes.

Councilors pressed McHugh on several operational items. When asked about \"increased water excursion capacity with new offerings,\" McHugh said launch service will resume using vessels operating out of Congress Street and Blaney Street and that private operators, including an operator who purchased a Hinkley launch in the fall, won an RFP to run water taxi service. \"They're gonna operate there,\" he said, referring to the Congress Street dock, and the operator will pay a fee to use section of the dock house.

McHugh explained fluctuations in performance measures and permit counts. He said Chapter 91, Section 10A mooring permits are issued only when rental moorings are filled; the marina
lso has roughly 263 rental moorings. He noted increased average boat sizes (\"closer to 40 feet\" from about 20 feet historically) reduces how many vessels fit in existing mooring fields. That change, plus delayed construction of a marshaling yard at the deepwater berth, affected vessel movement and some revenue projections.

On capital items, McHugh described a FEMA Port Security grant that will cover 75% of the cost of a new small Safe Boat International interceptor-style vessel; the harbor account will pay a 25% match drawn from the Harbor Master revolving account (winter boat storage revenue). McHugh said the boat contract is in place and he expects the vessel to be \"in service next season.\" He also said a refit of an existing boat will be covered by insurance and that Glendale Street yard won the RFP to do the refit.

The committee moved to recommend approval of the Harbor Master personnel line item of $395,121 and an expenditures line item of $60,299 for a department total of $455,420. Councilor Stock made the motion, Councilor Davis seconded, and roll call votes recorded Councilor Davis (yes), Councilor Stock (yes), Councilor Watsonfeld (yes) and Chair Merkle (yes); the committee recommended approval.

The committee and McHugh noted next steps: capital items remain in the five-year plan and funding-source votes will be considered by the full council on June 11. McHugh also said the harbor is marketing enhanced transient mooring options through the electronic harbor management system that accepts credit-card payments and provides a chart view of rental moorings for transient users.

Details and context that informed the discussion include waiting lists for moorings (McHugh estimated one to three years depending on boat size and location), the 75/25 FEMA funding split for the new vessel, and the harbor's policy of not issuing long-term permits for rental moorings that are not being used in order to preserve access for recreational mariners. McHugh said the harbor gives escorts to certain arriving vessels for public safety and that delays in construction at the deepwater berth affected predictions for this season.

Committee members thanked McHugh for his work on the new Salem Willow's Pier projects and for startup work on the ferry building. The committee moved on to capital-improvement items after recommending the Harbor Master budget.

Ending note: the harbor's FY26 budget recommendation now proceeds to the full council; the council will vote on funding sources and the overall capital plan on June 11, 2025.","The Committee on Administration and Finance recommended approval of the Harbor Master\u000fY26 operating budget and heard updates on mooring availability, a returning water taxi service and a FEMA-funded multi-mission vessel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends police budget; chief highlights staffing gains, body cameras, drones and Halloween security

Committee recommends Fire Department budget; chief details wildfire response, staffing and capital needs

Committee recommends Harbor Master budget; officials outline mooring, launch and vessel plans