[{"_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",6208497,"mediaKeyId","3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048","parentId",3744770,"title","Parks and Recreation budget approved; department outlines pool sustainability, playground replacements and Salem Common safety study","audioSeconds",1011,"startMs",5023000,"endMs",6034000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048&start=5023&end=6034","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048/thumbnail_5023000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6208497/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Parks-and-Recreation-budget-approved-department-outlines-pool-sustainability-playground-replacements-and-Salem-Common-safety-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208497-e637cd7cb6f2a593f12ef45f26cb524b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225689&Signature=AomtmcoJxIq4Piw1DFwsG1XuTIyKo8WG0LAD~dbNgMxARci4zaz1bG86nZ6N1JgOY3tTHriiuPlJldr2uiANrfDaYwthZXMCfjq836QE4w8HL2o08~ybT5XGRUYjCdIAxl5oqNp-gOc-UfP~9t-KZazSfCMC1~NLUaa3G~l4JnEzgaQuPu0yYKM7sBn8HzNnUujcvrTR5VdQ~FNQoyJ6f3ah8M45LTZHmY4qNvlmcWEmcaeZ1KsDlcGpHFFehf9edTGLHbxi9t5tn1aCVnZmpCARX0n0bIAoTtZC93m625NY5oRCC5lYYaLtkI2d09TLx-~RIIYhLS-PGhAy6MZb0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-06-10T20:48:57.553Z","article","The Administration and Finance Committee recommended approval Monday of the Parks and Recreation general administration FY26 budget and heard a summary of capital priorities including playground replacements, pool programming and an initial safety study for Salem Common ahead of the city's 2026 centennial-related events.

Trish O\u0000Brien, director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, told the committee her department made minimal new requests and focused FY26 asks on maintenance and targeted capital projects. \"We really don't ask for anything unless we really need it,\" O'Brien said, adding that some line items shifted because the Council on Aging is being budgeted as an independent department and building-wide costs were reallocated.

On pools, councilors praised Forest River Pool\u0000for sustainable systems; Councilor Cohen noted the pool's diverse user base and asked about tracking use. O'Brien and staff said pool sustainability (heat pumps and solar) remains a key feature and that the department will provide more detailed performance measures including number of pool passes distributed at reduced or no cost and swim-lesson counts.

Capital priorities discussed included a multi-year playground replacement plan and a $50,000 Salem Common Safety Enhancements Study. O'Brien said the playground plan aims to replace aging equipment and increase ADA accessibility, with Collins Cove and High Street playgrounds called out as near-term projects. On the Common study, O'Brien said the funding will support specialists to advise on safety measures that are compatible with the Common's historic character; she emphasized the study is a planning step, not an immediate construction program.

The committee also heard about a small \"Save a Tree\" contracted-service line used to treat high-value park trees threatened by Emerald Ash Borer; O'Brien said treatment choices have been targeted to preserve shade in dense neighborhoods and that the city maintains a comprehensive tree inventory in coordination with the tree warden.

Councilors asked for more data on pool use, swim lessons, pool-pass assistance and event rentals at the pool and for clear updates on planned playground projects and park upgrades. The committee voted to recommend the Parks and Recreation general administration budget (personnel $671,384; expenditures $589,410; department total $1,260,794). Councilor Stott moved the measure; Councilor Harvey seconded; Chair Merkle recorded \"4 hands plus my own\" and declared the matter carries.

O'Brien said the department will continue distribution of programs with affordability in mind and will provide the committee with requested performance measures and project design timetables.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Committee on Administration and Finance June 9th, 2025 LIVE!","oneSentenceSummary","The Administration and Finance Committee recommended approval of Parks and Recreation\u0000FY26 general-administration budget and heard department plans for playground replacements, pool performance tracking and a Salem Common safety study.","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},6208502,"Committee backs budgets for Witch House, Pioneer Village and Charter Street; staff outline AR pilot and cemetery repairs",1306,1030000,2336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048&start=1030&end=2336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048/thumbnail_1030000.jpg","/articles/6208502/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-backs-budgets-for-Witch-House-Pioneer-Village-and-Charter-Street-staff-outline-AR-pilot-and-cemetery-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208502-b10d8129c0a78887c71cd9820a3207ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225689&Signature=Ntoxxthq26J6i-ddqyeiuToQDbg2VG04Tcw7PjF9jSUsfvK0F07H~ZGaCk-JWEEu5PaRPEXOViXCKQlmEibqwTrf5kj-LDoFGUZyGOIMqGN4gWwaWMvn~ZizdAtIUNkk5RNhaQbMXhl4752kg7weDJqtIGeoulz5aTrV-odXVVtWJSy2V40iNr6AzL8kVwfvpYfSxtrY-V2E5VJ4F--gZuDTZmxcTcNDBC11QmOmShaAvrMbYDZR6gB-RrdVYdUxXa2xGVoICJsxkVxH3DsJ2bDkZqNK8fh7lK7CnQcX8SqkWxkyjAu4SLzS~lfmHKC3VilVqSM9itUWVfbfmBHGGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Administration and Finance Committee voted Monday to recommend approval of proposed FY26 budgets for three Salem historic sites and described plans to pilot augmented-reality (AR) features and to spend built-up Charter Street Cemetery revenues on repairs and preservation work.

Elizabeth Peterson, manager for the Witch House, Pioneer Village and Charter Street sites, told the committee she was asking for minimal changes to operating budgets and primarily requested small increases in hourly wages for part-time seasonal staff.

On interpretation and visitor access, Peterson described an AR pilot intended \"to just sort of enhance the visitors experience,\" initially at the Witch House and Charter Street Cemetery and later at Pioneer Village. \"It's meant to just sort of enhance, the visitors experience largely, particularly with the Witch House and Charter Street Cemetery where we are having to go to time ticketing,\" Peterson said, adding the AR features would give visitors and remote classroom groups an \"interesting overview of the site history.\"

Peterson and councilors also discussed attendance management. When asked about a 2024 attendance spike for the Witch House, staff explained the site switched earlier in the season to time-ticketing and Eventbrite reservations to control congestion. \"So we're purposely managing the number of folks,\" Peterson said, describing 15-person entry windows as a way to reduce crowding and prevent damage.

Committee members praised staff for conservational work but urged expanded preservation for other cemeteries, including Broad Street Cemetery. Councilor Musilow and others asked about partnership opportunities with nearby institutions and \"Friends of\" groups; Peterson said database and inventory work by staff member Carl Schulz enabled repairs and stone conservation and that the Charter Street account has grown through visitor revenue.

A committee speaker noted how accumulated Charter Street funds are being used: \"Now that it's built up, we're able to use it,\" the speaker said, citing projects such as tree trimming, path repair, runoff control and,\" lastly, to store headstones.\" The transcript does not identify that speaker by full name; the meeting record attributes the principal presentations to Peterson.

The committee voted separately to recommend approval of the Witch House budget (personnel $247,247, expenditures $113,853, department total $361,100), the Pioneer Village expenditures ($26,980) and the Charter Street budget (personnel $154,028, expenditures $64,690, department total $218,718). Councilor Stott moved each motion; Councilor Harvey seconded; Chair Merkle recorded \"4 hands plus my own\" for each vote and declared the matters carried.

Staff said accumulated Charter Street revenues have allowed work on site repairs without tapping the municipal general fund and that AR trials will start with small, testable components before wider rollouts. Councilors asked staff to explore expanding preservation efforts to Broad Street Cemetery and to continue coordinating with Salem State and volunteer groups.","The committee recommended approval of FY26 budgets for historic sites including the Witch House, Pioneer Village and Charter Street Cemetery. Department staff described a small augmented-reality pilot to increase remote access and said Charter Street funds will pay for cemetery repairs and headstone storage as the account accrues.",{"_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},6208507,"Salem Council Committee approves Council on Aging budget as department shifts to independent status",1763,2578000,4341000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048&start=2578&end=4341","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048/thumbnail_2578000.jpg","/articles/6208507/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-Council-Committee-approves-Council-on-Aging-budget-as-department-shifts-to-independent-status","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208507-e4a30b9b8045e0da19d2aa1e837e137c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225689&Signature=Q-NOuZ9elKln4sD6K6ZfOz1i6G-oCiLvn-iB8sHG7IIkOijpmyObmd~4HMWYY0S~8Y9uUazwjgyjIyMEMHVto-uo6KLzzJ41fFwM5Z1Mf80TQO4qKrbXOBP72LPI2mcvqorAnCWH8tvyJorXQMCXn5ACE7WjnF-TYrZQEjPB1VXGGe43CCMTF9AkDpiyiy-HGUJkFKpkX278IY-fLe-EPv2Q0zN84OcNMqdKgqvZ90QckHbGCAGg~JN1QkpVHpbir0AfrVv2VTaX9hecuhhS26A~2EUW98Imtd4kWUPIMrZrdknGpxoN08q1dnqgyE-UHXub1SbRFEjKJU7ye7view__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Administration and Finance Committee recommended approval Monday of the Council on Aging\u0000personnel and operating budget for fiscal year 2026, approving a department total of $539,780 after department leaders described expanding outreach, new staff and transportation changes.

Terry Arnold, director of the Council on Aging, told the committee the department\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\"mission is to provide programming that affirms life and independence\" and said a core goal remains preventing social isolation among older residents.

Arnold and other staff highlighted several items that informed the proposed budget. Arnold said the department provides roughly \"1,151 way rides a month\" for medical appointments and grocery shopping and that congregate meals have grown to about 650 per month. He also said the center applied to MassDOT and \"were awarded 2 electric vehicles\" for transportation services.

The budget discussion also focused on a morning wellness check program the department runs with an outside vendor. \"What this is is a wellness check-in the morning,\" Arnold said, describing a process in which registered participants receive automated calls in the 8 a.m. hour; if they do not answer, \"the police department, the officer in charge is alerted, and then they will send a police officer out to do a wellness check.\" Arnold said the city has had only \"about a half dozen people on this program\" and urged broader outreach, calling it \"free\" to users and saying the program has, at times, saved lives.

Committee members pressed staff on outreach and follow-through. Councilor Harvey and Councilor Maricillo urged expanded marketing through home-delivered meal providers, visiting nurse services and regular social-media and newsletter pushes. Councilor Watsonfell and others asked about response times; Arnold said police respond quickly during the program's morning check window and the city will provide clearer data on enrollments going forward.

The committee also discussed internal department organization. Mayor Pangalo and staff described a multi-year administrative change that restored the Council on Aging to an independent department after it had been administratively folded into Parks and Recreation in 2007. Mayor Pangalo said budget line items shifted as part of that change so that building-wide costs (for example HVAC for the Community Life Center) sit with the appropriate department rather than solely on COA's budget.

On personnel, Arnold said the social services team is now fully staffed, naming Sharon Felton as head of the social service team and adding that new hires Ingrid Patterson and social worker Fabiola Alvarez increase bilingual outreach and clinical capacity. Arnold said that hiring and the new transportation coordinator have already generated better community ties and outreach to Spanish-speaking residents.

Councilors moved to recommend approval of the Council on Aging personnel line item of $462,680 and expenditures of $77,100, for the department total of $539,780. Councilor Stott made the motion; it was seconded by Councilor Harvey. Chair Merkle recorded \"4 hands plus my own\" in support and declared the matter carries.

The committee asked staff to provide follow-up data about program enrollments (including wellness-check and lockbox program participation) and to continue regular outreach to healthcare providers, home-delivery volunteers and neighborhood organizations.

For now, COA staff said they will continue to prioritize transportation, bilingual outreach and the wellness-check enrollment push while implementing the organizational shifts that move some building costs to other departments.","The Administration and Finance Committee recommended approval of the Council on Aging\u0000(COA) FY26 budget after department leaders outlined staffing, transportation and outreach improvements including two MassDOT electric vehicles and a small enrollment shortfall for a wellness check program that city staff said has saved lives.",{"_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},6208492,"Committee approves Winter Island budget; manager seeks new truck and bathhouse roof",337,4643000,4980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048&start=4643&end=4980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3744770-d716f4c0b72a71b3efe53e9318369048/thumbnail_4643000.jpg","/articles/6208492/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-approves-Winter-Island-budget-manager-seeks-new-truck-and-bathhouse-roof","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208492-56d41ed9b47cfb5127c4cec7b0748f94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225689&Signature=nE9uj-xcSEaQVEZIVyiEnEQ5PA6jTDqoHWMGneUH5evxma-kXOYoCn1gCZe~wdIzjO4zuk~Q1zEgJGn2KXfEx3ZC5icHxE58z~CTppw2-aApbvJbe6TLrfWGKLj7rzbFcikO-h0k243yDWmgY78nUY~DI6niPfsl1lr0qUKPkwq~k4UNoMUzbPzyBosljRhoggEARxywLd5kJx6a3Yr2y30SllVLvB1~J~TFO6O2yQJg3XEd4MEpxIMH0ABWxSJd9VPN2uhD6xIEXj3dPu1hk7tAP3Bl0KHA2-cYPuiFJqvXrr9OK3ouoVq7qWIHAXtcQCFoKrKLUrJcsCRlF8N-Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Administration and Finance Committee recommended approval Monday of the Winter Island FY26 budget and heard the island manager describe capital needs including a replacement truck and bathhouse roof.

David Gilbert, manager of Winter Island, said operations are in a \"pre-season\" state and staff are resolving early-season issues after a wet spring. Gilbert described the park\u0000fleet condition and asked the committee to consider replacing a 2011 Ford F-350 pickup used as a plow truck and work vehicle. \"It has a lot of miles, meaning that it's about a 105,000, but it's a plow truck too,\" Gilbert said. He told the committee that mechanics have inspected the vehicle and deemed it safe for now but that a newer vehicle would be more reliable for plowing and winter needs.

Gilbert also said he is soliciting bids from multiple roofing companies to replace the bathhouse roof, noting lichen and suspected leaks. \"I'm currently in discussions with 3 different roofing companies on the bathhouse roof,\" he told the committee, adding he is coordinating with purchasing and moving through required procurement steps.

The committee moved to recommend approval of the Winter Island personnel line item of $239,994 and expenditures of $93,590 for a department total of $333,584. Councilor Stott made the motion; Councilor Harvey seconded. Chair Merkle recorded \"4 hands plus my own\" and declared the matter carried.

Gilbert said he will continue procurement activity for the roof and will work with purchasing to determine replacement-timing options for the truck based on quotes and inspection results.","The committee recommended approval of the Winter Island FY26 budget and heard from the park manager that a 2011 Ford F-350 plow truck with about 105,000 miles may need replacement and that the bathhouse roof requires repair; staff said they are soliciting roofing bids and working with purchasing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks and Recreation budget approved; department outlines pool sustainability, playground replacements and Salem Common safety study

Committee backs budgets for Witch House, Pioneer Village and Charter Street; staff outline AR pilot and cemetery repairs

Salem Council Committee approves Council on Aging budget as department shifts to independent status

Committee approves Winter Island budget; manager seeks new truck and bathhouse roof