[{"_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",6200541,"mediaKeyId","3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b","parentId",3813374,"title","Elections staff plan outreach, bilingual poll coverage and polling-location moves ahead of Sept. 16 preliminary","audioSeconds",1109,"startMs",2557000,"endMs",3666000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b&start=2557&end=3666","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b/thumbnail_2557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6200541/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Elections-staff-plan-outreach-bilingual-poll-coverage-and-polling-location-moves-ahead-of-Sept-16-preliminary","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200541-240fa1996e96d30777b5782960b0580b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206644&Signature=gA4D4xMtBpgrDp4wOP-ImgPVqIO1jfSub5h40Joa3gyzevYYIY-6lcoK2o9g3PNxBgnDtKnCZLLgOuiwiuo6jostsU7NZt11hFy5BbMgecqvn1k3qdlFPFTKPGzT-SohzRhVzSLzpsxj~eabNQpBADzeF6FqwjRjp4jRFcQj1xmPRilq~-pMYO602YbZVcxLtMHIyrZI~wS~zaGbyPtJe~mRw6TaxAx52imrKm0ucafEnm5fi2eeHcoo-DGf5yq8R1-Fls0h-VXKuTKVh5RPJOrxal6tf0FzxpKID7xlF5FSvavMBFaPDvm66Irs8u6teBaRNbhuLzxPvZUE7lXq6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-06-13T20:37:15Z","article","City elections and registration staff briefed the Administration and Finance Committee on June 5 about preparations for the 2025 municipal election calendar, polling-location moves, bilingual poll-worker recruitment and contingencies for a potential special election on a school debt-exclusion ballot question.

Maureen Fisher, assistant city clerk, and Kizzy Canela (assistant in elections) described outreach to recruit translators and bilingual poll workers, including work with Salem High School, Salem State University’s civic engagement program and MassHire. Fisher said staffing needs are driven by precinct layout—some polling locations contain two precincts—and the city hopes for at least one translator per precinct on election day.

Fisher announced two approved polling-location changes that will be used in September: Ward 3 will move from the Salem High School auditorium to a small gym with its own entrance; Ward 6 will return to the Bates School music room. The city’s state contact inspected both sites for ADA compatibility and the council approved the changes May 22. Fisher said the office will begin public outreach now—maps, mailings, social posts and robocalls—and coordinate signage and traffic control with the Department of Public Works and the police traffic unit.

Important dates and logistics discussed: nomination papers for mayor, councilors and school committee are available in the clerk’s office through Friday, July 25; papers and signatures must be returned by Tuesday, July 29 before 5 p.m. The city’s preliminary election is scheduled for Sept. 16. The elections budget currently does not include the cost of a potential special election for a debt-exclusion ballot for the MSBA high-school project; Finance Director Anna Friedman said that, if the council authorizes a special election, staff would return with an estimated cost and a free-cash request to fund that one-time expense.

Committee action: Councilor Muscillo moved and Councilor Harvey seconded the recommendation to approve the elections and registration FY26 personnel line of $254,718 and expenditures of $56,650, for a department total of $311,368; the committee recorded three members in favor and the recommendation carried.

Staff emphasized recruitment and translator training, noted recent losses in the experienced poll-worker pool (several longtime poll workers passed away), and reported an influx of new civic volunteers following the presidential election cycle. The office is also updating performance measures and correcting state-reporting inputs (VRIS) so the published budget book will reflect accurate voter/early‑voting numbers.

Action and next steps: Elections staff will publish maps and outreach materials, continue bilingual recruitment and training, coordinate site signage and traffic plans with DPW and the police, and return to the council with a cost estimate should a special election be scheduled.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salem City Council Committee on Administration and Finance Meeting 6/5/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Elections and registration staff told the committee they are recruiting bilingual poll workers, shifting two polling locations (Salem High and Bates School) and preparing candidate nomination deadlines and possible special election costs.","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},6200543,"City clerk highlights new agenda software, badges and translation support as budgets recommended",1577,977000,2554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b&start=977&end=2554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b/thumbnail_977000.jpg","/articles/6200543/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/City-clerk-highlights-new-agenda-software-badges-and-translation-support-as-budgets-recommended","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200543-79b4a538fdbdd7cd4c428568df78e0c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206644&Signature=jP1j~jOR9OQCZj6swNMsf692~yVcQGtP2spR6KKzz9dQqSbcfw8n-29fBsRCxwskGqpjXQmZEwti8D5Cq9ouveqfRn4Pqf6kYY60CDCfdUm97izM-OyDCIYbAoDK4Hyae46OciQQ2LPfEe~mcP3jUVZld04iAwFhZGSZlfBa09vatxPoB24gUJM3l8FxnxdZVSut3mkUIbXXqoQj-gaZUj1~QIqhnzQ7CfcIzHwszegoe8AcAsLHztYx88IljWyIE7lHoRt06qWsW9Yiv-kHhE2noBTWI4cNUjNzJmuffMLyARUTm9-WBtax3PrOCRqEQFG5cIr5ENBxVZx5bvI7KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Committee on Administration and Finance on June 5 recommended the Fiscal Year 2026 budgets for the City Clerk’s office and the City Council while staff described technology and operational changes intended to improve public access and multilingual services.

Maureen Fisher, assistant city clerk, told the committee that the clerk’s office now oversees three areas—city clerk general services, elections, and records such as birth, death and marriage certificates—and that staffing and training work has focused on bilingual services and cross-training. Fisher said the office has two certified bilingual staff receiving stipends after passing the assessment, and that the office uses a remote video translator system in polling places and at the counter when in-person translators are not available.

Fisher described recent administrative upgrades: a new agenda-management software that she said streamlines committee reports and backup materials, and a new badge-printing system for licensed tour guides that replaces an older, manual badge process. Fisher said there were roughly 145 licensed guides and the office has been migrating older badges (about 96 issued before March) to the new system.

Fisher also said the clerk’s office has added a contracted-services line—about $15,000 in the proposed budget—for real-time Spanish translation of council meetings and written transcripts. She described ongoing work with Municipal Code (Municode) for ordinance publishing and with IT and the minute-taker to post minutes online.

Councilors voted to recommend the city clerk personnel line of $384,156 and expenditures of $13,870 (department total $398,026), and to recommend the city council personnel line of $181,821 and expenditures of $97,136 (department total $278,957). Both recommendations carried with the committee's recorded affirmative votes.

Fisher and others emphasized cross-training within the clerk's office to ensure continuity when staff are absent, and noted an increase in printing and municipal code costs tied to ordinance posting. The committee also heard praise for the newly hired minute-taker and for greater public access to agenda backups on the city calendar.

Action and next steps: The committee recommended both department budgets; staff said they will continue implementing the agenda software rollouts, migrating tour guide badges to the new printer, developing a translation contract, and posting historic minutes online.","Assistant City Clerk Maureen Fisher outlined technological changes, cross‑training, bilingual staffing stipends and a new badge system; the committee recommended the city clerk and city council FY26 budgets.",{"_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},6200549,"Committee recommends $570,809 for Salem Veterans Services; staff cite outreach, housing bottlenecks",825,143000,968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b&start=143&end=968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3813374-eb4931baaad3da3fd6131e5fd356f50b/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6200549/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-570809-for-Salem-Veterans-Services-staff-cite-outreach-housing-bottlenecks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200549-e6a3cd5117e1f071fcd7ff548c912fb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206644&Signature=UE8XkIgpy-yBHr8oknAxs6yoNQVefV1Vh~0gkKvi4XObNhrbcb~dBvRomDv3P106L89TdzHeqGzl3tMMgOc1eeQoDqD4BOr4vPv6Hg4kyZSpc2vAndAnIU2ac5N5JfEXBuoVKDTyh0Lr~rqY8yRJ4VmUwnR38wrk5On~bPMw5Qchza7ZyqDOOq1RyOS57NI3r~zaYtZGYqEwtVKhBh9EOKJwqfCLYH7N9FRodEYYPz2FOZ~ZglR2Fbf2F3gyDcmU6Zuuyu3JG43AzaTybpLsM1kjVgunEoqgUJa6d6sHgyQ6kqP0qX9GmHecTXanPZ0CGluzzbXIJ5dgWqontaB1sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Committee on Administration and Finance on June 5 recommended approval of a $570,809 Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget for the Department of Veterans Services, including $160,009 for personnel and $410,800 for expenditures. The motion to recommend the budget was made by Councilor Stott and seconded by Councilor Harvey; the chair recorded three yes votes and the motion carried.

The department’s director, Kim Emerling, told the committee the office remains small and stable but has seen an increase in veterans filing VA compensation claims after recent federal and state changes. \"The biggest change this year... we are certainly seeing an increase in those,\" Emerling said, adding that the office manages chapter 115 (state) benefits for roughly 40 to 45 clients.

Emerling described the office’s front-line work: processing VA compensation claims, helping veterans access VA health care and housing programs, and coordinating with local partners. \"If they're at Lightbridge, yes, we try and get them out of there as soon as we can and get them into housing,\" she said. She estimated the office helps about \"10 to 15 a year\" to obtain housing and said federal VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) vouchers and other programs remain lengthy: \"It's a 3 or 4, could be 5 month wait even with them sitting there in an emergency situation.\"

The committee discussed a recent pay adjustment for the department’s full-time assistant, Elizabeth, who was moved to a higher pay grade to reach parity with state averages. Emerling said the salary change is the department’s primary budget increase and that other lines are largely level-funded. She also described transitional housing options used by the office, including a North Shore Counseling facility with 16 standalone rooms that Emerling said can serve as temporary housing while veterans await permanent placement.

Council members praised the department’s work and asked about the scale of need if a planned South Salem development reserved a portion of units for veterans. Emerling said 10% is \"a good rule of thumb\" and that, for a project of roughly 450–475 units, that would translate to about 40–45 units for veterans. She cautioned, however, that market-rate lease-up housing does not necessarily serve people who are currently homeless because those units typically are not held as emergency beds for voucher or street-homeless placements.

Action and next steps: Councilor Stott moved to recommend approval of the veterans department personnel line of $160,009 and expenditures of $410,800 for a total of $570,809; Councilor Harvey seconded. The chair recorded three members in favor and the recommendation carries. The budget will proceed through the city’s remaining budget hearings in mid-June.

The meeting record contains additional operational details and outreach plans that Emerling said the department will continue to pursue; the committee did not direct additional actions beyond the budget recommendation.","The Administration and Finance Committee on June 5 recommended a $570,809 Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget for Salem’s Veterans Services, approving a payroll increase for the office assistant and discussing outreach and housing challenges for veterans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Elections staff plan outreach, bilingual poll coverage and polling-location moves ahead of Sept. 16 preliminary

City clerk highlights new agenda software, badges and translation support as budgets recommended

Committee recommends $570,809 for Salem Veterans Services; staff cite outreach, housing bottlenecks