[{"_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",6195297,"mediaKeyId","3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b","parentId",3862618,"title","Council refers Tinkers Island lot petition to ordinances committee after resident testimony","audioSeconds",7038,"startMs",220000,"endMs",7258000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b&start=220&end=7258","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b/thumbnail_220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6195297/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-refers-Tinkers-Island-lot-petition-to-ordinances-committee-after-resident-testimony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195297-46d23b5cce193ab6407590cfe1b17a48/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142769&Signature=nIS3rYKHgEyn6vBwufWP7NB0PTMov69tPq-yVW60yRbW26syxxGNeWpf384qsLs-cihf8u-HlEgB4Lr4fQH-PsSOeLCNDqNdw-7~V353Fd9Lpc4x93~5lfySBBgFw4KOTSUtxeBOBs10FF8cm4-bV51lspfBD5lToiXz-QQmPTWfJsR6b4Rlg2Ih7k5oSIiAAz3ybWS4VvwO9crgNEFeAGyh9EIrMtANx2FKtA5jaJIgA8u6wN-QGO5acgagN15Q9ylIkswAVLkVCFUCTu5mhhxWn9VJeR~pMMhN8SixJoBe3f2LpHG21e002BUz~7ibpyiSq34z96to48tR857x1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-06-18T01:40:27Z","article","During public comment, resident Peter Valles asked the Salem City Council to reassess and reinstate Lot 7 on Tinkers Island (Parcel 47-0001-907) on the city tax roll so he could become the sole tax-bill recipient for the lot. Valles said he was relying on a 2009 municipal lien certificate included with his petition to prove standing for the period 1984–2010 and said no one has been assessed for taxes on the parcel since 2011.

The council acknowledged the petition. At the petitions portion of the agenda, Councilor Hopworth moved to refer Valles’s request to the Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs Committee; the motion carried.

Councilors did not decide the petition on the floor and directed the committee to review the claim and report back.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting June 12th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident asked the council to reinstate Lot 7 (Parcel 47-0001-907) on Tinkers Island to the city tax roll; the council referred the petition to the Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs Committee.","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},6195302,"Council votes to send ranked-choice voting home-rule petition to committee for drafting and review",725,3793000,4518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b&start=3793&end=4518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b/thumbnail_3793000.jpg","/articles/6195302/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-votes-to-send-ranked-choice-voting-home-rule-petition-to-committee-for-drafting-and-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195302-fcf120b7d378cf1b6566cf5b4baa8a46/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142769&Signature=Hz3bU0kyJJcU2OPlA7GZ~KcVJXNjY6SLheuUVGF~wp2dLNboY1RvDgqbMooKUT3EujvtMRIOgTUj8H6Bp25cLBu6S3qQ0DgJiStOiDnwxeAxK1nYUvR8PNyMcKNdx9mHRNgD5c2OlpCp36Rp1KTSRsNL2rir6y648GqZ6sSrymfXfZTlUvclUgu1EyfMP1auXg~UmQZlbzdC679I6WB7Xvlt532N4FsaeU-gy715bl0qrBgL1pEQjqlLjTL5mnf8H7K7k~u~6iGMZDW2Akh0MhA2-gc3hosDdRcwvrkgJVCxP009ClPc6aQMR0nTqiYDUASTPsa3NOM11eHi8emSTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted to refer a request for a home-rule petition that would permit ranked-choice voting in local elections to the Government Services Committee, co-posted with the Committee of the Whole.

Councilor Varela introduced the order asking the city solicitor to prepare a home-rule petition to authorize submission to the Massachusetts Legislature. He said council should “steward” the conversation and leave the final decision to voters if the legislature approves the petition. Councilor Cohen and others urged the council to draft language that would allow the question to go to a public ballot if the legislature approves the petition.

Some councilors expressed skepticism about the legislature’s willingness to approve ranked-choice voting home-rule petitions, with Councilor Marcela saying recent petitions have not advanced at the state level. Councilor Stott and others argued that the council should not pre-judge the legislature and instead provide properly drafted language for review.

After discussion, Councilor Stott moved to send the matter to the Government Services Committee co-posted with the Committee of the Whole; the motion carried and the solicitor will be asked to draft possible petition language for committee consideration.","Councilors agreed to move a request for a home-rule petition on ranked-choice voting to the government services committee and Committee of the Whole for further drafting and public discussion.",{"_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},6195307,"Council approves $247,957 transfer to sustain police body-worn camera program",163,2683000,2846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b&start=2683&end=2846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b/thumbnail_2683000.jpg","/articles/6195307/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-247957-transfer-to-sustain-police-body-worn-camera-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195307-7317d03d3db728d6fc830a0ffd790b32/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142769&Signature=oZb8H2Crw-wZZX2DLnfEdkG4yRQ0V6KfqFB6TE2PvowBZJi63ugREeVtF38aPLGOCHvw3QjS8RhTTDI3Ng~ZkB-SA6PDPqHbImy-7pYFofqXQOLrOFPLPPXs2wNw9pb1WqB~XbVVUyN~jbIQZOIX5FocOzOsq1PGPu~voh5uYOPI~9QLmQ5j8C9fc3AxlhWY9dyl06yjlOKsoqG3~B8YcnITKlMnAtL8MGS0WpPQrSKweSQW7~tn9qcKD75ljrQUQ-ZCoJ0eBvivej-ddV4Gt5kzlQjMK9aLwk58aDrLmwN6xjrKdTMQYwdJRLhmOxtVMYnW76JmfIpQxrh4OUZxuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council voted to transfer $247,957.23 from free cash to the capital improvement fund to cover the first year of a new three-year contract for police body-worn cameras and associated storage and licensing costs.

Councilor Merkel said she reviewed backup documentation from Chief Miller, Finance Director Anna Friedman and Captain Ryan, and explained the transfer is needed because state and federal startup grants have ended. She said ongoing annual costs after this year will be built into the police operating budget.

Councillors noted that body-worn cameras have helped both officers and the public and that the program generates significant storage and public-records costs. Councilor remarks emphasized the program’s transparency benefits, while recognizing high recurring expenses for media storage, software licensing and potential legal/public-records processing.

The appropriation was approved by the council without recorded opposition. The city’s finance office will account for the recurring operating costs in future budget cycles.","The council transferred $247,957.23 from free cash to pay the first year of a three-year contract renewal for police body-worn cameras and ongoing storage/licensing costs.",{"_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},6195312,"Salem council adopts $213 million FY2026 operating budget, approves major bond orders",1324,6012000,7336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b&start=6012&end=7336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b/thumbnail_6012000.jpg","/articles/6195312/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-council-adopts-213-million-FY2026-operating-budget-approves-major-bond-orders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195312-4fdaaa9cdb29838c992bd88f8c92619f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142770&Signature=Fr~tNwcXL7OUTqcUg9opdILAh4iOc4s4uY-HEYO937dPxqy0W2Hd0W0061JnJ31SAeJvIDcVGDwG-FcVOzPdPhod-WiLeEFv7-W2lm1hCzhNfLwyvSEHbZ~XipGT0pwlPv8V6csfBgkotEHwNhf-nRWLprsjF06Nwxx0N3H4uR8GnZN3Ux1zfSgAD64bXSAH4i1UfVslke5eNp0KyHiHEB4wEWNAJwyaEmMvyedRILlQ1eu-17hHRL-2tryFfGp7Ziz1JySOZO~adA2TBO~BarRrPfwIUoV9R1bGEXTJw8BBXFaZeGO5-whHE~R0XQ41egrUB18UfGDXscSQMcgSjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council on Thursday adopted the city’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget, approving a $213,018,302 total spending plan and related bond orders and capital appropriations.

Councilor Merkel, chair of the Administration and Finance Committee, presented the budget and thanked Finance Director Anna Friedman and staff for their work. The council voted by roll call to adopt a $191,196,738 general fund, and separately approved enterprise and special fund budgets and CIP bond orders.

Key financial actions approved included a $10,026,020 bond order for the FY2026 general fund capital improvement program, a $9,450,000 bond order for the water and sewer capital program, and multiple appropriations tied to short-term capital projects and revolving funds. The council also established revolving funds for FY2026 totaling $3,135,000 and authorized appropriations and transfers for specific capital items after committee review.

Roll-call tallies recorded during the meeting show broad support: most bond and appropriation measures passed on votes that were typically 10 yeas, 0 nays, with one member absent. The council’s vote to adopt the total operating budget likewise recorded 10 ayes, no nays, and one absence.

Councilors highlighted that some items had been amended in committee. For example, a short-term capital plan appropriation was reduced by $26,000 to remove funding for license-plate readers that had already been accounted for in the police operating budget. Councilors also noted the interplay between operating and capital planning as they adopted water, sewer and trash enterprise budgets.

Votes at a glance: General fund operating budget adoption — motion by Councilor Merkel; roll-call: 10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (adopted). Bond order, $10,026,020 for general fund CIP — roll-call: 10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (adopted). Bond order, $9,450,000 for water/sewer CIP — roll-call: 10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (adopted). Establishment of revolving funds ($3,135,000) — adopted. Total operating budget adoption ($213,018,302) — roll-call: 10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (adopted).

Councilors thanked city finance staff and committee members for the months-long budget work. The council closed its fiscal business for FY2026 and instructed staff to proceed with implementation and reporting as required under municipal finance rules.","The Salem City Council approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget and multiple bond orders and capital appropriations after committee recommendations and roll-call votes.",{"_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},6195317,"Salem council sends condo-conversion ordinance back to committee after debate over timing of relocation payments",2055,605000,2660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b&start=605&end=2660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862618-59cfdd40d5a2bea27b7b298925daf33b/thumbnail_605000.jpg","/articles/6195317/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Salem-council-sends-condo-conversion-ordinance-back-to-committee-after-debate-over-timing-of-relocation-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195317-f7d87279f934b3ff5534b348953f6fc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142770&Signature=QLfn5SPFIg5-r2CGzD6aJ~-mW0iQo60JdvHsSKueozeg8cqj82OJ34kU4HoE15DIRPjmPy37iQFX~wFutqep4yV0-RvE532VQOtppXvBhLN5Kj5zXNfLD2F6TyL8Yz7I3ls-252a1~DNUDlJsEErMRiugFU3h0q-B3nEQabxCgMx2pnhHcDtKvX2zVXPKnom7O~I81arnT59u3HzgH-PfOBRZ9-iZc8ljV-xY~jEeH~sU2KEc2EWlcnCpiHh-zyqQVv~w1zlqwpgbo7AnYEav3suMVaBjTamUsFIZn3aDe3io902fsQ4ihlfUhYdM-w1zbC4mFg9-s~QELd3SXfDOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salem City Council on Thursday voted to send an ordinance on condominium conversions back to committee after more than an hour of debate over how and when relocation payments to tenants should be made.

The council’s decision came after councilors debated an amendment that would have required 50% of relocation benefits be paid 15 days before a tenant’s move and the remaining 50% within 10 days after the tenant vacated the unit. The amendment to strike that 50%/15-day requirement failed on a 5-5 roll call. Councilor Marcela then moved to send the ordinance back to committee; that motion passed 9-1.

The dispute centered on implementation details and administrative burden. Laurie Stewart, the city’s housing stability coordinator, told the council the ordinance’s original language already allowed owners to make payments to moving companies, realtors, storage facilities or successor landlords before a move “upon the request of the tenant,” and that adding prescriptive dates would create “a documentation and administrative severe challenge.” Stewart said the ordinance gives the housing office enforcement tools, including the authority to deny or revoke permits and fines for violations.

Councilor Merkel, who offered the amendment to remove the 50%/15-day requirement, said she was deferring to the housing staff’s expertise but wanted to preserve flexibility for staff to assist tenants. “I do respect the intent of the 15-day prior payment,” Merkel said, but also noted the ordinance already allows payments prior to move-out and warned that a fixed schedule could make administration harder.

Councilor Cohen and others argued the 15-day-upfront requirement would materially help tenants who need cash flow to secure new housing. Cohen said some tenants could require “a few thousand dollars before they move out” to cover moving or storage costs and that making part of the relocation benefit available before move-out “really makes a big difference.” Several councilors, including Marcela and Watsonfeld, said they wanted more input from the housing staff and preferred to refine the language in committee.

Because the council did not adopt the amendment on the floor, and because multiple members asked for clearer language and operational input, the council returned the whole item to committee for wordsmithing and follow-up with housing staff before a final vote.

Votes at a glance: On Councilor Merkel’s motion to strike the 50%/15-day language — 5 yes, 5 no, 1 absent (motion failed). On Councilor Marcela’s motion to send the ordinance back to committee — 9 yes, 1 no (motion carried).

The committee will reconvene with housing staff to finalize language on timing, exceptions and enforcement before the ordinance returns to the full council for further passage.","After hours of debate over whether landlords must pay relocation benefits partly before tenants move, the Salem City Council voted to send the condominium-conversion ordinance back to committee for further drafting and clarification.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council refers Tinkers Island lot petition to ordinances committee after resident testimony

Council votes to send ranked-choice voting home-rule petition to committee for drafting and review

Council approves $247,957 transfer to sustain police body-worn camera program

Salem council adopts $213 million FY2026 operating budget, approves major bond orders

Salem council sends condo-conversion ordinance back to committee after debate over timing of relocation payments