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Votes at a glance: Salem City Council actions Feb. 27, 2025
Summary
A compact list of motions, appropriations, confirmations and referrals the council acted on during its Feb. 27 meeting.
The Salem City Council took the following formal actions on Feb. 27, 2025. This list captures motions, roll-call tallies and next procedural steps where specified in the meeting record.
National Grid conduit (Buchanan Road / 14 Buchanan Road, 1 Pierce Road): Hearing closed and installation granted by voice vote; applicant represented by Tabita Mahabir Sheehy of National Grid. Outcome: granted.
Appointments and reappointments (multiple boards and commissions): Mayor’s appointments confirmed by roll call; stated result at one point was "11 yeas, no nays" for the set of appointments announced (names included Krista Magaha for Zoning Board of Appeals; Lehi LaRose for Salem Redevelopment Authority; Emily Gonzalez for Historical Commission; Ayanna Lilly and Johnny Fabian for Youth Commission adult seats; Alexa Ogno to Bicycling and Shared Path Advisory Committee, among others). Outcome: confirmed by roll call.
Appropriation — Harbormaster vessel: Council adopted an appropriation of $300,000 from free cash/general fund balance to the capital improvement fund to cover costs associated with replacing or repairing the Harbormaster’s 2012 Armstrong Landing Catamaran vessel damaged in January 2025; insurance proceeds expected at policy limit. Outcome: adopted.
Bond authorization — Bates Elementary feasibility study: Council approved first passage of a bond order up to $70,000 for a feasibility study and schematic design for a potential roof replacement at Bates Elementary School; vote reported as 11 yeas, no nays (first passage). Outcome: first passage; further votes required.
Appropriation — Greenlawn Cemetery burial account: Council adopted appropriation of $11,000 from receipts reserved to public services’ burial account to replenish burial-services funds. Outcome: adopted.
Payment of prior fiscal-year invoice (Mass. General Laws, ch. 44 §64): Council authorized payment of a $510 prior-year expense for assistant city solicitor bar dues using current fiscal-year appropriation by roll call; vote required two-thirds and was reported as carried (11 yeas). Outcome: adopted.
Ordinances / referrals (summary): - ADU ordinance amendments: referred to Planning Board for joint public hearing. Outcome: referred. - October overlay (Halloween parking overlay) amendment: referred to Planning Board for joint public hearing; linked home-rule petition for $2-per-space-per-day excise referred to ordinances committee. Outcome: referred. - Condominium conversion / tenant protection ordinance: referred to Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs co-posted with Committee of the Whole. Outcome: referred. - Home-rule petition (excise upon transfer of parking spaces): referred to Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs. Outcome: referred. - Haunted Happenings report meeting: referred to Committee on Community and Economic Development co-posted with Committee of the Whole. Outcome: referred.
Zoning — B1 amendment: Council adopted first passage of an amendment to the B1 business-neighborhood zoning table (roll call first passage reported as 8 yeas, 2 nays, 1 absent). Outcome: first passage.
Traffic — handicap parking space: Council moved first passage to designate a 20-foot limited-time handicap parking space in front of 26 Hancock Street; first passage adopted. Outcome: first passage adopted.
Permits and licenses (summary): - Wicked Half Marathon (B&S Fitness) requested Sept. 21, 2025: granted. - World Needs You Here Walk requested Aug. 3, 2025: granted. - Public guides list: granted. - License application for Sea Worm and secondhand valuables: referred to Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs. Outcome: mixed — some permits granted, some license matters referred.
Orders, resolutions and recognitions: - Resolution honoring Bill Grissett for 10 years on the Planning Board (five years as chair): adopted by roll call (11 yeas, no nays). - Resolution recognizing Dominican Republic Independence Day (Feb. 27, 2025): adopted by roll call (11 yeas, no nays).
Claims and other referrals: Six claims were referred to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs. Outcome: referred.
Notes: Several items were referred for committee or first passage only; additional hearings, roll-call votes or public notices will be required for final action. Where the meeting transcript gave roll-call tallies, those are reported above; where the transcript recorded voice votes, the outcome language follows the meeting record.
