Votes at a glance: Salem City Council actions, Feb. 13, 2025

The Salem City Council recorded multiple formal actions on Feb. 13, 2025. This roundup lists motions, vote outcomes and key details drawn from roll calls or announced tallies during the meeting.

• Appropriations and fiscal items - $75,000 appropriation to the retirement buyback account to cover sick leave buybacks for active employees. Motion to adopt carried by voice vote (no roll call recorded in transcript). Outcome: approved. - $37,635.35 appropriation within retirement buyback account for contractual buybacks for a public library and school department employee. Motion to adopt carried by voice vote. Outcome: approved. - Payment of a prior fiscal year invoice (CivicPlus) using current fiscal year appropriation: $5,593.43 to the IT department (Mass. General Laws Chapter 44, §64 cited). Councilor Merkel moved adoption by roll call; roll call produced 10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent. Outcome: approved. - $5,000 appropriation to the golf course souvenir merchandise account to cover purchases through the end of FY 2025; motion carried by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

• Appointments and confirmations (examples) - Multiple mayoral appointments and reappointments were confirmed by roll call votes; individual motions recorded multiple times with roll calls showing 10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent for lists of appointees (examples include zoning board of appeals appointees and various board and commission members). Outcome: confirmed. - Committee of the Whole recommended the reappointment of City Clerk Eileen Simons (see separate article). Outcome: approved by roll call, 10‑0 (1 absent).

• Ordinances, referrals and committee actions - Ordinance to amend rules regulating maintenance of abandoned and foreclosed residential and commercial properties: Councilor Hathworth moved to refer to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs (OLA); motion carried. The ordinance would replace a flat annual fee with escalating fees by year and require property owners to provide a contact for the city; it will be reviewed in committee. Outcome: referred to OLA. - Home rule petition regarding increasing the local option tax on the sale of marijuana and marijuana products: referred to OLA and co‑posted with Committee of the Whole for further discussion; councilors characterized the move as a signal to the state legislature. Outcome: referred to OLA/co‑posted.

• Public safety and operations - Police Department request to install video surveillance cameras at specified parks and intersections (Forest River Park, Castle Hill Park, Highland Ave/Proctor St., Lafayette St./Palmer St., Derby St., Boston St. at Aborn, Essex St. at Hawthorne Blvd.): Councilor Abbreath moved adoption; after discussion the motion carried (voice vote). The council and speakers emphasized cameras are video‑only (no audio) and used as investigative and safety tools. Outcome: approved.

• Capital/design study - Committee on Administration and Finance, co‑posted with the Committee of the Whole, recommended adoption of an $80,000 appropriation for a design study of permanent and retractable bollards and other infrastructure for the Essex Street pedestrian mall (Ballard’s installation design study). Committee voted unanimously in favor; council accepted the committee report. Outcome: committee recommendation accepted; design appropriation to follow committee process.

• Other procedural votes - Multiple petitions (road race permit, secondhand dealer licenses, taxi/public guide licenses) were granted or denied as listed on the agenda; examples: B & S Fitness Black Cat 10/20 Miler road race permit granted; taxi operator licenses granted; one public guide license denied. Outcome: varied by petition as recorded.

This roundup captures motions and formal vote outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript. Items that were held under the rules, referred to committee or carried by voice vote are noted as such.