Salem City Council votes to deny mayor authorization to use city seal on 400th‑anniversary medallion

The Salem City Council voted Wednesday night to deny the mayor authorization to use the city seal on a Salem 400 quadricentennial medallion, following extensive public comment and debate over the image’s cultural sensitivity and whether use should wait for a task‑force review.

Councilors debated whether to send the matter to committee for further discussion or to act immediately. Councilor Massillo moved to refer the matter to the Committee on Government Services so the mayor could explain the rationale; that motion to co‑post with the Committee of the Whole failed in a roll call, 4 in favor, 6 opposed, 1 absent. Later, Councilor Rossello moved to deny the mayor’s request to use the seal; the roll call on that motion produced nine yes votes, one no and one absent, and the motion carried.

The question of the seal drew multiple public comments. Brett Safran, 16 Connors Road, told the council he supported reconsidering use of the seal on the medallion because a task force is reviewing the seal and its imagery could change before the 400th anniversary. Safran also said the seal could influence the task force’s deliberations if the city proceeded now.

Caitlin Halapa, 70 Boston Street, urged the council to either wait for the seal task force’s report or choose an alternative symbol for the coin, such as a city landmark, and noted concerns raised by residents about the seal’s imagery.

Councilors opposed to immediate use cited the task force and public input. Councilor Merkel said she would not support expanding use of the seal while the review was ongoing, and Councilor Davis said she had received resident concerns and preferred to wait for the task force’s work. Councilor Watzenfeld read an email exchange and said using the seal now would undercut the deliberative review process and cause harm to members of the community who had asked for reflection.

Councilors who supported moving the matter to committee argued the mayor and Salem 400 organizers should present their rationale and that proceeds from medallion sales would fund anniversary events. Councilor Massillo, who made the referral motion, said sale proceeds traditionally help fund celebratory events and that committee discussion would allow the mayor and event coordinators to explain the plan.

After the council denied the authorization, Councilor Marcello made a follow‑up motion to deny use of the seal; the council approved that motion on the roll call mentioned above, effectively preventing the mayor’s office from using the current city seal on the Salem 400 medallion. The council did not adopt any alternate design in the meeting.

The debate underscored competing priorities: some councilors and residents argued for protecting the symbolic integrity of a review process begun in response to community concerns, while others said committee discussion could provide transparency and the opportunity to explain logistics and potential legal protections for seal use.

The council’s action means the mayor’s office must pursue a different design or seek future council authorization if it wishes to use the existing seal for commemorative items.