Salem City Council on Oct. 23 debated whether to allow certain outdoor dining platforms (parklets) to remain on Derby Street through the winter months. The meeting included public testimony from a restaurant representative and a formal statement from the Department of Public Services urging removal of parklets in November for winter maintenance and public-safety reasons. The council ultimately voted to send the broader policy question to the Government Services Committee co-posted with the committee of the whole for further study.

Two developments in the meeting framed the debate. First, Tim Hague spoke during public testimony and asked the council to allow his restaurant's outdoor platform to remain in place year-round; he told the council that “during business hours when it does snow we shovel every hour because we want to maintain access to the restaurant.” Second, Ray Jordan, identified in the transcript as representing the Department of Public Services, told the council the department “strongly recommend[s] that the city council reaffirm that the parklet gets removed in November and deny any request for the extension,” citing winter street maintenance, drainage blockage and emergency-vehicle access concerns.

The transcript shows a city-solicitor order presented to the council that had already granted a waiver under the city’s outdoor dining policy allowing two Derby Street businesses—Bambalina and Witchside Tavern—to keep their outdoor dining platforms from November 2025 through May 2026. That order was discussed in the council session. Councilor Jerzlo moved to deny the solicitor's waiver but later withdrew that motion. Council debate included calls both to preserve longstanding outdoor dining arrangements for businesses and to study a consistent citywide approach to winter parklets. After discussion, the council voted to refer the matter to the Government Services Committee co-posted with the Committee of the Whole for a fuller policy review.

What councilors said: supporters of a limited extension noted that some Derby Street platforms have been in place since 2021 and argued a one-year trial and a committee process could resolve technical requirements such as accessibility, lost parking compensation and design standards. Opponents and some councilors emphasized safety and operational concerns: the Department of Public Services cited impeded snow removal, obstructed drainage outlets and the potential to compromise emergency access on narrow downtown streets if parklets remain during winter operations.

Next steps and follow-up: the council sent the policy question to committee for a prompt meeting to consider design standards, compensation for lost parking, winter maintenance responsibilities, ADA/accessibility compliance and whether illuminated or dynamic signage or other mitigation would be required. The transcript records that the solicitor's waiver for Bambalina and Witchside Tavern had been issued; the committee review will address if and how similar waivers should be allowed in future years.

Provenance: The discussion appears in the transcript beginning with public testimony from Tim Hague and DPS testimony from Ray Jordan and concluding with motions to refer the matter to committee.