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Salem council confirms appointments, advances multiple ordinances and routine orders
Summary
The Salem City Council confirmed mayoral appointments and approved first-passage adoption of several ordinances and routine orders, including water rates, temporary parking/holiday-free parking dates, authorization for the fire chief to intermittently close Station 2 for repairs, and a first-passage ban on virtual-currency kiosks (crypto ATMs).
At its Nov. 13 meeting the Salem City Council confirmed a slate of mayoral appointments, adopted several first-passage ordinances and approved routine orders affecting city operations.
Appointments: The council confirmed Mayor’s appointment of Elizabeth Smith as deputy auditor (term to expire Jan. 31, 2026) by roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously. Other mayoral appointments and reappointments (e.g., beautification committee, food policy council, various boards) were confirmed or held under the rules as recorded on the roll calls.
Ordinances and orders: The council adopted for first passage an ordinance to prohibit virtual-currency machines that councilors and the police chief said have been used in scams targeting residents; the police chief reported several incidents in recent years involving victims losing tens of thousands of dollars and estimated roughly 15 such machines are in Salem. The council also adopted water-rate adjustments for first passage and a recurring order to waive up to $30 in parking late fees in exchange for canned-goods donations between Nov. 28 and Dec. 23, with the details and time window the council approved.
Public-safety operations: The council authorized, pursuant to city ordinance, the chief of the fire department to intermittently close Fire Station 2 on North Street until building repairs are completed; councilors said they are coordinating with neighboring Peabody for temporary housing of affected apparatus. The council approved several housekeeping traffic and handicap-parking adjustments on first passage (repeals and additions) and moved other items through standard committee referral and first-passage procedures.
Process and next steps: Most of these actions are first passage/adoption for initial approval and will return, if required by city rules, for subsequent readings or implementation actions by city departments (finance, building inspection, public works). Specific appointments and first-passage ordinances include recorded roll-call votes in the transcript.
