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Council confirms appointments and approves several appropriations, contracts and licenses
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Summary
At its April 23 meeting the Salem City Council confirmed appointments to boards and committees, approved several appropriations (including $80,000 to a retirement stabilization fund and $48,420.40 for prior police-detail invoices), authorized five‑year student‑transportation contracts, and approved outdoor dining license agreements for two restaurants.
Salem City Council on April 23 handled a bundle of confirmations, appropriations, contract authorizations and license approvals in a sequence of roll‑call and voice votes.
Appointments and reappointments: The council confirmed Sean Lund to the Board of Health and Lee Chandler to the Sustainability, Energy and Resiliency Committee; Gina Flynn was reappointed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board (term to expire April 2, 2028). The confirmations passed by roll call 10–0.
Appropriations and fiscal orders: Council adopted an $80,000 appropriation from free cash to the retirement stabilization fund for vacation/sick‑leave buybacks and approved $65,212.33 within that account for contractual buybacks covering police, veterans and Salem Public Schools. The council also approved a $48,420.40 appropriation from free cash to pay prior‑year police‑detail invoices and a $12,000 transfer to replenish the Department of Public Services burial account for Greenlawn Cemetery operations.
Contracts and licenses: The council authorized the mayor to enter into five‑year contracts with Haley Bus Inc. (student transportation) and NRT Bus Inc. (special‑education transportation). The council also approved license agreements allowing specified businesses (Trade House and El Poblano) to occupy city property for outdoor dining, with fees described in discussion of $1,000 per parking space and $1.50 per square foot of sidewalk space per year.
Roll calls and results: Multiple matters carried by unanimous roll call where recorded; where items were routine (petitions, many licenses) council approved them by voice vote. Councilor Varela recused himself on one record noting a conflict related to an earlier item, and some motions to hold or refer items were moved and carried as recorded in the minutes.
Next steps: Implementation steps vary by item: appointees take their seats; staff will implement appropriations and set up accounting for the revolving fund tied to the BlueWave contract; transportation contracts and outdoor‑dining license agreements will proceed per administrative processes.
