Salem City committee recommends Annie Thompson for Community Preservation Committee and reappoints Kate Martin

The Salem City Committee on Government Services and the Committee of the Whole met July 9 to interview candidates for the council’s seat on the Community Preservation Committee and recommended reappointment of Kate Martin and appointment of Annie Thompson to the full council.

The committee heard statements from three applicants. Bruce Baiche, a project manager at JJ Welch Construction in Shetland Park, said he and his wife recently bought a home in Salem and that his guiding principle is to “always leave a place better than you found it.” Baiche told councilors he has spent the last decade managing construction projects including historic renovations and has supervised budgets up to $15,000,000; he said that experience would help him assess project feasibility for CPC funding.

Christopher Patrick Drosner Patsy introduced himself as a senior landscape architect and a subject-matter expert in historic preservation who founded a local advocacy group called Saving Our Heritage in Salem, Massachusetts. Patsy said he has worked on preservation projects for organizations including Historic New England, criticized several recent city initiatives he believes violated preservation practice, and said the CPC should apply professional preservation standards and rigorous review. “We have to ask hard questions,” Patsy said, adding that he would not be a “rubber stamp” and expects to press for clear answers on projects and use of public funds.

Annie Thompson, a McIntyre District resident who works for the state economic development agency managing capital grants, emphasized experience evaluating shovel-ready projects and coordinating state funding programs such as the Seaport Economic Council. Thompson said she would focus on projects that can implement resources quickly, on open-space and community-housing priorities, and on inclusive public engagement; she described herself as “a team player” prepared to work with committee members to vet proposals.

After questions and brief discussion, Councilor Varela moved to reappoint Kate Martin to a two-year term on the Community Preservation Committee as a recommendation to the full council; the motion was seconded and carried by a show of hands (the chair observed “four hands plus my own”). Councilor Varela then moved to appoint Annie Thompson to the council’s one-year seat on the CPC; the motion was seconded by Councilor Flynn and similarly carried by show of hands. The committee adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the full Salem City Council for final confirmation.