City Council Meeting Preview
Thursday, March 26, is our historic, first online Salem City Council Meeting. The agenda is not very long, so things should move along well. The meeting will also be broadcast on SATV.
Public comment will happen. The public is invited to join the conference call, either through the Zoom platform or by phone. During the meeting, the public will be able to listen, but microphones will be muted. During the public comment period, each person requesting to speak will be given the chance. You still need to sign up for public comment, by emailing the city clerk or by calling the office.
To join the conference call:
Members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting may access the remote participation meeting through any one of the following ways:
• Enter this link into your web browser to join the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/613967235
• Enter this link into your web browser to open the Zoom website: https://zoom.us/join. Enter meeting/webinar ID # 613 967 235 as directed on the webpage and click “Join.” Follow the on- screen instructions to join the meeting.
• Participants can dial a toll-free phone number at 888-475-4499 or 877-853-5257 (Toll Free) to join the meeting. When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID # 613 967 235 as and follow the instructions to join the meeting.
To sign up for public comment:
Due to Governor Baker’s Emergency Order stated above, anyone wishing to present testimony at a City Council meeting regarding a matter on the agenda, may sign up until Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 6:30 PM by emailing isimons@salem.com OR leaving a voice mail by calling 978-619-5614. Please include your name, address, subject matter in addition to phone number and email address.
If you are able to you may participate in Public Testimony remotely or the Council President will read your comment into the record.
This week’s agenda includes an address by the mayor regarding the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also appropriating $250,000 from Free Cash ”to cover costs associated with mitigating local COVID-19 emergency expenses as they arise.”
The Council will vote on a resolution in support of the Superintendent of schools to submit a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). This is a routine measure required by the MSBA for Salem to be eligible for funds for Phase 2 of the Salem High School project. But it does not guarantee the funds, and it does not commit the district or the city to budgeting or expending any funds at this time.
Other items are routine: reappointment of Department Heads and members of City Boards, transfer of funds, first passage for speed limit change on a section of Valley Street (from 35-30), and added stop signs on Walter Street at Osborne Street.
The meeting will be broadcast live on SATV, and will be recorded for streaming on satvonline.org. I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions about taking part in the conference call, especially if you would like to make public comment.
Thank you to Councilor Prosniewski for the photo of our rehearsal for the historic, first online Salem City Council meeting.
