October Newsletter
Hi folks,
Hark! Spooky season is very much upon us! Please be extra careful when out and about, especially when things get frustrating. In Council land, we've had several significant discussions lately, some of which I've covered in recent special editions of this newsletter. Read on for more info!
Looking forward to November,
Katelyn
Table of Contents
Regular Council Business
Meeting Details:
The Salem City Council currently meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 7 pm. There are likely only 4 remaining meetings in 2026, given the calendar this year.
The next meeting taking place on October 8th.
Folks looking to give public comment can sign up with this link, or sign up with the City Clerk prior to 6:30 pm on the day of.
As long as it behaves, the meetings are also available via Zoom (here) or SATV on Channel 22. The Zoom password is 482720
Agenda Highlights:
Mayor Pangallo put forward an order to submit a home rule petition to the state legislature to allow for Salem to (potentially, pending City Council approval) adopt a annual short-term rental excise charge, and to create a Housing Stability Fund where this revenue will be collected. This fund would be 100% allocated to emergency shelter, transitional housing, and homeless-prevention services. As proposed, the policy would enact an excise of $1000 which would be charged to the short term rental operator if the unit is not the operator's primary residence, and $500 otherwise. There is an exception for renting rooms and similar, even within an owner occupied short-term rental.
I'm glad to see this on the agenda for this week, but I am frustrated with lack of urgency on this issue. Earlier this year the city-funded transition center closed, which, between March 2024 and its closing in June provided temporary housing 170 individuals. Having a roof over their head again was a huge improvement in the quality of life for most many of the people who where able to stay here. This program was funded with "leftover" ARPA funds, which since 2021 were known to be limited in quantity and timing - all funds were required to be allocated by December 2024 and spent by Dec of this year. All that to say, it was well known that ARPA funds would run out, and the services that the city were relying on them to fund would terminate. I witnessed the city put a lot of time, thought, and effort into the camping ban, and if this home rule petition was an option this whole time, I just wish that the knee-jerk reaction from the city was more focused on finding ways to help people in a holistic and sustainable way, rather than being reactionary and using our police department to threaten to arrest people who are going through one of the worst times of their lives.
Anyway, I think this fund will go a long way to helping people, and its long overdue. I'll gladly support it!
The city has received a $5 million Green School Works grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, a $4,798,587 National Grid Thermal Energy in Schools Initiative grant, and a $2,483,235 Department of Energy Resources Thermal Energy in Schools Initiative grant! These three grans, in conjunction to MSBA reimbursement, will be used for the decarbonization and electrification of the Horace Mann School! Earlier this year the Council voted to approve a fund for the feasibility study & schematic design and this funding will allow the project to move forward. The end goal is to significantly reduce the cost (on climate & budget) of the Wilson St. campus while minimizing the taxpayer cost. I'm happy to accept this funding for Salem!
The final passage of the data center zoning amendment is coming before us. If you haven't read my standalone post on that, please consider it a read for the context, and the section on committee reports for further details, below.
Finally, our Chief of Police, as required by city ordinance, is requesting the authority to install temporary surveillance cameras in several areas in Salem. This is not the first time I've spoken with Chief Miller about surveillance cameras in Salem (please feel welcome to read about how we got rid of Flock in Salem) and while those discussions continue around ALPRs, which can utilize different technology than the ones proposed in this order. That said, I have not yet received enough information about these cameras to approve the request at this time. I am hoping that we can send this to a committee meeting to discuss just how these cameras would serve our community. In order for my consideration and approval, the Salem Police Department will need to provide documented information on:
Data retention policy
Data storage locale
Documentation & data sheets on the software & hardware that will be installed and operating
Any documented information or policy around user access (internal and external) to the feeds, live or recorded
Any documented agreements or contracts with the Massachusetts State Police (the stated owners of the cameras) and/or any 3rd party service provider(s)
The exact date that they will no longer be operational
Council Subcommittee (Recent) Updates
The council maintains five standing subcommittees on which different Councillors serve, in addition to a Committee of the Whole, which meet as needed to discuss business outside of the regular bi-weekly Council meetings.
I serve on OLLA, PHS&E, and C&ED, as well as the Committee of the Whole with all other Councillors. As a member of those committees I have "voting rights" and count towards the quorum. More information about subcommittee assignments can be found here, on the city's website.
Public Health, Safety, and the Environment (PHS&E):
Folks who have spoken with me about the camping ordinance know that I've voiced my concerns with the camping ordinance since before I was a councillor, and I've been equally vocal with my criticism of the city's approach to the homelessness crisis. When the city council had the opportunity to hear about the policy enforcement practices, I was able to get answers to many of the questions that I've had since this was enacted, searching for the answer to one key policy question: Is the camping ban working for our community? From what I heard during the meeting, the answer, to me, was a resounding no. We have 3x the number of individuals experiencing homelessness now than before the ordinance was passed, and the number of annual incidents that our emergency services respond to (which cost a lot of taxpayer money) is only increasing. Look forward to another special edition of this newsletter in the next week, as the Council considers amendments to the camping ordinance in the next PHS&E meeting.
Ordinances, Licenses, and Legal Affairs (OLLA):
This meeting was held to further discuss a zoning amendment introduced by the Mayor to ban data centers from Salem, after having already gone through a joint public hearing with the planning board.
During this meeting, the 2MW suggested "limit" from the planning board was removed in its entirety. This was a huge win to ensure that data centers are not permitted all over Salem, but especially in our residential neighborhoods! An additional amendment was proposed by Councillor Hapworth, and was passed by the committee with my support. The new language clarified that data centers are not permissible as a principle use, but may be allowed as "accessory, incidental and subordinate" to a lawful, principle use. Meaning the Hospital can still have a server room if they need one to support their business. It further clarifies that "this exception does not cover a separate business providing data storage, server hosting, distributed processing, or similar technology to third parties." which essentially prohibits the business model that Prime had attempted to justify in the ZBA meeting last month.
This now returns to the full council for final passage. I plan to vote in favor!
Administration & Finance (A&F):
Topic: Discussing Skipper Program and any contracts with Via Transportation Inc., DBA River North Transit, LLC. of NY for an on demand rideshare program.
Public Health, Safety, and the Environment (PHS&E):
Topic: Discussing and possibly creating amendments relative to the Camping Ordinance.
Potential Changes in the Neighborhood
Planning Board Agenda Item for October 15th Meeting Location: 111 Mason Street (R2 Zoning District)
Applicant: Marc Tranos
Description: The petition of MARC TRANOS at 111 MASON STREET (Map 16, Lot
0363) (R2 Zoning District) for Variances per Section 3.2.8(4.l), 3.2.8(4.m), and
3.2.8(4.q) Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Section 5.1.5(6.c) Design, and a
Special Permit per Section 3.2.8(4.q) ADUs of the Salem Zoning Ordinance to
construct two detached ADUs on a nonconforming lot, including one protected use
ADU and one additional ADU by Special Permit. The proposal includes two 19.5-
foot-tall detached ADUs with reduced side and building-to-primary-dwelling
setbacks, and two 18-foot-wide curb cuts where a total curb cut width of 20 feet
is permitted.
Upcoming Events & Activities
Office Hours at Konna Café and Things:
I have weekly office hours at Konna Café and Things (130 North St.) every Tuesday morning from 9am-Noon. Please feel welcome to stop in and say hello! You'll know I'm there by the bike parked out front!
Supporting Hardworking Community Members In October:
Many of my fellow Councillors, several notable community organizations, and anyone with an Instagram Account is great at sharing all of the amazing events that happen all year round, and especially in and around October. But, this is my platform and I'm going to use it to give another huge shout-out to some of the hardest working public figures in Salem; the Hometown Queeros! They're out here performing almost every night this month, relying on tips from their audiences... and... we all know that many of the people who come and visit our city don't always bring their generosity, or even their kindness. Please consider coming down to see some of these amazing performances this month and support local queer artists!! I promise its not that scary.
