1/16/24 Minutes

 

Individual Members: Woody Dukes, Deb Comini, Rosa Leonardi, Larry Dillenbeck, Kourtney Linebaugh

City, County and State Representatives:  Virginia Stapleton, Ward 1 Councilor; Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 Councilor, Robert Dowd, Community Action Unit, Salem Police Department;  Aaron Edleman, Public Works

Guests: none

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

The agenda and minutes of the November meeting as submitted to the City (i.e., without the item of unfinished business erroneously added to agenda sent out by the City) were approved unanimously.

Sergeant Dowd reported that the Community Action Unit is operating with reduced staffing and somewhat reduced coverage of downtown, that Community Medical Services on Church Street which offers addiction treatment services, is now open for business.  

Councilor Stapleton reported on the Council’s recent activities and her intention to seek Council support for additional pedestrian safety measures in the downtown, including a “pedestrian lead” on downtown traffic lights.  Councilor Nishioka reported on the Council priorities adopted for the coming year and said that the City had received a grant of $2.8M from the U.S. Department of Transportation to “help guide future investments for walking, biking or driving” in furtherance of its Vision Zero (pedestrian deaths) initiative.  She also reported that Council had exempted the Salem Civic Center Improvement Project from the competitive bidding process, among other things.  She said the City had received 160 Revenue Task Force applications.  

The board heard a presentation by Aaron Edelman with Public Works on the City’s City 2024 Pavement Rehab and 2025 Bridge Rehab projects.

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:51. pm.