Council confirms two mayoral appointments and approves 60-day 20 mph trial on Ford Avenue
February 21, 2026 | Salem City, Essex County, Massachusetts
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The Salem City Council confirmed two mayoral appointments and approved a temporary traffic-safety trial at its Feb. 12 meeting.
Appointments: The council voted 10–0 to confirm Emmylou Manuel to the Transportation Commission and Karen Bixby to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund board. Manuel joined the meeting by Zoom, thanked the council, highlighted her mobility perspectives and asked that a prior misspelling of her name on the agenda be corrected. Bixby thanked the council and noted her experience working with older adults.
Ford Avenue trial safety zone: Councilor Turoski moved to adopt a 60-day trial order (June 1–July 30, 2026) creating a 20 mph safety zone on Ford Avenue between Winter Island Road and Bayview Avenue under state safety‑zone authority (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90 §18B). He presented traffic data from the Transportation Commission (average speed ~26 mph; 85th-percentile ~31 mph; daily volume ~2,400 vehicles; some recorded speeds in excess of 60 mph) and argued that the trial would be a first step subject to later Transportation Commission review and potential ordinance action.
Councilors supported the trial as a measured, temporary approach; some raised concerns about perceived low speeds and enforcement logistics. The council approved the 60‑day trial.
Other: The meeting also sent composting and gas-powered leaf-blower ordinances to committee for further study (see separate articles).
Appointments: The council voted 10–0 to confirm Emmylou Manuel to the Transportation Commission and Karen Bixby to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund board. Manuel joined the meeting by Zoom, thanked the council, highlighted her mobility perspectives and asked that a prior misspelling of her name on the agenda be corrected. Bixby thanked the council and noted her experience working with older adults.
Ford Avenue trial safety zone: Councilor Turoski moved to adopt a 60-day trial order (June 1–July 30, 2026) creating a 20 mph safety zone on Ford Avenue between Winter Island Road and Bayview Avenue under state safety‑zone authority (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90 §18B). He presented traffic data from the Transportation Commission (average speed ~26 mph; 85th-percentile ~31 mph; daily volume ~2,400 vehicles; some recorded speeds in excess of 60 mph) and argued that the trial would be a first step subject to later Transportation Commission review and potential ordinance action.
Councilors supported the trial as a measured, temporary approach; some raised concerns about perceived low speeds and enforcement logistics. The council approved the 60‑day trial.
Other: The meeting also sent composting and gas-powered leaf-blower ordinances to committee for further study (see separate articles).
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