Council adopts October parking-rate changes and approves several infrastructure orders and appointments

Salem's City Council on March 26 approved a package of parking and municipal items intended to prepare the city for the busy October season and to complete infrastructure work.

The council adopted orders to raise parking rates at specified downtown locations for October, while preserving free resident parking for qualifying vehicle plates that use the Passport mobile-parking app. Councilors emphasized the need for improved resident outreach so homeowners and renters can register in the app and avoid tourist rates.

The council approved a $60,000 capital appropriation to install an underdrain at Mansell Field to complete remediation and improve drainage, after a councilor said the field has been fenced and unusable for several years.

Utility hearings for National Grid and Verizon poles and conduit work at Lafayette/Savoy and Lafayette/Fairview intersections were discussed; most items carried with conditions and further neighborhood coordination where requested. Several mayoral appointments and reappointments (Beautification Committee, Board of Health and Historical Commission) were confirmed by roll call.

Several parking-related ordinances and fee adjustments were sent to the Committee on Ordinances, License & Legal Affairs and the Committee of the Whole for more detailed review; councilors asked staff to look at employee parking near Pickering Wharf and other equity issues for workers who cannot use resident parking privileges.

Councilors framed the parking changes as revenue tools to manage peak-season visitors while stressing the need to use some of that revenue to maintain infrastructure.