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Finances
- Completed fourth Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) in accordance with GFOA standards
- Received Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for second year in a row
- Continuation of City’s 5-year financial forecast
- Initiation of second comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan
- Received a bond rating upgrade from Standard & Poor’s
- Successfully regionalized municipal procurement functions with the Town of Swampscott
Waterfront Revitalization Efforts
- Reached agreement with Dominion Energy to purchase the Blaney Street property, another step in moving forward our efforts to advance the Salem Wharf expansion project
- Salem Wharf project is now fully permitted and final design and construction documents are in the works
- Salem Harbor Walk construction will be complete mid-July
- Negotiated an agreement with the MBTA to allow the Salem Ferry to accept commuter passes for travel on the ferry
Public Safety Initiatives
- Regional Shannon Grant Funding
- Fire Department received $214,596 in federal funds under the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The funding will be used to purchase a new radio and communication system.
- Police Department secured Homeland Security funding to support installation of cameras along Salem Harbor
- Police Department was awarded $250,000 to fund regional efforts to pool resources to better solve crimes, address criminal trends, and train officers.
- Police Department received federal bypass grant to fund the hiring of an additional police officer
- Appointment of new Police Chief Paul Tucker
Opening up the Process of Government
- Continuation of quarterly newsletter – FYI Salem
- Continuation of monthly SATV show – From the Corner Office
- Received Common Cause Award with Distinction for information available to the public on the City website for the second year in a row
- Implemented Citizen Request Action Center on City website
- Availability of the Council on Aging Newsletter in Espanol, along with other documents and materials
- Plan to release second annual Online Resident Survey
Public Works Initiatives
- Continued implementation of Pavement Management Plan
- Initiated $1.5 million city-wide paving project
- Creation of youth internship program within Department of Public Services
- Privatization of street sweeping program to improve sweeping within our neighborhoods
- Recognized as a Tree City USA
- Secured $1 million PWED grant to improve the intersections at Harbor and Dow at Washington Street
- Bridge Street/Route 1A renovation and enhancement project has begun
Other Accomplishments
- Attracted ZipCar to the downtown
- Successfully automated parking lots on Church Street and at MBTA station
- Completion of a comprehensive downtown parking study
- Completion of renovation of Old Salem Jail
- Procured and entered into an Energy Services Contract to allow the City to make investments in our buildings and facilities
- Awarded a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to review re-use alternatives of Salem Harbor Power Station
- Secured Green Community status from the state under the Green Communities Act
- Installation of MET tower at Winter Island to measure and collect wind data to determine the feasibility of siting a wind turbine
- Park and playground improvements at Salem Common, Mack Park, High Street Park, Forest River Park, 15 Peabody Street, Salem Willows and Pickman Park
- Furlong Park renovation has commenced
- Secured $140,000 federal earmark for Winter Island which will fund park improvements and a master plan process
- City Hall elevator project underway and will be complete this year
- Salem Farmers’ Market had a very successful season and has commenced their second season with an expanded group of local farmers and vendors.
- Grant funding received for building improvements at Old Town Hall
- The re-opening of Pioneer Village for the first time in close to ten years
- Initiation of the Community Schools Program
- Awarded two new Council on Aging vans
- Awarded technical assistance grant by MAPC to review Boston Street (Salem)/Main Street (Peabody) corridor
- Saltonstall School approved to be part of the Green Repair Program by the Massachusetts School Building Authority for potential window and roof replacement.
- Project Lifesaver Program implemented
- Partnered with the City of Beverly to provide for two household hazardous waste drop-off days
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