Loading...
MINUTES - Special - 1/2/2012 338 CITY OF SALEM JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL A Special Meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chamber on Monday, January 2, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. for the purpose of organizing city government for the year 2010. All Councillors were present. Presentation of the Colors by the Police and Fire Department Color Guard. City Clerk Cheryl A. LaPointe called the meeting to order, and Councillor Joseph A. O’Keefe, Sr., Senior Member, assumed the Chair. Senior Member O’Keefe then called upon Salem Girl Scouts to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Salem High School WitchPitch sing the National Anthem. Senior Member O'Keefe called upon Father John Sheridan for the invocation. City Clerk Cheryl A. LaPointe then administered the oath of office to the members of the City Council. #1 - ELECTION OF PRESIDENT Councillor McCarthy introduced the following Order, which was adopted. Ordered: That the City Council proceed to organize for 2012 by the election of a president. Councillor Prevey nominated Councillor Joan B. Lovely. Councillor Sosnowski seconded the nomination. Councillor Carr moved that nominations be closed. It was so voted. Councillor Joan B. Lovely was elected President of the City Council for the year 2012 by a roll call vote of 10 votes for Councillor Lovely, and 1 member voting present. Councillors Carr, Furey, McCarthy, O’Keefe, Prevey, Ryan, Sargent, Siegel, Sosnowski and Turiel were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillor Lovely was recorded as voting present. Newly elected President Lovely took the rostrum. CITY OF SALEM 339 JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOAN B. LOVELY SPEECH Mayor Driscoll, Representative Keenan, Chief Tucker, Chief Cody, Fellow Council Colleagues, School Committee Members, Family and Friends, Good Morning and welcome to City Council Chambers. My remarks this morning will be brief. I would like to thank my city council colleagues for electing me to lead the council as their president for this legislative year. I look forward to working with each and every one of you on all issues that will come before us. I would now like to take you on a little walk through history and tell you a bit about these historic chambers and why I consider it a great privilege and honor to serve you, the citizens of Salem, in these hallowed halls. Did you know that City Hall did not cost Salem residents any tax dollars? Of Greek Revival architecture, City Hall was built in 1836 from funds supplied as a result of a surplus in the United States Treasury, then under the administration of President Andrew Jackson. The cost including the building and furnishings was $28,878.00. President Jackson’s portrait hangs in the left hand corner. He has a look-a-like in the chambers today. He bears a striking resemblance to Councillor Arthur Sargent, don’t you think? In 1913, through a City Charter change, the council was changed to an eleven member city council, 7 councillors from seven wards, and 4 councillors a large. The beautiful furniture that adorns this chamber is original. For 173 years, the decisions and actions made in these chambers have set the course of Salem’s future. Many city leaders have sat in these chairs, and I am proud to be among them. I would like to take you back to the portraits hanging on the walls. I already mentioned President Jackson. To his right is Charles Albert Read, the original founder of the Read Fund Picnic which was established upon his death in 1869 and for which 100’s of Salem children enjoy a free picnic at Salem Willows every June when school recesses for the summer. To the right of the central doorway is Marquis de Lafayette, a French General of the Revolutionary War and close ally to George Washington. Lafayette visited Salem on August 31, 1824 as part of a 6000 mile, 24 state visit to our country. Lafayette Street is named in his honor. 340 CITY OF SALEM JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL The first city council meeting took place on May 31, 1838, almost 174 years ago. That council consisted of a bicameral council, with six Alderman-at-Large, and six Common Councillors elected from four wards. To his right is Abiel Abbot Low, born in Salem in 1811, he was an American entrepreneur, businessman, trader and philanthropist who gained most of his fortune from the China trade, importing teas, porcelains, and silk, and building and operating a fleet of reputable clipper ships, an industry that built Salem as a leader in American maritime history. Turning the corner is John Endecott who was an English colonial magistrate and soldier who in 1621 became the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was also the 10th, 13th, 15th and 17th governor of the Colony serving for a total of 16 years. Next to him is John Glen King, born in Salem in 1787, he was a Harvard educated lawyer and notable judge. To the right of President Jackson is Simon Bradstreet, an Englishman who was a colonial magistrate, businessman, and diplomat, who in 1697 was the last governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was also very outspoken in his opposition to the witch hysteria of 1692, an important part of our history that has left its indelible mark on our legacy forever. To his left is Lt. Sheridan, who from 1853 to 1888, was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. In the near left corner is Denis J. Sullivan, who in 1918 became the 40th mayor of Salem, and the first under our Plan B City Charter which was officially adopted on January 3, 1916. A copy of the original Indian Deed hangs to my left, dating to 1686, deeding Salem for 20 pounds from the Nanepashemet Indians to the city, and establishing title to the land. The original deed is stored safely here in City Hall in the City vault. The most stately and largest portrait in city hall however hangs not in these chambers but in the stairwell where I believe it is very underappreciated. It is the portrait of George Washington and it used to hang behind me. When the portraits of Lafayette and Washington were donated to the city, they were to hang face to face so they could look at each other. They now hang with their backs to each other. Every February, since I have been on the city council, in honor of President Washington birthday, I sponsor a council order to have the Founder of our Country’s portrait placed back in its place of honor for all to enjoy. Perhaps this is the year it will happen. Each and every time I sit in this historic chamber and see these distinguished leaders looking down upon us, I am constantly reminded about the importance of our role in city government. We work in partnership with the mayor and her administration to advance city initiatives and maintain essential city services while working on keeping costs as low as possible, which as you all know is becoming increasingly challenging. Being partners in government is vital to our collective success. Communication is key. Cooperation is crucial. Compromise is essential. And public input is vital. As Abraham Lincoln once said: CITY OF SALEM 341 JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL “With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.” Salem residents epitomize this sentiment. I am proud to live in a city where there is so much public participation on all levels, through many neighborhood associations and numerous boards and commissions, all done by resident volunteers. It is the collective efforts of these hundreds of citizen activists that we are successful in our goals to educate of our children, to preserve our beautiful historic assets and our neighborhoods, and to celebrate our historic diversity. Our city is steeped in history including notables who were instrumental in laying the foundation for what Salem is today. They include Nathaniel Hawthorne, Samuel McIntire, The Derby Family, The Crowninshield Family, The White and Story families, the Saltonstalls, to name but just a few. We have much to be proud of and much to reflect on. And we must continue to preserve our rich past as we chart our rewarding future. Today, Salem is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. And I am proud to live, work and raise my family here, and honored to work for you as a city councilor to advance city government in a responsible and effective manner. Abraham Lincoln also once said: “I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.” Actually, I believe that was Lincoln’s policy, to do his best each and every day. And I know I can speak for my fellow council colleagues and tell you that we will work to do the best for you, each and every day, our constituents and fellow Salem residents. To do the best each and every day in this historic chamber as those have done before us for the past 173 years. I am proud to be one of many past and present city councillors to have served Salem, and I look forward to working in partnership with Mayor Driscoll and her administration, the Salem School Committee, and my fellow Council Colleagues, serving you the citizens of Salem over the next legislative year. We have a lot of important work ahead of us and we are ready to get to work. Let’s get going! Thank you. #2 - RULES AND REGULATIONS Councillor Ryan introduced the following order, which was adopted. ORDERED: That the rules and regulations of the City Council for the year 2011 be adopted as the rules and regulations for the year 2012, and that the same be suspended for this meeting. Following the organizational meeting of the School Committee, the City Council reconvened. 342 CITY OF SALEM JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL #3 - MAYOR ADDRESS COUNCIL Councillor Sargent introduced the following Order, which was adopted. ORDERED: That her Honor the Mayor be invited to address the members of the City Council at this session. President Lovely then introduced Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, who gave her Inaugural Address. Following the Mayor's inaugural address, President Lovely thanked her for her informative address. MAYOR KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS JANUARY 2, 2011 Good Morning and Happy New Year. I would like to extend sincere congratulations to members of the City Council and the School Committee for your commitment to serving Salem, and particularly to new Councilors Kevin Carr, Todd Siegal and Josh Turiel and new School Committee members Deb Amaral and Lisa Lavoie who are each being sworn in to their first terms in office. I also want to offer my best wishes to the families of all the elected officials here today. As we know, public service requires time and dedication from those who serve, and typically that also requires sacrifices to be made by families and loved ones. So, I want to say thank you to my family and extend appreciation to all the family members here for their support as well. I would like to thank Rep. John Keenan for joining us this morning. John is a great partner at the State House and I appreciate his support and that of Sen. Berry. We work together well and it’s great to have such a strong team effort advocating for Salem projects. As I look ahead to 2012 I remain positive and excited about the tremendous opportunities that we have in our City. Salem is fortunate, in that despite a doldrum economy, we have had great success over the past several years with new businesses investing here and more people living and visiting our community. I look forward to working with each of you to make our great City even better. Over the holidays, I had a chance to catch up on some reading and settled into Robert Booth’s book about Salem’s storied past. The book entitled Death of an Empire: The Rise and Murderous Fall of Salem, America’s Richest City, was released this past August and highlights Salem’s history, our dependence on the water and our prominent role in the development of our nation. It’s an amazing book and I’d ask for your indulgence as I recite a few lines from the opening preface. CITY OF SALEM 343 JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL E. Hasket Derby, of Salem, Massachusetts, was America’s first millionaire. As a pioneer of his nation’s commerce with the Orient, he accumulated property on a scale so vast that at his death in 1799, he was the wealthiest man on earth; and to this day he remains one of “the 75 richest people in human history” rated at $34.1 billion in adjusted net worth. Amid emperors, bankers, railroad tycoons, and oil barons, he is the only one whose business was shipping. And all of his shipping was done from the seaport of Salem. Derby bequeathed an empire including 200 wooden ships and favored positions in major markets from the Caribbean to the South China Sea. His successors were deeply grateful. Salem, the 6th largest population center with about 9,500 inhabitants, was by far the richest place, per capita, in the United States; and so it stayed for another 30 years. In truth, it had few resources other than confidence, aggressiveness and intelligence, but these were enough for its vessels to be the first to carry the flag into the seaports of India, Sumatra, Java, and Arabia and for its ship owners to remain the dominant Americans in those markets for many years. Salem’s merchants, operating within the larger white male political system, ruled the town as autocrats, but also as sons of the Enlightenment. Their drive to prosper was matched by their scientific interests and their fascination with foreign cultures. Although their ships bristled with cannon, they established a worldwide commerce without resorting to coercion or violence toward other peoples. For decades, Salem was the center of American multicultural consciousness. In its streets were the goods and aromas of far- off places; at the heart of its downtown was the museum of another world. Salem was not like the rest of America. As I was making my through the book I was struck by how often anecdotes of the past reign true today and how closely connected we are to the decisions made by our forefathers over 200 years ago. The decisions made then matter now some 200 years later and the decisions we make today will surely impact the city for generations to come. For example, in 1950 the people who occupy the seats we now hold made a decision to allow a power plant to be built along Salem Harbor. That decision provided stability for our energy needs and our tax base for over 6 decades. Now, that outdated plant is closing and the responsibility for the future of those 62 acres along the waterfront belongs to us. Challenging yes, but a very real opportunity to set the stage for the next 60 years and reclaim our economic ties to the harbor. While we are on the harbor, many of the families central to Booth’s book, were members of the East India Marine Society, the founding organization of the PEM. To be a member of the society you actually had to captain a voyage to the far east. Having successfully returned, captains wanted a place to secure and display the fine goods they brought back from these magical places. Today, that exists as the Peabody Essex Museum or the PEM. News this past fall that the PEM had raised 500 million dollars toward a campaign that will include a new 200 million dollar addition to their downtown campus was nothing short of jaw dropping. But I suppose that is to be expected for an organization whose 344 CITY OF SALEM JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL founding members risked their lives captaining transatlantic trade voyages to the farthest ports of the rich east in ships powered only by wind and the size of the Friendship replica docked at Derby Wharf. The PEM’s amazing investment will further solidify Salem’s reputation as the cultural hub of the North Shore and do much to enhance our continued downtown revitalization efforts. Our reliance on Salem Harbor for the City’s economic success is at the heart and soul of Booth’s book. We once again find ourselves turning to the water to seed our economic well being with the development of the new Salem Wharf. This project, nothing more than an artists rendering six years ago, is now well underway. Construction will begin on the new $4million dollar second phase of this ambitious waterfront revitalization project this Spring. Phase 2 will enhance ferry service, provide a backdrop for Salem as a cruise destination and allow passengers to travel into our community from ports near and far. In Salem, as opportunities continue to abound, our ability to prosper as a community is most reliant on our success in improving our public schools. While waterfront expansions, museum additions and power plant redevelopments are important, the biggest impact we can make on Salem’s future is to ensure a quality education for every student. We can and will do better. We will use the opportunity presented to us to by the state’s recent level 4 designation at one school to look at every school. We will face this challenge as we have others – in an open, transparent, head on manner and together, as a community as we re-double our efforts to ensure that all Salem students have the tools they need to be successful. This is my top priority and ultimate responsibility to the next generation of Salem’s leaders. I look forward to working with each of you over the next two years on the initiatives mentioned above and others. I feel fortunate to serve as the Mayor of Salem and having been in the job for 6 years I’m still excited to walk into City Hall each and every day. Going back to Booth’s book, I was struck by a description of Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy’s approach to the job. “As Mayor, he understood the real problems of the city - not the glamorous high end concerns that private enterprise would address - but the street level issues of safety, health and cleanliness”. I share Mayor Quincy’s propensity to make sure that the tasks we take on in government every day are done well and efficiently. While working on big initiatives can be fun and exhilarating, it’s equally as important to provide quality services of the type that Salem residents rely on daily. With another day of winter behind us and still no snow, we all have something to smile about as maintaining our streets and sidewalks is a lot easier without the white stuff flying around. In closing, congratulations to my fellow elected officials and Happy New Year. May we all enjoy a healthy and prosperous 2012. President Lovely thanked Mayor Driscoll. President Lovely then called upon Father John Sheridan for Benediction. CITY OF SALEM 345 JANUARY 2, 2012 SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Following Benediction, President Lovely called for the retiring of the Colors Council President Lovely called upon Councillor O’Keefe, who moved that the meeting be adjourned at 11:00 A.M. It was so voted. ATTEST: CHERYL A. LAPOINTE CITY CLERK