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City council approved collective bargaining agreements with three of the four unions representing city employees in its Tuesday meeting.
Following discussion of the agreements in detail in a nearly hour long executive session for the discussion of contracts and pending legal matters council agreed unanimously to approve agreements with the Fraternal Order of Police Ohio Labor Council, Salem Firefighters Local 283 of the International Association of Firefighters, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2701, which covers the service department, traffic and safety, some city hall personnel and the parks department.
Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey said that negotiations had gone very smoothly.
"It went very well, and very smoothly, I think everyone was satisfied with the agreements," said Dickey.
Dickey said that while the city was still in negotiation with the fourth union, Utilities Workers of America Local 560, which represents the city's utilities workers, negotiations were going well and expected to be complete soon.
Dickey said the agreements had a three-year term and were all encompassing, addressing pay increases, benefits, and any other elements that were requested to re-visit; and that the agreements still need to be ratified by the unions before the contents become available in detail.
"I really appreciate all the representatives we had from the unions, they were very well prepared, and very reasonable," said Dickey.
Other financial matters included the approval of the 2024 Salem tax budget for fiscal year 2024, and submission of the budget to the Columbiana County Auditor. A public hearing for the budget was held immediately preceding the council meeting, during which no residents spoke.
Also approved were a pair of well-earned resolutions honoring the service of a pair of recent Salem Police retirees. Originally intended to be presented in council's June 6, meeting, the resolutions were delayed until Tuesday's meeting due to the unexpected absence of three members of council.
Retiring at the end of April, and beginning of May respectively, the resolutions officially commending David Banar and Dave Talbert are most certainly deserved. Both men provided the Salem community with decades of dedicated service in their roles with the Salem Police Department prior to their well-deserved retirements; with Banar serving the city as a Patrolman for over 30 years, from April 19, 1993, through April 27, 2023, and Talbert serving for a Patrolman for eight years from July 10, 1999, through January 31, 2007, and a further 16 years as Detective from February 1, 2007, through May 2, 2023.
The council also heard further public comments regarding the ongoing discussion of reducing the speed limit on South Lincoln Avenue from father and son Trent and Taven Tice.
12-year-old Taven was in favor of reducing the speed limit, noting how often cars speed past his home with no regard for him and his friends playing in the front yard, nor for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in the area.
"Hello, my name is Taven Tice, I live on South Lincoln Avenue. I play outside in the front yard all year long; cars fly by my house not following the speed limit. People are always walking and riding bikes, therefore I would like to see the speed limit lowered to 25 miles per hour top keep people safe, thank you for your time," said Taven.
Trent said that while he had come to support his son and neighbors and was aware the speed limit had been discussed recently, he and other residents still had concerns about the speed limit, particularly about safety.
"I think he says it best, he's outside all the time, and now it's summertime there's kids all over the place. I think South Lincoln has changed, there's a lot of young families, and I just want to express we still have concerns about that speed limit. I think we can come to a solution eventually; I know there's going to be arguments that it's a main roadway, and the cost, but then again, this is my family, my kids' friends, and I think we can come to a solution. That concern is still out there," said Trent.
City Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello began his report by thanking Councilman Dennis Plegge, the Super Cruise Committee, city emergency service workers, and all the city employees who participated for their effort and collaboration in making the 2023 Super Cruise a success. Cappuzzello said that the city had its first clean-up as part of the adopt a street program Saturday on the Pershing Street extension by Salem Kiwanis and Key Club, and that the city had a few more clean-up events scheduled already.
Cappuzzello also said that street paving had begun that morning with grinding on Shady Lane, and that the department had begun repainting crosswalks downtown to improve visibility, which would continue during evenings.
Cappuzzello also reminded residents that the city sponsored Residential Sidewalk and Downtown Commercial Building Grants were both still available, noting the city had received another application for the sidewalk grant this week.
During the reports of standing committees Councilman Andrew Null, who is also the chair of the finance committee announced the committee would meet prior to council's next meeting at 6 p.m. July 18.
Also approved was an emergency resolution authorizing Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey to enter an environmental covenant with the United State Environmental Protection Agency regarding the cleanup and monitoring of hazardous substances on city property related to the former Nease Chemicals site.
An ordinance approving the advertising for bids for and authorizing Cappuzzello to enter contracts for the 2023 citywide street paving project for the City of Salem; and a resolution to adopt and approve an alternative method of apportionment of local government fund and local government revenue assistance fund monies to be distributed in 2024 were also approved.
During pleasure of council Councilman Dennis Plegge said that the Super Cruise had been a great success again this year, and that it was his pleasure to plan and put on the cruise each year and looked forward to having the cruise again next year.
Councilmen Jake Gano and Evan Newman both thanked all those in attendance for sharing their opinions and attending the meeting, with Newman thanking Taven in particular, noting that standing before council and sharing your opinions can even be intimidating for adults, and showed a great deal of maturity and concern for his community.
Newman also reminded residents that the city's annual Independence Day fireworks would be held July 3, at Waterworth Memorial Park at dusk.
City council will meet next 7 p.m. July 18.