SALEM — The parks commission approved the hire of several seasonal employees in its March 25 meeting. 

The parks commissioners voted unanimously to fill the remaining vacancies at the Centennial Park Pool and at the Salem City Lake for the upcoming 2026 season. 

Centennial Park Pool employees hired included lifeguard Cletis Monroy and cashier and concession stand manager Mara Miller, and cashier/concession stand workers Cassidy Wallace, Airianna Javens, Caty Brewer, Ella McKinney, Delaney Davidson, Autto Gorby, Sawyer Boron, and Peyton Colburt. City lake employees hired include supervisor Jeff Greenfield, and attendants Jim Barton, Nelson Thomas and Jim Smith. 

The commissioners also discussed two proposals for fishing tournaments to be hosted at the city lake this summer. 

Parks Director Kelli Pastore said that St. George and St. Paul Knights of Columbus councils had requested to host a tournament on May 9, and that they would provide prizes, bait and lunch for participants after the tournament concluded. Commissioner Lori Colian said that Columbiana County Suicide Prevention Coalition Director of Prevention and Outreach Lynsi Beagle had also suggested hosting a fishing tournament at the lake in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources sometime near Father’s Day in June. 

Pastore said that she would reach out for additional information about the possible tournaments. 

Other matters discussed included the parks department potentially contributing items for the community time capsule set to be buried as part of the city’s America250 

celebrations. Pastore asked the commissioners what kinds of items they felt should be submitted, and they suggested photos from the pool and the city lake, as well as literature about the city parks and programming. 

Pastore told the commissioners that she had received an email from City IT Director Eric Waggoner about possibly installing security cameras at Kelley Park. The commissioners asked if there had been any issues at the park and both Pastore and Parks Foreman Wes Bryan said there had not been. 

The commissioners ultimately decided not to move forward with the installation in light of budgetary constraints. 

Pastore also told the commissioners she had spoken with Dan Madden from Stark Memorial Funeral Home about what additions could be made to the Memory Garden at Bell Island, and that they were considering the addition of a lavender garden. 

Pastore said the garden could include a walkway made of paver stones and that once mature the lavender would add “something visually pleasing and unique to the area” and that it would offer a good place for residents and visitors to stop and take pictures.