Salem Town Council Meeting Summary (November 3, 2025)

The Salem Town Council convened its regular meeting on November 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM to address routine administrative approvals, public comments regarding representation, and significant agenda items including economic development zone modifications, grant acceptances, and budget approvals. The meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the proposed town-wide fee schedule following detailed deliberation and a motion to remove a prior tabled item from suspension.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent agenda for November 3, 2025, after a motion by Councilor Bryant and a second by Councilor Hatch.
• Minutes from the non-public and public sessions of October 15, 2025, and October 20, 2025, were ratified. Councillors Bryant, Hatch, and Withrow abstained from the vote on specific non-public session minutes due to their recusal or presence during those closed sessions.
• Public comments were accepted regarding the empty State House seat, but no formal action was taken on this issue during the consent or discussion phases of this specific session.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Peter Kempton (Resident of 5 Apollo Way): Expressed disappointment and concern regarding the town council's failure to schedule a discussion on the empty State House seat (District 5) following a March 24th decision. He argued that leaving the seat open for 19 months constitutes "taxation without representation" and suggested a potential deliberate effort to run out the clock on the state's window for filling the seat before the special election window closes. He requested that the council address the need for a special election to restore full representation.

Discussion Items

• Economic Revitalization Zones (ERZ) Expansion: Councilor Crane presented a proposal to rename and expand three existing Economic Revitalization Zones (ERZs):
  • The Mixed-Use Commercial ERZ (formerly Depot Intersection Northwest and Tuscan Village) will be expanded to include parcels at Mallett Rockingham Park.
  • The I-93 Corridor ERZ (formerly West Side I-93 Exit 2) will be expanded to include commercial/industrial parcels between NH Route 97 and Route 38.
  • The Northeastern Boulevard ERZ will be renamed to include specific addresses on Northeastern Boulevard and Brookdale Road.
  • Councilor Hatch inquired about tracking business tax credits to prevent double-dipping; Manager Devine confirmed tracking occurs via required town letters and that the town can provide notification of state awards.
• Eagle Scout Project: The council reviewed a proposal by Eagle Scout candidate John Tomaselli to restore and lower the grade of military markers at Pine Grove Cemetery. The project is fully funded by the scout with zero cost to the town. The council unanimously approved the project under municipal services oversight.
• Victim Witness Advocate Grant: Chief Joel Dolan presented data regarding the Victim Witness Advocate's work, noting 231 domestic violence victims, 26 sexual assault victims, and 33 stalking victims assisted over the past two years, alongside significant court appearances. Councilor Bryant moved to accept a grant of $50,475 from the NH Department of Justice (Violence Against Women Act), an increase of $20,475 from the previous capped amount of $30,000. The motion was unanimously approved.
• 2024 Financial Audit: Scott McIntyre of CBIZ presented the 2024 audit, reporting a clean (unmodified) opinion and confirming no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. He highlighted a healthy unassigned fund balance of approximately $1.7 million in the general fund. Councillor Bryant requested clarification on the recurring "management override of controls" risk stated in the governance letter; McIntyre confirmed this is a standard professional assessment for all organizations, not a specific condemnation of Salem's management.
• Depot Village Master Plan Phasing: Community Development presented a funding and phasing plan for the Depot Village Master Plan, breaking the project into five phases with estimated costs and potential LWCF (Land and Water Conservation Fund) grant opportunities. Councilor Bryant moved to approve the phased plan as recommended by the Depot Village Advisory Committee. The motion was unanimously approved.
• 2026 Default Budget: Finance Director Nicole McGee presented the 2026 default budget totaling $66,126,303, which includes the proposed operating budget of $71,841,607. The difference highlights a net increase of approximately $5.7 million due to capital projects like Route 11 improvements and sidewalk enhancements. The council unanimously approved the default budget.
• 2026 Proposed Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-30): After being removed from the table, the council debated the proposed fee schedule. Key points of discussion included:
  • Class G License Fee (Canaby Lake Park): The proposal increased the fee from $780 to $1,000. Councilor Sweeney questioned the fairness of this single business paying significantly less than the calculated full cost ($3,000–$6,000+) compared to individual Class A licenses ($600), citing the business's ability to house multiple vendors under one license. Councillor Hatch and Councilor Sweeney argued for a broader review of the "Class G" category to ensure fairness and prevent arbitrary pricing, suggesting a potential future restructuring of the category rather than a simple fee increase.
  • Other Adjustments: The council discussed increasing municipal services overtime, utility billing non-compliance fees, transfer station hauler fees, and ambulance billing rates (set at 325% of the Medicare rate).
  • Yard Sale Fees: The council agreed to waive the fee for online applications to offset processing costs.
  • The council reached a consensus to proceed with the current fee schedule for 2026 but noted the intent to revisit the Class G category structure in the future to ensure equitable treatment.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Adoption of Resolution 2025-35: The Economic Revitalization Zones were permanently renamed and expanded as proposed.
• Unanimous Approval of Eagle Scout Project: John Tomaselli's Pine Grove Cemetery restoration project was authorized.
• Unanimous Acceptance of VAWA Grant: The town accepted $50,475 from the NH DOJ to fund the Victim Witness Advocate position.
• Unanimous Approval of 2024 Audit Report: The town received a clean audit opinion.
• Unanimous Approval of Depot Phasing Plan: The funding schedule for the Depot Village Master Plan phases 1 through 5 was adopted.
• Unanimous Approval of 2026 Default Budget: The default budget of $66,126,303 was set.
• Unanimous Adoption of Resolution 2025-30: The 2026 Town-Wide Fee Schedule was adopted effective January 1, 2026, with Councilor Hatch noting the need for future structural review of the Class G license category.
• Acknowledgments: Councillor Crane was designated the October Employee of the Month for his work on the Depot Village Plan, website improvements, and community outreach.