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★ ★ ★PUBLICRECORDSEP 14 2026
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Salem Town Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

Town Council — Monday, September 14, 2026
BodySalem, New Hampshire
SessionTown Council
DateMonday, September 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:58:56

Transcript — VerbatimClick a line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Good evening, Salem, and welcome to the uh September 14th meeting of the town council.

0:06

If everyone would please join me and rise up and pledge the allegiance.

0:11

To the flag.

0:12

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:17

And to the Republic with one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

0:29

I thank everyone.

0:31

I will start off by uh asking Ms.

0:35

Whithrow for the minutes.

0:37

I would move the August 3rd, 2026 public session.

0:40

Second.

0:41

Motion made and seconded.

0:42

All those in favor.

0:45

That's uh seven to zero.

0:47

The moment we would move August 17, 2026 public session.

0:51

Second.

0:52

Motion has been made and seconded.

0:54

All those in favor.

0:56

Okay, that takes care of that.

0:58

Thank you.

0:59

And see, that's why I did that first.

1:02

Good job.

1:04

Uh the chairman will have no comments tonight.

1:07

The agenda was long enough without me babbling about something.

1:10

So I'm going to move on with the introductions around the table.

1:14

To my far left is Mr.

1:16

DJ Betancourt.

1:17

Good evening.

1:18

To his right is Keith Stramalia.

1:21

Good evening.

1:21

To his right is Paul Pelletier.

1:24

Good evening, Sale.

1:25

To my immediate left is the Vice Chair, Mr.

1:29

Sweeney.

1:29

Joeini.

1:30

To my immediate right is the board secretary, and that is Lisa Withrow.

1:35

Good evening.

1:36

To her right, Kathy Stacey.

1:39

Good evening, Mr.

1:40

Chair.

1:40

And all the way over to the far right here is Barney Wright.

1:44

Hello, Salem.

1:45

And then finally, the town manager, Mr.

1:47

Joe Devine.

1:48

Good evening.

1:49

My name is Bob Bryant, and it has been an honor for me to serve in this position.

1:54

So we'll move with the consent agenda.

1:56

If anybody has a motion, I'll take it.

2:00

Go ahead, Mr.

2:01

Sweeney.

2:01

Mr.

2:02

Chairman, at this time I move we adopt the September 14th consent agenda.

2:06

Second.

2:07

Motion has been made and seconded.

2:09

Should we read all this stuff first?

2:12

We should, right?

2:13

What's that?

2:13

We should.

2:14

We should, yes.

2:15

As uh part of the consent agenda, I'll read the following.

2:17

Community Services Department has received a $2,500 gift from the Friendship and Garden Club Plantings at Hedgehog Park.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████23%
Zoning Regulations███████████████████19%
Procedural█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Economic Development████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Master Planning██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Salem Town Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

The Salem Town Council met on September 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM (approximate start) for a regular session. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, a consent agenda with donations, employee of the month recognitions, a detailed presentation on the South Fire Station reconstruction, first readings of multiple resolutions (tax credit program amendments, lot unmerge, fee schedule, zoning amendments, and a bridge funding transfer), public hearings to accept donations, approval of cell tower lease amendments, MBAC charter changes, a Capital Improvement Plan report, a waiver of a sewer DBA fee, and the town manager's report. All votes were unanimous (8-0) unless noted.

Consent Calendar

  • The council adopted the September 14, 2026 consent agenda (moved by Councilor Sweeney, seconded, vote 8-0). The consent agenda included the following donations: $2,500 from the Friendship and Garden Club for plantings at Hedgehog Park; $400 from Friends of Salem Recreation for plantings at Hedgehog Park; $50 from Friends of Chris Tardiff to senior services; $500 from CLMN Enterprises, $250 from Lowell 5, $500 from Route 97 Automotive, $500 from Salem Lions Club (all for National Night Out); $2,726.05 from Stand Up Salem to Community Services Unit; and $500 from Salem Area Women's Club for a library shed at Town Hall.
  • Minutes from August 3, 2026 and August 17, 2026 public sessions were approved (motions, vote 7-0 and 7-0).

Employee of the Month

  • August Employee of the Month: Officer Mike Cummings (Salem Police Department), recognized for his professionalism, mentorship, and dedication over 12 years. Chief Joel Dolan presented the award.
  • September Employee of the Month: Bridget Garge, Administrative Secretary in the Planning Division, recognized for exceptional customer service. Planning Director Jacob Lafontaine presented.

Discussion Items

  • South Fire Station Reconstruction (MBAC Presentation): James Pachico (Facilities Superintendent and MBAC Chair) and Ted Gallant (TGAS architect) presented schematic designs for replacing Fire Station #3. The project addresses deficiencies including lack of contamination control zones, ADA compliance, asbestos, and energy inefficiency. The design includes a three-bay apparatus floor with hot/transition/green zones for decontamination, a mezzanine for training, and gender-neutral bunk rooms. Mark LaJulier (TGAS project manager) reported the all-in budget is just over $10 million, consistent with earlier estimates, after about $470,000 in value engineering. The council was asked to appoint two members to a South Fire Station Finance Working Group. Councilors Lisa Withrow and Keith Stramalia were appointed (moved by Councilor Sweeney, seconded, vote 8-0). The working group will also include two members from the Budget Committee and one from the Finance Committee.
  • Commercial Tax Credit Program Amendments (Resolution 2026-14): Assistant Planner Crane Brewbaker presented recommended updates to the Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Exemption Program. Key changes include: focusing on non-residential districts (commercial, industrial, mixed-use); redefining

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, Salem, and welcome to the uh September 14th meeting of the town council. If everyone would please join me and rise up and pledge the allegiance. To the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic with one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I thank everyone. I will start off by uh asking Ms. Whithrow for the minutes. I would move the August 3rd, 2026 public session. Second. Motion made and seconded. All those in favor. That's uh seven to zero. The moment we would move August 17, 2026 public session. Second. Motion has been made and seconded. All those in favor. Okay, that takes care of that. Thank you. And see, that's why I did that first. Good job. Uh the chairman will have no comments tonight. The agenda was long enough without me babbling about something. So I'm going to move on with the introductions around the table. To my far left is Mr. DJ Betancourt. Good evening. To his right is Keith Stramalia. Good evening. To his right is Paul Pelletier. Good evening, Sale. To my immediate left is the Vice Chair, Mr. Sweeney. Joeini. To my immediate right is the board secretary, and that is Lisa Withrow. Good evening. To her right, Kathy Stacey. Good evening, Mr. Chair. And all the way over to the far right here is Barney Wright. Hello, Salem. And then finally, the town manager, Mr. Joe Devine. Good evening. My name is Bob Bryant, and it has been an honor for me to serve in this position. So we'll move with the consent agenda. If anybody has a motion, I'll take it. Go ahead, Mr. Sweeney. Mr.

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