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Record of Proceedings

Salem Town Council Meeting - September 28, 2026

Town Council — Monday, September 28, 2026
BodySalem, New Hampshire
SessionTown Council
DateMonday, September 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:37:07

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Good evening, Salem, and welcome to the town council meeting for September 28th.

0:05

My name is Bob Bryant, and we're sitting here in the uh now open and operating uh police department, the new building here in town to have our first meeting here to uh have the public invited and so on.

0:19

So if everybody would just rise, I don't see the flags.

0:27

Anyone got red, white, and blue on.

0:32

Everybody plays rise anyway.

Unassigned speaker

0:36

I

Speaker 1

0:36

pledge allegiance to the five of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:49

I thank you.

0:57

From my far right, Miss Barney Wright.

Speaker 2

1:00

Hello, Salem.

Speaker 1

1:01

To her left, Kathy Stacey.

Speaker 2

1:04

Good evening.

Speaker 1

1:04

To my immediate right, the board secretary, Lisa Whithrow.

1:08

Good evening.

1:09

To my immediate left, Mr.

1:11

Joe Sweeney.

1:12

He's the vice chair.

1:13

Good evening.

1:14

To his left, we have uh Jeff Hatch.

1:17

Paul Salem.

1:18

To his left, Paul Pellatea.

1:20

Good evening, Salem.

1:21

Going further down the road, Keith Stramalia.

1:24

Good evening.

1:25

And then David Betoncourt sitting down there in the corner.

1:28

Good evening.

1:29

And then we have our town manager, Mr.

1:31

Devine.

1:32

And we have several members of the fire department.

1:35

The police chief is here.

1:37

The finance director for the town is here.

1:39

The gentleman who runs the water.

1:41

Other Kenny Bu Lake is here.

1:43

Everybody's here.

1:44

So good evening.

1:48

And the assistant town manager is hiding.

1:50

Oh, yeah.

1:50

She's supposed to be.

1:52

You notice everybody's on this side and not crazy.

1:56

Anyway, they went into a new building and they just couldn't pick the right side.

2:00

We're gonna go with uh meeting minutes.

2:02

Miss Whitrow.

Speaker 3

2:03

I've moved the meeting minutes for September 14, 2026.

Speaker 1

2:07

Motion's been made and seconded and move the minutes.

2:09

All those in favor.

Unassigned speaker

2:10

Aye.

Speaker 1

2:13

All of us nine zero.

2:16

Oh, Jeff's up.

2:16

That's right, you were out of time.

2:18

Sorry, Joe.

2:20

Chairman comments, don't have any.

2:21

It's a beautiful facility, and I'm thrilled.

2:24

Uh approve the consent agenda.

2:28

Ms.

2:29

Just Wingy.

Speaker 4

2:30

Mr.

2:30

Chairman, this time I move we adopt the September 28th, 2026 consent agenda.

2:34

Second.

2:35

And further to acknowledge acceptance of the following donation of gratitude to the community services department, friends of Salem Recreation, $2,156.20 cents for ADA lamp and gutters for Hedgehog Park.

Speaker 3

2:51

Second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████29%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Procedural███████████11%
Economic Development███████████11%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Salem Town Council Meeting - September 28, 2026

This was the first town council meeting held in the newly opened police department building. The council approved a consent agenda, adopted several zoning amendments, and addressed public concerns on a lot unmerger and the town's water restrictions.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of September 14, 2026: Approved 9-0.
  • Consent Agenda (September 28, 2026): Adopted 9-0, including acceptance of a $2,156.20 donation from the Friends of Salem Recreation for ADA ramp and gutters at Hedgehog Park.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Susan McLaughlin spoke against the proposed multifamily housing zoning amendment, arguing it would strain water infrastructure (citing drought and mandatory restrictions), increase traffic, raise taxes, and create additional public safety costs. She urged the council to vote against it, noting Salem is already a housing champion for New Hampshire.

Discussion Items

  • Fire Department Swearing-In: Fire Chief Lamier introduced Fire Administration Coordinator Skylar Moore (Badge 284), a Navy veteran, and swore in Firefighter Nicola Atiella (Badge 283), a Salem resident and former registered nurse. Both welcomed by council.
  • Commercial Tax Credit Program Amendments (Resolution 2026-14): Staff proposed refinements to focus on redevelopment of existing commercial properties, including a 50% exemption on increased assessment in year one, declining to 20% in year four. Council discussed how to promote the program, the need for property owner awareness, and a concern that properties requiring a variance are disqualified. The amendment passed 9-0.
  • Lot Unmerger at 5 Ferry Street (Resolution 2026-16): Attorney Campbell represented NCC Real Estate Development, LLC, requesting to unmerge lots that were involuntarily merged by the town. Several abutting property owners raised concerns about lack of notification, unknown plans, and potential impact on existing septic easements. Council members noted state law (RSA 674:39-AA) ties their hands, and the resolution passed 9-0.
  • Town-Wide Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-17): Finance Director McGee presented the schedule, effective January 1, 2027, including updated mattress and box spring fees. Council discussed the $15 VIN verification fee and whether transfer station fees cover costs. The resolution passed 9-0.
  • Zoning Amendment – Permitted Use Table (Resolution 2026-18): Cleanup to consolidate educational and religious uses and allow personal services in the Business Office District. Approved 9-0.
  • Zoning Amendment – Multifamily Mixed-Use Development (Resolution 2026-19): Required by state law (HB 631, 1010, 1588), allowing multifamily housing in commercial zones with conditions. Council amended the motion to require that at least 33% of ground floor space be active retail or office (not just lobby or amenities), passed 6-3. (Opposed: Hatch, Stacey? Actually, three opposed.)
  • Zoning Amendment – Kennels (Resolution 2026-20): Established a 750-foot buffer between kennels and residential districts. A kennel defined as more than five dogs. Approved 9-0.
  • Water Restriction Update: Municipal Services Director Wayne Emerald reported that proactive restrictions kept Candy Lake at 215.99 feet as of September 18, predicting 215.88 by mid-October. He recommended continuing restrictions. Tanya Donnelly, President of the Candy Lake Protective Association, requested earlier switching to Arlington Pond to help the lake recharge. Utilities Manager Fred Wallace explained technical constraints prevent switching before mid-October at the earliest.
  • Town Manager’s Report: Devine highlighted a transparency survey (Salem scored 9.3/10, second in state), a finalist award for energy leadership, police station opening, election and voter registration deadlines, new ZBA notification signs with QR codes, community events, department statistics, staffing updates, capital projects (Mall Road overpass, Irma Road, etc.), budget calendar starting October 1, and a plan to spend a week in each department to listen to staff.

Key Outcomes

  • Commercial Tax Credit Amendments: Adopted 9-0.
  • Lot Unmerger at 5 Ferry Street: Approved 9-0.
  • Town-Wide Fee Schedule (2027): Adopted 9-0, effective January 1, 2027.
  • Permitted Use Table Zoning Amendment: Adopted 9-0.
  • Multifamily Mixed-Use Zoning Amendment: Adopted 6-3, with amendment to require retail or office use on ground floor.
  • Kennel Buffer Zoning Amendment: Adopted 9-0.
  • Water Restrictions: No change; current restrictions remain in place. Staff will evaluate switching to Arlington Pond when feasible.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, Salem, and welcome to the town council meeting for September 28th. My name is Bob Bryant, and we're sitting here in the uh now open and operating uh police department, the new building here in town to have our first meeting here to uh have the public invited and so on. So if everybody would just rise, I don't see the flags. Anyone got red, white, and blue on. Everybody plays rise anyway. I pledge allegiance to the five of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I thank you. From my far right, Miss Barney Wright. Hello, Salem. To her left, Kathy Stacey. Good evening. To my immediate right, the board secretary, Lisa Whithrow. Good evening. To my immediate left, Mr. Joe Sweeney. He's the vice chair. Good evening. To his left, we have uh Jeff Hatch. Paul Salem. To his left, Paul Pellatea. Good evening, Salem. Going further down the road, Keith Stramalia. Good evening. And then David Betoncourt sitting down there in the corner. Good evening. And then we have our town manager, Mr. Devine. And we have several members of the fire department. The police chief is here. The finance director for the town is here. The gentleman who runs the water. Other Kenny Bu Lake is here. Everybody's here. So good evening. And the assistant town manager is hiding. Oh, yeah. She's supposed to be. You notice everybody's on this side and not crazy. Anyway, they went into a new building and they just couldn't pick the right side. We're gonna go with uh meeting minutes. Miss Whitrow. I've moved the meeting minutes for September 14, 2026. Motion's been made and seconded and move the minutes. All those in favor. Aye. All of us nine zero. Oh, Jeff's up. That's right, you were out of time. Sorry, Joe.

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