Mayor Kimberley Driscoll Delivers Mid-Term Address
SALEM, MA – Mayor Kimberley Driscoll delivered her Mid-Term Address today in City Council Chambers during the City Council’s Inaugural Ceremony and Organizational Meeting. During the ceremony, three new City Councillors were sworn in - Ward 1 City Councillor Robert McCarthy, Ward 4 City Councillor Jerry Ryan and At-Large City Councillor Steven Pinto. Two new School Committee members were sworn in as well - Kerry Martin and Nate Bryant. In addition, Ward 2 City Councillor Michael Sosnowski was elected City Council President by his peers.
During her speech entitled “Plan the Work and Work the Plan”, Mayor Driscoll highlighted the accomplishments of her Administration and future goals and priorities. While focusing on the many positive results of her first two years of leadership, Mayor Driscoll also addressed the unforeseen and extraordinary deficit in the School Department. Describing Salem’s current circumstances as “the best of times and the worst of times” she articulated great concern for the public school system but also expressed optimism in the City’s ability to overcome these financial challenges and maintain excellence in our schools. In her speech, Mayor Driscoll also acknowledged that staff reductions in the School Department are unavoidable which will have an impact on our students.
Despite the acknowledgement of the difficult challenges ahead Mayor Driscoll did not dwell on them. Over her tenure as Mayor much has been accomplished. Professionalism, straight talk and openness in government have been and continue to be high priorities. The principles of operating City government based on professionalism not politics, being hardworking and creative and inclusive and open to all continue to guide her Administration. These guiding principles have produced strong results.
Over the last two years, the City has bid all contracts saving significant tax dollars and sending an important message that all vendors provide a quality product at an efficient price. We have plans and are in the process of publicly bidding our $3.2 million trash and recycling contract. Despite the challenges associated with the school budget, the City received an upgrade in our Financial Management Practices to the highest grade offered by Standard and Poor’s. Other fiscal achievements include: the creation of a Five-Year Financial Forecast and Capital Improvement Plan, the implementation of a new Stabilization Fund Policy, the certification of $700,000 in free cash, a newly negotiated SILOT agreement with Salem State College and the negotiation of a $250,000 increase in revenue from Dominion.
To continue to encourage openness in City government, Mayor Driscoll has initiated two new customer service initiatives. The City has announced its plans to create a “secret shopper” program that will provide valuable feedback directly to local officials from residents. In addition, a Customer Service Survey has been created. On top of these new initiatives, the City has continued to upgrade website and notification services and utilized the highly successful Connect CTY Automatic Message Delivery System to communicate with residents.
Highlighting the theme of the Mid-Term Address - “Plan the Work and Work the Plan” – Mayor Driscoll stressed three major successes over the last year. First, the Mayor and the City Council dedicated 25% of the City’s hotel/motel tax dollars to the promotion and marketing of the City which has produced a reinvigorated Destination Salem. Destination Salem has a new Executive Director and Board of Directors and is finally inclusively moving in the right direction. However, the most important product of the City’s investment in Destination Salem is a projected increase of 22% in hotel/motel tax revenues over the prior year.
Secondly, this year the City recently completed a new Open Space and Recreation Plan. Over the last six years this had not been done which made the City ineligible to compete for grants for parks, playgrounds and open space. Immediately after approval, the City received $674,000 in grant funding to transform the property at 15 Peabody Street into a neighborhood park and beginning of the South River Walkway.
Lastly, the Salem Ferry and overall Harbor Plan have been top priorities for the Administration. The City continues to receive grant dollars for improvements to Salem Wharf and passengers on the Salem Ferry increased by a whopping 89%. Other items highlighted included efforts to enhance the management of and revenues generated by Haunted Happenings, the progress of the redevelopment of the former Salem News Building and the creation of the Community Impact Unit in the Police Department.
Click here for Mayor Kimberley Driscoll’s Mid-Term Address. |
