BY MATT HERSH

A foot of snow didn’t keep more than 100 Salem residents from attending the second deliberative session of Town Meeting on Saturday, March 17 and passing nearly every agenda item.

Though the four-hour meeting was often marked by somewhat heated debate, the only article to fail was a citizen’s petition asking the town to give up a cow path that is still legally a road. The measure failed by a 34-33 vote.

Despite citizens approving more than $6 million in warrant articles, several met strong opposition from outspoken members of the public.

A $128,190 article concerning the hiring of four new firefighters had Fire Chief Kevin Breen and a couple residents butting heads.

The hiring of the new firefighters was made possible by a $414,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the federal government. The money will go toward the new positions in various amounts over the next five years. 

Salem will be required to put up a portion of the money each year. This year, the town was asked to contribute $49,670.  That number will grow in successive years.

Breen said the demand for fire service in Salem has been steadily rising, straining resources, and increasing response times.

“More than a third of the time, we don’t have a full compliment of firefighters available,” he said.  “Only 53 percent of calls can they make it to in under five minutes.”

While Breen strongly supported the plan, resident Stephen Campbell was critical of spending the money, suggesting that response times would improve if night-shift firefighters weren’t allowed to nap during their 12-hour shifts.

Breen called these comments “inflammatory” and explained that the response times are measured by the time it takes between leaving the station and arriving at the scene, not how long it takes firefighters to prepare and get in their vehicles.

Selectmen also strongly urged voters to approve the measure.

“I believe this is the highest priority in the community from a safety point of view,” said selectmen Chairman Michael Lyons.  “If you vote it down here today, we’re bringing it back next year without the grant money.”

Salem’s roads will also receive a touch-up. Voters approved a $2,280,000 roadway improvement plan which will fund the reconstructing and resurfacing of several heavily-used neighborhood roads.

The roadway improvement article is part of a 10-year capital improvement plan which coordinates various projects throughout the town.

This year, the roadway program will address the Linwood Avenue neighborhood as well as Mary Ann and Elsie Avenues.

Resident Marilyn Campbell made a push to add $1 million to the roadway plan to address bridges which would have been repaired had voters not nixed a bridge bond article on this year’s ballot.

“I’m sure you’re aware of the need to get all of these bridges done,” she said.  “I have real concern for our school buses and emergency vehicles who use them.”

However, Campbell’s amendment failed because town officials said the money might not be applicable to repair bridges due to the language of the article.

Selectman Everett McBride said coming up with a plan to get some of the bridges repaired will be a priority for the board in the future.

Also passing were two sewer articles totaling more than $2 million.

The money will go toward extending sewer lines on Dawn Street and Marsh Avenue.