NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Although some Salem residents criticized the time and place, the selectmen’s goal-setting retreat set restoring Salem as the “Gateway City of New Hampshire” as a symbolic centerpiece among ongoing issues of infrastructure and the economy.

The meeting on Friday, May 9, prompted concerns from residents about the time it was held and its out-of-state location.

Budget Committee member Stephen Campbell stressed the fact that the meeting, held at the law office of Selectmen Chairman Beth Roth in North Andover, Mass., just gave those concerned with open government more to talk about.

“Why are they holding it out of state on a work day when no one can see them or hear them,” Campbell said. “What are their goals that they are so ashamed of?”

Roth said the meeting held at her law office saved money on conference fees while offering a relaxing atmosphere to discuss long-term goals.

Resident Ron Giordano sent a letter asking selectmen to change the venue to a location that could be televised while citing a legal opinion that the meeting circumvented the Right-to- Know Law.

Roth said legal opinions before the meeting began from the Local Government Center said the posted meeting, open to the public, was true to the intent of statutes.

“There is a group of people in Salem that will always criticize the group of selectmen no matter what they do to stay proactive,” Roth said. “The RSA is clear that we are operating within the law.”

During discussions, road maintenance remained a top priority, while placing the need for a new police station on the back burner.

“The police station has to wait,” said Selectman Everett McBride. “How long, I don’t know. It just can’t come back next year.”

While selectmen believed changing the location of the proposed police station would help it pass the second time around, it garnered less support this past March than in 2004.

“It must be the money because its location didn’t seem to matter,” said Roth.

Selectman Michael Lyons said his top priority in the coming year would be to calculate what amount of money is appropriate each year to work on roads.

“I don’t get a concept that $2.3 million we’re roughly spending — is it really making a difference?” Lyons said. “Are we keeping up?”

“The only people getting rich in Salem are mechanics with the springs and shocks they’re replacing,” Selectman Patrick Hargreaves said.

Selectmen agreed that a close look at the transfer station process may be overdue, as Roth found that $300,000 in budget savings could be recouped if the town took up a comprehensive approach to recycling, according to Public Works Director Rick Russell.

“I want it to be a big impactful thing that the town sees we want to get more green,” Roth said.

During discussions to encourage more recycling, Lyons said the time may have come to eliminate idling cars waiting in line each Saturday at the dump.

“With the price of gas, maybe people are interested in curbside pickup,” Lyons said. “People would be open to things that were automatically discounted 10 to 15 years ago.”