Where

93 Washington Street, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Salem, MA 01970

What was decided

The council voted 8-2 to change the city seal, following the seal task force's recommendation. It passed a gas-powered leaf blower ordinance for first passage, with several amendments. It also approved donations, a $156,482.66 retirement buyback, and a $9,117.71 payment of prior-year invoices.

Decisions recorded

• Granted National Grid's request to install conduits on Essex Street at Flint Street. p. 3page 3 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved accepting a $20,000.00 donation from The Cummings Foundation for the Taxpayer Relief Fund. p. 5page 5 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved accepting a $4,000.00 donation from Dominic Ballard for a Salem Common bench. p. 5page 5 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved accepting a $4,000.00 donation from Eileen R. Perry for a Salem Common bench. p. 6page 6 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved accepting a $3,258.76 donation from the Salem Harbor Station for the Derby Street Mile Road Race. p. 6page 6 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved $156,482.66 for retirement vacation and sick leave buybacks for employees in several departments. p. 6page 6 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved continuing the Mean-Tested Citizen Property Tax Exemption (senior tax exemption) program for three more years, through December 31, 2029. p. 8page 8 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the electrical permit fee ordinance to the Committee on Ordinance, Licenses and Legal Affairs. p. 8page 8 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved the noise control ordinance amendment for Essex Street Pedestrian Mall area on first passage. p. 12page 12 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the order on motorized vehicles, including e-bikes and dirt bikes, to the Public Health, Safety and the Environment Committee. p. 16page 16 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the order to discuss amending the camping ordinance to the Public Health, Safety and the Environment Committee. p. 18page 18 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the order on sign ordinance amendments, including window art, to the Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs Committee. p. 19page 19 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Accepted the committee recommendation that the Home Occupation Zoning Ordinance remain in committee. p. 20page 20 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Accepted the committee recommendation to adopt the Beach Avenue and Sutton Avenue fire lane ordinance on first passage. p. 20page 20 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the roof-mounted wind energy systems ordinance to the Planning Board for a joint public hearing. p. 23page 23 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the Open Meeting Law complaint about the July 9, 2026 Government Services Committee meeting to the City Solicitor for a written response. p. 23page 23 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Received and filed the Jefferson Ave Corridor Study report. p. 23page 23 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved the City Seal Task Force recommendation that the city seal be changed and that no human figure or witch be depicted. p. 24page 24 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved changing the City Seal as recommended by the City Seal Task Force, by an 8-2 roll call vote. p. 25page 25 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Failed a motion by Councillor Flynn for immediate reconsideration of the city seal vote. p. 25page 25 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Accepted the committee report on the gas-powered leaf blower ordinance.
• Approved an amendment expanding the city-department exemption to all city departments and their contractors, 7-3. p. 28page 28 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved removing the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day prohibited period language, so gas-powered leaf blowers would be prohibited in the city. p. 28page 28 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved changing the exemption provision to cover all city departments and their contractors. p. 28page 28 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved keeping the emergency exemption that lets the mayor, fire chief, or designee issue a temporary exemption. p. 28page 28 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved removing city departments from the January 1, 2030 compliance requirement. p. 28page 28 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Failed a motion to change the compliance date from January 1, 2030 to January 1, 2028, by a 2-8 roll call vote. p. 29page 29 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved removing the tiered compliance dates for residential property owners, commercial operators, and city departments. p. 29page 29 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved adding outreach and notification requirements and striking the effective-date section. p. 29page 29 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved the gas-powered leaf blower ordinance on first passage, as amended, by a 7-3 roll call vote. p. 29page 29 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Ordered a public hearing for September 24, 2026 on GoNetSpeed's petition for underground fiber-optic facilities on Jefferson Ave. p. 30page 30 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Ordered a public hearing for September 24, 2026 on National Grid's petition for conduits on Bridge St. in front of 252 Bridge St. p. 30page 30 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Ordered a public hearing for September 24, 2026 on National Grid's petition for conduits on Naples Road. p. 30page 30 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Ordered a public hearing for September 24, 2026 on National Grid's petition for conduits on Webb St. p. 30page 30 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Granted the Boardman St. residents' block party petition for September 19, 2026, with a rain date of September 20, 2026. p. 30page 30 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Granted the Surrey Road residents' block party petition for September 19, 2026, with a rain date of September 20, 2026. p. 30page 30 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Granted the Harris St. residents' block party petition for October 31, 2026. p. 31page 31 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Granted B+S Fitness's request to hold the Wicked Half Marathon on September 20, 2026 at 7 AM. p. 31page 31 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Granted B+S Fitness's request to hold the Devils Chase 666/ Creepy Clown Races on October 17, 2026 at 8 AM. p. 31page 31 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Granted the listed public guide license applications. p. 31page 31 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the listed claims to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs. p. 33page 33 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Returned the drainlayer bonds for NCCL Enterprises and Midway Utilities Contractors LLC as approved. p. 34page 34 of the minutes (opens in new tab)

7 decisions aren't shown: they couldn't be matched to the minutes.

The full text is in the city's PDF, linked below.

Minutes posted on the city website (PDF, 407 KB). Saved copy (opens in new tab), saved October 19, 2026.

Earlier versions of these minutes:

• Version saved October 19, 2026 (opens in new tab) (PDF, 379 KB)

Agenda

A copy of the agenda wasn't saved here. It is on the city website (opens in new tab).

Terms used here

DPS

Department of Public Services, which maintains the city's streets, parks, playgrounds, common areas, cemetery, water and sewer mains, and vehicles, and clears snow and ice.

Committee of the Whole

The full council or board meeting as a committee, to discuss a matter before voting on it at a regular meeting.

Open Meeting Law

The state law (M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Sections 18 to 25) that requires public boards to meet in public, post notice of their meetings in advance, and keep minutes.

receive and file

To accept a letter, report, or other document into the record, without taking any other action on it.

All the terms in the glossary

Source

This meeting is listed in more than one place: the same board on the same day, and only one listing gives a time. The listings are shown here as one meeting.

• Salem City Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2026 (opens in new tab), on the city's Agenda Center
• Salem City Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2026 (opens in new tab), on the city's meeting portal

First recorded by Salem Publick on October 19, 2026.