Salem · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Salem public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Spicket River Tree Removal / Clean River Project
Downed and leaning trees are clogging the Spicket River, including near Bill Valentine Park. A cleanup group from Massachusetts/Nashua pitched help, but staff worry about liability, private landowner permissions, cost and state approval — so commissioners will first meet with the town manager to see if the town even wants to pursue it.
Recycling Program Support
The budget appears to drop recycling, and Councilor Wright asked whether the town can simply end it. The Town Manager confirmed the Council has the authority, but residents can speak at Deliberative Session or the Budget Committee hearing to try to restore the money.
Ending recycling at the transfer station
The Council voted 5-2 to end the town's transfer station recycling program, saving about $65,000 a year. Sweeney and Hatch argued the program is costly, sends mixed recyclables to a landfill-bound processing plant, and that residents who want to recycle can pay private haulers; Wright and Stacey disagreed.
Solid Waste Costs and Recycling's Future
Solid waste costs are up nearly $300,000 with the contract out to bid, and recycling is getting pricier as less material actually gets recycled. Councilors debated whether to re-educate residents on what's recyclable or scale back the program.
Meadow Glen easement incursions
A homeowner removed a fence and gate on conservation easement land, and ATVs and SUVs are now using the access. The commission voted to bring in code enforcement and is considering a new gate.
Conservation easement monitoring gap
The town holds roughly 50-60 conservation easements but hasn't done formal field monitoring in years, meaning encroachments and dumping could go unnoticed. A licensed forester offered to rebuild the program, likely on a rotating schedule with a volunteer commission committee coordinating priorities.
Old landfill at 8 Atkinson Road
A two-lot subdivision is going in on land that once held a burned daily dump. The state Solid Waste Bureau will have a say before anything is built or permitted.
Disbanding the Open Space Task Force
With the open space master plan complete (it hadn't been updated since 2010), the task force is done. The commission says it will still use the plan to hunt for parcels worth conserving.
Town Forest Encroachments and Trail Flooding
SELT's monitoring found the Hummingbird Lane trampoline/hammock encroachment is resolved, but lawn mowing at 20 Hummingbird Lane continues (code enforcement is on it), and one abutting property is for sale — raising worries a buyer may think encroached land is theirs. Beaver-caused trail flooding also persists.
Spicket River Tree Obstructions and Cleanup
Fallen trees, including a large pine near Bill Valentine Park, are backing up the Spicket River and may be contributing to Town Forest flooding. Cleanup involves private landowner permissions, NHDES approvals, tree disposal rules, and potential recurring costs as storms drop more trees each year.
Open Space Master Plan Update
The Open Space Master Plan will get a public hearing at the June 23 meeting, shaping how Salem protects and plans its open land.
Wetland buffer restoration follow-up
After 18 Shannon Road disturbed a wetland buffer, the Board flagged that future cases should include post-construction monitoring to make sure restorations actually take.
Beaver Flooding at Hummingbird Lane Trails
Multiple beavers are flooding trails and nearby yards. The commission rejected drowning traps and is exploring more pipes, dam-breaking, and drone surveys — no final decision yet.
Arlington Pond conservation land purchase
The town is spending $500,000 from the conservation fund to buy 10 acres with a quarter-mile of shoreline around Arlington Pond, its winter drinking water source. The land will be deed-restricted for conservation, blocking future development and runoff.
Arlington Pond shoreline setback and water quality
APPA President Howie Glynn asked the Town to help extend the water line beyond the new fire station so area residents can access the pond water they help protect. The Council agreed to set up a meeting between residents and the Town Manager.
Solid Waste Code Updates
Chapter 409 is getting housekeeping updates, including dropping the unused small-business hauler category that was hard to police. Second reading August 3.
Cassella Waste Management phasing at 53 Pelham Road
Cassella wants to phase its previously approved 2024 project — deferring two building additions and reactivating a floor drain with wastewater changes. The board had no concerns.
Willows Park wetland encroachment and phased occupancy
A pavement encroachment into a wetland buffer at 9 Hampshire Street has sat unaddressed for three years while abutters report drainage and well problems dating back to 2007. The board split 4-3 on letting the developer occupy another unit before fixing it, and neighbors pushed hard on runoff concerns.
Litter Cleanup and Route 28 Traffic Concerns
Volunteers and crews removed 3.65 tons of litter from 53 miles of roads. Chairman Bryant also flagged a traffic-safety problem from the new median near Barnes & Noble, saying U-turn restrictions created back-to-back congestion.
Wetlands encroachment and flooding at 5 Hampshire Street
A nearly 20-year-old wetland fill by the abutter at 5 Hampshire Street was a condition to fix in the 2023 approval but still hasn't been resolved, and neighbor Steve Goulet says his backyard keeps flooding. The town has only recently sent violation notices, and enforcement likely requires court action. The sixth rental unit is now being held as leverage.
Rain barrel program at risk
Only 13 of the 40 rain barrels needed have been sold, putting the program at risk. The commission floated extending the ordering window and buying barrels for Hawkins Farm, where older gardeners struggle to carry water.
92 Lowell Road storage violations
The incoming owner wanted to store paving equipment on the property, but the board pointed to a history of violations — off-site snow storage in a wetland buffer and unpermitted vehicle storage — and declined any relief.
Arlington Pond Exotic Weed Treatment Funding
A $21,925 state grant plus a $1,925 APPA donation will fund another round of invasive weed removal at Arlington Pond, continuing last year's successful effort.
127 Shadow Lake Road shoreline stabilization
A homeowner is seeking a state expedited wetlands permit to stabilize a bank where muskrats have burrowed under his house and deck, using wire mesh; the commission waived intervention after discussing muskrat protections.
CO2 tank and concrete pad near wetland at 44 Pelham Road
A 50-ton CO2 tank and concrete pad are proposed within 28 feet of a wetland where 40 feet is required. The Commission flagged weight, setback and safety concerns and asked the Planning Board to look at fencing and soil stability before the project advances.