By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
Residents are invited to step outside and ring bells at 4 p.m. on Sept. 17, Constitiution Day. Monday night Salem City Council passed a resolution proclaiming Sept. 17-23 Constitution Week, and presented it to members of the Fort Lewis Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Regent Adele Morris and six members of the chapter accepted the resolution from Mayor Renee Turk and Vice Mayor Anne Marie Green.
Turk pointed out numerous volunteer work efforts chapter members do throughout the year, ranging from the annual July 4 Ringing of the Bells, helping educate local students on the Constitution, Veterans Day events, to laying wreaths on veterans’ graves in December and visiting veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem.
In the Citizen Comment portion of the Sept. 8 meeting, Council heard from Salem High School students Jaelin Vernon and Kimber Boris, and Broad Street resident Stella Reinhard. Vernon and Boris told about the achievements of Salem DECA, a marketing association for Salem High School Students to teach them about the real business world, said Vernon, who is president. Boris is the organization’s executive vice president of community service.
Among DECA projects, they said, are Christmas Cheer, when DECA members take 32 elementary school children to WalMart and provide money for the children to buy gifts for their families and themselves. DECA also has a school store at the high school, manned by members for other students.
Reinhard presented Councilmembers with her top 10 projects list, including a suggestion for providing maps of what areas of Salem land are important, so that residents “Can discuss creative ways to infill.”
Also at Monday night’s meeting, in business news Council learned:
* Salem Body Shop LLC’s building that houses hotel-type rooms and restaurant space is being sold. Council voted unanimously to approval an amended performance agreement. Plans call for one restaurant instead of two there in the past. The name of the buyer was not disclosed;
* Plans by new owner Maggie Brill to re-open the former Dilly Dally convenience store/deli on Eddy Avenue in South Salem in a couple of weeks. Brill said she plans to have live outdoor music several times a month starting next season, and an outdoor cooking area. Brill, who lives in Vinton, said she plans to grill outdoors and serve indoors. Council approved the special exception request with the stipulation that live music would end by 9 p.m. That was recommended by the Salem Planning Commission. The Dilly Dally building dates back to 1910 and over the years was Ludwig’s Grocery Store, Berea Baptist Church, a barber shop, Joe’s Deli;
Council also:
* Heard a 25-minute presentation by new Salem Fire and EMS Chief Steve Simon on current fire and rescue apparatus needs and how his department is meeting them. No new money is needed, Simon said. Council unanimously approved reallocation of approved funding that includes a $2.4-million fire truck with a middle-mount ladder. The truck has been ordered, said Simon, who noted he was in his 120th day working for the City of Salem;
Four of the five Council members physically attended the meeting. Councilman Hunter Holliday attended remotely because he was out of town, and voted for the first items before his remote connection dropped.
Council adjourned the open portion portion of the meeting at 7:30 p.m. before going into a closed session for discussion of acquisition or disposition of property, and discussions with legal counsel on actual or probably litigation. Mayor Turk said she did not expect any action to be taken that night.
