Salem city council chambers on Sept. 30, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
The Salem City Council meets Monday to consider spending additional money to recover from the February ice storm, an agreement with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and wage increases for union employees.
Councilors will consider adopting a resolution that will add $480,000 to the parks operations budget to repair facilities and clear fallen trees, limbs and debris from the winter ice storm after the city was reimbursed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
They will consider an intergovernmental agreement with the DEA for a narcotics task force that investigates major drug trafficking organizations operating in the Salem area.
The Salem Police Department will have one officer and two sergeants assigned to the task force, which has operated in Salem for more than 20 years. The DEA reimburses the police department for overtime up to $19,372 per officer, but the department is required to pay their salaries.
They will consider approving a three-year collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME, the union representing city workers, which includes 3% wage increases each year. The increases will cost the city an additional $12 million over the life of the contract.
Councilors will hear a presentation from Portland General Electric on its response to the pandemic, wildfires, ice storm, and cybersecurity.
How to participate: Salem City Council meetings have returned to an all virtual format. Watch on CC:Media Channel 21 or on YouTube at 6 p.m.
Submit comments on agenda items by 5 p.m., or earlier, on the day of the meeting at [email protected]. Public comment and testimony may also be provided during the meeting via Zoom. Please pre-register between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting at the following link: https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-CouncilMeeting.aspx.
