2024 Town Wide Goals

In April - June 2024, the Town Council met with Town departments, board, and committees to provide the Town Council with their respective goals. The Town Council heard presentations from Town Departments on April 15, 2024. Boards and Committees presented their goals to the Town Council on April 29, 2024. 


On May 20, 2024, the Town Council deliberated on their official Town Council goals and adopted Town Council Resolution (2024-15) outlining their goals on June 17, 2024. Please see the below goals, videos, and presentations for more context of the Town wide goals.

Town Council Adopted Goals (Adopted 6-17-24)

To view the adopted Town Council Goals Resolution 2024-15, please click here. The goals are also outlined below:

  • Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management
    • Objective: Ensure that the 2025 spending increase is responsibly managed by tying it to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the past year, plus any increase in debt service. This approach will help maintain financial stability and accountability, ensuring that spending growth aligns with inflation and necessary debt obligations while avoiding unnecessary budgetary expansion.
  • Enhancing Operational Efficiency and Digital Transformation
    • Objectives:
      • Streamline processes across all departments by adopting digital solutions (e.g., online permitting for the Fire Department, digital packet distribution for Community Development and Planning).
      • Improve talent acquisition, onboarding, and employee engagement through automation and better HR practices.
      • Upgrade and optimize financial management and other administrative software to increase productivity and accuracy.
  • Community Engagement and Development
    • Objectives:
      • Increase community interaction and participation through events, improved communication channels, and public education initiatives (e.g., large family-friendly events, SCTV lecture series, ethics trainings).
      • Foster partnerships with local organizations and community groups to enhance recreational and developmental projects (e.g., pollinator plantings with the Garden Club, outreach by the Communications Committee).
      • Develop and promote a comprehensive Master Plan that aligns with community needs and future growth prospects.
  • Infrastructure and Safety Improvements
    • Objectives:
      • Develop and implement strategic facility and infrastructure plans to support future growth and improve safety (e.g., Depot Village Master Plan, strategic facility plans for municipal buildings).
      • Address and mitigate safety hazards and ensure compliance with accessibility standards in public spaces (e.g., ADA/ABA compliance at Hedgehog Park, replacing signage for compliance).
      • Update and maintain essential public safety equipment and facilities (e.g., new service firearms and tasers for the Police Department, updated facilities for the Fire Department).
  • Environmental Sustainability and Conservation
    • Objectives:
      • Promote and implement environmental conservation projects to enhance the natural resources and beauty of the town (e.g., Bill Valentine Park improvements, Town Forest pollinator plantings).
      • Update and enforce regulations to protect the town’s wetlands and other natural habitats (e.g., updating the Wetland Ordinance).
      • Support sustainable infrastructure development and the use of green technologies in town projects (e.g., sustainable planning for the Bike Ped Corridor, asset management programs in Municipal Services).

DEPARTMENT Goals

On April 15, 2024, Town Departments presented their 2024 goals to the Town Council. You can find the PowerPoint presentation linked here or by clicking below.

Town of Salem Department Goal Setting Presentation 4-15-24You can find the video of the Department goal presentations linked here.


On May 19, 2025, Town staff presented an update to the Town Council on their adopted 2024 goals. A presentation with each goals' status can be found here. To view each Department's original 2024 goals, see below.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE GOALS

On April 29, 2024, Town Board and Committees presented their 2024 goals to the Town Council. Memos from each board, committee, or commission are included in each section below with greater detail behind some of the goals. 


You can find the video of the Department goal presentations linked here.


On June 2, 2025, Town boards and committees presented an update to the Town Council on their adopted 2024 goals. To view each Board and Committee 2024 goals and their updates, see below.