SALEM — A mandated redrawing of the city's electoral map could dramatically change the areas city councilors represent, particularly downtown.
"It's huge what I'm going to be picking up," said Ward 2 Councilor Mike Sosnowski, who represents a portion of downtown. Based on proposed adjustments to precinct boundaries, Sosnowski said the "entire downtown business district" and all of the historic McIntire District are slated to be in his ward.
The city is making changes based on the 2010 Census and the population increases and shifts captured in the decennial count. An ad hoc council committee for redistricting is scheduled to continue discussions tonight. The council has to approve a final map and ordinance language that describes the new precincts and send both to the state by June 15.
The growth of Ward 2 means that the slice of downtown that now falls in Ward 3 would have to shrink considerably. Ward 3, represented by Councilor Jean Pelletier, experienced the largest spike in population, a 37.4 percent jump, since 2000, City Clerk Cheryl Lapointe said. The increase can be attributed to the development of apartments and condominiums on and near Highland Avenue, including the former Vincent Potato Chip property.
The proposed map also reduces Ward 1's piece of downtown, specifically in the area around Church Street.
"There are a lot of good voters down there; it's unfortunate," Ward 1 Councilor Bob McCarthy said.
While McCarthy is disappointed, his colleague in Ward 7 is upset with the changes that are likely in store for his ward.
"I'm not happy at all," Councilor Joe O'Keefe said.
Ward 7's population grew by 24 percent in the last decade, primarily because of the construction of new dormitories at Salem State University. As a result of the increase, O'Keefe is projected to lose a section of his ward — the water side of Lafayette Street by the university — to Ward 5. O'Keefe opposes the change because he feels the university and the neighborhood near it should be represented by a single voice on the council.
Salem's population, 40,407 in 2000, now stands at 41,340, according to the recent census. That total must be divided equally, or as close to it as possible, among the city's 14 voting precincts. A single precinct must have 2,953 residents, plus or minus 5 percent, Lapointe said. Each of Salem's seven wards has two precincts.
When redrawing precinct lines, the city must rely on natural or obvious boundaries — the water, railroad tracks or a street, for example — to provide clear delineation.
"It was labor-intensive," said Lapointe, who worked with individual ward councilors and Olle Duijvesteijn, Salem's GIS administrator, on the proposed map.
It has Ward 6 Councilor Paul Prevey's North Salem ward extending into downtown. Prevey would represent the nearly 600 residents in the Jefferson at Salem Station apartment complex on Bridge Street, along the North River. The commuter rail station would also be added to Prevey's ward.
The apartments and station are now in Sosnowski's ward. If the changes take effect, Prevey said he would consult with his colleague about the needs of the area.
Though it might not please some councilors, the redistricting process leaves the city very little "wiggle room," Lapointe said.
"It is what it is," she said. "It's all about the numbers."
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