Latest in the Window Replacement Saga

On July 7th, I received the following e-mail from Andy Giller at New Angle Glass, the selected vendor for the window replacement project.

George,
  I just wanted to let you know that 2 of our flat glass technicians (they are brothers) gave their notice this morning and they are moving out of state. This will leave us short handed until we find replacement. Unfortunately we will have to hold off or pass on the window project in your building as we simply are not going to have the man power at this point. I truly apologize and feel terrible, but I wouldn't want to take on a project that we wouldn't be able to complete. I will have John notify the unit owners that have already contacted us.

Thank you,

Andrew B. Giller
New Angle LOGO
Phone: 781-309-5511
Fax: 781-592-4768

This unfortunately sends us back to square one on the project.
We initially had two other vendors in the running, but their pricing was almost double what we got from New Angle Glass.
Our current options are:
1. Start over and look for a new vendor
2. Go back to one of the previous vendors and see if we can get a better price.
3. Let everyone figure it out for themselves.

I for one, after working on this project off and on for the last year or so, would like to take a break from this and/or pass the torch to someone else who can take the lead in finding and communicating with a vendor who is ready, willing and able to do this project within the price range that we have already established. I would appreciate your input on this matter.

Important Information for Commuters

As the MBTA will be shutting down commuter rail service north of Salem from July 17 through August 13 to repair the railroad bridge between Salem and Beverly, the City will be making the following changes in anticipation of additional commuter vehicle traffic during that period of time.

Temporary taxi stand: Taxi cabs and other ride service vehicles will not be permitted into the garage during this time period. A temporary stand will be posted on Washington Street southbound from Bridge Street to Federal Street.

Salem resident-only lot: The City of Salem’s surface parking lot adjacent to the MBTA garage will be available on these dates for Salem residents only from July 17 to August 13. Cars parked in the lot must be registered to a Salem address, and license plate lookup will be used by enforcement personnel. The lot will continue to be $4/day.

Overflow parking: Additional parking is available at the Universal Steel lot on Bridge Street. Parking will continue to be $4/day. Parkers are encouraged to pay using the Passport parking app (https://ppprk.com/park/) – available on IOS and Android devices – as the lot only has one payment kiosk and lines may form. Day-long parking will also be available, as always, in the Church Street surface lot and the Museum Place garage. For more information about parking options in Salem, please visit http://www.salem.com/traffic-and-parking-department.

Pick-up/Drop-off: The MBTA pick-up and drop-off location on these dates will be relocated to the northbound on-ramp to Route 114 West/North Street off of Bridge Street. Pick-up and drop-off, also called “kiss and ride”, will not be permitted in the MBTA garage property from July 17 and August 13.

Residential parking enforcement: Additional parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring neighborhoods around the MBTA station between July 17 and August 13 to provide additional parking enforcement of no parking, resident parking only, and other regulations. To report an illegally parked vehicle, call the Salem Police Department non-emergency line at 978-744-1212 or the Traffic and Parking Department at 978-745-8120.

Police details: Police details will be present in key downtown intersections on some dates and times during the July 17 through August 13 period. Please follow directions from any details present, as they will be working to help ensure traffic moves through intersections in as orderly a manner as possible.

Expanded bike share: Zagster bike share stations will be added July 17 at Ward Street & Congress Street, Salem Willows, and Loring Avenue near the bike trail entry at Salem State University’s Central Campus. These stations, in addition to the existing three stations at Federal Street near the Tabernacle Church, Front Street & Washington Street, and Salem Wharf at Blaney Street, brings the total number of bikes available to 36. Use the promotional code BIKESALEM through August to get discounted Zagster membership. Bike to the Federal Street Zagster station for easy access to the commuter rail. Visit www.zagster.com/salem for details.

Expanded weekend ferry service: The City of Salem and Boston Harbor Cruises will be expanding ferry service to and from Long Wharf in Boston on weekends from July 15 through September 30. Please note that these trips will be on the 272-passenger catamaran ferry The Manhattan, a different vessel from the Bowditch, Salem’s regular ferry, and trip times will be increased to approximately 75 minutes.  

WEEKEND ADDITIONAL FERRY (July 15 through September 30)

Depart Long Wharf, Boston
Arrive Salem Wharf

10:30 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

Depart Salem Wharf
Arrive Long Wharf, Boston

12:00 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

4:15 p.m.


During the period of July 17 through August 13 there will not be additional weekday ferry service, but increased ridership is anticipated, especially during commuting hours, so ferry passengers are advised to plan accordingly, purchase tickets in advance online at www.salemferry.com, and arrive early if possible. Parking availability is limited at the Blaney Street lot, so commuters are encouraged to walk or bike to the ferry whenever possible. Bike racks are provided next to the ferry office, bicycles are allowed on the ferry, and there is Zagster-Salem Bike Share hub at Blaney Wharf.

South Salem residents who typically drive to the commuter rail station are encouraged during this time to utilize a station south of Salem on the commuter rail line (parking at the Lynn commuter rail station is free of charge) or to consider the Lynn to Boston Ferry (7:45am departure from Lynn, 6:00pm return from Boston, $7 each way) or taking the Blue Line.

In addition to the July 17 to August 13 closure of the commuter rail line north of Salem, commuter rail service will shut down along the entire Newburyport/Rockport line every weekend between July 8th and September 30th so that the MBTA can install federally-mandated Positive Train Control infrastructure.  During this time period, the MBTA will run shuttle bus service to and from North Station from all stations throughout the project. Thirteen inbound and eleven outbound shuttles will service the Salem MBTA station. Total travel time for trips between Salem and North Station in Boston are estimated to be 1 hour.  (See http://bit.ly/WeekendShuttle for full shuttle schedule).

Read more: http://www.salem.com/node/144773