Salem's tourism board gets reorganized

SALEM -- Councilman Justin Palmer will retool a proposed ordinance to clarify the duties of the city's tourism board.
Palmer, who is a member of council's economic development committee and council's liaison to the tourism board, had proposed legislation to better organize the board.
Members of council's rules and ordinances committee said Tuesday that the tourism board had been lax in the past when it came to paperwork when spending city money. The tourism board gets a portion of the city's tax on hotel rooms.
The proposed legislation will require the city auditor to be the board's fiscal officer. Any purchase order would require the signature of two committee officials. Any expenditures above $5,000 would require approval from council. The tourism board would also be required to have its meetings at city hall. For many years, it met at Timberlanes restaurant and hotel.
After discussion, the councilmen agreed to create a seven-member board instead of the nine Palmer originally suggested. Board members will also begin to serve staggered terms.