McKnight
Neighborhood Council, Inc.
Board of
Directors Meeting
Tuesday, April
10, 2012: 6-8 pm
Rebecca
Johnson School, Music Room
55 Catharine
St., Springfield MA
AGENDA
6:00 – 6:15 pm: OPEN MEETING, WELCOME
o
Introduction, Board of Directors
o
Audience Introductions
6:15—6:25 pm: GUEST
o
Russ Seelig
from Concerned Citizens of Springfield presenting an update on the work being done to
correct the undervaluation of cell towers and billboards by the city.
6:25—6:55 pm: GUEST
o
Springfield
City Council President James Ferrera here to meet with residents and learn more about
the needs and concerns of the neighborhood.
6:55—7:10 pm:
OFFICERS’ REPORTS
o PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Walter
J. Kroll)
o VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Demetrios
Panteleakis)
o SECRETARY’S REPORT: (Ben
Swan, Jr & Elizabeth Lederman, admin staff)
·
Minutes of March 13, 2012, meeting (see
attachment)
o TREASURER’S REPORT: (Liz Stevens)
·
Monthly financial report
7:10—7:20 pm: Old Business
o
Update on 175 Bowdoin Street
7:20—7:30 pm: New Business
o
Keep Springfield Beautiful site selection—scheduled
for April 28
o
Open to floor
7:30—7:50 pm: COMMITTEE
REPORTS – Any committee updates (5 minutes each)
o
Standing
Committees
·
Rail Trail (Liz Stevens)
·
Public Safety (Walter Kroll)
·
Housing & Code (Demetrios Panteleakis)
·
Good Neighbor (Ceil Lewonchuk)
·
Communications (vacant chair)
§ Ben
S reporting on Neighborhood Councils Collaborative
o
Ad Hoc
Committees
·
Community Center (Demetrios Panteleakis)
·
Block Party (Donna Jordan, Corey Singleton)
§ Block
party scheduled for June 09
·
Debate (Jesse Lederman) (committee currently
inactive)
7:50--8:00 pm:
Wrap Up—Final Business, Open to Floor
8:00 pm—Close Meeting
Next
McKnight Neighborhood Council Meeting
Tuesday, May
08, 2012 6:00-8:00 pm Rebecca Johnson School
Draft
Minutes McKnight Neighborhood Council
Board Meeting: April 10, 2012
Meeting Called to order 6:10 p.m.: (WK verified quorum present)
Board Members Present (7): Walter
Kroll (Pres), Demetrios Panteleakis
(Vice Pres), Ben Swan, Jr,
(Secy/Clerk),
Liz Steven, (Treas), Ceil
Lewonchuk (Asst Secy), Jesse Lederman,, Stephen Thibeau. {Elizabeth Lederman, Adm. Staff}.
Board Members Not Present
(6) Frank Buntin, Katie Foster, Arthur Jones, Donna
Jordan, Ed Kelly,
Corey
Singleton
Neighborhood
Members Attending: E. Henry Twiggs, Karen Twiggs, Warren Clark, Paul Swenson,
Karen Swenson
Guests: Russ Seelig, Michael Wiersma, James
Ferrera
Welcome
by Walter K; board member introductions; audience introductions.
GUEST PRESENTATION
o Russ Seelig from Concerned Citizens of
Springfield presenting an update on the work being done to correct the
undervaluation of cell towers and billboards by the city
·
Estimated one to two million
dollars lost by the City in revenue from the undervaluation of billboard and
cell tower properties—affecting local residents when the City is forced to lay
off city workers and raise fees and property taxes to otherwise meet budget
·
Sponsoring 10 tax payer lawsuit to require the city assessors office to assess billboard and cell tower properties
at their true value—examples given of other cities with comparable properties
and significantly higher assessments—opportunity for residents to join lawsuit
·
Inviting MNC to join Fair Cash
Value Coalition now being formed—comprised of Springfield neighborhood councils
and civic associations joining together to put pressure on the City to correct
the problems in the assessors office
·
Requesting MNC to send formal letters to the Mayor and State Department
of Revenue asking for action on this issue
·
Motion by Jesse L to send letters, withdrawn when it was decided that
more discussion needed to take place after board members had reviewed
information packets that were distributed—to be discussed at future meeting,
along with joining Fair Cash Coalition
o Michael Wiersma, from Devereaux’s Therapeutic
Foster Care, presented information about specialized home based foster care. Mike talked about his experience as a
foster child which led him to becoming a
foster parent and invited people to find out more about this rewarding program.
Mentioned that there is a stipend and
passed out brochures explaining how to get involved.
o Springfield City Council President James
Ferrera met with the board and residents and presented an overview of the
upcoming City budget process.
·
Council has been meeting to review possible revenue
sources since state funding is being cut significantly—also meeting with City
departments to review their budgets and individual needs
·
June 1—Mayor will present formal budget
recommendation
·
June 30—deadline for City Council to
approve budget
·
City Council has the power to cut the budget,
but does not have the power to increase the budget amounts or change
allocations to each City department
·
Mayor has the power to veto the cuts—that veto
can be overridden with a 2/3 majority vote of the Council
·
Proposed budget currently includes increases in
the trash fee, hotel and restaurant tax, tag sale permits, dog licenses, raffle
fees, animal control fees, and building department fees—encouraged residents to
contact City Councilors if they are concerned about these increases
o
Discussion—
·
Demetrios P inquiring about 5 year financial
plan that the Finance Control Board mandated must be in place for the City when
their tenure ended—which never happened and now the City appears to be heading
into the same bind it was in before, with a lack of fiscal responsibility
particularly with the School budget still not under control and a number of
high paying positions having been added to the City government payroll—yet now
we are being asked to raise fees.
Suggests that City Council not take a line item approach, but needs to
look at the flaws in the overall planning process—we should have a game plan so
we are not running deficits. Where is
the 5 year plan?
·
Ceil L inquired about recycling revenue and its
impact on the general fund
·
Paul S commenting on the City cutting back on
maintaining the parks and terraces as a serious mistake which negatively
impacts the quality of life in the community
·
Stephen T suggesting the City needs to crack down on unregistered
vehicles parked in yards as a means to eliminate the eye sore and to collect
revenue
·
Ben S reporting that the Neighborhood
Collaborative is working on a city-wide anti-litter campaign that he hopes the
City Council support
·
Jesse L raising the subject of the recent
entrance of a SMOC group home in McKnight and urging the City Council to be
vigilant about this organization’s increased presence in the City and how it
unfolds, given their history in the eastern part of the state.
·
Walter K stressing the importance of the City
beginning to track group home development and locations in the City which it
currently does not—and to realize that the City does have some controls and
input in the process.
·
Demetrios P commenting on the importance of
instituting a process to prevent oversaturation and make certain that
Springfield has control of serving its own homeless population but does not become
the dumping ground for homeless programs in the state
·
Jesse L inquired into Councilor Ferrera’s
position going forward regarding large scale biomass incineration in the
City. Councilor Ferrera’s response:
depends on the project. MNC Council urged
Councilor Ferrera to oppose large scale biomass incineration as it negatively
affects our community.
·
Walter K summarizing the following MNC
priorities in terms of adding value to the community, both McKnight and
city-wide: Control of group home development and oversaturation; rail trail
development; and strengthening business development which is directed toward local
buying and selling, and utilizing local services and products.
OFFICER’S
REPORTS
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Walter Kroll)
o MNC
received thank you note from Thompson Street resident Brandi Gamble who just
closed on the vacant lot next to her property which she was able to purchase through
the RFP process from the City with the support from the Council
o Announced
public hearing on City Action Plan on May 11
o Election
of Chairperson for Election Commission
MOTION: (DP moved) to designate
Elizabeth L as Chairperson; (JL seconded); (WK called;) Unanimous vote to
accept.
o Appointment
of Nominating Committee to develop Officer Slate for FY 2013
·
2 Board Members—Ben Swan, Jr, Elizabeth
Stevens
·
District 1 Resident—Ed Zuckerman
·
District 2 Resident—Marianne Winters
·
District 3 Resident—Bokul Buya
·
Chairperson—Elizabeth Stevens
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Demetrios Panteleakis)
o Demetrios P—no activity
to report.
SECRETARY’S REPORT: (Ben Swan; Elizabeth
Lederman, staff)
o Minutes of Board Meeting March
13, 2012, submitted for acceptance. Call for corrections or additions.
MOTION: (DP moved) to accept as presented;
(JL seconded); (WK called;) Unanimous vote to accept.
TREASURER’S REPORT: (Liz Stevens)
o Liz S reporting that
final quarter of FY 2011 reimbursement pending.
Check has been invoiced.
o Monthly financial report
submitted for acceptance.
MOTION: (DP moved) to accept as
presented; ( JL seconded); WK called the question); Unanimous vote to
accept.
o Budget amendment
transferring $80 from insurance to communications. Yearly insurance originally budgeted for
$780, actual cost $700.
o MOTION: (DP moved) to accept amendment as presented; (JL seconded); (WK called
the question); Unanimous vote to accept.
OLD BUSINESS
o Walter
K giving update on 175 Bowdoin Street—summarizing meeting from March when SMOC
presented their group home program. SMOC
moving forward with project. MNC
followed up with HUD and City, inquiring over lead paint and asbestos issues—regarding
renovation process and disclosure process to tenants. Will continue to follow.
o Liz
S and others requesting Building Department to appear at future meeting to
answer questions
NEW BUSINESS
o
Keep Springfield Beautiful scheduled for April
28. Discussion of site. City will be cleaning the Dingle. Various suggestions offered—decision to start
at Magazine Park and clean our way up the Bay Street corridor to Girard Street.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
STANDING COMMITTEES
o Rail Trail (Liz Stevens)
·
Liz S reporting that
she and Walter K are now meeting regularly with Pat Sullivan from the Parks department. An environmental consultant for the City
named Lynn Rose who has experience with railroad bed conversion and rail trails
will be doing a site visit. Will also have some City interns to do research on
the site and legal aspects of acquiring the use of the property. No firm commitment yet from City but moving
toward that goal.
·
Mass Mutual grant
for rail trail rejected.
o Public
Safety (Walter Kroll)
·
Reminder that
Watch and Sector F meeting occurring on third Thursday each month. Last month Charlie Ramos did a piece on the
drugs currently in circulation. This
month there will be a video presentation by the Sheriff’s department. Crime in McKnight down 2%, up 8% in the
City.
o Housing
& Code (Demetrios Panteleakis)
·
Demetrios P
reporting that action has been initiated to focus on the needed upgrade of STCC
parking lot on Armory and Worthington Streets—currently a dirt lot, needs paved
along with fencing improvements.
Entranceway to McKnight, and the properties across the street have all
been improved. Time for STCC to step up
to the plate.
o Good
Neighbor (Ceil Lewonchuk)
·
Let Ceil know if you are aware of any new
neighbors so she can send them a flyer
WRAP UP, FINAL BUSINESS
o Ben S reporting on the
April Neighborhood Collaborative meeting he attended on behalf of MNC. Subjects discussed: A combined neighborhood calendar for the City
web site; a city wide anti-litter campaign, and some level of community service
component for students in the public school system.
o Newsletter to be
distributed during the first week of June, prior to the June 9 block
party. Call for articles from anyone
interested. Email to Elizabeth L along
with pictures. Councilor Twiggs invited
to contribute.
o Block party scheduled for
June 9, rain date June 15. Peter Pan
will donate the DJ stage bus. Have a
band planned, bounce house, fortune telling for kids, art activity. Time 11 am to 4 pm. Putting together flyer for business
donations. Park authority has promised
to have Thompson Triangle cleaned and ready.
Ben S reporting he still has two iron trash can surrounds from Keep
Springfield beautiful which can be installed in the park, but they need bolted
down.
o Annual Meeting scheduled
for May 08 along with Community Pot Luck.
Councilor Twiggs suggesting having City budget director as guest speaker
to speak to fee increases. He will
contact her.
8:00 ADJOURNMENT: MOTION:
(JL moved) to adjourn; (BS seconded); (WK
called); motion carried.
Submitted
by Elizabeth Lederman, Administrative Staff, 05/08/2012
