McKnight
Neighborhood Council, Inc.
Board of
Directors Meeting
Tuesday, October
09, 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—6:45pm: GUESTS
o
Scott Hanson
and Samalid Hogan from the Office of Planning & Economic Development who helped arrange the grant funding for
the renovation of the shop fronts at Catharine and Bay Street.
6:45—7:00pm: OFFICERS’ REPORTS
o PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Walter
J. Kroll)
o VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Demetrios
Panteleakis)
o SECRETARY’S REPORT: (Jesse
Lederman)
·
Minutes of September 11, 2012, meeting (see
attachment)
o TREASURER’S REPORT: (Elizabeth Stevens)
·
Monthly financial report
7:00—7:15 pm: New Business— Open to Floor
7:15—7:45 pm: COMMITTEE
REPORTS – Any committee updates (5 minutes each)
o
Standing
Committees
·
Rail Trail (Liz Stevens)
·
Public Safety (Walter Kroll)
·
Housing & Code (Demetrios Panteleakis)
§ Minutes
of Sept 18, 2012 meeting (see attachment)
·
Good Neighbor (Ceil Lewonchuk)
·
Communications (Corey Singleton. Ben Swan Jr)
o
Ad Hoc
Committees
·
Food Access
(Synthia Scott-Mitchell)
7:45--8:00 pm:
Wrap Up—Final Business, Open to Floor
8:00 pm—Close Meeting
Approved November 13,
2012
Minutes McKnight Neighborhood Council
Board Meeting: October 09, 2012
Meeting
Called to order 6:15 p.m.: (WK verified
quorum present)
Board Members Present (7): Walter
Kroll (Pres), Jesse Lederman (Secy/Clerk),
Elizabeth Stevens, (Treas), Brandi Gamble-Lucas (Asst Secy), Donna Jordan, Ed Kelly, Ceil Lewonchuk, {Elizabeth Lederman, Adm. Staff}.
Board Members Not Present
(6): Demetrios
Panteleakis (Vice Pres), Corey Singleton (Asst Treasurer), Lloyd Creswell, Synthia Scott-Mitchell, Ben Swan, Jr, Stephen Thibeau
Neighborhood
Members: Ogarth
Peters, David Gaby, Eli Colgram, Richard Johnson, Warren Clark, Bokul Bhuiya,
Claudette Smart, Leia Creighton,
Guests: Harold
Bell, Samalid Hogan, Cynthia Marsh, Scott Hanson
Welcome
by Walter K; board member introductions; audience introductions. Everyone invited to join in a buffet provided by
Pete’s Restaurant and Catering located at the corner of Bay and Catharine.
GUESTS
o Guests Cynthia Marsh, owner
of the commercial shop property at the corner of Catharine and Bay; and City
Planning representatives Samalid Hogan and Scott Hanson.
·
Council
recognized the completion of the renovation of the building façade, and its
benefit to the neighborhood. The renovation was done in keeping with the
historical nature of the neighborhood, through a grant program partnered with
by the City.
·
Coordinated efforts by the City also included
improved on-street parking and sidewalk upgrades.
·
Walter K presented Cynthia Marsh with a
Mayoral citation recognizing her for her contribution to neighborhood
improvement; and she described the details of the renovation process.
·
Introduced and thanked Ogarth Peters—his father’s restaurant is one of building tenants
provided the food for the celebration.
·
Samalid Hogan gave details on the grant
program that made the project possible, and other programs that were in the
offing in the coming year to help small businesses—including a program to help
retailers with their display and product promotion.
·
Audience and board members expressed much
appreciation to the property owner and city representatives for the successful
outcome of the project, and praise for the comprehensive and well thought out
details.
OFFICER REPORTS
o SECRETARY’S REPORT: (Jesse Lederman)
Jesse L submitted the minutes of the Board
Meeting September 11, 2012, for acceptance. Call for corrections or additions.
MOTION: (LS moved) to accept as presented;
(DJ seconded); (WK called ;) Unanimous vote.
o TREASURER’S REPORT: (Elizabeth Stevens)
Liz S presented the treasurer’s report, with
Bokul B who has undertaken the
bookkeeping. He is in the process of
reviewing the books and submitted an initial overview of funds. Liz S reporting we are still waiting for the
final 4th quarter check for last years funds from the City.
MOTION: (LS moved) to accept as
presented; (DJ seconded); (WK called ;) Unanimous vote to accept.
NEW BUSINESS—Open to the Floor
o
Samalid Hogan announced that there are potential grant funds available
this year to assess Brownfields and invited McKnight to participate, as a
follow-up to our previous participation in the
CARE grant. Discussion about potential sites and what the
funding could provide—assessment as a prequel to actual remediation.
o
Jesse L updated biomass incinerator status, noting that while the
State had approved the air permit, they still lacked any of the City permits
necessary, and were not likely to go forward.
o
Jesse L announcing 25th anniversary celebration of Arise
for Social Justice, and made motion to purchase support ad for the event
program.
MOTION: (JL moved) to take out
$25 ad; (EK seconded); (WK called ;) Unanimous vote.
o Ceil L inviting all to
attend a “Reminiscing Session” at Mason Square Library on Thursday October
18—the topic is memories and experiences of Winchester Square such as
Buckingham Junior High, the Strand, and King’s Department Store.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
STANDING COMMITTEES
o Rail Trail (Elizabeth
Stevens, Chair)
·
Liz S reporting meeting
with Parks Director Pat Sullivan scheduled for Monday October 15; and that Partners
for a Healthier Community has approved using the $1800 grant money unused from
last year for the development of a master plan for the Rail Trail.
·
David G
volunteering information that he had recently attended a State sponsored symposium
at STCC on “visioning” modes of transportation in the future, and that the
discussion did not include any mention of bicycles. Group still accepting input on the
discussion. Liz S to follow.
o Public
Safety (Walter Kroll, Chair)
·
Safety report for
last month submitted. Topic at last
Watch meeting was violence and safety concerns associated with teenage parties;
with Officer Ramos sharing surprising statistics at the number of incidents,
especially with guns, that arise from these events. Advice offered on how to plan for such events
and make sure they stay safe and under control.
·
Aggravated
assault and car theft still up in McKnight.
·
Ongoing problems
at 287 St James presented to City and Police as ongoing nuisance; decisive
action with owner and tenants followed by Code, Police, and other City
departments. Situation improved and
being monitored.
·
Ed K reporting
that activity on Clarendon Street is being monitored effectively and
encouraging people to call about suspicious activity because the calls are
being followed up on quickly.
o Housing
& Code (Demetrios Panteleakis,
Chair), absent, Walter K reporting:
·
Housing and Code meeting took place last month,
report attached to agenda.
·
Letters sent out to City over problem properties
at 107 Harvard Street, 169 Florida, and the debris outside of the abandoned
Fusion Bar on St James Avenue.
·
Letter sent to SMOC about fence recommendations
for 175 Bowdoin Street.
·
Thank you letter to Pat Sullivan for the upkeep
of Thompson Triangle.
o Good
Neighbor (Ceil Lewonchuk, Chair)
·
Sent out five welcome letters last month.
FINAL BUSINESS/WRAP UP—Open to Floor
o Walter K announcing that
Council will be putting out December newsletter and inviting everyone to
contribute articles.
8:00 ADJOURNMENT: MOTION:
(JL moved) to adjourn; (BS seconded); (EK
called); motion carried.
Submitted
by Elizabeth Lederman, Administrative Staff, 11/13/2012
