Approved April 14, 2009

• Mason Square Health Task Force: Marianne Winters reported there will be a meeting Feb. 23 on grant funds; $400,000 is available each year for 7 years to Mason Sq. area.
• Rebecca Johnson School (RJS)Playground (Liz Stevens) - RJS playground has been redesigned to incorporate an entrance to the McKnight hike-bike trail; final product will be a public park under auspices of Spfd Parks Dept., includes a baseball diamond for use by city leagues; Public meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 6 pm at RJS to present the plan; LS volunteered MNC's services to publicize the meeting via our newsletter (expected to be available by Friday); asked that newsletters be delivered promptly. (taken out of order because LS had to leave early)

• (Ed Whitley handed over a list of all city liquor licenses to TA & LS, who checked for those in McKnight. Result: 3 stores, 3 restaurants, 4 bars & private clubs.)
• (Mr. Rosario handed over copy of a petition requesting that he receive the license, signed by people who came into his store; TA & LS also checked that list for addresses in McKnight. Result: 195 signatures, of which 47 were out of McKnight neighborhood or showed no address; 148 in McKnight neighborhood in favor.)
• LS moved that the McKnight Neighborhood Council not support the application for a liquor license at 314 Bay St.; DP seconded. Extensive discussion followed on merits of allowing liquor sales at that specific location and on whether MNC is generally in favor or not in favor of additional retail outlets for liquor in the neighborhood.
• GAH called the question - a vote in favor of the motion means the councilor does not support a liquor license at 314 Bay St,. a vote against means the councilor does support a liquor license at 314 Bay St.: Votes were 5 AYE; 2 NAY, 1 abstention. Motion passed.

2.  400 St. James Ave.,
petition for a zoning variance to convert from 1-family to 2-family; owner Ron Perell, represented by Atty. Todd Ratner; addressing the council in favor was Rep. Benjamin Swan Sr. (Note this application was a last-minute addition to the agenda, applicant comes before the council because he is scheduled to appear before the Springfield Board of Appeals 2/25 and needs to have made application to MNC first.)

• SG moved to support the change to a 2-family house on this one site, 400 St. James Ave.; JL seconded. Extensive discussion followed:
  

• Location in 1-family (A) zoning area (a change from Zone B for which this council advocated), but currently assessed as a 3-family, not a ‘pre-existing nonconforming use' as a 2-family; has been in use as a 5-family house; tenants are being evicted. Owner was aware of zoning change.
• Property in poor shape, broken windows, damaged roof, in need of paint and repair, trash build-up in front, sides and back. Owner claims to have spent $40,000 on repairs, & needs additional rent income to pay for further repairs.
• Preservation of the property is an issue; preservation of the quality of the neighborhood is also an issue.
• Owner would not live in the house, which would be rental only.

• DP offered friendly amendment to include a caveat that the owner use his best efforts to bring the house to code and maintain the historic character of the neighborhood; amendment accepted by both SG and JL.
• GAH called the question: Votes were 5 AYE and 3 NAY. Motion passed. GAH will write letter from MNC to Planning Board & Board of Appeals stating council's vote.

• YOUTH: (Jeri Gardiner, Kwesi Albury - not present) No report
• PUBLIC SAFETY: (Walter Kroll) Report attached.
• P.E.S.T.: (Tony Anthony) Committee addressed establishing standards for applications for liquor licenses, including a series of questions to be asked of the applicants. Report attached
• HOUSING: (Denise Moccia) Met with Carl Dietz, Director, Springfield Housing Office, on several problem properties. Report and updated distressed housing list attached.
• GOOD NEIGHBOR: (Gregory Hession) No report
• FINANCE & FUND RAISING: (Marianne Winters) No report.
• DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING: (Demetrios Panteleakis) Rail trail update: met with Scott Hanson (Planning Dept.) and Al Chwalek (DPW) to look at plans to incorporate the entry of the trail into the Rebecca Johnson School playground. Also reported Mt. Zion Church requested one of the areas to be used for a walk area. Atty. Peter Berry is looking into eminent domain or tax lien to acquire the land; utilities run under the trail; will give a report to the City. Planning Dept. is working on cost of paving. Meeting with Mayor re budget approval is required. Dept. of Parks and Recreation will eventually take ownership and maintain the trail.
• COMMUNICATIONS: (Jim Llewellyn, Ben Swan Jr.) JL reported: Website content is being written; launch will happen by April. February newsletter is at the printers, will be available for delivery by weekend. Business directory raw 1ist 85% completed, soon to be uploaded to website.

• PRIMUS MASON LOT: JL reported research shows the lot (corner Dartmouth & Bay) was owned by a brother of Primus Mason, not by the man himself. Springfield Preservation Truse has dropped interest in a park project at the site. It is proposed that MNC also drop the effort; agreed by consensus of the board. (No vote taken)
• MSLAC: (Liz Stevens) KW reported: There will be a special session (Feb. 25, 5:30 pm, Central Library community room) of the Library Commission to vote on use of eminent domain to take the property at 765 State Street (currently Urban League of Springfield offices) for restoration to library function. There will also be a City Council committee meeting this Thursday to address overall cuts to Library Department budget.