McKnight Neighborhood Council

Board Meeting: April 14, 2009

PRESENT: *Gregory A Hession (Pres.), *Jim Llewellyn (Vice President Chair), *Walter Kroll, *Denise Moccia, *Rodrick Shubrick, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr., *Marianne Winters (Treas.), Stacey Drew, Lisa Gaudreau, Sandra Hession, Elizabeth Lederman, Jesse Lederman, Ceil Lewonchuk, Curtson Martin, Rosa Monet, Ray Talbot, Stephen Thibeau, Christian Torres, Mike Wiersma, Kat Wright (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Sgt. James M. Brown, Hampden County Sheriff's Dept.; Melvin Edwards, President, Keep Springfield Beautiful; Frankie Mozell, outreach, Weed & Seed ; Mike Tully, President, Arbor Allies

Meeting called to order 7:15 p.m. 8 Board members present.
Board members not present: *Abdullah Abdul-Rahim, *Kwesi Albury, *Tony Anthony, * Jeri Gardiner, *Chip Gorra, *Stephen Gray, *Demetrios Panteleakis,

PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
Pres. GAH reported on the City of Springfield FY2010 Action Plan, which deals with allocation of CDBG funds and other grants (totaling about $8million). Plan points out city perception of where we are: e.g. average poverty rate 29% of residents (223% above national average, etc. As a neighborhood, we can work to bring private investment into the city. Annual Meeting (May 12) and annual Board Election (June 6) are coming up; nomination petitions for a seat on the board were distributed; deadline for filing nomination petition is Saturday, May 30, 2009.

SECRETARY'S REPORT:
LS moved to accept minutes of meetings on Feb. 10, Feb. 24, and March 10, 2009, as corrected, in toto; WK seconded. Motion passed.

TREASURER'S REPORT:

• (Treas. MWinters) MW reported current spread sheet was not copied, but she will include it in the Final Report in May. We have $900 to use for things we cannot use CDBG funds for (e.g. food for outreach efforts).
• Budget needs amendment: Weed & Seed grant for $2,000 - original intent by W&S was that MNC would spend the entire grant on refrigerator magnets to be distributed to all 4 Mason Sq. neighborhoods, although the letter of agreement was unclear at the time; therefore there are 2 options available to us now:
  • Accept the grant, add the funds to our budget, and spend them as intended by W&S, or
  • Reject the grant and return the $2,000.

• MW moved to add the W&S $2,000 grant to our current budget for the magnets; DM seconded. Discussion was around building in consistent procedures and expectations, and setting a precedent for processing grant income. BS is in charge of this particular project. Motion passed.
• MW moved to accept the audit; LS seconded. Discussion: Audit covers to end of FY08; to be official, must be accepted by vote of the board. Included in report:
• Auditor's letter of opinion states that MNC's books are without finding.
• Cash Balance sheet, Cash Flow and Balance Sheet (cash and accruals), prepared by MW, not audited, but included as information to show real balance.
• There was no further discussion or questions. Motion passed. Report attached.
• MNC is submitting 2 grant applications in the next 2 weeks, for
• Trees - (presentation below)
• Rail trail - through Baystate Health Initiative group, for a project coordinator.
• MS reports there is a reasonable chance MNC will get both grants.

PRESENTATIONS:

• Arbor Allies - Mike Tully, Springfield Parks Dept. and director of Arbor Allies, looking for hands-on up to board of director volunteers to study, organize, plant and care for city trees. LS is working with Mike, applying for a grant from CDBG funds to plant trees in McKnight Neighborhood.
• Keep Springfield Beautiful - Melvin Edwards, director, looking for commitment of MNC volunteers to work the May 2 KSB clean-up day, 8 am-1pm. Goal is to clean 10 streets and 4 lots in each neighborhood; will have dumpsters available at Rebecca Johnson School gathering site (Ginny Manfredi is coordinator at this site); asking for contributions to cover cost of dumpster rentals and disposal fees. Details at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Trash cans: During discussion, Mr. Edwards mentioned having ordered 30 decorative trash cans, but the city does not want them. LS asked if MNC could have them, and be responsible for finding sites for them where they will be maintained by individuals who commit to tending them. Mr. Edwards said yes, he sill look into it.
• Anti-litter: After May 2 event, Mr. Edwards intends that KSB will become the "voice" of litter control, and hold events and clean-ups throughout the year.
• Weed & Seed: Frankie Mozell introduced himself as a recently hired W&S outreach worker, noting reports of gangs trying to recruit members; W&S has introduced legislation to get gangs off streets, working with police, creating safe havens for youth. Is looking for participation from organizations and individuals.

REPORTS:

FINANCE & FUND RAISING (Marianne Winters, chair):
See Treasurer's Report, above. LS proposed that MNC receive $10,000 from CDBG funds to plant trees in the fall; GAH moved that council approve Liz's making this application to purchase trees and materials; BS seconded. Motion passed.

COMMUNICATIONS (James Llewellyn & Ben Swan Jr., Co-chairs): Karan Parkin requests content be submitted by committee chairs for the website. BS reported that McKnight Business Directory is up on the website, and will be expanded in time. KW asked that all copy for the newsletter be turned in now; proposed to look into costs and procedures for bulk mailing of newsletter to begin in next fiscal year. No written report.

PUBLIC SAFETY (Walter Kroll, chair):
New city-wide 311 city services number is up and running.
Reggie Miller is our ‘Quality of Life' SPD officer; he lives in McKnight Neighborhood
Neighborhood Watch is working on a block party for Thompson Triangle, date TBA.
Truck traffic - working with Traffic Authority on restricting through truck traffic
Beat Management Team meeting on April 16 at Bergen Circle
BS asked for a volunteer to attend meeting on May 18 at Johnson Life Center regarding a representative from MA Dept of health meeting with Weed & Seed; subject, how we are dealing with W&S resources; WK volunteered.
No written report.

HOUSING (Denise Moccia, chair) - Noted HAP has money available to prevent foreclosures, but not in McKnight Neighborhood. No written report.

MASON SQUARE LIBRARY (Liz Stevens, chair): No written report.

RAIL TRAIL & REBECCA JOHNSON SCHOOL PLAYGROUND (Liz Stevens): No written report

DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING (Demetrios Panteleakis, chair, not present): No written report

YOUTH (Walter Kroll, Jeri Gardiner, Kwesi Albury): No written report

GOOD NEIGHBOR (Gregory Hession, chair): No written report.

OLD BUSINESS: None raised.

NEW BUSINESS: None raised.

BS moved to adjourn; WK seconded. Motion passed.
9:15 pm - Adjournment.

NEXT MNC MEETING: ANNUAL MEETING, May 12, 2009, 7 pm.
REBECCA JOHNSON SCHOOL, 55 Catherine St.
Submitted by Kathryn A. Wright, Administrative Staff, 6/8/2009

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