McKnight Neighborhood Council

Annual Meeting: May 12, 2009

PRESENT: *Gregory A Hession (Pres.), *Jim Llewellyn (Vice President Chair), * Jeri Gardiner,*Stephen Gray, *Walter Kroll, *Denise Moccia, *Demetrios Panteleakis, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr., *Marianne Winters (Treas.), Todd Crosset, Olivia Douglas, Stacey Drew, Archie Emmanuel Jr., Lisa Gaudreau, Sandra Hession, Jeff Kempton, Elizabeth Lederman, Jesse Lederman, Ceil Lewonchuk, Allyson Lopez, Carl Moccia, Jasmine Pelysera, Anne Richmond, Kyle Richmond-Crosset, Marion Stevens, Mike Stevens, Ray Talbot, Stephen Thibeau, E. Henry Twiggs, Karen Twiggs, Carol Waterman, Mike Wiersma, Kat Wright (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Sgt. James M. Brown, Hampden County Sheriff's Dept.; Rev. Charles Kearse, Christian Embassy Church; Susan Bernardy.

A pizza dinner was enjoyed by all present.

Meeting called to order 7:45 p.m. 10 Board members present.
Board members not present: *Abdullah Abdul-Rahim, *Kwesi Albury, *Tony Anthony, *Chip Gorra, *Rodrick Shubrick.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
Pres. GAH noted MNC's annual election for seats on the board of directors is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2009, at Rebecca Johnson School, from 10 am to 4 pm; nomination petitions for a seat on the board were distributed; deadline for filing nomination petition is Saturday, May 30, 2009. The election is to fill 2 seats in each election district and 3 at-large seats; all are for 2-year terms to run from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011. On the same day as the election, MNC is sponsoring a tour of the proposed Rebecca Johnson park, playground, outdoor classroom spaces, and entrance to the rail trail, and a bounce house for the kids.
President then asked for brief end-or-year reports from each committee chair, which together will constitute MNC's annual report to the residents of the McKnight Neighborhood.

REPORTS:

COMMUNICATIONS (James Llewellyn & Ben Swan Jr., Co-chairs): JL presented report. Report attached.

FINANCE & FUND RAISING (Marianne Winters, Chair): Reported audit done; MNC has positive cash flow at end of fiscal year. Report attached.

PUBLIC SAFETY (Walter Kroll, Chair): Announced a block party sponsored by Neighborhood Watch on Saturday, June 20, at Thompson Triangle. Report attached.

HOUSING (Denise Moccia, Chair): Highlighted demolition after many years of irremediable house at 79-81 Princeton St.; hoping to save city-owned house at 74 Yale St. Report attached.

DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING (Demetrios Panteleakis, Chair): No report.

RAIL TRAIL & REBECCA JOHNSON PLAYGROUND (Liz Stevens, Chair): LS spoke extemporaneously on application for grant to work on rail trail; design of RJ School park & playground. No written report.

MASON SQUARE LIBRARY ADVISORY (Liz Stevens, Chair): Status is that Library Commission has voted for eminent domain; necessary reports are being generated after which the issue goes to City Council, and then to Mayor. No written report.

P.E.S.T. (Tony Anthony, Chair, not present): No written report.

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

GOOD NEIGHBOR (Gregory Hession, Chair): GAH reported this committee has not met in a while; needs to, and intends to develop a core of people to help out in the community. No written report.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Minutes of previous meeting (April 14, 2009) not available.

TREASURER'S REPORT: (Treas. MWinters) MW presented year-to-date financial report and moved to amend by adding $200 to the budget for the remainder of FY09; LS seconded. Motion passed. Report attached.

PRESENTATIONS:

• Strategic Plan: Presented by consultant Anne Richmond. MNC will take the plan under advisement, acceptance to be voted on at June 9, 2009, board meeting. Consultant Tammie Streeter was unable to attend this meeting. Report attached.

• New MNC Website: Karan Parkin, designer of the new website presented "Web 1.0 - Web 2.0" on graphic look of the site and how the public can navigate it. Board members have additional navigation and input tools available to them. Board member BS described the McKnight Business Directory section of the website, how it is being developed and how to use it. The new website is now up and running at www.mcknightcouncil.org.

• Candidate E. Henry Twiggs, running for City Council from Ward 4, and Candidate Frank Bunton, running for School Committee from Wards 4 & 5, each addressed the meeting on behalf of their candidacies.

• Candidate Jesse Lederman, running for MNC board of directors Youth At-Large, addressed the meeting on behalf of his candidacy.

• Entertainment was provided by neighbor, Jeff Kempton, a magician.

• Door prizes were awarded.

NEW BUSINESS: None raised.

GAH adjourned the meeting; there was no objection.
9:20 pm - Adjournment.

NEXT MNC MEETING: June 9, 2009, 7 pm.
REBECCA JOHNSON SCHOOL, 55 Catherine St.
Submitted by Kathryn A. Wright, Administrative Staff, 6/8/2009

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