Approved July 14, 2009

McKnight Neighborhood Council

Board Meeting: June 9, 2009

 

PRESENT: *Gregory A Hession (Pres.), *Jim Llewellyn (Vice President Chair), *Stephen Gray, *Walter Kroll, *Denise Moccia, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr., *Marianne Winters (Treas.),  Sandra Hession, Jesse Lederman, Ceil Lewonchuk, Stephen Thibeau, Mike Wiersma, Kat Wright (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Rev. Charles Kearse, Christian Embassy Church; Susan Bernardy.

Meeting called to order 7:10 p.m. 8 Board members present.

Board members not present: *Abdullah Abdul-Rahim, *Kwesi Albury, *Tony Anthony, * Jeri Gardiner, *Chip Gorra, *Demetrios Panteleakis, *Rodrick Shubrick.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Pres. GAH asked that Rev. Charles Kearse be added to the agenda to present a plan for entrepreneurial business opportunities for young people; there was no objection; noted MNC is in support of investment into the neighborhood in any form; stated that year-end reports are due for the 4^th quarter report on the CDBG grant.

ELECTION COMMISSION REPORT (Ben Swan Jr., Chair): MNC board election held on Saturday, June 6, 2009. BS presented a preliminary report on those persons elected for 2-year terms running from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, as follows (Report attached):

• District 1: No declared candidates. Final outcome to be determined.

i. Receiving the most write in votes, Merry Boone is willing to serve if council accepts that she is away from Springfield for half the year;

ii. Donna Jordan and Art Jones tied for second most votes: Ms. Jordan is willing to serve, but will defer to Mr. Jones if he is willing to serve.

• District 2: Two declared candidates, no write-ins; both elected outright:

i. Denise Moccia

ii. Marianne Winters

• District 3: No declared candidates. Final outcome to be determined. Each of the following write-ins received one vote: Keith A. Boseman, Todd Crosset, Ed Kelly.
• General At-Large: No declared candidates. Final outcome to be determined.

i. Receiving the most write-in votes: Ariel Perez

ii. Receiving second most write-in votes: Mike Wiersma, who is willing to serve if Ms. Perez is not willing or unable to serve.

• Youth At-Large: One declared candidate, no write-ins; elected outright:

i. Jesse Lederman

• Senior At-Large: No declared candidates:

i. Receiving the most write in votes, Ceil Lewonchuk, who is willing to serve.     

• SECRETARY'S REPORT (Ben Swan Jr.): MWinters made a correction to minutes of April 14. JL moved to accept minutes of April 14, 2009, as corrected, and to accept minutes of May 12, 2009, as submitted; LS seconded. Motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS

• CALL FOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Pres. GAH at this point asked that a nominating committee be formed to provide a slate of officers to be presented to the next board meeting on July 14. MWinters read the by-law regarding composition of the nominating committee (2 board members and one representative from each election district). Liz Stevens volunteered to chair the committee, Denise Moccia volunteered to serve; remaining 3 members will be appointed outside this meeting.
• STRATEGIC PLAN: JL moved to accept the Strategic Plan as developed by Anne Richmond and Tammie Streeter and presented to the MNC board at the Annual Meeting on May 12, 2009; MWinters seconded. Discussion: DM asked if acceptance means that MNC is tied to everything in the plan; GAH defined them more as aspirations or good ideas that will be implemented when and if resources are available; MWinters suggested the plan be looked at as a map based on what McKnight residents indicated they would like to see happen. Motion passed.

i.     GAH will send a letter from the board to the plan consultants thanking them for their work.

ii.     MWinters will prepare and send a press release and notice to Mayor Sarno and City departments, particularly Ed Whitley and John Judge in Planning.

PRESENTATION:

• GUEST: Rev. Charles Kearse made a special presentation of his program "Pathways to Victory" and asked that MNC work with him to implement those parts of the program that coincide with elements of the Strategic Plan just accepted. Primary focus is on a process of youth (ages 14-24) development, employment and guidance.

i.     MNC can help by identifying specific lots to be cleaned up, homes to be painted, windows cleaned, etc.

ii.     Next step will be to coordinate the process so that youth can work this summer in the neighborhood

iii. BS asked if any of Rev. Kearse's congregation might be willing to serve on the MNC board or on MNC committees; Rev. Kearse will check.

REPORTS:

• TREASURER'S REPORT (Marianne Winters):

1.     Last month's financial report submitted; noting 3^rd quarter payment check ($5,800.) has not yet been received from City on our CDBG contract. BS moved to accept report; JL seconded. Motion passed.

2. Estimated level-funded and expanded budgets for FY2010 presented, noting we have not yet received a CDBG contract from City for FY2010. MWinters moved that the board approve the level-funded budget as proposed; JL seconded. Discussion: MNC has applied for two additional grants (rail trail and tree planting), and if these come through, we can amend the budget; noted additional line in expanded budget to mail, rather than hand-deliver, MNC newsletters. SH asked about staff expenses; some expenses shown in FY09 budget covered consultant fees, additional expenses in proposed expanded budget are for rail trail project coordinator. Vote called. Motion passed.

• PUBLIC SAFETY (Walter Kroll, Chair): Reminded meeting of block party sponsored by Neighborhood Watch on Saturday, June 20, at Thompson Triangle, from 11 am to 3 pm. Regular monthly report attached.

NEW BUSINESS:

1)    Jazz concerts: Mondays in June at AIC; July 4^th weekend at STCC; flyers, posters available.

2)    Trash barrels: LS has not heard about the disposition to MNC; will check with Keep Springfield Beautiful.

3)    Mason lot (corner of Dartmouth and Bay): City owned, will probably come up for auction again; Since MNC wants to keep it as green space, we can (a) try to talk Housing office out of auctioning it or buy it ourselves (there are no funds for this purpose), or (b) let Carl Dietz, Housing office, know that MNC would like to see this lot given to the Park Dept and establish a park there when we can come up with a plan. BS moved MNC send a letter to Housing office requesting they transfer the Mason lot to the Parks department to preserve as open space; WK seconded. Discussion: We may be able to access the UMass landscape students' Bay Street Corridor project as a basis for developing a plan, along with Parks and Planning departments. Vote called. Motion passed.

4)    Preservation Trust Awards: Several houses in McKnight are being honored; event is on June 17, Tower Square, 5 pm.

5)    LS proposed a yearly commendation for significantly improved property in McKnight, similar to the Preservation Trust awards; will come up with an award program and make an official proposal at a future meeting.

6)    Burned out house on Catherine: LS has been approached by several neighbors asking what will happen to it; proposed a public meeting to focus on that property, inviting neighbors, city representatives, property owners & insurers, etc. MW suggested MNC Housing committee take on the issue.

7)    CL noted 205 St. James up for sale again, being used as a boarding house and, she thinks, being sold as such.

8)    CL noted the house on corner of St. James and Westminster has new apparently non-English speaking owners, who are working on the property; requests that some way be found to inform them in their language (Chinese?) of historic guidelines. MNC can contact Historical Commission to communicate with them.

9)    ST noted 14 Brown St. up for sale again, as a 3-family.

10) MWinters offered thanks for their service on the MNC board to those directors whose terms are ending and who are leaving the board: Abdullah Abdul-Rahim, Kwesi Albury, Tony Anthony, Stephen Gray, Jim Llewellyn, Demetrios Panteleakis, Rodrick Shubrick.

JL moved to adjourn; BS seconded. Motion passed.

8:55 pm - Adjournment.

§ NEXT MNC MEETING:  July 14, 2009, 7 pm.

REBECCA JOHNSON SCHOOL, 55 Catherine St.

Submitted by Kathryn A. Wright, Administrative Staff, 6/16/2009