Board Meeting: January 13, 2009

PRESENT: *Gregory A Hession (President) Chair, *Tony Anthony, *Stephen Gray, *Walter Kroll, *Jim Llewellyn (Vice President), *Denise Moccia, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr. (Secretary), *Marianne Winters (Treas.), Jesse Carman Jr., Stacey Drew, Ann Gillard, Sandra Hession, Ceil Lewonchuk, Karan Parkin, Anne Richmond, Stephen Thibeau, Mike Wiersma, Kat Wright (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Sgt. James Brown, Hampden County Sheriff's Dept.; Don Mitchell, Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services; Juan Rodriguez, co-owner Blue Eagle Restaurant; Steve Weiner, attorney for Mr. Rodriguez

Meeting called to order 7:15 p.m. 9 Board members present.

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

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Pres. GAH noted quarterly reports from committee chairs are now due for period July 1 through December 31, 2008, showing what progress has been made on MNC's CDBG contract scope of service.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Minutes of Dec. 9, 2008: KW asked for corrections to be made in list of board members present; TA moved to accept minutes as corrected, LS seconded. Motion passed.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Treas. MWinters offered report but noted an inadvertent blank cell in the spreadsheet; therefore she will correct the mistake and resubmit the report.

PRESENTATIONS:

· Don Mitchell gave a presentation of home ownership programs and financial products being offered by Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services; he was invited back for a broader presentation and possible workshop, for which MNC can provide publicity.

· Strategic Planning: Marianne Winters presented preliminary data & graphics based on 52 surveys compiled; still a small response from youth surveys. Anne Richmond said next steps will be meeting with board strategic planning group in Jan-Feb, and plans to have a draft of the plan for March board meeting, and final plan for April. Will continue to accept surveys until the end of January.

REPORTS:

All committee reports were tabled so that the council could hear the application for liquor license, Blue Eagle Restaurant.

NEW BUSINESS:

§ BLUE EAGLE RESTAURANT, Worthington St., Application for a liquor license:

TA moved that MNC provisionally support the application with the following conditions: that security be beefed up in the parking lot and inside the restaurant, and that the applicant curtail operating hours to 12 midnight. SG seconded. Discussion: LS asked on what basis should we ask that he curtail his later closing hour; TA said to discourage criminal activity. BS noted the restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, and that most restaurants close at 12 midnight, most bars close at 2 a.m. TA amended his motion to recommend closing at 1 a.m. in the spirit of compromise. JL said that he is in favor of security, he thinks it is shortsighted to restrict hours; JL offered a friendly amendment to delete the early closing condition; there was no second; the amendment died.

GAH moved that MNC recommend the application be approved with the recommendation to the Planning Board that the owner makes an effort to provide security precautions to the exterior of the property; LS seconded. BS said he is supportive of the recommendation but has concerns; and that because he participated in this discussion and vote, he will recuse himself when the application comes before the Planning Board, on which he sits. Vote was called: 6 voted AYE, 2 voted NAY; motion carried.

§ COMPLAINTS brought by Jesse Carman Jr., Thompson St., on 2 issues:

1. Property at 71 Thompson St. is vacant, trash has accumulated, garage is loaded with trash; has called code enforcement, but no action taken yet. MNC Housing Committee will follow up.

2. Tractor trailer truck again parking overnight on empty lots behind the River Inn; would like council to get the truck to move out; was told by code enforcement that tractor cannot be parked on a city street; asked if there is a city ordinance against through traffic by heavy vehicles in residential streets; SH noted there is such an ordinance on the block of Thompson St. between State and St. James. BS moved that WK include request for signage on Thompson St. when he meets with DPW; WK seconded. Motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS: None reported.

9:15 pm - GAH adjourned the meeting