Board Meeting: November 11, 2008

PRESENT: *Gregory A Hession (President) Chair, * Jeri Gardiner, *Jim Llewellyn (Vice Pres.), *Walter Kroll, *Denise Moccia, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr. (Secretary), *Marianne Winters (Treas.), Karen Bogdanovich, Viv DeAngelo, Stacey Drew, Lisa Gaudreau, Sandra Hession, Ceil Lewonchuk, Curtson Martin, Ed Sellers, Ray Talbot, Stephen Thibeau, Kat Wright (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Sgt. James Brown, Hampden County Sheriff's Department; John P Slosek, Jr., owner, Slosek Insurance.

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

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

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH - Guest Sgt. Brown presented information on program, meeting at Zion Baptist Church first Wednesday each month; working with MNC, SPD, open to all residents; tracking calls, want to designate persons in the community to make crime report calls for those who can't or won't make the call; best way to coordinate with MNC is to use our public safety committee network, build team on each block, receive feedback from both Sheriff's Dept and SPD. Council consensus is to collaborate with this effort. Contact information: Sgt. James Brown, 858-0957; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HOME INSURANCE - Guest John Slosek presented information on how to fully and properly insure older houses, of which we have many in our neighborhood; in current fiscal climate, values change, deductibles are going up, homeowners should be cautious about language on ‘functional replacement', ordinance & law coverage (cost to demolish & clear debris), personal liability, sewer & drain back-up, lead paint, companies charging larger premiums if you make a claim, etc. Informational literature was distributed.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Pres. GAH addressed the following:

o Letter (2003) between Mass. Attorney General and Springfield Urban League including confidentiality clause, declared this ought to be the last secret deal in city politics.

o Attended City Council meeting 11/5/08 on subject of using eminent domain to take back the Mason Square Library; many citizens spoke in favor; council vote was 5-4 in favor; noted that our power is in persuasion, numbers & leadership, cooperating with all neighborhood councils.

o McKnight hike-bike trail meeting with Pat Sullivan, Spfd Parks dept on Oct. 15 and public presentation of UMass student designs held Oct 22, well attended.

o MASS Inc. economic development Springfield study, advised checking their website; MNC needs to remain a part of this process

o Meeting with Ed Whitley, Neighborhood Services - not yet

o Invitation to Mayor Sarno to attend an upcoming MNC meeting - has not yet been done

o Monthly & Quarterly reports from committee chairs from now on should include progress on CDBG scope of service lists, which was based on committee work plans; BS asked that the CDBG scope of service be posted on the MNC website

o Declared MNC Youth Team official, named Jeri Gardiner chair (eke mentor, monitor, guidance counselor), charged Youth Team with developing and carrying out a plan of activities based on the scope of service, and to hold regular meetings to accomplish goals.

o Asked that each committee identify small do-able projects that MNC can accomplish, and to connect with citywide improvement projects.

o Reminded all that proposed agenda items and ideas must go through the Executive Committee to be placed on the agenda.

o Executive Committee met Nov. 3; Report attached.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Minutes of Oct. 14, 2008: JL moved to accept minutes as written, WK seconded. Motion passed.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Treas. MWinters: Reported items formerly estimates on FY09 budget are now actual dollar figures. Proposed budget amendments based on those figures, including $500 for printing surveys, and $200 for youth stipends to collect surveys; also adjusted newsletter ad revenue to reflect actual receipts. JL asked if MNC policy is still to save non-CDBG funds received this FY for use in next FY? GAH suggested the board vote to expend the $500 and the $200 cited and to suspend the rule to hold back funds until FY10 at least temporarily. MW moved to amend budget as stated and to override the FY hold-back rule if need be; BS seconded. Motion passed. Report attached.

OLD BUSINESS:

· BAYSTATE HEALTH CENTER / MASON SQ HEALTH TASK FORCE:

o MWinters, MNC representative on the advisory committee for this project, reported: Baystate Medical Center is building major addition; in lieu of taxes to City is putting money into 2 neighborhoods most affected by the expansion, i.e. North End and Mason Square. Share to Mason Sq is $700,000 over 7 years. Process was on a roll, then suddenly a proposal emerged to change it into the "Mason Square Health Task Force" - a vote MW abstained from because it was a substantially different thing than originally presented and would dilute the effort to get money into the community for health initiatives. Since then, two (2) allocations have been made outside of the process, going to MLKCC and Dunbar CC as sole source funding (no bid), e.g. paying for two (2) full-time staff positions at Dunbar to ensure rest of money is distributed. MW bringing issue to MNC because she is concerned that the money will disappear, not be distributed throughout the community. MW asked that MNC write a letter stating the money was promised; there are health indicators in the community, and asking where the money is. The idea is to increase grants to provide opportunities for neighborhood people to pursue good health options, and to allow community representatives on the task force to guide them in distributing that money equitably.

o LS asked if there have been opportunities for neighborhood councils to put forth proposals; MW replied that the committee brainstormed some ideas but there have been no opportunities for constituent representatives to bring proposals.

o JL is concerned about the sole source disbursement because that could happen again and the money could disappear.

o MW moved that the board write the letter she proposed and make appropriate request to the organization on behalf of the McKnight Neighborhood to result in tangible benefits to the neighborhood in a timely way and to make an accounting of what they have distributed so far. JL seconded. MW suggested the letter could propose a specific project, e.g. support for the rail trail. Motion passed.

· STRATEGIC PLANNING Update:

o MW reporting: Surveys are available in printed form and on line, asked that board members return surveys before Dec. 9th meeting, asked that prizes be secured for the drawings; consensus was that prizes be things donated, not purchased as council budget is tight.

o Dec. 9th potluck party - asked that board members commit to bringing a food item.

o Board agreed to a shorter than normal business meeting, focus on community fellowship

REPORTS:

§ COMMUNICATIONS - (Jim Llewellyn and Ben Swan Jr., Co-Chairs) Met Oct. 30, Report attached.

§ DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING - (Demetrios Panteleakis, Chair, not present) No report.

§ FINANCE & FUND RAISING - (Marianne Winters, Chair)

o Meetings have been restarted after hiatus, with following priorities: (a) develop policy & procedure document for finance; (b) complete 2-year audit.

o Tony Anthony, Asst. Treasurer has assumed responsibility for fundraising.

o Met Nov. 3; Motion noted in report not made. Report attached.

§ GOOD NEIGHBOR - (Greg Hession, Chair) No report.

§ HOUSING - (Denise Moccia, Chair): DM reported no meeting of this committee was held since last board meeting; reported on Princeton Street lot tested negative for oil & may be on near future auction; contact will be attempted with owners of carriage house between Florida & Bowdoin streets; letters drafted to 2 property owners re intentions and clean-up. Report attached.

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

§ PUBLIC SAFETY - (Walter Kroll, Chair) WK reported he sent letter to Mayor and Police Commissioner asking for more police presence in McKnight to deal with increased traffic issues. Report attached.

§ MASON SQUARE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (Liz Stevens, Chair) LS reported on status: Recent letter revealed that Urban League and state Attorney General made a confidential (secret) agreement that if the building at 765 State Street is sold, the UL can accept only what they paid ($700,000) plus something for inflation (about $100,000) and anything over that would go to the SLMA (the seller) or, now, to the City. The Mayor will not make any decision until the City Solicitor Pikula has rendered an opinion on the letter (promised within 30 days). Report attached.

§ RAIL TRAIL:

o Liz Stevens reported a meeting with City Parks director, Patrick Sullivan on Oct. 15, to redesign the proposed playing fields behind Rebecca Johnson School to include that terminus of the rail trail.

o LS also reported on successful community presentation of the UMass student plans for the rail trail, held at Bergen Circle on Oct. 22. Mike Tully, new project manager for City Parks dept was present as well.

o Report attached.

NEW BUSINESS:

§ None raised.

WK moved to adjourn; BS seconded. Motion passed.

9:15 pm - Adjournment