Board Meeting: March 11, 2008

PRESENT: *Gregory A. Hession (Pres.), Chair, *Stephen Gray, *Walter Kroll, *Jim Llewellyn (Vice Pres.), *Denise Moccia, *Demetrios Panteleakis, *Liz Stevens, *Cindy Williams, *Marianne Winters (Treas.), Jim Boone, Conrad Chaffee, Alexander Cruz, Josiane Cruz, Andrea Garde, Jeri Gardiner, Sandra Hession, Ceil Lewonchuk, Karan Parkin, Stephen Thibeau, Michael Wiersma, Kat Wright, (*Members of the Board)

Guests: None

Meeting called to order 7:10 p.m. 9 Board members present

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Pres. Hession reported on his attendance at a meeting of neighborhood council presidents sponsored by the City Planning Department, and that although the City made a presentation showing that it is making an effort, they apparently do not view the neighborhood councils as genuine partners in those efforts and that we in the neighborhood councils need opportunities for true democracy to work, which will be a struggle. Asked that we promote the idea that projects in the neighborhoods ought to go to the neighborhood councils for approval before they go to the various departments, boards and commissions of the City. Noted there is a reason for all the development activity going on now, after years of neglect. The McKnight Council's revitalization plan is the best thing we could have done to further those activities.

Note: Executive Committee met March 3 to set this agenda. Report attached.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Minutes of Feb. 12, 2008: Tabled until next meeting

TREASURER'S REPORT: Treas. MWinters: Financial Report through Feb. 10, 2008, Budget changes will be proposed at next month's meeting. Awaiting word on viability of new grant [to promote technology in African-American community]; 501c3 status is being renewed. Revenue realized from newsletter ad sales. According to Ivette Cruz at Development Dept, MNC will receive up to $10,000 more on our CDBG grant. Treasurer asked each committee chair to submit budget recommendations in their areas of work so that the budget for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year will reflect real work needs.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

§ COMMUNICATIONS (Jim Llewellyn & Ben Swan Jr. [not present], Co-chairs): JL reporting. Website development, newsletter, business directory are all proceeding on schedule. Report attached.

§ FINANCE & FUND RAISING (Marianne Winters, Chair): Committee began work on a 3-year strategic plan for increasing MNC revenues. No written report at this time.

§ HOUSING (Denise Moccia, Chair, not present at time of report): Michael Wiersma reporting. Noted the 79-81 Princeton Street is out on RFP for demolition. 74 Yale Street will be open for tour next week; MWiersma intends to go through the house. 291 Bay Street was demolished without notice to MNC; process should be protested. DP noted D.Panagore agreed we should have liaison with the City on these matters. Next housing committee meeting on Monday, March 24, at 108 Dartmouth St. No written report.

o On the matter of the application for liquor license at 346 Bay Street, GAH noted that the applicant failed to appear before the Planning Board for their scheduled hearing; the letter (approved by MNC board last month) was handed to Scott Hanson at Development Dept; MNC agreed to inform Hanson if applicant shows up at next MNC meeting. SThibeau noted the application does not meet the code and zoning requirements in several areas to be heard by the Planning Board. Planning Board may hear the application again April 2; KW will monitor their schedule and keep MNC board informed via email.

§ PUBLIC SAFETY (Walter Kroll, chair): Still trying to get a meeting on public safety with Mayor Sarno for the neighborhood. Spoke with City Councilor Bud Williams about a public meeting; Councilor Williams said he would ask Acting Commissioner William Fitchet to attend, and will try to book Rebecca Johnson School auditorium for Tuesday, March 25. If that is the date, we could publicize with a flyer insert into the MNC newsletter; LS offered to hang a sign at her house and at DP's house. No written report.

§ OFFICE RELOCATION (Liz Stevens, chair): Has asked STCC to extend MNC use of this room past April, but has not yet heard back from them. No written report.

§ MASON SQUARE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (Liz Stevens, chair): Committee met with Mayor Sarno and attended Library Commission meeting last week; Mayor stated at both meetings he is requesting funds from the Library Foundation to pay for a structural and hazardous waste study of the two top choices for a new library: the old Fire House and the McKnight Mansion. At subsequent meeting of Library Foundation, they authorized architect Steve Jablonski to conduct intense those studies on both buildings, which will take an estimated 4-6 weeks.

§ DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING (Demetrios Panteleakis, chair): See below.

NEW BUSINESS:

§ Resident Andrea Garde spoke to the recent death of Gary Lewis, who had wide involvement with trying to make McKnight better and was a vital part of our neighborhood. She would like to see something done in his memory, such as renaming Thompson Triangle for him or erecting a memorial. She plans to approach the Parks Department and individual City councilors on the idea. Gave example of part of Bay Street being designated Rev. Morgan Way, without changing the official name of the street. No action taken.

COMMITTEE REPORT:

§ DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING (Demetrios Panteleakis, chair): Presenting most recent updated version of the "2008 McKNIGHT REVITALIZATION PLAN" - DP reporting: Committee met with David Panagore, Development Director; reviewed every element of the plan; his recommendations were incorporated into the version before this meeting. Following MNC board approval, Panteleakis will produce a Power Point presentation to show at next MNC meeting; Panagore asked that Pres. Hession and Panteleakis make presentations of the plan to other neighborhood councils. Next steps are to bring it to the Mayor and to City Council (we do not need a City Council vote of approval before action is taken on the plan). After that, MNC should designate who from this board will work to execute various parts of the plan. Panteleakis noted the Rail Trail has the strongest chance to make it into the City's budget for next year; MNC ought to focus on the McKnight section of the trail, and if successful other neighborhoods will follow.

o D. Panteleakis moved to accept the plan as presented; JL seconded. Discussion: LS asked that the plan be amended to include two items under housing section: (1) That abutters have the first option to buy any empty lot being sold by the City; (2) That any new building being erected on an empty lot adhere in size and façade to buildings within 1,500 feet (a similar regulation is in place in Roxbury MA, part of Boston). Question raised if the latter includes both in- and outside the historical district; consensus was to include both, but defer to Historical Commission standards inside the district; question of prohibitive cost may be a factor; Panteleakis suggests we make the recommendation knowing it will be vetted legally. D. Panteleakis amended his motion to approve to include the two amendments proposed; JL accepted the amendments. Motion passed unanimously.

SPECIAL SESSION:

§ "ENVISIONING A FUTURE FOR McKNIGHT" - Exercise facilitated by M. Winters. Everyone took part. To close, GAH asked that, for the council to build on this, committee chairs need to seek out people and bring them in on various parts of these projects to do what they can. MWinters noted there is $1,500 built into the revised budget to develop a strategic plan; KW will be paid $500 to draft the initial report from this raw material, and we have advertised in the newsletter for a writer to do the final plan.

OLD BUSINESS:

§ BY-LAWS CHANGES: Reminder the April 8 meeting is a Membership Meeting; to vote changes to the by-laws, 20 members are required; KW asked that every person on the board bring at least one friend to the meeting.

JL moved to adjourn; DP seconded. Motion passed.

9:20 pm - Adjournment