Board Meeting: December 11, 2007

PRESENT: *Gregory Hession, Chair, *Stephen Gray, *Walter Kroll, *Jim Llewellyn, *Denise Moccia, *Demetrios Panteleakis, *Rodrick Shubrick, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr., *Cindy Williams, *Marianne Winters, Meredith Boone, Sandra Hession, David Stein, Sara Takacs, Dolores Teriacca, Michael Wiersma, Kat Wright, (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Deb Alli; Ivette Cruz, Deputy Director of Neighborhood, Office of Community Development;

Craig Della Penna, Executive Director, Northeast Greenway Solutions, & General Manager, Central Highlands Conservancy LLC.

Meeting called to order 7:05 p.m. 9 Board members present

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Pres. GH addressed 5 issues:

1. Welcomed all to new meeting space at S.T.C.C., which is temporary
2. While more permanent space is sought after council determines (a) what priorities are for neighborhood and therefore (b) what sort of space is required and at what cost.
3. Public safety must be a top priority because burglaries and crimes against persons are up; suggests serious conversation with Spfd Police to increase presence and protection.
4. Reminded those present of need to keep meetings inclusive and open, and also in order and efficient: chair will hear from public, then board, then vote.
5. New procedure: Executive Committee (made up of board officers) met and decided it will met monthly to focus on what needs to be discussed at full monthly board meetings. (Report attached.)

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Minutes of Nov. 13, 2007: LS moved to approve minutes as submitted; JL seconded. Motion passed.

GUEST: Craig Della Penna presented a program describing the history and possibilities of converting former railroad beds to recreational trails, with a particular focus on the McKnight section of the Highland Rail line. Questions asked of Mr. Della Penna included

* Suggested next steps: continue regular clean-ups, publicize them, involve more neighbors (particularly abutters); land could be bought and held by Central Highlands Conservancy
* Cost - Steps - acquisition, design, construction
* Acquisition: section owned by Guilford RR/Pan Am Railways; they have already sold off pieces, so it no longer has ‘corridor' value; sections in NY state have sold for about $20,000/mile; should be appraised;
* McKnight section is about 2 miles long (State Street to Albany Street).
* As part of redevelopment plan, City could reclaim whole by eminent domain, pay appraised value
* This land could by taxed by state law: Rail lines are tax exempt when rails are in place, but are taxable when rails are removed; Contact Spfd tax assessor on this matter (Check with Belchertown tax office for correct info on owner; might motivate owner to sell.)
* Could look for support from Mass. Dept. of Transportation or Dept Conservation & Recreation (DOT has much larger budget)
* Wetland & environmental issues: Get Conservation Commission involved; don't do anything that will surprise them.

Discussion followed:

* I.Cruz will discuss this matter with David Panagore, Development Director, tomorrow; let him know MNC is in support of the project; Also said MNC could get a city dumpster for next clean-up.
* DP noted the trail is part of the neighborhood master plan that his committee is working up, and that should be ready for the MNC board by Feb. meeting. Asked Della Penna if he would review & critique that part of the plan; Della Penna said he would. Will prepare a 3-page plan, LS & JL will help.

GUEST: Ivette Cruz informed board that MNC needs to inform Cathy Bono, Office of Economic Development, of intention to have CDBG funds designated for historical preservation be spent as per our project plan, and to list all other areas of our plan that may be eligible for these funds.

Also informed meeting that the City Office of Neighborhoods will be restructured in January 2008.

TREASURER'S REPORT:

* MW presented revised budget, including explanatory notes; Discussion on budget: MW reported insurance coverage on former office is cancelled, event liability coverage remains; if ‘Directors and Officers' coverage is added (as required by MNC current by-laws), additional premium would be about the same as savings from dropped coverage of office; MNC will get a formal estimate, but in any case we are covered until mid-July 2008. Budget & notes attached.
o DP moved to authorize Treasurer to purchase ‘Directors and Officers' insurance; JL seconded. Motion passed.
o MW moved to adopt the revised budget; LS seconded. Discussion: JL raised point that refreshments (e.g. for annual meeting) cannot be bought with CDBG grant funds. MW will clarify with I.Cruz. Motion passed.
* MW introduced new MNC form to report volunteer hours, in-kind and reimbursable expenses, for the purpose of tracking volunteer service hours and expenses in order to show these assets in a tangible way when looking for funding; Board accepted procedure by consensus.
* MW proposed policy from Finance Committee: ‘That non-restricted funds raised in a given year be designated as fund balance revenue and not built into current year's budget.' Discussion: Examples of non-restricted funds are donations, sales of newsletter or website advertising.
o BS moved to accept policy as written; JL seconded. Discussion: clarified that money raised in one fiscal year not be spent until next fiscal year or after. Board can always override the policy if need arises. Motion passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Tabled until January meeting.

* PUBLIC SAFETY (Walter Kroll, chair): WK raised importance of setting procedures to collect crime information and data for reporting to and discussion with Spfd. Police Dept., and especially the need to establish procedures for following up. An informal discussion followed. Mrs. Teriacca said there has been vandalism at their house at 103 Bowdoin St. increasingly over last few months. Report attached.

OLD BUSINESS: Tabled.

NEW BUSINESS: Pres. GH distributed ‘Idea Sheet' for all members to consider top priorities for action by MNC; asked that everyone bring ideas to January meeting for discussion. This in lieu of brainstorming ideas at this meeting, time having run out.

9:30 pm - Adjournment:

JL moved to adjourn; DM seconded. Motion passed.