Board Meeting: November 13, 2007

PRESENT: *Gregory Hession, Chair, *Luzed Guzman, *Walter Kroll, *Jim Llewellyn, *Denise Moccia, *Demetrios Panteleakis, *Rodrick Shubrick, *Liz Stevens, *Ben Swan Jr., *Marianne Winters, Ayyub Abdul-Alim, Ed Kelly, Ceil Lewonchuk, Stephen Thibeau, Michael Wiersma, Kat Wright, (*Members of the Board)

Guests: Maurice Nichol & John Case (WMECo), Chris Norquist (Burns & McDonnell Engineering), Pam Frost (Interpreter)

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

GUESTS: WMECo representatives presented its Springfield Cable Project to improve reliability of electrical transmission infrastructure within the City. WMECo's Preferred route for such underground cable upgrade is entirely on Carew Street; however, an alternate route runs through McKnight from Clinton substation downtown, up Worthington to St. James, Page Blvd., and Roosevelt, over to a proposed new East Springfield work center & substation near Carew & Roosevelt. Both routes would connect the two substations. Presentation included description of the work to be done and timetable for completion. Construction would take 30 months, beginning in 2009 and lasting through 2011. WMECo Report attached.

Questions asked of WMECo representatives included

o Cable Project: Permitting & regulatory process - WMECo is on track with approvals from Mass. Energy Facilities Siting Board, and City departments of planning & zoning, & City Council;

o Final stage of project is repair of streets affected - full lane resurfacing where work was done;

o All will be underground including cable and several splicing stations (accessed thru manholes at street level).

o Disused substation at Bowles & Bay Streets: MNC requests clean up; WMECo noted & will do.

o Dark streetlights: Streetlights are owned by WMECo, when they are out, anyone can report pole number or nearest house number to WMECo customer service (785-5871 or www.wmeco.com); MNC can submit to WMECo a list of dark streetlights needing repair.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Pres. GH attended seminar at WNEC to aid non-profit groups in acting in a more entrepreneurial manner; recommends MNC continue to work on clearly defining goals and objectives, identifying and focusing efforts on what we do well; and having identified such activity, be project focused and look for resources to support same rather than looking for grants and then work to them.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Minutes of Oct. 9, 2007: BS moved to approve minutes as submitted; DP seconded. Motion passed.

TREASURER'S REPORT: MW presented an estimated re-budget showing a slight surplus rather than a major deficit once MNC vacates rented office space; will contact each committee chair to solidify funding needs for remainder of FY08 and present a final adjusted budget for board approval at December meeting. BS asked what changes in indemnity insurance specified in MNC by-laws would be needful and / or helpful and whether the premium would be less without office coverage; MW will check & report back. MW noted the lease on current MNC office space has been terminated as of the end of November 2007. BS moved to accept financial report; JL seconded. Motion passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

* OFFICE RELOCATION (Liz Stevens, chair): LS reported the committee had kept the board's restrictions against religious sites or sites where alcohol is served in looking for a suitable meeting space. New designated space is on STCC main campus, Building #2, Scibelli Hall, Room 701; College President has waived the usual fee; room is booked through April meeting. Room is described as large, well furnished for meeting, electronics and projector screen in place, as well as dry-erase board. Report attached. Questions raised about: Location not being in the McKnight neighborhood (STCC Enterprise Center is within the McKnight boundaries); possibly limited parking availability; distance and gated campus being barriers to attendance. MS proposed offering cab service and/or car-pooling. Suggestion made to continue to look for a site in the neighborhood (e.g. Rebecca Johnson School, Early Childhood Center, former church at St. James & Clarendon, STCC Enterprise Center). BS moved that MNC meet at the STCC site for the foreseeable future until the ad hoc committee comes up with an alternative and the board re-votes; JL seconded. Motion passed.
* Combined Report: DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING (Demetrios Panteleakis, chair) & HOUSING (Denise Moccia, chair): DP reported (a) there is no change in development plans or personnel since election of new City administration; (b) obtained agreement from D.Panagore to add McKnight rail trail project to budget submission; (c) BS is working on business overlay to McKnight master plan. DM reported that initial distressed housing list has been categorized, prioritized & submitted to CDietz at City Housing Dept. Noted listed properties on Bay & St. James are in the City upgrade plans for those streets; but she is asking CDietz that MNC have input re standards for rehabilitating those houses. Otherwise, she focused attention on properties not on Bay or St. James (at City's request) and those outside the Historical District as they have fewer resources available for repair and rehab. DP noted the final section of the list regarding MNC Property Standards will need extensive work by the committee.

It was noted that there are more houses in the neighborhood boarded up and for sale; question raised if these are in foreclosure. Problem noted that 4 empty houses have been stripped of pipes and interior fixtures in the last 2 weeks; WK said he would inform Dep. Chief Cochrane, SPD, of the thefts. DP asked that anyone email him or DM re any house of interest. GH summarized that MNC can be an information funnel to the City and to the community. Report attached.

* PUBLIC SAFETY (Walter Kroll, chair): WK reported this committee did not meet this month; expressed concern about communication of public safety issues among the committees of this board and between the community and the board so that SPD can be told of any problems that need attention. Question raised if the police on the beat can then deal appropriately with the problem; is there adequate communication within the SPD on how neighborhood reported problems ought to be handled. BS said he would stress at monthly beat management team meetings that information be passed along to beat police. GH asked if there is anything MNC can do for crime prevention. MW cited possible grant funds available for public safety efforts; this is an area where MNC can be pro-active on behalf of the neighborhood. DP suggested dog-walking patrols. WK will set a date for all to meet.
* COMMUNICATIONS (Sven Martin, chair, not present): KW reported that Committee Chair SM has not yet called a meeting. BS and she have met without the other members of the committee to address a number of problems with newsletter, email, website, yahoo groups and telephone:

o Newsletter should be published ASDA re new board make-up, closing of Catherine St. office and move to STCC for meeting; board members agreed to hand deliver newsletters; recent demographic information shows 1805 households in McKnight, therefore MNC can print just 2000 copies (not 3000);

o Email is getting spam, much of it pornographic, and therefore BS has set up a new address at Yahoo ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) (previous email addresses will be shut down);

o JL has set up yahoo groups but not all board members have signed in; are urged to do so.

o MW moved that In recognition of the importance of a functioning and active communications committee that Sven Martin be removed as chair and that a special meeting of the Executive Committee be called at which time we jump start a plan for communications and elect a chair; BS seconded. Motion passed.

o GH called for additional volunteers to serve on this committee; JL agreed to do so; BS said he might be willing to serve as chair.

* FINANCE & FUND RAISING (Marianne Winters, chair): No report

OLD BUSINESS:

* RAIL TRAIL - HIKE & CLEAN UP is scheduled from State Street to the Dingle for 2 p.m. Sat., Nov. 17th; LS reported 300 flyers have been produced and distributed; letters inviting VIPs have gone out; gloves and bags have been purchased; M.Jones of MapleHigh6Corners Council has offered bottles of water. Rain date is 2 p.m., Sun., Nov. 18th.
* ELECTION OF ASST. SECRETARY - Not taken up (Deferred from Oct. 9)
* BY -LAWS CHANGES - Not taken up (Deferred from Oct. 9 when GH distributed modified changes to By-Laws, asked that everyone read and be prepared to discuss at next meeting.)
* BAY STREET CORRIDOR PROPOSALS - Not taken up (Deferred from Oct. 9)

NEW BUSINESS:

* VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program: KW reported she attended site coordinator meeting on Oct. 17. MNC's IRS filing authorization number has expired and cannot be renewed for current tax year. IRS representative has piggy-backed MNC participation with that being coordinated by Tricia Joseph, former MNC staff; therefore, MNC will not get credit from IRS, but if we participate as agreed to in our CDBG contract, we will get credit for accomplishing that action with the City. Anyone wanting to volunteer to prepare tax returns between Feb. 1 and April 15, 2008, using specific IRS software, can sign up with Tricia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Be specific about what days and times you are available. Report attached.

* OFFICE PACK UP CLEAN UP & MOVE OUT - GH will schedule it very soon; everyone can pitch in.

9:10 pm - Adjournment:

JL moved to adjourn; DM seconded. Motion passed.