Meeting Minutes February 10, 2009

Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
Minutes for Monthly Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 10, 2009; 7 p.m; Bridge Street School

Attendees:
Board Members: Gerald Budgar, Owen Freeman-Daniels, Marianna McKim, Jim Nash, Fred Zimnoch, Gloria Parker, Tim Fisher, Bob Reckman, Joanne Mackiewicz, Madeline Weaver Blanchette and Lisa DiPiano.
Other attendees: Dennis Helmus, Lisa Maloney

1. Approval of Minutes – Minutes of January 13, 2009 were approved as presented.

2 Treasurer’s Report - Fred
- No expenses since last mtg.
- No dues have been received since last meeting.
- Balance in FSB no interest checking: $716.86
- List Serve for Ward3ab = 153 members.
- List Serve messages that were posted
4 in 2009; 23 in 2008; 36 in 2007; 4 in 2006 or a total of 73.
- Business surveys received: 1

3. President’s Report – Jerry
• Ag Commission Forum on Meadows Problems on Feb. 24th, Smith Vocational School Library 7-9.
issues:
1. introduction to Agricultural Commission;
2. Meadow issues-dumping, etc
3. Possible Farmer’s Markets discussion;
4. Land available and people looking for land.
• Final Best Practices Public Hearing – Feb. 11th; 7pm
Folks are encouraged to comment with concerns and suggestions
• Rezoning Committee, - Jim Nash was inviting by the Planning Board to be on the Zoning Revision Committee. The first meeting will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2009.
• Ward3 would like to sponsor an election forum for the upcoming City elections in November. Committee is still in the planning phase.


4. Nominating/Membership Committee Report – Jim
-Discussion about electing a secretary or alternate arrangements
Marianna McKim was elected as secretary to serve through the Annual meeting in October. Joanne Mackiewicz will fill the Ward 3A vacant board position because of this election.


5. Update from Bridge Street School Committee – Tim
The Strategic Planning Committee’s report (committee appointed by the City) is expected to be presented to the School Committee on Thursday night. What Tim has heard is that the Committee is not recommending to close a school, but rather focus on values of Northampton’s education and encouraging an increase in the school of choice program. Suggestions for next steps for Bridge Street School Committee;
• review the report to determine if there are ways of saving money and then present these ideas to the School Committee or representative.
• Sponsor a public forum to gain more information and encourage input and participation from residents
• Possibly initiating or reviving parent fundraising. (NEF has an endowment)

6. Update on website - Owen
- Do we need committee to plan content?
- Ideas presented by Owen were fast track process for minutes and announcements, calendar.

7. Sustainability Committee Update – Jim
The Sustainability Committee is organizing two public forums relating to the Northampton Sustainability Plan (NSP)
• North Street Condo Project Forum
The committee presented a statement and outline of what they envision the forum to entail. The document was reviewed and board members suggested that the preamble be reviewed and revised with an emphasis on discussion and informing residents. The participants will be asked to respond to questions that the committee developed that addresses components of Northampton’s Sustainability Plan in an effort to disseminate information to the public as well as generate discussion on how to use NSP in this particular project and future projects.

Forum participants, moderator, date and place will be determined. Format of forum still needs to be developed. Concerns/questions/suggestions should be directed to Jim and Owen. Proposed date of forum: Bridge Street School cafetorium; Wednesday, February 25.

At this time the North Street Condo project is being presented to Cons Com; the Planning Board is not involved at this time.

• Joint Forum – Ward 3 Neighborhood Association and Northampton Design Forum (NDF)
A Notre Dame student will present one of the recommendations made at NDF’S presentation this past fall. One area the students looked at was the section between Pleasant and
Conz Streets which is bisected by the old mill river basin. The mill river now flows to the ox bow as it meanders through town (giving us our distinctive curved main street) and out to the meadows where our water treatment plant is. The abandoned basin is both an eye-sore and under utilized space. We will again use the NSP as a filter as we pose questions to the participants.
Participants need to be determined, but possibly representatives from the Planning, Cons Com Board, City officials and/or Rezoniing Committee. Tentative date of forum is March 11 at 7pm at Bridge Street School. Board voted to support and cosponsor the event with the basis of the forum being on education and discussion.


8. Traffic Calming Committee Update – Lola, Lisa
Committee will be presenting their plan at the next meeting of the City’s Transportation Committee on February 28th. There is $16,000.00 from a condo project agreement that was earmarked for traffic calming projects in Ward 3. This committee surveyed the neighborhood and determined goals and areas of concerns. The City will determine how the funds will be used.

9. Exit 19 of I-91 Committee Update – Bob
Mass Highway has not hired Trans System, because funds that were earmarked for the design phase are not sufficient. When the design phase begins we will request that the engineering firm perform new traffic counts and interview residents regarding traffic.

The Committee asked Mass Highway to provide this committee with periodic updates regarding the project and to request that several committee members could also call Mass Highway for updated information. It was agreed that Christine Cahillane or Frank Werbinski in addition to Bob Reckman would be the contact people for Mass Highway.

We discussed the improved traffic situation from the bridge leading into Northampton. It was suggested that members living and/or traveling in this area should write a brief statement, regarding there experience with traffic on Bridge Street since the new traffic light at the entrance to I-91 south was installed.

There was discussion regarding traffic speeding along Bridge Street. It was suggested that this committee have a joint meeting with the Ward3 Traffic Calming committee to discuss this concern and learn more about traffic calming strategies. Jim Nash agreed to arrange this at some time in the future.

10. Report of Business Representative - Owen.
Business surveys are rolling in slowly. No issues that are sticking out; sent out 45 surveys.

11. Legislative Update from Councillor Reckman – Bob
City budget
Panhandling ordinance Mayor and Police Chief have withdrawn the ordinance
BID – Any changes in rules have to be approved by city councilor. There are less than 5 cities in Massachusetts and 1600 nationwide that have BIDS which are enabled by State law. Define a zone and have to get 61% of property owners that represent 50% of assessed value. Businesses can opt out within 30 days. Bid proposes to market Northampton, create a beautification plan. Northampton BID has a preliminary $900,000 budget. The City Council has to approve the BID

11. Update on “Best Practices” Committee- Bob and Lisa
The final Forum will be held tomorrow night. Members can still email comments to committee.

12. Update on proposed website offering summaries of city committee discussions – Owen
Nothing new; mission statement has been created and accepted; now looking for board members.

14. Status of revising the Ward3 brochure – Owen
Brochure was sent by email so board members could review it prior to the meeting. Owen distributed the latest version of the brochure. Our membership dues drive should occur when we distribute brochures. It was suggested that we distribute brochures in warmer weather. Joanne volunteered to work with Owen on the brochure.
Membership statistics: 15% of members have paid dues. 99 members over the years; 72 filled out forms and gave a donation. 1/3 gave dues this year.

15. New Business.
By-Laws Article 6. Fiscal Responsibility
Fred brought up the requirements of Article 6 which addresses expenditure of funds of the Association in excess of $100 which will require the signature of the Treasurer and one other Board Member. Where does the signature go? Fred spoke with FSB at the Main St branch of FSB where we have our checking account. They agreed that for bank policing purposes the signature line must contain the signature of the owner of the account but a second signature for our purposes can be placed above the endorsement signature. Checks can be printed with two signature lines but this is very expensive.
The Board agreed that two names on the signature card filed at the bank will meet this requirement and the second signature can be placed above the Treasurer’s signature..

Fred reported that an article appeared in WSJ U.S. News on Friday January 23, 2009 from Associated Press: “Report Calls on FEMA to Increase Collaboration, Upgrade Flood Maps”. After reviewing flood maps, Fred noticed that FEMA issued Flood Maps at FEMA WEB site show our map is 30 years old.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.