Meeting Minutes June 9, 2009

Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
Board Meeting Minutes - Tuesday, June 9, 2009
7 – 9 p.m. Bridge Street School Library
Board Members: Gerald Budgar, Owen Freeman-Daniels, Marianna McKim, Jim Nash, Fred Zimnoch, Bob Reckman, Joanne Mackiewicz, Lola Reid. Tim Fisher and Lisa DiPiano.
Other attendees: Deb Christakos

00.00
Addendum to minutes of May 12 meeting:
Reference to Al Southerland/Police Incident: Jim Nash reported that The Gazette was unable to reach the witnesses cited in the Poverty is Not a Crime posting. They made attempts. The recanting of a key witness from the PINAC report was reported to me by a Veteran affiliated with VA. In addition, Jim reported that this same Veteran had visited Mr. Southerland at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital and reported to me Mr. Southerland's face did not appear bruised. He also reported that Mr. Southerland was in poor health during the weeks leading up to the incident at Urban Outfitters. One PINAC report cites that Mr. Southerland had recently had his spleen removed. Lastly, this same Veteran rhetorically asked if a report of abuse or a crime had been filed by anyone? He had not heard of any.

03.00
1. Approval of Minutes – May 12 minutes were unanimously approved with the above addendum.

3:18
Treasurer’s Report - Fred
1. EXPENSES: $279.55 Brochures, Flyers, Watch Cards.
2. DUES: $90. Five new members and two renewals.
3. BALANCES: Previous $689.86, new $500.31 difference $189.55
4. LIST SERVE: for Ward 3ab = 156 members. Add three new members with email addresses from above.
5. LIST SERVE MESSAGES: for this period = 3
While I have the floor I’d like to thank Bob for his work putting together the forum. If only judged by the fact that we lured luminaries such as James Dostal, Michael Bardsley, David Narkewicz, Marianne LaBarge, Alex Ghiselin, Daryl LaFleur, Laurie Loisel of the Hampshire Gazette and et al. then the event was a grand success. Over the years I’ve always been amazed at Bob’s organizational abilities.

5:18
1. President’s Report – Jerry
Override Forum Update: On North Street Associates website
Membership/Meadows Watch Card Report – distribution went well
Owen reported on his experience biking at the Meadows.

15:20
Passenger Rail Service Get Involved? – Email PVPC and Congressman Neal with supportive comments for this project. The Board voted to support this rail service initiative through Northampton and Ward 3. Discussion ensued regarding expanding bike path in our Ward to Hockanum to the dike. A Transportation Committee was formed with Owen as chair.

Social Event With Other Neighborhood Groups - Bay State Association wants to get neighborhood group’s leaders together in a social setting.

30:15
4. Nominating/Membership Committee Report – Jim
-Alternative vs Permanent committee members. Lola will speak to Maddie regarding the duration of the term. Elections will be held in October. Bring a friend to September’s meeting

33:10
5. Update from Bridge Street School Committee – Tim
Teacher’s union is voting; possibly turn around position on wage freeze.
Preschoolers will now be at Bridge Street; teachers have been given lay off notices; start time has changed to 9:20. Students will be walking from South Street. The Bridge Street school sunken playground will be raised.

44:14
6. Update on website issues - Owen
Found a form vendor that can be used on website. Residents can now join online using membership form and online questionnaires will be more convenient and user friendly.

46:40
7. Sustainability Committee Update – Jim
-Update on Zoning Revisions Committee: Specific-focused sub committees are being formed for the summer: urban farming, green space within neighborhoods; strong look at design standards as it relates to neighborhoods; Jim is interested in outreach.

59:50
8. Traffic Calming Committee Update – Lola, Lisa
Committee presented their application. Several possibilities were discussed regarding how the money could be spent: Concentrating on intersections, paint the bridge; plantings. Laura Hanson will be doing a traffic engineering study.

66:17
9. Exit 19 of I-91 Committee Update – Jim
Next meeting on Friday, June 27.

10. Report of Business Representative - Owen.
Nothing to report at this time

68:10
11. Legislative Update from Councillor Reckman - Bob
Reported on effects of override passing and override not passing. Discussion on the assessments in Northampton for the past 10 years.

83:35
12. Update on “Best Practices” Committee- Bob and Lisa
Hope to devote a summer meeting to talk about findings of this committee. Councilors will “report in” at this special meeting.

85:08
13. Update on City Election Forum – Jim/Bob
Jim and Bob are planning an election forum for Ward 3 candidates and mayoral candidates.

87:20
14. Setting location and arrangements for July and August meetings
6-8:30 Potluck
96 Island Road; Phillip Sullivan’s house (old schoolhouse)
Marianna will organize.

15. New Business
90:02
Fred gave his suggestions for future forums.

93:23
Owen suggested that a pictorial guide to City’s departments and services be considered. He passed out Providence, RI’s pictorial guide as an example.

96:00
Add notice on the listserv to remind membership to vote on June 16.

Adjourned at 8:45

Email Addendum - Supporting the Knowledge (Railroad) Corridor
My email suggested that people contact PVPC and politicos in DC. To formalize this I spoke to PVPC today (5/21/09). Dana suggested the following:
In order to support the return of Amtrak rail service to Northampton the PVPC is composing a proposal for funding. They require as many letters or emails as possible stating that you support “Knowledge Corridor” plan. Send/Email to PVPC below.
Mr. Dana Roscoe, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 26 Central Street, Suite 34, West Springfield, MA 01089-2787
Email Droscoe@PVPC.org
Send a similar written comment to Neal by USPO or Email.
Congressman Richard E. Neal, 2208 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Email from the WEB: http://www.house.gov/neal/write_neal.html
When I spoke to Dana he also reminded me that Mayor Higgins has great plans for the new station. Of course this is likely pre-recession.