On August 9th at 11:30 AM, join members of the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association & Aaron Helfand from the Northampton Design Forum as we conduct a walking tour of Market and Hawley Streets.
Meet at Paradise City Tavern-- bagels and coffee will be provided.
Our goal is to better understand the transition zone between downtown and our neighborhoods. We will identify what we like, what works, and what could be improved. We will also improve our architectural and urban design vocabulary while gaining an understanding of basic design and planning concepts. Bring your camera, your sketch pad, your imagination.
For any additional information, contact the event organizer, Jim Nash at careerworkscc@comcast.net
Meeting Minutes July 14, 2009
Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
Board Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, July 14, 2009 DRAFT
Meeting held on Island Road-Phil Sullivan’s home
00.00
1. Approval of Minutes – Marianna
Minutes of June 9, 2010 were approved unanimously.
The Board informally heard from Island Road residents Cat Sargent and Laura Mele. They were asked to return to the August meeting to formally propose our assistance. Signage, traffic engineer and calming neighborhood signs were suggested. A meeting with the ZBA will be held on Thursday, July 23rd in Council City Chambers at 5:50 to discuss an Appeal of Building Inspector on enforcement action at Oxbow Marina by Jennifer Remillard, Island Rd, Northampton, Map Id 45-58.
00.35
Treasurer’s Report – Fred
EXPENSES: None
2. DUES: $155 from 12 members.
3. BALANCES: Previous $500.31 New $655.31
4. LIST SERVE: for Ward 3ab = 164 members. Add 9 new members with email addresses
5. LIST SERVE MESSAGES: for this period = 0
02:35
3. Nominating/Membership Committee Report – Jim
-Need to begin preparing slate and making arrangements for Annual Meeting
02:48
4. Update from Bridge Street School Committee – Tim
Send children to Hatfield over 100 children across from City. School will start early this year; before Labor Day. Tim will be running for school committee; playground renovation project is in process
04:16
5. Update on website issues - Owen
Head count will be updated. Audio minutes were uploaded and Owen listened to entire audio. Lisa worked on this also. The website Divshare will be hosting audio content for free.
06:11
6. Traffic Calming Committee Update – Lola, Lisa
Met 2 weeks ago and want to create a mural at Williams and Holyoke Street. Neighborhood block party on September 12. Ideas are welcomed for the mural ideas.
09:50
7. President’s Report – Jerry
Ward 3 Board will be sponsoring a social event with other neighborhood groups, including Leeds, BayState, Florence, North Street and Ward 6 on July 28 from 6-8:30 at the Fairground’s pavilion. Jerry asked for contribution of food items. Gerry wants the focus to be an introduction to Ward 3 with a supportive collaborative tone toward other Ward groups.
“Bring A Friend” to September Meeting
W3 Bike Path Grand Opening in September – Ward 3 may co-sponsorship this grand opening in September. Our responsibilities would be to publicize it and provide refreshments and do some PR for Ward 3. Owen will bring back information and serve as liaison.
Jim Nash, Gerry Budgar, Owen Freeman Daniels and Rob Reckman met with Wayne Feiden at the end of June to talk about extending bike paths further into Ward 3. Bike path could cross Pleasant Street at dike-crosses railroad; route along South Street by Gazette and Fort Hill area to Hockanum Road; under the railroad and during improvement of railroad bed. More to report on this at the next meeting.
Vegetable Garden Tour could be next year’s project.
Tenant association member of Salvo House called us and asked us about our Meadows Watch because they want to implement a Salvo house watch program.
34:50
8. Sustainability Committee Update – Jim
Update on Zoning Revisions Committee – Seven different committees will be established this summer to include urban farming, King Street area.
This Sunday the 19th Neighborhood Design Forum with Aaron Helfand will be walking in Ward 3 to observe transitional zoning in our neighborhoods. This will be a biking tour if nice weather. Jim will email us with details of this 1 ½ hour tour. It will be publicized.
39:20
9. Exit 19 of I-91 Committee Update – Jim
Possibility that a meeting with Mass Highway late next month or early September with regional advisory group will be held. They will probably talk about Mass Highway’s project website and set up a second, possibly public meeting sometime in the fall.
41:00
10. Report of Transportation Committee – Owen identified four main concerns
- Bike path and maintenance. Plowing; entry;
- Railway- constructive way to encourage train through ward;
- Sidewalks encourage pedestrians and safety.
- Walking buses for school aged families since there will only be one bus going to Bridge Street.
47:16
11. Report of Business Representative - Owen. Hampton Court may want to become a member. Late night noise is a concern. Is Hampton Court in Ward 3?
51:10
12. Legislative Update from Councilor Reckman
Landfill Situation: Should we close the landfill? There will be a proponent and opposition paragraph. Two petitions with identical wording was proposed to the City Council. This would be a non-binding resolution and it would appear on the ballot in November. Forum and public discussion should also be scheduled. Public document of alternatives to using the landfill will be given to the City by consultants within two weeks. City Council cannot express opinion or talk about it until we have all the facts.
Restaurant City Sales tax: Projected income to the City will be 700,000/year. Council will vote on this by end of the summer.
65:38
13. Update on “Best Practices” Committee- Bob and Lisa
Hope that there will be a special City Councilor’s meeting in August about to discuss thinking on Best Practices report.
67:05
14. Update on City Election Candidates’ Forum – Jim/Bob
There may be a primary so forum should be after primary.
69:50
1. 15. New Business
2. Remind press reporters or other media personnel to include our web address in their reporting. The Watch Card in your wallet or purse has it.
3. Morning’s Gazette brought a surprise. That was a clear and thoughtful consideration to no new taxes in the column entitled: “More taxes not the answer to crisis” by John Andrulis of Leeds. I think he would make a great speaker for our next Override forum.
4. As best I know we are not a political organization so should have left brochures at COA today where Ward3 A&B vote?
5. The board has approved a letter asking that the city notify all affected property owners of any proposal to change zoning on their parcels. The letter will be discussed at the joint meeting of neighborhood groups at the Fairgrounds on July 28th and then sent to the appropriate city officials and committees.
The Board gave Fred and Jim permission to do some office supply shopping for an organizational tool.
76:40
Meeting adjourned.
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