The Ward Three Neighborhood Association, the Northampton Office of Planning and Development and the Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways will hold a two-part celebration on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. The first part will be the annual meeting of the Ward Three Neighborhood Association, which will begin at 12:30 PM on the Deck at Union Station. We will report on the activities of the Association for the last year and our plans for the coming year. We will also take nominations, elect the Board of the Association and consider some changes to the bylaws. People will be encouraged to renew their membership or to join the Association. Annual dues are $10 for individuals and $15 for families. Refreshments will be served and there will be ample opportunities for socializing. The meeting area is covered, so the event will proceed rain or shine.
At 2:00 PM the new bike path will be formally opened at the new bike bridge over Main St. Wayne Feiden, director of OPD, will offer a few words of thanks to the many people and organizations that contributed to its completion. Citizens are encouraged to come on their bikes and explore the new trail system. Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways will lead a walking tour at 2 PM. There will also be some bike events for children. We hope that everyone who is interested in either event will join us for both.
Background: due to much public debate, there will be a re-examination of the 2000 CT river crossing study recommendations concerning the I-91, Exit 19, Full Interchange.
This meeting is meant to inform the public about this process. An “Alternatives Selections Phase” will use updated traffic information and consider other more recently-proposed development projects in the area
GREENorthampton and the Massachusetts Municipal Association is sponsoring a free seminar at College Church, 58 Pomeroy Terrace, Northampton.
Most Massachusetts homes could save 20% to 50% on their fuel use. * Want to reduce your home energy costs? * Looking for cheap, do-it-yourself solutions? * Interested in energy savings financing options? * Government rebates and incentives?
The presenters are knowledgeable and good at emphasizing simple, doable, inexpensive ways to winterize your house, and they also provide a lot of information about how to get government money to pay for some of the more expensive steps, e.g. insulation. The presenters are oriented to what the attendees want to hear and allow plenty of time for specific questions.
Minutes of Board Meeting Tuesday, September 8, 2009 7 pm ‘Bring a Friend’ Meeting Bridge Street School Library
Present: Fred Zimnoch, Joanne Mackiewicz, Lola Reid, Bob Reckman, Owen Freeman Daniels, Tim Fisher, Jim Nash, Gerald Budgar, Gloria Parker, Marianna McKim
Absent: Lisa DiPiano (due to bike injuries), Phil Sullivan, Madeline Weaver Blanchette,
Members of the Public in attendance: Jesse Adams, Jennifer Remillard, Deborah Christakos, Luke Jaeger, Angela Plassman, Matt Nowak, Neal Robinson, David Newton, Matthew Schenker, Sydney Stern, Adam Cohen, Bill Mackiewicz
1:40 1. Approval of Minutes – Postponed to later in the evening. (August minutes were not approved because of additional revisions.) Attendees introduced themselves by stating their name and street address.
2:00 2. Treasurer’s Report – Fred September 2009 1. EXPENSES: Neighborhood Meeting at 3C Fair Grounds $52.80 2. DUES: None. 3. BALANCES: Previous $730.31 New 677.73 4. LIST SERVE: for Ward 3ab = 168 members Add Ms. Shoshana Marchand. 5. LIST SERVE MESSAGES: for this period = 1
2:30 3. President’s Report – Jerry President Gerry Budgar welcomed Board member, “friends” and others in attendance and gave a historical background of how the Association started 6-7 years ago. He also outlined several of our major accomplishments during this time.
5:00 Further discussion about the “Dream” mural restoration Bob is advocating that the railroad bridge mural be dismantled. It is in major disrepair. There are several large panels above the top of the bridge. If the panels are removed then the original paint on the bridge that is behind the panels/mural will be in view. Unsure of how this will look. The rail passenger; bridge is not useable. It would be difficult to get the railroad to paint the bridge. Bob has talked with many City agencies such as the Arts Council to determine their interest in refurbishing the bridge, but there is no interest at this time primarily because there is no funding. Bob has hope that BID will improve railings and lighting under the bridge. Folks are concerned about graffiti if the mural is removed. The Board also wanted to encourage more of a public dialogue regarding a recommendation that would be made to the City. Bob will create a survey or announcement that the Board is considering a recommendation to take the mural down and post it on the listserve. This item was tabled until next meeting.
20:00 Island Road traffic situation update – Owen, Jim and Bob met with presidents of both Soccer Clubs and expressed that Board may be taking action to ask City to enforce. The Board asked the sub committee to meet one more time to review the letter that will be sent to the Building Commissioner, Anthony Patillo. This revised letter will be sent by email to the Board for an approval vote.
32:00 Meeting of Exit 19 Project Advisory Committee This is the first meeting of the Advisory Committee since the new engineering firm was hired. It is not designed to be a public input session first and foremost. This meeting will occur on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of JFK Middle School. (9.10.09 -Meeting has been postponed because it conflicts with the city's need for space for the preliminary election.) Mass Highway and Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc are running the meeting. Tentative agenda for the meeting will include the following items: 1. Proposed Project Development Process a. Work plan b. Schedule c. Meetings 2. Draft Public Involvement Plan 3. Data Collection a. Environmental b. Transit c. Traffic
Marcy Miller, AICP Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. 72 Cedar Street Hartford, CT 06106 Main Phone: 860-247-7200; Direct Line: 860-256-4913; Fax: 860-540-1010
Set date for annual Meadows Cleanup – Sunday, October 25. 10-2pm; meet at the airport.
Distribution of Ward 3 Brochure: Fred will distribute brochures the first hour at the primary election polls on Tuesday, September 15. He will leave the flyers on the table and he encourages other board members to take time after they vote to distribute brochures.
Collaboration with Neighborhood groups The informal cookout at Fairgrounds in July with other neighborhood groups in the City went well. Suggestions/discussion on how can we collaborate with these groups and work together on common projects is encouraged and welcomed. There will be a breakfast meeting sometime in September at Smittys in Bay State. Gerry will attend.
44:00 4. Nominating/Membership Committee Report – Jim A bylaw change will have to occur to create a School Committee Rep position as a board member. They’ll be more discussion on this at our next Board meeting.
Tim is running for School Committee and is unopposed. If the bylaw passes, he will then be considered an ex-officio School Committee Ward 3 Board Member and there will be an opening for his position on the board.
5. Annual Meeting: Scheduled for Oct 4. See Press Release
50:50 6. Update from Bridge Street School Committee – Tim Playground is built! City preschool classes are now at Bridge Street. Tim will meet with principal this year to talk about enrollment. Mandy and Deb, Bridge Street PTO chairs have a small grant to landscape the grounds.
53:45 7. Sustainability Committee Update – Jim The Sustainability plan encourages an increase in density in Ward 3. The Ward 3 Association board is concerned that property owners be given proper notification that a zone change is being proposed for their property. This will allow property owners the right to speak about the proposal at public meetings and express support or opposition for changes to the zoning on their parcel. The Board created a letter that will be sent to the City and public boards and added to the listserve.
Update on Zoning Revisions Committee – recommendations about rezoning City wide. Jim announced that there will be a meeting in City Hall, Room 18 on Sept 14 to discuss urban livestock options and considerations. It is hopeful that the farmers in the meadows will participate in this discussion.
60:20 7. Traffic Calming Committee Update – Lola, Lisa Lola spoke with David Narkewitz and he proposes that we meet with Laura Hanson to get clarification on the distribution of the budget for the Williams-Hawley project. On October 20th, the committee will be meeting with City’s Transportation committee. Lola and Mac are riding their bikes with signs on their backs asking drivers to drive slowly. It was also noted by residents in attendance that speed and volume has increased on North Street and also near the bike path and Woodmont Road. Trucks are winding there way around the Woodmont, North Street, Lincoln Ave neighborhood.
70:30 8. Exit 19 of I-91 Committee Update – Jim The subcommittee met on Friday, August 28th and the minutes have been posted to the website. Mara Shulman-Ryan is stepping down and the Board would like to recommend Frank Werbinski. The Mayor asked for Mara’s official resignation in writing and also a second name for her replacement. This was tabled until October’s meeting.
72:35 9. Report of Transportation Committee - Owen -Update about W3NA Co-Sponsorship of Ward 3 Bike Path Grand Opening – See Annual Meeting announcement. -Update about sidewalks, bike path maintenance, train routing, and walking buses, rail and the possibility of high speed rail. Adverse effects: noise, fumes, traffic and station location. The minutes of the meeting are posted on the website.
81:30 10. Legislative Update from Councilor Reckman – Bob Ballot wording for citizen and City Council’s referendum is non binding. Hope that counselors will be able to express what will happen to the land and the landfill expansion because the Council has a judicial role rather than representative role. DPW has scheduled another meeting about the landfill on 10.14.09.
83:40 11. Update on “Best Practices” Committee- Bob and Lisa Bob requested to the Chair of the City Council that a special Councilor’s meeting be scheduled to discuss the report.
84:45 12. Update on City Election Candidates’ Forum – Jim/Bob Gerry started by apologizing to the Board and attendees because he appointed Bob to serve on the committee that was planning the Ward 3 Councilor’s Forum. It was an oversight and unintended. Bob will recuse himself from this committee and any further involvement in the Ward 3 forum. Gerry stated that Bob was involved in the planning of the Forum, but was not involved in any of the details of how the meeting will be conducted. It was also noted that questions would be generated from participants or from the listserve. There will not be any prepared questions created by the Ward3 Board. Gerry and Fred have created a process for the evening and they will be facilitators. It was agreed by consensus that mayoral candidates will get five minutes for opening statements and councilor at large and school committee at large candidates four minutes; and name of the person asking question will be announced. Gerry and Fred will update the candidate forum process with these revisions.
Angela Plassmann, Candidate for Ward 3 representative stated that she has decided not to participate in the Forum because of Bob’s involvement in planning of the forum and that he had an advantage over the process. She expressed her concern that she and other candidates were not consulted about the details of the forum and she was highly suspicious of how W3NA would run the forum. She felt it was a closed process; she was not clear on what the process was for creating the forum. She was also offended because of the short notice that she received regarding the date of the forum. Jim said that he contacted all of the candidates after he returned from vacation in late August. (He has not heard back from all candidates) Several members of the Board encouraged Angela to reconsider her decision so we could hear about her platform; she stated that she would not reconsider. Other members stated that Bob’s position on the Board was valuable in keeping informed about what is occurring in the City and his lack of partisanship as a board member.
Dates of Candidate Forums: At Large City Council and School Committee – October 14th – Bridge Street School 7pm Mayoral and Ward 3 City Council - October 19th - Bridge Street School 7pm Forum on landfill Bob is trying to arrange a forum without success.
Procedures for Candidate Forums: see Addendum
118:40 13. New Business Fred Zimmock presented the following new business- puddles or flooding? 1. Pomeroy Terrace Pot Holes On Monday July 13th Bob Reckman and I met with DPW Ned Huntley and City Councilors (Jim Dostal) to discuss pot holes at 8, 9, & 10 Pomeroy Terrace that have been occurring as far as I know since 1975 but absent for awhile after the entire Street was repaved for sewer lines. So repaving the entire street is not a solution. Later in an email Ned said that he would send someone to look to see if there was an easy solution to the puddling problem. I responded by email that this was not an instance of puddles but flooding.
During the late afternoon rain on Saturday (8/22/2009) I observed and photographed the street near 8, 9 and 10 Pomeroy Terrace. A few days previous to this downpour I inspected this area and found excessive grout from many repaired pot holes next to the berm. The amount was so large that growing weeds led one to consider that the berm was expanding into the roadway. Several days later the street sweeping truck cleaned the street and removed all the detritus leaving a completely clean street and gutters.
So it was with great surprise that on Saturday during the rain I noticed that the street around 8, 9, and 10 Pomeroy Terrace was completely flooded as shown in the attached pictures. Further examination showed that while water was accumulating to the top of the curbing the streams of water were moving toward the sewers but the sewers simply did not have the throughput to accommodate the peak flow. Later examination showed a small shovel full of leafs and litter covering one sewer but the remaining sewer was clear of trash. This is precisely the type of flooding that occurs in the late fall, winter and early spring such that with pavement cracks along with freezing, thawing and traffic flow cause the dramatic pot holes that you see in the attached photograph. At this time of year the flooding usually remains unless someone clears the sewers as discussed on 7/13/2009 at the DPW or nature takes its course.
Parenthetically I will add that a DPW staff member (Mike Turomsha who is to retire shortly) did visit Pomeroy Terrace on 7/30 at 11 AM. When I asked what could be done he said that Street would need to be repaved. When I reminded him that street was re-paved in early 1990s and pot holes returned he said he did not know what was wrong. I suggested that flooding might be an issue and he said that street sweeping might help. He said that a lady would come down and look at the slope of the street to see if that was the problem. On following up Monday (8/31) he said in a telephone conversation that nothing else could be done since the DPW has hundreds of problems like this.
02:16 Meeting Adjourned
New Business for October meeting Ward 3 Block parties
Addendum #1 Operational details for October Candidate Forums Sponsored by the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
Forum #1 on Wednesday, October 14 School Committee At Large City Council At Large
Forum #2 on Monday, October 19 Ward 3 City Council Mayor
Each forum will begin with Jerry Budgar introducing the candidates. Each candidate will then be given time as follows to make an opening statement, introduce him/herself, and address whatever subject matter he/she feels is appropriate: Mayoral candidates – 5 minutes. All other candidates – 4 minutes.
Following the opening statements, Jerry as moderator will ask an initial question that each candidate will be given two minutes to answer. Follow-up questions will come from two sources: submitted in writing before the forum by members of our association listserv or asked in person by folks attending the forum that evening. The name of each person asking a question will be announced. Each candidate will be given two minutes to answer each question. We will rotate the order of responses among the candidates. It is our preference to have questions involving issues that directly relate to Ward 3 and the residents who live in our ward, but we will not restrict questions of a more general nature.
Fred will act as timekeeper. He will give an auditory warning at the 15-second mark and then run his finger across his throat when the two minute time period is up.
The forum will end with each candidate being given two minutes to make a closing statement that includes whatever material he/she thinks is most important.
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