Meeting Minutes Feb 9, 2010

Ward Three Neighborhood Association
Minutes for February 9, 2010
7 p.m.

Attendance: Arnie Levison, Owen Freeman-Daniels, Lola Reid, Marianna McKim, Tim Parshall, Joanne Gloria PArtker Fred Zimnoch, Jim Nash, Jerry Budgar, Angela Plassmann

Approval of the Minutes – One change, Bob Reckman was not absent b/c he is no longer on the board. Motion made: Gloria moved; Fred seconded.

Treasurers’ Report February 2010 – Fred Zimnoch
1. Previous Balance 1436.08
2. Contribution from Ward3 Business $50 see note.
3. DUES: 3 New & 3 Renewal $110.0
4. Donation to Fire Victims = -250.0
5. Donation from Congressman: Richard Neal: $100.0
6. NEW BALANCE: $1394.33
7. Note: $350 Allocated to Neighborhood Watch
8. LIST SERVE: for Ward 3ab = Previous 255; New = 259
9. LIST SERVE MESSAGES: for this period = 7
Note: The reason why the dues collected are not multiples of five is that our web site now accepts dues. It charges 2.9%+$0.30. Thus a $20 donation nets $19.12, $15 donation nets $14.26 and $50 donation nets $48.25.
Richard Neal’s office ½ to victims fund and ½ to watch and extra $100 to watch. Currently $350 for watch. Other $250 was sent to the victims’ fund.

Motion to approve Treasurer’s Report Jennifer R. made motion, seconded; approved

Neighborhood Watch

First training meeting 2/26 for coordinators; Arnie and Owen reviewed materials; had lingering concern how the Board and Neighborhood Association would interact with Neighborhood Watch. Neighborhood Watch to comport more with values of Northampton. Goal Statement and Privacy policy; Street Coordinators will be in charge of their neighborhoods. In reviewing materials, formal way in which W3NA could become involved with Neighborhood Watch through a partnership; this could also be facilitated between Neighborhood W and other organizations; Neighborhood Watch will send rep to W3NA monthly Meetings: effective actions taken by the Neighborhood Watch: distribution of materials, written complaints, future: curriculum, training, events would be reviewed at monthly W3NA Meeting and time for comment and W3NA and anyone else who wanted to attend. W3NA would enact privacy policy. Owen wants to have the W3NA Board vote on Goals Statement and create committee to meet regarding the Neighborhood Watch.

The Neighborhood Watch leadership committee consists of Phil Sullivan, Arnie Levinson and Owen Freeman-Daniels. The Neighborhood Watch would like to expand leadership. To be membership of leadership committee: have leaders be involved on a basis where they have experience. Rather than having 3 on leadership committee, would like 4 or 5. Are also desirous of having mtgs of other NW’s throughout the city. Coordinate quarterly or whatever is deteremined. We are a model, but we also want to do more to include others. Best way: is to have a meeting throughout city. Curriculums and discussion to be held at a later date. There is a meeting on 2/26. It is not open to the public as previous thought. There are only 50 slots available and they are full. If more slots open then Arnie will let us know and people can contact him. Channel 22 would like to give it publicity. National people are coming to it. It is a training event. Police Department’s and so on from Western Mass will be attending.

Discussion of a proposed partnership between the Neighborhood Watch and the W3NA.

Discussion on organizing the Ward 3 Neighborhood Watch and facilitation of Street Coordinators and training to occur. Discussion of leadership and the development of By-Laws and the set-up of the Neighborhood Watch to keep the divide between the Street Coordinators and the leadership of the Neighborhood Watch.

Discussion of an endorsement from the W3NA to support the goals and the emerging Neighborhood Watch.

Timothy Parshall proposes that the W3NA supports the goal and privacy policy of the emerging Neighborhood Watch and that we would like to have a partnership in future pending the memorandum of understanding.

Discussion of information protected and unprotected by the privacy policy.

Vote 12 in favor, 1 abstention.

Discussion of meeting to assist with the Memo of Understanding for the Neighborhood Watch.

Article in the Gazette discloses that City Council President David Narcowitz will be in charge of the committee to review the city charter. It will be reviewed every 10 years. The committee will consist of 4 residents and 3 City Councilors. Send letter of interest to Councilor Narcowitz by February 26th.

There are currently two vacancies for alternate member of OPD
There are two vacancies BPW; contact the Mayor if you are interested. Would be a great
There are 2 vacancies from the conservation commission.
Process is the mayor nominates but the City Council approves.
Request made to Angela to update the W3NA with openings in City positions.

Discussion of the Fairgrounds and the meeting related to the Fairgrounds.

Monthly meeting with the Mayor: The next meeting will be 2/18 at 4:30 p.m. Discussion regarding topics of the meeting postponed until later in the meeting.
Damon Road will be the agenda.


Bean Farm/Allard Farm: Mayor hopes to have 4 multi purpose field and a couple of baseball diamonds. It will take a couple of years to develop the fields. Not sure how it would affect Western United as the Mayor feels our first obligation is to Northampton citizens, not Western United. Feels it is good for city as it saves farmland and sports. After deal is completed the city would own recreation fields. It was mentioned of Recreation Department stating that no outside organizations would be allowed at the first Bean/Allard Farm meeting.

Issue on Island Road re: marina getting boats down road.
Survey will be done; better parking regulations on Island Road. Mayor stated that it was concern from the Fire Department. Mayor also stated that there needed to be better parking regulations on Island Road. It was mentioned that there was the potential for no use permit if only Western United were playing. The Mayor speculated if only Western United using the soccer fields that it may be difficult to require Western United to have permit.

Rail project: W3NA sent letter supporting concept of passenger rail link and the Mayor said $70 Million Dollars was received by the State and $4 Million of this money would be used to fund a tunnel from the Milyard area near Owen under the railroad tracks to King Street. Hoping it will go from Connecticut to Vermont. Not sure on how far north the service will be. The City has retained the Union Station platform. The State will designing tunnel under railroad. The Mayor would like to have a multimodel area. This may have an impact on the Damon Road project, but as of the meeting she did not speak with Ned Huntly regarding the Damon Road Project. She will talk with him and give us an update at the next meeting. Currently there is no money in the budget regarding the Damon Road project but it will hopefully contain bike lanes, sidewalks and stoplight at industrial drive.

Discussion of foot patrol from the Police Department and the question of proactive/reactive programs with the Fire Department. Discussion of lack funds for patrols. There are only 4 officers on shift for 170 miles of road (uniformed officers). Mayor asked that people join their neighborhood watch and is asking people to call the PD and report what they see. Discussion by Board re: the police department activity in Ward 3 due to speeding, etc.

Mayor: Reverse 911: does not have timeline and procurement for receiving it. Discussion of the calls and their levels. Mention of the Mayor considering the purchase of lights to be present in the City which would indicate when there is no on street parking.

End of Mayor Meeting Discussions.

Dream Mural: As you know the mural where POP’s package store used to be across Bridge Street. The Jury to select the Dream Mural winner will be Mary Casper, _________ (please fill in names) and Bob Reckman.

2/23rd 7 p.m. for open hearing in city hall to select finalist. Scored on 100 pts system. Hope to have installation begun by 8/1.

Discussion on ways to protect the new mural and question of ways to prevent damage by trucks to the new mural.

Tim Fisher emailed that the 5th grade at Bridge Street School is submitting design for mural.

Island Road Update: Northampton Soccer Club withdrew application to amend their permit. Next hearing would be in June 2010.

Exit 19: No update; 2/22nd at JFK for Exit 19 advisory meeting.

Census: Meeting few weeks ago; have broken down ward by street and have tried to highlight that buildings. Not Northampton Housing housing, but most of the buildings that are likely to be rentals. There is a need for more volunteers to assist, but it should not be hard to reach out. They would would like to have Spanish spkg individuals to assist. Things W3 is leading on volunteering and this activity; may need to buy flyers.
J: census is important; every person counted is app; $10,000 ; MA is on verge to lose congressional seat.
W3 contains 2 CDGB tracks and that is how money is gotten; in a few years the W3 may

Valley Time Trade: Hold Off

Fire Aftermath: Jerry wants to thank Phil as Phil has been very quietly been involved in creating a reward fund raising a substantial amount of money.

Tree Removal: Adam Cohen sent email re: North Street trees taken down; National Grid took down w/o notification. Fred mentioned that the arborvitae next to tunnel on Hancock Street, etc. will be removed. The US Army Corps of engineers are taking them down as they are effecting the dyke.

Marilyn Richards had tragedy and the W3NA sent card. Marilyn sent a Thank You card.

Nominating/Membership Committee Report- Owen: No report

Bridge Street School: No Report as Tim could not make the meeting.

Website: No update

Sustainability Committee Meeting: Zoning Revisions will be hosting meeting on 2/24, 7-9 p.m. at JFK, regarding what they have been doing for the past year. There will be breakout sessions for the public input. Follow the lines of different organizations within the City. Looking for feedback as to who has heard about this. W3NA is providing refreshments at this event. Members of public is ok to donate items as well. 2/26 JFK @ 7p.m. Follow up in March. Discussion of zoning changes. Angela will check re: zoning letters being sent out.

Traffic Calming Committee: Lola: There will be a meeting this Thursday. Hoping Pomeroy, Hawley and Williams Street area will attend. Possible designs, possible solutions for traffic in our neighborhood. Laura Hanson, traffic engineer will be at meeting. Neighbors will be able to give their input. Discussion of a traffic circle.

Exit 19: Discussion of representation by Ward 3.

Report of Transportation Committee: Discussion of multimodal transportation and the input the Ward 3 residents have for input on the trains. Input needs to be heard as Ward 3 will be affected. It was mentioned that this should be discussed with Mayor at the next meeting. What would the affect be with Damon Road and the tunnels from new trains?

Angela: Handicapped parking. Hotel: Mayor wanted extension if need be; Jesse Adams and Angela Plassmann were opposed and want the February 15th deadline to be enforced. Angela is hopeful the process will get started. Mayor gagged how those felt. Generally, folks didn’t want more than a few days for an extension. Councilor Tacey was specific with no more than a few days. Plassmann heard from lots of people re: that there has been enough of extensions.

North St: Correspondence started about a month ago. Angela was in contact with the BPW as to where North Street sits with the plan to repave and it will be on in the next or two years and will try to get sooner than later. They will be discussing traffic calming measures, the sidewalk and road. She asked the BPW tree person to have a meeting and is trying to coordinate meeting with residents re: tree as BPW wants to meet with residents. National Grid cut down tree. Ownership of trees is discussed. There is a grant for some trees to be replaced. Want to bring to get feedback and get plants replaced. Board is hoping Angela can provide more information regarding the tree issue.

Fairgrounds: Thank you to the Conservation Commission who asked to put off vote and be responsive to citizens concerns. There will be a hearing at 6 p.m. Angela will try to get a copy of plans (plans for drainage) and will get two copies around so many people can view. The plans are due Thursday. Angela will call Wayne Thursday. Wants to have people able to view the plans even after hours.

Discussion of what occurs if they change the plans, what will need to occur.

Charter Review: Angela is going to try to get on the Committee to review the charter. Zoning revisions: if anyone wants to see, it is on website. She has worked the last two weeks assisting with Jim Nash to resolve an issue.
Citizens recently put together change to ordinance regarding drinking water. The citizens put this forward and had to pay $1K fee. Angela is to propose an ordinance that we delete payment to change zoning ordinance. If they go through City Councilor it doesn’t cost. Thinks the Gag Order may be the reason this was not brought through the City Councilor.

Thanking Adam Cohen for donating equipment to City Council. There will be a Public Safety Committee on March 1st 6 p.m. re: safety (Island Road traffic being discussed). Office Hours: This Saturday 10-1 p.m. at Walter Salvo House; go through front door.

Home phone no. is unlisted, but did take out landline for house so citizens can reach her: 727-8770.

Best Practices: No Update

Block Party: Owen is getting assistance from Jesse Adams for closing Orchard St. for block party. More details at a later date.

Youth: Deferred as Maddy is not in attendance.

Garden Tour: We have 6 gardens and asking for more. Friends of Forbes is interested in cross marketing with us if we promote their flower tour. It would be ideal if the tour would be the end of July or beginning of August. Not sure if a Saturday or Sunday would be better. Veggie tour will be posted on listserve to see if they can get more gardens for the tour. Would like urban gardens, raised beds too. Money to go to treasury and fund projects in the ward.

501(c)(3) – Chris Cahillane: city owns property for Sheldon field but Broadbrook Coalition runs it (501c3) which manages it without management responsibilities. Wayne provided information. Basically the 10 acres is to be used for rec. purposes; restrictions on what you can/cannot do. Want is as free open space for ball fields and maintained for those type of fields. Edward Sheldon granted this property in 1999. They no longer want to police it. Jerry was presented with the idea of taking this on. A group got together to weight pros and cons. Series of questions were emailed to Wayne. Discussion of the costs for a 501(c)(3) and the filings for each year.

Did not make recommendation: presenting just pros and cons; did not feel comfortable making recommendation.

Vote: 3yes; 7 on fence.

Consideration of the impact on the organization and the level of the organization moving forward and the benefits of being a 501(c)(3). Discussion of the impact. Issue saved for next months meeting.

The CBDG plan is not going to happen this year. The deadline is Thursday

King Street: See Jim Nash regarding the discussions.

New Business: Fred
Waste Water Treatment Plant: Effluent Pumps
I spoke to George Brehm (2/8/10) the Director of WWTP about progress installing the new effluent pumps. He reported: Delray Construction is now in the plant preparing to install the effluent pumps. He said that they expect the effluent pumps this week although they are scheduled to arrive next Tuesday (2/16/10). All installation activities are on schedule. He also said that we could get pump specs after they are installed.

Meeting moved to adjourn.