Meeting Minutes Mar 9, 2010

Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
Minutes for Board Meeting
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Bridge Street School Library

1. Approval of Minutes – Jennifer
-hold for next month… email Jennifer if you have additions/comments/corrections

2. Treasurer’s Report – Fred
-Previous Balance 1394.33
-DUES: 5 New $55
-Expenses: PO Box for 1 year $44
-NEW BALANCE: $1395.33
-Note: $350 Allocated to Neighborhood Watch
-LIST SERVE: for Ward 3ab = Previous 259; New = 263
-LIST SERVE MESSAGES: for this period = 6

Note: dues collected are not multiples of five is because our web site now accepts dues and charges a fee.

3. President’s Report – Jerry
A. Fairgrounds Redevelopment
-March 25th 6 pm new plan will be heard…
-concerns are water from I91 drainage system (now just piped over to Cross Path Rd.); fear water will run over to residents.

B. Meeting of Neighborhood Association Presidents
-every ward was there but Ward 2- meet periodically to exchange ideas
-website assistance volunteered by Adam Cohen.
-another social event is being planned; maybe Florence Civic Ctr. in May?
-Mike Cahillane for Ward 1…just starting association

C. Ward 4 Association Kickoff Announcement
- March 15 at the Unitarian Church

D. Monthly Meeting with the Mayor – Joanne, Jim and Gerry.
D1. Damon Rd. -waiting for Mass highway hearing…. design will be reworked after that. Slow time frame… but emergency…no funding now. Mayor believes as is Exit 19 is “Over-designed”
D2. Master plan re: King St.- working towards one
D3. RR: optimally have 2 passenger trains a day within 2 years. Depot with CC machine for tickets.
-Federal control so can’t do a “taking
-Ward 3 would like input, but RR Is private entity.
D4. Dim street lights: Call 587-1238 Central Service… Testing LEDs in parking garage.
D5. Bucket loader; “I made a mistake”

E. Update about the “Dream” mural restoration
-5 finalists… one is Tim Fisher with students at Bridge St. school; decision end of April

F. Island Road traffic situation update
-First day of soccer season; 4 cars in lot.
-Jesse Adams called about etiology of 21 no parking signs, was told there were no emergency concerns re: parking.
-working on traffic calming $, fees if allowed again.

G. Exit 19 Advisory Committee update: LATER with Frank
H. Our Involvement in Complete Count for Census (Owen/Joel): HOLD
I Valley Time Trade (Owen): HOLD
J. Update of Fire Aftermath
t-suspect was arraigned... Phil has raised a lot of $. THANK YOU.

4. Green Northampton Expanded Recycling – David Starr
Green Northampton: “strengthen community bonds, lower carbon levels, increase food production.”
-Landfill about to close
-goal is to reduce trash by 90% with garbage audits, education, etc.
-reworking 20 yr. old recycling ordinance ...
-it's 20 yrs old and an embarrassment...
Discussion
Board interested; Lola-chair, Jennifer, Maddy, Marianna subcommittee
Jerry: Maybe recycling event in Ward 3 in June;
Plan
Bring something firm in April

5. Nominating/Membership Committee Report – Owen
-Updated Brochure: Joanne: added 3 streets: April deadline
-Discussion of adding Additional Alternative Reps for 3A and 3B
Discussion
Marianna has concerns about Angela not voting; our bylaws says she has voting rights
Plan
Lets put it on the agenda next month.

6. Update from Bridge Street School Committee/School Committee News- Tim F.
-Budget maybe not as bad as last year.
-Upcoming forum on school transportation...

7. Discussion about establishing a 501c(3)-type organization to oversee land in Ward 3 --Maddy, Fred, Chris

Option I:
Maria Tymoczko our former Ward 3 City Councilor has joined the Conservancy Committee. She has a strong interest in setting up a distinct conservancy for land in the meadows. A stand-alone organization would have the single purpose of conservancy, the advantages of wider membership, etc.

Option II:
We could share the CRs with Broad Brook Coalition, or we could just enter into a legal agreement with BBC in which we do stewardship and monitoring of Sheldon Field and Mountain View Farms while they hold the CRs in the meadow. The later would allow us to “practice” before obtaining more CRs.

Option III:
We could also consider Ward 3 taking on land conservation. We could have hold the CR for Sheldon fields, Montview Pond, etc. This would take time to draft and articultate tour new purpose carefully to comply with 501(c)(3) demands.
Discussion
Arnie: Wouldn't it be nice if we had a 501(c)(3), for the fire money too? We are organized... this is a big bargaining chip.
Chris/Maddy: Drafting would not be easy; we would need special meeting(s).
Jerry: People want to expand parking area on Sheldon field.
Fred: 3 county fair interested in the land as well.
Plan
Jerry: Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages next month.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Mass Land Trust Coalition is having a 1-day conference and workshop in Worcester which would discuss many of these issues. Sunday March 28th. See http://www.massland.org/?q=node/33.

8. Exit 19 of I-91 Committee Update – Frank Werbinski
Summary: meeting last week, has written to the mayor. The new traffic numbers have had little input on the proposals. It is unclear whether “no building” is still on the table.

Options range from modifications without a 91 N ramp like a roundabout with intersection improvements, ramp widening and improvements to Damon Rd. to extensive reconstructions with a 91N ramp added like the high-cost double fly over.

On May 10th the proposals will be ranked and then there will be a public meeting.
Discussion
Chris: Do these plans take into consideration the planned light at Industrial Dr. or the planned train service?
Question: Where do our reps stand?
Plan
-Could Jerry & Angela write letter to reps?
-Arrange for neighborhood PAC members meet with the PAC.

9. Sustainability Committee Update – Jim
-Update on Zoning Revisions Committee and upcoming Forum
-March 17; need refreshments…

10. Traffic Calming Committee Update- Lola
Meeting Feb. 11 with Laura Hanson, engineer for city
-handouts to assist in voting on solutions

11. Report of Transportation Committee – Owen: HOLD

12. Neighborhood Watch Update- Arnie
-Successful training meeting of street coordinators at Bluebonnet
-Planning an implementation mtg. on March 18 6

13. Legislative Update from City Councillor – Angela (stand-in)
-Fairground... meeting continued to march 25; see her webite
-North Street potholes... DPW barrels... tree removal by Nat'l Grid
-Planning neighborhood mtg.
-? stop signs Hawley/buter; Hawley/hancock; day/bridge
-wants a meeting with Kokot & Rosenburg & Mayor re I91
-Office hours March 13th 10-1 Salvo House
-sent thank you letter to Neill for contributions to W3

14. Update on “Best Practices” Committee- Lisa: NTA
15. Update from Ward 3 block party committee – Owen NTA
16. Report of Committee on Youth Involvement In The Ward – Maddy NTA

17. Report of Committee studying possible Ward 3 veggie garden tour in 2010
–need to finalize date
Discussion
Pros and cons of various dates; important to have Lisa there.
Plan
Will determine optimal date

18. Report from Business Representative - Jim: NTA

19. New Business
Waste Water Treatment Plant: Effluent Pumps
I spoke to George Brehm (3/8/10) new effluent pumps are in place waiting to attach electricity, hydraulic fluid and then testing. Installation by Delray Construction should be completed in a few days then ¾ days of testing by SEA (Scientists-Engineers-Architects) Consultants of 215 First Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Meeting with the Mayor: Tim, Gerry
-RR
- What happened with best practices recommendations?