Meeting Minutes, January 7, 2007
Members:
Present were: Dani Krasa (presiding), Kathy Knight, Fran Seasholes, Sean Roche, Simon Laskey, Adam Peller Missing were Reiko Hayashi and Don Quinn Resigned were Marie Termini and Margaret Alexander
Status of Organization:
The lack of Directors' meetings and General meetings for many months puts us in violation of the by-law rules, as was acknowledged by all present. There is a current sense of resolve to "get on track" , especially in relation to preparing for the election of new officers as is required every four years. As Treasurer, Simon says there is about $150. for the organization. Concerns about our effectiveness, poor communication, presumed loss of members on the mailing list, failure to add new members and whether dues should be required were noted from differing perspectives.
Review of neighborhood issues:
Langley Road repaving: Simon has kept pushing this concern with city officials. The delay was tied to the Terraces construction and to the now dormant proposal of Hebrew College to expand its campus and make an entrance off Langley Road. It is understood that Hebrew College's likelihood of moving forward are dim, especially since the adjoining Andover Newton is far along in the construction of their meeting hall. At The Terraces, the last of the 48 housing units is underway now. Sarah Barnett and Kathy Knight are addressing a letter to the Alderman pointing out that the Board order includes a walking path above Cypress Street which has not been created. Fran offered to look into the status of the Terraces' donation of trees and off-site housing money. Bowen School is currently overcrowded, with the plan to add portable classrooms in the fall, presumably on the now being overhauled side playground. The latter work includes CPA money. The parent group there is active in addressing changes. Sean and Adam reported that Daniel Street traffic calming plans have been proceeding with the use of developers mitigation funds. There is on-going concern for peak hour traffic delays on Route 9 near our neighborhood, especially on proposals being put forth by Stephen Karp's Chestnut Hill Square big development. Sean has been especially following this and looks for a BTNA subcommittee. The recent closing of Omni grocery store and the West Roxbury Stop and Shop leave this south side of Newton with fewer options for groceries. There is concern about the city's sidewalk plowing (not yet in this snowless winter!) There may be further traffic calming on Herrick Road. Fran noted that The Newton Centre Task Force will be giving a report on January 31 about their almost 2 years of work on proposals for improving and developing the Newton Centre business area. The most agreed upon change is to remove parking from the central triangle.
Plans for BTNA progress:
Adam has created a BTNA website and email account on google for improved communication. Margaret and he have the full membership email list. We agreed to have Dani ask Hebrew College (or ANTS if HC turns us down) for free meeting space for a General Meeting on Sunday, February 11, 2007 from 7:30 to 9:00. At that meeting a Nominating Committee chairman will be introduced and volunteers solicited to prepare a slate for the next BTNA officers and an update given on a few of the above developments. Another general meeting with elections will be announced for spring. The by-laws call for a quorum of 50. Our aldermen and the mayor will be invited. Dani will create a flyer about this meeting which Kathy and Sean agreed to help distribute on January 23 when there is city voting (on the NNHS site plan) at Bowen. It should also be available to distribute at the January 31 public meeting of the Newton Centre Task Force. Sean will make sure that it gets into the Bowen newsletter.
The next gathering of Directors will be on Sunday, January 21 at 7:45 at the Seasholes'
minutes by Fran Seasholes