Meeting Minutes, June 10, 2007
Meeting of the Board June 10, 2007 Seasholes' Home
Present:
Dani Krasa (President), Sean Roche, Reiko Hayashi, Don Quinn, Kathy Knight, Fran Seasholes, Simon Laskey, Adam Peller
BTNA Organization:
As Nominating chair Maria Termini contacted those few people whose names had been given to her and was unable to find a President and Vice President but confirmed that Fran was willing to continue as recording secretary, Simon as treasurer, and Adam as computer communicator. Others listed above currently on the Board also expressed interest in continuing. A representative from The Terraces Condo Association also needs to be nominated. (Fran will pursue this.) Sean is considering the leadership and will let us know his decision.
Although BTNA has been relatively inactive recently as an organization, Sean, Simon, Don and Kathy have each been making city contacts and advancing our issues. There was discussion about our difficulty letting the approximatly 1100 residents of the area know about the organization and getting their participation, there was general agreement about the value of having a group voice in local issues. We still have some money from past donations. Patrica Kelly, Bowen Principal, has offered their copying facility for future needs.
Next Meetings and agenda:
As a Board we will meet on Tuesday, July 10th at the Seasholes' at 7:30 to make final plans for a General Meeting on Tuesday evening, July 24. Dani will arrange for meeting space at Andover Newton (maybe the new chapel?) or Hebrew College.
To publicize this next General Meeting Adam will check about our putting the city's sandwich board signs at the intersection of Cypress and Parker, and Langley and Jackson. Adam will send notice to the email list which is roughly 150 names. There was interest in again doing door-to-door flyers, offering Kathy more assistance. If any block parties are scheduled, use them and let local realtors know about there being a BTNA.
The agenda will include election of a slate of officers and board members, discussion of the status of the New England Development 's Chestnut Hill Square project, recommendations of the Newton Centre Task Force for developing the business area, Bowen's overcrowding sollution, the possible sale and development of the Sam White (gravel/mulch) acres on route 9 and any developments on the city's creation of Area Councils (like the successful one in Newton Highlands) to address the question of City Charter Revision. The aldermen of wards 6 and 7 would be consulted and invited..
Up-dates on local matters:
Simon reported that the MBTA 's installing new ties for heavier cars will begin on June 23 and the route for substitute buses cannot include Langley Road during the July work on its sidewalks, curbing and resurfacing there. Langley Road residents have been notified of a hearing about the proposal (among those forwarded to the city by BTNA) to create a bump-out narrowing the street at Langley Path. Sean has been following the proposed (spot) zoning change which would be required to accommodate the Chestnut Hill Square and has worked on alternatives.
Hebrew College is struggling with financial problems and has laid off some staff which means that the previous plans for expansion are dormant. Some residents of Walter Street have taken issue with the planned curve (to slow traffic) where Daniel Street starts, so another hearing has been scheduled. The Special Permit for The Terraces included specifications for the walking path and Kathy drafted and Board members signed a letter reminding our Aldermen that these have not yet been followed, although one response was to remove a section of the chainlink fence to allow passage. Sean (with Kathy) offered to document problems on the path with photos and it is suggested that the ANTS property manager be alerted to the poison ivy now covering their part of the path. Don is involved with the proposal to review the City Charter, an early stop of which would be establishing local Area Councils around Newton which would need to involve (or replace?) BTNA. The underlying question is whether the present power structure (strong mayor) is still right.
Minutes by Fran Seasholes