Meeting minutes, July 10, 2007
Bowen-Thompsonville Neighborhood Association Board Meeting at Seasholes' house
Present:
Dani Krasa (Chair), Sean Roche, Fran Seasholes, Simon Laskey, (at end - Kathy Knight)
Plan for July 24 General Meeting:
Sean has agreed to take on the chairmanship and a message was left for Nominating Person, Maria Termini, to provide Dani with the rest of the leadership names for presentation at the July 24 (7:30-9:00 meeeting at ANTS Peck room) for a hand election vote. Fran will try again to get a Board member from The Terraces Other volunteer board members will be requested. Simon will sit at an entrance table with a sign-in (provided by Dani) and collection basket for voluntary contributions. After the turn over of "the gavel" Sean will outline his 3 step vision/proposal for acquiring more active members: sign a pledge slip with contact info about willingness to attend at least 3 or 4 meetings (likely to be public hearings on proposals) a year, agreememt to recruit 5 people for the BTNA email communication list, give $25 which would enable BTNA to do more publicity. He would ask people to commit to doing at least 2 of the 3 things in order to be involved and committed to the neighborhood.
Preparations: Dani will contruct plywood/paper sandwich board signs announcing the meeting and place them at Daniel & Jackson, Langley & Glen and Florence. Dani will create a one page flyer and either print it in the next couple days at Bowen or have Sean do it. Kathy and Fran will contacat the door-to-door deliverers and distribute flyers to them for immediate delivery (at the meeting more distributers will be solicited).. Dani has and will post door signs directing people to the Peck Room. Snacks & drinks will be brought by Board members. Sean will send a notice to The Newton Tab. Sean will email invitations to the Ward 6,7 & 8 Aldermen.
The following issues will be presented to the meeting, with the understanding that special guests will be introduced and offered a moment to speak, as they arrive.
Langley Road, Glenn and Ripley - (Simon) - progress on sidewalks, curbs & repaving
Newton Centre Task Force - (Fran or Vicky) - status of report
Planned Mixed Business District - (Sean) - progress on new zoning ordinance which will apply
to the Chestnut Hill Square Development on Route 9
Bowen School overcrowding - (Cindy Roche) - status and portable classroom
Bowen School Safe Route to School Program - (Sean?)
Bowen's new playground - (Dean Allen?)
Traffic control - (Sean?) status of Daniel, Herrick and Langley (bump-out) plans
Communication - (Adam) - BTNA internet
Community Preservation Act - ( who?) - proposal to use CPA to enlarge Webster Woods
Draft Comprehensive Plan - (Phil Herr ?) - notice of upcoming city vote on it
The Terraces -(Fran or T rep) - Up-date on $ given to Newton Housing Authority
Aldermanic Election - (Sean) - proposal for BTNA candidate night meeting
Planned Mixed Business District:
Sean, who has been attending the Aldermanic Zoning Committee meetings and contributing ideas, reported on the status of the Planning Deparment revisions of the New England Development Corp's proposals related to their business-residential plans for the Omni acres on Route 9. That committee has agreed that City Planner Michael Kruse will docket the item for a September Aldermanic meeting which slows down the process. The hope is to make the criteria tight and leave some control to the Aldermen. Sean and another are likely to create an alternative zoning proposal which would include creation of pedestian passageways, public transit access and restrications on road widening.
Next Board Meeting:
Sean will email people about an August date. Simon now has computer access
Minutes by Fran