JPNC Minutes
August 30, 2011
Attendance: Andrea Howley, Pamela Bender, Karley Ausiello, Steven Backman, David Baron, Red Burrows,
Dave Demerjian, Peggy O’Connor, Emily Wheelwright, Jesse White, Jay Zoldak.
Called to Order at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain by Andrea Howley.
1. Introductions: Members of the JPNC introduced themselves.
2. Announcements:
- A Birthday Bash for the Jamaica Plain Branch Library’s 100th anniversary will be on Saturday, October 22 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm at the Sedgwick Street Building.
3. Neighborhood Input:
- Streetcar Liquors: Michael Dupuy made a brief presentation on his intention to open a new beer and wine package store, Streetcar Liquors, at 488 Centre Street on the corner of Kingsboro Park. He stated that he has been in the wine business for ten years. Although he does not live in Jamaica Plain, he believe this is the right location for this type of store because JP residents are interested in small batch and local sources for food.
- Dave Baron raised the issue of the store location being right across the street from the Curley School. Emily Wheelwright asked about his position on the alcohol tax. Andrea Howley asked if he would carry food and snacks as well. Steve Backman asked how Mr. Dupuy thought having this kind of business fits in with the larger business shifts in JP. Jullieanne Doherty noted that Mr. Dupuy is gaining letters of support from the JP Business & Professional Association (BAPA) and JP Centre/South Main Streets and is flyering for meetings.
- Issues will be discussed at the next Public Service Committee.
4. Committee Reports:
- Parks & Open Space Committee (POSC) -- The Parks & Open Space Committee Committee did not meet.
- Housing & Development Committee (H&DC) -- No report.
- Elections Committee — Red Burrows reported that there will be a joint meeting on September 14 with the Ombuds Board. They are getting ballots printed and are asking groups for volunteers: JPNDC, Hyde Square task Force and the Main Streets. A training night for volunteers will be n September 21. If that doesn’t work, then there will be training at the polls. Red Burrows asked for people that are leaving the Council to come to the volunteer night. There are 10 to 15 volunteers right now. There is a need for Spanish speakers.
- Zoning Committee -- David Baron reported that the Zoning Committee did not meet in August. The next meeting is on Thursday, September 1 at Farnsworth House at 7:00pm.
- Public Service Committee -- No report. The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 6 at Cheverus School at 7:00pm.
- Whole Foods negotiating group — The group is meeting regularly and trying to get organizations to sign on to the Good Neighbor Agreement. The agreement differs from the original ad-hoc report because it is informed by our conversations with community groups and leaders. There is a meeting date with Whole Foods, but it will be kept private. Input has been solicited from many groups including (not full list) Martha Eliot Health Center, Egleston Square Main Streets, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, JPNDC, Hyde Square Task Force, Hyde Jackson Business Association, and Whose Foods.
- Ad-Hoc Outreach/Communications Committee -- Dave Demerjian will maybe do a training when the new Council is in place for whoever will take over the Committee.
- Jackson CAC -- Red Burrows cannot make the next meeting. Can anyone else go?
- Centre/South Corridor CAC -- No report.
- Community Planning Committee for the Arborway Yard (CPCAY) – The MBTA and MassDOT has applied for a big grant to build the bus facility at Arborway Yard. MBTA has promised to make the (80/20) match. The decision on this grant will be made mid- to late-October. Motion to send a letter of support for the grant. Passed 11-0-0.
- Casey Overpass Working Advisory Group (WAG) -- The next public meeting will be on Wednesday, September 14 at the English High School (subsequently moved to September 13). More information is available at web.massdot.net/caseyoverpass. They have talked about greener transportation as a goal of all plans. All options have extensive bike paths and lanes. There is no money for light rail but perhaps at some point in the future this could be considered.
5. New/Old Business:
- Green Energy in JP: Terry Mason, from the Massachusetts Public Health Association, reported that there will be a Moving New England “Rally to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels” on September 24 at 4:00pm at Christopher Columbus Park in Downtown Boston. There will be a contingent from Jamaica Plain going and a group of residents is forming to discuss issues going forward. There will be a food committee and an energy committee. They’ll be posting in all the papers and on the JPNC website. This is something that touches many different committees.
- It was decided to wait until the next Council before working on a Youth Committee for the JPNC.
Council members thanked the group for all of the hard work put in during the last two years.
Motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting of the full JPNC will be on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00pm.
The next meeting of the JPNC Executive Committee will be on Thursday, September 22 at 7:30am at Ula Café.
(Minutes submitted by Michael Reiskind and Karley Ausiello)