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November 2010

JPNC Minutes

November 30, 2010

Attendance: Andrea Howley, Michael Reiskind, Jesse Abair, Karley Ausiello, Steven Backman, David Baron, Red Burrows, David Demerjian, Francesca Fordiani, Jeremy Harold, Ben Knappmiller, Steven Laferriere, Stephen Lussier, Daniel Perez Lacera, Emily Wheelwright, Jesse White, Jay Zoldak.

Other Attendees: Orion Kriegman, Michael Halle, David Taber (JP Gazette), Colleen Keller (Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services).

Called to Order at 7:14pm at First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain by Andrea Howley.

1. Introductions

  • Members of the JPNC introduced themselves.
  • Andrea Howley recognized police officials, elected officials and their aides who were attending.

2. Announcments

  • First Thursday festivities will be on Thursday, December 2 this month.
  • There will be a Canine Costume Parade on Saturday, December 4 starting at 12:30pm at First Baptist Church. Registration at the Church starting at 12noon. This is part of the 2010 Holiday Stroll festivities.
  • The Mayor’s Trolley Tour & Holiday Tree Lighting at the Monument will be at 1:30pm on Saturday, December 4.
  • The Centre /South Street Holiday Stroll festivities will begin at the Monument at 2:00pm on Saturday, December 4.
  • The Mayor’s Trolley Tour & Holiday Tree Lighting at Hyde Square will be at 2:15pm on Saturday, December 4.
  • There will be a meeting on a proposed Jackson Square playground on Monday, December 6 at 6:00pm at 38 New Heath Street. This is a partnership program of the Department of Conservation & Recreation and Children’s Hospital.
  • The Community Planning Committee for the Arborway Yard (CPCAY) will be meeting on Tuesday, December 7 at 7:00pm at the State Laboratories, 305 South Street.
  • The Mayor’s Trolley Tour & Holiday Tree Lighting at Egleston Square will be at 3:00pm on Sat., December 11.
  • The last planned Centre/South Street Corridor community meeting will be on Monday, December 13 at the Agassiz School.

3. Neighborhood Forum on Recent Violent Incidents in Jamaica Plain

4. New/Old Business

  • The Council had intended to hold an election to fill the present vacancy in Area A. Three candidates had nominated themselves at a previous meeting: Stephen Riden of  Paul Gore Street, Orion Kriegman of  Egleston Street, and Raymond Santos of  Washington Street. In addition, Michael Halle of Wyman Street nominated himself for the opening.
  • Dave baron asked that the election be moved to December. After polling the members of the JPNC, it was decided that the December JPNC meeting would be on Tuesday, December 14 and that all candidates for the open seat would be asked to submit written statements.

5. Committee Reports

  • Zoning Committee – David Baron reported that there were Zoning Committee meetings on November 4 and November 18. Of the four issues considered, two have already come to the JPNC Executive Committee for approval (29 Ashcroft Street and 125A Amory Street).
  • The following two issues are now before the JPNC: 6 Gayhead Street; request by Michael Rampoosingh to create off-street parking for two vehicles. The Committee was comfortable with two spaces, but wanted the paved are presently in the front be reduced and some of it go over to  a permeable area. The Committee recommended approval, with the proviso that the area presently paved in front of the house become a front yard.
  • 31 Gayhead Street; request by Cesar DaSilva to extend living space into ground floor. This is actually an expansion into a basement. The Committee wanted changes to the floor surfaces and increased safety in the bedrooms. The Committee recommended approval, with the proviso that there be no carpet in the basement. Motion by Dave Baron to recommend approval of these two items. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 17-0-0.
  • The Zoning Committee will meet on Thursday, December 2 and Thursday, December 16.
  • Public Service Committee – Michael Reiskind reported that the Public Service Committee meeting was held on November 9 at 7:00pm at the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge on South Huntington Avenue.
  • On the agenda was the request for a 7-Day Common Victualler license for Duo Wei Man, LLC, doing business as “Wok N Talk”, at 23-25 So. Huntington Avenue from 6:00am to 3:00am, with Nathan Long as manager. The Licensing Board is considering this as a new application because the former alcohol license was sold to a different location.
  • The owners are proposing a 97-seat restaurant offering casual Chinese and Asian fusion food. Mr. Long and his partner Richard Pan have more than 14 years experience in restaurant management, primarily with Panda Express.
  • Mr. Long and Mr. Pan also went to meetings with the Mission Hill Main Streets and the Back of the Hill Community Development Corporation (BOTH) where they received support. Five residents came to the Public Service Committee community meeting. The issues discussed were parking for take-out customers and the hours of operation. The owners assured the group that they would manage their 22-space parking lot to best keep cars from double parking on South Huntington.
  • They proposed a 6 am opening and a 3 am closing, but the community residents and the Back of the Hill Community Development Corporation preferred a 2:00am closing hour. The Committee also recommended that the hours be 6:00am to 2:00am, as well as five additional provisos: A) the applicants apply and get approval for all zoning relief and permits needed for take-out at this location, B) print or stamp their name or logo on all take-out paper bags, C) place and maintain their own trash receptacle(s) outside the establishment, D) have a follow-up community meeting with their neighbors and the JPNC three months after opening, E) have no pull down security grates on the building
  • Motion by Michael Reiskind to recommend approval of a common victualler license for Duo Wei Man, LLC, doing business as “Wok N Talk”, at 23-25 So. Huntington Avenue with the six provisos. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 17-0-0.
  • The next meeting of the Public Service Committee will be Tuesday, December 7 at the Greater Egleston High School at 3134 Washington Street. On the agenda will be a request for a transfer of the all-alcohol license of the former Old Stag Tavern at 3169-3173 Washington Street to new owners at the same location.
  • Centre/South Corridor CAC – Michael Reiskind said that the CAC has not met since the last JPNC meeting. There are meetings planned for the CAC before the presumed final community meeting of this design phase on December 13 at the Agassiz School.
  • Ad-Hoc Outreach/Communications Committee – David Demerjian reported that the Facebook page and the website are coming up. Future plans are to add a spanish translation and reach out to new folks.

6. New/Old Business

  • The Council discussed the January agenda items that are building up: safety issues, the Centre/South Streets Corridor  Community Planning Committee for the Arborway Yard (CPCAY), and committee issues. maybe the JPNC can have an extra meeting in January to accommodate the important community business.
  • Members commended Daniel Perez Lacera for his idea to have the special neighborhood forum on public safety.
  • Steve Backman reiterated his offer to work with an ad-hoc group to figure out what role the JPNC could play in youth issues and how the JPNC could work on the public safety challenges that face the community. Volunteering with Steve Backman were Michael Reiskind and Francesca Fordiani.

The next meeting of the full JPNC will be on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:32pm.

(Minutes submitted by Michael Reiskind)