Meetings

Loading...

Archives

October 2009

JPNC Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2009

Attendance: Michael Reiskind, Jesse Abair, Karley Ausiello, Steven Backman, Pamela Bender, Red Burrows, Dave Demerjian, Francesca Fordiani, Jeremy Harold, Andrea Howley, Ben Knappmiller, Steven Laferriere, Stephen Lussier, Edith Murnane, Daniel Perez, Emily Wheelwright.

Other Attendees: David Baron, Jay Zoldak, Susan Cartmell, Peggy O’Connor, Samantha Roy (Office of State Representative Jeffrey Sánchez), Melina Muñoz (Office of State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz), Anna Sylvester (Office of City Councillor John Tobin), David Taber (JP Gazette).

Called to Order at 7:06pm at Curtis Hall by Michael Reiskind, past secretary, acting as interim chair .

1. Announcements –

  • Emerald Necklace Conservancy Annual Meeting will take place Wednesday, November 4 at Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway, starting at 6:00pm. The keynote speaker, starting at 7:00pm, will be Peter Forbes of the Center for Whole Communities.
  • “Health of Jamaica Plain”, a community meeting to discuss health issues and race, sex, income, and ethnic background, will be held on Thursday, November 5 at The English High School, 144 McBride Street, starting at 5:30pm. Sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Coalition Tree of Life/Arbol de Vida and the Boston Public Health Commission.

2. Introductions –

  • Members of the JPNC introduced themselves.

3. Minutes –

  • The minutes from the previous (September 29, 2009) JPNC meeting were handed out. Motion by Red Burrows to approve the minutes from the September 2009 meeting. Seconded by Andrea Howley. Passed 15-0-1 (late).

4. Election of JPNC Officers –

  • Michael Reiskind stated that the JPNC by-laws say that “Officers shall be elected by the membership of the JPNC from among its members by the second meeting following the biennial election of members”. Since the election was in early September, elections for officers are required at this meeting. Michael Reiskind also reminded members that “officers shall serve a term of one year”. He then asked for nominations for Chair. Red Burrows nominated Andrea Howley for Chair of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council. Seconded by Francesca Fordiani. Michael Reiskind asked for further nominations, but there were none. Motion by Red Burrows to elect Andrea Howley by acclamation. Seconded by Pamela Bender. Motion passed 15-0-1 (late).
  • Michael Reiskind asked for nominations for Vice-Chair. Andrea Howley nominated Pamela Bender for Vice-Chair of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council. Seconded by Red Burrows. Michael Reiskind asked for further nominations, but there were none. Motion by Red Burrows to elect Pamela Bender by acclamation. Seconded by Andrea Howley. Motion passed 16-0-0.
  • Michael Reiskind asked for nominations for Secretary/Treasurer. Red Burrows nominated Michael Reiskind for Secretary/Treasurer of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council. Seconded by Andrea Howley. There were no other nominations. Motion by Red Burrows to elect Michael Reiskind by acclamation. Seconded by Andrea Howley. Motion passed 16-0-0.
  • Andrea Howley asked Michael Reiskind to continue to chair the rest of this month’s meeting.

5. New/Old Business –

  • Nominations for JPNC vacancies — There was a clarification on Francesca Fordiani’s comments last meeting that the By-Laws stated that nominations cannot be made until the next meeting. The nominations for vacancies in Area A were nominated again: Tolle Graham, Jay Zoldak, Peg O’Connor, and Wayne Norman. Tolle Graham has withdrawn her nomination and will work on JPNC committees. Wayne Norman has withdrawn his nomination. That leaves Jay Zoldak of 25 Kenney Street and Peg O’Connor of 33 Round Hill Street as nominees. David Baron of 3 Glenvale Terrace was nominated again for the vacancy in Area B. The election to fill the vacancies will be at the November 24 JPNC meeting.
  • Steve Backman wants to have the JPNC work on public education and youth affairs, supporting the conditions of youth, their parents and schools. He asked for volunteers. Volunteering for the Committee were Ben Knappmiller, Karley Ausiello and Steven Laferriere.

6. Committee Reports –

  • Jackson Square Community Advisory Committee(CAC) – Red Burrows reported that the CAC met on October 6 and was updated on changes in siting and changes in funding. Housing ownership units will now become Housing rental units, and the number has decreased from 60 to 30 units. Also, the City has made clear that the existing salt shed is not moving, and so the Kelly Rink is proposed to move closer to the Ritchie and Columbus corner to allow the housing to be further from the salt shed. The Ritchie Street sidewalk is expanding to 6’ wide. The proposed elimination of the Youth Center has bothered the CAC. Because of these significant changes, another Article 80 process must be undertaken. There will be at least two community meetings, perhaps on November 9 and November 16. The CAC will hold its recommendations until after the community meetings. Francesca Fordiani asked whether the City had made a previous commitment to move the salt shed. Red answered that the City had only said it would try to help move the shed. Red Burrows reminded members that we need to choose an alternate to represent the JPNC on the CAC. Red will check that the JPNC has a permanent seat and can name an alternate. The CAC meets on alternating first Tuesdays and Thursdays of the month. The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 5 at 6:00pm at New Academy Estates Community Room.
  • Housing & Development(H&DC) – Pamela Bender reported that the Committee met on Tuesday, October 20. The Committee continues to work on the Healthy Housing Guidelines and will report back to the JPNC soon. The H&DC meets on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30pm at the Bowditch School.
  • Parks & Open Space Committee(POSC) – Andrea Howley reported the following issues were heard at the POSC on October 20:  1) The Committee is looking at ways to do fundraising to aid the Franklin Park Zoo by offering adopt-an-animal kits to retail and commercial establishments – must check with the Zoo on this first. They will also go out to corporations with memberships and adoptions. There was an idea for the Zoo to sponsor a fundraising cross-country race on the Franklin Park cross-country course. 2) The wall repair work that needs to be done at the Arnold Arboretum needs to be worked out among the Arboretum, the City of Boston and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. 3) There is an issue of natural gas leaks killing trees along the Arborway between Jamaica Pond and the Centre Street rotary (Murray Circle). The POSC will check where there is the smell of gas. Although National Grid has classified the leaks as “non-threatening”, they will come immediately if there is a report of gas odor. Francesca Fordiani asked whether the community supplying timely notification when it is not an emergency. The POSC meets on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30pm at June Bug Café.
  • Public Service – Michael Reiskind reported that the Public Service Committee meeting was held on October 6 at Nate Smith House. The long-standing issue of the D & D Restaurant’s request for a common victualler license at 3141 Washington Street seems have been resolved. The Committee also worked on WiFi access and trying to save the 48 Bus route. There is a new request by Ten Tables for a change in its beer & wine license at 597 Centre Street. Because this petition is scheduled at the Licensing Board tomorrow before any community meetings, there was a motion by Michael Reiskind to ask the Licensing Board to defer its decision on the Ten Tables application until community process is completed. Seconded by Pamela Bender. Passed 16-0-0. The Public Service Committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 10 (one week later because of the election) at 7:00pm at Curtis Hall. On the agenda will be a discussion of the petition of Ten Tables.
  • Zoning – There were two requests looked at by the Zoning Committee at their meetings on October 1 and October 15. 1) 282 Lamartine Street; request by Victoria garden Condominium to create off-street parking for 4 vehicles. This was a legalization after the present owner purchased the property with the assurances of their legality from a bad lawyer and a bad real estate agent. The Zoning Committee recommended approval. 2) 333 Lamartine Street; request by Christopher Grafe & Jeffrey Jacobson to legalize use as a 1-family and extend living space into basement for office use. The Zoning Committee recommended approval with the proviso that the building always remain a 1-family dwelling. Motion by Red Burrows to approve both items from the Zoning Committee. Seconded by Steven Backman. Passed 16-0-0. The Zoning Committee meets on the first and third Thursday of the month. The next Zoning Committee meetings will be on Thursday, November 5 and Thursday, November 19 at 7:00pm. The Committee will consider the petition of  63R Mozart Street by Isora Roberto to legalize the occupancy as a 1-family dwelling.
  • Ad-Hoc Website – There was a report by Ben Knappmiller and Emily Wheelwright. They said that the goal of the Committee will be to increase communication and participation in the issues of the JPNC. They hope to have the new website functioning by January 1. Daniel Perez asked whether there could be a password-protected administration section of the website. Jesse Abair asked whether comments/chat would be on the website. There was general agreement not to allow comments on the site. Motion by Emily Wheelwright to approve the concept of a JPNC website. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 16-0-0.

The next meeting of the full JPNC will be on Tuesday, November 24.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:46pm.

(Minutes submitted by Michael Reiskind)