Eight Streets Neighborhood Association

Eight Streets Neighborhood Association
Meeting Minutes, 1 June 2005

Meeting:

Teen Empowerment, non-profit group organized in '92. Harriet Finkelstein, also on Board of Union Park Neighborhood Association, and four members of Teen empowerment, spoke passionately about the "Know Thy Neighbor 'hood" event this upcoming Saturday, June 4, at Blackstone Community Center (50 West Brookline) 11-3:30. Encouraged people to come and support the kids. This is a forum for youth and adult neighbors, business owners, etc to further dialog and explore concrete steps for a safer South End/Lower Roxbury. For more information or to get involved: 617.536.4266 x310 or Jennifer@teenempowerment.org

Topics to be addressed: Turf conflicts b/w blocks, divisions b/w gay and straight communities, investing in youth, concern for people's property, reintegrating people into the community after prison or rehab, and more.
Push to actually come up with solutions rather than just talking about problems; trying to build relationships with the community.

UPNA sponsoring a series of walks every Monday 6:30+. Rain or shine. Next walk is next Monday at Boylston St T stop. Walking with Peter Ghoury (Operation Crossroads). All welcome to join. Will convene for dinner in Chinatown. Walks are pet-friendly. Information can be found at www.upna.org or posted on www.southend.org
South End Garden Tour. Largest fund raiser of the Boston Land Trust. Saturday, June 18, 10 AM-4 PM Rain or Shine! Always the 3^rd Saturday of June. This year focused on Washington St, Rutland St, Cumston St. Tickets may be purchased at: Aunt Sadie's (18 Union Park), Whole Foods Market, Coldwell Banker (633 Tremont or 277 Dartmouth), Lotus Designs (547 Columbus Ave), South End Realty Group (476 Columbus), Cuttyhunk Bookstore (540 Tremont)
Marco Torres, new South End Liaison to the Mayor's office.

Two of his initiatives are: Neighborhood Response Team (addresses concerns on basic city services in South End) and Be Smart Initiative to discuss uprising of violence, hotspots and what the committee and community can reduce violence.
Mayor's Hotline: 617.635.4500. Can report anonymous complaints or concerns.
Marco is also involved in Constituent services: comes to 18 NA meetings in South End to understand what's happening in the South End.
Challenge from Marco to all neighborhood association's: Assign one person to bring concerns to Marco so that he can better manage communications, process and solutions to concerns.

Tim McCarthy at Public Works Dept. Presented changes to trash day and recycle day pickup in the South End. New Schedule: Trash pickup will be Tuesday and Friday. Recycling will be Tuesday. Trash should be put out for pickup by 7 AM. For more information go to www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks or call the sanitation department at 617.635.7573. Notices will be sent out and published in the local newspapers. Effective July 1, 2005.

Enforcement: call Marco Torres or call 635.4500 to report someone to Code Enforcement for leaving trash out on the wrong day or at the wrong time.
To obtain a recycling box, call 617.635.4959
For monitor, TV removal, refrigerators: call 617.635.7573 and they will tell you when to put it out for removal.
Paint cans: drop off site in Roxbury. 1^st sat of every month if can is more than half full.. Hazardous waste day is June 18 at UMASS Boston Campus.

Balloon Rides – 375^th Anniversary of the city of Boston rescheduled to June 25 from May 21. Complete summer long birthday events can be found at the Boston 375 web site.
Elections (postponed from May). Cheryl McCloud has been nominated by Proxy since she was not in attendance at the meeting. 5 members voted for. None opposed. John McLachlan, president, Peter Chin, treasurer, Heather Slaby, secretary ran unopposed and no objections to them continuing in their roles.
Neil Racanelli, 289 Shawmut Ave, Unit #3. Bruce Miller, Architect for Mr. Racanelli, presented proposal to adding a new dormer to rear of top floor; adding a new interior stair from top floor to roof through hatch to new roof deck; and a new roof deck on roof of new dormer. They would like to extend their dormer to a full shed to give them more room in their bathroom and one of the bedrooms as well as add a roof deck. No direct abutters were there to object. Several letters of support from neighbors were presented. Members voted to not oppose them making the changes. Letter of support sent to ZBA.
Announcements

August meeting location needs to move to a different location for this one month only. Looking for suggestions for where to hold it. Potluck in Ringold? Suggestions welcome!
Politicians: Michael Capuano, Congressman holding an Open House on Monday June 6 at 7PM at Boston Ballet (same location as monthly ESNA meetings). Come to bend his ear and discuss issues.
Boston Medical Reserve Corp – Looking for volunteers to get training to assist in city emergencies. If interested, go to www.bphc.org/volunteer
Looking for new Landsmark commissioner in Eight Streets. Contact John McLachlan
Jewel Cash discussed City Wide Dialogues group (started by Jeff Stone) – recruiting for people to participate in a 5 wk commitment to meet neighbors and discuss issues in a safe setting. Educational exercises. Learn more about yourself and others. Southend.org to find more information or contact Jewel at jewelandjewel@yahoo.com.