May Minutes
Block Association 122Meeting minutesMay 19, 2009
Present: Jubal Battisti, Fialka Semenuik, Cator Sparks, Astrid Storm, Rod Keenan, Mario Pinto, Grace Pinto, Pat Fuqua, Haja Worley, Lucy Lang
Meeting called to order at 7:32
II. Adoption of Meeting April Minutes Jubal moved to adopt minutes, Pat seconded, all approved
III. Treasurer’s report, FialkaActivity from April 21 - May 18Revenue: $25.17 (1 membership + bank interest)Expenses: $15.00 (laminating ten flyers to advertise financial gift to students)Net Rev: $10.17
BalanceMoney Market Account: $2843.78Share Deposit Account: $50.00Cash on Hand: $78.45Total Balance: $2,972.23
IV. Ongoing Business a. Continued discussion of goals for BA
i. General maintenance of block - Penny has sent a letter to the DOT requesting speed bumps. Waiting for a response. Some explanations for the request were offered: danger to children and animals (a cat had recently been killed by a car that was driving too fast), noise that disrupts work/home life. Rod suggested that we also ask for a sign from the city that reminds people that honking is punishable by fines. Cator said he’d look into it. In the meantime he suggested calling 311 to complain about speeding vehicles whenever observed.
ii. Support for education - Flyers have been printed and posted advertising that BA122 has a financial gift available for students on the block. Cator has not received any proposals yet. Students will have to submit their proposals by May 31 to be considered. Grace suggested somehow connecting with Harlem Children’s Zone. A general conversation followed about HCZ - that Prince Harry is visiting soon, that Obama is considering using it as a model for other schools, and so on. Haja metioned that he heard of two people who were interested in the scholarship.
iii. Contributing to Project Harmony Programs - Cindy sent us a letter with estimated costs of summer kids’ programming. Cator proposed to vote on donating $500 to the program. Fialka explained that the amount would cover five field trips at $75/each, with extra for other expenses. Vote taken: All APPROVED.
iv. Partnering with CSA via Project Harmony - We are still considering the costs to pay for some kids to visit the CSA farm.
v. Membership drive to help fund above goals - Fialka sent out a blast requesting membership fees. She received one response. Rod suggested soliciting membership dues at the Block Pary. Fialka explained that we now have 11 paid, but we could potentially have at least 20. Cator agreed with Rod’s suggestion, adding that we could have a donation box and also announce it. Haja then suggested getting people to sign up at the block party, followed by Jubal’s suggestion that we get the word out there about what we’re doing: funding scholarships, helping Project Harmony, and so on. Rod added a list of accomplishments: lamp post fixed, curbs fixed, (possible) speed bumps. It was agreed that a combination of both flyers and a poster would best convey this info to prospective members.
c. Tote bag - Jobal has the new logo, which he’ll put on the blog for everyone to see. Rod had done some research into finding cheaper bags, but said it’s hard to get good rates for such a small order (he checked w/ another company). The costs, again - $15.60 for each bag, with $5.00 added for profit = $21.00/bag. A conversation followed about whether to combine membership and tote bag. Astrid suggested promoting both together at a discount (both for $40.00), adding that, even though we won’t profit off the tote bag, at least we’ll get membership fees we might not otherwise have received. People seemed amenable. Discussion is to continue.
d. Website - The website is up, and everyone agreed it looks great: www.blockassociation122street.com
e. MTA issues - A stay has been issued on the recently proposed bus cuts. This gives us more time to write a letter and attach lists of supporters. This could also be something to collaborate on with all Harlem block/tenant associations with the support form Community Pride. Fialka will draft a letter and start a list of supporters. She asked for permission to put people’s names on the list, and everyone present agreed. She’ll email BA members requesting the same. Fernando of Community Pride will add this MTA letter item to the agenda for the June 6th meeting of block presidents. Fialka also mentioned that heads of the various block/tenant associations expressed a desire to meet regularly, and it might be a good idea for us to compile a wish list that might be put out there for broader support.
f. Block Party - Saturday July 11. Reverend Sullivan, who was scheduled to speak to us about it, couldn’t make it. The theme, though, is “Peace & Community,” and someone will Mario asked if there were any problems at last year’s party - garbage, etc. No one could think of any, except that the signs announcing ‘no parking saturday’ need to be more visible to help avoid parking tickets. Fialka said she had received a couple requests to have a sort of flea market. The Church charges $25.00 per table for vendors, which everyone agreed seemed steep, and someone suggested that there be a residential rate. Perhaps, also, some people could use the block’s table to sell things? We agreed to give it further thought, and to maybe ask neighbors who’ve inquired about it to help organize it. As for the Block Association table, we’ll be sending out a list of table duties and a sign-up sheet for volunteers.
Conversation followed about whether to sponsor another drawing contest. Astrid suggested simplifying it, maybe buying those plastic mugs into which kids can slide a drawing of their own and take home. Cator said he’d inquire into the price of mugs, and that maybe we could turn the winning drawing into a mug. Jubal suggested using different media - maybe something more “multi media” like macaroni mosaics. Discussion is to continue.
IV. Block News a. Precinct Meeting - No one attended.
b. JD Wilson Community Garden update - No update
V. Old Business a. Create BA 122 events calendar to be emailed to membership. Jude is working on it.
VI. New Business a. May 30 work party - Looking for volunteers to help clean Mrs. Cunningham’s lot of fire debris.
b. Grocery - How can we get a grocery store to open nearby? Discussion has begun w/ landlord of building under construction at corner of Frederick Douglass and 122nd. Construction is delayed. Awaiting update. Cator suggested writing letters to various grocery stores, and Astrid suggested collaborating with other block associations to galvanize support. Cator said he’d also check with the FDB building going up across from the police precinct.
c. DEP Water Survey - Pat said she just had a free water survey done of her home by Honeywell, which she suggested everyone look into, given the rising costs of water. The survey tests for water flow, leaks, etc., so that you’re not being overcharged. She handed out print-outs of what the survey entails, which she downloaded from the DEP website. She also reported that free water-saving kits are available which include low-flow shower heads and the like. Everyone should take advantage. As for water and sewer rates, Pat noted that rates have been increasing each year by a significant amount. This July, rates are due to go up yet again by 14.5%. The sewer rate is calculated as 159% of the water rate! Pat is thinking about starting a list of supporters to protest the upcharge. The water testing should help show homeowners how much they’re already being overcharged and encourage them to join in the protest.
d. Energenix - Someone said they’d received a call from a company called Energenix about saving money on energy. Others confirmed that they had received these calls, too. Rod said he looked into alternatives to ConEd, but since you still have to pay ConEd for service charges, and so on, it seldom turns out to be very worthwhile.
e. Grace advised everyone to call 311 when you see the water hydrant open in order to help save on water.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:31
Respectfully submitted,Astrid Storm
