BA122: June 16 Meeting Minutes
Block Association 122
Meeting Minutes: June 16, 2009
Meeting called to order at 7:34pm
I. Roll Call Haja Worley, Fialka Semenuik (Treasurer), Astrid Storm (Acting Secretary), Hans Futterman, Walter King, Kimberly Abraham, Jacques Guillet
II. Adoption of Meeting Minutes:Haja moved the May minutes be adopted, and Walter seconded - all approved.
III. Board Report
a. Treasurer’s ReportActivity from 5/19/09 - 6/15/09
Beginning balance: $2,972.23
Revenue: $ 35.21
(revenue from memberships - 1 @ $24 & 1 partial - and $1.21 bank interest)
Expenses: $500.00(donation to Project Harmony for educational programming)
Ending Balance: $2,507.44
IV. Ongoing Business
a. Continued Discussion of Goals for BA
i. General Maintenance of Block
-Penny sent a letter to the DOT regarding speed bumps on April 24th. Still awaiting response. She will now re-send the letter via email to Commissioner Forgione.
-Reminder to call 311 to complain about speeding vehicles when you see them.
-Research on “no honking” signs: On ‘NYC 311’s website, Fialka found that no honking signs may be requested for an intersection by calling 311. The City will then conduct a study. No further action taken at this time.
ii. Support for Education
Flyers have been printed and posted advertising that BA 122 has a financial gift available for students (grades 6-12) on the block. Cator has not received any proposals yet. Haja mentioned someone who was interested, but we haven’t received anything. Fialka said we’d take late proposals in case anyone is still interested. Haja suggested making an announcement for scholarships at the block party. Deadline for submissions would then move to early September. People seemed receptive. Hans asked about the dollar amounts (to be further discussed once actual submissions received), and Astrid asked where signs had been posted (buildings with kids, mainly).
iii. Contributing to Project Harmony Programs
Per last meeting’s vote, we donated $500 to their educational programs. Fialka delivered the check and letter to Cindy. Hans asked some background questions on CSA and Project Harmony, as well as about the mulberry tree that hangs over the sidewalk (tulle has been placed in the branches to prevent berries from dropping onto the sidewalk).
iv. Partnering with CSA via Project Harmony We are still considering the costs to pay for some kids to visit the CSA farm, and awaiting updates on those costs.
v. Membership Drive to Help Fund Above Goals
Fialka sent a blast out. We will remind members about this when we start up again in September, since the blast didn’t yield much response. Walter said he has talked and will continue to talk to people about paying their dues. Walter then offered some background on the bulk of our current funds: the filming of a commercial for USPS in 2005 took over the block and compensated the block association $2000.00. Talk ensued about attracting movies as a source of revenue.
b. Tote Bag - Design has been finalized by Jubal. Fialka found a couple new and less expensive options from a different website (discountphotogifts.com): a lighter weight canvas bag that would cost about $11.00 each and could be sold for $15 or $16, and a polyester bag that also cost less. The group voted unanimously to go with the lighter-weight canvas bag, and to set the price to $15/bag. Fialka will place an order for 20 bags, which we’ll attempt to sell at the Block Party on July 11.
c. 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 teh support of Community Pride. Fialka drafted a letter and we are continuing to build a list of signatures. Fialka added that, while the stay serves us well for now, we should be prepared for a possible announcement of another round of cuts. She also read a letter that was written jointly by the area block associations (“From ‘Residents of Greater Harlem to Chairmen of the MTA Board”), thanking the MTA for not eliminating services and reminding them that we need these services.
d. Block Party - Saturday July 11 (note that date of party was later changed by CPSR to July 25/09)The Rev. Sullivan of CPSR mentioned we have a permit for the party, that it will run from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and that the flea market is a go. He described the set-up, esp. that the children’s attractions would be toward 8th Ave, like last year. There will be awards, choirs, and the church will also honor a mother of a 14 year-old boy killed a year ago nearby (not on the block). He added that the theme is peace, with a special emphasis on eliminating gun violence.
Re: discounted vendor tables for block residents, he said that he’s sure they can do something. The current charge is $50/table for non-church members. We were invited to a block party planning meeting at the church for the upcoming Sunday after the service. Haja, who does radio programs, asked for the Rev. Sullivan’s information so they can feature him on a show. Fialka raised the parking issue, suggesting the block association help put up no-parking flyers. The goal is to have the children’s attractions free and paid for by sponsors. The Rev. Sullivan noted how important it is to have as much of the community involved as possible.
Hans asked if residents grilling was a problem w/ the fire department, and the Rev. Sullivan said he would check into it.
(We also learned that CPSR is trying to form a CDC (community development corporation) in order to purchase the vacant buildings around the corner on ACP Boulevard.)
There wasn’t time to discuss the remaining block party items, so it was suggested that a separate meeting be called just to discuss the block party. Those include: - Jacques donating 10 movie tickets for raffle.
- Cator buying art supplies for kids. Discuss art project/competition: idea for photo-mugs or aprons?
- Cator and Fialka will print out flyers to print re. role of BA as well as our accomplishments
- We will sell Jubal’s photos again (leftover from last year’s party)
- We would like to have tote bags for sale
- Accept payment for membership at table
- Idea for flea market/food market: A couple of residents have expressed interest in selling items. Awaiting response from CPSR on approval and whether table cost could be discounted. Discuss BA assisting to cover costs. - Volunteer sign-up list for BA table
- Volunteer having iced tea or other treats free at the table?
At this point, a matter of new business was raised by Kimberly, a newcomer to the meetings. She expressed concern about her building (240) being unlocked much of the time and open to non-residents, particularly at late hours. She has tried to get the problem fixed by contacting building managers, but to no avail. Hans offered some possible solutions, and confirmed that there had been some dangerous activity recently outside that building. Somewhat reassuringly, he said that the precinct has keys to the building so that they can enter immediately if something goes wrong. Less reassuringly, there isn’t a supervisor on the premises to oversee daily activity and look out for tenants’ safety.
Fialka asked how the block association can help, but Hans said he thought there was probably little we could do, what with these being private properties. We agreed to discuss the matter further outside the meeting.
e. Increase in Water and Sewer Charges - Pat Fuqua informed us at the last meeting of the drastic price increases in July and encouraged homeowners to request a water survey from the DEP to see how much you’re being overcharged. Pat is considering protesting the upcharge and may enlist the help of supporters. Queens Civic Congress has already submitted a letter to the NYC Water Board in this regard.
V. Block News
a. Precinct Meeting - no news
b. JD Wilson Garden Update - no news
VI. Old Businessa. Create BA122 events calendar to be emailed to membership. Pending update from Jude Overo.
b. Fill BA122 executive committee positions
VII. New Businessa. Donation to the Church - we voted to keep it at the same amount, $50/year, for space usage. Majority voted yes, with Walter voting no.
b. Meeting of the Block/Tenant Association Leaders at Community Pride - June 6. Fialka attended, and said Fernando was trying to organize the group a bit more. She said it seems like it is going to be very helpful in terms of organizing and communication. The main concerns now is about how the Community Board seems to be catering to big business and special interests rather than to the people who are affected by their decisions day-in, day-out.
c. Hans Futterman - Hans is a developer who recently moved to our block and is also building the FDB on Frederick Douglass. He met with Cator recently to give a run-down of his projects, which he (being present) repeated to us: FDB - the construction is going smoothly; he’s in talks with Carmine’s Restaurant to open a restaurant in the retail space. He had previously contacted supermarket retailers to lease the space but was told the space is not large enough. He noted that there are 18 affordable residential units, offered via lottery, and that the parking will accommodate some police cars - eliminating police street/sidewalk parking on Frederick Douglass.
He also purchased the land where the gas station and parking garage are located. He hopes to build a grocery store with underground parking - possibly a Trader Joe’s. - but it will take a few years. We discussed helping write letters to attract a Trader Joe’s, and whether other grocery stores would be coming in sooner. Hans said that something is planned for the SOHA 118 building.
We also talked about the lot on the Southwest corner of the block, where construction appears to have stopped. Hans spoke w/the owner and, apparently, financing fell through. They’re looking into ways to proceed.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03pm.
