BA122 Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2011  Date: March 15, 2011 BA 122 Public Meeting - held at CPSR Meeting Minutes   I.    Roll Call: Cator Sparks (President), Walter King, Pat Fuqua, Fialka Semenuik, Bishop Marks, Haja Worley, Nathaniel Ayeke    II. Adoption of Meeting Minutes: Because we don’t have a Secretary, no minutes were submitted for the last meeting.   III. Board Report TREASURER’S REPORT Activity from May 18-Sept 2oth BEGINNING BALANCE:$2,280.13 - Expenses: $82.16 (Lamination of tree flyers and snow removal from hydrants) ENDING BALANCE: $2,197.97 NOTE: It is now the residence’s responsibility to clear the hydrants.   IV. Ongoing Business   a. Discussion of Goals for BA for upcoming year   i. General Maintenance of Block - Million Tree NYC is planting eight trees on our block. Mr. King and several others neighbors did not want trees in front of their homes because they can make the street dark. Others are concerned about wheel chairs getting around the trees. Million Trees emailed us and said “The tree pits must be at least three feet by five feet in order to accommodate root growth and ensure greater surface area for stormwater retention, which will help the trees thrive and prevent uprooting of the sidewalk. The City requires a minimum of three feet sidewalk clearance, with which we comply.”   - Cator filled out a grant to Citizens Community for New York City for tree guards. We will see if it is approved in early April   - Cator made 16 copies of tree signs and had them laminated. We will wait to see if we are getting new trees to hang them. Rod volunteered to hang them.   - Corner lot – where construction has halted, leaving an open basement: The corner of 122 Street and Frederick Douglas Blvd is still messy and a hazard. (2272 FDB). Hans said that he can see from his apartment that they are not pumping water out of the property and that can be a MAJOR problem this summer for mosquitoes. Please call 311 and report unsanitary conditions. To reach the owner/property manager, call 212-997-1234.         ii. Support for Education Cindy was now able to attend but emailed us this update:    We DO plan a summer youth program—likely for two weeks in July, dates not yet established (pending funding, to an extent). —sorry I didn’t give Haj the snow removal receipt!  Totally skipped my mind!   —garden work schedule—so far 1st 3 dates established—all in April:       1. April 9, general clean-up/fix-up.         2.April 16.Hands-On New York Day—painting, spucing up, possibly early planting.         3.April 23: get ready for Easter Egg Hunt, scheduled for that afternoon/raindate, Sunday April 24time TBA     iii. Funding : - - Membership drive – Pat has emailed the BA a sample invoice for everyone to send in their dues. ( $24 per family)   V. Block News a. Precinct Meeting - Precinct Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month. b. JD Wilson Garden Updates – see www.projectharmonynyc.org c. Block Party – We have called Reverend Sullivan, emailed him and tried to talk to him at the church but we have not had any luck. We will continue to try to talk to him to begin work on the party.    VI. Old Business 1. BA 122 Tote bags are still available for $15 each. VII. New Business   a. PS  144 burning harmful heating oil. Irene brought this to our attention and here is what she said: I think, as the BA,  we should send a letter to Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer, who by the way, is the invited speaker at the monthly meeting of the MMPCIA at the Rice school tonight, and send to other council members. Perhaps Harlem Children Zone as well, since they are concerned with health issues and this building is right in the zone, the MMPCIA, other BAs.   The BA voted to write a letter to Scott Stringer. Cator will write the letter.   b. Bus Stop moved. Mr. King requested that everyone call 311 to have the M10 bus stop moved from 121St Street and St. Nick to where it used to be in front of the Police Precinct. The new location is too dangerous.   NOTE:  Haja urges all to tune into WHCR 90.3 fm radio – the Voice of Harlem, where he hosts the community affairs program Fridays 6-8pm.  (also streaming live from www.whcr.org)     minutes submitted by Cator Sparks

BA122 Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2011 

Date: March 15, 2011

BA 122 Public Meeting - held at CPSR

Meeting Minutes

 

I.    Roll Call: Cator Sparks (President), Walter King, Pat Fuqua, Fialka Semenuik, Bishop Marks, Haja Worley, Nathaniel Ayeke 

 

II. Adoption of Meeting Minutes: Because we don’t have a Secretary, no minutes were submitted for the last meeting.

 

III. Board Report

TREASURER’S REPORT

Activity from May 18-Sept 2oth

BEGINNING BALANCE:$2,280.13

- Expenses: $82.16 (Lamination of tree flyers and snow removal from hydrants)

ENDING BALANCE: $2,197.97

NOTE: It is now the residence’s responsibility to clear the hydrants.

 

IV. Ongoing Business  

a. Discussion of Goals for BA for upcoming year

  i. General Maintenance of Block

- Million Tree NYC is planting eight trees on our block. Mr. King and several others neighbors did not want trees in front of their homes because they can make the street dark. Others are concerned about wheel chairs getting around the trees. Million Trees emailed us and said “The tree pits must be at least three feet by five feet in order to accommodate root growth and ensure greater surface area for stormwater retention, which will help the trees thrive and prevent uprooting of the sidewalk. The City requires a minimum of three feet sidewalk clearance, with which we comply.”

 

- Cator filled out a grant to Citizens Community for New York City for tree guards. We will see if it is approved in early April

 

- Cator made 16 copies of tree signs and had them laminated. We will wait to see if we are getting new trees to hang them. Rod volunteered to hang them.

 

- Corner lot – where construction has halted, leaving an open basement:

The corner of 122 Street and Frederick Douglas Blvd is still messy and a

hazard. (2272 FDB). Hans said that he can see from his apartment that they

are not pumping water out of the property and that can be a MAJOR problem

this summer for mosquitoes. Please call 311 and report unsanitary conditions.

To reach the owner/property manager, call 212-997-1234.

 

 

 

  ii. Support for Education

Cindy was now able to attend but emailed us this update:

 

 We DO plan a summer youth program—likely for two weeks in July, dates not yet established (pending funding, to an extent).

—sorry I didn’t give Haj the snow removal receipt!  Totally skipped my mind!

 

—garden work schedule—so far 1st 3 dates established—all in April:

      1. April 9, general clean-up/fix-up.

 

      2.April 16.Hands-On New York Day—painting, spucing up, possibly early planting.

 

      3.April 23: get ready for Easter Egg Hunt, scheduled for that afternoon/raindate, Sunday April 24time TBA

 

  iii. Funding :

- - Membership drive – Pat has emailed the BA a sample invoice for everyone to send in their dues.

( $24 per family)

 

V. Block News

a. Precinct Meeting - Precinct Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month.

b. JD Wilson Garden Updates – see www.projectharmonynyc.org

c. Block Party – We have called Reverend Sullivan, emailed him and tried to talk to him at the church but we have not had any luck. We will continue to try to talk to him to begin work on the party. 

 

VI. Old Business

1. BA 122 Tote bags are still available for $15 each.

VII. New Business

 

a. PS  144 burning harmful heating oil.

Irene brought this to our attention and here is what she said: I think, as the BA,  we should send a letter to Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer, who by the way, is the invited speaker at the monthly meeting of the MMPCIA at the Rice school tonight, and send to other council members. Perhaps Harlem Children Zone as well, since they are concerned with health issues and this building is right in the zone, the MMPCIA, other BAs.

 

The BA voted to write a letter to Scott Stringer. Cator will write the letter.

 

b. Bus Stop moved.

Mr. King requested that everyone call 311 to have the M10 bus stop moved from 121St Street and St. Nick to where it used to be in front of the Police Precinct.

The new location is too dangerous.

 

NOTE:  Haja urges all to tune into WHCR 90.3 fm radio – the Voice of Harlem, where he hosts the community affairs program Fridays 6-8pm.  (also streaming live from www.whcr.org)

 

 

minutes submitted by

Cator Sparks