Westcott East Neighborhood Association
February 14, 2011
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
NEXT MEETING:  ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, March 6, 2011

Persons registering as in attendance: 
WENA Board: Starke Donnally, Tony Gigliotti, Barbara Humphrey, Alice Honig, Jill Ouikahilo, Joanne 
Waghorne, Marilyn Zaleon 
WENA  members and guests: Bruno Daniele, Syracuse Department; Lindsay Speicher, Mayor’s Office; Kate 
Hammer, SU; Damian Vallelonga; Doug Roth; Harry Lewis, SEUNA; Paulette Johnson; Nader Maroun, Fifth 
District Councilor; Norm Roth; Bill Andrews; Giancarlo Monetti; Paul Mercurio,  City of Syracuse DPW; 
Brendan Rose

1.	Welcome and introductions (no news please)
Barbara called the meeting to order at 6:30.
 
2.	Presentation of January 10, 2011 minutes for approval:  Barbara Humphrey
Alice moved, Marilyn seconded; passed unanimously.

3.	Financial Report:  Starke Donnally
Report was previously provided electronically.  Starke mentioned that WENA received $999 
reimbursement from City for UNSAAC shed purchase.  
a.	Given the increase in checking fees at Cooperative Federal, it was agreed that we would 
look for options.  Bank/credit union needs to be geographically accessible and preferably 
free or very low income fees.
b.	Given the $140/year cost of the post office box and the offer by Steve Susman that WCC 
provide a mail slot for WENA, it was approved on a motion by Alice and second by Marilyn 
that we cancel our post office box at Teall and change the WENA address to WCC, 826 
Euclid Avenue.  Barb will let Steve know.   We will do address change with post office and 
look into how we change our address with the state.

4.	Program/Outreach Initiatives:  maybe hold discussion
a.	Networking with Other Neighborhood Organizations and the City
i.	WCC Newsletter Insert:  We will do an insert for March.  Deadline is 2/22/11.  It 
will include info on Annual Meeting, including something from Andy Maxwell 
regarding the sustainability plan he is heading up (Barb will contact him); 
summary of Public Spaces project from Damian; something about upcoming 
Earth Day on April 30; and other important information.  Contributors welcomed.
ii.	Eastside TNT:  next meeting March 8 at Levy School.  
iii.	University Neighborhood Partnership:  next meeting February 28
iv.	Westcott Leadership Roundtable (WLR):  next meeting Februray 24, 5:15 at 
Petit.  Will talk about coordination of Earth Day activities and how we bring out 
more residents to join with students in clean up.  
v.	UNPA Neighborhood Housing Plan:  Marilyn reported that they are continuing to 
work on ways to be more inclusive.  Ideas are welcomed

5.	Police Storefront Update:  Officer Bruno Daniele raised the following:
a.	There was a robbery in Thornden Park of two Chinese students.  All that was taken was 
money, but it was Chinese money.
b.	Onondaga County police agencies, including SPD, have created a searchable crime map.  
Officer Daniele explained that people who have been robbed can also list what was taken, 
including serial numbers of other identifiable information.  This can be found at 
http://www.syracuse.com/crime/police-reports/. 
c.	Shots were fired recently in the 600 block of Jamesville Avenue.  
d.	There have been a lot of car larcenies lately, but it is mostly people leaving valuables in 
their cars and often not locking those cars.   
e.	There was a stolen car in the 1000 block of Westmoreland that was recovered by Officer 
Daniele after some very good detective work.  
f.	 There have been reports of a man (white, in 20s, blond hair) calling people to his car for 
directions and then exposing himself.  Unfortunately, no one has gotten a license plate.  
People are asked to be on the lookout and call immediately with information.  
Reminder:  To contact Officer Daniele on his cell phone: (315) 454-2575

6.	WENA Annual Meeting is Sunday, March 6 at One Village Dance Centre at 3 pm (thank you, 
Jill and Biboti for hosting)
a.	WENA board members are asked to bring finger foods/desserts/beverages to share.  
Please let Barb know what you are bringing and she will fill in with what is missing.
b.	Barb will draft an agenda and circulate
c.	Barb and Starke will prepare a handout of the accomplishments of 2011.
d.	Doug Roth and Damian Vallelonga have agreed to join the board.
e.	Jill reminded us that folding chairs are needed, as she has a limited number of chairs.

7.	Old/New Business
a.	Gifford Foundation What If Grant Program
i.	Barb attended the orientation in January and explained that Gifford is making 
grants of up to $5,000 for projects that have a significant impact in a 
neighborhood.  Applicants do not have to be a 501(c)(3).  Barb has the 
guidelines and application.
ii.	Tony reported that WACC will be applying so that Michael Moody can extend his 
mural at the corner of Westcott/South Beech around to the South Beech wall.
iii.	Other ideas were suggested:
1.	Assist young adults (or people of any age) to start a business providing 
services to people in the neighborhood, such as snow shoveling.  
Perhaps money could be used for tools.
2.	Public Spaces Project
3.	Web portal to Westcott Nation
4.	Enhancement s to UNSAAC grants
iv.	Barb will bring these ideas to the Westcott Leadership Roundtable.  One 
organization can only get one grant/year, so we want to get consensus on what 
is most needed and who would be best applicant.
b.	Public Spaces Project:  Damien reported that he and Brendan met with Paul Mercurio and 
Kate Auwater and got good feedback.  They are hoping to meet with Lorraine Koury to 
see if she would be willing to close one of the two driveways to her warehouse.  Once they 
meet with her, they will finalize their designs and call another meeting.
c.	WENA/Petit Library Tile Project:  project was awarded an ArtStart grant.  Work will begin 
shortly with Ed Smith students making new tiles under the supervision of artist Anne 
Cofer.  Installation is planned for summer by City staff.  
d.	Westcott Business District update:  Norm said that Taste of India is moving along.  They 
are waiting on National Grid.  Once that work is done, the kitchens can be installed.  He 
received a Letter of Intent from a major restaurant for the entire Seven Rays space, but 
could not yet say who that is from.  More to come.
e.	Traffic/Parking:  Paul Mercurio reported that he has looked at the WENA Renaissance 
Plan and also the 2007 C&S traffic/parking study.  
i.	City traffic engineers looked at the corner of Westcott/South Beech.  They said 
that it did not warrant a 3-way stop sign based upon volume, but could justify due 
to the sight line safety.   They are putting out feelers to the county “green team” 
to create a green intersection. 
ii.	Concord Place, due for reconstruction, will be reconstructed as a “green street.”  
iii.	One idea for Westcott is to build out curbs at intersections to prevent cars from 
parking too close to the intersections.  The bump out sections could be green 
space to capture rainfall and run off.  
iv.	There is not adequate traffic volume to bring a traffic light back to 
Westcott/Harvard.  Paul explained that getting cars to stop there is really a police 
enforcement issue.   City is looking at pedestrians issues on streets like Irving, 
not sure of solutions.
v.	Once Westcott designs go further, Paul will bring them to WENA.

8.	Discussion regarding proposed changes to the Special Neighborhood District  (SND) began 
with a short fact sheet that Barb prepared.  Maps of the current and proposed SND for 
purposes of the 2010 zoning amendments were also distributed.  Given the time and large 
number of people, Barb suggested that we go around the table, with everyone being given a 
short time (about 1 minute) to speak.  Councilor-at-Large Kessner has invited WENA select a 
spokesperson to respond to the following two questions at the meeting on February 17:  
Where do you think the SND borders should be?  Why?  Barb suggested that it would be 
helpful if people could focus on these two questions.  The following is a summary of comments 
received at the meeting:
a.	Bill Andrews submitted a written statement to WENA and gave a history of the creation of 
the SND and how it has contributed to the preservation of the neighborhood.   He stated 
that the boundaries should not be changed.
b.	Norm Roth explained why the 2007 amendments were overturned and why he felt that the 
SEQR done for the 2010 amendments was flawed.  He also explained that the district 
boundaries have changed over the years, and that change is inevitable as conditions 
change.
c.	Nader Maroun encouraged everyone to attend the meeting on Thursday, February 17 at 
5:30 in the Common Council Chambers.
d.	Brendan Rose stated that he did not know enough about the issue to comment.
e.	Tony Gigliotti stated that the issue for WENA should be the change to the east boundary, 
because that will have the most impact in the WENA area.  
f.	Joanne Waghorne stated her worry that if the areas not within the boundary will be 
targeted for student rental.  She felt that the issues are larger than the boundary, and the 
boundary should either be kept as is or the entire amendment be reformulated.
g.	Dough Roth stated that he appreciates the diversity between renters and owner 
occupants.  Both can be a positive influence on the neighborhood and this is good.
h.	Marilyn Zaleon indicated that she has mixed feelings and isn’t sure what the impact of the 
current or changed boundaries will be on the neighborhood.  She felt that it was unlikely 
WENA would be of one mind and it is probably best for individuals to speak and WENA 
take no side.
i.	Giancarlo Monetti said that there was no justification for the change and it was not trivial.  
It would reduce the SND for purposes of the 2010 zoning amendments by more than half.   
He said he has been getting a lot of feedback from people saying they want to remain in 
the SND.  He asked how this came about.  Who participated in the proposal and what was 
their motivation?  He said he did not see the rationale for change.
j.	Alice Honig said she is not in favor of the rules because they are too rigid.  Over the years, 
she has taken many sabbaticals and rented her house in her absence.  She feels it is too 
rigid to not permit this within the SND.
k.	Kate Hammer stated that Beth Rougeux, Assistant Vice President for Government and 
Community Relations was one of the people that Councilor Kessner consulted with.   Beth 
is also neighborhood resident.  Kate further stated that SU would remain impartial and not 
take a position.
l.	Starke Donnally questioned how this proposal was formulated, as no one from WENA was 
involved.  He questioned the legality of the limitations and asked if they are enforceable.   
He said he didn’t see why the boundaries need to be changed, but a determination of the 
legality of the limitations is needed.  He suggested that individuals who feel strongly 
should show up at the meeting and speak.
m.	Damian Vallelonga stated that if the limitations are legal, the change in boundary is a 
drastic change.  He felt that students are willing to live farther out in the neighborhood and 
take the bus.  He was not opposed to some changes.
n.	Harry Lewis stated that there should be an environmental study.   He did not know if City 
planners were involved in redrawing the boundaries.  No one from SEUNA was involved in 
this proposed change to the SND.
o.	Following this, there was a more open discussion.  Suggestions to redraw the boundaries 
to protect areas that have large percentages of owner occupancy from going rental rather 
than include the entire neighborhood and for SU to house more of its students were 
offered.   However, it was pointed out that students living in dorms are out roving in the 
neighborhood looking for parties where they can drink because they are not able to go into 
bars or fraternity parties and SU has created two new housing opportunities and more are 
on the way from SU and ESF.  It was further stated that while there are some problem 
students and properties, most are not problems and we have to be careful not to 
demonize all students and all renters.   

9.	Announcements and Good News
a.	Nader mentioned that the sale of the vacant lot next to the JWV building is now off the 
table, and he was thanked for catching this sale when it was presented to the Common 
Council and stopping it.  The loss of this lot would make it virtually impossible to redevelop 
the JWV building.
b.	No other announcements and good news was possible due to library closing time.
 
10.	Upcoming Events: 
a.	Eastside TNT:  Tuesday, March 8, 7 pm, Levy School
b.	Thornden Park Chilli Fest: Feb. 19, 12 noon-4 p.m.
c.	UNLS featuring Andrew Besemer, Sunday, February 27, 3 pm at WCC
d.	WENA Annual Meeting, Sunday, March 6, 3 pm, One Village Dance Centre