Westcott East Neighborhood Association
Meeting Minutes

April 13, 2009, Petit Branch Library
Next general meeting:  June 8, 2009, 7 p.m., Petit Branch Library

NOTE: WENA Board retreat to be held May 11, 2009
	
Persons registering as in attendance: 
WENA Board: Betsy Rengert  (representing the Merchants Assn), Starke Donnally, Luz Encarncion, Tony Gigliotti, Alice Honig, Barbara Humphrey, Lisa Salisbury, Charles Tremper, Joanne Waghorne, Marilyn Zaleon
WENA Members and Guests: Lance Denno, Corey Driscoll, Jean Kessner, Sam Laguzza, Harry Lewis, Andy Maxwell, Stephanie Miner, Susan Nathan, Lisa Salisbury, Steve Weigl, Evan Weissman.

Call of meeting to order and welcome: Barbara Humphrey called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.  The assembled warmly welcomed Starke back.

Introductions and good news:  Starke thanked the group for the many cards and messages. Charles reported he was off crutches and nearly done with the cane.  Stephanie appreciated the increased sunshine.   Harry had no good news, mentioning 
the vandalism of bricks from the Westminster steps.  Andy mentioned spring.  Lance reported his arm was out of its sling.  Lisa is pleased to still have a job.  Evan Weissman mentioned the community gardens.  Joanne appreciated how good 
Cambridge Street was looking.  Tony had nothing in particular to say.  Sam Laguzza said his wife was home and he'd be leaving the meeting early.  Marilyn said tax time was nearly over; the library would be relieved.  Luz reported her daughter was now 
free of cancer

Agenda review:  No additions made.

Approval of the minutes of the annual meeting: Barbara moved and Joanne seconded the approval of the minutes; motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer's report: Starke reported on January-March 2009:  dividends and memberships had been deposited, the checking account fee paid bringing account totals to: $187.33 (checking) and $3,146.98 (super shares).

Election of WENA officers: Barbara proposed deferring this until after the Board retreat.  Tony moved and Barbara seconded; motion passed unanimously.

Committee reports: 
	Neighborhood beautification (Barbara Humphrey)
	WENA registered for Earth Day clean-up; volunteers will gather April 25 at Westcott and Harvard and focus on the business district, perhaps as far as E. Genesee.  Collapsing barrel planters will be removed.
	Harvard parking lot plantings: on hold until all requirements are met including verifying the number of spaces, having them lined, etc.  The planting area soil is very hard and needs work if plants are to grow.
	UNSAAC: WENA has $500 to spend by June 30; waiting to learn if hanging baskets will work on the new light poles in lieu of the sidewalk planters, which have decayed and become ashtrays.
	Westcott business district
	 Walking patrol has been seen out walking!
	Snow removal: University Neighborhood Partnership is studying the Rochester model, perhaps within the neighborhood; the model provides funding for both clearing and replacing sidewalks.
	Quality of life:
	Not enough parking spaces for theater
	Litter, alcohol, and drug paraphenalia tossed on streets and in lots.
	Streets clogged leaving too little room for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
	Merchants will push for extending time frame for walking patrol.
	Other issues discussed:
	Some programs draw problem people (drugs, etc.)
	Cars are being ticketed, not towed
	How to educate concert goers and elicit their help
	Need to document trash and other problems
	Theater not helping the business district or drawing people to other Westcott businesses.
	Membership
	Lisa and Jill are working on this
	Lisa mentioned need to broaden the group's membership, to include younger people, students, renters, etc.  Susan Nathan said offering babysitting might help.
	Luz said those active at Westcott Community Center events were a diverse group; perhaps they can become involved in WENA.
	Starke proposed a different venue to attract different people to the meetings.
	
Other reports:
	Neighborhood safety:
	Steve Weigl said panhandling remained a problem.
	Junk and abandoned vehicles are being "red-tagged" and removed.
	Police called Howard Walsdorf to report an open window (inadvertently left open); he came to close it.
	Complaints are being registered about the theater.
	Walking patrol will end in a month.
	Harry Lewis presented photos of the theft of bricks from the Westminster stairs to build a patio at a neighboring house.
	Westcott Leadership Roundtable:
Corey reported on the proposed "Westcott currency" to be redeemed at Westcott businesses. 
	University Neighborhood Partnership
Snow removal discussed as was the proposal for a smaller targeted Rochester Plan to fund removal in designated areas only.

Old business: None

New business:  
	Syracuse Grows: Evan Weissman
	Umbrella organization to coordinate community garden projects in Syracuse
	Will create six new gardens including one on Harvard (the vacant lot [Day Lot] next to the parking area)
	Will offer individual and communal plots
	Participation by ESF, Cornell Extension, South Side gardeners
	LeMoyne student behavior:
	Coordination with LeMoyne officials: houses rented and become party venues (only seniors can rent off campus and escape the strict regulation nearer LeMoyne).
	Joanne reported some success in mitigating behaviors by moving parties insides, to basements, keeping windows closed, etc.
	Code enforcement: Harry distributed checklists and city guidelines.
	We can report violations to city and they will respond (city lacks staff to go out and look for violations.)
	Lisa will scan documents so they will be electronically available.
	WENA Board retreat: to be held at the Day Hab, May 11, at 5.  There will be no regular membership meeting in May.

Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

Upcoming events/activities:
4/14:       TNT
4/16:       University Neighborhood lecture series: Jennifer Baskerville-Burroughs
4/25:	Earth Day and City Living Expo
5/11:	WENA board retreat at Day-hab.
5/12:	TNT
5/17:	WCC kitchen tour
6/6&6/7:	WCC Art Trail
6/8:	WENA, 7 p.m., Petit
6/9:	TNT