Charles Village Community Benefits District Management Authority

2434 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

 

Board Meeting

May 14, 2008

 

Present:

 

Ron Griffin                              Steve Gewirtz              Patricia Cronin

Derek Demaree                                    Rob Books                   Delora Sanchez

Dana Moore                             Dawna Cobb                           

Jay Orr                                     Gary Letteron 

Robin Truiett -Theodorson      Jeff Millard

Jane Honeycutt                                    Susanne Riveles          

 

Also Present: David Hill and John McCauley

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm with a quorum present.

 

Approval of the Agenda:        A motion to approve the agenda was passed.

     

Approval of the Minutes:      

 

A motion to approve the minutes of the April board meeting was passed.

 

A motion was made to go into closed session to obtain legal advice from John McCauley made by Ron, Seconded by Gary. It was approved though there was one abstention.  Mr. Gewirtz abstained and recused himself from participation in the closed session.

 

Executive Director’s Report

 

Mr. Hill introduced Sharon Guida to give a report on the Neighborhood Walkers program.  Sharon circulated a schedule of walks.   The CVCBDMA, Union Memorial, JHU, CVCA , the police and other civic associations have worked together, but more residents are needed.   

 

A letter was delivered to the meeting saying that JHU will contribute $7500 toward the $15,000 grant received from the Abell Foundation.

 

Committee reports

 

Finance Committee-

 

Jeff Millard reported that the CVCBDMA will need the reserve and line of credit to get through the rest of the year.    There’s a shortfall this year because of unanticipated expenses and the delay in receiving tax revenue from the City. The Board of Estimates has the homestead tax credit on its agenda for tomorrow.  

 

Executive Committee-

 

Ron Griffin reported that he is compiling the responses to Mr. Hill’s evaluation document and will complete them before the next board meeting.  Members of the Executive Committee will meet with Mr. Hill before the next meeting.

 

Governance Committee-

 

Jeff Millard reported that there was no meeting this month.  The committee recommends that the CVCBDMA wait until more resources are available to have a parliamentarian review the by-laws.  The committee will meet next week to go over pending issues.

 

Safety and Sanitation-

 

Rob Books reported that they sponsors to paint 15 of the concrete trash cans.  Painted cans are at 28 and 29th and Charles.  Five more sponsors are needed to sponsor the painting of cans at $60 each.  Ms. Moore said that the CVCA will sponsor two.   The cans must be placed on Charles and St. Paul Streets.

 

 Communications and Outreach

 

Susanne Riveles reported that the newsletter will be published only two times per year instead of three because of financial constraints.  It will come out electronically in the beginning of June.  Murals on the wall of the 33rd Street Giant are in progress.   This project will be a model for a Baltimore mural project.  Committee member, Bob Cooke, has suggested ways to define and interpret the CVCBDMA message.

 

Public comment:  None

 

Announcements:

 

Dana Moore-May 28 is the CVCA general membership meeting and will be a community homecoming; CVCA will invite longtime residents to come to the meeting to celebrate the longevity of our community.  The Charles Village festival and parade is May 31 and June 1.

 

Pat Cronin-reported that the Family Tree is having an event on June 7-see handouts.

 

Dawna Cobb-noted role of CVCBDMA in responding to rape; it handed out composite drawing in the neighborhood; had several community meetings with faculty of lab school; and has continued work with the neighborhood walkers. 

 

Derek Demaree- noted that the police are so involved in the walks.  They make note of problem properties and suspicious characters.

 

Gary Letteron-announced bike to work day with an event at the War Memorial plaza.  Anyone interested in planting a tree should contact him.

 

Dana Moore-received a call from the Major an hour after the rape occurred because he wanted the community to know about the incident before hearing or reading about it in the press.  This indicated to her that the police are making more of an effort to keep the community connected. 

 

Ron Griffin- reported that board members were party to a barrage of e-mails relating to a personnel issue.  He reminded board members to maintain confidentiality with regard to personnel issues.  

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:23 pm.

 

 

Minutes prepared by Dawna Cobb, Secretary

Draft 2.0