Charles Village Community Benefits District Management Authority

Board Meeting

February 10, 2009

2434 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

Present:

Ron Griffin Jeff Millard

Pat Cronin Gary Letteron

Rob Books Dawna Cobb

Derek Demaree Mary Pat Clarke

Jay Orr Delora Sanchez

Walt Glaze Kirsch Jones

Jason Pyeron Dana Moore

Robin Truiett-Theodorson

Also Present:

David Hill

Invited Guest:

Mike Hilliard of the HARBEL Community

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm with a quorum present.

Agenda:

The agenda was amended to include an item on whether to keep safety positions open.

Minutes:

January minutes were reviewed and non-substantive corrections were made. The December and January minutes were approved.

Executive Director’s report:

Since the last board meeting, Mr. Hill said he has spoken directly to Major Buzzuro (Northern District) and Ed Skrodski (Johns Hopkins University) and has attended numerous community meetings to present and discuss his proposal to phase out the safety patrol program and replace it with a safety education program. He said he has e-mailed his proposal to over 600 members of the CVCA, Harwood, Old Goucher and Abell neighborhood associations; and, a short summary of the proposal appears on the front page of the CVCBD newsletter, The District Bulletin, scheduled for distribution by mail to 2,500 property owners February 27^th.

Presentation: Mike Hilliard from the HARBEL Community Organization was invited to discuss his experience running a community safety program similar to the one proposed by Mr. Hill for the CVCBD. Mr. Hilliard is a retired Baltimore City Police Department Lieutenant, who at times was an assistant to chief of patrol and responsible for foot patrol in the North East District. Ten years ago, he helped establish a citizens’ patrol (COP) in HARBEL. He compared the cost of employing an officer in a car ($60,000 a year) to the more cost efficient COP program. He strongly believes that crime prevention comes from the community. Criminals gravitate to areas where they are comfortable and leave when the community makes it uncomfortable for them. COPs can be more effective than a “cop in a car” because outsiders don’t know who belongs in the neighborhood COP members do. The HARBEL program patrols from 7:30 -11 and with 8-15 people on patrol each night. Violent crime and property crimes are down 26% and 25% respectively. A robust question and answer session followed his presentation.

Revised proposed budget: Mr. Hill requested the Board’s permission to present his proposed budget and plan for fiscal year 2010 (attached to his February report) at the March community meeting. A motion was made in support of this request. After discussion, the motion was approved, by a vote of 10 with 2 abstentions by Jason Pyeron and Rob Books. There was no opposition to the motion.

Finance Committee

Jeff Millard reported on an item held over from last month’s board meeting regarding the vacant safety positions. A motion to keep safety positions vacant until the end of this fiscal year was made and seconded. Following a discussion the motion was approved. The most recent financial statements were reviewed. The CVCBDMA is on target with its budget; there is $175,000 in the checking account, $50,000 in the Reserve account, and about $100,000 in surcharge tax receivables from the City. Expenses run $45-47,000. With a reduction in personnel expenses, the CVCBDMA is on target to meet its budget. The City has remitted all tax revenue due to date.

Executive Committee

January minutes were reviewed. No questions from minutes were raised.

Governance Committee

Jeff Millard reported that the election of a Vice President was delayed because of Robin Truiett-Theodorson’s absence for at the last board meeting (for personal reasons). Jeff Millard moved that Ms. Truiett-Theodorson be elected as Vice President. Gary Letteron seconded and with no objection, she was elected. Mr. Millard then moved approval of members to committees as set forth in an e-mail sent to the entire board on February 5, 2009. Jason Pyeron seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved. Mr. Millard moved to ratify the appointment of non-voting members Pat Cronin and Delora Sanchez to the board. Jason Pyeron seconded motion and it was unanimously approved.

Safety, Sanitation and Revitalization Committee

Rob Books reported that this committee will now meet on the second Monday of the month at 7 pm. On March 28, 2009, there is a group that will be marking 200 storm drains in CV area. Volunteers are needed to help. Kirsch Jones made a motion to merge this committee into the communications and outreach committee to form a program committee. Walt seconded the motion. Following a discussion the motion was approved with no opposition.

Public Comment:

Emil Volcheck noted that when he was on the committee, there was a standing rule regarding committees. Steve Gewirtz stated that that the December minutes did not refer to his proposed amendment to those minutes.

Mr. Gewirtz and Mr. Volcheck spoke in opposition to Mr. Hill’s proposed budget and plan for fiscal year 2010; Ms Sparks and Mr. Fernandez-Acosta spoke in favor of it.

Announcements:

Emil Volcheck announced the showing of a particular film. Dana Moore thanked Daniel Fernandez Acosta for his follow up on the package that was stolen from his mother’s porch.

Adjourn:

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

DMC: Draft1