Charles Village Community Benefits District Management Authority

Board Meeting

Minutes

May 11, 2010

2434 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

 

Present:

Gary Letteron                    Derek Demaree                 Ron Griffin                         Jennifer Erickson

Bob Cooke                         Paul Burk                            Tamara Payne                   Jeff Millard

Delora Sanchez                 Jason Pyeron (via conference call)                            Jason Pyeron     

 

Also Present: David Hill; Sidney Woods, representative of Councilwoman Conaway’s office

 

Call to Order: 

The meeting was called to order with a quorum at 7:04 PM.  

 

Agenda:

The agenda was submitted for approval by Mr. Griffin.  Mr. Millard motioned approval, Mr. Letteron seconded, and the agenda was approved.     

 

Minutes: 

After minor corrections, Mr. Millard motioned to approve the April meeting minutes, Mr.  Letteron seconded and the April minutes were approved.         

 

Executive Director Report: 

Mr. Hill presented the Director’s reporting.  Highlights included:

·        Surcharge Tax Revenue of $48,888 was received in April bringing total receipts to $534,058 (year to date) of the expected $621,860 (annual revenue).  Still behind to budget but a good boost.  As a result of this incoming revenue, Mr. Hill is projecting year-end revenue over expenses reserve of at least $28,000.

·        Line of Credit:  The $50,000 line of credit with M&T Bank was approved under the previous same terms (Prime + 1 bps).   Ms. Erickson inquired whether or not the documentation included language requiring Re-Authorization approval was included in the loan documentation.   Mr. Hill had not yet seen the documentation, but noted he would broach this subject with M&T Bank. 

·        JHU notified Mr. Hill that it was raising its contribution level from $63,000 (budgeted) to $65,000.   Budget constraints did not yet allow for a return to the FY 2009 level of $70,000.

·        Sanitation Services: 

o   Bag count increased to 3,989 (est. 69.8 tons) of trash and 445 bulk items (est. 7.8 tons) removed from the District during the month of April.   

o   Given that only 1 of 4 dumpsters from the City arrived at the predetermined spots in the neighborhoods during the Mayors Spring Cleanup, Mr. Hill has requested a “make-up cleanup”.  The make-up date will likely be June 12th.  The CVCBD will advertize and support it.    

·        Safety Services:   

o   Issued 4 ‘Crime Alert” e-mails to 500+ residents.  17 new residents enrolled for this service in February. 

o   Neighborhood Walkers on Patrol:  44 residents participated in community walks (7 new).

o   Workshops:  conducted 1 In-Home workshop on Home Safety bringing the total to 3 conducted this year so far.  

o   Participated in the April 17 Solidarity Walk on Greenmount by providing sanitation services (cleaning route prior to the walk) and giving out T-shirts and hats for those participating. 

o   As a result of the Solidarity Walk, a group consisting of the CVCBDMA, Union Memorial, Councilwoman Clarke, and the Northern District met to discuss safety concerns/issues along Greenmount.  Results of this ad hoc meeting included: 

§  Union Memorial agreed to expand its security patrols from Guilford Avenue to Greenmount Avenue.

§  Suggestion that JHU (which could not be in attendance) expand its security patrols to include Greenmount Avenue (also stops at Guilford Avenue) given it has properties extending near the Alameda (i.e. beyond Guilford).  Ms. Sanchez offered to contact Salem Reiner of JHU to try to move this forward;

§  Northern District tentatively agreed (awaiting formal approval) to create a sub-station on the corner of 33rd & Greenmount.

§  Suggestion of placing 2 or 3 ‘mini cameras’ (not the blue light cameras) also called 360 cameras, on Greenmount Avenue by finding cameras which are no longer needed elsewhere to move to Greenmount.  The police would monitor the cameras.   

§  Follow-up meeting(s) may be scheduled given the positive tangible results of the initial discussion to be held.  Mr. Pyeron requested Mr. Hill to provide a summary of the meeting to Board members.     

 

Committee Reports:

Finance Committee:   

Treasurer, Mr. Millard reviewed the financial statements for March which are generally in good health especially given the April surcharge-tax infusion noted above.   Highlights included:

·        The March balance sheet showed no significant change and the cash balance will show a nice increase due to the above noted April surcharge-tax receipts.

·        Accumulated Depreciate increased due to the value of the new trucks brought on the balance sheet last year. 

·        Total income reflects a negative variance of ($36,500) but the above noted April surcharge-tax income should bring the budget more in line. 

·        Personnel expense had a positive variance of $21,500, as did Program Costs of $5,000.     

 

Program Committee:

Chair Mr. Burk noted that the Program committee met the evening prior (May 10) but since he had been absent requested Mr. Cooke and Ms. Payne give the update.   Mr. Cooke noted the discussion highlights as no quorum was achieved:    

·        Committee reviewed and made recommended changes to the existing baseline Community Services agreement.   The one notable change was the addition of Alley Cleaning:  “Clean all the alleys in the District at least once a week which means remove litter and small bulk trash, sweep where necessary and remove large weeds”.    Mr. Cooke moved and Mr. Burk seconded the motion to include the proposed updated agreement in the Re-Authorization package.  Motion was approved by unanimous consent.

·        Re-Authorization: Mr. Cooke noted that the RE-Authorization meetings with City Planning and Urban Affairs committees were scheduled for May 27th at 1:00 and 4 PM, respectively.   It was noted that to date, Planning has acknowledged receipt of JHU and the CVCA’s pro re-authorization letters.  Old Goucher’s letter was sent today (May 11).   Mr. Cooke inquired as to how AIA was proceeding.  Mr. Burk replied that at its recent General Membership meeting, the members agreed that not enough time had been allowed for proper notification for a vote to be taken.   AIA members decided to hold a special general membership meeting.  Mr. Burke stated that he hoped AIA would still be able to provide some form of feedback to the Planning Commission and Urban Affairs Committee by the May 27th meetings.    Mr. Cooke noted that Mr. Millard and Mr. Demaree would be in attendance for both council meetings May 27.  He also noted that Robin Truiett-Theodorson and Jennifer Martin are in charge of collecting letters of support from community members and that Sandy Sparks will identify those who would be willing to attend the meetings.  Mr. Cooke stated that it would be preferable that residents attend the Urban Affairs committee meeting at 4 PM if they could not attend both.  Petitions and Letters by residents continue to be encouraged; Mr. Cooke noting it was important for Board Members to write letters of support.   The re-authorization e-mail box (reauthorizationyes@hotmail.com) will need to be expanded as more letters and petitions are expected.  

·        Rat Abatement:  Given the preference to have a program in place and that we currently have no funding other than the budgeted $10,000 in FY 2011, the committee sought suggestions on alternative funding sources.  Mr. Letteron suggested an EPA Office of Environmental Justice grant and would look for contact information to provide to the Program committee.  Mr. Hill noted that he had submitted an application to Healthy Neighborhoods today (May 11).  

 

Governance Committee:  

Chair Mr. Pyeron reported that the committee discussed the Quad 1 vacancy.  He noted that the community has been informed of this vacancy and asked for nominations via The Charles Villager, email to the community associations, and CVCB website.  The deadline for nominations is May 31.  

 

No discussion during the committee meeting took place regarding appointing Karen Reese, ED of Man Alive, Inc. to the Not for Profit seat on the Board.  Mr. Demaree remarked that Ms Reese has always been responsive and positively engaged with respect to issues affecting the community.    Mr. Pyeron motioned, and Mr. Millard seconded to appoint Ms. Reese as a non-voting member to the CVCBDMA Board as a Not for profit representative.  The motion was unanimously approved.  

 

Quorum:

At 8:00 PM quorum was lost as Mr. Pyeron disconnected from the conference line.    

 

Executive Committee:

Mr. Griffin noted that since the CVCBMA Board acts as the personnel committee primarily related to the Executive Director (“ED”), it was important that all Board Members return the ED evaluation on Mr. Hill.   The committee will compile the results along with Mr. Hill’s self review.  

 

New Business:

No new business. 

 

Public comments:  

There were no public attendees.

 

Announcements:

·        Mr. Pyeron announced during his Governance Committee report that Bowen Nelson resigned as President of the Old Goucher Association but it was unknown whether or not she would also resign from the Old Goucher Business Alliance for which she was representing on the CVCBDMA Board.   

·        Ms. Erickson noted the Mayor’s office VISTA rep sent out a Community Needs Survey and would send out to Board members for the option of completion.

·        Mr. Demaree noted that the BMOG development project has actually broken ground.  Molly Keough, GHCC Vista has been instrumental in communicating.  A May 29th celebration is planned. 

 

A motion to adjourn at 8:15 PM was approved with unanimous consent.