Minutes from May 7, 2000 Meeting

 Meeting was held at the home of Darla Iavicola 93 Garfield Street.    

In attendance were the following:  Darla Iavicola, Bill Malloy, Bob Triggs, Pat Triggs,  Maureen Posner, Don Evans, Ginny White, Paul Kingston, Russ Seelig, Paul Sears, Liz Bramson, Belle Rita Novak and Sandra Collins. 

Meeting was called to order at 7:10pm.

 Motion made for the suspension of rules. Second.  Vote:  all in favor.

General Business

Minutes:  A motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  Belle Rita Novak confirmed that Food Mart retrieves 400 baskets a week.  This was a question from the last meeting. 

Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the report.  Second.  Voted:  all in favor. 

Committee Reports:

  1. Community Improvement:  On the graffiti clean up day held on April 15th, 8 people were present.  Belle Rita Novak did not receive any telephone calls for locations to be identified for that day’s event.  She has been in contact with the Probation Department to enlist the service of some people on probation.  She has also been in contact with the DA’s office regarding having the gang task force look at some new areas of graffiti in the neighborhood.  Belle Rita also stated that she has some paint for people to have if they are interested in painting the mailboxes that have graffiti. 
  2. Education:  A notice for the scholarships for the Illumination Night has been printed in the paper.  The deadline for submitting an application is June 2, 2000.  There will be 2 scholarships of $300.00 a piece.
  3. Historic:  It was brought to everyone’s attention by Russ Seelig, that May 11, 2000 will be the 25th anniversary of the Forest Park neighborhood becoming a historic district.  The Historic Committee will be working on a program for the fall to highlight this time and celebrate the anniversary. 
  4. Parks:  The Parks Department now has a website for all activity listings and information- the address is:  SpringfieldParks.com 
  5. Program/Publicity:  Again there was a suggestion made that there be a program meeting regarding the 25th anniversary of the neighborhood becoming a historic area, which will be held in the fall.  Belle Rita has begun working on the newsletter with Jane Reynolds.  Another newsletter will be distributed prior to Illumination Night.  A suggestion was made to print an advertisement in the newsletter for the Coffee Cup.  The Coffee Cup donates the biscuits for the strawberry shortcake each year.   Illumination Night is scheduled for June 17, 2000 on Bronson Terrace.
  6. Public Safety:  Liz Bramson received a letter from a woman living in the apartments located on Sumner Avenue across from the Kodimoh Temple.  This woman spoke at the Annual Meeting regarding a problem she has during the Bright Nights period.  The PVTA buses do not stop along Sumner Avenue during this period.  This woman utilizes the PVTA, she is also elderly and due to Bright Nights, the PVTA has to make a stop on Fort Pleasant Avenue and not Sumner Avenue and this woman then has to walk home.  This presents an inconvenience to the woman and she is seeking assistance from the FPCA to work on this issue with PVTA and Bright Nights.  A suggestion was made for the FPCA to send a letter to PVTA and Bright Nights to notify them of the issue.  Liz will also follow up with Libby Barnshaw of 237 Longhill Street and the recent petition neighbors signed regarding the concerns of speeding and traffic problems on Longhill Street.
  7. X Task Force:  The Farmer’s Market is now open.  The Task Force received funding for new trees to be planted at the “X”.  There was a National Main Street Town Meeting held in Boston in April.  It appears from this meeting that the problems of Springfield and Forest Park was universal to neighborhoods across the world.  Indian Orchard has started a Main Street Program.  There will be a hearing on May 17, 2000 in Boston regarding the appeal of the liquor license granted to the Saigon Café.  Belle Rita will be attending that hearing.  The “X” Main Street Corp hired an attorney assist in the appeal process.
  8. Zoning:  Regarding Leo Valentine and his request for a zone change for 71 Allen Street-Bob Triggs and Bill Malloy attended the City Council meeting, the request was approved in a 6-3 vote to change to Business B, Sarno, Caulton and Santinello voted against the zone change. 

 

Old Business:

On May 8th, the photo club from Forest Park Middle will begin taking pictures in the community for their project.  B.J.’s has agreed to have the display in their store.  They also agreed to have a fundraiser to begin to raise money for next year’s project. 

Concerned Citizens-the Springfield Garden Club donated a tree, a curly willow, which will be planted on Kenwood Park at the Belmont Avenue end.  The Community Fair held at the Johnny Appleseed Park was a success.  There was approximately 1000 people in attendance.  Concerned Citizens was chosen as the preferred developed for the pink home on Forest Park Avenue.  Plans will be made this summer to tear off the back part of the home.  Students from Putnam High School will be involved in the Project.  It is planned to take 1.5-2 years to complete and will be completed as a two family house.

Pat Triggs spoke with the manager of CVS regarding the horrible condition of the parking lot.  She will continue to be in contact with him to monitor the situation.

 New Business:

Illumination Night-there was a meeting with the neighbors on Bronson Terrace and jobs have been assigned.  A location for next year needs to be decided upon soon.  Some suggestions were:  Blain Street and/or Riverview Terrace.  The streets need to make a three year commitment:  the 1st year to be porch judges, the 2nd year to host the event and the 3rd year to assist in the selling of the strawberry shortcake.  There are approximately 18 committees/jobs which people volunteer.    Regarding the new middle school.  The proposed school was for 800 students, the School Department has proposed a school for 1350 and then presented a counter offer for a smaller student population to begin at 1000 and increase to 1150 over three years.  The Council defeated the proposal. A new package will be submitted on May 8th downsizing the school by 1/3 which will decrease the cost from 39 million to 29 million.  Waldbaums will begin a renovation project this week on the interior of the store.  The Planning Department will begin establishing a database of special permits so that someone could learn how many have been issued in their neighborhood.  Dan Kelly can be contacted for further information.  The issue of re-zoning in some areas was discussed.  Families on the particular streets should be involved in these issues.  Pat will begin working on this task, a lot of preliminary work needs to be accomplished first.

 The meeting adjourned at 9:10pm.