Charles Village Community Benefits District

 

Board Meeting

Minutes

March 10, 2009

2434 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

 

Present:

 

Gary Letteron                         Nancy Smith

Rob Books                               Dawna Cobb                   

Derek Demaree                      Alan Garske              

Ron Griffin                             Jason Pyeron 

Kirsch Jones                            Robin Truiett-Theodorson

Jeff Millard

 

Also Present: David Hill

 

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order with a quorum present at 7:12 p.m.

 

Agenda:

The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.

 

Minutes:

Minutes of the February, 2009 board meeting were approved as amended.

 

Presentation by Legal Counsel:

John McCauley, the CVCBDMA’s counsel was present to provide legal advice concerning the Court of Appeals recent decision in the suit brought by Joan Floyd against the CVCBDMA and the City of Baltimore. 

 

Jeff Millard made a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of obtaining legal advice.  The motion was seconded by Jason Pyeron and was unanimously approved.

 

Rob Books made a motion to return to open session; Gary Letteron seconded the motion.  It was unanimously approved at 7:55 p.m.

Executive Director’s Report:

The CVCBDMA newsletter has gone out and contains an announcement of the Spring Meeting on the Financial Plan and a summary of the proposal regarding changes to the safety program. 

New uniforms have been rented for all staff.  Employees will share in the cost at $5 per pay period. 

Committee Reports:

Finance Committee

Jeff Millard reported that the City has caught up on forwarding tax revenues to the CVCBD.  He indicated that the organization’s current finances are on target with the budget and also with our goal of building a Reserve Fund; currently we have $50,000 in Reserve.

Executive Committee

Ron Griffin reported that committee members discussed the reauthorization process.  Strategies for seeking reauthorization will be recommended to the full board.  He also reported that the City is current with the tax revenues owed to the CVCBDMA.  There had been a lag in receiving this revenue earlier this year, which was discussed at the public hearing held by the City Council in response to the recent round of bills for the special tax that were erroneously sent by the City.

 Governance Committee

Jeff Millard reported no meeting in February occurred because Ms. Trohan’s comments regarding the by-laws had not been received.  They will be discussed at the next meeting on March 27.

Program Committee

Rob Books-reported that the first meeting of this newly combined committee met on March 9, 2009.  The committee heard a presentation by the Jones Falls Watershed regarding the storm drain project. This involves placing anti-litter stickers on storm drains.  The stickers will be placed around the district on March 28.  A re-launch for the Citizens on Patrol was suggested and is expected to occur though no date has been set. The next meeting is April 13, 2009.  Committee member, Kirsch Jones, explained that former board member Emil Vocheck attended the meeting to propose that the CVCBDMA undertake an experimental study of the effectiveness of the safety patrols.  Following that presentation and much discussion, a motion to pursue this study was made and defeated by a vote of 4-1.

Public Comment: Gary Letteron reported that there is a meeting at GHCC on Wednesday March 11 re: tree planting in Charles Village on April 4th.