Charles Village Community Benefits District Management Authority

Board Meeting

Minutes

March 9, 2010

2434 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

 

Present:

Gary Letteron                    Derek Demaree                                Ron Griffin                          Jennifer Erickson

Jason Pyeron                     Joseph Church                  Bob Cooke                          Jennifer Burdick                              

Paul Burk                             Jay Orr                                                 

 

Also Present: David Hill; Erin O’Keefe, Sidney Woods, Telina Jenkins

 

Call to Order: 

The meeting was called to order with a quorum present at 7:10 PM.   

 

Agenda:

The agenda was submitted for approval by Mr. Griffin with Mr. Pyeron requesting to add an agenda item related to New Business.  Ms. Burdick motioned to approve the agenda with Mr Letteron seconding and the agenda was approved by unanimous consent.   

 

Minutes: 

The meeting minutes for the January Board meeting were approved by unanimous consent with the following changes:  spelling correction of Derek Demaree’s first name & Jennifer Erickson’s last name, and changing the abbreviations on budget numbers (referencing thousands) to be spelled out without abbreviations.  A motion by Ms. Burdick to approve the minutes then seconded by Mr. Letteron was approved with unanimous consent.      

 

Executive Director Report: 

Mr Hill presented the proposed budget for FY2011 along with his Executive Director’s report.  Highlights included announcing the spring meeting 3/23 at Lovely Lane Church from 6 – 8:30 PM to go over his proposed budget.   Postings of the meeting were in both the City Paper and Baltimore Sun - although only one paper announcement was required.   The Winter February edition of the Charles Villager also contained the notice. 

 

The proposed budget is based on continuing the current sanitation and safety programs, expanding and improving them as follows:

·         Adding two sanitation workers to perform special duties: routine (3 days a week) alley cleaning, and maintaining CSX and Vineyard Lane green spaces

·          Increasing temporary staff for Fall leaf Removal Campaign from 6 to 10

·         Anticipating a significant increase in Payroll Taxes due to increased contributions to the Unemployment Fund

·         Anticipating a significant increase in Supplies due to the higher use of trash bag and the need to replace trash baskets ($170/each). 

·         Anticipating significant decreases in expenses for Worker’s Compensation, Printing/Publishing/Website, Accounting & Legal, and Property and Liability Insurance. 

 

Mr. Hill noted there were no radical changes in allocation and that the budget only relies on recurring anticipated income derived from the property tax surcharge and the exempt property contribution by JHU which has been received every year since 1994.  Grants are not included as they are not considered recurring in nature or reliable annually.     

 

Mr. Griffin noted that historically there has been a shortfall due to timing of sur-charge payments and a reserve fund was established to bridge this.   It was suggested that the budget be presented showing 2009 vs 2010 for the reader to better understand the Year-over-Year proposed changes.  A public meeting of 3/23 to present Mr. Hill’s proposed budget was motioned by Ms. Burdick and seconded by Mr. Letteron.  

 

 Mr Hill then highlighted ongoing Sanitation services during the snow storms including 2,070 trash bags collected and 77 bulk items; Safety services, and the special activities conducted during and after the February snow storms.  Those special tasks/activities were performed between February 10th & 24th were done to supplement the community’s recovery and include:

 

· Fire hydrants uncovered: 58

· Mail boxes uncovered: 18

· School sidewalks cleared: 3

· Storm drains uncovered: 41

· Corner walkways at intersections cut & cleared for pedestrians: 103

· Grime reports issued to 500+ residents:  4

· Pot holes identified and reported to City: 186

· Assistance to individual residents (mostly to help uncover cars): 15

 

Work was done repeatedly because the city’s snow plow re-covered some hydrants, storm drains, etc.  Both FT & PT staff worked 8 hours, 7 days a week for this effort.  In addition, volunteer staff was recruited by Tuerk House, both FT and PT.  Total additional payroll expense for this extraordinary effort was approx. $4,000. 

 

Committee Reports:

Mr. Griffin noted that all Board members are asked to join a committee.  Officers include: Mr. Griffin (President), Mr. Demaree (VP), Ms. Erickson (Secretary), Mr. Millard (Treasurer).  One At-Large member was still needed and Mr. Pyeron volunteered.  Ms. Burdick motioned approval and Mr. Demaree seconded.        

 

Executive Committee:  Mr. Griffin noted that CVCBD reauthorization is every four years with 2010 the next reauthorization.   As a result of the delay caused by the snow storms and no February board meeting, a request to City Council was made to begin the legislative process.   Mr. Griffin sent out a letter of request for re-authorization.  Council will vote in June.  Mr. Cooke is the Chair of the Re-authorization.  Anyone wanting to help with the re-authorization should see Mr. Cooke as he will be working with the three City Council representatives (Councilwomen Conaway & Clarke & Councilman Stokes).  

 

Program Committee:    There was no program committee report.  However, new committee members include Ms. Nelson, Mr. Jones, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Orr, and Mr. Burk.  

 

Finance Committee:  No report given.  New committee members include:  Mr. Millard, Ms. Erickson, Mr. Demaree, and Mr. Griffin. . 

 

Governance Committee:

The Governance Committee did not meet.  Mr. Millard believed the Board may not have the updated suggested improvement by the February meeting.   The members of the governance committee are: Mr.  Millard, Mr. Pyeron, Ms. Erickson, and Ms. Burdick.

 

New Business:

Google RFI:  Mr. Pyeron suggested the CVCBD send a letter of support of the City’s effort to respond to the Google RFI to bring high speed internet access to a neighborhood under the RFI.    The RFI is looking for a beta test city to deliver fibor optics to residents.  Bmorefiber.org is the website for more information.   Robin Truiett-Theodorson will be reaching out to nearby community associations for their support as well.  A letter is needed by the end of March pending board approval.  After discussion of what the RFI was and how it could benefit businesses, specifically the CVCBD (versus the CVCBD speaking on behalf of the community), it was motioned and approved to draft a letter of support.

 

25th Street Station:

Jay Orr announced he was informally approached to represent the CVCBD re the 25th Street Development as a portion of the property is inside the CVCBD boundaries.   It was noted that the CVCBD has interest in following the project given the boundary, safety, sanitation and potential increased tax surcharge resulting from the project.  As Mr Griffin was unaware of his representing the CVCBD, discussion ensued on how/if representing the CVCBD without Board approval was possible.   Mr. Griffin suggested that anyone offering or willing to represent the CVCBD on a project going forward should bring this first to the Board for discussion and approval.  Mr. Pyeron motioned and Mr. Letteron seconded the motion to have Mr. Orr attend meetings and report back to the CVCBD with 2 board members abstaining & 8 approving.         

 

Public comments:  

Jennifer Erickson announced the upcoming CVCA general membership meeting with guest speakers including City Council Mayor Young, Councilman, Stokes and an update with the 25th Street Station developer.   

 

Ron Griffin announced the upcoming Historic Tax Credit seminar sponsored by the CVCBD on Saturday March 27th @ 10 AM at the CVCBD HQs. 

 

A motion to adjourn was approved by unanimous consent at 8:30 PM.