February 2022 Board of Directors Minutes

7:00-7:10pm: 

• Introduction & Attendance- We were joined by Planning Dept staff member Jeff Lanew and the Lifebridge Health team in addition to Diante, the President of the Citizens of Pigtown neighborhood group
  • Meeting ground rules
• Minutes Approval Richard made the motion to approve, Donnell seconded, Abigail amended the education section with a note that the Education Committee’s advocacy was able to get the school reassignment for SHAA students changed to Franklin Square Elementary School (a big win) and extending the closure of SHAA by one year. And Bill Marker pointed out a spelling error on councilmember Porter’s name- motion to approve the minutes with amendments passes unanimous.

7:10-7:25pm: Community Updates (2 minutes each)

1. Barre Circle- Discussion around the UM BioPark hosting the meeting with the traffic consultant regarding the MLK/ Fremont/W Baltimore street traffic calming/pedestrian safety meeting being held at the same time as the Barre Circle meeting. Jane Shaab asked if a portion of the Barre Circle meeting could be dedicated to the MLK issue and then the Barre Circle meeting could resume as planned- still discussing the best path forward.
2. Franklin Square- Two contractors coming to give proposals for the comfort station
3. Hollins Roundhouse- Chess on Saturdays 10am to 1230pm and for 14 and under (every Tuesday/Thursday 5-7pm); Head house proposals are due soon for Hollins Market
4. Mount Clare- no updates
5. Pigtown- Milk and Honey closed last week (but a restaurant is moving in to that space lead by Chef Honey called Blacksmith) and Kim Lane mentioned Pigtown Mainstreet is hosting 1-3pm this Saturday National Pig Day with a petting zoo and family activities- come join them for this free family event
6. Poppleton ( I may have missed this)
7. Union Square- Fran concerns about development on W Baltimore Street and still concerned about SHAA- will defer to education committee report about appealing the school boards decision

7:25-7:40pm: Program Committee Updates (2 minutes each)

1. Commercial- RFP out for a retail study on W Baltimore Street due the 25^th of March
2. Education- 1. Strategy to improve mental health for kids and families (reaching out to partners) Internship program is moving along 3. Fran makes a motion to appeal the decision to close SHAA- Abigail seconds- motion passes unanimously
3. Historic Preservation- Christian Warriors marching band – renaming Poppleton Street Ernest King Way ; Storytelling project/website www.swpbal.org/storytelling ; Save Our Block/ Poppleton History project April 12^th hearing; Energy Justice Network pushing bill that requires deconstruction versus demolition – more info found here March 2022 – Historic Preservation Report.docx – Google Docs
   1. Next meeting April 11^th via zoom
4. Housing- April Jeff Lanew will be guest talking about 2020 Census data and impact on neighborhoods
5. Public Safety- April 2rd 2-4pm Bike Rodeo – in need of kids bikes and scooters to borrow for this event; Also made a plea to get started on the Poppleton Rec center from a public safety intervention perspective
6. Vibrant Streets- 2022 Neighborhood grants two levels April 12^th for grants up to 20k – letters of intent are due; Applications for ALL grants are due June 1^st – Application materials and details are on our www.swpbal.org/grants ; David McGill starting March 20^th community bike rides (starting at the Hollins parklet this Sunday) rides Follow them @Bike_Streets on Twitter or Email
   1. Sonia wants to know if there is a limit on who can apply from a neighborhood? Donnell, prioritized neighborhoods who haven’t received a lot of grants or awards to get priority points AND they will be helping groups with their applications if especially if it’s something the city won’t pay for; Won’t write the grant for you but will give you pointers 😊 No Limit on the applications form a neighborhood
      1. Bike racks for Hollins – JR asked for a contact at the city to help navigate how to get the racks; Jeff Lanew asked folks to contact him and he can help follow up
      2. Roger added the link to the bike rack form Bike and Scooter Parking | Baltimore City Department of Transportation

 

7. Workforce- looking favorable that both pieces of legislation that we voted on last meeting that they will pass- will know by early April; Also looking to creating pathways for folks who don’t have a lot of education/experience to go into a living wage job (CDL and Childcare workers certification in partnership with BCCC)

 

7:40-7:45pm: Standing Committee Updates (5 minutes)

• Governance- We are working through the by-laws; Not for a vote yet, but added Definitions including defining “residency” and the second item about directors/program chairs being residents of the community

 

7:45-7:55pm: Anchor Updates (2 minutes each)

1. B&O Railroad Museum- Recruitment phase of their “earn while you learn” workforce construction/rail maintenance job training program– 6 month program in partnership with CCBC…begins early April so please spread the word about this new workforce opportunity- Also the roundhouse is lit in Blue and Gold in support of Ukraine
2. Bon Secours Community Works- 31 S Payson Street April 26^th 3pm to open the Center! All will be invited; STILL actively recruiting head start teachers careers.bonsecours.com
3. University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)- United Way is looking for a volunteer opportunity for a large group of volunteers ; Community Meal tomorrow 3/16 catered by Culinary Architecture 5:30pm at CEC 16 S Poppleton Street
4. UMB BioPark- Will host a meeting on the W Baltimore Street/Fremont intersection pedestrian improvements meeting will be held Monday March 21^st at 7pm via zoom
5. UM Medical Center- Youthworks internship program starting in June
6. Wexford Science & Technology
7. Lifebridge- demo on the old Bon Secours Hospital; July/August opening at the Factory- have tenants slated to go into the building and some interest in the commercial kitchen

 

7:55-8:15pm: President’s Remarks 

• Monthly Community Visits: Barre Circle- Discussion around whether this is the best month to visit or not
• Board Membership: Lifebridge
  • Motion to approve by Jane Shaab, seconded by Fran Rahl
  • Debate: Heather asked about the anchors voting versus the community voting, Richard answered that Chuck as the Governance Chair is still reviewing the bylaws but understands that this is a priority of the Board. Bill Marker won’t vote in support of this because he is not in support of 7 versus 7 anchors vs communities
    • Fran commented that he doesn’t see an issue
    • Kris Hoellen mentioned that her previous experience in community development that the communities that work best together, were those who included larger businesses, small businesses, residents, neighborhood associations, etc.- NOT JUST residents in the definition of “community”
    • Laura asked that we resolve this in the governance committee to work through in the revised by-laws
    • Diante, agrees the processes need to work through the governance committee first and sees the argument about the power imbalance
    • Bif- thinks we are kicking the can down the road since the same people who sit on the Board sit on the governance committee
    • Scott thinks referring to the governance committee allows more space and time to have the discussion since we don’t have the time at the Board meetings and that should be the appropriate place. Recommends we table the motion until governance
    • Jane rescinds the motion based on the discussion
    • Laura makes a motion to hold a separate meeting to discuss the addition of anchors to the Board after at next month’s governance meeting/committee has a chance to weigh in on the power dynamics and propose options to the Board
    • JR wants to act on this now
    • Patti Hogan reminds us that when we went through when we delayed adding Ridgely’s Delight they eventually said, “forget it”
    • Fran asked are we bound by our current bylaws? Richard answered yes
    • Richard added that he agrees with Fran and JR that we should just vote and move on because Governance did already have one discussion about this already and couldn’t find a resolution and therefore that is why this topic came back to the board for a vote. Now we are just referring it back to the governance committee yet again.

 

• Richard (Yes) JR (No) Donnell (Yes) Ashley(Yes) Bill (Yes) Edith (abstain) Kelleigh (yes) Howard (yes) Jane S (Yes) Chuck (Yes) George (opposed) Greg (absent) Jose (no) Paulette (No) Fran (No) Kris (abstain) Scott (yes) Heather (Yes) Abigail (yes) Laura (Yes)
• Motion passes 12 In support

• Common Health Report Review – Tuesday, March 29, 6-7:30pm  

8:15-8:20pm: Executive Director’s Report; Key updates from Tony – 40k for Housing Action Plan and money coming from City Planning community engagement support for the comprehensive plan; Applications for BRNI and CORE will be coming to the full board in May/June

9:00pm: Adjournment