Attendees

Serena Watters Laura Dykes Kelleigh Eastman Abigail Breiseth George Kleb Edith Gilliard-Canty Scott Kashnow Jane Shaab Howard Hughes Cecilia Gonzales Chuck Callahan JR Lee Gregg Herlong Sonia Eaddy Donnell Nance Bill Joyner Paulette Carroll Richard Parker Rebecca Altman Francis "Fran" Rahl

 

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 

Oct 18, 2022

7:05 – Richard Call to order

Serena Watters Present Laura Dykes Present Kris Hoellen /
Kelleigh Eastman Present Abigail Breiseth Present George Kleb Present
Edith Gilliard-Canty Present Scott Kashnow Present Jane Shaab Present
Howard Hughes Present Cecilia Gonzales Present Chuck Callahan Present
Jose’ Resendiz / JR Lee Present Gregg Herlong Present
Sonia Eaddy Present Donnell Nance Present Bill Joyner Present
Paulette Carroll Present Richard Parker Present Rebecca Altman Present
Francis “Fran” Rahl Present

 

New Visitors

  • George Collins, Sally Scott, and Neerad Taru introduced themselves.
  • Motion to approve by Jane , seconded by Edith → Abigail abstained all others approve.

UMBC Community Leadership Development Presentation

  • Sally Scott presented the UMBC Community Leadership Program
  • 3 YR old program – Many classes are offered at the Lion Brothers Building
  • Offer a Masters Program, a Certificate as well as skills courses that do not require admission/ enrollment to the University.

Community Leadership courses – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

 

Community Updates (2 minutes each)

    1. Barre Circle – Serena – Barre Circle held Board Elections yesterday
      1. Rebekah Siddique was elected President.
        1. Rich will stay on for 1 year as ex-officio past president
      2. Serena will continue as the SWP Rep.
    2. Franklin Square – Edith – Will be meeting with DOT, tomorrow, October 19th at 3pm at the intersection of Fayette and Calhoun Streets to talk about/advocate for traffic calming. Please come if you are able! The more people the better.
    3. Hollins Roundhouse – Howard – 
      1. James McHenry Rec Center is open Tuesday and Thursday evenings
        1. pool tables
        2. chess/ checkers/air hockey
      2. Party at the Polls – CEC is hosting on the 29th from 1-4
      3. SOWEBO 2023 Planning meeting on Thursday the 20th from 6-7pm
    4. Mount Clare – Jose – not here
    5. Pigtown – Kelleigh – Carroll Park Rec Center design discussion at Southwest Baltimore Charter School and online hybrid – 6-7PM on October 22 – with SBGP and BCRP
    6. Poppleton – Sonia 
      1. St Lukes is having issues with water and so Poppleton Now Community Association is meeting at the CEC
      2. Thanks to the housing committee for adjusting and attending the City meeting on Poppleton reset at Morning Star Baptist Church on the 13th
  • Motion by Sonia – to schedule a special meeting of the Board to resolve the official representation question for Poppleton Now, 
  • Dotie Page – 2nd the motion – 
  • seconded by Scott – in support of Dotie since the 2nd must come from a board member.
      1. Discussion: 
        1. Abigail suggested that Richard could simply schedule a meeting and 
  • Richard agreed to call a meeting and so a vote is unnecessary on this item
      1. Gregg requested that if there are materials to review please send them ahead of the meeting so that we can come prepared.
  2. Union Square – Fran
    1. Final 2022 Sunday Sounds In The Park concert is on Sunday, October 30th from 4-7pm. F.T. Blindman featuring George Kleb will be performing. Come out for a great show in our beautiful historic park. Bring your chairs and blankets and feel free to wear your Halloween costume. 
    2. 37th Christmas Cookie Tour will be 12/11

Program Committee Updates (2 minutes each)

    1. Commercial – Laura
      • Retail St
    2. Education – Abigail 
      • Packett Fund is up and running, Committee heard a presentation from interns at last Committee meeting. 
      • The School Board has filed a request to dismiss the Stueart Hill appeal and the decision now rests with the judge.
      • Once the Judge issues a decision the community will decide whether to accept or to appeal it.
    3. Historic Preservation – Scott 
  • Highway to Nowhere – Denise Johnson – Postponed
        • Reconnecting Communities in West Baltimore Coalition
  • The planning commission held a hearing on Bill 22-0284 – Sarah Ann Street Historic District – October 13 and voted in favor.
        • The next step is to go back to the City Council for 2nd and 3rd reader once the agency reports are returned.
      • Baltimore Heritage Awards – Sonia Eaddy and Dr. Nicole King were selected by Baltimore Heritage to receive awards for their work to preserve important history in Baltimore.
    2. Housing – Cecilia
      • The Housing Committee recommended for the SWP to provide a letter of support for the Inclusionary Housing (IH) Bill 22-0195. 
      • The proposed bill would require every residential project over 20 units that receive major city subsidy or rezoning to set aside 10% of units as affordable, plus an additional 5% for even lower incomes if the project receives more subsidy.
      • Background:
      • The board had some questions last month – Cecilia has invited Lorraine Arikat & CouncilWoman Ramos to present and answer questions on the bill.
      • They are requesting a letter of support to ask for a hearing of the bill.
  • Motion by Cecilia: To provide a letter of support for Bill 22-0195 and request a hearing. 2nd by Serena.
  • Paulette is opposed (note: she is not the voting member for Poppleton this month)
  • Gregg, JR, and Edith Abstain – all others in favor.
  1. Public Safety – JR 
    • Requests for proposals for safety improvements along W Baltimore St have closed. Original plan was to fund both securing vacant properties and installing cameras. We will focus on securing the vacant properties, and apply for additional funds to complete the camera installation in the new round of funding, as well as string lights/porch lights improvements.
    • Still working on gates
    • Halloween is coming up, be careful out there.
  2. Vibrant Streets – Donnell
    • Committee heard a presentation from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Planning on the federal grant application for planning work to undo the harm caused by the construction of the Highway to Nowhere/Rt 40. Committee voted to support the planning application, contingent on the approval of the neighborhood’s most directly impacted (Poppleton and Franklin Square) who did provide their support.
    • Election next Thursday.
    • Traffic calming walk tomorrow in Franklin Square.
  3. Workforce – Richard
    • Received 4 proposals from training programs for the last round of workforce development grants funded by the Lowe’s foundation. Review committee will meet to review the applications with the goal to make the award by November 1st.

 

Standing Committee Updates 

Governance Committee – Chuck

  • Motion by Chuck: To clarify that the 3rd meeting required in the bylaws can be the election meeting. 2nd by Bill.
  • JR opposed – All others in favor.
  • Motion by Chuck: To approve the election procedure recommended by Governance – intended to eliminate any confusion of who is eligible to vote prior to the election meeting. 2nd by Scott.
  • After robust discussion Chuck agreed to table the motion for now – 
  • Richard needs to leave and asked JR to take over the meeting.
    • JR asked Richard to address the Main Street question before leaving – 
    • Richard – There is no update on Main Street tonight.

Anchor Updates (2 minutes each)

  • B&O Railroad Museum – Kris
    • On the 21st the Underground Railroad Exhibit will be opening.
  • Bon Secours Community Works – George 
    • Wide Angle Youth Media is starting this week at the Community Resource Center. This is an afterschool digital media program for middle school youth (age 10-14)
    • Womb Works will begin Saturday programming for Elementary and Middle School students beginning on 10/29/22.
    • Bentalou Basketball League and the Junior NBA league is running daily (6pm-8pm) and Saturday’s (10am-1pm)
    • Youth Life Mentorship breakfast is held at the CRC every Thursday (7am-8am) with Franklin Square Middle school (25 students)
    • Mom Cares.  Pregnancy, motherhood and dual workshops held  monthly at the  CRC. 
    • For more information contact Eric Johnson at eric_johnson2@bshsi.org
    • The Safe Streets – Franklin Square site will be transitioning to LifeBridge Health in 2023. BSCW is excited to continue to be part of the violence intervention ecosystem.
    • We are recruiting for a Workforce Development Case Manager to serve the Southwest Partnership neighborhoods! See link to job posting here.
    • We are enrolling participants in our Returning Citizens Program on an ongoing basis.
      • Contact Raiza Rahim at raiza_rahim@bshsi.org for more information.
    • We have applied for the Clean Corps Project to hire local residents to clean and care for community-selected sites, including maintaining vacant lots, alleys, and trash receptacles. We have applied for two neighborhoods in the Southwest Partnership: Franklin Square and Mt. Clare.
  • Lifebridge Health – Rebecca
    • Discussed the Safe Streets Transition – LifeBridge will be inheriting 4 Safe Streets sites including the Franklin Square Site
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) – Bill
    • The State of the University Address and Reception on 11/9/22 (email has been sent to the Board)
    • Community dinner on 10/19/22 at 5 p.m.
  • UMB BioPark – Jane
    • Thanks for joining them for the ground breaking celebration for 4MLK
  • UM Medical Center – Chuck
    • no updates
  • Wexford Science & Technology – Gregg
    • Ditto Jane. Thanks for attending the groundbreaking for 4MLK

 

Executive Director’s Report – Elizabeth

    • Executive Director’s Report –
      • Requested Resolution: to approve applying for the Baltimore City Catalyst Operating Fund for $100,000 in operating support to continue the work of the community organizer funded through the Housing Plan and support community events, outreach, engagement, and communications
  • Motion by Scott: To Apply and Accept a Baltimore City Catalyst Operating fund grant for $100,000. 2nd Chuck. 
  • All in favor
  • The planning for the Annual Meeting has begun. Thanks to the B&O for hosting us this year. Any board members interested in helping with planning should contact Elizabeth.

 

Donnell – the current audit is almost finalized – on 11/7 The Finance Committee will meet to review it – then send it to the board for review.

 

9:45pm – Meeting Adjourned – motion by Fran – 2nd by Donnell – All in favor

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