Attendees

Serena Watters Present Laura Dykes Present Kris Hoellen Present Kelleigh Eastman Present Abigail Breiseth Present Andrea Person Present Charisse Lue Present Edith Gilliard-Canty Present Scott Kashnow Present Jane Shaab Present Tashi-Kali M.Acket Present Howard Hughes Present Cecilia Gonzalez Present Chuck Callahan Present Gregg Herlong Present Sonia Eaddy Present Richard Parker Present

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Mar 21, 2023

7:06 – Sonia Call to order

Serena Watters Present Laura Dykes Present Kris Hoellen Present Vernell Lewis /
Kelleigh Eastman Present Abigail Breiseth Present Andrea Person Present Charisse Lue Present
Edith Gilliard-Canty Present Scott Kashnow Present Jane Shaab Present Tashi-Kali M.Acket Present
Howard Hughes Present Cecilia Gonzalez Present Chuck Callahan Present    
Jose Resendiz / JR Lee / Gregg Herlong Present    
Sonia Eaddy Present Donnell Nance / Bill Joyner /    
Francis “Fran” Rahl / Richard Parker Present Rebecca Altman /    

 

  • Andrea Person – new board member for Bon Secours

Minutes Approval

  • Motion to approve (Jane), Gregg 2nd
    • All approve.

 

Acting Executive Director’s Report

  • New Communications Manager Introduction – Dave Pope
    • Has been with the Mayor’s Office last 5 years
  • Historic Preservation Committee: Approval of RFP process for sale of 1504 and 1506 W Baltimore St
    • Elizabeth Presented Proposal for 1504/ 1506 West Baltimore Street
    • Kris is there a profit – No
    • Cecilia where has this been done before
    • Carrie – She used this in Indianapolis. The great thing about this technique is that you can use the same grant over and over.
    • Motion (Scott): To accept the proposal as presented. 2nd by Chuck.
      • Cecilia: Against, Kelleigh and Serena: Abstain,
      • All others in Favor
    • Lord Baltimore Theater Update
    • BRNI and Core usually open up applications in the spring. We should get ready. Start the conversations with the committees.
      • Jane – do we anticipate any changes – No
      • Venroy – how much have we received
        • Only a few organizations can apply for BRNI:
          • Operating $100K – $135K per year
          • Capital varies: $500K – a couple Million depending on the projects that we have been awarded.
        • Sonia – Can you apply year after year for the same project – Yes
        • Cecilia – Where can we find the list of projects awarded – It’s in the minutes from the meetings. We can also give it to you.
        • Venroy – Can the BRNI grant funding help with Main Street – Yes
        • Committees will be discussing over the next meeting or two and the staff will compile the list of potential applications.

 

Standing Committee Updates

  • Finance Committee
    • February 2023 Financials – Chris Presented
    • The only anomaly that he would like to flag for us is the water bill is very high due to a broken pipe.
    • Scott asked about Pigtown climbs line item – We are the fiscal sponsor for their grant with SBGP.
  • Governance Committee
    • Proposed Bylaw changes for March Ratification (draft bylaws with changes and comments) – Chuck presented.
      • Section 6.01. Executive Director. “On a routine basis, the President Executive Committee shall be responsible for oversight of the executive director.”
        • Replace President with Executive Committee for oversight of the executive director
      • Section 3.13. ​ “​Fifty-one (51) percent of the directors shall constitute a quorum and four-member organization representatives of the neighborhood associations and at-large directors must be present to create a quorum.
        • Add at-large members to the required neighborhood representation to create a quorum.
      • Motion (Chuck): To approve the proposed changes to the bylaws. Scott 2nd
        • Abigail – It seems problematic to not have a place where the buck stops – Managing by committee might prove challenging.
        • Serena – according to MD Non Profits – the ED reports to the Board – not an individual.
        • Paulette – would like it to stay as it is.
        • Cecilia – echo Serena’s comments – the board oversees the CEO
        • All approved. None against, None Abstain.
      • Chuck suggested having formal evaluation tools for board members – perhaps annually. Although we have committee chair elections annually so we need to think that through.
    • ED Search Committee – Scott
      • We have advertised the position and are accepting applications. We have received 8 so far.
      • The committee plans to review them and begin interviews in April
      • We are planning two rounds of interviews + a discussion with staff for the final candidates + reference checks. Hopefully we can bring final candidates to the May board meeting, anticipating a June 1 start date.
    • Fund Development Committee
      • Scott – not much of an update on this one – I probably won’t have capacity to give this much attention until the ED is hired. Could anyone help out?
      • Venroy – volunteered to join the committee and assist with setting the initial meeting.
      • Jane – offered to host the meeting at the BioPark.
      • Scott will send an email this evening to connect everyone. Thank you!

President’s Report

  • Sonia will be scheduling a meeting of the community presidents to discuss the needs of the neighborhoods.

 

Community Announcements and Updates

  • Neighborhoods
    • Barre Circle – Serena
      • Housing Walk Through – discussed priorities aging in place and low income housing
      • Dumpster Day – April 1st – 9-11AM
    • Franklin Square – Edith
      • Housing Walk Through – was really nice – she is looking forward to the future.
    • Hollins Roundhouse
      • SOWEBO Festival is coming May 28th. Vendor sign up is open.
    • Mount Clare – Not here.
    • Pigtown – Keleigh
      • Ground Work Kitchen
      • Pigtown Climbs in Carroll Park – April 22nd for the Move Well Festival and Cyclovia with Black People Ride Bikes.
    • Poppleton
      • Sarah Ann Street Historic District passed 3rd reader 2/27/23
        • Mayor will host a public signing event on April 3rd at 10AM
      • 1100 block of Saratoga Street – exploring possibly expanding the district.
      • Dumpster Day – April 1st 7AM – Noon – 200 N Carrollton Ave.
    • Union Square – Not Here
  • Anchor Institutions
    • B&O Railroad Museum – Kris
      • Train rides begin 4/1
      • Howard jazz group – Afro Blue – In the Roundhouse – 4/21
    • Bon Secours Community Works – Andrea
      • Hosting Spring Break Camp @ 31 S Payson
      • Finalizing Interviews for latest cohort of W/F Dev. Program
    • Lifebridge Health – Kurt
      • Hosting Community Day 2000 blk of West Baltimore Street – 4/22
        • health fair – kids zone – document shredding
      • University of Maryland Baltimore – Not here
      • University of Maryland BioPark – Jane
        • Always available for any meetings we may need
      • University of Maryland Medical Center – Chuck
        • Creating a new program where they ID patients that are food insecure and refer them to non profit partners that can help.
        • Program for certified nursing assistants – to be trained and employed immediately in the hospital
      • Wexford Science and Technology – Gregg
        • Searching for the right group to operate a restaurant in the firehouse @ 760 West Baltimore Street
      • Program Committees
        • Commercial Development
        • Education – Abigail
          • Before the appeal is finalized the community will get 10 minutes in front of the Board of Education 9am on 3/28
          • As challenging as it is, it’s very exciting that we are leading in these areas of systemic reform of education and eminent domain in Poppleton
        • Historic Preservation – Scott
          • St Luke’s Update –
            • SLYC is signing a 15 year lease agreement with the Episcopal Diocese of MD to redevelop the clergy house and the grounds.
            • They also have a developer agreement with Episcopal Housing Corporation, which is completely separate from the Diocese, to develop the clergy house.
            • They are collecting options and costs for stabilizing the church which has some structural issues but the community wants to save it – if possible.
          • We lost several more rowhouses to demolition recently. We need to get out in front of it. Hopefully this will be part of the discussion next month as we are hosting a combined meeting with the Housing Committee to discuss Code Enforcement and how it can help.
        • Housing – Cecilia
          • Code Enforcement Event – April 13th 7-8:30PM at the BioPark
        • Public Safety – JR not here
          • Elizabeth – String Light grant is available for residents that want to apply – funding to purchase and install. Electricity is not part of the grant.
        • Vibrant Streets – Donnell not here
          • Elizabeth – We met with Dr Nunley Community Liaison for DPW last month.
        • Workforce Development – Richard not here
      • Businesses
        • CPBO – no update
      • Open Forum

 

9:25pm – Meeting Adjourned

Motion(Edith)

Cecilia 2nd

All in favor

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