Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Sept 20, 2022
7:07 – Richard Call to order
- Introduction & Attendance
| Serena Watters | Present | Laura Dykes | Present | Kris Hoellen | Present |
| Kelleigh Eastman | Present | Abigail Breiseth | / | George Kleb | Present |
| Edith Gilliard-Canty | Present | Scott Kashnow | Present | Jane Shaab | Present |
| Howard Hughes | Present | Cecilia Gonzales | Present | Chuck Callahan | Present |
| Jose’ Resendiz | Present | 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 Board Members
- Cecilia Gonzales
- Bill Joyner
Introduced themselves
- Jane offered one correction – the neighborhood trolley tour event at the BioPark was not done by the Biopark it was produced by Live Baltimore.
- Motion to approve by George , seconded by Jane → approved unanimously
Community Updates (2 minutes each)
- Barre Circle – Serena – After 10 years, Rich is not going to run to be President again – They will have elections in October.
- Franklin Square – Edith – Board of Estimates approval received for Comfort Station improvements; ready to begin work
- Hollins Roundhouse – Howard not here – Laura –
- SOWEBO 2023 Planning monthly on second Thursday from 6-7pm
- DPW to come to meeting
- Mount Clare – Jose – 9/25 – Unity Day from 3-4 @ War Memorial
- Pigtown – Kelleigh – 20th Annual Pigtown Festival Oct 8
- Poppleton – Paulette – Water Situation – will be discussing with Councilman Costello
- Sonia – The City is hosting a meeting on Oct 13 at Morning Star Baptist Church to discuss what Poppleton neighbors want to have in the neighborhood. It’s a follow up to the Mayor’s announcement of taking a fresh look at the development in Poppleton.
- Poe festival is also on October 8th
- Dottie – where is the Poe Festival
- Has anyone had their water tested?
- Union Square – Fran
- Planning phase for the park improvements
- Concert Sunday – Rock Creek Kings – 4-7
- Next Sunday is SOWEBO Landmark 5K
- SOWEBO Arts – Art Opening – Noelle Imparato curated a show at Zellas – Wed 10/5 6PM
Program Committee Updates (2 minutes each)
- Commercial – Laura
- Retail Study undergoing draft review for presentation at next meeting
- Education – Abigail not here – Cecilia/ Elizabeth shared updates
- Packett fund: now open, to make awards up to $1000 to public K-12 schools in the SWP area. One award was made (to support literacy at James McHenry). During the first three months the award is open each school will have the opportunity to apply for one award, then first come first served basis.
- Community School Update
- United Way is the new lead agency at Vivien T Thomas Medical Arts Academy. Doesn’t impact staffing at SWP (other than not having a third Community School Coordinator) for 2022-2023 school year
- Community School Roundtable series continues, focusing on mental health resources
- Steuart Hill appeal coalition had a pre-hearing September 19th
- Young people in youth internship program will be presenting at October Education Committee meeting
- Historic Preservation – Scott
- We planned to meet on site at the Sarah Ann Street houses but it rained so
- We met at Allen AME
- Shelley Halstead and Tonika Garibaldi with Black Women Build discussed their plans.
- Eric Holcolm – CHAP – discussed the timeline for the Sarah Ann Street Historic District
- The CHAP hearing was held on the 13th – the Commission voted in favor of creating the district.
- Bill 22-0284 was introduced to the City Council 9/19
- There will be a public hearing at the Planning Commission and then at the City Council.
- We briefly discussed that BC DOT is applying for the RCP Grant from the Federal Government to fund a planning project for the US 40 corridor.
- Housing – Cecilia
- Housing Action Plan starting up; regular updates at Committee meetings
- The Housing Committee voted at the September 8th meeting to support Inclusionary Housing Bill 22-0195 which would require every residential project over 20 units that receives major city subsidy or zoning changes to set aside 10% of units as affordable. The Housing Committee is asking Board to approve sending a letter of support
- The board was supportive in general but had questions about some of the specifics in the bill. Such as:
- What is a major subsidy?
- Scott recommended he will share the bill link in the minutes and everyone can review so that at our next meeting we can discuss with complete information and vote and if an issue comes up between now and then the Executive Committee can meet to address it understanding that the board is generally supportive in concept.
- Here is also an article in the Baltimore Sun that may help answer questions.
- Public Safety – JR
- RFPs for contractors for securing vacant properties and installing cameras along W Baltimore St currently open and available on SWP website. Responses due September 30th
- Alley gating installation continues
- Dottie asked – how many gates have been installed? JR Will check and get back to her. Doesn’t want to guess and give a wrong answer.
- Vibrant Streets – Donnell
- DOT scheduled to attend September Committee meeting to share about Connecting Communities grant application for Rt 40. They are interested in a letter of support from the SWP, which will require the approval of the directly impacted neighborhoods (Franklin Square, Poppleton)
- Project Updates
- Carey St Bridge, meeting with electricians for installation of LED lights
- Franklin Square Comfort Station, approved by Board of Estimates, contractor is beginning work to start renovations
- Committee looking for best contact in the City to move forward with the refurbishing historic signs project
- Fall neighborhood grants still to be determined–will depend on finalizing budget for Comfort Station
- Workforce – Richard
- Request for proposals out for Training Programs. Last year of workforce grants. More information can be found: https://swpbal.org/workforce-grants/
- Committee is working on identifying policy priorities for legislative advocacy for next session
President’s Remarks – Richard
- We will need a search committee
- Chair: Scott
- Members:Sonia, Paulette, Donnell, Bill, Rebecca, Howard, Kris
- Motion by Edith and 2nd by George to approve.
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- Several board members voiced concern that this is getting ahead of ourselves as we have not yet discussed direction of the organization.
- Scott requested adding the expertise of Serena to the committee. Richard denied request.
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- Vote: Laura and Serena opposed – Cecilia abstained – All others in favor.
Standing Committee Updates
Governance Committee – Chuck
- Reviewed the board’s decision on the At-Large Directors, the position description and the procedure for selection. The process is underway.
- Recommendation that the board consider all directors sign a statement designating whether they are residents of the “area of interest” or not so it is clear who is eligible from the board to run for president or vice-president. Perhaps use the annual update conflict of interest statement.
- Reviewed Bylaws Article IV Officers
- Discussion on whether we should dictate new elections if the Vice-President has to step in for a President who cannot fulfill his/her term.
- Recommendation that we leave the bylaws as is, which allows the board to decide what to do in each instance it comes up. Board could evaluate the time for the next election, etc.
- Will look for self-assessment tools for officers and directors as an annual discipline for us, perhaps at the end of each calendar year, to continue to improve as board members.
- Caution about this being a “popularity contest”
- Will examine what other boards are doing
- Would like to review the documents that will be provided to new board members and discuss possible training modules for new board members as well as perhaps a community orientation to each neighborhood/anchor?
Anchor Updates (2 minutes each)
- B&O Railroad Museum – Kris
- Polar Express
- Underground Railroad Exhibit
- Workforce Program – Restore Baltimore
- Daniel Tiger
- This Thursday is the final farmers market for the season
- Jane B. Are there any plans to repair the road near the tracks?
- Not right now – it’s part of a bigger project hopefully in the future.
- Bon Secours Community Works – George
- ABC Partnership with Jumpstart
- Case management with their westside program – the first cohort is 20 residents
- Provided 122 families with eviction prevention services
- Broke ground on Unity Park at 2 N Fulton – splash pad
- Lifebridge Health – Rebecca
- They are continuing the renovations of Grace Medical – new greenspace will be part of it.
- hosting a free shred event 10/8
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) – Bill
- UMB BioPark – Jane
- UM Medical Center – Chuck (from Agenda)
- Launched first Certified Nursing Assistant Program for community members.
- Active job training program also includes soft skills training
- Wexford Science & Technology – Gregg
- Very excited to announce the groundbreaking for 4 MLK.
- Friday Oct 14
- Very excited to announce the groundbreaking for 4 MLK.
Executive Director’s Report – Tony
- Motion to make Elizabeth Acting Executive Director – with salary increase commensurate.
- Motion by George, 2nd by Chuck.
- Cecilia abstains – All other in favor
- Scott – We have some things we need to talk about as a board at a special meeting. Richard agreed and will schedule a separate meeting.
- Richard asked the City Main Street representatives to attend our next meeting and will set up a walk through with them.
9:35pm – Meeting Adjourned – motion by Donnell – 2nd by JR – All in favor
