Crime Prevention Committee Carolyn Boitnott They meet monthly on the 3rd Wednesday at Carolyns house. There is a summary report which is delivered to the Baltimore police - Southeast District and East District since our neighborhood is located in both. They have block reps who are 20+ volunteers. Carolyn attends the monthly community relations meetings with the police. She sends letters to problem property owners. She writes community impact statements. The committee hosts block/area meetings whenever necessary. They order and install alley gates over 12 in past years. The first walkabout with the police was held recently. Over 24 people attended one of the three groups.
Citizens On Patrol Even Helfrich They have twice monthly (2nd & 4th Wednesdays) walk-arounds through the neighborhood. They watch the streets and alleys, reporting problems, excessive trash, open deserted houses, anything that could be a problem in the future. They have been meeting since before August, 1999. The neighborhood has improved greatly since then. They meet at the corner of Lombard and Patterson Park at 7:30pm.
Streetscape Connie Brines Currently their goal is to educate and assist the neighborhood with trash and litter. (Trash is what gets put out by the curb and picked up. Litter is what is on the street and sidewalks.) Sandy Sales is the dumpster diva she organizes and supervises the monthly community dumpster. This is at a different location in the neighborhood each month. They produce and post the guidelines for trash pickups. They have produced this documentation in both English and Spanish. Litter they have two events each year. They have a spring clean-up day which coincides with the Mayors clean up day. (April 19th this year) and a fall clean-up day prior to the House Tour. They also have block captains and need more volunteers and a Spanish translator.
Streetscape Remington Nevin (later in meeting)
Webmaster Hal Laurent Hal was unable to attend the meeting so Barry spoke of the BHA website. There have been many updates. This year there are dedicated pages to the House Tour and Gaden Tour. If you have any experience and could help Hal, let Barry or Hal know.
Membership Committee Kathy Hackett They send the electronic version of the monthly newsletter to the membership. They design and create new neighbor packets. They have new neighbor postcards if you have a new neighbor, get a postcard and slip it in their mail slot. It will give them basic information of the BHA and how to become a member. They have created a virtual shop with Butchers Hill t-shirts, caps and other stuff. They are getting a banner made this year for the BHA table at the flea markets and House/Garden Tours.
Marketing and Promotions Committee Lynn Writsel This is a newly formed committee to promote the neighborhood activities. They need volunteers to assist with marketing.
House Tour Committee Sue Noonan and Dee Lundelis This committee organizes and puts on the annual House Tour. It is a fun event. They will be meeting this month on the 2nd Thursday. The purpose of the House Tour is to show off our houses, give people ideas on how to decorate their homes, and promote the neighborhood. If you want to volunteer, but cant make it to the next meeting (conflicts with other meetings) contact Sue or Dee. They need help in a number of different areas artists to help design the poster and brochure, distributing posters, writing blurbs of the houses, selling ads, house sitters, etc. They are lining up the houses to be on the tour now. If you want (or you know anyone that wants) to be on the tour let Sue or Dee know. It is great motivation to get things done.
Flea Market Tori Simms There are two annual flea markets spring and fall. Mark your calendars now May 10th & September 13th. They get people from all over the park both as vendors and customers. They sell lots of food. They have a Butchers Hill booth the funds raised go to the elementary schools. They need lots of help that day setting up, breaking down, during the day. Contact Tori if you would like to help.
Education Committee Tori Simms They support the two local elementary schools Commodore John Rogers Elementary School and Patterson Park Public Charter School. This year they will be having two fund raisers a wine tasting and a dessert event. They give money to the schools for specific things that they request, and wouldnt otherwise be able to afford. They organize the annual Adopt-a-Teacher program. This year it will work a little differently. They will collect money and ask the principals to identify which retail outlet the teachers will get gift certificates to. They host a breakfast in Patterson Park in the fall giving everyone that participates a chance to meet the teachers and principals.
Also, Carolyn Boitnott is the liaison to Commodore John Rogers. They need volunteers for each classroom to proctor the state testing that will be happening over the next few weeks. The testing takes place between 8:30 and 10:30.
Land Use Virgil Bartram Virgil was unable to be at the meeting, Greg Matanowski spoke on his behalf) They oversee the physical characteristics of the neighborhood, especially as it relates to architecture, land use, and infrastructure. They review proposed changes by home owners and developers. They have two basic goals preserving the overall character/feel of the neighborhood and providing help to anyone doing renovations that require zoning changes or CHAP action. Currently they are anticipating that the Department of Planning will be sending surveys to everyone to determine if we want to be a CHAP district. They will help everyone (yes or no) participate, and educate anyone about CHAP that requests information. They also attend Zoning and CHAP hearings. These meetings are held during the day, so most people cant go. The committee members take turns attending if there is something attending that they want to have input on.Garden Tour Joe & Roxanne Rehak Joe and Roxanne were unable to be at the meeting so Barry spoke on their behalf. The Garden Tour will be in June. It has essentially the same goals as the House Tour. Anyone that wants to be on the tour should contact Joe. Also, anyone that volunteers to be on the tour can benefit from Barrys contact at a local nursery.
Streetscape Remington Nevin (Trees & Murals) He will send out information regarding trees later. Murals He is working with Dave Wong. They have come up with a location, topic and funding for the next mural. They will make a full presentation soon. The topic involves the history of Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Parking Remington Nevin (ad hoc committee) He is working with William White to help resolve the parking problem in the community. They will be working with other neighborhoods. They will be looking at all potential solutions angle parking, marking parallel spaces, permits, reverse angle parking, car sharing, anything else they can think of. They will be meeting March 25th at 7:30 at The Life of Reillys.
Executive Committee Barry Glassman There are 10 of us on the Executive Committee. We have had two meeting so far this year. We have discussed the budget, planned the monthly meetings. We will be reviewing the by-laws and committee structure.
Remember this is all a volunteer effort. None of us are paid to be here and contribute to the community. Please go see or contact a committee chair and volunteer to help on their committee!
The budget was presented to those in attendance. The floor was opened to questions/discussions.
John Murphy The budget was reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee. The amounts were submitted by the committee chairs for their respective committees. The amounts are the maximum level that the committee can spend in this year.
The budget is presented with a deficit this year, and the Executive Committee is comfortable with that. The forecasted revenues are conservative, and in the past the committees have never spent 100% of their budgets.
John also detailed the charitable contributions that the Butchers Hill Association is expected to be making in this calendar year.
Question: Looking at the by-laws, are we allowed to approve a negative budget?
Answer: It is not addressed in the by-laws.
Motion: To approve the budget as proposed.
Seconded
Vote: Unanimously accepted
