Meeting Minutes from SENA 1/12/13
1) Welcomed new members of SENA and to the neighborhood, introductions
2) Since members of SENA only meet once a month, we will offer a social hour prior to the meeting. SENA hopes that this later time will encourage more participation from community members.
Action: SENA will not meet 8:30-9:30 for folks to catch up with each other. Then the meeting will occur from 9:30-11:30am.
3) South End Teen Center
a. Steve Soule, director of the SETC, reported that the center has had 140 visits in December.
b. Steve and the SETC have many urgent and exciting events coming up:
i. The SETC is working hard to obtain the most votes and win Bangor Savings Bank $5000 Community Matters grant. Not only should you vote, but PLEASE, ask as many of your friends in Maine as possible. www.bangor.com/cmm Voting ends March 11 at 11:59am.
ii. Dan Pierce in raising money by diving into the frigid pool to support the Alfond Center. Your dollar would mean so much. If writing checks, make them out to the Alfond Youth Center. A portion of the money raised supports the SETC.
iii. Tickets are now on sale for the annual "Battle of the Badges" basketball game between the Waterville Fire Dept vs the Waterville Police Dept. They are $4 this year and can be purchased at the SETC. If you buy 10, you get a Little Caesars Pizza! If you buy 5, we will give you a ticket for free!
Action: Paula will connect Amy Calder at the Sentinel, to Michele Prince and Steve Soule at the SETC/KVCAP about writing an article about the great things happening at the SETC to increase positive publicity. Steve will also develop a “Wish List” that can be posted and shared to encourage others to make donations directly to the SETC. Jackie will send out information about these events to the rest of the listserv and FB.
4) South End Learning Center
a. Scott MacAdoo reported out on behalf of Katrina at the SELC that they have 30 unduplicated children participating
b. The SELC will run from 1/22-6/1 this year
5) Warming Center Updates
a. Heather reported that on weekday the center has ~18 people a day and 30 people on the weekends and there are lots of families.
b. Heather shared a story about a family at the warming center and the groups brainstormed how to better support the needs of the center.
6) Moore St. Gardens, Parks and Sidewalks
a. SMMC built a community garden on Moor St. An abutting neighbor was managing the garden, but is no longer able to do so.
b. There is a need for a South End resident to take over as garden manager. Duties would include: Check the water barrel to see if it needs to be filled and assist other gardeners as needed.
c. If there are parks in the neighborhood that need to be mowed and have been neglected, contact city councilors Eliza Mathias and Karen Rancourt-Thomas who will contact Parks and Recs. Parks and Recs are responsible for water and mowing the parks and gardens in the neighborhood.
d. A brief discussion about sidewalk plowing was held. Many sidewalks in the SE are plowed last, which make it difficult for residents to walk to downtown, etc. Councilor Eliza reported that we should call her and Councilor Karen Rancourt-Thomas as they support “a walking city.”
Action: A call will be made to members of SENA who either have a garden at the Moor St. Gardens or who would like a garden there, who will also manage the garden. Ann will also ID who lives next to the gardens and SENA will approach them about managing the garden. SENA members will contact city councilors about lawns in the spring and sidewalks that need plowing.
7) Quarry Road
a. Members held a brief discussion about the use of Quarry Road and encouraging SE residents and children to use the free resource.
b. There is a need for equipment to borrow and transportation for families and the SETC and SELC to encourage use of the trails.
Action: SENA will ID ways for SE and Waterville individual supporters and businesses to help with scholarships and equipment donations.
8) Waterville and South End Comprehensive Plan
a. Jackie handed out the schedule of meetings for the WCP.
b. It was decided that since the WCP is being discussed and updated, members of SENA should attend those meetings to advocate for parts of the SECP that fit within the WCP.
Action: SENA will sign up for various meetings to scaffold SENA’s attendance at the meetings. Jackie will send out the schedule of meetings on FB and via email as well as reminders with materials.
9) Tax Reform and Tax Acquired Properties
a. A lengthy discussion was held about properties in the SE and Luke Duplessis, a landlord and resident of the SE shared insights about landlord policies means of code enforcement in Orono and Portland. We are very excited about Luke’s recent purchase of another building in the SE and his commitment to the neighborhood!
b. Eliza reported that 65% of Waterville are rental units. 85% of the SE are rental units. SENA discussed ways to encrouage good landlords and home ownership and discourage slumlords.
Action: A more detailed discussion about code enforcement and disorderly housing will be held at the next meeting. SENA members will list “What do we want our councilors to advocate for?”
10) Tree Grant
a. Rotary and the City of Waterville are submitting a grant to obtain $20,000 to plant trees and provide education on tree care and maintenance. The SECP contains recommendations for where trees are needed in the neighborhood.
Action: SENA members will review the streets in the SECP and send Jackie recommendations on specific tree locations to send to Ann.
Next Meeting: February 16, 2013
8:30-9:30 social hour followed by 9:30-11:30am meeting at 37 Summer St.