Call to order: 6:13pm
Welcome and Introductions
Reviewed all eligible to vote tonight – able to make quorum
Current members attempted to contact all missing members who are eligible to vote
Introduction of new members
Review/Approval of Meeting Minutes – previous meeting minutes unavailable
Police Report –Lt. Mark O’Neill
No report
Fire Department
No report
LCI Report – Lauri Lopez
No report
Old Business
Vote to Executive Board
Chair, Chair, Vice-Chair Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary
Michelle Lee Rodriguez – running for Chair, lifelong fair haven resident, interested in supporting the community and making it a better environment for everyone, wants the whole team to collaborate to work together
Mishele E. Rodriguez – running for Vice Chair, continuing
Kimberly Acosta – running for Recording secretary, likes to take notes and prides herself on her note taking,
Susan Regan – running for Treasurer, bookkeeper by profession, lived in fair haven for 13 years
David Weinreb – running for corresponding secretary, excited to take on the role, bilingual teacher in the community, step up regular email communication and social media presence, wants to move the meeting to the library, looking to help things improve and run more smoothly
Discussion from community: important to have the meeting focus on the community for their priority and not the outside enterprises who are coming for our support for grants and things; may be helpful to use the neighborhood works/new horizons community center as a meeting space
Ballots passed out to voting members
Final tally
Chair – Diane Ecton, Michelle Lee Rodriguez
Vice Chair – Mishele E. Rodriguez
Recording Secretary – Kimberly Acosta
Treasurer – Susan Regan
Corresponding Secretary – David Weinreb
Would be a good idea for people coming for the CDBG grants that we limit how many can come; this is hard for the agencies because the applications come out in November and if they are providing services in your community they need a letter of support by January; if an organization is serving fair haven we may be able to figure out who they are and better organize/present their information
Thank you to LeAnne Reynolds for being the recording secretary for the last few years and David Weinreb
Discussion – get translating boxes with headphones to help with the future meetings, have the meeting minutes in Spanish going forward, add to the agenda for the next meeting to form a committee and revise the bylaws
TABLED FROM NOVEMBER MEETING
Farnum Neighborhood House
Guns Down Books Up
Catholic Charities
Emergency Shelter Management
TABLED FROM DECEMBER MEETING
ELM CITY PARKS CONSERVANCY - MARGE OTTENBREIT
PARTENTING STUDENT CHILD CARE – ROBIN EVANS
SOLAR YOUTH PROGRAM – DEBORAH ORTIZ
ELM CITY INTERNATIONAL – LAUREN MEDNICK
MARY WADE HOME – DAVID HUNTER
Moved that we vote on the November and December items as soon as we reach quorum
New Business
VERTICAL CHURCH – ELDER PAUL BRONSON
Started the food pantry in the Fair Haven substation
For the last 3 months averaged over 100 families
For thanksgiving gave out over 50 turkey baskets
Able to get fresh produce from the food bank and loaves and fishes
Open on the 3rd Saturday of the month to help families make it through the month until the start of the next month
Gave out about 150 turkeys and baskets to the elderly
Looking to open another food pantry at the Atwater senior center
Has a lot of cardboard after the Saturday distributions
Would like to use the recycle bins out front
Will work to speak with the school to see if they can be utilized
BOARD OF EDUCATION – SERGIO RODRIGUEZ
Asking for a letter of support for the CDBG grant that they are applying to receive
Had over 120 homeless children in the district last year and about 35-40%of the kids are in fair haven
Looking to provide comprehensive case management, identify unaccompanied minors (last year there were 9 this year there are almost 30), increase outreach to students and the community, design and expand homeless training, evaluate the work that they are going to review and revise
FAMILY HOPE JUSTICE CENTER – PAOLA SEREECCHIA
Umbrella center for domestic services
Serving 19 towns including New Haven
One stop shop where individuals can go if they are being abused and/or stalked
Can go there for services including police, social service agencies for adults and children
Having one of these centers in New Haven is very necessary and would be the 2nd one in the state the other is in Bridgeport
Should be opening in March
The Dixwell location is open 2 days a week
Discussion – can we get information about how many fair haven community members utilize their services (yes)
LULAC – KELLY DAVIS
Sharing the opportunity, they must move to a new building – looking to move off of James Street
Has been in fair haven for 30 years
Birth to 5 head start center that provides comprehensive services to families
106 Haven Street – currently an empty warehouse
Will be able to house what they need, including a 2nd floor that can be built for their additional services
When the building is complete, they will move in to avoid an interruption of services
Thanking the community for being a partner and sharing that they have worked hard to remain in the community
OPENING OF NEW BUSINESS – JOHN MCFADYEN
No report
Community Presentations
Haven free clinic run by the Yale students
Flyer handed out
Would love to partner with agency community
Currently located downtown on 800 Howard Ave
All services are provided in English and Spanish
Always looking for interpreters
Anyone looking to volunteer
Must be uninsured to qualify for services
Announcements
Fair Haven Library programs
See attached flyer
1/27 from 1-5 at the Atwater
Looking at the Chatham Square annual retreat
Presentation of information and data that has been collected
Snow Turner
Literacy Volunteers
Call 203-776-5899 for more information
Looking for more volunteers
Must take 3-4 trainings before becoming a volunteer
See attached flyers
Fair Haven Festival
Looking to start planning for this year’s late May festival
If you are interested in volunteering or participating contact David Weinreb
Farnum Community House
Looking to become more involved in the community
Will be attending future meetings
Catholic Charities
Looking to learn and become more involved in the community
Will be attending future meetings
Adjournment: 7:26pm