Minutes
Fair Haven Management Meeting
295 Blatchley Ave. New Haven, CT 06513
March 2, 2017
Call to order: 6:03pm
Present: LeAnne Brewer, Diane Ecton, Dave Steinhardt, Sally Esposito
Present City, State, and Federal Officials: Robert Roberts, Jose Crespo, Kenneth Reriez, Mark Firla
Welcome and Introductions 5 Minutes
All new attendees introduced themselves
Ernie Santiago asked to be excused from the meeting
Alderman Greenberg is absent Alderman Jose Crespo speaking on his behalf
|
Review/Approval of Meeting Minutes Moved and seconded to approve the minutes voted and passed
|
5 Minutes |
| Police Report – Sergeant Rene’e Dominguez
No report for sake of time
|
10 Minutes |
|
LCI Neighborhood Specialist – Laurie Lopez Johnson |
10 Minutes |
The neighborhood did a decent job this year with snow removal
Still working on tire removal
The crew has dimished in size so projects are taking longer than expected
They will be done just time more time
On the corner of Saltonstall and Ferry habitat from humanity will be building a home
By Grand Ave and East St. – a new company bought a large propery
Started demolition today
Will be taking down all of the buildings on that property
Will be working with processed stone and asfault
At the deadend of River and Poplar
There are 2 very large buildings that were forclosed on
There are 2 shantys that were built in that area and the buildings were open
Without Curtis around the people are using that area for negative activities
The fence in the back parking lot is gone so it needs to be secured
The police will be paying more attention to this area going forward
C-Town/Fairhaven School area
Lot of trash in that area
Supposed to do the light the night in that area but it was never completed
Also a lot of people participating in negative activites in that area
The police will include a walking beat in that area going forward
Old Business 5 Minutes
Bylaws Review
Last revision was in 2008
Robert Rules of Order was agreed to be used in the bylaws
Need to take a look at the 501c3 status prior to revising the bylaws
Motion made by Sally E. that a bylaws subcommittee consisting of the vice chair and two other members be created. The bylaws subcommittee shall be chaired by the vice chair and shall be advisory and shall be recommendations to the full
membership no later than the 2017 annual meeting
Discussion – proposed that we open the subcommittee to any voting members who want to participate
The committee would only be making recommendations and would bring it back to the meeting to be voted on by members
Voted on and passed
Moved and seconded to open nominations for the committee – Jose Crespo
Darlene
Kenneth Rivera
LeAnne Brewer
Moved to admend original motion to consist of 4 people instead of 3
Moved to admend motion to consist of 5 people instead of 4
Voted on and the nominations were accepted
New Business 10 Minutes
Greenspace Program - Chris Ozyck
From the Urban Resource Initiative
Creates green projects
If you have people in the neighborhood that want to work in parks/vacant lots/curb strips/front yard there are applications available to begin this project
If you would like a free tree there are “request a free tree” cards available through the initiative
New Haven Bike Month – Caroline Smith
Month long celebration of biking culture in May
Make sure everyone feels safe and excited to participate in bike culture
Fair Haven pop-up festival
Shut down blachley st last year and did bike safety work with the local students
Some of the students received free bikes
This year the festival is in June
What would we like to see in a may bike month event in fair haven
Take advantage of the space in Chriscola Park
Thinking about wheelie competitions to embrace how members of this community participate in bike culture
Leeway Community Living Model – Melissa Cox
Located off of State Street
Supports individuals with multiple chronic conditions to remain living in their homes in the community Mental and physical conditions
No age requirements
Involves long term wrap around services and support
Referrals come from the hospital
Looking for a local community liason that can communicate what is needed in this community specifically
Only servicing New Haven
Also interestedin the informal community supports
Emergency Shelter Management Services
Jose Crespo read a letter from Alderman Greenberg in regards to the board of zoning and appeals
Opposes the new zoning request made by ESMS
Supports the shelter but does not think the proposed move is appropriate
Does not think they have made the appropriate steps to comply with the regulations
Other opposing opinions include
The shelter doesn’t come to the neighbors to speak with them about the issues they face
Moving the building isolates the shelter clients further from the community
Transient population causes businesses not to want to move into the area
Keeping the shelter residents safe from being near the railroad tracks
The shelter does not forsee this being a safety issue
The shelter is proposing to move into a building that is already standing on East
St.
The housing authority wants to buy their current building to move Farnum
Court Housing Complex into that area
No concret timeline for when the move will happen
LCI is in support of the move and gave a list of locations that they could move into
This building fits all of their needs
On the main bus line
Next to the methadone clinic
Not in any residential areas
Right size and right price
This agency does a lot of work to support the men and help guide them into permanent and stable hosuing
Even if they get housed they can come back for up to 6 months for case management services
Largest men’s shelter in the state
Capacity of 75 with 85 on extremely cold nights
In 26 months about 36 police reports were made
There were more for Columbus House and even more for local grocery stores and Walmart
In the 2015-2016 year they had an unduplicated number of over 1,000 clients
The city planning department indicated that they very rear of the lot has a .02% chance of being effected by a 100 year flood
The city plan didn’t specify if the rear of the building was in that flood area or the rear of the lot
the shelter has commissioned an expert to study the potential flood issues
the location has ample parking and space in the parking lot for the clients to line up instead of being on the street
the building will be fitted with cameras to keep the space and clients secure
Motion is made to write a letter to support Alsermans Greenberg’s request to write a letter not supporing ESMS
voted and the management team is not in support of Aldermans Greenberg’s request
ESMS will be added to the agenda of the April meeting to request support
Moved to write a letter of support for ESMS requesting a variance
Discussion – we should be able to come to a consensus before writing this letter
Suggested to be added to next months agenda so documentation can be presented
Made a point that this could potentially change procedures of the management team
Voted 5 to 5 to write a letter of support and to wait until next month’s meeting
Voted again and passed to not write the letter at this moment and to invite them to next month’s meeting
Might be powerful to attend the BZA meeting on 3/14 to support them individually § 6:30pm 200 Orange st. in the hearing room
Announcements 5 Minutes
Big Brother – Guillermo Serrano
Support Big Brother/Big Sister of Southwestern CT by donating at Savers
Will pick up furniture
Looking for all donations
Has raised over $1 million
Project Longevity
Hosting a community talk on 3/16/17 from 4:30 – 6:30pm
Adjournment
Upcoming Meetings
April 6, 2017
May 4, 2017
June 1, 2017
August 3, 2017
September – Picnic
October 5, 2017
November – Thanksgiving volunteer event Ø December 7, 2017 – Holiday Party