Minutes of BHNA
Board Meeting
December 7, 2006
Chairman
Mary Kay Falconer called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM, after a brief time to
socialize.
Attendees included: Hal Beardall, Andy Grayson,
Philip Froemke, Tom Vickers, Mary Kay Falconer, J.T. Ehrhardt, Dean Hansen,
Marge McInnes, Tom Schulte, Peter Butzin, Donna Legare and Bill Behenna. Guests
included Sally, Butzin, Tonya Ehrhardt, Mary Ann Vickers, Audrey Elizabeth
Jensen and Mike Chwalik.
The minutes of the November 2nd meeting
were approved as distributed.
Donna Legare submitted the treasurer’s report, as
follows:
Submitted by Donna Legare,
386-1148
Balance as
of December 7, 2006: $6827.74
Checks
written since last report:
1148 11/02/06 36.07 Margie McInnes annual mgt. supplies
Deposits:
11/06/06 485.00 dues and funds
12/06/06 635.00 dues and funds
The
Treasurer’s Report was approved as distributed.
Tom
Vickers presented the membership report as follows:
Dues recorded for 326
households so far, of whom 26 are new members.
Money totals are
$1853.34 for Bellamy fund, $867.33 for Partners fund, $578.33 for Mansfield
fund, and $3475 for dues and unrestricted donations, for a total of $6774. 148
households paid more than the $10 minimum.
One of the member
survey responses suggested that a bench be installed in the Carol Bellamy Park.
Dean also suggested that the bench in the cemetery should be replaced. We agreed that there are a sufficient number
of benches at McCord.
Tom also reported
additional responses to the member survey, which are included in the appendix,
below.
Elizabeth presented
the report of the Welcoming Committee. Dean has been busy soliciting vendors
for items for the bags which will be distributed to new comers on January 13th
to 14 new residents. Hill and Spooner Realty has
agreed to provide a regular listing of new homeowners in our neighborhood.
Donna next led the
discussion of plans for Arbor Day on January 27th. We agreed to
focus on caring for the existing plantings and to consider planting new trees
behind one of the newer developments on Thomasville Road, adjacent to the new
park along “Tallahassee Creek”. Donna
agreed to investigate appropriate plantings and suggested that Dean encourage
the development’s homeowner’s association to support our efforts.
Andy moved that BHNA
create a neighborhood compost site on Armistead, in the undeveloped corner of
Winthrop Park where trash accumulates. Donna indicated that the City supports
this effort, provided BHNA erect a sign promoting the educational purpose of
the site and agree to its maintenance. The compost pile will be built to
approximately replicate Walt Tschinkel’s composting
system, which was promoted as a recent neighborhood event. The motion passed
unanimously.
Donna also suggested
planting several blueberry plants and cedar trees (which have been donated to
Native Nurseries).
We will gather for
Arbor Day in Winthrop Park at Armistead at 9 AM. May Kay has
offered to host a follow-up gathering at her home if the weather is cold.
Discussion next
turned to neighborhood preservation. Tom Schulte reported that multiple new
homes are being planned on a 1.4 acre lot on Lee Avenue. A neighbor, Bob Smith
has taken the lead in opposing the development.
The Development Review Committee will meet January 22nd to
consider the application. The expected outcome is to disapprove the development
for five houses, but permit four. Tom suggests that no more than two houses
should be allowed. The lot includes a ravine, which cannot be developed.
Mary Kay has also met
with the Council of Neighborhood Associations to support amendments to the
Comprehensive Plan. On January 24th the City Commission will
consider an ordinance that precludes new development on lots more than 10%
smaller than the average sized lot in the subdivision.
Dean made a motion to
support the ordinance. We agreed that the ordinance’s passage would provide the
most effective means to neighborhood presentation. The motion passed unanimously.
Hal suggested that
BHNA also work to preserve the nature and character of the neighborhood. We
agreed that perceived threats to the nature and character of the neighborhood should be considered on a case-by-case basis,
and by email, if rapid action is required.
Dean updated the
board on the Nature Center and Trail. Cub Scouts have mulched the trail. Marvin
Weinberg continues to move forward with its development. He suggested that
board members walk the trail, ignoring signs intended to discourage the
practice for liability concerns.
Andy made a motion
for BHNA to spend up to $250 in gift certificates to Target and Publix for an
indigent family selected by Kate Sullivan school officials. The motion carried
unanimously.
Peter and J.T. summarized
a meeting of the Website Development Committee, which also includes Mary Kay.
Peter presented a list of suggested web content and the results of research on
expenses. J.T. then presented two suggested mock-ups of the site. The Board
agreed that we should start out with a modest, inexpensive, easy to manage, and
“static” website, according to the Committee’s recommendations. Peter moved
that he be authorized to register “mybettonhills.com” as our site’s URL and
arrange to spend up to $15 per month for hosting services. The motion carried.
Hal passed out fliers
promoting donations for new library books for Kate Sullivan’s media center. We
also agreed to promote the effort in the December newsletter.
Andy expressed concern about the frequency of the “mega yard sale” at a home located at Armistead and Thomasville. We agreed to continue to encourage the City to enforce existing ordinances or consider new ordinances that could limit the number of yard sales that can be offered at a single site. Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 PM.
Respectfully
submitted
Peter
Butzin