Betton Hills Neighborhood Association Minutes

January 8, 2009

President Andy Fink called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

In attendance were Kathy Moulton, Donna Legare, Dean Hansen, Sue Hansen, Mike Brezin, Mary Kay Falconer, Margie McInnes, Melissa Jacoby, Lynn Bannister, Pat Brueckheimer, Shawn Hoffman Einarson, Carolyn Smith, Lecky Spector, Charlotte Watkins, Ben Bivins, Karen Weimer and Ann M. Bruce.

The minutes of the December 4, 2008 board meeting were approved.

The January BHNA newsletter will be the last produced by Mike Brezin. Shawn Hoffman Einarson has agreed to take over this task. The board is grateful to Mike for his many years of writing and publishing the newsletter and thanks Shawn for volunteering.

Donna Legare presented the Treasurer’s report:

Balance as of January 8, 2009: $8823.62

No checks written since last report.

Deposits:

12/05/08 $130.00 Dues and funds

01/08/09 $485.00 Dues and funds

Please note that the balance reported last month was over by $30 due an error in a past deposit. That has been corrected.

Donna also said that she would like relinquish her duties as Treasurer after having served for more than 10 years. A replacement will be recruited.

Donna presented the Membership on behalf of Tom Vickers:

Members as of 01/08/09: 310

Dues and contributions:

Bellamy fund $1,681.00

Partners fund $ 843.50

Mansfield fund $ 593.50

Dues and Undesignated $3,195.00

Received Since 10/08 $6,313.00

Andy reminded attendees of the Arbor Day activities scheduled for 9:00 a.m., January 31. Participants should meet at the Armistead Road entrance to McCord Park. We will be replacing bushes, planting trees, mulching, cleaning bird houses and removing some invasive plants.

Melissa Jacoby reported on CONA activities. She attended the January 5 public meeting on the proposed biomass plant. (Subsequent to that meeting, the CONA board voted to oppose the proposed location of the plant.)

CONA also sent out additional information about the upcoming neighborhood energy challenge, scheduled to run between March 1 and September 30. CONA intends to hold informational meetings in January and February. The BNHA Board will discuss the energy challenge at its February 5 meeting. CONA is also requesting neighborhood participation in a “Forum on Community Building Through Positive Experiences” planned for January 19 from 5:00 p..m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Tallahassee Women’s Club. Dean and Sue Hansen might be able to attend.

Old Business:

Discussion continued on the fate of the Betton HIlls area rose gardens. Due to city budget reductions, the gardens will not be preserved without private contributions. A brief summary of the decisions made follows. More detailed information is included in the Winter 2009 BHNA newsletter.

The $5,000 cost to maintain the Carol Bellamy Rose Garden in Chittenden Park may be funded by a combination of donations from Dr. David Bellamy, BHNA and Betton Hills residents.

The City will continue to maintain the rose garden in front of the Winthrop Park sign on Betton Road.

If sufficient funds cannot be raised to maintain the rose garden in north Winthrop Park, BHNA will fund conversion to blueberry bushes. The garden in south Winthrop Park by Ann Street might be converted to a labrynth funded by a private donor if $3000 cannot be raised to preserve the roses.

A group of enthusiastic residents formed the “Save the Roses” committee to solicit funds to keep the rose gardens. Members are: Lecky Spector, Pat Brueckheimer, Carolyn Smith, Lynn Bannister, Charlotte Watkins, Karen Weimer, Ann Bruce, Sue Hansen and Anne Munroe Vinson. Contributions are due by February 10 and tax deductible checks made payable to Friends of the Park.

New Business:

Mitchell Avenue: Andy advised that Mitchell Avenue will be closed for four months beginning in early February for sewer line replacement. A note will be included in the BHNA news letter to inform residents of a public meeting on January 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Lafayette Park Community Center.

Cellular Tower: BHNA was informed that the Freedom Church on Thomasville Road, adjacent to Betton Hills neighborhood and opposite the entrance to Waverly Hills, has petitioned for a land use change to permit the installation of a 150 foot cellular communication tower in front of the church within 50 feet of Thomasville Road. The city’s Developmental Review Committee will meet to consider the request on January 12. Plans on file with the city show that the tower would be topped by a 12 foot cross, although city staff indicated that the tower might be “disguised” as a flag pole. The tower will be surrounded by 2400 square feet fenced area at the base. Residents of Gardenia Drive and some Waverly Hills residents are submitting petitions in opposition to the tower. The board agreed to that the placement of 150 foot tower on the only remaining residential section of Thomasville Road is not appropriate and voted to send a letter of opposition from the board to the Developmental Review Committee. Individual board members may also send letters.

Betton Signs: Pat Brueckheimer volunteered to maintain the Betton Hills signs on Betton Road.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa C. Jacoby, Acting Secretary