June CSNA Community Meeting Minutes

[Lee Cruz]

June 16 Meeting Minutes

6 p.m to 7:30 p.m.

I. Welcome & introductions 11 people in attendance including Alderman and candidate for State Rep. 96^th district – Roland Lemar

II. Projects with out of neighborhood partners

a. Warehouse on Ferry and Grafton – City\LCI has been in contact with the owner. His plan seems to be to sell the building without doing much to it.

b. Strong School Building – Tour of building was well attend, 12 people. Looks like the City will not be selling for now. Residents interested in continuing to plan for the conversion of the property should contact Lee: [e-mail]

c. CARE - Alycia will contact workgroup leaders about plan for their CARE related activities. The plan must be completed to receive the funding.

III. Work group Updates

a. Community Development Workgroup – Eric out town. Last meeting discussed a community help group for neighbors in need. Lee contacted the New Haven Land Trust about the English Street garden and is putting Eric in contact with the Land Trust Director, Chris Randal about next steps for the garden.

b. Economic Development Workgroup - Steve has arranged the next Community “Dinning Out Night” tentative, Torel Restaurant (corner of Ferry and Lombard) 6pm, Tuesday 6/22. Please make every effort to attend to build our community, support a local business and eat great food! Steve is also working on a draft job description for liaison to CitySeed, a project that will be funded with CARE money. Alycia is contacting CitySeed regarding partnership on promoting the market.

c. Family & Youth Group – 1^st Art in the Park done. Leader organizers Mary Ann Moran and Sally Esposito. Next Art in the Park: July 3rd, as always in Chatham Square Park. Please come and invite your neighbors with children. Summer Soccer is still in the plan. Exercise classes organized by Kathy Riegelmann starting June 28, 2010 from 7am to 7:45am – Chatham Square Park. Planning meeting Chatham Park on Sat June 26^th.

d. Festival plan work group – Leader Hope Metcalf. Permit and stage secured. One sponsor secured for the horse drawn carriage, Grand Apizza. Still looking for more sponsors. Call for volunteers to help plan: Rob Roberts and Alycia Santilli volunteered to help.

e. Web presence – Voytec report on technical/accounting issues. Looking for local businesses to sponsor the site starting in July. Urged all members to post events, photos, questions, request, jobs, rental units, houses for sale and anything else that promotes and supports community. Complaints go on SeeClickFix.com; our website is about building and supporting our community. Voytec was authorized to se up a “Straw poll” for the 96^th State district with links to information about the 3 candidates.

IV. CSNA Fiduciary – Hope Metcalf and Daniel Butler will be meeting with representatives of a local nonprofit about being our fiduciary.

V. Next meeting facilitator Pat Bisell.

VI. Announcements: NeighborWorks New Horizon (formerly Mutual Housing) has purchased houses on Dover Street for rehab and they have houses in other parts of Fair Haven for sale.

Pat Bisell looking for a few good tree huggers to help plan trees next Tuesday 6/22 6pm at Dover Beach Park.

Paula Walker is looking for residents interested in a “fix the sidewalks around Chatham Square Park” campaign. Roland Lemar offered copies of sample letters used by his neighborhood to contact government officials. Lee Cruz offered to help Paula.