Nobl
Minutes
October
14, 2008
Welcome!
Meeting was
called to order by Acting Chair JD Formaz at 6pm. Present were
Jayne Johnson, Phil McConahy, Walter Taylor, Joe Berens, Marty
Morgan, Andy Johnson and Jessica Doane.
Guests
present were Bonnie Johnson, Lynn Lenz, David Swartwout, Chris
Thompson, Sunny Sodhi, Marilyn Walker, Harri Sodhi, Ja’Net
DeBoer, David Shannon, Carl Danielson, Becky Karwoski, Gretchen
Warnimont, Amy Peters, Brian Bremer, Mike Childress and Sarah
Crawford.
No
additions to the agenda
Approval
of both Meeting Minutes and Financial Statements: JD requested
a motion to accept; Phil McConahy motioned, Jayne Johnson seconded;
all were in favor and the vote was approved. (The Financial
Statement doesn’t include the reimbursements that we have yet
to receive.)
Committee
Reports:
Safety:
We’ve had an increase of B&E’s. Vacant homes or
foreclosed homes have been targets. We have a description of a red
Chevy vehicle with writing on the side: they have hit several homes
in our area for scrap metal. Also there is a white van with a white
attached trailer with the words, ‘tool shed’ on the
side. A white male with short dark hair and bolt cutters has been
seen driving the vehicle.
Clancy
Street lot and Coit Park: need to get signs.
Housing:
Phil McConahy mentioned that 726 Coit has a box spring sitting
outside and it has been there for 2 days.
We’re
working on some foreclosure issues. If you know of someone in
distress, contact Kristi DeKraker so she can put them in contact
with Home Repair Services (HRS).
We need
volunteers for the elderly in raking leaves and taking care of
their yards. Right now GRCC volunteers are helping out. If you
know of an elderly person on your block that need help, contact
Kristi or go and help. We need an updated list of the elderly so
we can find out who needs help.
BBC:
Becky said that the Chili Cookout went well. There were a lot of
people that came to the chili cookout…more so than last year.
They haven’t counted the amount that they received. They are
still working on the raffle. They’re presently working on
their committee portfolio for donations and sponsors. They will be
working with TFOB regarding the Halloween Harvest Fest. If you
would like to volunteer for this event contact, Ja’Net, Becky
or Jayne. The Cultivating Hands Children’s Garden was a
success. Much of the tomatoes used for the Chili Cookout were from
the garden. The BBC also received some good PR from Grand Rapids
Garden Magazine. The Cultivating Hands Children’s Garden will
be in the November issue of their magazine. The BBC also handed out
the last of their books to the children and they received their
certificates. In total, there were 24 children from Ms. Elton’s
PPI class that received the books.
TFOB:
Marilyn Walker mentioned that there are 4 festivals coming up:
Winter Fest, Spring Fest, Summer Fest and (next year) Fall Fest.
They will be working with the BBC on the Harvest Fest. She also
mentioned that they are still looking for volunteers to help out at
the event. Pumpkin donuts, cider, caramel apples and popcorn balls
will be available. Lastly, TFOB is working with the BBC on a
calendar of events and a community cookbook which they will be
selling at next year’s Three Sister’s Community
Harvest Festival and Dinner. The cookbook will include
submitted recipes from friends and neighbors of the Belknap area.
Old
Business: Nominating Committee flyers were handed out.
Candidates interested in running for NOBL positions include: Tim
Corpe, Sonny Sodhi, David Swartwout, Dave Shannon, Philip McConahy,
Jayne Johnson, Gloria Herroon, Andy Johnson, Marty Morgan and
Jeremie Dallas. Annual NOBL election is coming up November 11th.
New
Business: changes to membership dues and rules regarding voting
requirements: A discussion was held about the NOBL election.
Walter Taylor asked if people could bring in current utility bills
as proof of their residency. It was decided upon that:
A current
Michigan State ID or Michigan Driver’s License showing
current residency in the Belknap Neighborhood would be the only
acceptable forms of identification.
NOBL
membership dues would be adjusted to $5 per person (or $15 per
household).
November
1st 2008 will be the deadline for all interested
parties to announce their candidacy for the upcoming NOBL
election on November 11th.
Acting Chair
JD Formaz requested for a motion to approve both the membership dues
and the new voting rules/requirements; Phil McConahy motioned and
Joe Berens seconded; all were in favor and the motion to adopt both
were carried. Saturday November 8th will be a meet and
greet for the nominees at the Newberry Place Common Room.
By default, let’s assume the meeting will take place from
noon-2pm.
Andy Johnson
mentioned that we need to work on the NOBL bylaws in order to
clarify them. Perhaps after the elections we can work on the
bylaws by creating a group to address the situation?
Marty Morgan
talked about the new website he created for NOBL: (NOBL gr.org). He
mentioned that if anybody has any pics of the garden or the Belknap
area to send them to him and he will add them to the website.
Kristi
DeKraker needs 2 more volunteers for the Safe Routes 2 School
to get it up and running again. From 12:10-1pm Wednesdays they walk
the kids around Coit Park (the kids really enjoy it). We need to
work on getting the ‘rules’ signs in place at Coit Park.
The Steering
Committee is going forward in a good manner regarding the Area
Specific Plan. There haven’t been any definitive decisions
yet. It won’t be developer driven and they are looking for a
third party to help them move the issue forward.
Public
Comments: Marilyn Walker mentioned that the Friends of Belknap
will be meeting this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at 510 Coit NE. She also
added that we need to get more neighbors involved in community
activities (NOBL, BBC, TFOB, fundraisers, events, volunteer, etc).
JD Formaz
requested for a motion to adjourn: Walter Taylor made a motion to
adjourn and Phil McConahy seconded; all were in favor and the motion
was passed.
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