NOBL
Minutes
Tuesday,
December 09, 2008
Welcome!
The meeting was
called to order at 6:02pm. Present were Jayne Johnson, Phil
McConahy, Marty Morgan, David Swartwout, Robert Roosenberg, Joe
Berens, J.D Formaz, Walter Taylor and Kristi DeKraker. Guests and
neighbors included Carl Danielson, Lynn Lenz, Marilyn Walker, Rod
Horlings, Angel Gonzalez and Sarah Crawford.
The presentation by Carol
Townsend (MSU Extensions) regarding the new GR Zoning Code was
postponed until January 2009.
Old Business
Need a log of minutes from
November’s elections: Executive Secretary Walter Taylor was
not able to attend NOBL’s November’s elections;
therefore the Minutes were not available. Chair Robert Roosenberg
requested for a motion for Walter Taylor to type the Meeting Minutes
for November and present them to the board in January. Phil
McConahy made a motion and Jane Johnson seconded. All were in favor
and the motion was carried. The Meeting Minutes for November 2008
will be typed out and presented for review in January.
Financial Report
We have a total balance of
$8,814.25. With a shortfall in next year’s budget of over
$3,000, we’ll have to find ways to raise that money. Robert
Roosenberg called for a motion to accept the financials: Jayne
Johnson made a motion and Joe Berens seconded. All were in favor
and the Financial Report was passed.
Committee Reports
Kristi DeKraker mentioned that
we really need more contacts up near the Shirley and More Street
area because of increasing drug activity. If you know of someone
that might be willing to be a contact in that area of the
neighborhood, let her know. Jayne Johnson stated that the
portion of the neighborhood around Spectrum Hospital has been
quieter than usual (crime wise).
Angel Gonzalez had some tools
stolen from one of his properties in the 500 block of Livingston a
few months back, as well as some items that were taken last month.
Jeremie Dallas and Gloria Herroon’s home (646 Livingston) was
broken into again. The thieves entered the house by pushing the air
conditioner out of the way and crawling inside. Apparently, they
took a money jar and other items. Both Kristi DeKraker and Safety
Chair Jayne Johnson expressed the need to keep our eyes open for
anything out of the ordinary.
Housing
Andy Johnson was not present,
so Robert Roosenberg asked if anyone had any issues concerning
Housing.
Kristi DeKraker said that 770
Lafayette (Leo & Ed’s) is up for appeals. The owners want
additional time to bring the structure up to code.
Jayne Johnson mentioned the
illegal dumping happening on Fairview. She talked to the Becketts’
and they have not authorized anybody to dump anything. The
pile is growing. The pile includes trees, trash, couches,
appliances, etc… The Becketts’ were cited by the city
and now they must clean up the area. She mentioned that the mess is
sliding down the hill and ending up near Division Avenue.
Robert Roosenberg said that the
owner of Thireca spent over $1,000 to relocate a tenant that would
have been otherwise displaced by the company’s expansion
plans.
BBC-Nothing to report.
Staff Report
Kristi DeKraker stated that the
stairs on Bradford will be reopened. We need volunteers to help
shovel the snow on the stairs to make it safe for pedestrians. If
there is anyone interested in shoveling, please let Kristi know.
Permit parking: we need to
create a solution for a parking problem. Spectrum employees,
college students and construction workers working on the hospital
are taking up parking spaces normally reserved for our neighbors.
Adopt a Belknap Family: Every
year the GRPD adopts a family to give food. They usually go
shopping on Friday. If you are interested in donating to this
program, contact Kristi DeKraker.
(Next NOBL meeting:
Discuss parking task force.)
Update: There was a
discussion about replacing or replanting the trees that were cut
down in order to make way for power lines and poles. Under federal
law, Consumers Energy cannot plant trees under power lines, so
Kristi is working with the property owners and the city to come up
with a solution.
Old Business
Chair Robert Roosenberg
wondered if perhaps we could post employment opportunities on our
NOBL website. For example, those in our neighborhood that have work
that needs to be done could link up with people seeking work. In
essence, the NOBL website would become a go-between for such
resources.
Election of officers
Chairperson Nominations –J.D
Formaz made a motion to nominate Robert Roosenberg and Jayne Johnson
seconded. All were in favor and the motion was carried. Robert
Roosenberg is now NOBL Chairperson.
Vice-Chair Nominations –
J.D. Formaz made a motion to nominate Phil McConahy and Phil
McConahy made a motion to nominate David Swartwout. All votes were
cast. David Swartwout is now NOBL Vice-Chair.
Treasurer Nominations –
Jayne Johnson made a motion to nominate Phil McConahy, David
Swartwout made a motion to nominate J.D. Formaz. All votes were
cast. J.D. Formaz is now NOBL Treasurer.
Secretary Nominations –
Jayne Johnson and Phil McConahy both made motions to nominate Walter
Taylor. All votes were cast. Walter Taylor is now NOBL Executive
Secretary.
Housing was not voted on.
Additions to the
Agenda
Steering Committee: Marty
Morgan spoke about the present Steering Committee: how it has
informally dissolved and how the City of Grand Rapids wants NOBL to
create a new Steering Committee in an effort to freshen the
objective; with the aid of an impartial consultant to collect the
information. A discussion was held regarding whether the
developers in the neighborhood (i.e., Artesian Group, Belknap
Properties, Beckett Rentals, etc…) should be allowed to sit
on the committee, seeing as how their biases could ultimately hamper
the true reflections and honest opinions of the neighbors in the
Belknap Neighborhood.
Marty Morgan would like to make
a motion to allow an independent agent to be appointed to the
Steering Committee in an effort to clarify the agenda, as well as
the membership rules and the guidelines. Robert Roosenberg
requested for a motion to approve. Walter Taylor made a motion and
Jayne Johnson seconded. All were in favor and the motion was
carried.
Robert Roosenberg requested for
a motion to add the Steering Committee reports to our monthly NOBL
reports. Jayne Johnson made a motion and Phil McConahy seconded.
All were in favor and the motion was carried.
New Business
Walter Taylor spoke about the
need to clarify NOBL’s bylaws. He stated that the bylaws as
they now stand are too general and amorphous. Chair Robert
Roosenberg requested for a motion for Walter Taylor, Kristi
DeKraker, Phil McConahy and David Swartwout to form a committee to
look into refining the bylaws. Jayne Johnson made a motion and
David Swartwout seconded. All were in favor and the motion was
carried.
Public Comment
None
Adjournment
Chair Robert Roosenberg
requested for a motion to adjourn: Phil McConahy made a motion and
Jayne Johnson seconded. All were in favor and the motion was
carried. Meeting ended at 7:15pm.
NOBL Minutes/December 09,
2008 Page 1
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