Mission Statements for WECA’s Committees

• Architectural History & Resources - minutes
  - Laura Berman, 860-570-0329, lauraannberman@gmail.com
  - Jan Klein, 860-232-2050, jacefk@gmail.com
  
  
• Beautification & Planting
  - Charlie Ortiz, 860-841-2345, charlie@segarralaw.com
  
  
• Community Building
  - Val Bryan, 860-231-1915, vjbryan@att.net
  
  
• Education
  - Sylvia Reid, 860-539-1552, expressyourself1@gmail.com
  - Rand Cooper, 860-232-4279, cooper13@earthlink.net
  
  
• Farmers' Market
  - Hannah Gant, 860-214-4053, hannahgant@gmail.com
  
  
• Finance - minutes
  - David Klein, 860-232-2050, dmk3975@aol.com
  
  
• Housing - Vacancy
  
  
• Membership
  - Charlie Ortiz, 860-841-2345, charlie@segarralaw.com
  
  
• Planning & Zoning
  - John Gale, 860-232-9019, jgale@lawlordsofhartford.com
  
  
• Public Safety
  - David Jorgensen, 860-670-5454, jorgie54@comcast.net
  
  
• Seniors - Vacancy
  

West End Civic Association
Board Minutes
January 3, 2012

Present:  Gretchen Unfried, Dorothy Lovett Buckley, David Barrett, Rand Cooper, David Klein, Stephen Cohen, Sally Lerman, Marcia Hughes, Baylah Tessier-Sherman, Steve Colangelo, Val Bryan, Kathy Sandin, Sylvia Reid, Martha Shaw

Staff: Lakisher Hurst
Guest:  Jeff Cormier, City of Hartford Planning Division

Meeting called order at 7:04 p.m.

MOTION #1: I move to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2011 Board Meeting.  David Klein; second Baylah Tessier Sherman. 
Motion passes without discussion.

Architectural History & Resources – David Klein
Hartford College for Women Campus – The next meeting with CREC has been postponed.  Joanne Bauer will be going into the buildings of concern to photograph.

Historic nomination for Southeast District is moving on schedule.  The Consultant’s report is completed and has been submitted to the Committee. The Committee is to circulate the link to it to the Board for comment.

There will not be a January AH&R meeting.

Proposed oval bumper stickers – WEND for West End Neighborhood District. They are similar to the stickers you can get for States (i.e. RI).  Cost is $.30/ea. The plan is to sell them for $2 - $3/ea. Discussion followed on lettering, shape, size, and whether this is a good idea.  One person suggested that sector reps check with constituents. The initial cost would be $150 for 500.  The Board expressed interest via a show of hands to ask the Committee to proceed with the proposal.

Community Building – Val Bryan
The Committee had an informal gathering on December 17. The Committee plans to identify a few films on Community Building to show to start discussion on diversity issues and/or examples of how a community comes together to work together to accomplish something.  They hope to show the films in Jan/Feb. 

Education – Rand Cooper
Rand met with individuals from Aetna about the Honor Roll party scheduled for Friday, February 17. Volunteers are needed to help direct students entering the building to the party.  Aetna offered two tickets to a hockey game as an incentive to the students to sign up for the party.

Social Activities
The Hooker Day Parade, Concert in the Park, Jane’s Walk and Block Parties are activities that WECA currently participates in. A Social Activities Committee could coordinate these and other events.

MOTION #2:  I nominate Martha Shaw to co-chair the newly re-activated Social Activities Committee.  David Barrett. Second: Gretchen Unfried.  Motion passes unanimously.

2012 Budget Presentation:  David Klein

For 2012, the Progressive Dinner estimated income has been scaled back a little bit due to the size of the opening reception house.  On the other hand, sponsorships are up.  The Committee has also decided to pay for the costs of rentals (coat racks, glasses, etc.) instead of passing them along to the hosts. 

Committee expenses: AH&R to provide plaques on a reduced cost basis to the Oxford/Whitney Historic District in addition to the new West End South East Historic District.  Farmer’s Market seeking $3,000. Community Building budget is $1,000.  Social Activities $2,000.  The total Grants budget is $9,000.

MOTION #3: I move to approve the 2012 Budget as submitted. Val Bryan; Seconded by Marcia Hughes. Motion passes unanimously.

Revised Guidelines on Sponsorships, Advertising and Donations – Rand Cooper
The task force will be meeting shortly and reporting back in March.

Procedures for Policy Decisions in Disputed Issues Statement – Rand Cooper
Rand created a summary of the discussion at the Board Retreat.  After discussion, it was agreed that Stephen Cohen will assist in revising the Statement and report back in February.

Membership – David Barrett.  PayPal is now operating on the website.  WECA is planning to send an e-mail to everyone on the e-mail distribution list that is not a member this year with a link to PayPal link for easy membership renewal.

Dine Around­ – David Klein
Sold out!  Last year there were nine gold sponsors, now 15.  Five silver sponsors last year, now six.  Six crystal sponsors last year; now eight.

217 Beacon Street – David Barrett
Mayor Pedro Segarra, Corporation Counsel Sandy Kee Borges and the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Jared Kupiec met with John Gale and David Barrett last week.  They agreed that they will present the issue to the City Council for approval within the next month or so.  John Gale is writing up a resolution for presentation to the Council.

Hartford College for Women Site – David Barrett
CREC had their meeting extended to February 21. 

Jeff Cormier reported that the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance was modified to include revisions by WECA.  It will go to a public hearing on January 24 or the first meeting in February.

Officers’’ Reports:

President:  The West End Community Center is closed. Lakisher received an e-mail today that the computers, chairs, etc. are being donated to community residents.  Board meetings will likely be held at the Seminary.  Committee meetings might best be hosted in committee members’ homes.  Public Safety may meet at the sub-Station.

Vice President: Kathy Sandin – The Strategic Plan will need to be revised, based on the closure of the Community Center.

Sector Reports:
Baylah Tessier Sherman – There was a huge drug bust in the South East Sector on South Whitney last week between Warrenton and Farmington.  Cash, weapons, cocaine, heroine.  It was reported in the Courant.

Central East - Dorothy Lovett Buckley and Gretchen Unfried reported break-ins on Kenyon, Girard and Sherman.  There will be a meeting on Elizabeth Street being hosted by Mary Phil Guinan at 60 Elizabeth, to discuss the potential CREC school.

Adjourn: 8:56 p.m.