• David S. Barrett, 233-6993, president
• Kathy Sandin, 523-7891, vice president
• Matt Carbray, 221-5810, secretary
• David Klein, 232-2050, treasurer and Finance Committee chair
• Victor De La Paz, 695-8653, sector representative coordinator
• Stephen Cohen, 232-1396, Southwest Sector representative
• Baylah Tessier-Sherman, 547-0123, Southwest Sector representative
• Val Bryan, 231-1915, Southwest Sector alternate
• Jeff Jahnke, 748-5924, Southwest Sector alternate
• Jeff Hill, 231-0136, Southeast Sector representative
• Eve Christian, 523-1939, Southeast Sector representative
• Sagacity Walker, 523-0736, Southeast Sector representative
• Shariq Iqbal, 233-5310, Southeast Sector representative
• Steven Colangelo, 523-0597, West Central Sector representative
• Amy Bergquist, 655-2125, West Central Sector alternate
• Dorothy Lovett Buckley, 523-9291, East Central Sector representative
• Gretchen Unfried, 917-862-9983, East Central Sector representative
• Linda Jorgensen, 236-9554, North Sector representative
• Jan Klein, 232-2050, Architectural History and Resources Committee co-chair
• Laura Berman, 570-0329, Architectural History and Resources Committee co-chair
• Sylvia Reid, 233-0436, Education Committee co-chair
• Rand Cooper, 232-4279, Education Committee co-chair
• Rob Miller, 997-5776, Farmers' Market chair
• Richard Agins, 593-7478, Housing Committee co-chair
• Ted Cannon, 232-0025, Housing Committee co-chair
• Charlie Ortiz, 841-2345, Membership Committee and Beautification Committee chair
• John Gale, 232-9019, Planning & Zoning Committee chair
• David Jorgensen, 670-5454, Public Safety Committee chair
• John Barlow, 570-0868, Seniors representative

West End Civic Association
Executive Board Meeting
Minutes
February 2, 2010

Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m.

Present: John Barlow, Shariq Iqbal, Brenda McCumber, Fi Bookwalter, Jeff Hill, Jan Klein, David Klein, Linda Jorgensen, David Jorgensen, Stephen Cohen, Dorothy Lovett Buckley, Rand Cooper, Steve Colangelo, David Barrett, John Gale, Baylah Tessier-Sherman, Kathy Sandin, Ted Cannon, Richard Agins, Laura Berman, Charlie Ortiz

Guests: Mary Pelletier, Pat Proctor, Francisco Gomes, Dore Thomas

Introduction of all officers, sector reps, committee members and guests.

Motion was made to approve minutes by David Klein and seconded by John Barlow. Approved.

Priority items:

Nomination of Richard Agins and Ted Cannon as Co-Chairs of the Housing Committee

David Barrett nominated Richard and Ted. Each spoke about himself, followed by unanimous confirmation of the appointments.

Financial Report

David Klein discussed the January results, which show that WECA is currently flush with income.

Grant Allocations

The Allocations Subcommittee recommended a series of grants. The allocations were approved unanimously. They are:

• West End Summer Festival, $4,000 as a matching grant
• Healing Music Concerts at the West End Community Gardens, $1,500
• Plays in the Parks, $2,000
• Mark Twain Players Production Class, $1,000
• The Children’s Hour, $300
• WECA summer picnic in June in Elizabeth Park, with two bands, $650

The Subcommittee recommended Board support of a $5,100 allocation, over two years, to the Connecticut Historical Society, for digitizing architectural drawings of West End homes, pending approval by the Architectural History and Resources Committee. Following discussion, the allocation was approved by the Board.

Plan of Conservation and Development – West End Recommendations

Kathy Sandin praised the work of the task force that produced the West End recommendations for the plan. She reviewed the recommendations in each of the four categories – commercial, residential, open space and institutional.

During discussion, the board decided to consider the full set of recommendations that would be cited in the city’s Plan.

The primary focus of discussion was minimum lot size for accessory dwelling units. A second item – whether to limit ADUs to properties north of Farmington Avenue - also was discussed. Consensus was reached to remove the “north of Farmington Avenue” restriction.

David Klein offered a motion: To empower the task force to make changes in the five-page document of recommendations and the summary in the Plan of Conservation and Development, consistent with the discussion of the Board and including a 7,500-square-foot lot size as the minimum for ADUs. Rand Cooper seconded. After discussion, the motion failed on a 9-9 vote.

Ted Cannon made a motion to adopt the recommendations and summary without mention of ADUs. Linda Jorgensen seconded the motion. The motion failed.

John Gale made a motion to adopt the recommendations and summary, and to state that ADUs should have a minimum lot size with the precise size to be determined. David Klein seconded the motion. The motion passed 12-5 with one abstention.

Membership

Charlie Ortiz reported that it is going well.

Progressive Dinner

Jan Klein and Fi Bookwalter reported that the dinner on January 30 was very successful.

Jumoke Academy

John Gale reported that Jumoke Academy has purchased the Hartford Medical Society property for a school and is in discussions with residents of Scarborough Street.

Block Watch

David Jorgensen reported that 10 people have volunteered to go on active patrol. They will organize at the Public Safety Committee meeting on Thursday. David also reported on two instances of alert residents who helped the police catch burglars in the act.

Hartford 2000

Dore Thomas reported that Hartford 2000 is going through a self-evaluation and is working on board development, financing and marketing to determine future viability. Linda Bayer, the staff to Hartford 2000, is stepping down in September.

Sector Reports

Dorothy Lovett Buckley reported that there are issues around 26 Kenyon Street, including too many residents, an illegal second driveway and cars on the front lawn.

Linda Jorgensen reported that residents on Scarborough Street have started a petition to request that the city grant a conservation easement to protect the undeveloped land along the Park River.

Architectural History and Resources Committee

Jan Klein reported that she, Laura Berman, Kyle Bergquist, David Barrett and Francisco Gomes are meeting on February 3 with city Public Works officials to continue the effort to have the city allow bluestone for sidewalk replacements as part of city standards.

Education Committee

Rand Cooper said that the Honor Roll Party on February 20 is moving forward.

Motion: To allocate an extra $1,000 for the party, for a total of $2,000 from the WECA 2010 budget. Linda Jorgensen seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Total budget for the party is $2,650. Rand has raised $650 to support the party from private donors.

Planning and Zoning

John Gale reported that the property at 100 Bloomfield Avenue, bought by Chabad Chevra to use as a student center for Chabad students at the University of Hartford, has been issued a cease and desist order by the city. The property previously was administrative offices for the American Baptist conference. Chabad Chevra proposes that there be some residential use. David Barrett said that the ZBA was considering an appeal of the cease and desist order at a meeting that night (Feb. 2).

John said that he also had been contacted about 26 Kenyon Street. The Board asked that the Planning and Zoning Committee investigate, starting by contacting the owner and inviting the owners to a committee meeting.

Public Safety

David Jorgensen reported on an incident at 56 Whitney Street, and delayed response by the police. He raised this issue with the head of the Dispatch unit. The committee plans to start a petition that asks why no sworn officer is in dispatch and that calls for either a sworn officer in dispatch or the return of dispatch to Police Department oversight. Dore said she will bring this concern to Hartford 2000 and other NRZs might join in the petition.

Dave also reported on a concern that 62 Whitney Street is being used illegally as a rooming house. John Gale was asked to add this to the Planning and Zoning agenda.

Seniors

John Barlow reported that he is in touch with Dial-a-Ride to organize rides for seniors in the West End.

Farmington Avenue

Francisco Gomes, newly named president of Farmington Avenue Alliance, said that the first phase of the streetscape should start this year. The MDC will start work on replacing a water main in May and the streetscape will follow, about a month later. First phase is from Marshall to Sherman, short of the West End.

Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.