FOCUS - Friends of Concord / United South End

Meeting Notes Feb. 12, 2003

Feb 14, 2003

FOCUS Meeting
February 12, 2003
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Present: Carol Hargrove, Randy Raymond, Charlie Bauer, Heidi Douglas, Judy
Dickinson, and Amy Currie.

A description was provided regarding the State Supreme Court hearing held that
day concerning the Richmond development.

The group recapped last week's meeting.

Dickinson asked if our target area would cover Hall St. or Manchester St. The
group agreed that the boundaries extended to Water Street, but not Manchester
St.

Bauer suggested changing the title of "charrette" to "neighborhood workshop,"
because the name is less confusing. Amy Sheridan is trying to set up the
meeting for March 22. Raymond shared that Tardiff has explained that it would
be a Saturday session (3/22/03 at approx. 1-4 pm) with a follow-up on a Tuesday
evening (3/25 at 7-9 pm). Michael Wallwork would be present both sessions, but
the burden would be on FOCUS to get neighbors to attend. FOCUS wants at least
60 attendees.

FOCUS discussed getting CCTV. Recommended advertising that Richmond argument
would be on CCTV. Bauer noted that we could advertise on CCTV. Raymond
suggested that at this point we only ask people to reserve the date, but he
noted that until the dates were in writing, advertising should wait.

The group dicussed how set up would be done. It was decided that it would be
good to gather people to set up. Hargrove noted that the school (Rundlett)
would probably take care of the set up.

Bauer recommended assuming the dates were set, and not worry about logistics.
FOCUS needs to concentrate on getting crowd out.

Posters, flyers, radio, website, FOCUS's email, CCTV, WMUR Channel 9, Concord
Monitor, the Conant & Rundlett schools' email systems, flyers at schools, PTO,
WJYY, WKXL, etc.

Discussion turned to the title of the 3/22 workshop meeting. Suggestions:
safety, traffic, problems, safe walk to school, do you feel safe having your kids walk to the school?, sidewalks, community input on what is going to get
done. City wants to work together, come so we can work together. Neighborhood
city collaborations. Speed, cars.
Dickinson agreed to draft flyers.

The group decided to send personalized invitations to: South End merchants &
businesses, Mayor Donovan, city councilors, City Manager, Department heads of
Police, Fire, Public Works, Highway, Engineering, Community Development, Jill
Seifried, Roger Hawk, Phil B, some of FOCUS guest speakers, Steve Duprey, Deb
Samaha, Candance Bouchard, etc.


FOCUS decided to get posters up by March 1. Hargrove noted that she had spoken
with Doris Ballard and she promised to try to get businesses together.
Dickinson suggested opening communication with the merchants.

Dickinson promised a flyer/poster and draft press release. Raymond suggested
contacting the Temple Beth Jacob (228 8581) and several churches in South End.

Tasks:
* List of invitees
* List of businesses -- Carol
* Advertising -- Judy
* Contact City Councilors and mayor
* City Reps
* Temple Beth Jacob (228 8581
* Church on Dunklee St.
* Church of Nazarene
* Steve Dupree and other guests

Dickinson recommended each of us trying to contact 10-15 peoople for the 3/22/03
workshop. Douglas recommended that we each bring at least 6-7. The group
decided to divide the South End and canvas with flyers. Bauer recommended
500-1000 flyers, and Douglas agreed that would be a good number.

Hargrove and Dickinson talked about the contents of the flyer.

The group agreed that the 3/22 workshop needs to be specific with the FOCUS
agenda. The meeting needs to be focused on the issue of collaboration with the
city regarding the CIP schedule. Broadway, Allison, Pillsbury, and Carter
should be the immediate focus in light of the City repaving program this Summer.
Other long-term plans should also be discussed.

Raymond shared a 1969 Neighborhood study that delineated West, Clinton, and 89
as solid boundaries.

Bauer asked for suggestions for the workshops. Douglas and Hargrove agreed that
20/20 and Focus would be the co-hosts, along with the PTO's for the event.
Douglas noted that the one day event would work more smoothly than the four day
meetings that were held in the Abbott Downing neighborhood. Raymond stated
that the city may be interested in traffic calming with FOCUS. Douglas stressed
trying to focus the group on what is actually plausible, citing the disparity
between what the Rumford (Abbott Downing group wanted and what they actually
got). Discussion ensued concerning adding items other than traffic calming to
the agenda. Raymond stressed that the group needs to be prepared to record and
energize with the ancillary discussions.

Dickinson recommended posing hot spots, beautification spots etc. for the
workshop. Hargrove suggested providing Wallwork with a list of suggested hot spots, etc. that we have already come up with. The group agreed that the
meeting needed to tie back into Michael Wallwork, and the group needed to confer
with Amy Sheridan to discover 20/20's intentions. It was stressed that
coordination is necessary between the two groups. Bauer agreed to contact
Sheridan and invite her to next week's meeting.

Raymond suggested a small pamphlet. He volunteered to draft one. Douglas asked
for suggestions on changing the web address. She said it would cost $20 to
register a more recognizable name.

Bauer noted that the South End has acute problems (short-term) and chronic
(long-term) problems. He urged the group to focus the workshop on the acute
problems in order to accomplish results particularly in light of the repaving by
the City this Summer. He named the repaving projects as an acute problem. He
stressed that the other "hot spots" and beatification projects should be seen as
chronic and acute as well, but the list to be accomplished should be whittled down, and dealt with. He stressed that the chronic problems would not be
ignored, but should be dealt with later.

The group agreed that the city and community members would be more trusting in
the changes if Wallwork recommended them. It was suggested that Wallwork would
lend credibility. The group decided to work out the logistics of the schedules
with Amy Sheridan. The objective of the four hours was to limit concerns to
fewer areas, and Tuesday would be the time for further discussion. The group
asserted that Wallwork's role would be to design the plans that the neighborhood
wants and supply them to the city.


The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2003, at 72 No Main St.