Richnor Springs Neighborhood Assn.

November Meeting

Nov 18, 2008

Fifteen neighbors met this month to discuss neighborhood issues and meet our new city council representative, Mr. Bill Henry.

The meeting was called to order by Ms. Alice Bevans at 7:15 p.m. Ms. Brooks read the minutes from the last meeting, and they were unanimously approved.

New Business:
Ms. Tabrone brought up issue of trash in the streets. Neighborhood members discussed general neighborhood concerns about rats. Ms. Bevans said she would distribute the Baltimore General Sanitation Guidelines at the next meeting.

Sam Chalfant, an Americorps Vista working with the Greater Homewood Association was present at the meeting and spoke about what he is doing to help us address neighborhood concerns. He said he would speak with people at the Walter P. Carter youth center to see how we can get neighborhood kids plugged in and also find contact information for churches in the area to see if there are programs for local youth.

Mr. Chalfant asked that we indentify the top 5 problem houses in the neighborhood by the next meeting. This information would go to the York Road Partnership, so that we could target those houses for improvement. For community members who were interested it was noted that the York Road Partnership meetings are held at 7:15 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at St. Mary?’s Church.

Mr. Chalfant also offered to find out more about recycling including where we could purchase more of the city?’s yellow bins. Councilman Bill Henry stated that bins could be purchased from his office. The large containers are available for $12, and the smaller containers would need to be ordered but can be purchased for $5. The councilman also informed us that the city is considering going to a one-and-one recycling and trash schedule which would allocate one day for trash pick-up and one day for recycling pick-up each week.

Some community members were interested in seeing speed bumps placed on both Richwood and Radnor Avenues. Councilman Henry stated that we could put in a request to the transportation office, and come to him for assistance if the request was denied. It was noted that speed bumps may limit parking on both sides of the street and that the transportation office is generally reluctant to add speed bumps on steep inclines for fire safety issues. The councilman also added that we would eventually need to get a petition signed by neighbors on the effected blocks. Councilman Henry noted that failure to stop at stop signs on those streets was a problem for law enforcement and should be dealt with through the police. He suggested that anyone observing a law-enforcement issue (even if it is not technically an emergency) that needs to be dealt with immediately should call 911, and the police dispatchers would determine if they have the resources to deal with the problem. Ms. Garvin asked the councilman if anything could be done to get a left turn signal on the corner of York Road and Cold Spring Lane, and he said he would find out.

It was noted that the December meeting will be a potluck Christmas party and will be held on the third Monday of December instead of Tuesday so that we can use a larger room.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.