CSHCA General Meeting Minutes, January 2023

President and host: Elizabeth Doyle
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Special Guest: Ross Cochran, Community Liaison for Dorchester
Number in attendance: 54

Police Report (Officer Keamy)

  • January 2, 10:50 PM, robbery at 71 Pleasant Street. Man goes to meet his girlfriend and is pistol whipped by her boyfriend who also takes his cellphone. He sustained injuries to the mouth and head. 20 year-old suspect is known, and a warrant is out for his arrest. The cellphone was later dropped off at the man’s mother’s home.
  • January 6, 9:06 PM, A report of three odd loud sounds like “shots fired” around 186 Grampian

Way. The shot spotter was not triggered. Police checked the area and found nothing.

  • January 8, 5:13 AM on Pearl Street. A 41 year-old homeless woman was seen trying car handles. She was found in a car with 2 bags of meth. She had a warrant out for her arrest for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
  • Questions from the membership:
    • Is the rate of car theft up as there have been reports of stolen vehicles on Auckland Street and Midland Street (although the Midland owner’s incident happened on K Street in Southie)? Answer: No.
    • Have there been more break-ins in the area? The member claimed of hearing of break- ins on Carson Street, Saxton Street, and Playstead Road. The Saxton Street break-in allegedly happened on December 29 as witnessed by a neighbor. Officer Keamy checked the records, and nothing was filed.
  • Advice: if you see things out of the usual or have questions, call the office to make a report.
  • Many thanks for all donations and helpers at the C-11 Christmas Party. There were 85 kids in attendance. CSHCA donated $790 towards this event. Left over toys were distributed to about 30 families.

Invitation to the Center Court Information Session for 35-75 Morrissey Blvd. Project

  • Thursday, January 12, at The Daily, 6-7:30 PM. Refreshments will be served.
  • Developers are looking for more input and feedback on their plan.
  • Des Rohan will send out a reminder to the general membership and will include the email they sent Elizabeth.

The New Dorchester Liaison, Ross Cochran

  • He briefly introduced himself as originally from Georgia, now living in the North End and working on a masters degree at Northeastern University.
  • He is still getting up to speed on the issues that were suspended when the former liaison left.
  • He has an open-door policy and can be reached at ross.cochran@boston.gov or (617) 407-2179.

Voting on the Up-dated By-Laws

  • These were presented in November and December.
  • A side-by-side comparison was sent out to all members for review.
  • It was moved and seconded that the new by-laws would have an effective date of February 1, 2023, if approved.
  • Voting results:

Savin Hill Bridge Work

  • No updates were available at the meeting.
  • Member Cam Raufi said he would connect to the project manager at the MBTA to get updates and report them to Elizabeth Doyle.
  • If needed, they would push for a meeting to take place soon to address safety concerns.

Dorchester Bay City Community Advisory Committee (CAC) – Upcoming Meetings

  • January 18 – Morrissey Boulevard CAC will meet 6 PM, virtual.
  • January 24 – 6 PM, public meeting on resiliency
  • February 1 – 6 PM, meeting on housing
  • February 13 – 6 PM, meeting on transportation
  • Details for these meetings can be found on the BPDA website calendar.

Committee Updates

  • Events Committee (Alix Giannetti)
    • The committee met last week to plan out the 2023 calendar, which includes events not directly managed by the events committee.
    • April -The Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Clean-up; June – Plant and Bake sale; August – Community Picnic; September – Neighborhood Yard Sale; October – Music in the Park and Kids’ Halloween Parade; November/December – Caroling.
    • Possible new events – Senior Events, Art in the Park; Kayaking at the beach.
    • A survey is being created to get feedback from the membership. This will be presented at the February meeting before being sent out.
    • The next meeting is Tuesday, January 31, 7 PM on Zoom (link on the CSHCA calendar).
    • The focus will be on fundraising sources and possible grants.
  • Safety Committee (Dianne Lescinskas)
    • There was no December meeting.
    • The next meeting is Tuesday, January 17, 7 PM on Zoom (link on CSHCA calendar).
    • The chairs will
      • Put the MBTA issues on the agenda.
      • Reach out to Dan Hunt to contact the MBTA.
      • Send the agenda to Elizabeth to distribute to general membership, and they will post it on Savin Hill Facebook.
  • The problems at Walgreen’s
    • Heather Harris has been keeping the committee up to date on issues.
    • The chairs have been in touch with the city contact Connor Newman for a solution.
    • Liaison Ross Cochran said he would personally contact Connor to discuss the situation.
    • Other issues raised by members
      • Cars speeding through the neighborhood
        • They are endangering pedestrians. The city claims “there is nothing we can do.”
        • Our Slow Streets application is on hold due to covid. It may take a few years to be approved.
        • Councilor Baker and C-11 are aware of the traffic issues.
        • Other sections of the city have speed humps, why not Savin Hill? Ross Cochran will look into this discrepancy.
      • Mail being stolen from mailboxes with checks altered and cashed
        • Mail fishing is occurring at mailboxes in Savin Hill despite the narrow, toothed slots.
        • Mail couriers have been mugged and their box keys stolen for easy access to steal mail.
        • Do not use the mailboxes. Take your mail to the local post office.
        • If you have had mail stolen and altered checks cashed, report this to the local police, the federal postal police, and your bank.
  • Community Benefits Committee (Don Walsh)
    • The next meeting is Thursday, January 19, 7 PM, in person at the Savin Hill Yacht Club on Morrissey Boulevard.
    • There are two main priorities:
      • Letter/E-mail campaign: Reach out to public officials and other stakeholders to demand comprehensive planning for our area. Letters have been sent to the mayor and BPDA director Jemison.
      • Establish our top priorities for distribution of the community benefits money that will be available and communicate them to the public officials and stakeholders.
    • Two developers have advocated giving $3.75 million dollars directly to CSHCA to be used for community needs and projects.
    • Bill Walczak is meeting with Jemison this week. He will emphasize the need to partner with the city for comprehensive planning and raise concerns about the sheer volume of development going on and its impact on the neighborhood.
    • A bookstore is being planned for Fields Corner, on the corner of Charles Street. The non- profit is in the process of raising the necessary funds to make this happen. $100,000 has been raised so far with a goal of $250,000. Opening date is planned for August or September of this year. For more information, contact Bill at BillWalczak@gmail.com
  • Beautification Committee (Elizabeth Doyle)
    • Elizabeth sent out 35 emails asking for donations to defer the costs of the wreaths. $500 was received from three merchants. Des received another $200 towards this cause, for a total of $700 received to defray costs.
    • Elizabeth has coordinated with Sully Mac to remove the wreaths that were put up in our area. This will take place on Sunday, 1/15.
    • Elizabeth will contact committee members to look for volunteers to help take down and de-bow the wreaths and save the bows for next Christmas.
  • Planning Committee (Kristine Hoag)
    • The following projects were presented, discussed, and voted on.
      • 11 Spring Garden Street – Proposal to demolish existing single family and construct a 4-story two-family home on a 2175+/- sq. ft lot. They have a ZBA date of 1/31.
      • 906 Dorchester Avenue – Proposal to convert an office space to a nail salon.
      • 10 Seaview Terrace – Proposal to build a single-family home on a 2258 sq ft lot.
    • The meeting on Tuesday, January 10, at 7 PM will host a presentation by BC High of a proposal for a new fitness building at 150-160 Morrissey Boulevard.

Other Business

  • The Dorchester Ave Vision Committee will meet Thursday, January 26, 7 PM, via zoom. If you are interested in joining this committee and being added to the email list, contact Dorchesteravc@gmail.com Help make Dorchester Ave in the Savin Hill neighborhood a better place!
  • Learn more about CSHCA and its committees on its website. Get involved.

Results for Votes Taken at This Meeting

  • The Updated By-Laws: 22-support; 0-opposed; 1-abstain; 5-invalid
  • 11 Spring Garden Street: 8-support; 10-opposed; 1-abstain
  • 906 Dorchester Ave: 18-support; 1-opposed
  • 10 Seaview Terrace: 10-support; 9-opposed

Reminders

  • Renew your membership for 2023. Des will send out a reminder to those members who have not yet renewed.
  • Be sure to be respectful at all meetings.

Next CSHCA general meeting: Monday, February 6, 7 PM on Zoom (link on website calendar)

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