General Membership Meeting Agenda – February 4, 2024

General Membership Meeting February 4th, 2024 – Hybrid with in person at Boys and Girls Club 1135 Dorchester Ave (4th flr).
The February 4th CSHCA GENERAL MEETING will BE A HYBRID MEETING BOTH IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM 
 Zoom:https://www.columbiasavinhillcivic.org/calendar/ 
The above link will take you to the CSHCA Webpage Calendar and the link to the General Membership Meeting
Or here is the link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84080080440, Meeting ID 840 8008 0440
6:30-7:00 Information on K-Circle/Morrissey proposed plans will be posted on wall at Boys & Girls Club
7:00pm– Meeting commences
Call to Order- President Bill Walczak
Brief review of meeting agenda
7:05pm
Police Report
7:10pm 
Approval of the Minutes
January minutes 

7:10-7:20pm Announcements
The meeting will report on three major topics that will affect our community. The first one to be covered is on how global warming will be mitigated along our neighborhood’s waterfront via changes to Morrissey Boulevard, to which has been added what can be done about Kosciuszko Circle. A commission for this purpose has begun meeting, and there are a few different solutions that are being presented by the commission. These will be taped to the wall in the meeting room on the 4th floor of the Boys and Girls Club at 6:30pm. As you will see, each solution creates other problems. The commission hopes to complete a plan for fixing K-Circle and Morrissey Boulevard by June. We will have a report by Jake Wachman, who is on the commission.  

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) has announced plans for changes in zoning regulations called Squares+Streets. This confusing change to zoning is being evaluated by civic associations around the city. There is a great deal of consternation about these proposed regulations, but the regulations also deal with some things that would fix some of the most frustrating aspects of city governance over development. You can read and understand more about this initiative HERE. The CSHCA would like to submit a comment letter. A draft of the letter is HERE and will be discussed at the meeting. Squares+Streets is the first step the Wu Administration is proposing to change zoning. There are also Article 60 and 80 changes that are emerging, which may have a greater impact on how development occurs.  

To focus on these three items, the Civic Association has created an ad hoc committee to keep track of the developments. The Chair of this committee, Jake Wachman, will present on the K Circle/Morrissey Boulevard Commission. 

Also at this meeting we will thank former councilor Frank Baker for his years of service. Frank will be present to be acknowledged by the membership.

7:20pm
Guest Speakers
Thomas Bagley & Dolores Randolph: Boston Water and Sewer – Change in how residential water and sewer bill is calculated which will now include an assessment on how water run-off will be added to your bill. Details on how this may impact your water bill and programs and grants available to reduce your bill as a result of this change can be found HERE.

7:45pm 
Committee Reports/Voting Items
Presidents Updates:
1)     Bill will discuss:
a)     Squares+Streets proposed letter to City Hall and our elected officials. THIS IS A VOTING ITEM
b)     MASS DOT policy on graffiti and trash removal and maintenance along Rt. 93 and discuss a letter from the membership to address this ongoing issue. THIS WILL BE A VOTING ITEM.
c)     A Public Health Committee of the Civic Association has been formed. The goal of the committee will be to create and pursue an agenda to deal with the manifold public health issues facing the community. These include the toxic chemicals in Savin Hill Cove which was discussed at the January meeting, the lack of evergreen trees along the expressway, which could filter pollution from the Expressway, the public health problems that could occur from the proposed changes to Morrissey Boulevard, rodent and other infestations, and suggestions for health oriented changes (pedestrian and bike paths, additional open space in land to be developed west of the Red Line tracks, etc.) Eileen Boyle has agreed to chair and will speak on her plans for the committee.
d)     Morrissey Commission Update (Jake Wachman). The presentation and recording of the kickoff November meeting can be found HERE. A second meeting was held last week. Jake will discuss this and also provide an update on contractors working on the project and solicit ideas from members on items residents would like to see in the redesign to ensure they are addressed and discussed.
e)     Don’t forget to vote in the presidential primary March 5!

Safety Committee
Beautification Committee

Events Committee – Will discuss events planned for 2024. Those events can be found HERE.

Community Benefits Committee – For information purposes, the Committee has placed a series of protocols related to the management of money procured by the Civic Association, and also an idea for a budget for such money should it be received. NO VOTE, just information to get members thinking.

Planning Committee
243D Savin Hill Avenue: Proponent will present their proposal to build a single family home on a vacant lot on Morrissey Boulevard and Savin Hill Ave. This is a presentation only, proponent is not requesting a vote. Proponent had an abutter’s meeting on July 30, 2019 and presented at the November 2019 Planning Meeting and at the December 2019 General Membership Meetingwhere the proposal was Opposed because of concerns about its overall size, height, environmental impact and concerns from abutters. See UPDATED plans and presentation HERE See Refusal Letter HERE.

8:10pm
Morrissey Commission Update (Jake Wachman). The presentation and recording of the kickoff November meeting can be found HERE. A second meeting was held last week and a discussion from the 2nd mtg will be provided at the membership meeting.Jake will also provide update on gathering feedback on contractors working on the project and solict ideas from members on items residents would like to see in the redign to ensure they are addressed and discussed.

8:20pm
New Business:New Business: New agenda items may be presented at the end of the general membership meeting to be discussed at the next meeting, 3/4/24. For March:  Ideal Across from 990 Dorchester.  A local artist, Zuke Barosky, will be at the February executive committee to discuss a propsal for finish the corrugated metal fence in Paul Park that was restored last year. Images of 2 proposals can be found HERE & HERE.
New agenda items may be presented at the end of the general membership meeting to be discussed at the next meeting, 3/4/24.

Motions for the Meeting:·       
To request of the state and city Departments of Transportation a timeline for the removal of graffiti at properties under their control, and for when we can expect removal of trash on and along roadways, and to copy our elected officials and ask them to pursue answers to the points in this motion.

·Squares+Streets Letter
CSHCA membership form – RENEW FOR 2024! Its that time of year!
columbiasavinhillcivic.org