CSHCA Meeting Minutes, March 2022

CSHCA General Meeting of 3-7-22

Number in attendance on zoom: 52
Mike Szkolka, president and host
Doreen Miller (minutes)

Boston Police C-11 Updates

• 2/8, 10:30 PM Speeding on Dorchester Ave. 36 year old male from Providence, Rhode Island. Carrying a 9 mm with 10 rounds. Violent resistance. Arrest made. Has 4 felonies.
• 2/11, 2:30 PM, Pleasant Street. Male from Dedham arrested for open and gross lewdness in his vehicle.
• 2/15, a search of 23 Treadway Road, apartment 1, resulted in confiscating 103g of Fentanyl, 170g of Meth, 131g cocaine. Two males in their 40s arrested.
• 2/17, 5:30, Larceny on Auckland street. Male in a bike stole packages from the porch. He was later apprehended on Bowdoin Street at 8:30 and in possession of multiple packages. He is from Quincy and has 6 warrants.
• Car breaks – various items stolen
  • 2/23 and 2/27 on Sydney Street
  • 2/29 on Buttonwood Street
• Questions
  • Tagging along the 1200 block of Dorchester Ave – report to 311 for removal. Affected owners of building can make a criminal report to the police.
  • Any info on the recent break-in on Raven Street? – No. Maybe it’s related to the package thefts.

Boys and Girls Club Fieldhouse Update (Bob)

• • Bob gave a short presentation on the proposed design and usages.
  • It’ll be located in Harborpoint adjacent to the Dever School.
  • Expected Timeline:
    • Spring 2022 design completion
    • Fall 2022 breaking ground
  • BPDA hearing this Thursday, 3/10 for board approval.
  • Request the CSHCA take a vote on sending a letter of support for this project.

Committee Reports

Engagement Committee (Heidi Moesinger)

Current focus is the 2022 CSHCA elections. A flyer has been made, is being posted to various social media sites, and will be mailed out in the newsletter emails. More people are encouraged to join.

Planning Committee (Kristine Hogan)

• • The Vivarium at The Beat
    • A short description of this small animal lab was given.
    • Todd Fremont-Smith explained that this life-science part was inadvertently left out of their original application, and they would now like it included. The lab will deal with a range of issues determined by focus and demand of pharmaceutical industries.
    • The ZBA date is March 22.
    • Neighbors were assured that any radioactive materials are handled according to strict regulations and that their use would be minimal.
    • The Beat’s first tenants will be moving in June/July of this year, including the food hall.
  • 14 Victoria Street dormer
    • The owners gave a short visual presentation of the minor changes to the building.
    • ZBA date is April 14.
  • The Planning committee recommends a vote of support for both projects.

Safety Committee (Doreen Miller)

• • Savin Hill Ave/Sydney Street Intersection
    • Councilor Baker is working with Yasha, the new Chief of Streets, who will advocate for a redesign of the intersection.
    • Short-term fixes include 15-minute and one-hour parking slots to be determined after consultation with businesses there, as well as a possible stop sign.
    • The Daily is offering to share loading zones with McKenna’s so streets and driveways are not blocked.
    • For parking issues call 911. Captain Golden has promised greater parking enforcement.
  • Morrissey Boulevard
    • The issues are speeding, drag racing, running red lights, and a crosswalk signals.
    • Rep. Hunt has been in touch with Sgt. Crowley, who has promised greater patrolling and speed enforcement.
    • The State police are in the process of selecting a new community liaison.
    • A request was made for greater beach patrols during the summer months.
    • There is no pedestrian cross light at the Freeport intersection where cars turn off for Freeport and the highway. There’s a lack of speed limit signs between the x-way off ramp and the UMass intersection. Pedestrian crossing signals could be better timed for safety. Patrick Forde from Sen. Collins office will contact Mass DOT.
    • Contact numbers for any issues
      • Sgt. Crowley: 617-270-7710
      • Capt. Smith: 774-279-6145
  • Other issues
    • Homeless camped out by JFK station – Contact the T police.
    • Future topic: speeding cars using Grampian Way as a cut-through and proposing new traffic flow in Savin Hill OTB.
    • The Slow Streets Application is filed and still pending.
    • Any snow issues with blocked pedestrian crossings or sidewalks, call 311.

Community Benefits (Don Walsh)

• • Don briefly gave background information on why we have the committee.
  • A Community Advisory Committee was set up by the city and has been ignored.
  • $76 million has been predetermined – without community input – to be allocated to the following:
    • $57 million to affordable housing anywhere
    • $10 million to affordable home ownership
    • $3.9 million for job training
    • $4.5 million to be divided between South Boston and Dorchester
  • This allocation is unfair. $4.5 million divided between two communities is not sufficient for our needs. We should petition for a greater share of the total, closer to $18.5 million.
  • The Committee has a list of improvement priorities and will meet to finalize requests and recommendations before the city’s March 25^th deadline for input from affected communities. Check the CSHCA website for this important upcoming meeting.

Beautification Committee (Elizabeth Doyle)

• • Joe Costa who led the wreath effort will not be continuing next season. We need someone to lead this effort.
  • Send ideas for the Spring to Elizabeth. (In the chat) hold a plant sale.

Events Committee (Heidi Moesinger)

• • Heidi shared the mission and purpose, and requested to be officially recognized as part of the CSHCA.
  • A request for $150 for the Savin Hill Tour by Noah McKenna was made.
  • A request for $55 for a portable amplifier to be the property of CSHCA for future outdoor events was made.

Elections Committee

• • Mike Szkolka will head up the committee.
  • All positions are open.
  • A flyer has been made and is being posted on social media sites, will be sent out in an email, and posted in prime locations.
  • All nominations should be send to Mike.

Easter Egg Hunt Event (Brianne Gore)

• • $1,000 needed for entertainment, food, drinks, materials, etc.
  • Individual donations can be sent to venmo@Brianne-Gore
  • A motion was made and seconded for CSHCA to donate $250 to the cause with a vote to be taken.

Updates from George Huynh

• • BPDA met with Mayor Wu on the Dorchester Bay City (DBC) project.
  • He acknowledged and thanked people for the letters requesting the DBC process be slowed down and that the percentage of affordable units be increased.
  • Re: 6 Pearl Street, which is suddenly 4 stories instead of the proposed three. George will be in touch with ISD Inspectional services to determine the permits pulled. If they are out of compliance a stop work order will be issued and they will be fined.
  • A request was made to arrange a dedicated meeting between affected communities and
  • Mayor Wu regarding DBC and all the development in the area and along Dorchester’s waterfront. George will relay that request to the mayor.
  • Please send notice of any events to George.Huynh@boston.gov, 617-635-4819 so the mayor can potentially attend.

Other Concerns

• Related to the T: Red Line issues
  • At JFK Station a man was beat over the head with a rock.
  • At Field’s Corner Station a person was stabbed.
  • At Downtown Crossing someone was murdered; the perpetrator caught at JFK station.
  • The Red Line has become dangerous and is always breaking down, but upgrades and new cars are on the way. For more information: https://www.mbta.com/projects/red-line-transformation-program
  • We should invite someone from T management to a future meeting to discuss the problems and their solutions.
• Encouraging in-person attendance at hybrid meetings
  • Offer incentives like pizza or donuts.
  • Reach out to residents who may have attended in the past but do not attend now. Des Rohan maintains the contact list.

Voting Results of Votes Taken at this Meeting

• • Letter of support for the Boys and Girls Club Fieldhouse: supported
  • The Vivarium at the Beat: supported
  • 14 Victoria Street dormer: supported
  • Making the Events Committee an official part of CSHCA: supported
  • $150 funding for the Savin Hill Park Tour with Noah McKenna: supported
  • $55 for a portable amplification device to be owned by CSHCA: supported
  • $250 donation to the Easter Egg Hunt event: supported