General Membership Meeting Minutes – March 4, 2024

President: Bill Walczak
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
Treasurer: Des Rohan
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Special Guests: Aiden Nguyen and Ian Quin from Eversource, Luke the artist
# in attendance: 20 (In person); 40 (Zoom)

Topics for Future Discussions

  • Heat pumps – plan a get together to discuss the various options, pros and cons.
  • BPS School Choice system –  get some parents to give advice in navigating this complex system.
  • Non-Profit Grocers – encourage people to support their local non-profit grocers such as Daily Table and Food Coop.

Police Report (Officer Keaney)

  • 2/18, 11:27 AM, 74 Grampian Way. An unlocked car was rummaged through. Nothing was taken. Be sure to lock your vehicles and leaving nothing of value in them.
  • 2/20, 1 AM, Ba Le Restaurant was broken into via a rock thrown through the plate glass door. $40 was taken from the register.  Three other similar break ins  – 2 in Adams Village, and one at El Barrio –  occurred within a half hour of one another. The culprits were followed on public cameras to their home and apprehended.
  • 2/28, 9 Taft Street, a 25-year-old man was arrested for fraud. As a former tenant, he still had a key and was pretending to be a realtor showing the apartment for $1,800 a pop.
  • Be sure to report car break-ins as these stats help police cover highly targeted areas better.

Administrative and Other Updates

  • The February minutes were approved.
  • Treasurer’s Report for 2023
    • Income: $6,308
    • Expenses: $8,490
    • Balance: $25,241
  • The attendance of government officials and/or their representatives from the legislature and city council were acknowledged.
  • Dot Block recently distributed grant money totaling $350,000 to local non-profits. CSHCA applied for $10,000 but did not receive anything.
  • A docket for charging stations was sent out. Two contracts are currently being negotiated and conversations about municipal parking and charging stations in the empty lots along Dorchester Avenue are forthcoming.
  • City workers for city jobs residency requirement is onerous with rents so high. City workers should be eligible for apartments in the new developments across the city.
    • The lottery system is airtight and not necessarily fair to city workers.
    • We need to find a way to help them stay and live in the city.
  • Senator Collins and Representative Hunt are working on setting up a tour with MADOT to view the trash and graffiti along the highways.

Eversource’s Andrew Square to Dewar Street Reliability Project Update. (Aiden Nguyen, Ian Quin)

  • The project will build a new 2.1 mile underground transmission line to connect these two substations while improving the existing fence lines within the substations.
  • Outreach to the community includes using door hangers, sending emails, attending neighborhood meetings, and utilizing and outreach specialist.
  • What has been accomplished so far:
    • Completed in-street construction and conduit installation along Morrissey Boulevard and Old Colony Avenue.
    • Completed 7 out of 8 manholes.
    • Began preparation for jack and bore drilling at Springdale Street work zone.
    • Responded to all questions and concerns within 48 hours.
    • Consistently provided project updates to the community in multiple languages.
    • Consistently communicated and worked with local organizations and municipal departments.
    • Contributed $71,000 to Boston’s Tree fund.
    • Contributed funds to Boston for security cameras successfully installed outside Andrew Square station to improve safety.
    • Worked with Boston and stakeholders on an approved landscaping along Springdale Street after project completion.
  • Construction Timeline
    • Winter 2024 –  Dorchester Avenue Construction
    • Winter/Spring 2024 – Jack and Bore drilling on Springdale Street
    • Winter-Summer 2024 –  Final manhole construction on Savin Hill Avenue
    • Spring-Winter 2024 –  In-street construction.
  • What to Expect During Construction Through Savin Hill
    • Project team will be working with the Boston Police on traffic management.
    • Work hours will be Monday – Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM with occasional weekend work.
    • Driveways and access for emergency vehicles will be accessible at all times.
  • Restoration Work
    • Phase One, 2024
      • All excavated construction areas will be temporarily repaved immediately upon completion.
      • A total of 18 sidewalk portions, including along Savin Hill Park, will be restored.
    • Phase 2, 2025
      • All impacted road wil be completely repaved.
      • Remaining sidewalks (15) will be improved to be ADA compliant.
      • A raised sidewalk will be installed on Grampian Way just outside Savin Hill Park.
  • Restoration work will take place in Savin Hill on
    • Old Colony Terrace
    • Savin Hill Avenue
    • Grampian Way
    • Playstead Road
  • For More Information, contact
    • 1-833-836-0302
  • Questions
    • Will the sidewalks be concrete or asphalt? The material will remain the same as agreed upon with the city. Aiden will follow up with the city to see if real concrete sidewalks can be installed.
    • Councilor Fitzgerald was urged to push for the city for real concrete sidewalks.
    • Will all the sidewalks be upgraded and restored?  Only those that have been disturbed by the excavation work.
    • What is the purpose of this project? To ensure energy reliability with a growing city population. Aiden will get us the data showing the population numbers and areas of expected growth.
    • A system planning team is working with stakeholders and providers to ensure reliability decades into the future while keeping the 2050 pollution reduction goals in mind.

Committee Reports

  • Two new committees were approved by membership: The Public Health Committee and Government Affairs Committee.
  • The Election Committee
    • Mike Szkolka will chair the election committee to recruit people to run for Executive Board positions.
    • If you wish to be on this committee or are interested in running for a position, contact Mike.
    • People who are running for an elected E-Board position may not serve on this committee.
  • Government Affairs Committee – GAC (Jake)
    • There have been two meetings thus far focusing on Squares and Streets and the Morrissey Commission.
    • Squares and Streets
      • It was agreed the committee will be of assistance to neighboring associations of areas that are the initial cohorts of Squares and Streets.
      • It is a complex proposal with some good ideas and some serious questions about its potential to limit and interfere with community participation.
      • Amy Chambers has agreed to come to the March 25 meeting to talk about proposed changes to the zoning codes with the Squares and Streets initiative.
      • Jackie West Devine from Field’s Corner Main Street initiative has accepted our help and encourages people to get involved by coming to meetings and speaking out. If you have questions or ideas you can reach her at: director@fieldscorner.org
      • Jake and Jackie will keep CSHCA abreast of upcoming meetings.
    • Morrissey Commission
      • Jake is working with MA DOT on Morrissey Boulevard.
      • Senator Nick Collins will attend the second meeting of GAC later this month. Check the CSHCA calendar for meeting times.
      • The third MA DOT meeting of the Morrissey Commission will take place in April, details TBA.
  • Community Benefits Committee (Don Walsh)
    • Membership voted unanimously to approve two documents:
      • The guidelines on how to spend the money
      • The process on how to manage the money
  • Safety Committee (Jennifer Deabler)
    • Come to the next meeting on 3/19. 7 PM on Zoom – link on the CSHCA calendar.
    • Discussion will include the ongoing problems with Walgreens.
  • Public Health Committee (Eileen Boyle)
    • If you are interested in joining, contact Eileen Boyle.
    • This committee will focus on improving public health by advocating for new trees along Dorchester Avenue and the expressway and addressing the water pollution in local waterways, among other things.
  • Beautification Committee (Elizabeth Doyle)
    • The wreaths have been removed and 80-100 bows salvaged for next year.
    • There will be a meeting to plan for the year in early to mid April. E-mails will be sent out.
    • If you are interested in joining, contact Elizabeth Doyle.
  • Events Committee (Alix Giannetti)   
    • Membership voted in-person and via Google forms to approve a $300 donation to the Mothers’ Group for the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 24. Support 14, Oppose 0
      • Approximately 100-200 people attend this event every year.
      • Entertainment will include:
        • Silly Sally and her bubble art
        • Balloon twisters
        • Face Painters
        • Dot Art
        • And hopefully a fire truck
      • Organizers will clean up as best as possible any broken eggshells after the event.
    • Savin Hill Clean-up, April 6 (rain date: April 7)
      • Three locations this year include Savin Hill Park, Patten’s Cove, and Savin Hill Avenue along the expressway.
      • Extra volunteers will be needed for along the expressway.
      • DCR has agreed to trim and haul away dead wood in Patten’s Cove.
      • Kirk has contacted the city for supplies.
    • The committee has applied for a grant with Save the Harbor Save the Bay for their Better Beaches program. Decisions will be announced April 1.     
      • Save the Harbor Save the Bay is hosting a March 10 event in East Boston, which applicants are encouraged to attend. lf you are able to go, let Alix know.
    • CSHCA Dorchester Day Parade Float
      • We are looking for volunteers to help decorate a float for the parade.
      • Our theme is “Turkey Beach Party”
      • There will be a request and vote on funding in April.
    • Open House for local businesses along Dorchester and Savin Hill Avenues.
      • It is scheduled potentially for July 22.
      • This is still in the developmental stages.
    • The Historic Tour this year will be along Pleasant Street.
    • A Group Painting event led by local artist James Hobin will take place in the fall.
    • The Neighborhood Yard Sale is September 7.
    • The combined Community Picnic and Music in the Park will hopefully take place down the beach on September 14 depending on the receipt of grant money.
    • Caroling is scheduled for December in front of Cristo Rey.
  • Planning Committee (Kristine Hoag)
    • The next meeting is Tuesday, March 12 at 7 PM. 20 Pearl Street is on the agenda to change legal occupancy from 2 to 3 family. It was sold as a 3-family. Their ZBA date is this week.
    • 33 Pearl Street has received a stay of demolition for 90 days. The developer is looking to change his plans to save the historic property.
    • Venice Pizza has a new tenant (TBA), that will sell pizza and pasta.
    • 33 Crescent Avenue is slated for demolition, but some abutters were not duly notified of the abutters’ meeting. The committee will discuss if it should develop an abutters’ flyer template to distribute to abutters of proposed projects.
    • 20 Hinckley Street seeks to build a one-family on a 2,000 square foot lot, which the city currently deems “unbuildable.”

Other Business

  • Ryan Playground Mural
    • The artist Luke presented his proposal for the mural. The turtles in the design would consist of chalkboard for interactive fun.
    • Anti-graffiti coating is possible and would add to the cost.
    • The proposed cost without the anti-graffiti coating is $2,400. CSHCA hopes to raise half this amount after completion of the project.
    • Membership voted on this project in-person and via Google forms. Results TBA.
    • If approved, the artist hopes to complete the mural by the end of this month.
  • Allegedly the Dorchester Ave Bridge by Andrew Square will be open by Labor Day.
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