Draft minutes of 10/8/09 SFNA meeting

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Deidre Bryan

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Nov 5, 2009, 5:11:16 PM11/5/09

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Hello SFNA members--

Following is a draft of the minutes of last month's meeting. The officers have reviewed, corrected, and approved them. If you have any corrections or comments, please send them to me or bring them to next week's meeting. Hope to see you there--

Deidre

DRAFT

Stephen Foster Neighborhood Association

Meeting MinutesThursday, October 8, 2009

Parkview Baptist Church Activity Center

Vice President Stephen Chamberlin called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. A quorum was present.

Officers present: Vice President Stephen Chamberlin and Corresponding Secretary Sharon Woodruff. Absent: President Barbara Ruth.

A motion was made to modify the agenda to include a Koppers update by Robert Pearce, following the officers' reports. The motion was seconded and passed.

A motion was made to approve the minutes of the 8/13/09 meeting as presented. The motion was seconded and passed. Draft minutes of the 9/10/09 meeting were introduced for consideration of approval at the 11/12/09 meeting.

New business:
Dr. Pat Grunder, a mediator with the Gainesville Police Department, proposed a short (15-minute) team-building exercise at a future meeting. Following discussion, it was decided that the officers will consider this further and follow up at the next meeting.

Cpl. Audrey Mazzuca of the GPD presented the regular crime watch report. She also extended an invitation to community members to a meeting introducing DataTrac, GPDÕs new volunteer program.

Officers' reports

Vice President Stephen Chamberlin reported on behalf of President Barbara Ruth about her meeting with Pastor Greg Magruder (acting as mediator) and Maria Parsons, representing the Stephen Foster Neighborhood Protection Group, regarding the latter's recent incorporation as the Stephen Foster Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Vice President Chamberlin expressed his hope for greater focus on community building within the association in the coming year. He encouraged members to share ideas by sending e-mails to the googlegroup mailing list.

Corresponding Secretary Sharon Woodruff raised the subject of Koppers, and whether we should have a meeting, blog, or group regarding Koppers. It was agreed to continue the discussion as part of the Koppers update, following committee reports.

Committee reports

Notification Committee: Stephen Chamberlin reported on behalf of Chair Barbara Ruth that the committee will intensify efforts to make the local community more aware of meetings by e-mail, phone, and signs. Ron Nichols volunteered to join the Notification committee and help with these efforts.

Tree Committee: Deidre Bryan resigned as chair of this committee, and Ron Nichols agreed to serve as the new chair.

Garden Committee: Chair Sharon Sheets described the new communtiy garden facilities provided by Parkview Baptist. Our eight planting beds are already at capacity, and she noted that the number of beds may be increased in the future.

Koppers update: Robert Pearce discussed the U.S. EPA's Feasibility Study of Remediation Alternatives, and the upcoming meetings on October 19 with City and County staff and on October 29 with the City and County Commissions. There will also be an upcoming City Commission meeting (as yet unscheduled) addressing the future land-use issues associated with the Koppers site. Following discussion, it was decided to establish a Koppers Committee, with Robert Pearce as chair.

Old business:
Deidre Bryan was nominated for the position of recording secretary. There being no other nominations, she was elected by consensus.

Presentations were made by Anthony Dennis, State Environmental Health Director, and Paul Meyers of the Alachua County Health Department regarding the past, present, and future testing of soil, air, and water at the Koppers site. Mr. Dennis said that a State Health Office toxicologist will conduct a cancer study in the Stephen Foster neighborhood and provided health questionnaires to the membership. They both answered numerous questions from members.