October neighborhood meeting minutes

[CrestwoodNorth]

CRESTWOOD NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OCTOBER 25, 2010

The meeting was called to order by President Frank McCrory at 6:35.
Introductions and welcome followed.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read.

CMC STEEL: Alan Gillespie stated that the company sends a
representative to the meetings in order to keep in touch with
neighborhood concerns. He reminded of the community phone line that
takes calls regarding such concerns. He also indicated that amazingly
they are having a hard time filling jobs in spite of the economy. Q/
A: The company participates in an annual Steel Day in which tours are
offered at the plant. That day has passed but if requested, tours can
be arranged.. It was recommended that CMC Steel be posted on the
35212 website. Q/A: The company is not looking to acquire more
property at this time. They own several pieces on the south side of
5th Avenue South.

COUNCILOR ABBOTT: The city budget is in better shape than thought.
As a result, the bond rating has advanced to AA. Because of the
current recovery of warrant bonds several projects can now move
forward. Avondale Park project has been bid. She suggested that
members e mail the mayor (Willia...@birminghamal.gov) to ask about
the Crestwood Park project. Q/A:There are two groups, the city-
appointed Task Force and I Believe in Birmingham, that are to discuss
possible used for the Trinity hospital property when the move takes
place. The Task Force apparently has not met. She feels that the I
Believe in Birmingham group will, given their past record, have a
positive impact.

BRIAN GIATTINA: The Board of Education has also gotten over the
budget hump. The superintendant seems to have gotten his feet on the
ground. He is meeting individually with board members to explain what
he sees needs to be done regarding academic improvement. Brian also
announced an OPEN HOUSE FOR ALL SCHOOLS to take place on November 17,
when everyone is invited to visit a school to see what is going on. Q/
A: Is there a “game plan” for the next round of proration? Brian:” I
sure hope so!” Q/A: Regarding the retention of two outside law firms
and one inside. Brian attempted to explain the policy of legal
counsel for the board, with outside counsel reporting to the board and
inside counsel reporting to the superintendant. There is a move in
the board to rewrite the policy. Q/A: Vocational training in city
schools. Brian said that there are several very successful voc
training programs in the city schools but that tey have not been
successfully marketed.

Frank announced that there will be a meeting with Superintendant
Witherspoon on January 31 at Girls Inc for anyone interested in
meeting and hearing from Mr. Witherspoon, time to be announced.


OLD BUSINESS:
WELCOME COMMITTEE: Jackie DeBone reported that there were 20 welcome
buckets delivered in the last month. She also reported that the
search for a new vendor for the buckets is awaiting a price quote.

BANNER GROUP: Fred Osuna reported that the group has completed
locating the 27 poles on which new or replacement banners will be
erected. They have finished getting the numbers from the poles
belonging to Alabama Power.

DARRELL O’QUINN: Reported on the success of the neighborhood Facebook
page. When it was established in September there were 38
participants. As of this night there are 220, with 70 accessing via
Twitter. He is still looking into establishing some sort of citizens’
alert system to inform of break-ins, etc as soon as they happen.


NEW BUSINESS:
Mary Oliver reported on the neighborhood 501©3 non-profit, which is an
IRS designated exempt non-profit since our income is less than
$25,000. This means that we file a simple 990 with the IRS on line to
maintain that status. The non-profit maintains a small fund balance
that is used for small expenses in the neighborhood such as purchase
of materials for alley clean ups, Easter egg hunt, the alley Fall
Fling, etc. Since there have only been two fund-raising events to
replenish this fund, the board came up with some ideas to be presented
to the membership.

JOHN PAUL ROBINSON presented the idea of an Art Walk that could be
held in the spring involving artists and musicians from the
neighborhood who would display and possibly sell their wares. Someone
suggested that it might be combined with a Garden Tour.

FRANK McCRORY presented the idea of a doggie day similar to Do Dah Day
that would involve some of the many animal lovers in the neighborhood,
with a parade from the park around the area and return to the park for
festivities.

Both the ideas were presented to the membership to see if there is
interest in one or both being pursued. They will be mentioned again
at later meetings.

CURTIS AUSTIN reported for the Crestwood Colts football program. Due
to a mix-up early in the season the Colts did not play under their
name this season. However, when the new season begins the Crestwood
Colts, one of the oldest programs in the city, will again operate in
their own name.

POLICE: The substitute officer asked for concerns. Q/A: They get
information about problem areas every day at roll call. It was noted
that we probably get more coverage than we know about due to the use
of undercover officers. Members were in accord that coverage has
improved since the arrival of Chief Roper.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Alley clean up next Saturday between 5th Court and 5th Terrace between
58th and 59th Streets beginning at 9:00

Crestwood Aglow, a project of Girls Inc., will involve placing
luminaries on all streets on December 18. Luminaries can be purchased
through Girls Inc. The Welcome Committee will help spread the word
throughout the entire neighborhood.

A question was raised about the why the city landfill is so user
unfriendly. There was minimal discussion.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45.