Neighborhood Advisory Council Six

 

Meeting Minutes

 

February 9, 2004

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

NAC-6 Members

Government Representatives

Trish Cunningham

Chief Dine, Frederick Police Department

Paul Dienes

Officer Hansell, Frederick Police Department

Catherine Jones

Vinny Hughes, City of Frederick

 

Officer Pierce, Frederick Police Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda Items:

 

1.       Organization

a.)       The Initiative creating the NACs requires a Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer

Discussion:  Considered a scenario in which there would be multiple co-chairs.  Deferred further discussion to a later meeting.

b.)  Minutes should be circulated to members before the following meeting.  Members can propose any changes necessary before the meeting by email, proposed changes can be discussed at the meeting before the minutes are approved for posting on the website.

 

Discussion:  Considered rotating meeting minutes responsibilities.

 

c.)  For any proposal the NAC seeks to make on any issue, we should post the issue for public comment on the agenda for two meetings after the proposal is first made.  The goal of the comment period should be to allow residents affected by any proposal to have input before the NAC commits to making any proposal.  We should accept and discuss all written comments as well as all comments raised at meetings.

 

Discussion:  All members present were in agreement to this arrangement.

 

d.)  How should we reach agreement on any proposal?  We have 6 members, but have never yet had more than 3 show up at any meeting.  I propose that no decision be made without approval of 3 members who have been present for the meetings at which proposals have been discussed, including both public comment meetings.  The problem with this idea is that it is then easy for any member to block a decision by failing to appear at a meeting at which a decision is to be made.  We need suggestions for how to address this issue. 


Discussion:  The following rule was agreed to by all members present:  All proposals must have the unanimous support of all NAC members present.  At least half of the NAC members must be present to reach a unanimous decision.  This arrangement should help ensure that the NAC is speaking as one by facilitating compromise.

e.)   Any resident who appears gets to speak.  Do we want a time limit?

Discussion:  The chair will determine as needed if a time limit is necessary based on the number of residents wishing to speak.

f.)   How do we break a tie?

Discussion:  The decision to require unanimous agreement eliminates the need for a tie-breaking mechanism.

g.)  Proposed recommendations need to be written out and circulated to members before meetings, so we can get a notice posted for comment quickly.  We will post proposed recommendations to our website, and all of the city papers, with the dates for the meetings at which we will take public comments.  Those meetings do not need to be the immediately following meetings.

Discussion:  All members present were in agreement. 

 

 

 

2.       Wilson Place - update on notice to residents, how do we make this proposal and to whom.

 

Discussion:  The proposal is made to Engineering.  Various departments are involved in the decision to implement the plan.

The flyer was approved with minor changes to language.  Sarah Finefrock will add a City letterhead and have the flyers printed.

 

3.       Summer Picnics - a statement of purpose for the flyer, what should happen at the picnics, dates, flyer development, donation progress

 

Discussion:  Each NAC member present will contact a designated potential donor in order to obtain the correct contact person.

The NAC will investigate the possibility of holding at least one picnic in conjunction with a scheduled law enforcement public event.


Trish will price banners.

 

4.       NAC Newsletter - what shall we put in the newsletter about NAC 6

 

Discussion:  The newsletter should list achievements an initiatives of the NAC.

 

5.      NAC website - what shall we put on the website


Discussion:  Paul will present a proposed shell for the NAC-6 website.

6.       Future Topics
 Asset Mapping - invitation to local businesses

7.       Resident concerns

        Discussion:  No residents were present.

 

Other Items / New Discussion:

 

 

  1. Chief Dine and Officers Hansell and Pierce presented several items:

    a.)  The NAC-6 area does not currently have a remarkable crime problem.


b.)  Stop sign violation enforcement was performed on Wilson Place.

c.)  A suggestion was made to add signage on Rosemont Avenue and Seventh Street to enhance compliance of the existing truck restriction on Wilson Place.

 

 

  1. A suggestion was made that a graphic be produced to illustrate the proposed stop sign realignment on Wilson Place.  Vinny Hughes to determine if an electronic copy of the city map can be made available to the NAC.