Mayor's Neighborhood Preservation Commission

Mayor's Neighborhood Preservation Committee 7/1/2009 Minutes (Draft) CITY OF NORWALK MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION REGULAR MEETING JULY 1, 2009 ATTENDANCE: David Shockley, Redevelopment Agency; Christine Abraham, West Avenue N.A.; Hal Alvord, Department of Public Works; Helen Bryan, West Avenue N.A.; Maribeth Becker, Wall Street; Katherine Griffing, Golden Hill Association; Michael Green, Planning and Zoning Director; Marilyn Maitland, Health Department; Christine Names, NASH; Marcia Powell, Village Creek Homeowners Association; John Moeling, Harbor Shores Neighborhood Association; Al Raymond, Spring Hill/Hospital N.A.; Gordon Sweeny, Golden Hill Association; Nancy Whitmore, West Main Street N.A.; Deputy Chief Thomas Kulhawik, Norwalk Police Department, Mayor Richard A. Moccia (10:10 a.m.) STAFF: Marta Rivera, Customer Service CALL TO ORDER Mr. Shockley called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. WELCOMING REMARKS; REVIEW AND APPROVE THE JUNE 3, 2009 MEETING MINUTES May 6, 2009 Minutes ** MS. POWELL MOVED THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 6, 2009 MEETING. ** MS. BRYANT SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, June 3, 2009 Minutes ** MS. GRIFFING MOVED THE MINUTES OF JUNE 3, 2009 ** MS. POWELL SECONDED. The following corrections were noted: Page 1, under ATTENDANCE: please add: “Ron Muller, Village Creek Home Owners Association” City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Regular Meeting July 1, 2009 Page 1 Page 6, paragraph 3, line 1: please change “Ms. Abraham said” to “Ms. Bryan said” ** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 3, 2009 MINUTES AS CORRECTED PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER UPDATE Ms. Rivera from Customer Service was present and said that there were a number of hand outs and updates about recycling and the new hours for the yard waste drop off, among others. CHIEF DENIS MCCARTHY AND MICHELLE DELUCA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, NORWALK FIRE DEPARTMENT, WILL PRESENT THE NEW DISASTER RESERVE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CONCEPT. Mr. Shockley said that Chief McCarthy and Ms. DeLuca were not able to be present and would be present in September. ANNOUNCEMENTS City Staff: Mayor Moccia joined the meeting at 10:10 a.m. The Mayor said that he had spoken with Chief Rilling about coordinating the Slow Down Week and having the children make signs encouraging the drivers to slow down. The Mayor also said that the bond rating agency had approved the City for a Triple A rating. The Fireworks are scheduled for Friday. He added that First County Bank had stepped forward and provided the funding for the summer concert series at Calf Pasture. Mayor Moccia then left the meeting at 10:13 a.m. Mr. Shockley said that 92 Volunteers turned out to help this year. Pepsi helped with the clean up at Broad River Homes, including a mural on one of the walls. Mr. Shockley then gave an overview of the progress the City is making toward becoming a Keep America Beautiful affiliates. Pepperidge Farm has been contributing funds to keep the program going. Mr. Shockley said that there were a number of opportunities to serve if any of the neighborhood groups or companies were interested. City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Regular Meeting July 1, 2009 Page 2 Mr. Alvord said that garbage and recycling will be picked up on Friday, although City Hall will be closed for the Holiday week-end. The yard debris site will be closed on Friday and Saturday of this week, but the yard debris site will be open again on Saturdays. Neighborhood Representatives: Golden Hill - No report. Silvermine – Ms. Names said that speeding was still a problem. When the police are there, the trucks slow down but speed up once the police leave. She asked if it was possible to put up more speed limit signs. Mr. Alvord said that he would check to see if the street are listed on the State list for posted signs. He said that since there was one sign already, the chances were good that they would not have to ask the State for permission. Ms. Names said that she had received a call and someone reported that there was a duck blind on Perry Avenue. Ms. Names said that she didn’t see it, but there was a raised structure with a blue tarp over it. Harbor Shores - Mr. Moeling said that his group has been working on strengthening the blight ordinance. He was also working on reinstating the large bulk waste pick up, which had been cut due to budget concerns. People leave bulky waste items on the street because they don’t know what do to with them. The Neighborhood Association attempts to help the elderly with this issue, but he would like to see the bulky waste pick ups resume. Mr. Moeling said that speeding on Woodward Avenue is reduced when there are officers around. He then asked if anyone had any idea what the monstrous locomotive size engine that was brought in by barge to SoNo Seafood was. Deputy Chief Kulhawik said that he believe it was something for the electrical substation on Route 123. Village Creek – Ms. Powell reported that the Hoyt Island clean up went well. She also said that Manresa has been cleaned up by another group and they also hauled all the trash away on their own. Mr. Alvord explained that NRG Energy runs Manresa and did a major clean up. Mr. Alvord said that NRG is trying to be a good neighbor. Spring Hill - Mr. Raymond said that the neighborhood area is good. The lot is cleaned up, but Stuart Avenue remains a mess. He had some strong concerns about the intersection of Benedict, Stuart, and Truman, which is a five way intersection. Cars fly City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Regular Meeting July 1, 2009 Page 3 through that intersection, especially in the morning with southbound cards. Deputy Chief Kulhawik made a note of that. Mr. Raymond thanked Jackie Lightfield and Maribeth Becker for all their work regarding the pARTy in the Park. Wall Street - Ms. Becker said that she would like to thank everyone for all the help in getting the area presentable, especially DPW. She said that she was proud to see everyone working together. She was delighted that Wall Street was being paved starting on Monday. Mr. Alvord said that there were notices in the paper and that without major problems; it should be finished in a week. It should run from Fat Cat Joe to Belden Avenue. Ms. Becker said that Mill Hill is working on their master plan and there was a public meeting to express input recently. West Main - Ms. Whitmore said that Holmes Street had requested “No Parking” signs, which were put up and now one sign is missing. She added that when the garbage is collected, the cans are thrown in the gutter. There are a number of new potholes at the end of West Main and a big one developed at the end of Catherine Street. Ms. Bryant said that there were mattresses in the playground. Customer Service will work on that. Mr. Alvord said that the garbage crews have turned over and that they are new. Mr. Alvord will speak to them about this. Mr. Raymond asked about the Wall Street development and the paving. Mr. Alvord reviewed the details of how this would be done and said no parking would be allowed on Wall Street and only one side of the street would be open at a time. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Shockley adjourned the meeting at 10:36 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Soltes Telesco Secretarial Services City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Regular Meeting July 1, 2009 Page 4