Mayor's Neighborhood Preservation Commission

Mayor's Neighborhood Preservation Committee 12/2/09 Minutes (Final) CITY OF NORWALK MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 2, 2009 ATTENDANCE: David Shockley, Norwalk Redevelopment Agency; Christine Abraham, West Main Street N.A.; Katherine Griffing, Golden Hill Association; Glenn Iannaccone, Norwalk Fire Department; Marilyn Maitland, Health Department; Adam Carsen, Planning and Zoning; Christine Names, NASH; Ron Muller, Village Creek Homeowners Assoc.; Lt. Paul Resnick, Norwalk Police Department (10:18 a.m.); Mayor Richard Moccia (10:20 a.m.); Jackie Liljegren, Flax Hill Neighbors STAFF: Connie Blair, Customer Service CALL TO ORDER Mr. Shockley called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m. He said that the Mayor would be joining the meeting as soon as possible. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 4, 2009 MINUTES ** MR. IANNACCONE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 4, 2009 MEETING AS SUBMITTED. ** MS. GRIFFING SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER UPDATE Ms. Blair said that tonight would be the Christmas Tree Lighting at 7:00 p.m. in front of City Hall. Ms. Blair then said that the Mayor had sent out a press release about a ceremony on Monday, December 7, 2009 and a proclamation in remembrance of all the WWII veterans. On December 13th, SONO will be having its First Annual Holiday Stroll. Bracelets are $5.00 for discounts at various local businesses. There will be a Tree at Norwalk Museum for mittens, hats and scarves. City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Task Force Regular Meeting December 2, 2009 Page 1 Ms. Blair then said that there would be an Affordable Housing Opportunity for eight two- bedroom condos at 310 Ely Avenue. She then distributed copies of the unit, finance and contact information. Ms. Abraham asked Ms. Blair if there had been any word from Davenport. Ms. Blair said that she had not heard from Davenport. ANNOUNCEMENTS City Staff: Mr. Iannaccone said that he wanted to touch on Christmas Tree safety. It is important to remember to use a cut tree, make a fresh cut on the trunk. He said that the tree should be placed in water up to that mark and everyone should remember that the trees can drink up to a gallon a day. He requested that everyone please keep the trees away from direct heat, forced hot air, or any open flame, like a candle or a fireplace. If the lights are not working properly, throw them out. If the needles start to fall out in large amounts and they snap easily, the tree is dangerous. The Fire Department website has a video of a Christmas Tree fire that was burned for News 12. Mr. Shockley said that he would like to recognize Mr. Dumas and his family for their work at NEON on Thanksgiving Day. There were donations from a number of local businesses. Over 200 people were served a Thanksgiving meal. Mr. Shockley said that on November 22nd, the litter index survey was done for Keep America Beautiful. He then listed the six participants who rode around for three to four hours rating various areas to identify hot spots and discuss how to stop it. He said that he was surprised at how clean the City actually was and said that this may have been because it occurred right after people finished raking leaves and doing their fall yard clean ups. A focus area survey was also done, which reviews that litter prevention projects were done and the waste reduction projects. A Board of Directors is being compiled and looks like it will be completed in January. There will be a public awareness campaign. Lt. Resnick joined the meeting at 10:18 a.m. This will be sponsored by a number of various businesses in Norwalk. Mr. Shockley said that Ms. Becker had requested that the information about the Farmer’s market at 61 Wall Street at the corner of Isaac Street. There are farm fresh vegetables and many other items Mayor Moccia joined the meeting at 10:20 a.m. City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Task Force Regular Meeting December 2, 2009 Page 2 Ms. Abraham said that she had attended the farmer’s market and that it was good. She added that the merchants hoped to expand the market even more. Mayor Moccia wished everyone Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy Holidays. He then said that the tree lighting last night at Stew Leonard’s had gone well and that the City would have their tree lighting at 7:00 p.m. that day. Mayor Moccia said that there was a scam going on where people call up and announce that they have just purchased a credit card company and they need the card holder to send in the outstanding balance. He added that at least three Norwalk residents had been contacted in this matter and warned everyone to be extremely cautious. Mayor Moccia said that his wife had recently tried to order something from a particular company as a Christmas gift for a grandchild. When she gave them the credit card number, it was discovered that it was not the card number that was on file. Mayor Moccia said that he had never ordered anything from that company and that the expiration date on the company’s file was incorrect. Lt. Resnick said that “Click It or Ticket” program had just concluded. This was successful. This is a nation wide effort and organized by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES West Main Street Neighborhood Association - Ms. Abraham asked if leaves would be picked up. Ms. Blair said that the week of December 7th there would be collections of leaves and two pick ups for Christmas trees in January. Ms. Abraham said that she had recently been approached by someone who offered her a new electric company service. She said that the man was on foot and became suspicious when he did not know how to find his way back to Main Avenue. Ms. Whitmore had asked Ms. Abraham to report that there was a problem with a car that has not moved for over two months parked at 25 West Main Street. Ms. Abraham said that there is a parking lot in the back for that particular building. Lt. Resnick took down the details and said that he would look into the matter. NASH - Ms. Names said that Silvermine had two burglaries on Old Kings Highway that occurred on the same day. Ms. Names gave some of the details of the break ins to the group. The speeding on Silvermine Avenue continues. Ms. Names said that the cars are veering on the other side of the road when the vehicles try to negotiate the curve too fast. Ms. City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Task Force Regular Meeting December 2, 2009 Page 3 Names said that there was a perception that the police are not interested. The Mayor said that there have been extra patrols on Silvermine Avenue and the officers have given out forty or fifty tickets per day. He said that there were 250 miles of road in the City. Ms. Names said that this doesn’t solve the problem. She asked if speed bumps would work. The Mayor said that it would not work because of the emergency vehicles and the traffic just gets diverted to the side roads. Ms. Names said that she asked if the electronic traffic speed trailer was available. Lt. Resnick said that the City does own one and that it could be put out on Silvermine. Ms. Liljegren joined the meeting at 10:38 a.m. The Mayor said that there have been complaints from residents when the trailer is out there because it flashes and bothers them. Ms. Names said that she would be happy to have the trailer in front of her house. Lt. Resnick said that he would pull the records for Silvermine Avenue for the last three months and email the information to Ms. Names. Golden Hill – Ms. Griffing said that there were no reported problems. Flax Hill - Ms. Liljegren said that the Flax Hill group is growing and the organization is now formed. She said that the amount of construction traffic on Flax Hill was amazing. Yesterday at 4:08 a.m., the lumber trucks started coming down Flax Hill. Another neighborhood concern is a site where a number of units are being built. She said that there were problems with the nearby brook on the site being enclosed. Ms. Liljegren said that some of residents were concerned because the legal notices were only posted one day. Lt. Resnick and Ms. Blair explained that the City website has a monthly calendar with all the meetings listed on it. The agendas are also listed. The Mayor said that one problem with the construction trucks on roads is that they can’t be stopped for local deliveries. The Mayor said that a traffic study was done on the truck traffic on Route 136 after the route was closed to truck traffic and there was no major change in traffic. Ms. Liljegren said that the trucks go between Highland and Rowayton Avenue every 6 to 8 minutes. Lt. Resnick asked for the particulars, which Ms. Liljegren gave him. Village Creek – Mr. Muller reported that a TV had been dumped off at the entrance a few weeks ago and recently a bed frame was dumped. He said that there was a security gate for the boating area had been vandalized before the arm was installed. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Shockley adjourned the meeting at 10:52 a.m. Respectfully submitted, City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Task Force Regular Meeting December 2, 2009 Page 4 Sharon L. Soltes Telesco Secretarial Services City of Norwalk Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Task Force Regular Meeting December 2, 2009 Page 5