Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations

Meeting Minutes March 3, 2004

Albany Public Library

1)       Introductions

2)       Minutes

            The minutes of the February 4, 2004 , meeting were approved.

3)       Guest Speakers:

Carol Wallace - Annual Albany History Fair Sense of Place Awards

The Sense of Place Awards are co-sponsored by the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center , Historic Albany Foundation and Historic Cherry Hill.  Entries will be exhibited at the 5th Annual Albany History Fair at the Albany Visitors Center during the month of May.  Awards will be presented on Sunday, May 2, 2004 , at 3:30 PM. Local organizations including neighborhood associations are encouraged to identify a significant structure, event, person or natural resource and submit it to the fair by April 16.  Several examples of Albany 's hidden treasures were presented and included

·         Bleeker Park

·         St. Anthony's Church at Grand and Madison

·         Lombardo's Restaurant

·         248 State Street

·         Lower Hamilton Street trolley rail

·         Upper Hamilton Street power pole for old trolleys

·         Yellow Brick Road bridge

·         Myers Stable on Sheridan Avenue

·         Oldest African-American Congregation

·         Dana National Historic Society Dana Memorial

·         Anna Nardoletto who is 88 years old and worked in the home for incurables on McCarty Avenue

·         Lincoln Park Pool

·         1930's row houses on Manning Boulevard

·         The Orchard Tavern

·         All-metal homes at 355 South Main Avenue and Jermain Street

·         Sears houses in the New Scotland Avenue and Whitehall Road areas

·         Nipper the dog

For more information, contact Carol Wallace at 462-1550 or CWallace66@aol.com

            Albany Public Library Facilities Improvement Plan - Jeff Cannell

Information presented at two recent public meetings was reviewed.  Comments from participants were addressed and included

·         A dramatic effect on the library's budget is not expected as a result of the improvement of facilities; some operating costs such as HVAC may go down.  Staffing increases are expected to be less than 10 percent.  More specific information about this is being refined.

·         The 25-person Citizens Library Advisory Committee will provide preliminary feedback

·         If the armory is used as the main branch, the library's present facility might be destroyed and replaced with a parking lot.

·         There are concerns about taxation on city residents.  Four million dollars of the library's $4.5 budget comes from public levy. 

·         The construction and renovation of library facilities will provide jobs to several residents.

Cori Rowe, Katie O'Malley (Tulip Queen 1998), and Christina Roberts (Tulip Queen 1997) - Albany Tulip Festival 

Participation and attendance at Albany 's public events has increased and volunteers are needed to assist.  One hundred and fifty are needed for the Tulip Festival which will be held May 8 and 9, 2004.  Nominations are sought for this year's queen.  Eighteen to 31 year old young women who are residents of Albany County are eligible.  Information about the experience and benefits of being Albany 's Tulip Queen was presented.

Ellen Shell - Volunteer Girl Scouting

Girl scouting is an accessible, affordable, rewarding experience that inspires girls to develop skills and give them information about issues, values, and programs.  There is presently a waiting list of girls in Albany who want be scouts, but there is a severe shortage of volunteer leaders and co-leaders.  Additionally, volunteers are needed with cookie sales and other services.  Male as well as female volunteers are welcome.

4)       Committee Reports

Committee on University and Community Relations - Tom Gebhardt

The next meeting will be at 7:00 PM on March 10, 2004 , at the Albany Police Department at 526 Central Avenue .  A copy of the agenda was distributed.  The "Excessive Trash/Garbage Sub-Committee" has been working on a "trash to treasure" and educational programs in the Pine Hills and Beverwyck neighborhoods.  The University Neighborhood Day Sub-Committee of the Adopt-a-Block Planning Committee is working on town-gown events to be held at the Ontario Street/Madison Avenue Park on April 24 in conjunction with Project Spring Clean 2004.

5)       Financial Report

            CANA 's financial report is included in the meeting agenda.

6)       Communications and Announcements

·         Copies of the 2004 Pine Hills Business Directory were distributed.  Additional copies are available by contacting Henry Madej at 465-6161 or hmmadej@yahoo.com. 

·         The 2004 Neighborhood Resource Center Annual meeting and presentation of the Thomas J. Senchyuna award and certificates of recognition will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 , at the Sage College Campus Center .  Nominations for the awards and certificates must be received by Friday, April 9, 2004 .

·         The Albany school superintendent has been invited to speak at the May 5 CANA meeting but there has been no commitment and a lack of response from his office.  It may be necessary to follow up with the school board.

·         Helen Black gave information about her involvement the situation in the Albany Police Department and a description of her contacts with APD administrators surrounding the firing of Commander Chris D'Alessandro.  She reported that individuals who have been requesting information about the firing of Commander D'Alessandro have been the victims of retaliation and intimidation in the form of phone calls and broken windows.  She reported that Department's rank and file members are depressed and experiencing extremely low morale.  Ms. Black provided the background and mission statement containing a list of demands that has been developed by a group of concerned citizens with whom she's working on this and other Department issues.

Submitted by

Deanna Colfels

CANA

March 3, 2004

Meeting Attendees