| |
Council
of
Albany
Neighborhood Associations
Meeting Minutes
September 6, 2006
Albany
Public Library
1)
Introductions
Albany
's 2006 Tulip Queen
Amanda Benincasa and members of her court announced a benefit children’s book
drive is being held. Proceeds will
be donated to Parson’s Family and Children’s Center.
Books may be donated at the Albany Visitor’s Center, Libraries, City
Hall, and the
Times
Union
Building
.
A flyer will be forwarded to the
CANA
chairman for distribution to
members.
2)
Committee Reports
 |
CANA
30th Anniversary
Celebration Committee
|
Flyers
and emails have been sent announcing the celebration to be held
Wednesday, October 4,
2006
, at the University Club. To
date, 60 tickets have been sold. Volunteers
are needed for check-in table. The
deadline to purchase tickets is
September 27, 2006
.
| Neighborhoods
Work Conference Committee
|
The
7th Annual Neighborhoods Work Conference will be on
Saturday, November 18,
2006
, from 9 AM to
1 PM
at
646 State Street
,
Albany
.
This year’s topic is “Revitalizing Albany:
Strategic Planning and Implementation for Quality, Liveable
Neighborhoods.”
| University and
Community Relations Committee
|
The
next committee meeting will be held September 13.
Recent initiatives include the Mid-Town neighborhood
watch—“Take Back Our Streets.” A
memorial for University President Kermit Hall will be held on September 18
3)
New Business
| Representatives of the Upper Washington Avenue Neighborhood
Association requested that the chairman be conscientious about following the
published meeting agenda. Members
who have made an advance request to present issues have invested time and
energy in their presentations, but may be cut short for last-minute
presentations.
|
| Albany City School Superintendent Eva Joseph is seeking to form a
community advisory council, the purpose of which will be to establish a
forum for the district to proactively communicate issues of concern such as
the closing of
Livingston
.
|
| Leonard Morganbesser presented statistics about gun violence in
Albany
.
Since September 2002 there have been 366 incidents involving guns.
15 people have been hit by gunfire.
He asked that
CANA
consider forming a committee to address this problem and/or redefine
gun violence as a public health issue. One
issue that fuels the problem is the supply of illegal guns.
There seems to be little “traction” to this issue although the
Common Council passed a resolution for the mayor to form a regional task
force. Mr. Morganbesser
identified three reasons for the lack of community involvement in this
issue; namely, people’s perceptions of the problem, people’s discomfort
about the issue, and their willingness to leave the issue to law
enforcement.
|
| Marggie Skinner suggested that
CANA
consider
establishing an internet blog and asked for opinions and concerns.
One of the benefits would be to encourage people to attend
CANA
and neighborhood
association meetings. Another
would be for residents to have the opportunity to comment on issues.
This issue needs to be researched and developed further.
Marggie will speak with Brian Nearing at the TIMES
UNION
about the
possible benefits of placing a
CANA
blog on the TIMES UNION site.
|
| Joyce Gerasi spoke with the Common council about the CANA Codes
Committee Report and a statement was read into the minutes.
There will be a meeting with the city officials and some common
council members next Monday at
4 PM
. The CANA Committee was
commended for their work, presentation and tenor.
|
| Gene Solan participated in a meeting of the Recapitalize Albany
Project Neighborhood Revitalize Albany Initiative.
Neighborhood-related Issues identified included vacant buildings
(negative impact on quality of neighborhood life and safety) and
comprehensive planning (the City supports and wants to get underway).
A report about neighborhood revitalization, economic development and
education will be generated by the end of this year.
Questions arose about the process of the Recapitalize Albany
project--whether the meetings are open to the public, how effective can
committee recommendations be without a land use master plan, etc.
|
| Joe Cunniff from the Upper Washington Avenue Neighborhood Association
presented information about
Brighter
Choice
Charter
School
’s proposal to
locate a school (grades undertermined) at
60 Colvin Avenue
.
The site would replace plans to locate at
Watervliet Avenue
.
The footprint for the building does not include the adjoining park,
but it appears they will use the park. Residents
have multiple concerns such as traffic congestion, snow removal, etc.
The Board of Zoning Appeals has not made a decision
|
·
Albany Department of Development and Planning - Rebecca Brownell provided
4)
Adjournment
The
meeting adjourned at
8:40 PM
Submitted
by
Deanna
Colfels
CANA
September 6, 2006
Meeting Attendees
|
NAME
|
ASSOCIATION
|
ADDRESS
|
|
Lynne Jackson
|
Albany
Bicycle Coalition
|
223 So
Swan St
|
|
Daniel VanRiper
|
Lincoln
Park NA
|
dwvr@mac.com
|
|
Jim Lyons
|
Melrose
NA
|
jlyons@nycap.rr.com
|
|
Helen Klayson
|
West End NA
|
johnhelenok@netone.com
|
|
Joe Cunniff
|
Upper Washington
Ave NA
|
jcunniff@nycap.rr.com
|
|
Colin McKnight
|
Mansion
|
45 Elm St
|
|
Marggie Skinner
|
PHNA
|
49 Ryckman Ave
|
|
Peter Rinne
|
Park South
|
47 Morris St
|
|
Richard Conti
|
Common Council
Ward 6
|
151 Chestnut St
|
|
Patricia Grant
|
No
Albany
NA
|
42 Bonheim St
|
|
David King
|
Metroland Magazine
|
Dkingatmetroland.net
|
|
Gene Solan
|
Pine Hills
|
126 So.
Allen St
|
|
Harold Rubin
|
Center Square
|
156 Chestnut St
|
|
Donald Wardle
|
United Tenants
|
|
|
Rev. Joyce
Hartwell
|
Artists
All-Faith
Center
|
revjoy@nycap.rr.com
|
|
Rev. Mick Brown
|
Trinity United
Methodist
Church
|
235 Lark St
|
|
Pat Maxon
|
UPANA
|
maxdanys@aol.com
|
|
PO
Kathi Rissberger
|
APD
|
536 Western Ave
|
|
Tom Gebhardt
|
University at
Albany
|
tgebhardt@uamail.albany.edu
|
|
Howard Stoller
|
CANA
|
Hstoller@aol.com
|
|
Leonard
Morgenbesser
|
Buckingham
Crestwood NA
|
219 Tampa Ave
|
|
Holly Katz
|
Mansion
|
harriskatx@mac.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
