Meeting Minutes from LONA's TOWN MEETING - August 14th, 2006

LYELL OTIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Michael Visconte, President ---------- Robert Van Sice Vice President

Marian Batz, Treasurer ----------- Pam Davis, Secretary ------------ Frank Louk, Safety

 

MINUTES FROM AUGUST 14, 2006 – LONA’s TOWN MEETING - location: THE LYELL BRANCH LIBRARY 

 

Meeting was called to order by LONA President, Mike Visconte, at 7:05 PM,

- Introduced People at head table.

- Showed Pictures of LONA’s National Night Out Against Crime August 1, 2006

- Described normal agenda for regular Lyell-Otis Neighborhood Association meetings.

 

People at the head table spoke:

 

Assistant to Mayor Duffy - Darryl W. Porter

-         Mr. Porter welcomed everyone, and stated he was available for questions.

 

Molly Clifford, Director of Neighborhood Empowerment Teams

-         Introduced Jose Cruz and Charles Stechna from the Lyell Avenue Net Office.

-         Net focuses on neighborhood housing.

-         Lead paint project is underway at this time.

-         Lyell Net Office will be open Wednesday evenings until 8 PM.

-         Next “Clean Sweep” is October 14, 2006 in our area.

 

Fire Chief - Floyd Madison

-         “We want to prevent emergency problems before they happen and improve quality of life in neighborhoods by education.” (Eg. CERT training).

-         He provided handouts and phone numbers.

 

Temporary Police Commander - Captain Peter Leach

-         The police department is focusing on street corners, gun and drug arrests.

-         These, plus special attention from the vice squad and sheriff’s department on “Hot Spots” and noise details, are also current priorities.

 

Officer Steve Boily, CPO at the Lyell Net Office.

-         Covers Pac-Tac, noise control, and vice squad.

-         He also is working to get prostitutes off streets and into some type of rehab. He does this in conjunction with social workers.

 

Dana K. Miller, City Council

-         He is working on public safety, quality of life and other issues that are important.

-         He stated Pac-Tac is greatly needed.

-         He supports the curfew, and “Night Out” was great this year.

 

Representative for Gladys Santiago, City Council

-         Gladys worked on clean sweep

-         Works on prostitutes and drug issues through Mary Magdalene house.

-         Working on new housing plan to assist renters become owners, “call us for help”.

 

Robert J. Stevenson, City Council

-         Reviewed prostitution information, including current details.

-         Also reviewed court watch information.

-         Needs Court watchers from Lyell Otis.

 

John F. Lightfoot, City Council

-         Helped to enlarge fireworks display.

-         Working on starting ananti-litter campaign, mental health issues,reduce drug and alcohol use through education.

 

William F. Pritchard, City Council

-         Pleased that 7 of the 9 Council members were represented.

-         Would like more businesses in Lyell Ave neighborhood

-         Thinks noise ordinance enforcement is very important to accomplish this.

-         He feels NET is doing a good job in this area to enforce quality of life.

 

Adam C. McFadden, City Council

-         Chairman of public safety committee.

-         Working on curfew, and Quality for Kids committee at #30 and #43 Schools. (They need volunteers to be responsible adults in kids’ lives).

 

Representative for Carolee A. Conklin, City Council.

-         Carolee works with Pac-Tac, YWCA, and Anthony House.

 

From the audience:

 

Andrew Staucovitch, Charity “Friendship Helping Friends” - Needs tax free exemption same as charitable organizations

 

Resident from Cameron Street - Needs an area for children to play.

 

Rick Macural, “Rainbows of Faith” - Help youth with spiritual needs for life. They have marches for faith for the Kids.

 

Resident from Sunset Street - “Heat is On Committee” Disagree with RG&E budget proposal for October 2, 2006

 

- Several Residents talked on the prostitution situation in our neighborhood.

- It is wide spread and keeps moving. It never leaves the neighborhood completely.

- Resident pointed out that the Cordial Lounge adds to prostitution and buying and selling drugs.

- Resident pointed out that a drug house exists near the intersection of Avery and Palmyra Streets.

- This situation has encouraged the dropping off of prostitutes, leaving some of their cars and performing their activities in this area.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM

 

Respectfully submitted by Marlene Van Sice