Island
Neighborhood Association
of Waltham
General Meeting Minutes
February 3, 1999
---Meeting began at 7:00 p.m. All present were asked to sign the attendance sheet. Twenty-seven persons signed in. The recording secretary keeps all attendance sheets on file.
--Secretary’s Report: Meeting minutes from the last executive board meeting were e-mailed to those individuals whose addresses we have. Hard copies were available at this meeting for anyone wishing them. Minutes will continue to be distributed electronically to members, et al, unless someone requests to be removed from the electronic mailing list. Barbara requested volunteers to take minutes starting in April or May, when she will need to take a maternity leave of several months. One person stated he would help out.
--Treasurer’s Report: The account held $595.52 since the last meeting. Minus expenses reimbursed left $565.79, plus $20.00 in new membership dues =total of $585.79.
--Guest Presentation: The meeting began with comments by Kathy McMenimen, Councilor-at-Large. She has been receiving copies of our minutes and is interested in our organization. She spoke briefly to the membership to congratulate us and encourage us to work together. She also encouraged the membership to notify the city of things we like or are concerned about. She is available to assist the organization in obtaining speakers, and has invited representatives to appear on her cable TV program.
Opening Comments and Presidents Report: Stephen Rourke, President:
A thank you to Adrian W. for all the free printing he has so generously provided the organization, to Carol W., her daughter and grandson for distributing notices in the neighborhood, and to Jim V. D. for putting the newsletter together.
The INA is organized in the following manner. The Executive Board meets monthly. Meetings are open to the membership. Times and dates of the meetings are, and will be, listed in the newsletter. There are currently three very active committees: Zoning/Land Use, Cove and Grove, and Membership. The Historical Committee is just getting started. Stephen suggested someone assist with the newsletter as an associate editor, so all the work and responsibility does not fall on one person’s shoulders. Things for the INA to work on include establishing contact with the Park and Recreation Dept., establishing a Neighborhood Improvement Group, and involvement in the local schools.
Major Activities for the neighborhood since the first General meeting of the INA include:
-Dan Driscoll, Senior Planner at the MDC, presented to the membership regarding the MDC’s Greenways project in our neighborhood. Dan has stated there will be a public meeting in Feb. or March regarding the Woerd Ave. boat launch. The membership will be notified.
-Capasso Real Estate presented December 16, 1998 at an E-Board meeting regarding the development of the former incinerator site on Rumford Ave. There will be two 2-story office buildings built on the site.
-Individuals developed a grant proposal with the Charles River Watershed Association and submitted it to the Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM) regarding creating a walkway along Cram’s Cove.
-The Woerd Ave. sidewalk is half done. DPW says it will complete the other side in the spring.
-Stephen’s idea for a Neighborhood Improvement Group was well received and supported by the mayor and city councilors.
-The INA has recently become aware of contamination at 74 Rumford Ave. (the Pantos Building). This will be further monitored and followed.
-The Cove and Grove Committee are close to developing an action plan for the river in this area.
-Stephen R. attends meetings of WCONA, which is an organization of neighborhood associations, as our representative.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: All committees had reports to share with the membership. Copies of each report were available for those interested.
--Cove and Grove Committee: Bart Nichols, Chairperson
The purpose of the Cove and Grove Committee is to promote and implement improvements to the coves and MDC park areas along the river, which will lead to a cleaner environment, more open space and a better habitat for island residents, visitors and wildlife. The committee plans to cleanup and maintain the shoreline along Purgatory Cove, clean up Forest Grove Reservation along with the MDC and the City of Newton, and advocate for restoration of the bridge over Purgatory Cove to open it up for recreation and increased water circulation. Attila Klein, a professor from Brandeis University who has studied the river, will attend a future meeting. Joris N. and Lesya S. will be presenting at a future meeting regarding a lakes and pond management conference they attended.
The Spring Clean Up is scheduled for April 10. Don’t forget to sign up! Every effort counts.
--Land Use and Zoning: Lela Chiavaras, Chairperson
The Parker-Hannifin property will need extensive clean up. It will stay as commercial property. The developer plans on renovating the inside and outside of the building, no other changes are planned at this time.
Two sections of the property have "activity use limitations". The committee has copies of the DEM report for those interested. Also, if anyone is knowledgeable and wants to get involved in the committee, please contact Lela (891-6151).
Scott Clary, realtor, spoke to the membership. He stated that the buyer is a group of investors from Westwood. They plan for long term tenants doing research and development or light manufacturing. They would like to improve the appearance of the property via renovations and landscaping. There are still concerns over the 21E issues. They hope to close by the end of April.
Regarding 74 Rumford Ave. (Pantos building) and the City of Waltham Woerd Ave. Dump Site: There are many areas of concern regarding contamination there.
Cautionary statements were made for individuals in the neighborhood to be aware and be involved, not to be blind to issues, but also not to become scared or overwhelmed by them.
--Membership Committee: Adrian Wilkins, Chairperson
Currently there are 71 members in the INA. Ruth LeBlanc has volunteered to keep and update a membership database. Please contact her with any correction and/or changes (642-8820).
A neighborhood block party is planned for late June. The committee will also help support the Cove and Grove committee in their spring clean up in April.
The committee is developing a Welcome Wagon for tenants and property owners.
They are looking for helpers with things like posting flyers, helping with refreshments, or cooking or music, etc. at the block party.
Adrian asks that members talk to neighbors to make them aware of the association, see if they’d like to get involved, or at least join. Please pass on any names of interested people to Adrian (899-4645).
Future Goals of the committee include: developing a database of all addresses of the island, regardless of their membership status, and developing a phone tree. Several individuals volunteered to help with various projects.
PROPOSAL TO AMEND MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:
Proposed changes to the constitution regarding membership were outlined. They are as follows: Establishing three types of membership- Voting, Business, and Associate. Rights of those categories were reviewed, along with a change in the dues structure that corresponds with new membership categories. The geographic area of the island was altered from the way it was originally described in the constitution.
Changes in the By-Laws as related to the changes in the Constitution were also reviewed.
Discussion on the changes followed. The changes are effective February 3, 1999. A motion to accept the changes was made and accepted by the membership, 14 in favor, and 0 against.
NEW BUSINESS:
--Further update on property at 74 Rumford Ave.- The ground behind it is highly contaminated (i.e. it would be dangerous for a child to play there). Steve R. reviewed Hazard Profiles for some the chemicals present on the property. The contamination goes beyond 8 feet below the water table. The source is probably from dial manufacturing there earlier in the century. Steve also reviewed DEP legislation briefly for the membership to better our understanding of the issues. The Licensed Site Professional (LSP) for 74 Rumford presented his findings and recommendations to the Conservation Commission at their meeting 1/28/99. Several INA members were also present at that meeting and voiced their concern, stressing our desire to improve the quality of water in Cram’s Cove, and to get the MDC involved. The Conservation Commission will do a site visit on Sat. 2/6 at 10:00(rain date 2/7 at 1:00). The LSP needs to submit a formal plan to the Commission, and it will hold a public hearing regarding the test results and recommendations. The contamination needs to be addressed within 4 years.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
--Mike Silva and Dean Potter from the Lincoln Heights area of Waltham were present at the meeting. Mike addressed the membership regarding issues their neighborhood has been faced with. He spoke about the Hewlett/Packard property contamination and problems with wetlands being rezoned and maps altered in favor of development there. Their experience in confronting these issues was not good. Mike recommends that we stay focused on the city, especially since it is an election year, and stay involved. He also asked any individual willing to attend a Council meeting (2/22/99 at 8:00 p.m. in City Hall) to show support for their neighborhood and issues they face in dealing with the further development of this property, to please do so. In return, he promised that he and his neighbors would help support us in the future, if and when needed.
ACTION ITEMS:
--Try to develop a list of boat owners who may want to be informed of news regarding the boat launch. One idea was to post notices at the bait shop and at the boat launch itself.
--Have a panel of individuals present to the membership information about the DEP and Brownfields Legislation (e.g. Peter Koutoujian, or other individuals who work for DEP).
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Marriott,
Recording Secretary