Seward Neighborhood Group (SNG)
BOARD MEMBER STEPS DOWN: Board member Heidi Peters is leaving the board following the birth of her child. With Peters’ resignation, the board of directors now had 13 members, according SNG board president, Jean Johnstad. A quorum now consists of seven board members.
HISTORIC MILWAUKEE AVENUE HOME TOUR: Bonnie McDonald, director of Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) gave a presentation on the Historic Milwaukee Avenue Home Tour, both to inform board members about the event and also, to find out if the board wanted to continue as a partner in the project. McDonald told the board that SNG Executive Director Lori Stone had committed to the project back in June. As part of the co-sponsorship Stone had agreed that SNG would share half of the proceeds of the tour with PAM. PAM is the fiscal agent (organizing agency) for the home tour. The tour has the potential of netting some $3,000 for each organization, McDonald said at the meeting.
Since the announcement of Stone’s resignation from SNG, McDonald said PAM had received less and less response from SNG’s staff, with regards to the partnership. At the meeting McDonald presented the board with a formal contract that stipulated SNG’s organizational responsibilities, were they to formally agree to the partnership.
The contract would require SNG provide at least 14 volunteers on the day of the home tour (Sept. 23) to assist in staffing the homes. Among other things, the contract would also require that SNG “secure one-half — $1,625 — of the anticipated sponsorship revenue.” Johnstad said the “well [is] kind of dry” at SNG and that it might be difficult for the organization to come up with the sponsorship revenue at this time.
The board motioned to have the SNG executive committee review the contract and sign it, if deemed appropriate, at their next meeting. The board said it would get back to McDonald by Thursday, Aug. 30 with a final decision.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT: Ward 2 Council Member Cam Gordon told board members he hadn’t seen many of them since the I-35W bridge collapsed and said he was glad to see everyone was “safe and sound.” Gordon asked those present about their concerns in the wake of the collapse and said there has been “a lot of pressure to open up [the 10th Aveune bridge] soon.”
At least one board member expressed relief that Gordon had voted against vacating Gove Street on Nicollet Island for part of the proposed DeLaSalle athletic stadium.
In other news, Gordon told board members that in light of the city’s recent problems with MorningStar Coffee, the city’s Environmental Management division is looking at ways of changing their regulatory processes to crack down on businesses that don’t follow up on commitments to the city in a timely manner.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT: SNG Executive Director Lori Stone was not present at the meeting and submitted a written copy of the executive director’s report. As promised, Stone updated the board on the status of all of SNG’s programs.
Board member Dick Westby said Stone was “putting her own opinions” in the program reports when she wrote things such as “the program was less successful this year” and “a change in leadership may be needed.”
“[I] ask the board not to take what is being said here [by Stone] so seriously,” Westby said.
FINANCIAL REPORT: Board member Kevin Brown is taking on the role of treasurer until the end of the year, after Perry Caranicas left the position — and the board — last month.
Brown told board members that a recent letter from the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) showed the organization was “in hot to the city for $135,000.”
Brown said his first question as new treasurer was “how did we get to this point?” He questioned whether it was the result of poor accounting from years ago or whether it was the result of something more sinister.
“I don’t get the sense that there’s pirates looting the ship,” Brown said. “[But] are we leaking at the seams? I’d say ‘yes.’”
Board members told Brown he should “move on” with the accounting for the sake of expediency and not dwell on “finger pointing.”
Brown told the board that three of the four checks he signed last week were for late fees, which he felt was unacceptable. (At this time only Brown and Johnstad have check writing abilities in the organization.)
As for the “NRP snafu,” Brown said if the organization isn’t paying NRP back by the end of the year, it should have a clear plan as to how to get the situation taken care of as quickly as possible.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: The full board approved a motion from the housing and community development committee stating that SNG supports remediation funding for the following sites: Riverside Market, Hopf and Hopf, and Bystrom Brothers.
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: It was reported that a group of individuals is attempting to use the Garbage Transfer Station to burn wood chips to create refuse derived fuel. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is extending the public comment period on the group’s draft permit for three months after the individuals submit a revised draft permit.
A representative from the environment committee said she hopes to get some expert opinions on the matter so her committee can make a recommendation on the subject.
CRIME AND SAFETY COMMITTEE REPORT: Crime and safety did not meet this month. Westby said their next meeting would be Monday, Sept. 10.
KING’S FAIR PLANNING: The board discussed how it should be represented at King’s Fair next month. Westby wanted board members to sign-up to work at an SNG table. Other board members said that specific arrangements could be made closer to the event and at this point, the board could just plan on having a table. There was also talk of combining the SNG table with a neighborhood archival booth and the Historic Milwaukee Avenue Home Tour booth, if the board agrees to co-sponsor the tour.
Next meeting: Wednesday, Sept. 26
7 p.m.; call for location
Contact:
Seward Neighborhood Group
2323 Franklin Ave. E
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-338-6205
last revised: September 6, 2007