General Membership Meeting Minutes – October 6, 2025

President: Bill Walczak
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth Doyle
Treasurer: Michelle Miller
Assistant Treasurer: Des Rohan
Recording Secretary/Minutes: Doreen Miller

Number in attendance: ~25 (in person); 40 (zoom)

A Moment of Silence was observed to honor the late Paul McLaughlin, DA focusing on gang problems, murdered 30 years ago and after whom the Boys and Girls Club building was dedicated.

Marty Walsh was unable to make the meeting due to a last-minute hockey-related trip to Toronto. He hopes to speak at the January meeting.

Police Report

  • Car meet-ups, which can turn violent, have been a problem this past summer.
    • 40-50 cars gather and have been spotted at 725 Morrissey Boulevard.
    • If you see this happening, call it in.
  • A dedicated traffic car has been put on the day shift.
  • The Savin Hill Convenience Store robberies
    • This store was robbed twice over the last few weeks.
    • Three arrests have been made of juveniles.
  • C-11 Year-to-date Crime statistics comparing ‘24 to ’25 (Captain Sweeney)
    • Homicides                   7 (‘24) >> 3 (‘25)
    • Rape                            15 (‘24) >> 11 (‘25)
    • Robberies                    93 (‘24) >> 90 (‘25)
    • Assaults                      174 (’24) >> 153 (’25)
    • Commercial burglaries 41 (’24) >> 39 (’25)
    • Residential burglaries 63 (’24) >> 61 (’25)
    • Motor vehicle crimes  247 (’24) >> 165 (’25)
    • Shop lifting                   752 (’24) >> 739 (’25)
  • Construction along Savin Hill Avenue – they will look into parking issues along Grampian Way.
  • Incident Updates (Officer Keaney)
    • 09/09, 7:45 AM, 9 Grant Street, an unlocked car was reported broken into, nothing taken, but a 34-year-old male from Fall River found sleeping in the back seat was arrested. He had 4 MA warrants out for his arrest.
    • 09/25, 8:50 AM, KFC on Columbia Road, a 47-year-old male was arrested for indecent exposure.
    • 09/27, 9:52 AM, 5 teens robbed the Savin Hill Market. Three of them returned a few days later and were arrested. Ages were 13, 14, and 15.
    • 09/29, Around 1  AM, a car was stopped for speeding at Dorchester Avenue and Hallam Street.  There were several warrants out for his arrest. A hatchet and chemical firearm were found in the vehicle. The driver had a suspended license and had committed 4 other crimes. He was subsequently arrested.
  • Halloween
    • There will be extra police patrols on Halloween this year.
    • 15 streets in C-11, including Melville Avenue, have been approved for closure. Allegedly, Savin Hill is on the list for approval.
    • Members have requested that Savin Hill OTB be closed down at Old Colony and the bridge at 5:30 PM for the safety of the over 1,000 -2,000 people who come here to trick or treat.
  • Members expressed their thanks to the officers at C-11 who have worked hard to keep our summer safe and tolerable.

Administrative Business

  • The September meeting minutes were approved.
  • There were no updates on the treasury report.
  • Members approved $250 to spend on dinner and donuts appreciation for C-11 officers.

Cathy Baker-Eclipse, Interim Parks Commissioner, Updates

  • She has been in this role since June 2025.
  • She worked on the McConnell Park design and other projects across the city.
  • Savin Hill Courts Renovation
    • Money for the design of the Savin Hill Courts renovation has been secured.
    • Requests for designs will be sent out in 2026.
    • There will be three community meetings with a focus on: 
      • The condition of the courts
      • Accessibility Issues
      • Replacing the two large oaks that were taken down due to being 80% dead.
        • Decisions about tree replacement will take place during the construction phase.
        • The city looks to diversify types of trees to avoid blight and other disease issues.
        • Replacing and maintaining the tree canopy is a priority at street level.
      • As Savin Hill is a known Native American site with possible burials, an archaeological component will be part of the reconstruction.
  • Incident of child being hit by a car at the McConnell Park raised table area this summer
    • They are looking at ways to slow down the cars traveling through the area.
    • A speed bump has been added just before the raised table heading out of the park.
    • They hope to add solar powered flashing signs to alert drivers to pedestrians using the area.
    • They have locked the gate on the baseball field side of the playground.
    • Member Comments and Suggestions include:
      • The roadway is not clearly delineated, and people using the area are unaware that cars travel through there.
      • It is a very busy area used by pedestrians and cars alike making for an unsafe and dangerous situation.
      • The pedestrian area/raised table should be a markedly different color.
      • There should be signage indicating children playing in the area.
      • There needs to be a stop line added by the stop sign at the end of Playstead Road.
      • Add a guard rail or some sort of barrier along the raised table to separate people from the cars and to delineate where cars travel through.
      • Make the raised table drive through out of cobble stone to slow cars.
      • Many of the painted crosswalks have faded and should be replaced with thermoplastic stripes, which last longer.
  • Members would like to see a splash pad feature added to the park.
    • Cathy Baker-Eclipse claims it would be logistically difficult as many utilities are needed.
    • Members feel the large grass area beside the playground could support such a feature.
  • The new trees are small, and the area gets really hot in the summer. Perhaps the city can add some kind of temporary screening to provide more shade.
  • There is a water pipe sticking out along the DCR walkway by the playground that used to have a fountain. Was this forgotten in the reconstruction? Could the city coordinate with DCR to get this fountain replaced?
  • A Dog Park?
    • Neighbors are concerned that dogs run free in the ball fields, leading to unsanitary conditions.
    • There are no current plans for a dog park.
    • Members see the Eversource construction area along Springdale Street a good possibility.
      • Springdale is a private way partly owned by the abutters.
      • It would need to be negotiated with them.
    • Perhaps the city could speak with DCR in proposing an area for a dog park.
  • Bill Walczak suggested CSHCA form a Parks Committee
    • As a way to interact with the Parks Department and stay on top of park-related issues.

Rep. Dan Hunt Updates

  • City and state are facing financial difficulties with reduced income due to lower commercial property values and a reduction in research money.
  • The MA legislature just passed a stop gap measure for local health centers for the rest of 2025.
  • The rainy-day fund is healthy and there to fill gaps.
  • They secured $20 million for a new Boys and Girls Club facility at Harbor Point.
  • They approved 100% disability retirement for Patricia Lampron until she reaches the age of 65, when it will drop to 80% of her current salary.
  • Don Walsh will touch base with Dan Hunt on
    • The 10,000 new housing units planned for this area
    • The proposed Northeast Dorchester Planning District
    • Getting the state involved more with K-Circle and Morrissey Boulevard plans
  • Graffiti at Savin Hill
    • A site visit was done 18 months ago.
    • They have proposed putting up a mural.
  • JFK Station Renovation
    • The state missed the deadline on federal funding for the JFK station although $2 million has been dedicated to the renovation.
    • JFK as a major interchange between Crescent Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard needs to be impressed upon as a main issue to the T managers.
    • Ideas include installing escalators to access both sides.
  • Eversource Energy Rate Increases on the Horizon
    • The DPU missed out on mitigating them.
    • Healey has introduced a stopgap measure on Mass Save delimiting heat pump reimbursements.
    • The legislature has on their radar discussion of programs that would limit, delimit, or expire.

City Hall Updates

  • The Carney Hospital Property
    • Ideas for potential usage are moving forward.
    • A health care component is acknowledged as being needed for this area. What that entails remains to be seen.
    • Starting with the Lower Mills civic association, the city will be stopping by to update residents.
    • Councilor Fitzgerald will continue to monitor the situation.
  • Speed Humps and Crosswalks
    • Bill Walczak received a plan from Madison Foley for 47 speed humps for Savin Hill OTB and a few streets on the other side.
    • CSHCA needs to review and discuss the placement and number as we feel that 47 are too many.
    • Madison Foley clarified that the humps circled on the plan submitted are the ones actually planned and that the others are “just ideas.”
    • Heidi Moesinger is willing to post the plan to the CSHCA website if Bill sends her the PDF.
    • The city wants to hear our input, and we promise to keep Councilor Fitzgerald in the loop.
    • Bill is also concerned about a speedhump plan for the rest of the CSHCA area. The city claims it is evaluating every area for which types of traffic calming measures work best.
  • Q&A with Councilor Fitzgerald
    • Mayor Wu is looking to override Proposition 2.5, a state-wide law.
      • We cannot tolerate more exorbitant tax increases.
      • Many retired people are already strapped and will be forced out of their homes.
      • People are upset with the large increases in property assessments and taxes. Some have seen their bills go up by as much as 47%.
      • Councilor Fitzgerald is adamant that we do not want things to change.
    • Are there any updates on the siting of a Recovery Campus?
      • This is a state-wide issue, and no list of locations has yet been established.
      • The siting of any facilities will be the last step.
    • There has recently been an increase in air traffic directly over Savin Hill and homes here, leading to increase noise pollution.
      • The airport is undergoing some kind of construction, which should be finished by the end of November.
      • Why were residents not notified of the change in air flight patterns?
      • Councilor Fitzgerald will find out the status of the construction and get back to us on when things will return to normal.

Committee Reports

  • Planning Committee
    • Last month Murphy Funeral Home presented its plans for 1028-1032 Dorchester Ave. Residents on Belfort Street were concerned about access to the site.
    • At the October 14 meeting there will be two votes:
      • 78 Harborview Street for a curbcut
      • 5 Savin Hill Lane – to raze a single family and construct 4 townhouses.
    • 1199 Dorchester Avenue plan for retail and office space will be forthcoming.
  • Community Benefits Meeting (CBC)
    • The idea for a Northeast Dorchester Planning District is moving forward.
    • This Thursday Don expects a phone call to discuss the allocation of the $750,000 donation from Copper Mill.
    • The next CBC meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 7 PM, Savin Hill Yacht Club on Morrissey, to discuss comprehensive planning and the $750,000 donation.
  • Events Committee
    • There are no current updates.
    • The money for the Kids’ Halloween Parade (10/18) has already been approved as part of the Events Committee budget. Meghann Ellis from the Mothers’ Group thanks CSHCA for its generosity.
  • Beautification Committee
    • The Bulb Sale will take place at the Halloween Parade at Savin Hill Park on October 18.
  • CSHCA Door Hangers
    • Julianne brought a spreadsheet for people to sign up to flyer certain streets.
    • Consider volunteering.

Other Business

  • The Whitey Bulger Poster
    • Donna Blythe-McColgan spoke with Driscoll, the owner of Savin Bar and Kitchen, about removing the repulsive poster on Whitey Bulger from his restaurant.She described him as being “belligerent, arrogant, sexist, and condescending.”He refuses to listen to residents and claims that “Bulger is our history.”We cannot allow for the glorification of a mobster who has so negatively impacted many lives in Savin Hill.A motion was made and approved to create an electronic petition for members to sign asking for the removal of the offending poster that would be sent to the owner.
      • It would be presented to the E-Board for final discussion before being presented to members at the November meeting for final approval, after which it would be sent out to members to sign.It would be the first step in addressing this issue as a community.E-board will discuss the practical implementation thereof and have it ready for the November meeting.
    • One member suggested writing the Gordon Ramsey Show to educate him and express our concern about this issue.
  • Nomination of Local Businesses for City recognition – We should consider which local businesses we would like to nominate.