COMMUNITY BENEFITS COMMITTEE MEETING
November 15, 2023
MINUTES
1. Reported that the request to accept a $750k gift from a developer will be on December 4th Membership meeting agenda (7pm at The Daily).
2. The 501C4 sub-committee is working on regaining our 501C4 status (Des Rohan has submitted the necessary paperwork to our attorney and then will send it to the IRS.), reviewing the Center Court draft of a Memorandum of Agreement, developing new and needed procedures for our managing the $750k and developing necessary changes to our By-Laws. The sub-committee is meeting again on 11/29.
3. We again discussed a proposed budget for the $750k.
Our 4th version follows:
-3 yr plan: $250k/yr
-Year 1 Budget Plan
Consultant to provide support for community in dealing with development proposals and actions taken to support the community in ensuring that development aligns with community’s vision for itself.
$100,000/40% Support of Committees of CSHCA and their programs
$40,000/16% Staff for support of actions and activities of CSHCA
$85,000/34% Including new initiatives and programs, such as:
- Organizing communication network to reach all residents, and informing residents of activities in the neighborhood, creating lists of plumbers, electricians, etc.
- Neighborhood discovery program (efforts to help residents find out what’s going on in the neighborhood eg services, opportunities, interesting things
- Greening the neighborhood support for residents seeking to add heat pumps, increasing tree canopy, recycling, etc
- Focusing on business districts (Dot Ave, Columbia Rd, Savin Hill Ave)
-problem properties
-seek funding for property improvement
-organize retail events
-pursue tree plantings, traffic and parking “fixes”
-ensure safety policies
Special projects or actions to be determined by community
$ 25,000/10%
4. Establishing a new CSHCA effort for creating a Vision for the Freeport St/Dorchester Ave/Bay St area (20 acres) in 2024.
5. Encourage CSHCA members to actively/aggressively contact the city (ZBA, BPDA) and voice our positions.
6. Next Community Benefits Committee Meeting: January 18, 2024