Co-Chairs: Cacilda Teixeira and Jean Doherty
Minutes: Doreen Miller
In attendance: 6 total
Idea for Engagement
A combination little library and announcement board in select parks in the CSHCA district.
- Stewards would be responsible for maintaining the boards for relevant postings and maintenance checks. This could potentially be stipend-paid position.
- Heidi will gather information regarding:
- Rules and regulations and possible permits from the Parks Department
- Costs
- The possibility of a pre-existing mini-library program in the Parks Department
The Engagement Committee webpage
Cacilda shared her mock-up of the Engagement Committees webpage. Ideas include:
- Displaying credited photos from local residents along the top to be changed monthly.
- Three categories: Mission / Vision / Details
- Ideas for various pages:
- Resource page – could have a link to one main resource on the main CSHCA page – Note: The resources on the main page need to be updated.
- Events page
- Updates page (news, etc.)
Goals for the Summer
- Build out the Engagement Committee webpage on the CSHCA site.
- Come up with community activities to get young people involved, i.e. a street fair, and determine funding sources for them.
McConnell Park Demolition Concerns
- There is a need for signs at the actual site to alert people as to timelines, access routes, and the closing of the playground. Mike will contact Cathy Baker, the project manager and will request that:
- On-site signage be posted.
- Workers park in the DYC lot.
- The question arose about the fate of the mature trees and whether there were plans to remove them.
- Mike will clarify with Cathy Baker as to which trees are slated to be saved/removed/replaced.
- Jeannie will troll the social media sites for questions and concerns about the project to o
- Determine and prioritize top themes/concerns, and
- Forward them to Mike to share with Cathy Baker, the project manager.
Hot Topic: Community Benefits Money
- Questions
- How much is available?
- When is the money available?
- What is the process of applying for money?
- The co-chairs are advised to connect with Don Walsh, who is heading up the CSHCA Benefits Committee with their questions.
- Understanding of the process
- IAG (Impact Advisory Groups)/ CAC (Community Advisory Councils) are formed – one can apply to be on one.
- The IAG/CAC ‘s make recommendations to the city and state based on data they collect from things like surveys, community meetings, etc.
- The city and state make the final decision as to how the money is allocated and spent.
- Problems with the process
- Some groups get shut out of the process – a lack of equity and inclusion – resulting in a lack of communication of the broader local needs and poor civic engagement between city officials and community stakeholders.
- The IAG and CACs have no real decision-making power and can only make “recommendations.”
- The rules are confusing and messy, and are not always followed.
- Misuse of Community Benefits money on projects that should be financed via other means:
- $10 million to improve K-Circle to accommodate the Dorchester Bay City development – infrastructure upgrades should be part of the overall development cost, not taken out of the community benefits funds.
- Improving JFK station – that money should be taken from the MBTA maintenance fund.
- Too much money is being wasted on superfluous studies for more simple maintenance type projects.
Billboards – the proposal for a digital billboard at Boston Bowl
- A letter from CSHCA was sent out in opposition.
- Many community members sent personal letters of opposition.
- Several reps spoke out against the billboard conversion at the hearing on May 13.
- A decision is generally made within 2 weeks of a hearing.
New Co-Chairs
Cacilda Teixeira and Jeannie were voted in as the new Co-chairs of the Engagement Committee. This position includes serving on the Executive Board.
Action Items
- Cacilda will share her drafted slide for the Engagement Committee webpage and work with the new IT manager, David Zinland.
- Cacilda will send out a Google Forms to determine the best permanent committee meeting time.
- Jeannie will mine social media sites for overarching questions and concerns about the McConnell renovation construction site and forward them to Mike Szkolka.
- Heidi will look into the costs, rules, and feasibility of the announcement boards/mini libraries.
- Heidi will email the new chairs the login and zoom information.
- A WordPress training will be scheduled with David to train Heidi and Taufiq so that they can make relevant updates to the webpages.