General Membership Meeting – June 2, 2025

President: Bill Walczak
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
Treasurer: Michelle Miller
Asst. Treasurer: Des Rohan
IT Manager: Taufiq Dhanani
Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth Doyle
Recording Secretary/Minutes: Doreen Miller
Number in attendance: ~25 (in-person); 28 (Zoom)

Announcements

  • This is the last general membership meeting for the fiscal year. Membership meetings will start up again on September 8. The Executive Board and committees will continue to meet over the summer to stay abreast of issues.
  • The forum to meet mayoral candidate Josh Kraft is Monday, June 9, 6:45 – 8:30 PM at the Boys and Girls Club, 4th floor. It will be a hybrid meeting. Try to attend in person.
  • The forum to meet city council candidates is on June 16. Details will be sent out to membership.
  • CSHCA is looking to form a Merchant Association for local businesses. A notice will be sent out to local business owners to gauge interest.
  • Residents in Savin Hill have expressed interest in having a dog park. Eversource has denied this request for the area along Springdale Street, stating that it would not be properly taken care of. CSHCA will reach out to dog owners to see if they wish to form a group to pressure the city for a dog park.

Police Report (Capt. Sweeney, Officer Keaney)

  • Captain Sweeney introduced officers on the Community Action Team, who will be focusing on problem hot spots in our area.
  • Overall crime in our district is down 4% from this time last year.
    • Homicides: 1 (2024) >> 1 (2025)
    • Rapes/attempted rapes: 1 (2024) >> 5 (2025)
    • Robberies: 54 (2024) >> 48 (2025)
    • Domestic assaults: 62 (2024) >> 62 (2025)
    • Non-domestic assaults: 74 (2024) >> 71 (2025)
    • Breaking and Entering: 24 (2024) >> 25 (2025)
    • Shoplifting: 388 (2024) >> 400 (2025)
      • Some arrests have been made.
      • The 5-year average is 265, so this crime is up by a lot.
  • Seven new officers are assigned to the night shift to address nighttime issues.
    • They are aware of the drinking and carousing at McConnell at night.
    • Call 911 for any problems.
    • They are also aware of the issues with scooters and motorcycles.
  • Questions and Concerns from Members
    • How shall we address scooters with no license plates? Some are deliveries; some are driving up streets the wrong way or on sidewalks.
      • Do report them.
      • State the location you saw them.
      • It is a city-wide issue. They are working on a plan to corral these guys, many of whom come from New Hampshire.
      • They are a sophisticated group that coordinates to meet up in various places around the city – the Seaport District, Southie, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, etc.
    • What is the white van we see down at McConnell Park?
      • It is a community Interaction van.
      • It is there until 11:45 PM.
    • There was a recent devastating fire at the Dorchester Nurses Registry at 679 Columbia Road near Edward Everett Square. Concerns include:
      • People using the property for drug use
      • The potential for another fire to break out
        • The situation is being monitored, and several drug-related arrests have been made in the past few days.
        • Kristine Hoag will again reach out to the developer, James Christopher, to see what is being done. There has been talk of financial problems with the property.
        • Kristine will contact Councilor Fitzgerald to have it knocked down as it is unsalvageable and dangerous.
  • Local Updates from Officer Keaney
    • May 7, 12:25 PM, 29 Pleasant Street. A car accident occurred. There were no injuries. A woman from Plymouth was driving and in possession of heroin. She was arrested for driving under the influence.
    • May 25, 3:20 PM, 1 Carson Street. There was a stabbing of a 36-year-old man in the back of his right leg. Officers applied a tourniquet and saved his life. He was uncooperative in giving out any details of the attack.
    • June 1, in the afternoon while police were blocking off streets for the parade, a 29-year-old woman pulled out of a side street and was passing cars on the wrong side. She was eventually pulled over on 781 Columbia Road and issued 5 auto violations.
    • June d2, 5:08 AM, between Dorchester Ave. and Pleasant Street, 4 individuals were trying the door of cars. A car at 17 Savin Hill Avenue has a purse stolen from the vehicle. They were gone before police arrived. Never leave anything of value in your car.

Administrative Business

  • The May meeting minutes were approved.
  • Des Rohan will send Doreen Miller the treasurer’s report to include in the minutes.

Updates on the Pleasant Street Reconstruction (Kyle Bettencourt)

  • Work between Heston and East Cottage Streets should continue until November or December.
  • They are currently working on the Victoria and Taft intersections.
  • There is staging near East Cottage Park.
  • Plans include:
    • Redesigning several intersections
    • Putting in new sidewalks
    • Installing 3-4 raised crosswalks
    • Bumping out sidewalks on side streets
    • Adding new drainage to improve water flow and prevent puddling
    • Putting in new lighting on existing poles
    • Adding green space but no added trees
  • The Blue Bikes have been relocated to Dorchester Avenue by Edison Green. Contact the City of Boston for the location of Blue Bikes.
  • More information about the plans can be found at the city website.
  • Bill Walczak will send out Kyle’s contact information for people to reach out with further questions.

UMass Boston OLLI Program (Molly Murphy)

  • UMass Boston’s OLLI program is for adults 50 and older.
  • There are different membership levels.
  • Depending on your membership level, you can participate in special courses, talks, social activities, special interest groups, and travel opportunities.
  • Membership opens in July. Consider joining.
  • There are some free summer programs for non-members to try out the program.
  • More information can be found on their website.

Planning Committee Updates (Kristine Hoag)

  • The next meeting is June 17 at 7 PM on Zoom.
  • Two projects are returning looking for a vote.
    • 19 Midland Street has made changes to their initial plans.
    • 29-33 Romsey Street has made changes to their plans
      • It will consist of two buildings.
      • It will have 22 rental units: one studio apartment and the other 2-bedroom apartments.
      • The BPDA comment period for this project runs until the end of June.
  • 51 Moseley Street is completed. Information can be found on the agenda for this meeting. They hope to return for a July vote to complete the community process.
  • 1154-1156 Dorchester Avenue – it is unclear what is happening there.
    • It was originally approved for 20 units.
    • It now seems King Dough is moving into the location.
    • Kristine will reach out to see if they will attend the June 17 meeting for updates.
  • Kristine will reach out for information about the burned-out property at 679 Columbia Road.
  • Dot Block’s phase two along Hancock Street has been approved for multi-unit all affordable housing funded by the city.
  • At the last report, Dot Block is currently 60% occupied.
  • Question and Concern from Members

There is an electric EV charging post that has been installed on the sidewalk on Savin Hill Avenue across from the Playstead Road Intersection.

  • This was done with zero community notice or input.
    • It is a bad location as this section of Savin Hill Avenue is narrow and busy.
    • Liam from Councilor Fitzgerald’s office will look into it.

Liboa Café Update (Raquel Semedo, owner)

  • A new café will be opening up on the corner of Elton Street and Dorchester Avenue, where Theo’s Pizza used to be.
  • It is currently under construction, which may take 4-5 months.
  • It will be a Portuguese fine dining café with a relaxing atmosphere and a mini market that will offer a variety of Portuguese cuisine and specialties.
  • They will feature live, Portuguese music and hope to have a bar in the middle pending a liquor license.
  • Hours of operation will be
    • Monday – Wednesday: 7 AM – 9 PM
    • Thursday – Saturday: 7 AM – 10 PM
    • Sunday: 8 AM – 8 PM
  • You can learn more about this new establishment in the Dorchester Reporter article.     

Community Benefits Committee (CBC) (Don Walsh)

  • CBC submitted to the BPDA a list of six general uses for the $750,000 donation from Copper Mill.
  • The spending of the money needs to be approved by the BPDA.
  • The BPDA is OK with 4 of the 6 proposed uses.
    • They are OK with hiring a staff person.
    • They did not like the hiring of consultants and professionals as it would be costly and not a good use of the money to benefit the community.
    • The CBC will discuss this further.
  • The approval of the two 18-story towers on Morrissey should take place by the end of the summer, at which time the donation can proceed.
  • Our goals are:
    • Improving Dorchester Avenue with a kind of Main Streets program
    • Improving communication with our residents
    • Looking for ways to bring people together and foster community
    • Installing bulletin boards in key locations to post notifications and events

Events Committee Updates (Alix Giannetti)

  • The Dorchester Day Parade was great.
    • We gave out free swag in the form of stickers, frisbees, candy, and balloons.
    • CSHCA informational flyers were also handed out to interested people.
  • The Summer Events flyer was shared on screen with membership.
    • Surfrider Beach and Shores Clean-up, Saturday, June 7, 10 AM – 1 PM.Meet at the Malibu parking lot on Morrissey, rain or shine.
      • Trash is inventoried under the tent for research purposes.
      • Bring gloves.
    • Art in the Park, Sunday, June 29, 2- 4 PM (rain date Sunday, July 6) at Savin Hill Park on Grampian Way.
      • There will be various, exciting art and craft activities for all ages, 1-101. Come, have fun, and discover your inner artist!
      • Local artists James Hobin and Janet Lynch will be guiding art activities.
      • Katy Sullivan from the Boys and Girls Club will offer various art and craft activities.
      • Annissa from the Stitch House will have different types of knitting activities.
      • We are still awaiting confirmation from Dot Art and another artist.
    • Walking Tour, July 12, 10 AM,Meet at the Blake House
      • Earl Taylor of the Dorchester Historical Society will give a historic walking tour of homes along Pleasant Street.
      • Participants will start with a tour of the Blake House.
    • CSHCA Community Picnic, Saturday, August 23, noon to 4 PM at Patten’s Cove.
      • Rain location TBD.
      • We are looking for volunteers to help out with this large event.
      • Join us for a planning meeting this Wednesday, June 4, 7 PM on Zoom.
    • The Neighborhood Yard Sale and Pleasant Street Block Party, Saturday, September 6
      • The yard sale is from 9 AM to 2 PM with a rain date of Saturday, September 13.
      • The Block party is from noon to 6.
  • Follow the Events Committee on Instagram.

Safety Committee (Marta Carney)

  • A lot is happening behind the scenes to head of summer problems.
  • A police presence is more visible in problem areas.
  • As situations arise, a summer meeting can be scheduled as necessary.
  • If there is a problem, be sure to call 911 to report it.
  • If you have any safety concerns, reach out to Marta.
  • Marta will reach out to the state police to get updates on how they intend to address summer problems
  • Comments and Concerns
    • There has been concern about people hanging signs from the Savin Hill overpass/bridge.
      • You are not allowed to hang signs as they are distracting and dangerous if they fall onto traffic below.
      • You can stand and hold signs but not hang them.
    • There is the question of whose purview the bridge comes under. Brian Hurley from Senator Collins office will look into this.
    • A member requested the orange detour signs for the Dorchester Avenue Bridge still posted near the Columbia Road intersection be removed.  Brian will facilitate this.
    • Brian Hurley from Senator Collin’s office informed us that
      • Senator Collins was instrumental in getting $3.5 million for the jail diversion program
      • There is a public hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, June 3, for S 1042, an act for life-saving treatment in having a plan in place before discharge in overdose cases.

Government Affairs Committee (GAC)

  • The Glover’s Corner Vision
    • There are about 15 acres of developable land.
    • The GAC is putting together ideas for development and design for 3-deckers with a new park and green space.
    • We do not want more high-density “Dot Blocks” in our area as we lack sufficient infrastructure to support more density and added traffic on our already busy and clogged streets.
    • Former Chair Jake requested the city sit down with CSHCA for a vision session for this area, but they have not responded.
    • The problem is this area is owned by private developers, not the city.
      • We should reach out to the developers to negotiate a reasonable and workable plan for this area.
      • There is a reason we have Zoning in our city.
    • The GAC’s vision will be presented and discussed in September.

Other Business

  • Beach Concerns
    • There is a lack of maintenance in attending to emptying the barrels.
    • Graffiti is showing up on structures.
    • The bathhouse is open but unstaffed, making it potentially unsafe for use.
    • Brian Hurley will look into the beach and staffing issues.
    • Can we get a portapotty by the beach house for after-hour usage?
  • Beautification Committee’s Plant and Bake Sale     
    • Thanks for everyone who helped out and contributed.
    • They made a small profit of about $100.
  • Speak for the Trees Fundraiser, June 11, 5:30-8 PM at Southline
    • Tickets are $75 each.
    • To register and for more information go to this link.

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