General Membership Meeting Minutes – May 6, 2024

President: Bill Walczak
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
Treasurer: Des Rohan
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Number in Attendance: 17 (In-person); 64 (Zoom)

Police Report (Officer Keaney)

  • 4/23, 3:55 PM, a fight among three males on Columbia Road near East Cottage Street. Two against one using a pipe and kicking the man. He received stitches to the head. A 27- and 44-year-old were arrested for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
  • To date there have been only three murders in Boston.
  • Q&A
    • Are there any plans for summer issues?
      • Nothing special.
      • No new programs.
      • A list of hot spots will be used from the prior year for policing.
    • What about motorbike violations and stolen bikes?
      • Certain properties have been investigated yielding 30 bikes.
      • There is a no chase policy, same as last year.
      • If you hear a grind saw in the middle of the night, someone is cutting a bike off a pole. Be sure to secure your bikes indoors if possible.

Administrative Business

  • The minutes from the April General Meeting were approved.
  • Treasurer’s Report: It is unchanged from last month. There is about $23,000 in the bank.
  • Local officials were represented by:
    • Liam from Councilor Fitzgerald’s office
    • Hunter Flamm from Representative Dan Hunt’s office
  • E-Board Elections (Mike Szkolka)
    • There were no nominations from the floor.
    • Two slates of unopposed candidates were voted in.
      • E-Board officers: (President) Bill Walczak, (Vice-President) Eileen Boyle, (Treasurer) Des Rohan, (IT Manager) Taufiq Dhanani, (Corresponding Secretary) Elizabeth Doyle, (Recording Secretary) Doreen Miller
  • Five Independent Members: Juliana Jackson, Marta Carney, Michael Keamy, Donna Blythe-McColgan, Michael Panagako

Planning Projects

  • 243D Savin Hill Avenue Proposal for a Single-family Home
    • James Christopher presented the proposal for single-family with 4,109 square feet of living space, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths, and a swimming pool in the back.
    • The major variance needed is for the 60-foot frontage requirement. The property has zero direct frontage to Savin Hill Avenue, which hinders the main function of providing city services and access of ambulances and fire trucks.
    • All other legal issues with abutters have been settled in land court.
  • Concerns include: 8 of 9 abutters are against this proposal as they feel it is too big. One of the abutters requested that voting members honor the wishes of the direct abutters.The land is listed for sale with a local realtor, which would leave abutters with this “monstrosity” if approved.The below grade “storage” rooms have ceiling heights of about 9 feet, with plenty of windows and a half bath, which lead some members to think they could easily be used for bedrooms. If they were truly for storage, then the windows are not necessary. Since they could easily be converted, some feel this space should be added to the total square footage of living area.A steeply sloped hill and a full-sized pool out back leave little to no room for trees, shrubs or other green landscaping. Some residents are concerned that the layout of 4 bedrooms, each with its own full bathroom, lends itself to being used as an Air BnB or rooming house.
    • The vote on this proposal opposed the project:
      • Support: 28
      • Oppose: 40
      • Abstain: 2
  • Roof Deck at 175 Savin Hill Avenue
    • Plans for a 20’x24’ roof deck at the rear of the triple decker were presented.
    • Access to the deck is from the Unit 3 condo only via a spiral staircase.
    • It will be visible to the residents on Denny Street.
    • Concerns include:
      • Parties and noise potential – they must abide by city ordinances.
      • Privacy concerns – bamboo screening can be used.
      • The HOA currently opposes the deck.
      • The variances include side and front yard setback.
    • The vote on this proposal supported the project:
      • Support: 30
      • Oppose: 24
      • Abstain: 2
      • Invalid: 1

Proposed By-Law Changes (Don Walsh)

  • Don presented the By-Law Changes and reasons for them.
    • Reasons
      • There is a $750,000 donation from Center Court incoming.
      • We need to rewrite our By-Laws to be able to effectively manage this and any other future large donations.
    • Changes include:
      • Before someone can run for an officer position, s/he must be active for one year prior to running.
      • Expenditures of $1,000 or less will not need membership approval and a check can be issued with the signatures of two E-Board officers. Anything over $1,000 needs membership approval.
      • Committees must prepare and submit their annual budget by November for the following year for membership approval in January.
  • Concerns include:
    • Some members feel that up to $1,000 is a lot of money that can be spent without membership approval.
    • Money coming into the association technically belongs to the members who live in that area and any major expenditures should need membership approval.
    • The $50 of emergency expenditures without membership approval in the current by-laws could be revisited.
    • It was suggested that the up to $1,000 unapproved by members spending component of the proposed by-law changes be voted on separately from the other changes as it is a contentious issue and would lead many to vote against the changes if included in one vote.

Safety Committee (Jennifer Deabler)

  • The chairs met with ISD, Councilor Fitzgerald and Senator Nick Collins at Walgreens.
    • ISD is aware of the issues.
    • People are encouraged to call 311 for rat and trash issues.
    • Call 911 for safety related issues.
  • The next meeting is Thursday, May 16, 7 PM on Zoom. Sargent Golden and someone from Councilor Fitzgerald’s office will attend.
  • The focus will be on preparing for typical summer issues.
  • They have received word that money for the Basketball and court renovations will be included in next year’s budget.

Beautification Committee (Elizabeth Doyle)

  • The Plant and Bake Sale will take place on Saturday, May 18, at Cristo Rey from 9 AM – 12 PM, with a rain date of Sunday, May 19.
    • Some plants will be purchased and others donated from local merchants.
    • Some local merchants are also donating coffee and baked goods.
    • There will be a plant swap section of free plants from local residents.
    • There will be coffee and raffles as well.
    • Last year we made a profit of $500.
    • Be sure to stop by and support this effort by making a purchase.
    • If you wish to donate a plant or baked good, or to help out in any way, contact Elizabeth Doyle at betdoy@hotmail.com

Events Committee

  • Dorchester Day Parade, Sunday, June 2 (Michelle Miller)
    • Jake has offered to drive his convertible that can seat three other passengers.
    • We also need volunteers to walk with the banner and hand out candy and informational flyers. If you are interested in representing CSHCA in the parade, contact Michelle Miller at ma31brammer@yahoo.com
    • A request for up to $500 to cover the costs of materials, printing flyers, and purchasing candy was voted on to support the funds:
      • Support: 10
      • Oppose: 3 (zoom) + 1 (IP) = 4
      • Abstain: 0
  • 2nd Annual Beach Clean-up, Sunday, June 9, 9 AM-12 PM (Katrina Martin)
    •  Sponsored by Surfrider and the Urban Harbor Institute at UMB
    • Meet at the tent by the parking lot on Morrissey near the bathhouse.
    • Some tools will be provided.

Government Affairs Committee (Marta Carney reporting for Jake)

  • The Morrissey Commission has held 3 out of 4 meetings thus far. However, many feel we are not 75% of the way through the planning.
  • Some coordination between state and city is happening.
  • Many are hopeful to reclaim this roadway as a local parkway, getting rid of the current superhighway.
  • More in-depth discussion is needed among local residents to review the various options presented, so a “3.5 Meeting” is being planned by Councilor Fitzgerald, details TBA.
  • Disappointments include:
    • There were no real updates on plans for K-Circle and the Beades Bridge.
    • Discussion is needed on potential overall negative and positive impacts.
    • The comprehensive planning aspect that includes major development and increase in population density of the greater area continues to go unaddressed.
    • Other serious issues such as water contamination, air and noise pollution are still unresolved.
    • Plans show a view of the raised roadway and berm structures from above, hiding a view of the real height effects when looking across at ground level.

 Other Business

  • On Thursday, May 23, from 9:30 AM-10:30 AM, there will be a coffee hour with Mayor Wu at McConnell Park.
  • One member requested a future discussion about addressing highway noise and what can be done to mitigate it.
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