Monday, July 8, 2013
Meeting Minutes of
The mission of the
The meeting started at 6:36 p.m.
1. Neighbors introduced themselves.
2. Pat spoke about the Habitat Home Preservation Loan. More
information will be in a flier that will be passed out to every home.
3. Police Officer Duncan talked about the Milwaukee Police Department
bicycle patrol unit. He showed a power point presentation on improving quality
of life issues in the neighborhood. Crime has been very low in the neighborhood
in the last 42 days. He encouraged neighbors to keep up the good work. More
information can be found at the link: http://www.martin-drive.
4. Mike reported on the smells that have been occurring in the
neighborhood over the years. Raymond said the smell of rotten eggs, a natural
gas smell, or a chemical smell has occurred (the strongest in the neighborhood
around Martin Drive and Highland Blvd, although it has been reported as far
West as 46th ST). Mike asked for three things:
1. More people to be involved
on a committee (meets about every other month)
2. A letter from the
Association on a position for clean air and no violations [to be clarified with
Milwaukee Riverkeeper and Midwest Environmental Advocates] --Approved on a
voice vote
3. Neighbors to email their
narrative on how the smell has affected their quality of life toraymond.duncan@gmail.com
The letter from the Association and neighbors will be given to the
proper City Officials when Advanced Waste licenses come up for renewal in about
5 weeks.
5. Bryan said that one of the functions of a non-profit would be
they can accept donations from people. Those people can then itemize their
donation for their deduction when filing income taxes. A non-profit has
charitable purposes. They can have funds to carry out initiatives like funding
for bloom and groom. The bylaws govern the operation of the non-profit. Bryan
said that this can be the funding arm for the organization and does not have to
change how the rest of the Martin Drive Neighborhood Association functions.
Raymond said that the process for approving the bylaws is not written for us to
follow because we are doing something new. Mike asked about:
(2) Qualifications
At least two-thirds of the Board of Directors shall be composed of
residents of the Martin
Drive neighborhood.
Neighbors discussed that the board can include someone from Harley
Davidson, or another group that can help with funding, etc. Community
partnerships are important.
Maggie made a motion to approve the bylaws as
is and to start the paper work on a non-profit; seconded by Betty. Maggie said that we waited long enough and that we should be a
non-profit. Terri said that many of the hard working people are here at the
meeting and it is a good idea. Sharon said that we should give people time to
give changes and work can be done at the September meeting. Bryan said his fear
is that we discuss it at the September meeting and a decision is not made.
Terri said we could agree that it needs to happen then. With no more discussion
a voice vote was done. Mike said a clear process can be made so that neighbors
can ask questions, offer changes, and they can be clear. Bryan said that we can
make changes, but there is no work for the group, because there is no funding.
He said the process begins with the state with approval, then with the federal
government. The process can take 4 months and he hopes that it can be done by
the end of 2013 for those that would like to donate.
Motion passes.
Nominations were opened for the board. Pat nominated Raymond and
Bryan, Raymond nominated Maggie. Sharon asked if the Business and Finance Committee
should all be nominated. Bryan said that this board would be doing fundraising
and would be looking at the bylaws. Maggie declined her nomination. Nominations
were closed. Sharon said acclimation. Nominations approved.
6. Summer Events
A. Vliet Street Community Green
Farmers Market every Sunday 10-2 Raymond said he heard the strawberries were
cheaper than other Farmer's Markets.
B. Annual Rummage Sale July 20 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. Online Registration here (indicate under What you are interested
in doing? "Rummage Sale" http://www.martin-drive.
C. Annual Summer Picnic July 27
Noon to 4 p.m. There will be a meeting Thursday on the picnic --Shirley passed
out a flier.
The meeting ended at 8 p.m. The
next meeting is tentatively planned for Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Washington Park Senior Center 4420 W Vliet.