Boylan Heights Association Meeting
February 27, 2007
Minutes Prepared by Evelyn M. Fahy, on behalf of Jeff Mason, Secretary

Meeting Attendees:  Jeff Mason, Evelyn M. Fahy, Mark Johnson, Leslie Kellenberger, Officer Mike Keon, Ray Lanier, Sgt. Benny Myatt, Chris Weedy

The meeting was called to order by the Secretary, Jeff Mason, Tuesday, February 27, 2007, at 7:10 PM.

I.  Special Guests:  Sergeant Benny Myatt and Officer Mike Keon, Raleigh Police Department

 

Sergeant Myatt and Officer Keon provided an update on crime and crime prevention in or near Boylan Heights.

• Officer Keon is the beat officer in Boylan Heights.  He works 12 hour shifts, from either 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• A male with a prison record was recently arrested.  This person was responsible for a number of vehicle break-ins where toolboxes were targeted.
• The vandalism that occurred on McCulloch Street remains unsolved.
• An arrest was made in Maryland of the person responsible for a break-in to a top level apartment at 609 S. Boylan Avenue.  He was responsible for a separate break-in on N. Boylan Avenue.
• The area near the intersection of W. South Street and S. Saunders Street has been relatively quiet crime-wise, but the officers expect an increase as the weather becomes warmer.  One contributing factor to crime in the area is the Labor Finders business. Workers who are not selected for a job tend to loiter and wait for other officers, but when they are still not selected, they often drink alcohol and get into fights.  Signs are posted prohibiting loitering in an attempt to reduce this problem.
• 507 S. Saunders Street was recently demolished due to numerous code violations.
• The officers reminded the group that one of the best ways to prevent neighborhood crime is to remove everything from cars, even items of small value; to lock sheds and other outbuildings; and not to answer knocks on the door, particularly late at night.
• The group alerted the officers that panhandlers have been coming to houses at night, as reported on the neighborhood listserv.  The officers said not to answer the door, but if the door is answered, to tell the persons that you will call the police to request assistance for them.  Neighbors should tell the persons at the door that there is a beat officer nearby in the neighborhood so he will be alerted.
• The officers also encouraged neighbors to call 9-1-1 whenever suspicious behavior is observed.  Some neighbors reported that they did not want to tie up 9-1-1 lines from true emergencies. The officers explained that all 9-1-1 calls are prioritized on a scale of 0 – 5, so neighbors should not worry about calling 9-1-1 as the call will be  appropriately prioritized against other calls.

II. Request for Additional Agenda Items

Secretary Jeff Mason requested additional agenda items.  He also added an item to discuss the “pink truck” special trash pickup service offered by the City of Raleigh. No other items were added to the agenda.

III. Review and approval of the January 2007 Minutes – Jeff Mason, Secretary

Motion: Evelyn Fahy moved to adopt the January 2007 minutes.
Second: Leslie Kellenberger
Outcome: Unanimously approved

IV. Finance Report - Leslie Kellenberger, Treasurer

The Treasurer presented an annual report for 2006 and a year-to-date report for 2007.

 

2006 Report

Opening Balance 1/1/2006: $4,770.60

2006 Expenses:  $2,335.19

2006 Revenue:  $4,142.30

Ending Balance 12/31/2006: $6,577.71

 

2007 Year-to-Date Report

Opening Balance 1/1/2007:  $6,577.71

Revenue for January/February 2007: $19.05
Expenses for January/February 2007: $380.00

Ending Balance 2/26/2007:  $6,216.76

Motion: Chris Weedy moved to approve the Treasurer's report.
Second: Ray Lanier
Outcome: Unanimously approved

 

 

 

 

V. New Business

 

• The Boylan Heights Association Centennial Committee is engaged in an oral history project and needs equipment to record interviews with former and current residents of Boylan Heights.
  Motion by Chris Weedy: Authorization for expenditure of up to $500 for the purchase of digital flash recorder equipment, to be owned by the Boylan Heights Association, for use by the Boylan Heights Association Centennial Committee and others.
  Discussion:  Discussion included a request that the Centennial Committee prepare a budget so that the Treasurer and others understand anticipated expenses and revenues for remainder of the year.  Jeff Mason agreed to pass this request onto John Montgomery, Chair of the Centennial Committee, and to Lee Kirby, President of the Boylan Heights Association
  Second:  Evelyn Fahy
  Outcome:  Approved; one abstain
• Bridge Lighting Project:  Jeff Mason introduced a discussion of the Bridge Lighting Project on behalf of Lyman Collins and noted that Lyman is seeking volunteers for a  task force to work with the Raleigh Arts Commission on the project. No meeting attendees immediately volunteered, and some suggested that the request for volunteers be made on the neighborhood listserv and also in the neighborhood newsletter.
• Neighborhood Watch Committee Chair:  The role of Chair is currently vacant.
  Motion by Leslie Kellenberger:  The Boylan Heights Association moves that Jimmy Creech be named Chair of the Neighborhood Watch Committee.
  Discussion:  none
  Second:  Mark Johnson
  Outcome:  Unanimously approved

V. Reports from Committees and Special Neighborhood Projects

a. Centennial Committee: Evelyn M. Fahy

• Great success with the January workshop on oral histories and researching homes, as well as the photo scan day.  Many former residents have contacted the Committee with stories and photos.
• Emphasis now is on preparations for the Tours & Tunes home tour to be held April 21, 2007. Volunteers are needed to staff the event.  One volunteer came forth at the meeting.

b. Web Site Committee: Chris Weedy

• New column called “Ask Ray” featuring Ray Lanier, Chair of the Garden Committee. Neighbors can send in questions about gardening to Ray and he will respond on the Web site.
• Work is underway on the annual “Babies of Boylan Heights” feature article.

c. Garden Committee:  Ray Lanier

• Ray is participating in a column for the Web site (described above)
• The Garden Club is working with the Centennial Committee to help prepare yards and sidewalks for the Tours & Tunes home tour in April.
• The Garden Club is also available to help with troublesome issues such as hanging limbs. Ray will be contacting some neighbors who have access to tools such as a cherry picker and chain saws to ask if they could volunteer to help remove some dead/hanging limbs.

e. Announcements

• Centennial-themed t-shirts are available in a number of colors and styles; contact Chris Weedy at cweedy@aol.com or 755-3558 to learn more and to purchase.
• A Women’s Dinner is held monthly for the women of Boylan Heights at various local restaurants.  Contact Heidi Nelson for more information or to attend: heidi@computerheidi.com

VI. Old Business

1. No old business.

VII. New Business

• Jeff Mason:  Luis Olivieri-Robert of the City of Raleigh sent an e-mail to officers of the Boylan Heights Association alerting them of dates available to hire the Special Trash Pickup Service (sometimes known as the “Pink Truck” service.) The group discussed past experience with this service and current interest.  The group expressed a desire to arrange for the City to perform a scheduled removal of special trash.
  Motion by Chris Weedy:  The Boylan Heights Garden Club will request the City of Raleigh to perform a special trash pickup on May 5, 2007, and the Garden Club will pay the fees associated with this service.
  Second:  Leslie Kellenberger
  Outcome:  Unanimously approved.

VIII. Adjournment

Mark Johnson moved to adjourn.
Second: Chris Weedy
Outcome: Unanimously approved

Next Meeting

The March 2007 Boylan Heights Association Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27, 2007 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Project Enlightenment, Raleigh, North Carolina.