Happy 2008

I wish you all a healthy peaceful new year.

Here are the dates for neighborhood and board meetings in 2008

General Neighborhood Meetings

Wednesdays:

January 16, 2008
March 19, 2008
May 21, 2008
September 17, 2008

All the above meetings are at 7 PM. at the School on Marine Drive and Bridgeton Road

Board Meetings

Wednesdays:

February 20, 2008
April 16, 2008
June 18, 2008
Oct. 15, 2008

Time[s] and place[s] for the board meetings are unknown at present.

Neighborhood Clean Up Dates

Saturdays:

April 19, 2008
November 1, 2008

According to the By Laws, a new Chair and new Secretary are to be elected in the Spring. As the only meeting officially in the Spring is the May meeting - that should be the election.

Vice Chair and Treasurer are elected in the Fall - and seems that election was missed. The past Treasurer, Stan Hart, resigned and Chuck has taken over that position.

For those who think a change is needed in the neighborhood - please get out to meetings and get yourselves elected to the board.

Following up on yesterday's comment

There are some, maybe many, who are upset with what I wrote yesterday.

Let me explain more - I am a process person. Processes, laws, by-laws, Roberts Rules of Order and other procedural methods we use to reach decisions are important. After all - we are, supposedly, a nation of laws.

If you read my politikal blog, lynnsrants, you already know that I dislike that the current federal administration AND congress have forgotten who they represent - WE - the people. They have by-passed most laws and procedures and gone ahead and done what they want...and to hell with constituents.

It matters not if you like the end result - we are not a society that goes with "the end justifies the means" and I am sure that in other matters most of you would agree with me. The tree issue and other neighborhood issues also can not be defined by the ends justifying how those ends were reached!

Not everyone in the neighborhood was or is in favor of what the BNA Board decided to do about the trees just as there were those who were in favor of stopping tree cutting - but unfortunately no opinions were openly solicited before the board's [plus a few] decision was made [and made in secret.]

There are many in our neighborhood who might have had some expertise to offer - legal, financial, outside the neighborhood support, etc. All of this kind of input was ignored yet decisions were made that affect everyone. And now there is a need to fund raise to pay for a decision made by a small group - asking those left out of the process to now pay for the decisions that were made without their input.

That's what some in the neighborhood are unhappy with what is going on. They like their neighbors; they just don't like the way their neighbors make decisions by skipping the process that is in place to make these decisions.

At the request of "anonymous neighbor"

The neighbor asked me to post the minutes of the meeting that no one knew about - so here they are:

MINUTES OF THE Continuing BNA BOARD AND TREE COMM. MEETING
October 24, 2007, North Harbour Mews Recreation Building, 7Pm

The joint meeting of the Board of Directors and the Tree Committee was called to order at 7:00 pm at the North Harbour Mews recreation center.

Board Members present were: Matt Whitney, Stan Hart, Walter Valenta, Leslie Sawyer, CherryAnn Kolbenschlag, Chuck Wilson, Jon Peterson and Kim Swenson. Stan Hart resigned and Chuck Wilson stepped in to act as Treasurer for the Neighborhood. Sam is on vacation so Becky Whitney has agreed to take the minutes.

Members of the Tree Committee present were Elise and Stuart Goforth, Tom Kelly and Becky Whitney.

The PDC Parks Bond Measure was discussed, people are writing grants for us.
Walter and Matt talked at length about the issue.
The Bridgeton tree issue was the #1 topic. Elise reported that Dave McAllister, the Urban Forester, called her and said that he did not agree with the drainage district that the tree cutting was an emergency issue. “Let’s compromise” is what McAllister suggested – much discussion ensued about actions – what should we do now?

Walter talked about which trees were going to be cut – he had additional information on what was going on. Elise and all talked at length about Drainage District, its organization, board make up and upcoming election. Much discussion was had about the Penn2 Board and Dave Hendricks, who’s in charge and who apparently has not kept the drainage district board informed. Discussion of which trees were regulated by the City Forester.
Elise reported on the City tree cutting permit rules and which city regs were backing the rules.

Penn2 Board elections – Walter should run. We need a representative for the December annual meeting. Talk ensued about the votes each Bridgeton HOA carried plus other groups, golf club and PYC.

Continuing with old business, we discussed bills and financial issues. A promissory note idea was proposed to the board to allow payment to Scott. All was approved – Sam was the only member absent so the motion passed.

Cherry Ann gave her ideas on a concert issue. Problem with Pier 99 – no heat and electrical problems. Decided to put concern off until February. Discussion was had about options and timing.

For anyone’s information, check out website, levees.com.

Fundraising effort needs to be escalated. We don’t know how much our final bill will be.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,


Rebecca Whitney
Acting Secretary for Sam McGarrity

This neighbor suggested that all read the by-laws - especially Article V Board of Directors

link here: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/?c=34264