NEWNC Minutes for November 2010 Monthly Meeting

Monday November 8th, 7:00PM
The Pilot House, Lewis Wharf 

1.            President Stephen Passacantilli called the meeting to order at 7 pm.  All 11 council members were in attendence.

2.             Meeting protocol was read by NEWNC VP, Marie Simboli.

3.             Update from the Office of Neighborhood Services — Nicole Leo updated the Council on the Mayor's Holiday Trolley Tour.

4.             Report from the offices of local elected officials -- Kathy Collangelo commented on North End extended street cleaning and introduced the group to Boston Public works Commissioner, Joanne Massaro who would speak and take questions later in the evening.

5.              Committee reports

 A.   Parking Commission – Ryan Kenny reported that the Boston Parking Commission will be represented at the December NEWNC meeting.

 B.    Greenway – Donna Freni reported that there would be a meeting at the Marriott and encouraged everyone to complete the Greenway's online survey.

 C.   FOCCP – Anne Devlin Tagliaferro reported that the group's annual fundraiser would take place at the Marriott Long Wharf on Novemember 19 and that the Park's trellice lighting was scheduled for November 22.

D. Elliott School Fundraiser -- Jorge Mendoza announced that his family's annual fundraiser for the Elliott School would take place at Vinotecca di Monica.  This year's goal is to raise $20K for the school ($17K was raised last year).

6.           Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, Joanne Massaro, discussed the expanded street sweeping program in the North End.  The Commission has recognized the inconvenience expressed by the community, balancing the need for better street cleaning with the inconvenience of residents needed to move their cars, promising to begin the extended program in December and end it in March, with no ticketing or towing in those months (at least for the first time); the Commission has also reached a compromise position by which the program will be suspended for the months of January and February.  The Commission will also sponsor an education program for residents regarding the extended program.  The Commission will make a determination at 3:30 pm the day prior to scheduled cleanings.  Council members did not vote on the Commissioner's decision, but did present regrets that the decision was handed down without community input and that more "out of the box" solutions were not considered. 

7.           241 Hanover St., Frank DePasquale, owner of the property and restaurant (Bricco) has applied to expand Bricco Restaurant into 251 Hanover Street, currently Nobile Insurance Agency. Mr. DePasquale was accompanied by his attorney, Ferrullo.  Occupancy to be approximately 53 additional seats; the extisting 2 am Bricco liquor license would be automatically extended to the addition to the restaurant.  The Council voted unanimously (10 to 0) in favor of Brico's expansion.

8.            588 Commercial St., Laz Parking has filed plans with the City of Boston Inspectional          Services Department to make several improvements to the existing parking lot at the corner of Commercial Street and Hull Street.  Todd Gilbert presented the planned lot improvements.  The request was approved unanimously.

9.            34 Commercial Wharf, Henia Marecki seeks a variance to the Boston Zoning Code to change the occupancy of a first floor commercial unit by partitioning the existing Henia Beauty Salon/Day Spa to create a residential unit in the rear for use by the salon/unit owner.  No vote wastaken as no one was present from 34 Commercial Wharf.

The next NEWNC meeting is scheduled for December 13 at 7 pm.