NEWNC Minutes for June 2010 Monthly Meeting

Monday June 14th, 2010 7:00 PM
Nazzaro Center, N. Bennet St.

• The meeting was called to order by NEWNC President Stephen Passacantilli at 7pm at the Nazzaro Center.  The following members were in attendance:
  • Mario Alfano, Donna Freni, Ryan Kenny,David Marx, Jorge Mendoza, Stephen Passacantilli, Marie Simboli, Jonathan Sproul, Anne Devlin Tagliaferro, Giancarlo Tiberi
• Marie Simboli read the meeting protocol.
• Steve Passacantilli reported the following:
  • City Councilor Sal LaMattina posted a letter to US DOT supporting the City’s request for a 15-month extension to complete its “haz mat” public safety study.
  • A new group is being formed under the auspices of NEWNC to address “dog issues” in the neighborhood.  Sal LaMattina and Aaron Michlewitz are sponsoring this effort.  The first meeting will be at the Nazzaro Center, June 23, 6:30 pm.
• Committee Reports:
  • Officers, elected in executive session were announced:
    • President: Stephen Passacantilli
    • Vice President: Marie Simboli
    • Secretary (Acting): Mario Alfano
  • Safety committee
    • NEWNC sponsored a “No Haz Mat” meeting on June 2 at the Battery Wharf Fairmont Hotel.  A record 180-200 residents were in attendance to hear Boston Transportation Commissioner, Tom Tinlin, speak.  Also in attendance were Sen. Petrucelli and Rep. Michlewitz.  City Councilman LaMattina was tied up in a Council meeting at City Hall and was unable to attend.  The attendees were overwhelming supportive of maintaining the current City “haz mat” regulations, but voiced their ultimate desire that hazardous cargo be banned from the City altogether due to safety concerns.
    • The NEWNC Public Safety meeting will continue to meet on the first Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm, at the Nazzaro Center. Council members will rotate in chairing the meeting, along with Area A-1 Boston Police. The next Public Safety meeting is scheduled for July 1^st.   In the meantime, Anne Devlin and Mario Alfano are active in a neighborhood “No Haz Mat” task force.
  • Greenway committee
    • Donna Freni, a member of the Greenway Leadership Council, will chair this committee.
• Hazardous Material Vehicles in the North End / Waterfront
  • A NEWNC letter, also in support of the City’s request for a 15-month extension, was approved in executive committee and is ready to be sent to Anne Ferro of US DOT.
  • This letter, with a few editorial adjustments, is available for viewing at NEWNC LETTER.
• Number Production, Inc., Mark Fitzgerald
  • The Council approved Number Production’s request to film a proposed follow-up scene to “What’s Your Number?” 
  • Filming would take place on June 19 with July 7 as a rain date.
  • The filming will take place on Cooper Street and at the Corner Café on Prince Street.   Filming would occur between 9am and 4pm, but “no parking” signs would be posted between on Prince Street between Thatcher and Salem from 7am to 7pm. 
  • 10 parking spaces will be required and 20 parking vouchers will be provided to residents affected.  A full communication plan will be put in place; flyers will include a “hot line” telephone number.
  • The filming itself and relative dates still need to be confirmed; Mark Fitzgerald to get back to NEWNC with its decision.  The Council indicated tentative approval.
• 221 Commercial Street, Kevin Curry
  • In order to sell the above-mentioned property (Lavanderia at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street), co-owner Curry requested that the Council support his request to the zoning board to obtain the necessary permits the ATM machine that has been there for several years.
  • Curry confirmed that ROA removal of gas tanks (former Sunoco gas station site) had been complied with about 20 years ago.
  • The Council approved his request.
• Meeting adjournment
  • The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 pm.