April 3, 2002

While we did not have a guest speaker at this month's meeting, important
items were discussed regarding the structure of the Historic
Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood Association.

Jeff Roberts led the discussion of our proposed by-laws and voting
procedures. We all agreed in principle to a 3-"tiered" approach to voting:

Level 1:
Day-to-Day decisions - things like: meeting times, speakers, changes in
meeting dates, other "housekeeping" types of issues. These "Level 1"
decisions can be made by the Council Leadership Committee (currently 3
members) and do not need to be approved by the full Council.

Level 2:
Issues or decisions that affect the Association - things that required
expenditure of funds (Tour of Homes, Pancake Breakfast, etc.) or that
affect the running of the Association itself, such as choosing new
representation on the Leadership Committee or other Committees. These
"Level 2" decisions require agreement / voting by the overall Council
(currently 15 members). Procedures and guidelines to be determined, such
as: is a quorum of council representatives needed for the decision? What
constitutes a quorum? etc.

Level 3:
Issues that may have wide-ranging and/or long term affects on the
Neighborhood overall - things like a Neighborhood position represented to
the City Council (such as a "Bickett Place" type of issue). "Level 3"
voting and decision procedures were discussed at length. Discussion
centered around: Who has the right to vote? One vote per property or one
vote per person? Landlords and tenants vs. homeowners - do they have equal
say? Voice vote (i.e., must be present to vote) vs. "absentee" or
mail-in/write-in voting? Do we institute a dues-paying system that then
gives the dues-paying resident the right to vote? If so, do we provide a
"grandfather" clause of some type for elderly and/or long-term residents?
Do we have an "expulsion" clause for under-performing absentee landlords?

After much discussion, it was decided that the 3 Council Leaders (Chris
Ernst, Jan Johnston, Jill Averitt) would work with Jeff Roberts to draft a
set of by-laws that will be presented at the next Neighborhood Association
meeting. The proposed by-laws will be posted for discussion and a vote at
the May 1st meeting.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The second major topic of discussion was the combining of the two former
Associations now that we have a State Charter for the combined Association.
The bank accounts for the two former Associations need to be merged into
one. There is approximately $1,000 of money between the two former groups.

It was also decided during this discussion, in conjunction with the by-laws
and voting discussion noted above, that the Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn
Neighborhood Association will charge an annual dues of $5.00 per
individual. The $5.00 dues will provide voting rights to that individual.
The dues is payable during the month of May, and must be paid to Mary Ann
Turner, Treasurer. Dues can be paid by cash or check (made out to
"Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood Association"). Dues may be paid
in any of the following ways:

Drop off or mail to Mary Ann's home at 1203 Filmore Street. (If paying by
cash, make sure the name(s) are included!)
Bring to the next meeting on May 1st
Bring to the Pancake Breakfast on April 13th.
Bring to the June meeting on June 5th

The June 5th meeting is the last opportunity to pay dues. Anyone not
paying dues by this date will not be allowed Association voting rights for
the subsequent 12 months. Residents aged 65 and over are "grandfathered"
and do not have to pay dues.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The third major topic of discussion was led by Phil Poe, who updated
everyone on the Peace Street Streetscape Plan and the North Boylan
Development Projects, currently before the City of Raleigh Planning
Commission. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City
Council on the North Boylan Project on May 21st. There is a Joint CAC
(Hillsborough/Cameron Park) meeting on April 30th to discuss the North
Boylan Project, and Phil has received agreement from the CACs that Historic
Glenwood-Brooklyn can have input into the Joint CAC resolution - however,
the way to have a voice in the resolution is by having representation at
the meetings. As a neighborhood, we need to think through what we want
this neighborhood to look like - and we need to participate in the CAC
meetings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Meeting:

Wednesday, May 1st

Guest Speaker from the Parks & Recreation Department
Business Meeting Agenda:

- Posting of and Voting on By-Laws
- Discussion of Auction in the Park
- Neighborhood response on North Boylan Project

 

[Home]

[Meeting Index]