Minutes of Regular Meeting on January 8, 2015

Meeting began at 7:30 pm.  Councilmembers Fazlul Kabir and Patrick Wojahn and Mayor Andy Fellows were present.

Presentations

Strategic Plan

The City has hired a consultant, who will meet with focus groups; Chris Nagel plans to attend.  Chris opened the floor to ideas from members.  Some of these were: Project Open Space prioritization; more green space; more City services in north College Park; have more City services available online; survey residents on current issues (note: the City has a surveymonkey.com license); better police services; increased safety; increase homeownership; increase occupancy; decrease vacancy; build tools to track what we need to know; and build a community center.

Budget

Members discussed several budget ideas: mark more crosswalks; improve communications; additional street lighting; better streetscape.

At 8:30 the meeting took a short recess; snacks and beverages were served.  The meeting resumed at 8:42.

Tax Talk

Larry Bleau gave members an update on tax issues: there is a new exclusion of difficulty of care payments from taxation; IRS rollovers are now limited to one for each 12 month period (transfers are not limited); additional portability for estate taxation credit; college student athletic scholarships are not taxable in spite of the NLRB ruling; new tangible Property Regulations for businesses; ACA health care law makes distinction between tax household and tax family when determining penalties; effect of income change on health care tax credits for marketplace policies; new tax forms this year and next; and various tax provisions that were either extended or had expired.

NCPCA Strategic Thinking

Members gave their opinions on how NCPCA can improve its operations and why members attend NCPCA meetings: synergy, information, elected officials attend; why residents do not attend (accessibility, time, tenor of meeting (infrequent)); perhaps have special meeting at a different time; how to have better outreach; put motions online for absent members to vote; have a kid friendly meeting; and more or larger signs.

Announcements and Reports

Moved by John Krouse/Phil Aronson: Adopt the minutes of NCPCA December 11 meeting without change; motion passed.

Treasurer Jackie Pearce-Garrett reported a current balance of $1,255.23; there have been $27.17 in expenditures paid and $10 in dues received since the last meeting.

President Chris Nagle reported that City Planner Terry Schum and the Planning Dept. are now in the loop on the talks about the Greenbelt Metro development; and we are looking for members to participate in the various committees: Public Safety (Mary Cook is chair), Variance and Outreach. For more information or to volunteer contact Chris.

The following announcements were made: on 1/25 the Recreation Board will host a Community bowling event at College Park Lanes; Fazlul will maintain a list of shovelers in case of heavy snowfall; as part of the strategic plan process there will be an online survey and the opportunity for groups to sponsor a meeting in a box (structured feedback); on 1/12 at 7pm Live Smart, Eat Local will host Eric Olson, Executive Director of CPCUP at the Board & Brew Cafe; Neighborhood Watch met Monday; nextdoor.com is a possible way to communicate and build community; on 1/17 at 2pm there will be a MLK Day event at Clarice Smith Center.

Neighborhood Update

Cherry Hill Road was closed during the snowfall, clearing it seems not to be a priority for the County; sidewalks are not being shoveled 48th St. between Lackawanna and Muskogee.

New Business – none

Moved by Larry Bleau/Fazlul Kabir: Adjourn the meeting.  Motion passed, meeting adjourned at 9:44pm.

Submitted by Larry Bleau, Secretary.