HAVERFORD CIVIC ASSOCIATION

MINUTES TO MEETING 5/11/2010

In Attendance:  Wayne Hunt, Vinny West, Jane Carton, Lorraine Jones, Andy Orr, Stephen Billings, Cheryl Gelber (commissioner), Ercem Atillasoy, Kerstin Humann, Clif Payne, Karen Shapiro, Lee Tabas, Scott Zelov (commissioner), Yasmine Leclerc, Anne Mezey

Minutes to April’s meeting were approved.

Lorraine Jones gave the Treasurer’s report.  We have a balance of $8,406.87.  We approved an additional $24.41 to reimburse Jane Carton for her additional expenses for plantings at the Haverford Train Station.  

Lorraine also read a plea for donating $1,000.00 to the “garden workers” who care for Sharpe Park.  88 Volunteers have given 528 hours of labor to care for the park and picnic area.   There had been a benevolent donor who gave this money previously but no longer does.  We approved this donation.  In addition the Twp removed a tree, and cares for the paths through the park.  Septa is to address the fence that is in need between the park and the train tracts.

We paid our annual dues of $75 to the Lower Merion Community Watch program.

Haverford Train Station:  Lee Tabas and Jane Carton have worked hard on keeping the station beautiful together with Mr. Lewis, a local landscaper, who does pro bono gardening there as well as many places in the township.  Jane and Lee are trying to get Septa to move large stone planters to a safe and prominent place so they can be planted and admired.  We approved thanking Mr. Lewis on our Website.

Our Sharp Park Event.  Again, members of the board were asked to sign up to volunteer if they hadn’t already done so.  We are bringing back the fortune teller to this event in the fall.

 A neighbor wants to put a memorial plaque on one of our benches in memory of her husband.  We voted to allow this for a donation of $500.00.  Three of the 7 benches in the park are ours.  This plaque will be on one of our benches.

Website:  Andy Orr is in charge of designing and making our website user friendly.  We spoke about a newsletter to go on the website.  Gladwyne Civic Association prints one every month.  It would be too expensive to do this unless we can get it done pro bono.  Wayne will coordinate with Hayden Printing.  It was also discussed to increase the number of events we have, perhaps have different levels of membership, Putting photos of the events we do have on the website and posting local events as well.  There will be one in Haverford Square.  It was also thought to cross check Email addresses with Scott Zelov  to help get our presence out to constituents via Electronic Media.  It was also suggested we get great speakers to come to our other annual event in the spring. 

Compliance:  Tom Wilkinson will give a presentation next time regarding compliance.  We are likely  to become  501 C4 status.  An affirmative vote of the board was also taken and recorded in support of a request from the Federation of Civics to support its filing for 501(c)(4) status.

Commissioners Report:

Scott Zelov:  There is consideration to make Dolobran (Laurel Lane) a class 1 historic property but exclude from that the ballroom.  The review board has decided to customize the reports on such properties.  The ballroom in question is in disrepair.  Lower Merion Twp. Is one of the few with an historic preservation committee.  Any changes must be approved by the commissioners.  Roofing, windows, doors and massing.

The 5 points intersection Bryn Mawr Avenue, County Line Road and Rail Road/Glenbrook  Avenue is beginning construction.

Ludington Library is beginning its renovation project.

The Bryn Mawr Farmers Market has begun for the season and the concert series begins on Memorial Day. 

The discussion regarding Billboards in Haverford Twp. will be by the end of the year.

There was talk about making the private commissioner’s meeting the 3^rd Wednesday of the month public, or was it the other way around???  The budget is still to be discussed and so is Trash collection.  The twp will be replacing its current trash fleet and are considering doing so with trucks that will pick up both trash and recycling. 

A child crossing Lancaster was hit by a car.  Child is in stable condition.  Unknown whether the driver was charged.  Driver did not run, but stopped.

Commissioners approved the design for the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.  This trail will be both paved and gravel for bikes and walkers.  80% of this is granted.  Montgomery County will be the largest contributor at 2.4M

Haverford Court, a now 13 unit townhouse development on Old Buck Lane and Railroad Avenue is on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.  So far it is only in the sketch process and will then proceed to preliminary plans.  This is in the Haverford Station Historic District.  HARB has not approved this yet.  Ingress and Egress are still big issues.

Cheryl Gelber:  On May 22^nd there is a walk for Crohns and Colitis that is being organized by Lesa Pierce in memory of Ora Pierce, a former LMT commissioner.  Steve Lindner is the current commissioner in her district. 

Regarding 421 Lancaster Avenue, our current eyesore, the township removed the storage containers but the owner has otherwise continued to be unresponsive to the Township’s demands to rectify storage and trash issues.  The Township will undoubtedly resort to legal action as the owner continues to be in violation. 

On May 21 at 11 am the Lower Merion Police will present  a program on LoJack for humans.  This allows tracking of people who may get lost or disoriented (like an Alzheimer’s patient).

On May 12 there is a hearing for the changing of zoning on Rittenhouse Place and Athens Ave  from ASSD-1 to ASSD-2.  The Business Association wants this change to allow first floor retain and 2 restaurants within 500 feet of each other.  The business initiative is pushing for this zoning.

There will be training in June for Community Watch.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30.  Too late for me!

Vinny West

Recording Secretary.