CCA Public Meeting Minutes 5 26 2020

CCA Public Meeting Tuesday, May 26, 2020 VIA ZOOM

The meeting started at 6:32PM. It is also on Facebook on the Events Page. (Questions are being taken or can be emailed to info@cantoncommunity.org). Welcome Remarks – Amanda Bourgeois – CCA Vice President: Amanda welcomed everyone and showed the flier announcing this meeting the first virtual Public meeting for the CCA. Amanda is Vice President of the CCA. She mentioned that Mark Edelson, President, couldn’t be here tonight as his mother recently passed away.

Baltimore City Elections – Amanda:

Everyone should have received their ballot by now. It should be filled out in black ink and must be signed. It needs to be postmarked by Tuesday, June 2, 2020 or it can be taken to the drop off boxes. There is one now at the SE Anchor Library at Eastern Avenue and Conkling Street. You can register to vote election day.

There is also the Party at the Mailbox. Sign up is at Baltimorevotes.org/Party.

O’Donnell Square Park – Torbin:

Saying there is a continued effort to clean up the park, people should be cleaning up after themselves. The trash is starting to pile up there. They are trying to grow new grass. He wants people to keep dogs away from these spots also mentioning that children should not be climbing the trees for many reasons.

Torbin said that Brad Rees and his family have been helping to keep the park clean and maintained.

Canton Canopy Award – Amanda/Michael Woollen:

Canton Canopy was given The GOLD PLANT Award from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for their work here in Canton. He received a $40,000 grant to plant 150 trees. That has been delayed to the fall.

O’Donnell Square Buy-A-Brick Program – Amanda:

The cost of a brick is $70 with proceeds going to the CCA for the park upkeep. You can email brick@cantoncommunity.org. There will be a virtual ceremony soon for the order recently placed. Another order will be placed as soon as there is enough for an order. Amanda said this is a good way to honor or commemorate someone or something.

Small Business Update – Amanda:

Saying this is a tough time, we are all worried about businesses and need to support them. You’ll Never Walk Alone, a veterinary hospital recently opened by Dr. Kip Imperato is doing great.

The CCA is looking into helping with plans for doing outside dining safely with social distancing.

Baltimore City Covid Update – Councilman Zeke Cohen and Rev. Jim Hamilton:

Councilman Cohen thanked Amanda and Torbin and everyone for all they are doing. He said we are continuing to struggle here in 21224. He is afraid of a second wave. He urges folks not to congregate and to please wash hands frequently. The Mayor will be announcing some changes effective Wednesday, May 27. Outside seating at restaurants with possible closing of streets may be in the works. They are all very conscious of the toll this has taken on restaurants. He said that Delegate Brooke Lierman is involved.

There is also a problem with internet connection to some students. They took $3,000,000 from the Youth Fund for Chrome books. It’s not yet known what school will look like in the fall. Councilman Cohen has called on Comcast to help and expand free wi-fi. The hope is to get municipal broadband.

He is seeing seniors isolated, children stuck at home, a rise in child and partner abuse and suicides.

Baltimore City Covid Update – Councilman Zeke Cohen and Rev. Jim Hamilton:

Rev. Jim, knowing that seniors would be in distress, called on Zeke about setting up the Baltimore Neighbors Network. This was set up to deal with mental health issues. He mentioned especially seniors and others in isolation. He encouraged people to volunteer so that isolated people are contacted. He is heartened by the response.

Team 46 Update:

Delegate Brooke Lierman:

Brooke thanked Amanda for the invitation tonight saying it is important to share social connection. Saying the legislative session was over early, she checked in with Southeast organizations to see what she could do. A big focus is on food security. There are a lot of immigrants in the area. Brooke is working with restaurants trying to do outdoor seating in a safe environment.

She can be reached at www.brookelierman.com. She congratulated Michael on the PLANT Award.

Delegate Luke Clippinger: Luke is on the other side of the harbor. He is chairman of the Judiciary Committee. There have been briefings regarding Public Safety and Juvenile Services. He is waiting to hear what it will look like when the courts are reopen as well as in the Public Defender and State’s Attorney offices. They will be hearing from Family Law and the BAR Association. There have been cases of COVID in Juvenile Services facilities.

He said they are also looking into unemployment insurance claim issues working with the Department of Labor.

There is an initiative in Fells Point for local Main Street establishments to have outside dining and would have their individual fee waived with just one fee. Open container laws are being asked to be reviewed in Riverside.

Brooke mentioned a good plan to reopen the Cross Street Market. The Mayor asked that Neighborhood Design Center work on outside dining plans.

Luke can be reached at info@luke46.org.

Delegate Robbyn Lewis:

She thanked Amanda for the invite tonight. She lives just north of Patterson Park. She congratulated the Canton Canopy. She said their tree canopy north of the park was at just 2% at one time. She said when we communicate with one member, the rest are aware and function as a team.

Please vote by June 2. Also the 2020 Census should be done as federal funds are related to this. Every person needs to be counted. She stressed social distancing.

She loves being our Delegate. She is a public health person and introduced and passed two bills.

One would stop outpatient clinics from charging surprise bills. Secondly, most who go into bankruptcy do so because of hospital bills. Liens and garnishes are done. She got the hospitals to change this and they have to offer help with their bills before leaving the hospital.

Streets like Fayette and Orleans Streets are like busy streets affecting quality of life. Neighbors are concerned so a coalition of Patterson Park, Ellwood Park, Butcher’s Hill, Highlandtown and McElderry Park was formed. They are working on closing some streets so there is more room to walk and exercise. Department of Transportation (DOT) is being contacted.

She asked that everyone please take care of themselves.

Senator Bill Ferguson:

Bill thanked the CCA for the invite saying this is a crazy time. He was elected in January as President of the Senate. There have been a lot of issues in the works. This will all have a dramatic impact on many things – higher education, homeownership, where people work, state budgets, small businesses, unemployment, etc. We need more funds. We need to be realistic about the way the future looks. He feels that there are heavy questions for the City to grow the City.

He thinks the Governor will have a news conference on Wednesday. Bill feels all this goes through testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment being made more available.

Maura Taylor from the CCA Board had a few questions. Is there a chance of the legislators getting in before June 30 to override vetoes. It is very much unlikely as there are health reasons for assembling. Also a virtual session is not likely. He was disappointed with the Governor vetoing the Kirwan Commission although adjustments will have to be made. Federal support is needed since the State has to do a balanced budget.

Regarding the Department of Public Works decisions – the public should know the power of DPW.

Waiver of MSA testing for seniors – Senator doesn’t know at this point what will happen.

Victim Witness Advocacy Coordinator for SE – Michelle Lee:

Michelle is working from home. She has reached out to organizations to make sure people know she is available. She can be reached at Mlee@stateattorney.org.

Marilyn Mosby – State’s Attorney:

She thanked the CCA for the invite tonight. She spoke about the case of the 79-year-old woman who was raped in Canton last summer. One of her best prosecutors was on the case. She said this was not the easiest case. The verdict came in on March 11 very close to the court closing. Michael Bull was found not guilty on sex offense but guilty on check fraud.

He was released although her office was against it. He is on home monitoring. Marilyn doesn’t want us to be distraught. There is a sentencing hearing on July 7. She was asked that if we send in statements can we say everything we want included – the answer is yes.

Healthy Harbor – Leanna Wetmore:

Leanna is involved in two programs here. She is working with Michael and the Canton Canopy. They are looking for volunteers to help clean Harris Creek. She is also involved with the Friends of the Canton Library planting trees there. She’ll send us a flier to be posted. Her phone number is 443-996-6271. She can be reached at leanna@waterfrontpartnership.org. They are looking for volunteers.

There was a recent cleanup done at the Canton Waterfront Park. Bags and other things were supplied.

Public Safety – Joe Koehler: He thanked people who came tonight. He was on a call with Captain Brian Hopkins who reminded us not to leave anything in our cars. The Captain also mentioned tags being taken. Foxtrot has been flying over mainly in Fells Point as a preemptive action.

He asked that folks not call 911 for people not wearing face masks. This is impossible to enforce. Joe will be doing a powerpoint document for the 125 block captains in Canton.

Public Safety – Joe Koehler:

The Safety and Marketing Committees worked on a new flier “Coming in June” for the Get Lit Canton Campaign. Ace Hardware may be working with Canton on discounts.

Some blocks are doing (or thinking of doing) café lights like in Butcher’s Hill. Chris Broughton a volunteer here in Canton can help blocks with ideas.

Hampstead Hill Academy (Eastern and Linwood Avenues) – Vic Victoriano:

New Board member, Vic, spoke about helping HHA families here in Canton with groceries. So far $25,000 has been raised in the form of gift cards. There will be an event on Wednesday, May 27 at Blue Hill Inn. There will be a small menu with 15% of proceeds going to the HHA.

The PTO B3 Bingo, Bidding and Bites event has been moved to November 7. This is a great event and is a big fundraiser for the school. There will be more information given out later.

Closing Remarks – Amanda:

Marilyn Mosby mentioned Gina Clay who is the Liaison for Juvenile Services. We will get her contact information We are all volunteers with the CCA.

Committees needing help are Social, Marketing and Membership.

The June Newsletter will be coming out and the feature will be on the Healthy Harbor “Green Stoop” Challenge. Amanda thanked Kik-line Design for all of their volunteer design work as well as the work on the newsletter.

In order to receive a newsletter one needs to be a CCA member.

She gave a shout out to Torbin for the “Welcome Planters” at four Canton locations and were shown.

Basic membership is $10.00. You don’t have to live in Canton to be a member. Please join (www.cantoncommunity.org) to help support Canton. Swag is shown on the CCA website. 2910 on the Square sells some things. The CCA can be reached at info@cantoncommunity.org.

The meeting ended at 8:10PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Denise Aversa