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MEETING NOTES

East Boston Greenway Coordinating Council
Harborside Community Center, Conference Room
Monday, March 22, 1999

map of the Marginal to Prescott Segment of the Greeenway
Click to see full map of proposed Greenway

Attending: Christopher Blacker, Eugenie Beal, Valerie Burns, Connie Carbone, Louis Covino, Rose Christopher, Rose D’Amore, Florence D’Avella, Edie DeAngelis, Arlene Gehring, Blossom Hoag, Ethan Hoag, Sal LaMattina, Vincent LaBella, Mark Warren, Lauri Webster, Mary Ellen Welch, Joanne Zambuto.

1. Introductions and Welcome

This meeting marks the fourth anniversary of the East Boston Greenway Council! To celebrate the occasion, Council members enjoyed pizza and cake during the meeting. Thank you, Sal, for bringing such a wonderful cake!

After introductions, we began the meeting with a discussion of the meeting notes. The Council decided to try a summary format and will accept the meeting minutes for the previous meeting at the beginning of the next meeting.

2. Goals for the Next Three Years

Valerie and Eugenie Beal have met with Lou Hamel, an attorney from Hale and Dorr who has agreed to offer services (probono) to help the Greenway Council set up the appropriate instrument to receive $100,000 from TPL. Eugenie Beal, president of BNAF, is attending this Greenway meeting to share some of her thoughts and suggestions, and to offer BNAF’s assistance.

Lou Hamel said the simplest idea that would provide increasing independence would be to form a "supporting organization" of BNAF, just as an alumni association relates to its college or university. The BNAF Board of Directors would be the initial directors of the new organization. As time goes on and as the Greenway Council is ready to take over the organization, Council members would come on as Board Members and BNAF Board Members would be dropped. BNAF is funded through 2001, and is here to assist the Greenway Council.

This type of organization is preferable to other options because it is the most flexible, in that it allows acceptance of the first $100,000 as well as other funds the Greenway Council may raise by using BNAF’s tax deductible status. The Attorney General will have to clear the organization to raise funds from the general public and to incorporate. This usually happens relatively quickly; however, it will take three to six months or more to get a determination from the IRS.

Council members directed Valerie and Genie to get the ball rolling on this organization. Copies of by-laws of similar organizations, including the Friends of the Public Garden will be obtained for Council members to review.

After some discussion, the Council decided the name of the new organization should be the Friends of the East Boston Greenway. The purpose of the new organization will be to preserve, protect and promote the East Boston Greenway. There will have to be follow-up discussions on the proposed organization’s Users, Purpose and Activities as well as whether this is an endowment, or whether some funds are to be dedicated and some placed in a general fund. The money will be invested conservatively. The Council will continue to be the East Boston Greenway Coordinating Council.

3. The Waterfront Center Conference

The Waterfront Center is having a conference on April 22 through 24 in Providence, R. I. on Waterfront Parks and Pathways: Funding, Design and Operation. Valerie passed out copies of the conference flyer. There is enough funding to send a few Council members. Please let us know if you are interested.

4. Greenway - Conrail Corridor from Marginal to Porter Street

It appears the Greenway project has moved from one stage to the next. An award letter has been sent to the contractor, although A Notice to Proceed, authorizing the Contractor to begin work, has still not been issued. Valerie passed out copies of the award letter and an MAPC letter which also references the project (Phase II)

With an aerial photo of the waterfront, Greenway members discussed the Greenway connection from Marginal to Piers Park. The planning proposals to extend South Bremen Street and Orleans Street into Pier 1 is a subject of concern since it interrupts the envisioned uninterrupted pedestrian/bikeway from Bremen Street Park to Piers Park. Other issues such as the impact to Greenway view corridors to the water, density and height of the buildings, parking lot locations and just the sense of being welcome (as the Greenway crosses the Pier 1 development to Pier 3) are also of concern. The Council decided it would follow the suggestion of one Council member and seek the assistance of the BSA in evaluating development proposals as they unfold.

5. Greenway - Conrail Corridor/Bremen Street Park

The 75% construction documents are out for review. The CA/T project has requested a meeting with BNAF and representatives of the Greenway Council at their offices at 185 Kneeland Street (8th floor) at 10:30 AM on Wednesday morning. Two Council members indicated they might be able to attend.

6. Updates:

Council members reported on what was going on at planning other meetings (as they relate to the Greenway):

CAT Airport Station - Council members are still concerned that the T is not going to staff the community side of the T station. The artist selection process has been postponed.

7. Other Business:

Amelia Earhart is landing in East Boston on March 25. Please come! The roadtrip to see two greenways in Rhode Island is on March 27. Please call and sign up! Valerie handed out the Spring Programs Calendar and an updated BRA calendar of East Boston meetings.

END

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These notes are written to the best recollection of the authors. Please let BNAF know if corrections are necessary within 60 days of the date of the meeting notes. Contact BNAF@aol.com

BOSTON NATURAL AREAS FUND. INC.(BNAF)
59 Temple Place, Room 558
Boston, MA 02111-1307
(617)542-7696
(Fax)542-0383
e-mail: BNAF@aol.com