East Mountain Neighborhood Association

Our Lady of Lebanon Church

8 East Mountain Road

Waterbury, CT   06706

January 21,2009

41 Total Attended

Patrick Norton began the pledge of allegiance

Joe Geary was our guest speaker.  He told us the city is not in that bad a shape compared to our neighboring large cities. For example Bridgeport and New Haven are faced with $20 to $30 million deficits and Hartford is at a $10 million deficit. Waterbury will be in the black we are just not sure until Governor Rell tells us how much we will be receiving from the state.

Relative to the park renovations with some pressure from Mike Ptak, Ned Mencio and Bob Perigard the basketball court, spray pool, walking path, and all three fields will be available this spring.  We have an excess of approximately $22,000.00 in excess funds to spend by the spring.  We as an organization will have to decide how that money will be spent within the limits of the grant.  One suggestion brought up by Joe Geary was to spend it on the golf course clubhouse for furniture and carpeting. 

Joe Geary also discussed work at other parks around the city.  Hamilton Park soccer and football field.

Curtain Park has a playground. Washington Park has lights so the high schools can use it. Some school renovations have been underway as well. Duggan School has seen some improvements. Gilmartin School has relocated to St. Margaret's. The media center at Crosby High School and Kennedy High School has been completed. The science lab at Wilby High School also was done. Renovations around the city are also under way.  City Hall is completely empty.  Pearl Lake Road is being widened.  Sidewalks at Dairy Mart to Piedmont Street as well as paving will be done. The Fire Department has two new fire trucks for $1.2 million. The funds are coming from federal grants to replace the trucks. There are 8 or 9 police cruisers replaced a year. The city is contracting with a Bridgeport company to crack down on vehicles not registered in Connecticut. In 2001 the project brought in $3 million. They can go back 3 grand list years.

Nancy Ptak brought up the cost of the bricks. Who pays. The city or we do to replace all bricks. Joe said he thought the city does but he would check on it.  As bricks are sold through our fundraiser with the name imprinted, then that brick would replace a blank one.

June brought up the possible salt shortage in the news. Joe said we are not currently at risk for salt shortage. This year the trucks have been out 16 times already. Without knowing the future weather, we are prepared for the future as well as we can be. 

Bob Perigard brought up the water problem on Rockledge Drive.  Unfortunately it is an underground spring that needs to be addressed before it can be paved. 

It was also mentioned about replacing the streetlights in front of the park to prevent vandalism.  Any future questions or concerns Joe Geary said do not hesitate to contact the mayor’s office at 574-6712   

Nancy Ptak gave the Secretary’s report.  A hard copy of the minutes was available for review.  New neighbors are Louis and Madoka Reale 192 Farrell Road. Michael Petrafassi 192 Prospect Road.  James Graney, 28 Oakridge Road and Gearld and Mary Delarosa 158 Farrell Road.  Get Well card was sent to Larry Davino c/o Waterbury Hospital.  Sympathy Cards were sent to the Family of Michael Meehan 93 Bateswood Road and the Family of Edward Meehan 395 Lakeview Drive in Southington. (owned East Mountain Pharmacy on Hamilton Avenue)

Jean Guisto gave the Treasurer’s Report.  We had a beginning balance of $7,000.00 and an ending balance of $9,000.00 after deducting the scholarship fund of ($ 500.00) and approximately ($1,500.00) for the bricks leave a net balance of approximately $7,000.00.

Claudette LaFlemme made a motion to increase the scholarship fund to $ 750.00 for 2009 only.  It will be addressed on a year to year basis.  Mike Stere seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Mike Ptak said he would be calling people who signed up for the park reopening festivities.  Anyone interested in helping that committee is asked to contact Mike Ptak at 754-9311. 

Nezi again brought up the Casino Trip on March 28^th 2009. The cost is $30.00 per person. That covers your food voucher and gambling voucher.  The bus will leave the church parking lot at 11:00 am and return at 8:00 p.m.  We need 24 people to break even. The deposit is due for the bus at $ 362.50.  Nezi made a motion to pay the deposit.  Turner seconded the motion. The motion carried. 

Nancy Ptak suggested she send the information to the newspaper so we can get more people involved.

Jean Guisto brought up the fact that our resource list on our website is a fine idea. She just felt like it should have been brought up at the meeting and voted on before it was posted on the website.  Jean made a motion to advertise on the website and Turner seconded the motion.  The motion carried. 

Jean Guisto also brought up a valid point about funds spent from the organization.  Per our bylaws the funds of $ 200.00 or greater must be voted by general membership. Under $ 200.00 can be spent by the president with the approval of the executive board.  And under $ 100.00 can be spent by the president alone.

There was a motion to adjourn by Patrick Norton and seconded by June.