Community Planning Committee
Minutes, 17 November 2010
Present: Committee members Cynthia Dewick, Danny Schweers, and Ray Seigfried. Absent: Ron Meick and Sally Sharpe. New Arden resident James Laurino was also present.
Ray Seigfried, chair, called this meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in Room 2 of the Buzz Ware Village Center. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved unanimously with corrections.
Report from Advisory Committee Retreat
Ray reported that a hot topic was the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act of the federal government, specifically that meetings need to be posted well in advance of meetings (with time, place, and agenda), and that minutes need to be available for some time afterwards. This committee is in compliance but, when a vote is taken, how each member votes needs to be recorded.
A village calendar of events is already online and each committee can ask to have their meetings posted there. If they are meeting at the Buzz Ware Village Center, then their meetings are automatically listed.
Request for Changes in County Land-Use Codes
Ray will continue to pursue this.
Speed Tables on Harvey Road
Cynthia is waiting to hear back from State Representative Bryon Short. Danny will investigate the possibility of putting sidewalk crossing signs in the middle of the road. Ray suggested possibility of a sound-making groove in the center of the road, all down its length, to warn people who stray over the center. Cynthia noted that Harvey Road may be an emergency route. Danny wondered about snow plowing, how it might affect speed tables or crosswalk signs.
Long-Vacant Houses
Ray contacted the City of Wilmington, which has had good success with its Vacant Property Registration Fee Program. Owners of vacant buildings are required to register their building after it has been vacant for 45 consecutive days and to pay a fee of $500 after one year, $1,000 after two years, $2,000 the third and fourth years, $3,500 every year after 5-9 years of vacancy, and more beyond that. Cases have gone to every court in the state but the City of Wilmington has won every case. When vacant properties in Wilmington are registered, they are listed online, and the worst violators are featured in a slide show with photographs and the owner's contact information. Progress in each case is noted.
Nominees Needed in March, 2011
Ray, Ron, and Sally are up for re-election in March, 2011. If they all agree to be nominated, we need to find three more people willing to be nominated by our January meeting. In all, six nominees are needed to fill three positions.
Next Meeting, Adjournment
Our next meeting was Wednesday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. at The Buzz. A December meeting had been planned, but was cancelled. This meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m., although there was something cuckoo about the clock.
Respectively submitted,
Danny Schweers, Committee Secretary
