December 9, 2002 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes

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Board members present: Dianne Olansky, Norman McKay, Ruth Alexander, Bob Silvia, Martha Porter Hall, Mike Carew, Trav Carter, Bill Ellis, Lee Kintzel, Joelle Spain, Charlotte Gillis, Kerry Brown, Steve Rowell, Karen Schaefer, Mae Reich, John Schwartz.

President Olansky convened the meeting at approximately 7:35 pm. Motion was made to approve the Minutes of the November 2002 meeting.  Motion was seconded and passed.

President Olansky recognized Janet Kishbaugh from Councilmember Anne Fauver's office.

Committee reports:

Security Patrol: Mike Carew reported that the Morningside Security Patrol is celebrating its tenth anniversary. He presented certificates of appreciation and Home Depot gift certificates to the following members of the patrol: Investigator Ricardo Vazquez, Sgt. Ben McGee and Officer Eric Boone. Detective Vazquez reported that after a period of heightened burglaries, the Decatur Police Department arrested a white male suspect with a "mullet" haircut, charged him with six burglaries and were able to connect him to several burglaries in Morningside. Perhaps as a result of this arrest, burglaries dropped from 6 in a month to 1. Detective Vazquez stated that a witness to one of the burglaries in our neighborhood did not call 911. One of the factors determining how law enforcement personnel are distributed is the amount of criminal activity taking place. If we don't report this stuff, we won't get coverage.  Bob Silvia stated that we need new MSP front yard signs. The cost will be $6,300 for 1,000 signs. Motion was made to purchase the signs. Motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported that the membership drive is going well. The committee has mailed 4,000 membership packages and has about 1,000 left. Joelle made a motion that she be reimbursed for $587.10 for postage. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. We have acquired 21 new security patrol members. We currently have 250 MSP members and another 50 or so MLPA only members. Joelle reported that approximately 46 of the members wanted to volunteer for a committee.

Newsletter: Martha Porter Hall reported that the newsletter has a new business manager, Mitzi Rothman.

Parks: Karen Schaefer stated that the group that is raising money to replace the playground equipment in Sidney Marcus Park has raised approximately $20,000. Winston Jones reported for the Wildwood Urban Forest Group. They're looking for steering committee members, especially an attorney. Charlotte Gillis stated that the City has rehired the four arborists whose positions had been abolished. Trees Atlanta will sponsor a tree planting in Morningside on Saturday, February 8, 2003.
Beautification: Kerry Brown reported that she has decorated the neighborhood markers with holiday wreaths. There will be a work session at Woodrow Wilson Park on Saturday, December 14 at 3 p.m. Volunteers may keep clipped holly for decorations.

Traffic: Bill Ellis said that he has had difficulty communicating with the Morningside Elementary School and the PTSA about traffic events. It would make sense for two organizations in the neighborhood who have traffic concerns to be communicating.  A small resident task force will meet next week to begin communicating with MARTA about bus scheduling in the neighborhood. Bill and Dianne met with Major Spillane of Zone 2 and have learned that traffic enforcement is not officially a duty of the Zones; it falls to Special Operations and there are no standards that must be met.  This would be unacceptable to most citizens if they knew.  Dianne and Bill are going to meet with new APD Chief Pennington and our councilpersons as soon as a mutually satisfactory time can be determined.

Sidewalks: Lee Kintzel has produced a leaflet about the MLPA sidewalk replacement grant program and has begun distributing them at residences whose walks are especially egregious. Bob Silvia asked if anyone knew of any plans to reinstall the three sidewalks along Cumberland Road that have been destroyed in the process of fiber optic cable installation. No one seems to have a clue.

Treasurer's Report: Ruth Alexander distributed copies of the monthly report. She made a motion that we contribute $1,300 to Morningside Presbyterian Church. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Our liability insurance carrier has concerns about our security patrol officers carrying weapons. Bill Ellis suggested that we ask MLPA Vice President Mike Banick, who specialized in contract law, to examine our insurance policy. Motion made to reimburse Mike Carew for $300 for the Home Depot gift certificates for the patrol officers listed above.  Seconded and passed.  Motion also made that we reimburse Mike Carew in an amount not to exceed $1,600 for end of the year bonuses for MSP officers. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Zoning: Steve Rowell reported on the following:

V-02-308, 1356 Wayne Avenue - A variance to reduce the side yard setback from 7 ft. (required) to 1 ft. to allow for an addition to a detached garage. Motion to recommend approval with the following conditions: electrical service will be limited to 60 amps; plumbing will be limited to a hose bib; height is limited to 16 ft.; implementation of the site plan submitted, dated 10/24/02. Motion to approve, seconded, passed.

V-02-338, 805 E. Morningside Drive - A variance to reduce the east side yard setback from 7 ft. (required) to 3ft. and the rear side yard setback from 15 ft. to 3 ft. to allow for construction of a detached garage. Motion to recommend approval with the following conditions: electrical service will be limited to 60 amps; plumbing will be limited to a hose bib; height of the structure will not exceed 16 ft.; height of the cupola will not exceed 3 ft. above the peak of the roof; implementation of the site plan submitted, dated 8/22/02; and written consent from all adjacent neighbors will be obtained by the NPU-F meeting on December 16, 2002. Motion was seconded and passed.

New Business
Deux Plex - At the NPU-F meeting last month, the new owner was asked to appear before the MLPA Board but did not attend the meeting. A motion was made to ask the NPU to postpone action until the owner comes to MLPA with his/her plans for the club. Motion passed.

Trav Carter suggested we move the zoning issues to the front of the monthly meeting agenda.

President Olansky called for a date for the 2003 Budget Meeting. After discussion, the Board set the date of Sunday, January 12, 2:00 PM, at the President's home.

Meeting adjourned.

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