Minutes December 11, 2000

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Co-President Ross Mansbach called the meeting to order at approximately 7:35 p.m.

Present Board members were Ross and Jodi Mansbach, Dianne Olansky, Norman McKay, David Robertson, Bill Pardue, Judy Jameson, Annette Beasley, Mae Reich, Bill Ellis, Joe Giardina, Stephen Rowell, Alan Perry and Ruth Alexander.

Representatives from Atlanta Gaslight (and contractors) reported on the changes going on in the neighborhood. Signs in place when work going on in the neighborhood. Work now going on in Wildwood area. Gas mains being replaced. Individual contacts being attempted to enable the cutoff and relighting of gas service. 30-40 minute process. If not at home, signs put on door and you can call them once you get home so that you can get your gas back on. Contractors have photo id cards and will need to enter houses to relight services and perhaps replace gas meters. Discussion re need to keep city streets clean per code. Also necessity to protect trees. And request not to park on sidewalk. Call construction coordinator per sign on project. Or call Don Thomason at atlanta gaslight company (404) 584-3356 or John Lubansky, construction superintendent, (770) 306-0917. Main lines put in first then 7-10 days later they have to come back, clear out the old main, and reconnect to the new main. Last year did 130 miles in Atlanta on this kind of work. Necessity of doing work in the winter is because of all the work of this type that needs to be done all over the place.

MSP (Security Patrol): Judy Jameson Within last month, 13 larcenies from cars, 2 burglaries, one auto theft and another larceny of car parts. Activity on the 14th on noble, pasadena and wildwood. Burglaries took place on the 4th and 28th. Again activity on 28-29 in other parts of neighborhood. Similar stats with respect to larcenies from cars. Problem with MSP phone and message emailed to all MSP members with email about problem. Looking into phone situation for the future.

Membership: Alan Perry Renewal forms and dues coming in. Melissa Darrow, the database manager for the last 1 ½ years, is moving and must resign. Volunteers with Excel experience will be sought to replace her.

Parks: Bill Pardue: Last February a sewer project was completed in Daniel Johnson Park. A 48 inch culvert used as a temporary bridge to move heavy equipment across Rock Creek was never removed by the Department of Public Works until assistance was requested from Cathy Woolards office. The railroad ties previously at the entrance were removed during the project and still have not been replaced. The Bureau of Parks has agreed to purchase removable ballards similar to what is installed in Grant Park and along the Path in 2001. A portion of Daniel Johnson Park at the intersection of Beech Valley and Pasadena was cleared during the replacement of a storm drain and Public Works agreed to furnish 25 replacement trees. Neighbor Diane Joseph was instrumental in bringing city officials and contractors together to accomplish this replacement. Neighbosr and landscape architects Laurie Jordan and Dottie Myers developed a plan for tree placement in the Park. Fourteen trees including river birch, redbud, white oak, elm and beech were planted in the park and the remaining trees were planted across the street and in area parks. David Robertson: Tree planting in Noble Park almost completed. Free street trees available for MLPA/MSP members. Call David Robertson 404-350-4828 or e mail jrobert9@mindspring.com if you want a free tree. 2/16/2001 street tree planting on Wellbourne Dr. by MLPA and Trees Atlanta--if live on Wellbourne Dr. and want a free tree, contact David. Now through the middle of March is the best time to plant trees.

Schools: Joe Giardina: schools starting back 1/4.

Traffic: overview by Diane Olansky and Bill Ellis. Working with city for 2 years, Bill involved over last year. Now real traffic committee involved as well. All residents invited to committee meetings which are held every second Tuesday at 7:30 pm at Morninside Presbyterian. Collector street residents are the most active. Trying to identify real problem areas. Meetings with City had been fairly unproductive. City asked for improvements. E. Rock springs identified as one key problem area. Big changes will be in evidence. Milling will be done along East Rock Springs from the beacon east of Morningside Elementary to North Pelham and better signs indicating a school zone will be added to this stretch. There will be a new stop sign at East Morningside for east bound traffic on North Rock Springs Road as well as a one way segment for west bound traffic on North Rock Springs Road. A new four way stop will be created at East Rock Springs Road at North Pelham and a one way segment will be created, southbound, along North Morningside. The changes will be implemented soon by the city's Bureau of Transportation Services to improve the safety of this corridor for pedestrians and drivers. Timing of changes: expected shortly after the new year. [NOTE -- since this meeting, these changes have been put on hold. Updates will be forthcoming.]

Treasurer's Report: Ruth Allen: Budget meeting planned for Mansbachs at 2 pm on the 20th. 1/8 is now really the last day for submission of budgets. Monthly report postponed until January.

Zoning: Stephen Rowell:

886 Wildwood Rd. Corner of woodcliff terrace; swimming pool in corner of backyard. Variance to put in pool; reduce side and rear yard setbacks to allow swimming pool. Committee voted to approve. Motion to approve and seconded. Passed unan. Stephen will call and remind homeowner of need to attend NPU meeting.

Dou Plex: (business located at 1789 Cheshire Bridge road). Change of ownership so it is necessary to come before the neighborhood association. Problems with noise on weekends. Mr. Alexander (the new owner) has an engineering background. He has operated roller skating rinks. Cell phone (404)273-4422. Preference is to run catering and banquet business. Night club is run out of downstairs. New owner says sound problem is going to be solved. Most of noise seems to be coming from upstairs, not downstairs nightclub. Glass doors have been replaced with cinderblock. Both of downstairs sets of double doors remain open during night club events. A/C units fixed during last ownership. Noise limit monitors to be considered and replacement of defective speakers so internal volume could be the level it needed to be but not too loud outside. Parking issue: confirmed that adequate parking exists for facility in conversation with city. New manager has given home phone number to affected neighbors, saying that if they are woken up, he should be woken up as well. Sense of association is that, assuming that parking and noise problems addressed, MLPA will not oppose the change of ownership and certain representatives may, at the NPU meeting, support the change.

Communication policy for MLPA approved. Website -- board members asked to preview before it goes live.

Meeting adjourned at @ 9:20 p.m.

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