19th Ward Community Association
Housing Committee
Meeting Notes
February 22, 2012
(Final)

The Meeting convened at 11:00am.

Present: John Boutet, Marian Boutet, Peter Evans, Lee Krist, Tony Orlati, June Rose

We discussed the status of 96 Chili. DeWain has not confirmed he has sent letter to City supporting 96 Chili. We will check with Adam McFadden.

Jackie Farrell has reported 3 new volunteers are willing to help the Housing Committee. We will get them involved looking for code violations to turn in to the committee for follow-up.

Report from the Tote Team: District 18 surveys for totes have been completed. We are continuing down Chili to do District 23 next. The plan is to address the major roads that people come into the Ward on first. Improving the appearance of these roads first will have the quickest impact on improving “first impressions” for visitors. After doing District 23 we will proceed down Genesee Park Boulevard to Brooks, across Brooks to Genesee, then up Genesee to Arnett and back to Genesee Park Boulevard. Each district addressed takes a month of repeated weekly inspection by our tote team. They provide a list of violations to the NSC office each Monday. The tote inspector then goes out and verifies the violations. After the 1st violation is confirmed the inspector attaches a warning sticker on the violator's door and sends them a letter. The 2nd confirmed violation gets a letter. The 3rd confirmed violation gets letter and a ticket for $25. The 4th doubles the fine. The 5th triples the fine and if the fines are not paid they get added to the property taxes.

We have not heard back from Jeff West regarding 4 properties mentioned to him last week. Tony will follow-up.

Peter reported 48 letters have been mailed out to occupants and owners of properties with code violations. The houses are located on Chili, Somerset and Thorndale. So far 3 responses have been received. Jackie needs a copy of addresses where letters have been mailed along with violation descriptions so she can answer questions if people call in after receiving their letters.

4 volunteer will survey Normandy, Warwick, Sherwood and Woodbine from Chili to Arnett. Someone needs to check the garage to the left of Dan Ross.

Boutet's will survey the streets between Arnett and Roslyn, from Woodbine to Wellington, but not including Woodbine, Arnett or Wellington. They will train one of the new volunteers.

Discussed groups of houses sold from tax lean company in Florida to single local investor. Four of these houses are in the 19th Ward. One is 92 Enterprise and it has an open 2nd story window.

Discussed putting a contribute button in the Housing Committee group on Location 19. Our treasurer Mary Dan Cooper helped do that for the feral cat group on another website so Marian and John will work with her.

Discussed Location19 Housing Committee group online-members vs. Housing Committee working-members that attend meetings and do volunteer work. We need to make the difference clearer and give online-members an opportunity to help one way or another.

We need to raise money to cover the cost of postage, paper and copier supplies. So far it has been coming out of volunteers pockets

Adjourned at 12:15pm

Submitted by John and Marian Boutet