[Durham INC] Draft September minutes, Nov/Dec meeting

[Pat Carstensen]

Note:  Thanksgiving this year is November 23, and the 4th Tuesday is November 28.  Therefore, the November/December meeting will likely be November 28th.

Please let me know about any additions or corrections to the minutes below.  Thanks, pat


September Delegate Meeting

InterNeighborhood Council of Durham, Via Zoom

September 26, 2023


Attending the meeting were:

Neighborhoods

Bragtown – Vannessa Mason Evans

Burch Avenue – Hannah McKnight

Cross Counties – Pat Carstensen

Falconbridge – Richard Ford

Forest Hills – Anne Worthington

Leesville Road Coalition – Steven Knill

Long Meadow – Pakis Bessias

Merrick-Moore – Bonita Green

Morehead Hill – Bruce Mitchell

Old North Durham – Mimi O’Brien

Trinity Park –  Mimi Kessler

Tuscaloosa-Lakewood – Susan Sewell

Watts Hospital Hillandale – Tom Miller, Sherri Zann Rosenthal


Guests

Jerry McClain



President Bonita Green called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone; those present introduced themselves.  Tom Miller moved to approve the August minutes, Mimi O’Brien seconded, and this passed.


Bonita shared a letter from Mr. McClain about his situation.  He lives at 4000 Fayetteville Street.  The city declared eminent domain for some of his property in 2013, in order to build a road (“simplifying” the intersection of Riddle and Fayetteville).  They later said they would need more of his property, but have never actually used or paid for anything.  He can’t do anything with the property, even build a front porch.  He is being sued for back taxes, which seems unfair when he doesn’t even know what property he really owns.  He would like to have his expenses paid and to be made whole.  The city is admitting they made a mistake.  Sherri and Council Member DeDreana Freeman are looking into the matter.


INC Elections – Bruce Mitchell and Mimi O’Brien have been working on recruiting candidates and have the following nominations:

President -- Mimi Kessler (with the understanding she will not continue in 2025)

Vice President -- Mimi O’Brien

Secretary -- Pat Carstensen

Treasurer -- Susan Sewell

At-Large Executive Committee -- Pakis Bessias, Vannessa Mason Evans


Tom Miller moved to close the nominations and to propose the above as the slate.  Bruce Mitchell seconded and this passed.


Election Matters – Matt Hartman has done a series of articles about the municipal elections, which, in the print and early on-line versions but not the version currently on line, had some negative statements about INC.  We will make a statement about how we operate, to be put on website and on list-serve, and possibly to more broadly inform the public;  Hannah and the Mimis will create a draft.


So far, nothing has been scheduled for a SCAD task force, having chewed up almost ½ the time available.


Neighborhood reports

  *   National Night Out – Many activities are planned at Merrick-Moore Park, starting at 4 PM.  TLNA is joining with neighbors, expecting about 100 people.  Watts Hospital Hillandale is doing the Beer Garden.  Bragtown is planning their event with food trucks, Wool E. Bull and free books from the library branch.

  *   Forest Hills list-serve has seen some controversy around the controlled burn on Bivens Street.  Lead was found in nearby yards (from lead paint), which was remediated.  What is the protocol going forward (advance notification, testing and remediation, etc.)?  The reality is that any older home will probably have some lead paint so nearby homes (though probably not further) could be affected.   The city’s information on it is https://www.durhamnc.gov/5116/Bivins-Street-Controlled-Burn-Informatio  News story: https://www.wral.com/controlled-burn-spread-lead-based-paint-chips-into-neighborhood-forest-hill-residents-say/20970122/

  *   Watts Hospital Hillandale is intensely involved in rezonings for multi-family developments in the neighborhood.  Both developments will use townhouses as a transition from taller apartment buildings to single family homes (which are on relatively large lots because they were on septic tanks when they were built).

  *   Leesville Road Coalition is doing a bus tour for various officials and media so they can see how much fun it is to sit in traffic looking at the effects of development in SE Durham.

  *   Burch Avenue is working on an oral history of the neighborhood.  Other community stories are at: https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/our_community_stories

  *   Durham Drives helps people to get to the polls and could use more volunteers.  There will be a follow-up on the list-serve.

  *   Thanks to Leesville Road Coalition for work on election forums.  We will get links on the website.

  *   Bragtown is eager to see the renderings of the apartments and clubhouse in the development they have been working with.

Adjourn - Next meeting October 24, 2023, @7 PM.
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