March 2022
Waban Area Council
Meeting Minutes – March 10, 2022
Waban Neighborhood Area Councilors: Isabelle Albeck, Bill Bracken, Rena Getz, Sallee Lipshutz, Drake McCabe, Sumukh Tendulkar, Chris Pitts
City Councilors: Tarik Lucas
Community: Maureen Reilly Meagher
Meeting commenced at approximately 7:38 pm, after the confirmation of a quorum. The meeting was held via Zoom videoconferencing and recorded for the Acting Secretary purpose of generating meeting minutes.
Burning Issues from the Community: A conversation of the MassDOT engineering plans for pedestrian and traffic safety improvements at the intersections of 1) Boylston Street/Quinobequin Road and 2) Boylston Street/Ellis Street was held between the WAC Councilors and Maureen Reilly Meagher. She expressed a concern that many residents were not aware of the plan.
Substantive Topics:
WAC Website – function & maintenance plan:
CP presented an overview of Waban Area Council (WAC) website and explained how the content on each of the webpage was presented, and went into the details of the Issues pages. He asked fellow Councilors to help in the review of the current material posted to the website. Councilor McCabe is familiar with the Drupal website and is excited to help. SL requested a “day of” meeting notice, if possible, through MailChimp. Councilors discussed if WAC wishes to issue a newsletter to the Waban community, similar to the Newtonville Area Council newsletter.
Waban Village Day – Planning:
Discussion of a “pet parade” and the specifics. Participants would be given a ribbon and have their picture taken by a photographer (need to be identified) at individual pet station with possible gifting of pet services from Newton businesses.
WAC Fundraising:
The question of WAC’s ability to collect funds from a possible raffle was raised. CP will review WAC history and check with city of newton officials. Lots of interest was expressed for ST’s idea of WAC hosting a “High Tea” Fundraiser in the Waban Library.
WAC Goals 2022:
Community Outreach – To increase awareness of the WAC in the Waban community through the distribution a flyer on Waban Village Day. SL and IA will update the WAC flyer.
Business Outreach – supporting Waban business by reaching out to them and asking questions to learn their current status, their needs and what WAC can do to help. ST will take the lead of business outreach and draw up questions, confer with CP and present the questions at the next WAC meeting. ST presented the idea of creating a community gathering event on a Saturday morning outside, possibly near Starbucks.
BB identified roads as his major issue of concern. He would like to see more public notice of road closures. DM agreed with the stated WAC goals.
Zoning Updates:
RG presented the attached PowerPoint (WAC 031022) which discussed the Planning Department’s presentation to the City Council March 7th Committee of the Whole. WAC Councilors discussed the content presented.
Administrative Items:
WAC 2021 Annual Report and Jan Meeting Minutes approved.
Megan Meirav was nominated and approved as the interim Acting Secretary.
Treasurer Report – no change in WAC bank account balance.
The WAC approved prior WAC President’s use of the title, Past President (term of service) for standing WAC Councilors.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted as a collaborative work by Megan Meirav and Rena Getz.
