March 24, 2009 @ 6:30 PM
Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Office
Belmont Avenue, Salisbury, MD
I. PRESENT:
Heather Burnham (Bivalve/West Side), Kurs Dorechsler (President Harbor Point Community Association), Jim Fineran (County Executive's Office), Jim Ireton (Chairman WNC & resident Johnson's Lake Association), Mary Jane Marine (Sharptown area), Cindy Pilchard (Schumaker Woods/Salisbury), Connie Strott (Nutters Crossing/Salisbury), Dot Truitt (209 Kinsale Court/Salisbury), Richard E. Widdowson (South Saratoga Street/Salisbury) and Lena Wallop (WNC Treasurer & resident West Side)
II. OPENING ACTION ITEMS:
Chairman Ireton gave an update and status of the following topics from the previous meeting:
- The WNC needs to check with Mr. Jack Lennox for address/contacts for home owner's associations/neighbor associations. Status: Jim Fineran provided a new list as obtained from Wicomico County Public Work's office.
- Change/update any forms on the internet including our current address as WNC PO Box 145, Sharptown, MD 21861. Status: Ray Micciche, Information Department updated WNC documents accordingly. He will also provide a link from the County's website to the WNC website.
- Ask how to and establish survey/poll on the internet for citizen input on topics of interest and relevance. Status: .Debbie Campbell is in contact with a webmaster that will establish a website for the WNC. In addition to information about the WNC, the site would include a poll requesting suggested topics/concerns for possible future forums. .
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III. OPEN DISCUSSIONS:
1. WNC Website:
Discussion included questions to ask in the poll; topics such as environment and community service by inmates; items to be detailed topics or board categories; a copy of the letter of invitation to join the WNC and length of time before the WNC would act upon responses to the poll. More discussion will be included on future general meeting agendas.
2. Neighborhood/County-wide Matters:
Dot Truitt shared her concerns with drinking water quality today and in the future. She referenced the United States Geological Study and a meeting which she had attended.
Water quality, quantity, consistency and use of aquifers were of interest to those present at the WNC meeting. It was decided that this may be a topic of interest for a forum.
Dot Truitt also mention college students parking in cul-de-sac in her subdivision and ways to circulate notice of a homeowners association being established in the neighborhood and she would appreciate assistance from the WNC.
Kurs Dorechsler, President Harbor Point Community Association, said that vehicle parking in front yards on the residential lots and dog kennels were against covenants in the subdivision and truck traffic and no sidewalks or curbing were issues of concern.
He also added the problem of increasing rental homes in the neighborhood, violation of number of residents allowed in a household, and enforcement of covenants and city ordinances.
Following these concerns, the group discussion expanded to include issues both within municipalities and county-wide, as increase of foreclosures in a neighborhood with lack of maintenance to those homes, rental homes compared to owner-occupied, abandoned structures, derelict houses, enforcement; and, increasing neighborhood participation and communications with activities such as hayrides, social events and the biggest draw; a neighborhood yard sale.
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IV. MOVING FORWARD:
As a result of the discussion of this meeting, the WNC noted that covenants and deeds and developer's rights and responsibilities with guarantees, and those of the home owners, including enforcement through the government and court systems would be a topic of interest for an upcoming forum.
In response to a question, Mr. Dave Ryan, Salisbury/Wicomico County Economic Development (SWED) could be invited to a meeting to advice of the procedures and plans to encourage new business to locate in Wicomico County.
A forum scheduled in May would be the first opportunity for the WNC to continue its mission for the 2009 year or one would need to be scheduled in September as the summer months have not been convenient for members and residents of the area. It was noted that that another meeting of the Congress at Salisbury University would be beneficial as it was very successful in the past.
Chairman Ireton reported Mike Pretl is in contact with Public Access Channel 14 (PAC 14) and would like to organize a series on interviews with residents of all geographic areas of the county and within the incorporated municipalities as well to present an over-view of their area such as history, number of homes, where the children attend school and any other items of interest.
For homework, Chairman Ireton assigned each person attending to bring ideas to our next meeting to be included in our on-line poll and the new website as well.
V. ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING:
This meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM. The next meeting of the WNC is scheduled for April 28, 2009, at 6:30 PM at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Office on Belmont Avenue.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary Mary Jane Marine
