Wicomico Neighborhood Congress

Present:

Kevin Dallaire, Ernie Emond, Janice Hughes, James Ireton, Dexter Lunsford, Mark McIver, Cindy Pilchard, Michael Poremba, Michael Pretl, William Smith, Connie Strott, Dorothy Truitt, Lena Wallop, Richard Widdowson, Rocky Burnett, Mary K Davis

Absent:

T.J. Maloney, Mary Jane Marine, Starr Purnell, Rosemary Weiland, David Wharton

Guests included:

Stan Benson, Hala McIver, Francis Hooks, and Shawn Tucker.

The meeting convened at 7:04, called to order by co-chair Jim Ireton. The agenda for the meeting was approved by a voice consensus. Jim announced that Mary K Davis would not be continuing as secretary for personal reasons. The committee thanked her for her work. There were no volunteers for secretary.

Announcements included that Arts on the Plaza would be part of the Salisbury Festival this weekend. Steering committee member David Wharton had been absent because of family responsibilities, but is expected to return.

Mike Pretl made a motion to accept the minutes of the steering committee's April 17th meeting. Dexter Lunsford seconded.

The committee then moved to its work with the bylaws. The committee was reminded that they had approved neighborhoods and individuals as members the previous week. Mark McIver presented the committee with Amended Greensboro By-Laws, which were based on Rocky Burnett's work with the original bylaws of the Greensboro, NC, Neighborhood Congress. Mike Pretl presented the Proposed Membership Criteria, a simplification and clarification of the earlier bylaws. The committee made some changes to the language of the document. Committee members made suggestions throughout the discussion. One member stated that is necessary to stick to neighborhoods as the basic building blocks. Another reiterated that organizations need to be developed in the rural areas, as well as tapping into organizations that already exist. The problem with lack of existing neighborhood associations was brought out, and that many people don't identify with their neighborhoods, but with their church instead. A list of neighborhoods and neighborhood associations will be obtained for the committee's use.

The Severna Park Community Association was discussed. It had gotten together to handle sewage problems, and it was very successful because it involved achieving a common goal. Members were reminded that the WNC is a grassroots initiative concerned with getting to know your neighbors and dealing with issues like runaway crime by working together to solve problems. It was mentioned that the Congress should be like cheerleaders for Wicomico County, so that people will not continue to sit back and take whatever is dished out to them, and that people will show up when there are serious issues to be dealt with.

The issue of accepting affiliates was brought to the floor. A member expressed her opinion that affiliates should be accepted because they have a voice. A member reminded the group that they should be forming a loose plan that is inclusive, that this is going to be necessary to get this Congress going. Bylaws should be fluid, so that a committee could later decide to amend them. It is hoped that people will gravitate toward the Congress for common needs and that it will grow naturally. One member felt that existing associations could be used as groundwork, building out from there. Absence of members was noticed along with the concern that good members will be lost. The committee decided to drop the issue of affiliates and delay a decision on that. It also decided to set up criteria for voting at a later time. It was stated that this Congress should be about furnishing information, not who holds power, that there should not be a concern about who holds votes, that is should be as simple and as inclusive as possible. The steering committee decided not to set a limit on the number of individual members. One member said that too much power could be placed in the hands of individual members, while other members stated that Homeowners Associations tend to be very powerful. It was restated that elected government officials couldn't become members. A member stated that the Congress is in its infancy and should include associations and individual members and that if "too much representation" becomes a problem, it can be handled at that time. A member questioned whether "too many members" was really a possibility.

It had been suggested to divide the county into sectors by polling places, voting districts, zip codes or geographic boundaries. No consensus was reached on this issue.

Mike Pretl brought up that Wicomico Environmental Trust is involved in an issue with Hebron growth, and that the Congress may play a role in this. A member strongly disagreed.

Looking ahead, it was stated that May 1st is the last meeting on the schedule. The committee will look at this issue at that meeting, but the committee will need to look at a time when the paperwork will stop and members will consider what they want this Congress to do when it gets itself together. Members were reminded that what they put together will be put out to the Congress. The steering committee will put bylaws on the table and the Congress will do what they want with them. The Congress will need to listen to people and their issues and problems. A member stated that "we need to have something to sell before we put it out. We need to have something more concrete." Another member stated that "we need to put a document out there or there won't be a Congress."

The meeting was then adjourned.