Wicomico Neighborhood Congress

Minutes of Meeting

Present:

Emond, Hughes, Ireton, Lunsford, Marine, Moreno, McIver, Pilchard, Poremba, Pretl, Purnell, Smith, Strott, Truitt, Wallop, Widdowson (16).

Absent:

Dallaire, Maloney, Weiland, Wharton (4).

Also Present: John Bonas, Rocky Burnett, Debbie Campbell, G. A. Harrison, Gary Tucker and Shawn Tucker.
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PRELIMINARY MATTERS

Participants introduced themselves. The pre-mailed Agenda was approved; and there were no announcements from the public.

Chairman Jim Ireton indicated that we are securing a copy of the County neighborhood list, and we already have a copy of the list of City neighborhoods - for use by the Recruitment/ Membership Committee. Mr. Burnett had furnished a preliminary list of issues for the Community Concerns Committee. The ByLaws Committee will attempt to finish the job begun by the Steering Committee over the last few weeks.

Rocky Burnett has spoken to The Daily Times - and we hope to provide information for a more favorable report of Steering Committee progress.
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DISCUSSION BY MAJOR COMMITTEES

Steering Committee members broke into three smaller groups, consisting of those who had volunteered to serve on the Recruitment/Membership Committee, the Community Concerns Committee and the ByLaws Committee. After nearly an hour of deliberations by each group, they reconvened as a whole, to render an oral summary of the preliminary actions and conclusions of each, as follows:

1) ByLaws - There was continued discussion of Congress membership categories, and of the issues presented by the Greensboro bylaws and the draft previously considered by the Steering Committee. Finally, a consensus emerged that we would proceed with a simplified version of interim "guidelines" and would propose structural issues to be resolved ultimately by the initial Congress. Connie Strott will review the "draft membership structure" dated March 18, and will suggest changes necessary to express these initial guidelines.

2) Community Concerns - The initial issues to be considered by this committee were structured into education, outreach and advocacy. The four main topics for the Congress are:
a) housing - the committee outlined 12 specific needs
b) growth and development - to consider both public awareness, and impact
c) public safety - including crime, drugs, gangs, graffiti, courts, lighting, etc.
d) quality of life - issues include rural areas, internet, local TV, traffic, littering.

3) Recruitment/Membership - The committee worked on a draft letter to be mailed to recognized neighborhood associations, as well as to other groups, individuals, HOAs. The goal will be inclusiveness and diversity. The committee will also prepare flyers, posters, and press releases - and suggest that delegates be sent to a pre-Congress meeting. It was suggested that invitations be channeled also through churches and the Wicomico Ministerial Alliance. All groups will be asked to RSVP; and the original 80 applicants will be invited also.

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A report of each committee will be mailed out with the Minutes, to be discussed further on May 15 - and the Steering Committee will then determine its next step.

ADJOURNED at approximately 8:30 PM.

Mike Pretl
Secretary