18 Sep 2019

Meeting Minutes – Sept 11th, 2019

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Reiche Community Center

Officers present: Liz Parsons, Kim Sutton, Gwynne Williams, Leana Goode Simpson, Barb DeSerres, Ian Jacob
Officers absent: Pamela Shaw, Bryan Van Dussen
Others present: 25 attendees (sorry, no sign up sheet was passed around!)

The meeting was called to order at 6:32 PM & self-introductions followed. Thank you to Penny for bringing home-baked cookies

Secretary’s report:

Minutes from the June 2019 meeting passed as written.

Treasurer’s report:

“I’m in Newfoundland riding my motorcycle. See you in October.” Bryan Van Dussen

PREVIOUS REPORT – JUNE 2019—–

Available Funds by Source:
Norway Savings $6,691
Paypal $222
Petty Cash $30.00
Less outstanding debits $321.16 (palm cards // 7 clark st park outstanding check)

Total Available Funds $6,621

Earmarks:
WECANAIP $134
Swim for Life $3,177
Harbor view $534
General fund $2,747
Petty Cash $30

Total Earmarks $6,621

Community Announcements:

  • Rosanne: Community Centers in Portland are being evaluated for need. Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department is doing an assessment. Paper surveys can be delivered by mail or in person to the Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department, 212 Canco Road, Suite 1, Portland, ME 04103. The survey will remain open through the end of September and UNH officials will likely wrap up their work with a final report of the survey in October. Find the survey here: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1593/Community-Needs-Assessment
  • Rosanne: One Climate Future update – the preliminary survey had 650 responses, 90 from the West End. New Survey available: https://www.oneclimatefuture.org/get-involved.php#survey
    View the PowerPoint presentation here: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6324/Portland-Presentation-Draft-Slides_final_FINAL
  • Liz: St Luke’s Cathedral will hold an all-faith contemplative service & fellowship after to discuss climate change. Held every other Wednesday, “A World too Beautiful” Sept 18th, 5:45 – 6:45, Oct 2nd, Oct 16th, etc
  • Ian: Mayoral Candidate Forum Oct 17th at Reiche from 6:30 – 8:00pm. Send your questions ahead of time to Ian. hello@wenamaine.org
  • Steve Shaw: Please visit Saeng Thai & Salvage BBQ while there is construction on Congress St. They also have free parking in the Maine Sleep Institute parking lot across the street from the restaurants from 11:00 am to 2:00pm everyday.
  • Lin Parsons: MMC Neighborhood Grant monies (30K per year) still available and WENA is waiting for the application to be released by MMC. Deadline is tentatively Dec 1.
  • Ian: State Street / Mercy update – 66 State is being developed into low income/transitional housing. Historic-ish Fedral style brick building (4 stories).
    Old St Dominics School – developed into 38 room lodging house, women only.
    166 State / 99 Winter – developed by Josh & Dean Soley, SRO (single room occupancy) housing possible.
    Mercy Hospital building – The Big Announcement will be made in November prior to Thanksgiving.
  • If you need help shoveling this winter: contact the Office of Elderly Affairs of Portland, at the Barron Center.

Invited Guests:

Andrew Butcher: Update on VOC emissions in South Portland

Did you know there are 120 tanks in South Portland?
The City of Portland has set up air quality monitoring at Ocean Gateway
Check out Inside Climate News series on the SoPo VOCs: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/10062019/south-portland-oil-tank-farm-fumes-vocs-children-health-epa-tests-maine

Smelling odors? “Smell Something, Say Something”
You can report it in a few different ways:

  1. Use www.SmellMyCity.org to report incidents and map to your location
  2. Send emails to hello@wenamaine.org
  3. Use the “See Click Fix” website or app for odor monitoring (or other complaints 😉  (It is currently allowing for comments around “sewer odors”)  Please reach out to Jessica Grondin (Digital Services Manager) @ jgrondin@portlandmaine.gov should you have questions about SeeClickFix.  
  4. Advocate to your Portland representatives to incorporate airquality monitoring as a critical component of the City’s Climate plan and priorities.  You can do so in their new survey
  5. sign up for more information 

Lado Ladoka of Democracy Maine, representing the Immigrant Housing Coalition:   the coalition’s efforts to identify affordable housing challenges and help advocate for policy change.

Motion to dismiss, and meeting adjourned at 8:05pm

NEXT WENA MEETING:  October 9th, 2019   6:30-8:00 pm at Reiche Community Center

Kim Sutton, Secretary