[CV Block Leaders] Meeting Follow-up

[Jeni Spevak]

Hi everyone,
There are a number of things from the meeting notes that I have looked/am
looking into:

Trash Cans- Apparently it would take a major petition drive to get the city
to put trash cans back on our street corners. And apparently this was once
done on Charles Street. The trash cans stayed for approximately 2 weeks, and
then the city took them away, stating that people were dumping household
garbage into them. I was told that the city did not empty them as they were
supposed to, and that the entire overflow problem occurred in the first
place because the cans stopped being emptied twice a week and were emptied
to once a week, then once every two weeks. If you want to try the petition
route again, please let me know.

That said, you can put your own trash cans out, chained to trees, and the
CVCBD can empty them. I am looking into the possibility of getting trash
cans donated, but if you would like to put one of yours out you are welcome
to. We should be able to supply liners, and our Clean Team should be able to
pick up the bags and replace the liners. I am hoping that it will be
possible to do this once a week. It is very important for you all to let me
know if you are putting out a can, so that our Clean Team can pick up the
bags. I will keep you all informed of updates.

Traffic issues are a little more complicated, and may take a very long time
to get resolved. This is in reference to the alleyway on Debra's block
behind Margaret Brent Elementary, which was brought up at the meeting. For
any traffic related issues, even in alleys, a traffic study needs to be
done. The Department of Transportation website is
http://www.mdot.state.md.us/, and anyone can go there to request a traffic
study of the street/alley in question. This process could take up to 6
months! Now, it is possible to get it pushed through faster with backing by
the appropriate community association, and if there is interest in that, let
me know. Apparently traffic issues are one of the most difficult things to
solve in this city.

The city's Rat Rubout team will lay poison in a block only if they can get
all houses to sign a waiver (in case a dog digs it up or something) They
will not treat any homes that do not sign up. Multi-family dwellings and
businesses are supposed to supply their own rat control, and will not be
treated by the city.
That said, if you see a rat hole at a specific address, you can call 311 and
report it. The Rat Rubout team will inspect that property area and contact
the owners for permission to lay poison. This is really helpful if you can
see the hole where the rats are coming and going.

I have spoken with Emil about a message board, and he is testing some
software that would make this feature available at charlesvillage.info. It
will not be attached to the CVCBD website at this time (due to server
issues) but perhaps we could link it in the future. I will keep you all
updated as this develops.

Last night the CERT training began, and there will be 4 sessions, dates TBA.
It's not too late to jump in, because everything we learned last night is in
the training manual. This is a great opportunity to be on a first response
team in the neighborhood in case of disaster, natural or man-made. If you're
interested in it, let me know. You get to learn CPR, put out small fires,
and be the proud owner of your very own hard hat!

Thanks everybody. I know that was a lot of information, but I hope you found
it useful. It's now time for me to harp on Timesheets, Surveys and Light
Bulb Distribution. Give me your timesheets (or email your hours to me), and
let's keep getting those surveys in and light bulbs out!

Again, I am available to help with light bulb distribution! Let me know if
you need anything at all. I'll be in touch,

Jeni Spevak
Block Leader Coordinator
Charles Village Community Benefits District
2301 N. Charles Street - Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: (410) 235-4411 x16
Fax: (410) 235-5544