Minutes
from July 6, 2004
SOUTHWEST
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 4783, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866
SSWNA.org
----
Meeting was held at the headquarters for the N.Y. State Tree Nursery,
located on Route 50 and within the boundaries for our association.
----
Introduction of Officers
----
Opening statement from Molly Gagne’, President, that our organization is
“making progress” and more can be
done. "Protection of the sand
dune" and “street trees” are issues that members could
“adopt.” Paying dues is
only a beginning - you need to get involved and help with an issue.
----
Vice President, Joe Kearney
----Recording
Secretary, Cary Hickey. Minutes
from May 11, 2004 adopted.
----
Corresponding Secretary, John Baldwin submitted letters mailed to the
Gary
Dake (Stewarts Shops- donation of trash bags),
Commissioner
McTygue (improvement of City Property on Hathorn),
Superintendent
McFadden (use of school for meeting space),
David
Lee
(donation of tree seedlings distributed at the
May meeting).
----
Treasurer’s Report, Arlene Fernandes -Two new members in June.
Balance
as of 6/30/04 is $451.50.
Standing
Committee Reports
- Bill Chisham reports “cooperation’ in
“animal control requests”. Cary
Hickey (absent) sends message that she will check into making the basketball
court handicapped accessible on Hathorn Blvd.
Matthew Veitch has examined numerous city maps and will contact makers of
those with flaws regarding our neighborhood.
Sidewalk/Bike Path (Dennis Hodges absent) -conversation held with Larry
Benton from the County Planning Department who promises to gather some
“contacts’ and get back to us. Molly
Gagne’ reports the petition for protection of the Public Right-of-Way/tree
belt is available for anyone to sign or distribute throughout the city.
“Adopt a Highway” report from Jean Hall that the summer clean-up was
held on June 23rd and it was considerably easier than the Spring clean-up. 8
members cleaned up Geyser Road in 2 hours.
Signage in public spaces (Sue Slawson absent) - Sue checks the
neighborhood street corners after each weekend to remove sign debris. It would
be good if someone living over in Rowlands Hollow East could do this service in
that area.
Old
Business - Community Police Officer- no
Public Safety/Police Dept. at meeting. Residents
have noticed less speeding and more code enforcement.
New
Business - Our Web Site was contacted
about an unsafe mosquito breeding condition between Wagonwheel and Deerleap.
(Public Safety has been notified.)
Notice
that a handyman is “scamming” residents out of money in our neighborhood.
The Police have been alerted and know the individual in question.
All
city residents are requested to take the Smoke Detector Survey at
www.masie.com/smokedetector
Members
Tom and Sandy Smith are chairing the Firebird Car Show at the Car Museum, July
10, benefiting Special Olympics.
Reminder
of Summer Employment opportunities - NYRA - July 10-11.
12
specially tagged “awards” were available for members to take and leave at a
doorstep of a residence in the neighborhood.
This is a repeat of last year’s program to recognize “exceptional
yard maintenance” by homeowners.
Host
Presentation -
David Lee
Superintendent of the New York State Tree Nursery
History
of tree cultivation in N.Y. State
History
of the Saratoga facility
Services
provided and species raised at the Saratoga facility
Information
about the “seed buying program”
Tour
of the grounds, including the bundling room, the “cone roasters” and
composters, the seedling greenhouses, the water reservoir and the growing
fields.
Attendees
were invited to choose a tree from one of the many varieties in the
“older stock” field.
David
Lee was trained at Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse and worked for
many years under former superintendent, John Solan.
This
was a very unique and special event. We
hope that SWNA can return for another visit next year.
We welcome David Lee and his family to the Southwest Neighborhood.
adjourn
8:30
Next meeting Sept. 21, 2004
