March 2025 Community Meeting
1. Police Update
No significant updates. Recent robbery on 700 block of Portland briefly discussed.
2. Conflict of Interest Statement – Nicole Dungee
A competing neighborhood organization has been registered with the City, by an individual who is also active on the Ridgely’s Delight Association.
The Board of Directors of the Ridgely's Delight Association met on February 26, and determined that being the founder or having an active role in the competing association is a conflict of Interest with the Ridgely's Delight Association.
In determining that this a conflict, the Board of Directors referred to the Conflict of Interest Policy for the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
The policy states that: a conflict may “exist when the interests or concerns of the “interested party” (that being the competing association) may be seen as competing with the interests or concerns of the Maryland Non-Profit”, that being the Ridgely’s Delight Association.
Being a founding member or having an active role with the competing neighborhood association impairs those people’s impartiality and independent judgment when working with the Ridgelys Delight Association. The interests of the competing association compete with the interests of the RDA when working for funding and establishing contacts and influence with political leadership and other institutions in Baltimore.
I respectfully ask that these individuals recuse themselves from discussions and voting for the Ridgely’s Delight Association.
Anybody with concerns, please bring them to the Board meeting immediately following this community meeting.
I will now regularly ask at the beginning of meetings for people to indicate for the record if they have any known conflict of interest with topics to be discussed. As it’s good to document conflicts and recusals in the minutes This could include having other interests, like in a competing organization, financial or otherwise. It means having a relationship that could impair (or could be perceived to impair) your impartiality with a given topic, or when a person’s duty to one group conflicts with their duty or responsibility to another.
I ask you to withhold any comments or questions about this until the board meeting.
3. Quorum
17 people needed – we have quorum
4. Budget
Budget posted on community website. Starting balance of $9,383. About $3500 in expenditures are budgeted. Items in line with previous years spending, with addition of $900 to support additional paper newsletter distribution, and $300 for childrens’ activities. Ending cash of $5,900 anticipated.
Discussion of history of RDA funding.
Motion to approve budget, was seconded. 14 + approved, 1 opposed, 2 abstentions.
5. Maintenance & Beautification Committee Update
March 15th community dumpster, neighborhood cleanup, group meeting at 9:30 AM at dumpster in Conway Park.
6. Proposals for Grant Money
Start of presentation of proposals, voting to be organized for May community meeting.
a. Proposal for adding lighting to community in five spots. Lighting would be solar or battery powered. Cost of $500 to $750 in total. Could also consider adding café lighting if there was community interest.
b. Proposal to pay for additional neighborhood cleaning after Orioles homestand events. 10 cleanups would cost $5000.
c. Proposal to Start a Restorative Yoga Program. Classes would be held twice per month for a trial three month period. Cost of $750 for trial period.
d. Block beautification projects, including neighborhood plantings, streetscapes – are there individuals that would want to put together a plan?
e. Proposal to remove graffiti from neighborhood perimeter wall by adding a mural. Grant may be needed to fund this kind of project.
f. Proposal for replacement of childrens’ tables in totlot. Cost of $6,300 for & shipping. City would install for no additional cost.
g. Proposal for Community Delivery Drop Box. Shed would cost $1,900; would need community volunteer(s) to operate.
h. Proposal to improve sidewalks on Washington Blvd - may be too expensive.
7. Approval of January and February Minutes
One revision to be made to show that Paul Rubenson will report on the current state of Bylaws and community would decide on whether to have bylaws committee to review and/or correct in more depth.
Motion to approve with revision, seconded. 15 approved, 2 opposed.
8. 24-Hour Parking Enforcement
city to start on March 10, 2025 citywide.
9. Tree Walkthrough with Forestry Department
scheduled for March 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM. Contact Nicole Dungee to participate.
10. Orioles Opening Day Informal Cookout in Conway Park
March 31, 2025, starts at 10:30 AM – neighbor on park sets up grills, bring your own food to grill.
11. Community Happy Hour
Mystique on 3/7 at 5 PM
12. Public Comments
Linda Smith mentioned two opportunities, 1) Unlimited Bounds Community Services – mental health, addiction, etc.; 2) City Innovation Team Survey – group researched opportunities for city, there is an online survey where they are looking for community input. Linda distributed QR code to survey.
Update requested on rat extermination proposal. Board approved proposal due to short timeframe. We’ll find out more in late April or May. Grant is from South Baltimore Gateway. If accepted for grant, more information will be presented to community before anything is started. Value of grant is approx. $20,000.
Attendees:
Julia Dumont
Paul Rubenson
Maia Tatinclaux
Paul Koprowski
Billy Hufnell
Nicole Dungee
Rosalie Barrett
Clarissa Howison
Deb Oneill
Kathleen Gillespie
Gerri Salley
Paige Kelly
Dani Brass
Juila Lebherz
Linda Smith
Farzana
Celine Brundridge
Aidan Despres
Debbie Braill
Ben Marks
James Wright
Lindsay Chudzik
Sharon Reuter
Warren Dungee
Kate Leitkowski
Bill Reuter
Nikki Fowlkes
Bobby Walsh
Dana Coyne
Susan Clayton
Syrus Razavi
Need 17 people for Quorum – we have Quorum