March 2026 Community Meeting

Type of meeting: 
Community
Meeting date: 
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Status: 
DRAFT

Major Middleton:

Nicole brought up the peeping tom to Major Middleton 605 Freemont. Details were shared with Major Middleton. 

7:02 pm  Nicole opens the meeting

Guests Discussion

  • Ed Meerholz – Babe Ruth Museum, Opening Day 

Street Closure Request
The committee reviewed the proposal that had initially been submitted to the City. The request will be presented to the committee for a yes/no approval to block off the street for Opening Day on March 26. Discussion included the BGE fencing, which is currently blocking prior access.

Ed provided a chart outlining two options:

  • Plan A: Closure of the entire Emory Street

  • Plan B: Closure along the blue-line area

Nicole requested that emergency services be notified of any street closures.

Opening Day Tickets
Tickets for the upcoming Bull Roast are available for purchase through the museum.

Community Notifications
Deb O’Neil requested advance notification for residents. Nicole stated that the RDA will notify residents through social media, and Ed offered to post signage in the neighborhood, as has been done in the past.

Quorum
A quorum was established with 19 attendees present.

Vote
Paul called for a motion and asked if anyone opposed the proposal. No opposition was voiced, and the motion passed unanimously.

  • Yanir Gvirtzman Update Regarding BGE Lawsuit

Yanir clarified that the lawsuit is filed by him personally, not by the RDA, and relates to the property at 628 Portland Street, which he recently purchased.

He referenced discussions from the December 3 BGE meeting regarding a prescriptive easement, which refers to use of land for over 20 years that may grant certain legal rights. Yanir stated that such rights generally mean that access to the property cannot be blocked.

A restraining order request was partially granted. The court allowed BGE to install fencing, but scheduled a hearing for April 14. The judge indicated there may be merit to the case.

BGE is expected to be served on April 3, 2026.

  • Turell Brooks (States Attorney’s Office) 

Turrell introduced himself as liaison for State’s Attorney’s Office, 46th district. He announced an event for all neighborhoods to take place at Digital Harbor High on March 18 regarding citizen input on the topics of smoke shops and juvenile crime.

Announcements/Updates

  • BGE has put on hold the project to build a transmission line between the Pratt St. station and Baltimore Peninsula. They are reevaluating the plan in general. They havee committed to engaging with our neighborhood if the project takes place.

  • The new sign is here! It is scheduled to be installed in March.

  • The contract for the tree pit project is moving forward and we expect work to begin soon.

  • Forestry has indicated that they will do three planing this Spring. We expect they will plant in all the empty tree pits.

  • Celine updated progress on the community garden project. We have not obtained permission to create a garden at the chosen location near MLK. Celine is contesting/discussing since the plan is for planters. Celine will send out an email to set up the next meeting for interested community members. Deb O’Neill suggests that Cylburn or Camp Small may have soil/compost resources. 

  • Nicole discussed the City Council’s effort to update and modernize the City Charter. All citizens are encouraged to provide input.

  • Opening day picnic, organized by Chris Conlon, is March 26 at Conway park. Chris generously provides food and the Association provides partial financial support. The community voted to agree to increase the financial support by an additional $50.

  • Community Dumpster will be on Conway Sat. 14 March. 

  • Sandy Anderson had continued to work on finding a meeting location for the community meetings that is ADA compliant. Pickles is a possibility and the community supported trying it out; with another possibility being Section 771 on the first floor. The community voted to hold the meeting at Pickles provided Section 771 cannot support. Sandy generously agreed to coordinate the scheduling.

  • Minutes for February were approved by vote.

Meeting was adjourned at about 8:30

Zoom Attendees

Linda Hansen
Nicole Dungee
Katrina Leitkowski
Ed Merrholz
Paul Rubenson
Bill Reuter
Celine Brundridge
Deborah O’neil
Desire Jones
Gerri Salley
Joe Himplemann
Julia Dumont
Major Middleton (Police)
Paul Rubenson
Clarissa Howison
Sandy Anderson
Sharon Reuter
Sy Saulynas
TM (?)
Turell Brooks (States Attorney’s Office)
Yanir Gvirtzman
Susan Clayton