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President Scott Dwyer
called the meeting to order @ 6:00 P. m.
Introducing of members and visitors
There was talk about the girl coming to
help put items on the internet. There was
talk that since Richard Gowell was putting
the notices on the emails about meeting, that
he should be one of the person involved in
the meeting. Voted to have Richard Gowell in.
Since the Mayor was not
feeling well, President Dwyer let her speak
first. President Dwyer introduced Mayor Linda
Balzotti to speak. She started by saying
that the money that was used for the downtown
foot patrols were going quite well. They were
hoping for more money from the Executive
Offices of Public Safety and want to move
them to the Montello and Campello. People
will not know were or when these patrols will
be.
Economic Development on
Downtown...A person interested in the 4 acre
property where the Enterprise Building...!0
land owners ... 10 properties including the
historic Garner Building, they have received
a historic grant where they went in there and
fixed and secured the building. that
building will have artist lofts in it. He is
sll set with the owners and his next step is
to restore the Enterprise Building to its
historic site. This will take a couple of
years and will start in 2013. Another
gentleman is looking into purchasing the old
Stall and Dean building working on getting
historic credits for that also. He would
like to renovate it as a residential
building.
W. B Mason is making some
renovations by getting some roofing done on
their building.
Brockton Neighborhood
Health Center is starting construction on
adding some more space to their site.
The
city wants to do some planting ,lighting,
sidewalks, things to make it more pedestrian
friendly for those getting off trains. It is
going to take some time to get it all done.
The city is looking for places around town to
get this city looking good.
Mark Resnick is on the
planning and looking into zoning, and making
some changes into them. There is a lot of
grant opportunities that the city hope to
get. she also stated that Mark was not a city
employee.
The budget... she stated that
our community has issues that you can't get
around. There will be increasing Educational
Funding but that could mean cutting other
city side and they will have to find the
money to help them out. The last two years
they have been filling the gaps with the
Reserve Money. The Mayor stated she doesn't
know what Free Cash is available for the city
at this moment. she said we will have to
wait until March or April. All communities
are in the same boat as we are. Between 2000-
2012 there were slight increases and
decreases almost nine million dollars less
than 2000. She will do the best she can do
with certain priorities like the Public
Safety. If the Sheriff's department is forced
to make a reduction than it will hit our own
police department. Like the Neighborhood
Policing and Public Services, the red shirts
also will be hit. Ans some funding for the
Cosgrove Pool.
She stated that David
Lynch of Lynch's Towing was picked for the
beautification of Brockton. Also she thanked
Keller Williams .. Robert Chestnut and Dan
Derito for the real estate people helping out
with clean ups in our city.
The Mayor then opened
for questions; President Dwyer asked about
the closed schools going up for sale. Bids
went out and being reviewed on these
properties. The bids were for the Frankin,
Howard, and Whitman Schools. She said there
were no bids for Shaw and Lincoln Schools.
Vice President David
Lynch asked if she knew that the strip mall
on Legion Parkway was for sale he saw it on
Craigs list. He said that was a problem area
and how could we make these properties known
to buyers. There was discussion on the Elm
Court Hotel having a few problems there
also.
The Mayor said they are
going to redevelop the Parking Garage.
Holiday Inn is
renovating and getting rid of the Hall part
of it and turn into a Holiday Express and not
having the homeless people stay there. Doing
a lot of cleaning up there. On the other hand
we will lose conference spaces. Massasoit
Conference Center is strictly business, if
people want to have a reception for wedding,
party, or after a funeral they will have to
look at the Shaw's Center, VFW, or small
private clubs.
A question was raised
about Walmart going into the fairgrounds. No
word of it yet. She did say that the small
strip mall across the street, wanted to make
the plaza work. The owners want to operate
and make the plaza work.
They are still working
on the Rocky Statue.
Richard Gowell of
Gowell's Candy asked what the mayor could do
about getting councilors to our meetings. It
was noted that Councilor Jass Stewart was
attending this meeting. David Lynch stated to
the Mayor that as a councilor at large she
always attended the meetings. President Dwyer
added that Councilor Jass Stewart has made it
to several of our meetings. Richard Gowell
also added that if we don't have councilors
here to help us, at least have the councilors
send us a report that we could read to inform
the Association of what is going on in the
city. Mary Waldron will send Richard Gowell a
link. Mary Waldron will be here next meeting
she had to leave at this time. Some of the
members said that is seems the residents are
more important to the Councilors than the
businesses. Greg Belcher of Waitt Funeral
Home added that the Councilors didn't up the
businesses taxes, they raised the residents
taxes.
Neighborhood Police
William Healy talked about foot patrols in
the Montello Area. He wanted the Association
to decide where the hot spots are and decide
where you want them. Plenty of time to do
this, send out email to other members to get
in their input. Greg Belcher wanted to know
why they couldn't have a patrol car in the
Montello area. The patrols will drive to the
area get out of car and walk the beat, they
will not be sitting in the car. He gave an
example that if a prostitute was arrested
they would be gone fr two hours to do the
necessary work. President Dwyer said it would
definitely help the area. He stated that
Dunkin Donuts on the corner of Rutland St and
North Main St was robbed. Chris McDermott
working with a robbery on Pleasant St. the
suspect left some rounds, they suspect he
doesn't work a gun well. His face was seen on
the camera and was shown on television news.
the suspect was seen at Walgreen's, they
chased him in a car and he was involved in a
crash and escaped, he jumped out of the car
and ran. They know he will be caught. There
are patrols going up and down North Main St
all the time. He talked about a store the
manager wanted help, and about a woman that
was caught in E Bridgewater at Walgreen's
with a gun. Walgreen's on the south side of
Brockton is a very busy place and talked to
the manger about different things they could
do to prevent a robbery. Jeff Chrzanowski
said that City Gas was held up again after 5
p. m. President Dwyer and Bill Healy had been
up there talking to the owner about things to
do to prevent these robberies.
Councilor Jass Stewart
as about uploading a photo of robber or
scanning it. Officer Healy said they have the
same type of system at DMV and the problem
with that is the picture has to be straight
on. Officer Healy will ask Chris McDermott to
show the picture of the suspect to see if
they recognize them. There was discussion on
the house fire on Johnson Court where there
had been a shooting and what they were going
to do with it. President Dwyer thanked the
Mayor Linda Balzotti and Kenneth Thompson
Chief of Staff for coming tonight. The Mayor
thanked the Association for the invitation to
be there and apologized for not feeling well.
Officer Healy continued with a discussion
on the happenings around town. He stated that
the Harbor One Bank on Legion Parkway was
robbed, and investigating found it was
someone from Main Spring and that he went to
try to rent a room. He was later arrested by
the night officers. Officer Kevin Amaral
stated he got a sheet from the court house,
complaints filed to the court 50 per cent
were put in by Brockton Police that is 8,100
cases open.
President Dwyer asked if
there were any questions for the Police
officers.
John Morrisey talked
about the smart meters becoming a problem.
They are the new water meters that the city
wants to put in. 35% of people that have them
have problems with them, and he said some
people can't live with them. John stated that
we have no option to opt out of using these.
Treasure's Report read
by Greg Belcher stated that our beginning
balance was 3,468.82 we paid out 169.69 to
Doyle's for Christmas Party. Paid out to
President Dwyer for coffee and Atty. Philipp
Nessarella renewed his membership ending
balance was 3,344.16. Greg said that Jamie
Holmgren did the taxes and they are all done.
Greg passed out paid members sheet to the
Association. If any sees anyone that didn't
pay or would like to become a member please
remind them. John Morrissey asked why we
don't send out invoices to members to remind
them. We do send notices at the beginning of
the year that dues are due.
There was a discussion
on would it beneficial to For Sale properties
to be listed somehow to help others that are
interested to find this list. It was stated
that Mary Waldron has a list of commercial
property for sale.
President Dwyer said
he was talking to the Westgate mall and they
are at 100 % of paying occupancy.
He
asked if Councilor Jass Stewart wanted to add
anything and he stated he was here just to
listen tonight.
President Dwyer asked the
Association if there was anyone they would
like to get to be the speaker of the next
meeting. No response so he said if someone
comes to mind let him know.
Meeting was adjourned at
7:09 p. m.
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