Barcroft School and Civic League
DRAFT Monthly Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2004
Call to Order
President Eric Harold called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
He reported that a hearing was held by the Virginia ABC Board in April on Hi Cue Billiards' application for a license to sell beer and wine. Douglas Park Civic Association led the preparations for the meeting, and an attorney in their neighborhood prepared the case. Five civic associations including Barcroft testifed against the application, as did Delegates Al Eisenberg and Adam Ebbin, and the Arlington County Police. The County Attorney attended and assisted the opponents. The case should be decided soon. (More on this Web page.)
Committee Reports
Treasurer Gary Lefebvre reported that our rentals are back above $1,000 per month, which is our break-even point. With $1,300 in the past month we were in the black again.
Membership Chair Peg Lefebvre reported that a few memberships are still trickling in, at least one to get the lower rent on the Community House that a member qualifies for.
Eric reported that we need a full time Columbia Pike Implementation Team member. There were no immediate volunteers. Our CPRO rep will continue to be Bryant Monroe. Randy Swart attended the CPIT meeting last night and re-presented Barcroft's often-repeated requests for various street improvements during the upcoming utility undergrounded between Four Mile Run and Wakefield Street. Randy will go to the CPIT meetings only when there is a Barcroft project on the agenda.
Elaine Squeri reported that the rest of our traffic calming devices should be installed by the end of the summer.
Election of Officers
The following officers were elected for the 2004-2005 year:
President - Eric Harold
Vice President - Annette Osso
Recording Secretary - VACANT
Treasurer - Gary Lefebvre
Corresponding Secretary - Eric Parker
Board Member: Shirley Gay - shirley@BSCL.org Expires: 2008
In addition, there are three incumbent Board Members:
Mike Behringer - Term expires: 2005
Jim Kerr - Term expires: 2006
David Michaelson - Term expires: 2007
Peg Lefebvre will continue in the appointed position of Membership Secretary.
The slate was elected by acclamation.
Girl Scout Troop Sponsorship
We heard an appeal from Susan Weaver for a Girl Scout troop for use of the Barcroft Community House on Thursday nights except for our normal First Thursday meeting night. There were some reservations expressed, in part because the troop was not all Barcrofters, but eight of the initial group will be from our neighborhood. They will be 11 to 13 years old. The scouts can be flexible when we have other groups such as the Barcroft Players who need a Thursday night for dress rehersal for their weekend plays. The Scouts will do community service for the neighborhood, including yard work around the Community House and such chores as delivering flyers around the neighborhood. Andrew Hunter's motion to try the arrangement for one year was passed unanimously. Susan Weaver can be reached by email at susan.weaver@juno.com.
Neighborhood Conservation Project: New sidewalk on 9th Street between Buchanan and Four Mile Run park
Joe Kennedy, a 27 year resident of this block, spoke in opposition to the sidewalk. Joe believes that it will destroy the rustic beauty and esthetic appeal of the natural setting, turning it into a "usual street." He also believes that a wider street is safer, and that narrowing the street will cause vehicles turning around to have problems, affecting safety. He is not aware of any accidents during the time he has lived there.
The signers of the petition spoke in favor of the project. They believe that pedestrian safety, particularly for kids, will be enhanced by the sidwalk. Drainage problems will be addressed, and the street lights included in the project will provide more safety at night. The street is now 39 feet wide, considered very wide for a neighborhood street by the current County standard, and narrowing it 7 feet to avoid damaging trees along the block will not detract from safety.
Joe was not willing to consider compromises that would stop the sidewalk above his house, or bring the sidwalk back in after passing around the tree in question. He does not want to give up any of his front yard, even if the County does own an easement there.
Members did not want to ignore the views of a long-standing resident of the block, even though he is the sole opponent. Some did not want to vote until the proponents had been able to work with Joe to look for an acceptable solution. The vote was to defer the project, although it will still be submitted to NCAC for our neighborhood's priority pending resolution of the design issues.
Neighborhood Conservation Plan Update
Barcroft's Neighborhood Conservation Plan needs updating. Some sections are out of date, including traffic and most of the recommendations for County projects have been accomplished through the Neighborhood Conservation program. The consensus was that a committee should meet over the summer and work on an updating strategy.
Stream Erosion between Barcroft and Arlington Forest
Shelly Fichtner of Barcroft and Annette Haneda of Arlington Forest presented the need for a County project to control stream erosion in the branch that runs behind the houses on the west side of S. Abingdon Street. Funding might come from a variety of sources, since the erosion is silting up Sparrow Pond. Members agreed that a cleanup is needed and a plan to control the erosion, which might be partially funded through the Neighborhood Conservation program.
The meeting concluded with the ritual devouring of a very nice pie from Bob and Edith's, thanks to Annette Osso.
These are draft minutes not yet approved by the BSCL.
Prepared by: Randy Swart, May 10, 2004
This page was revised on: July 28, 2004.
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