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CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES – 5Dec2024

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CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
December 5, 2024, 6PM-8PM

Board Members Present:  Chuck McFadden (President), Roman Jesien (Vice President, Kim Miller (Interim Secretary), Sharon Smith, Judd Vickers, Andre Duerinckx

Board Members Absent:  Dave Thatcher (Treasurer), Tom Puglisi, Mary Ellen Jesien, Brad Rice

Live Stream Recording: https://www.facebook.com/WHCPRadio/videos/1259475525267014

1.  Opening Comments: Chuck McFadden (President) – Topics: 1) Nominations for Board 2) Facilitation on important issues in Cambridge and what should CAN focus on in 2025. Chuck discussed past CAN work:

  • Ongoing Unofficial Communications of City and County meetings: council, zoning, etc.
  • Code enforcement awareness
  • CWDI review of strategy, finances, minutes, discussions with CWDI  and Y leadership. Created Y-Survey and presentation to Council, YMCA and CWDI in 2024.
  •  Cannery Park – support of bike path, park – plans. Helping to connect people to discuss how to maintain and create awareness for the park.  Friends of Cannery Park need your support.
  • Shore line resiliency project updates
  • Ongoing discussions with council members, city leaders and administrators:  Administrative Building, Train Garden, Hearn Building, Police force- resourcing/crime, Fire Equipment, Marina, Downtown development
  • Schools: education curriculum improvement awareness- new superintendent presentation/discussion

2.  Code enforcement: Judd discussed examples of code enforcement issues within Cambridge.

3.  Chuck talked about how CAN brings issues to City Council.

4.  Facilitation Exercise: Participants placed a single response on a post it note. Multiple responses were allowed. Like responses were categorized/combined. Categories were reviewed. Categories were prioritized by participants (3 votes allowed for each participant).

  • Twenty (20) ‘in person’ participants for Question 1: What do you think is the most important issue within Cambridge?
  • Responses by Priority:
  1. CWDI accountability & transparency. (17/20)
  2. Managing growth, marketing and revitalization of city. (13/20)
  3. Code enforcement of laws and regulations. Property upkeep. Street Parking. Historic Comm. Permits. Mismanagement of state funded homes. (11/20)
  4.  Education/curriculum (4/20)
  5. Sea Level Rise (Sewer project, Resiliency project)  (3/20)
  6. Racism (1/20)
  7. Citizen/community involvement with government (1/20)
  8. Cannery Park (1/20)
  9. High Tax rate assessment given services provided  (1/20)
  10. Crime (1/20)
  • Twenty-two (22) ‘in person’ participants for Question 2: What do you think CAN should focus on in 2025?
  • Responses by Priority:
  1. Maintain pressure on CWDI and Cambridge Govt. to ensure forward appropriate progress. (19/22)
  2. Continue to attend city and county meetings. Track City initiatives. Take unofficial minutes. Ask questions. Encourage transparency on issues and budgets. Bring community issues to the council as needed. Speak Truth to Power.  (17/22)
  3. Code Enforcement – make the council aware of issues (see also above). (14/22)
  4. Community involvement/ outreach/ clean-up projects. Helping people in need to attempt to improve the overall quality of life in Cambridge. Connecting people to educational, social services, art/cultural resources, etc. (14/22)
  5. Communicate to the Cambridge thru Community emails, Facebook sites US Mail, Next Door: newsletters, unofficial meeting minutes, news articles, announcements/updates. Hold public meetings. Maintain CAN website (https://cambridgecan.org/) and CAN Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/cambridgeassociationofneighborhoods). Expand membership from 1100 members and find ways to engage potential members from other wards. (9/22)
  6. Downtown Development (including parking) (8/22)
  7. Police force (more officers/support) (6/22)
  8.  Mill Street School Development (4/22)
  9. Cannery Park & additional dog parks (4/22)

5.  Nominations:

  • Tom Puglisi- stepping down as secretary due to relocation.
  • Nomination of Kim Miller to Secretary (acting as interim secretary now). Renewal of Sharon Smith, Andre Duerinckx, Roman Jesien. All 4 nominations were accepted at the meeting.
  • Two additional board members can be added.

6.    Questions/Comments from the audience.

  • How does CAN get information to and from ALL communities?  We do our best to advertise meetings on Facebook, Next Door, email, CAN website, post flyers in laundromats, post office, and library. Our website and Facebook pages have a “Contact Us” page and Facebook Administrators receive and review questions/concerns as needed.
  • What are the mounds of dirt? Promenade (possibly) – will inquire.
  •  Suggestions/discussions:  Music venues. Survey on CWDI.

Chuck McFadden thanked the audience for participating in the meeting and we all enjoyed holiday desserts.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.

Minutes submitted by Kim Miller, CAN Interim Secretary

CAN Unofficial Notes Dorchester County Council Meeting – 19Nov2024

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CAN Unofficial Notes Dorchester County Council Meeting
November 19, 2024

Present: R. Travers, M. Detmer, L. Pfeffer (chair), R. Kramer.  Absent: W. Nichols
Call to order 6:07pm.

Items: Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda: Additions (1). Deletions (0.)
Finance report [$35,903,914.85 cash on hand General Fund].

Consent agenda:
1. Commendation to Audrey Wanax, HS student, for requesting a crosswalk at North Dorchester HS.
2. Legislative session – Proposal to allow rural event venue passed. Schedule public hearing. Mr. Travers discussed art license and venue license will be necessary -passed.

Action Items:
1. DCHD Connect – MD Home Stretch difficult to serve – a grant to provide enhanced broadband to homes and businesses that are set back from the road @ $8K: passed
2. Tower license renewal Greenbriar Road; originally approved 1995, renewed twice, most recently 2012; renewed
3. Architecture Commission appointees – approve all; passed
4. FY2025 Project Open Space: put pickleball courts on tennis courts (2 for 1); passed
5. FY2025 Operating grant agreement with Delmarva Community Services; MTA grant – there’s a local match built into budget; approved
6. Traffic Safety Commission – Mr. Detmer presents:
a. Guard rail requested; approved
b. Special needs child sign; approved
7. Two final (inaudible) funding requests ;passed

Council comments:
Mr. Tavers reported getting complaints from Hambrooks area re: flooding
Mr. Detmer spoke approvingly about tournaments coming to Cambridge; continued concerns about doing solar correctly; notes CPD officer killed 20 years ago

Public comment:
Q: Can we have a speed camera at NDHS?
A: There is a speed camera trailer which perhaps can be scheduled.

Adjourn: 6:50pm
Notes compiled by D. Bearman

Planning Commission Notes – 12/4/2024

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Planning Commission Notes – 12/4/2024 – Submitted by Judd Vickers

New Business:
PZT 24-0016 24-O-16 – Zaxby’s Restaurant on US50:
The Planning Commission reviewed a concept site plan for a proposed Zaxby’s Restaurant. Zaxby’s is a chicken focused restaurant chain newly expanding into Maryland and Cambridge would be one of the earlier locations. The restaurant is proposed for 2721 Ocean Gateway, which will redevelop the long-abandoned site of the old Amoco gas station next to the Peking House. The Planning Commission provided valuable feedback to the developer to improve pedestrian safety and ensure the architecture and site plan is a better fit for our community. Many national franchise chains provide several architectural options to adapt to communities, Zaxby’s seems limited with these options.

PZT 24-0003 24-O-03 – Text amendment related height in industrial zones:
Planning Commission recommended a text amendment be forwarded to City Council that would provide for raising the 50 foot height limit to 70 feet in the industrial zone as it relates to warehousing, salvage, manufacturing and other uses. Currently, 70 feet is the new standard in most communities, largely due to manufacturing needs and newer types of fire suppression requirements that can take additional space. This change would assist/encourage a new business currently seeking real estate in the Technology Park. The Planning Commission asked for modifications related to language ensuring newer buildings shall focus on a visual form to fit in with surrounding buildings. An additional modification is being made to improve language related to explosive and toxic uses, allowing those only within entirely contained indoor areas completely compliant with all State/Federal/Fire/Safety regulations.

Discussion:
Discussion related to rules and procedures was deferred.

The meeting can be viewed on Town Hall Streams.

Unofficial Minutes of County Council Meeting – December 3, 2024

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Present: Travers, Detmer, Pfeffer (chair), Kramer, and Nichols, County Council.          County Manager Jerry Jones, Attorney Charles MacCleod, Irene Barnes

Meeting opened at 6:03pm.  Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

Items of business:

  1. Election of Officers: President Mr. Pfeffer; Vice President Mr. Detmer
  2. Budget: Mr. Travers says to be very conservative since we don’t know which way things are going; Mr. Nichols agrees, nothing major. Mr. Detmer commends County Manager and staff for consistency. Asks to be conservative but creative. With MD facing $2.7B deficit, Mr. Pfeffer wants to be sure there is achievement of personnel parity since there is uncertaintly as to what items will get cut.
  3. Family Advocacy Clinic Legal Services:  Attempt to decrease instances of abuse or neglect. Hope to get started in Spring. Keep family issues out of government.
  4. Letter of support for MD $300K grant for Hyatt redecking is approved.
  5. Council comments: Mr. Detmer says Christmas tree is special and is looking forward to the parade. Anticipates learning more about solar at Assoc. of Counties meeting. Commends Roger Harrell, Health Officer and Theresa Stafford (dec) for their impact.
  6. Public comment: Rec. schedule is published. Brian Shea, commercial developer, commends agencies. County engineer has issue with administrative fees. Mr. Pfeffer asks him to connect with Shea and Jones and educate the Council on these fees.
  7. Adjourn: 6:35pm

Minutes submitted by Richard Bearman; edits by K. Miller.

Baltimore Banner Article: Court Orders Maryland to Redo Permit for Eastern Shore Poultry Rendering Plant

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Check out this interesting news article from the Baltimore Banner discussing the environmental impact of a local plant emitting pollutants at high concentrations from poultry products that cause oxygen “dead zones” suffocating underwater life. The Dorchester County Judge questions whether the State’s new permit does enough to reduce the volume of nitrogen and phosphorous the plant discharges into the Transquaking River that ultimately empties into the Chesapeake. 

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/eastern-shore-valley-proteins-plant-LSYQVULLKZCW5PT2QO4ETQWHC4/

 

CAN Meeting – Dec 5 – Dorchester County Historical Society (1003 Greenway Dr.)

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Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods (CAN) will hold its December meeting at 6 pm on December 5th at the Dorchester County Historical Society, located at 1003 Greenway Drive in Cambridge.

On the agenda will be nominations for the Board for the 2025-2027 term (elections to be held January 2025) and discussion of priorities for the new year.  We will also enjoy refreshments to celebrate the holiday season.

The meeting will be live-streamed (thanks to WHCP) for those who cannot attend in person (see links below):

https://www.youtube.com/@whcpstudio4716   and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WHCPRadio/videos.

Join CAN for FREE at https://CambridgeCAN.org