I was at the last BOT meeting (JAN 19TH) for a brief time. There were other Chamber of Commerce members there that stayed for the whole meeting. I was told that a representative of 1st Accension Church offered the village $5000 for use in purchasing and planting flowers into the planters along Burlington Rd. I was also told this offer was refused by the board. I would like to know which trustees voted this down and their reason for doing so. Anybody else interested?
Riverside Info » About Riverside
BOT refused money for planters on Burlington Rd in CBD
(13 posts)-
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 15:43 #
-
Eric,
That is not the case. The only thing that happened at the BOT meeting was that I gave an update on a plan that is working its way through the LAC to try to improve the landscaping in the CBD. Terri Lynne-Culloden has presented some tentative plans to the LAC and, hopefully, they will be approved in the next month or so and can then be brought to the BOT.The idea is to have a Riverside Spring's Forward Day in which volunteers would help to plant donated plants, as well as plants obtained from dividing existing plant stock. My hope is that the day becomes a more generalize "spring cleaning" day where volunteers could do a host of other projects that need doing. It could be a really fun and productive day, something that would be good for the Village on many levels.
Nobody offered any donations and nobody was turned down for anything. My impression was that the BOT was very receptive to the idea. The main concern shared by everyone is, once we get the plants in the ground, how do we maintain them. Every effort is being made to only select plant varieties that can endure the harsh conditions of the CBD (winter salt being among the worst). It may well be that we should just eliminate some of the existing planters (not the trees, just the planters) and then focus attention on those that remain.
This plan is actually a continuation of the earlier planting that was done along Longcommon. The prior LAC chair, Jackie Paine, wanted to continue the design effort for the entire CBD on the hopes that we would one day have the funds to complete it. What Terri has proposed is a way of doing this at much reduced cost to the Village by using available plants and volunteers.
I love the idea (Brookfield does something similar through its Beautification Commission), and I hope to see a project plan presented to the BOT in the next month or two. I am working with Terri on the project and if all goes well will be reaching out for volunteers in the near future, so don't be surprised if your phone rings!
I also hope the Chamber can play a significant role in this.
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 16:12 # -
I went to the LAC meeting where Terri presented the initial plans on the plantings. I believe her estimate on costs were around $2000 (mulch, purchase of some plants, pots to grow some from seeds, etc). But a lot of plants would come from residents, via divisions, which she and other volunteers have done successfully at her church for many years. So, very low costs, especially if some items are donated, or if some funds are donated.
At the board meeting, some were concerned about maintenance. It was mentioned at the LAC meeting that most residents didn't know that they weed, water, and mulch the beds whenever they want, and garden club and other volunteers would be happy to do it. Hopefully that's the case! The plans looked great!
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 16:41 # -
Erik - who told you that? Amazing how these stories get spun. I was there and listened carefully, and Ben has it right. The discussion was about ongoing maintenance, how it will get done, who does it, who pays, etc. Several of the Trustees volunteered to participate in the planting. Hope it works out and happens. Personally, I think hedges are the only thing that won't get trampled, killed by salt, etc.
I also noticed that someone was asking here today if any questions were asked at the meeting about the "Gorman party." Some of the questioning bloggers were at the BOT meeting but never came forth and asked anything - probably because they knew it was a Red Herring. I was at that paty and there was no discussion of Village Business that would violate anything. The people that have asked questions here but declined to ask at the meeting probably always knew that.
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 16:47 # -
See, Don--you were at the party, you could have answered my question right away and spared us a bunch of YouTube links.
Seriously, though, since you were there, was it an RCA rally? Anything interesting happen?
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 17:14 # -
If you question something, why not go to the BOT meetings and ask? Why all the skullduggery? It's a free country, at least for a little while...
Besides I thought you would like the videos - I got lots of positive comments on them. Well, Julie London... why not?
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 17:22 # -
No skullduggery on my part, Don. I was curious and asked a question. I wasn't at the meeting due to family responsibilities, but even if I was, I don't know that I would have asked--not sure if it would be appropriate to bring it up there.
But back to my question--what was the meeting at the President's house about? Just a get out the troops rally? A chance for the RCA to meet some more potential voters? If that's all it was, why not say so?
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 17:55 # -
That's all it was - one year anniversary of the campaign something. I've watched people try to make something out of nothing, but I think some of those that have aired out their suspicions here actually knew better - certainly if I wanted to know something I would go and raise the issue.
This is an exercise in futility. Somebody that was at the BOT meeting tells something erroneous to someone else and then they ask for confirmation. It's all BS. I'm oughta here. The Supremes drew me back - shows how weak I am. Can't resist I guess. But something stronger is calling - my pizza at Villa Nova.
Hope one of these days we will be able to have a pizza and a bottle at a place in the Aracde. Til then... oops - that;'s another tune.
I can't resist the education of the masses.... These guys were smooooooooth.
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 18:22 # -
Don - the Bocce idea for the lots needs to be pushed forward. I think there will be a bunch of interest in activities that bring the town together (or there should be, anyway)....
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 18:34 # -
Love the Riverside Spring's Forward Day idea!
It is nice to hear about this kind of action from the LAC. Cheers to Terri Lynne-Culloden and team!
On that note, doesn't RB do a Day-of-Service in the spring? Maybe there are some 'win-win' coordination options to consider with RB~
Posted Friday Jan 22, 2010 18:48 #
Reply »
You must log in to post.